ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => Victorian Education Discussion => The VCE Journey Journal => Topic started by: Yertle the Turtle on November 27, 2017, 03:13:21 pm

Title: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on November 27, 2017, 03:13:21 pm
Hi guys,
This is my journal of my Year 12 Journey. I am studying at a Seventh Day Adventist school in Melbourne, and I have just finished Year 11. I am studying 6 Unit 3,4 subjects next year: English, Texts and Traditions, Maths Methods, Specialist Maths, Physics and Chemistry, and I enjoy all except the first two. My hobbies are sport, particularly cricket, drawing, listening to classical music and sleeping. I will aim to write in this journal 1-2 times a week, so we'll see how that goes.  :o
Title: Re: Marv's Year 12 Journey
Post by: Joseph41 on November 27, 2017, 03:14:47 pm
Looking forward to it!

Which subjects are you most confident for? :)
Title: Re: Marv's Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on November 27, 2017, 03:19:26 pm
Looking forward to it!

Which subjects are you most confident for? :)
Probably Methods and Specialist. Maths is really my thing, and it is a family thing to. One of my brothers did a Uni maths in year 12 and got a 5 point increment from it! My main issue with Methods is that I am in a class of 7 with no one really coming anywhere near my scores, so no competition, so I constantly make silly mistakes :-( . Fairly confident about all the others as well actually as I am tending to lead the class in basically everything.
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on November 29, 2017, 12:17:30 pm
Busy doing holiday homework  >:( , wishing that the second Ashes Test would start, already! Also looking through the Specialist Maths VCAA 2017 paper to see where I am headed for the year. I'm just feeling really uncertain about my distance school, as what they are teaching seems far too easy. I picked up an easy A+ on both the mid-year and end-of-year exams, and I'm just kind of wondering if I'm really being properly prepared for the final exam  :'( . Just have to wait and see, as the final exam looks pretty hard.
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: AngelWings on November 30, 2017, 12:16:36 am
My hobbies are sport, particularly cricket, drawing, listening to classical music and sleeping.
Aside from the sport (of which I am hopeless at), all the rest sounds like me once. Sleeping, of course, remains a hobby. :P What do you like to draw specifically?

Just have to wait and see, as the final exam looks pretty hard.
Give it time. Things look easier in hindsight.
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on November 30, 2017, 08:22:40 am
Aside from the sport (of which I am hopeless at), all the rest sounds like me once. Sleeping, of course, remains a hobby. :P What do you like to draw specifically?
Give it time. Things look easier in hindsight.
I like to draw birds, because they are really fun to draw. Sleeping is a hobby that most people enjoy, but I never seem to get enough of it :-) .
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: AngelWings on November 30, 2017, 06:24:20 pm
I like to draw birds. I like the nice curves that they have, and they are really fun to draw. Sleeping is a hobby that most people enjoy, but I never seem to get enough of it :-) .
Fascinating creatures. :)
I think sleep is something most people don't get enough of! Haha! 
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on November 30, 2017, 08:35:18 pm
Fascinating creatures. :)
I think sleep is something most people don't get enough of! Haha! 
I think that birds are great! They are fascinating in their complexity, something you can't really understand until you see either birds really close up or slo-mo footage of a bird flying. I would really like to be sleeping right now, but schoolwork calls! :(
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on December 02, 2017, 03:34:55 pm
I hate the weather right now. I have a Saturday job as a junk mail deliverer, and in the current miserable rain, I'm really not enjoying it. In fact, I should be out there now, instead of sitting in a comfy recliner using my laptop to write this post and follow the Ashes... but who cares!
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on December 02, 2017, 05:47:57 pm
(https://i.imgur.com/i5OlKMF.jpg)
When u open a new container of margarine, only to find that someone has been drilling for oil in it  :P
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on December 04, 2017, 03:38:48 pm
My school's Class of '18 has been having a variety of discussions about our theme and motto for the year, and I am fully over it. At present, the majority in a class of 22 are going for the Spanish word 'Querencia'. I don't know about anyone else, but it strikes me as a little bit dumb to go for a Spanish word in a class (and school) where literally no one (e-n, o-h, 1) speaks Spanish, but this is where it gets even more dumb: the definition the class looked up said that it meant 'home or shelter, the place where one derives strength'. But when I looked it up, this was merely a secondary definition, as the main definition was 'an area in the arena taken by the bull for a defensive stand in a bullfight', a definition agreed on by the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, the Oxford Dictionary, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and Wiktionary.

I myself could think of many better words to use, even if the class wants a foreign word. How about the Welsh word for 'direction': cyfarwyddyd   8)
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on December 18, 2017, 11:47:01 am
I'm loving the improvement in weather at the moment, and just hope that that improvement can spread to Perth right now, to avoid helping England salvage a draw...
Still trying to break the procrastination cycle about homework, but not getting far.

I'm going to be going to India on mission-work at the end of this month so I'm kind of looking forward to that, but at the same time... Luckily the weather cools down in December for them, so I won't boil alive...
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on December 18, 2017, 11:54:02 am
Does anyone else love The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas? I'm listening to the Librivox recording of it right now, and it is awesome. I've already read it twice, and listened to it once before, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone!
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: peterpiper on December 18, 2017, 12:10:05 pm
Does anyone else love The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas? I'm listening to the Librivox recording of it right now, and it is awesome. I've already read it twice, and listened to it once before, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

>> me half-expecting heids to post splurge of text<<<<<<
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on December 18, 2017, 12:14:21 pm
>> me half-expecting heids to post splurge of text<<<<<<
It'll come, just you wait. I introduced her to it...
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on December 20, 2017, 08:16:45 am
I got given this Infinity Rings puzzle by my puzzle-crazy bro for my birthday. Got it done, but now the question is, how do I put it back together???
(https://i.imgur.com/lhRBUFj.jpg)
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on December 21, 2017, 05:47:28 pm
Found out the scores of the people in the class above me at my school today. One of them got scores of 45, 46, 47 and 48, ending up with an ATAR of 99.35!!!! That is, I think, the first 99+ score anyone from the school, including my siblings, has got since 2000!!! Really great job!

Kinda worrying me about next year though ;P
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Bri MT on December 21, 2017, 09:04:40 pm
Found out the scores of the people in the class above me at my school today. One of them got scores of 45, 46, 47 and 48, ending up with an ATAR of 99.35!!!! That is, I think, the first 99+ score anyone from the school, including my siblings, has got since 2000!!! Really great job!

Kinda worrying me about next year though ;P

That's incredible! 
This year someone in my year level got 49, and to think that before last year the highest study score achieved was 46.

Are you worried because of what you think you should achieve or want to?  Or because you are worried about the expectations of others?
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on January 12, 2018, 01:18:21 pm
Are you worried because of what you think you should achieve or want to?  Or because you are worried about the expectations of others?
A bit of both actually! :(

Currently in Kolkata, India, enjoying the cool weather while hearing about the crazy heat in Australia. I first went to India when I was 5, and since then I have been about 21 times, to Hyderabad and Kolkata, so this month-long trip doesn't really bother me anymore. The "big" year started off with a bout of sock-wrestling in Hyderabad with some friends before travelling up to Kolkata on a 28h train trip! It was in a sleeper carriage, but this didn't help as a dude in the next bunk snored so bad that I couldn't sleep >:( . Then I arrived in Kolkata and met my parents only to discover that there is little to no internet access, so AN use will be limited :'( . Then one by one my family all came down with a bug, possibly picked up on the train, so all my hopes of finishing off that holiday homework quickly are gone, s I've been in bed for most of the last 3-4 days.

How's the start of everyone else's year going?
Title: Re: Marv's 'Marv'ellous Year 12 Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on January 16, 2018, 03:47:41 am
It's reached that stage in the year where I start to realise that I actually am a class higher than the previous year. I don't really want this last year to end, since I really love the community that I have in my class at school. :( Still, I need to make the best of it this year, and I feel like it is going to be a great year. I don't even know why I'm writing this entry, it being 10:14 IST and I really need sleep, but I had something I wanted to put here, so I came here and started, only to forget what I initially wanted to talk about :P . But in case I look back on this journal entry later on in the year, this is my message to myself, and to any other people to go through Yr 12 in future: Have fun, work hard, enjoy Year 12, but don't let yourself down. Remember that the AN community is out there to help, so if you need it, ask! Make Year 12 great again! :D
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on January 16, 2018, 02:19:03 pm
Finally remembered what I wanted to write about last night: My NYR (New Year's Resolutions):
Work harder
Try to avoid procrastination
Improve the quality of AN posts
Make other peoples' Year 12 journeys better!
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on January 19, 2018, 09:27:22 pm
The absolute chaos of having to move house, Indian style, is ruining my chances of continuing to study. Pictures of the moving truck will follow, the packing was done in a way that you wouldn't believe in Australia. Anyhow, schoolwork has gone sadly by the board in the confusion of moving.
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: AngelWings on January 19, 2018, 10:51:20 pm
Improve the quality of AN posts
Make other peoples' Year 12 journeys better!
So... is this like a shameless plug for #PhilforMod2018End ? ;)
I'm only kidding, of course. Please don't think I'm teasing you.

The absolute chaos of having to move house, Indian style, is ruining my chances of continuing to study. Pictures of the moving truck will follow, the packing was done in a way that you wouldn't believe in Australia. Anyhow, schoolwork has gone sadly by the board in the confusion of moving.
Hope you find it once you unpack! 
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on January 19, 2018, 11:08:06 pm
So... is this like a shameless plug for #PhilforMod2018End ? ;)
I'm only kidding, of course. Please don't think I'm teasing you.
Basically ;D Given that I didn't apply this year I need something extra to help when I apply next year :P

Hope you find it once you unpack! 
You and me both mate! :P
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on January 22, 2018, 01:10:27 am
Before the year starts I'm going to give myself something to aim at scorewise for this year. I'd probably like something better, but this is a combination of where I am now and therefore where I expect to be, if I work hard, at the end of the year. If you think that I'm unwise to aim as high as I do or if any of these scores are unrealistic in your opinion please say so, since I actually don't know properly the kinds of scores relate to different SSs.

Subject: Raw score --> Scaled (AN ATAR Calc)

English: 41 --> 40
T&T: 43 --> 43
Methods: 45 --> 48
Specialist: 32 --> 43
Chemistry: 35 --> 39
Physics: 42 --> 44

ATAR: 97.75

I'd be happy with this as it would get me into any of the engineering degrees, but I would like something over 98 to get a scholarship. This is kind of like a 'before Dec 15' idea, but it will also give me an indication of where to aim for.

(I don't even know why I'm posting this tbh :P )
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Aaron on January 22, 2018, 01:26:49 am
Quote from: Marvin K. Mooney
If you think that I'm unwise to aim as high as I do or if any of these scores are unrealistic in your opinion please say so
It isn't unwise at all to aim so high - I think that's a fantastic attitude and I really hope you do get these scores (or even higher) so you get your scholarship. Anything is possible. It's all in your hands :)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: lilyrosee on January 25, 2018, 09:08:32 am
Before the year starts I'm going to give myself something to aim at scorewise for this year. I'd probably like something better, but this is a combination of where I am now and therefore where I expect to be, if I work hard, at the end of the year. If you think that I'm unwise to aim as high as I do or if any of these scores are unrealistic in your opinion please say so, since I actually don't know properly the kinds of scores relate to different SSs.

Subject: Raw score --> Scaled (AN ATAR Calc)

English: 41 --> 40
T&T: 43 --> 43
Methods: 45 --> 48
Specialist: 32 --> 43
Chemistry: 35 --> 39
Physics: 42 --> 44

ATAR: 97.75

I'd be happy with this as it would get me into any of the engineering degrees, but I would like something over 98 to get a scholarship. This is kind of like a 'before Dec 15' idea, but it will also give me an indication of where to aim for.

(I don't even know why I'm posting this tbh :P )

I think it is a good idea to post this! I wrote down the scores and ATAR I was aiming for at the beginning of last year and post them up above my desk so whenever I was studying I would always look up and see what I was aiming for. I ended up getting scores really close to the ones I wrote down, some higher and some lower and my ATAR was only 1 point off what I originally aimed for!
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Bri MT on January 25, 2018, 04:05:31 pm

Subject: Raw score --> Scaled (AN ATAR Calc)

I'd be happy with this as it would get me into any of the engineering degrees, but I would like something over 98 to get a scholarship. This is kind of like a 'before Dec 15' idea, but it will also give me an indication of where to aim for.

(I don't even know why I'm posting this tbh :P )

My motto for ATARs would be "aim high prepare for lower". Setting yourself a goal and engaging in it can be a great source of motivation for some people but make sure that it doesn't become overwhelming and thus a source of procrastination. 
You will experience doubt (I spent months terrified I wouldn't get 30+ in eng lang) and if you're anything like me you'll be afraid of dissapointing yourself and others.
Make sure you remember that goals are not a cage of what you must achieve but motivation to go further.
Your goals ultimately exist for the journey not the destination - so feel free to change them higher and lower as you travel to keep you stretching ahead. 

If you believe in it and you put the work in no ATAR goal is unreasonable - it all depends on how much and how effectively you contribute to it. 
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: rainbowsparkles15 on January 26, 2018, 05:08:00 pm
Before the year starts I'm going to give myself something to aim at scorewise for this year. I'd probably like something better, but this is a combination of where I am now and therefore where I expect to be, if I work hard, at the end of the year. If you think that I'm unwise to aim as high as I do or if any of these scores are unrealistic in your opinion please say so, since I actually don't know properly the kinds of scores relate to different SSs.

Subject: Raw score --> Scaled (AN ATAR Calc)

English: 41 --> 40
T&T: 43 --> 43
Methods: 45 --> 48
Specialist: 32 --> 43
Chemistry: 35 --> 39
Physics: 42 --> 44

ATAR: 97.75

I'd be happy with this as it would get me into any of the engineering degrees, but I would like something over 98 to get a scholarship. This is kind of like a 'before Dec 15' idea, but it will also give me an indication of where to aim for.

(I don't even know why I'm posting this tbh :P )

From your posts I've seen on AN these scores definitely sound realistic! Your ATAR goal is fairly similar to mine so I'm looking forward to seeing how we both go!
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on January 29, 2018, 09:00:52 am
Thanks so much for your posts guys, I love the support there is on AN to do your best and be your best. @rainbowsparkles15, thanks so much! Great job for your Bio, hope you do as well as you want. Looking forward to Year 12? I am! I'm starting back on Thursday, and I'm just trying to readjust from being in India and then coming home to go to a youth camp weekend which was pretty good. But now I'm left feeling exhausted and like I have no idea where I am and why ;D . Only 3 days to go...
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 01, 2018, 04:50:17 pm
First day back to school, and the year 12 jackets arrived this morning, YAY!! They look awesome, it really brought home the fact that I am now a year 12, such a weird concept. Found out that various people dropped out of Physics and Methods, so that my Physics class is down to 4 and Methods to 7... :( Looking forward to a great year this year, good luck to all those other people who have started Year 12 this week, have a great year!
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 02, 2018, 06:10:17 pm
Year 12 Jackets
(https://i.imgur.com/gFeDue4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xlYvaUc.jpg)

2/2/17
Second day of school, and it wasn't too bad, actually. Had a double of Physics which was awesome, as I really love Physics, and we were looking at projectile motion which is great because it is really simple. We also talked about an excursion to Luna Park, which sounds awesome! In Chemistry we discussed an excursion to Monash Uni which I'm really looking forward to as that is one of the two Unis I'm looking at going to possibly after this year, so that should be great. Had a double English :( talking about Peter Skyryznecki's poetry, which isn't really interesting, but I lived... On the whole, this hasn't been a bad start to the year, pretty happy with how it's going. How's everyone else's Year 12 started?
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Lear on February 02, 2018, 06:22:55 pm
Great to hear it has been a nice start Philboi!
I, too, have enjoyed my first three days back to school. Ironically its relaxing to have a more structured day after 2 months of freedom. It's awesome that you're already looking forward to upcoming events and your subjects. I wish my school had an excursion to Monash Uni :'(
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: K888 on February 02, 2018, 06:29:56 pm
Year 12 Jackets
(https://i.imgur.com/gFeDue4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xlYvaUc.jpg)
That colour combination or variations thereof has got to be the most popular one across Victoria lol
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 07, 2018, 12:37:15 pm
7/2/18
Some of my friends discovered my AN profile today, and since I bag psychology as not being a science all the time people were laughing at my description of "(unqualified) psychologist", they don't seem to get the difference between bagging the subject psychology and bagging field psychology... Anyway, today is the day we do sport, but because of the 36+ degree forecast our volleyball match against the hardest team away was cancelled ;D which was awesome. Currently enjoying a 'free' since the work I am meant to do via distance now hasn't yet arrived. Had Chemistry, Methods and Texts this morning which were all pretty good. Sadly no Physics, my current favourite subject, but I guess I'll live... :P How's everyone else's day going?
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Joseph41 on February 07, 2018, 01:02:07 pm
That colour combination or variations thereof has got to be the most popular one across Victoria lol


No way! My school had...

... oh - the same colours.

Jackets look good, though, Marv.
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 07, 2018, 05:10:16 pm
No way! My school had...

... oh - the same colours.

Jackets look good, though, Marv.
We needed the burgundy in the edging just because that is our sports colour, but basically we were always going for navy blue, and it came down to grey or burgundy sleeves, and they both looked pretty good, but the class went for the grey to set us apart from previous jackets from our school, and in doing so made them fit in with the more common jacket style that everyone else has... :P
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: K888 on February 07, 2018, 07:54:04 pm
We needed the burgundy in the edging just because that is our sports colour, but basically we were always going for navy blue, and it came down to grey or burgundy sleeves, and they both looked pretty good, but the class went for the grey to set us apart from previous jackets from our school, and in doing so made them fit in with the more common jacket style that everyone else has... :P
The decision between grey and burgundy sleeves also happened in my year level lol. I don't know why Reform (the company) even bother offering colours other than grey, navy, burgundy and white haha
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 09, 2018, 10:49:31 pm
Starting to think about maybe doing an exchange program in Uni with a uni in Canada/UK. Any suggestions, advice, experiences anyone is willing to share? Thanks heaps! :)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 11, 2018, 10:39:35 pm
Starting to think about maybe doing an exchange program in Uni with a uni in Canada/UK. Any suggestions, advice, experiences anyone is willing to share? Thanks heaps! :)
I'm basically going to explain this now, since I was pretty rushed when I initially asked. I know that I'm just starting Year 12 and you can't do exchange programs (at Monash at least) until 3rd year, so some might think that this is premature, but something I saw on one of the University Journey Journals just starting up made me suddenly think about it and it sounded really cool, so I've been doing research a couple of years in advance. I want to go to Monash (or maybe RMIT if I have decided on the branch of Engineering I want to do before receiving offers), and so in 3rd year I want to do either 1 semester or 2 in the UK on an exchange program! If anyone has any suggestions, ideas, experiences to share that would give me a better understanding of what it would be like that would be great! :)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 18, 2018, 08:36:57 pm
It's been a pretty good week. Still loving Physics, enjoying Chem, Methods is OK, Spesh still hasn't started, T&T is still fun and English still the single most hated thing in my life... So in most ways it was a pretty normal week, but while I can cope with the fact that we are Year 12s now, it is still really hard to come to grips with the fact that the younger year levels are a year higher than they were last year! It also is weird to think that all 12 past years of our school lives we've looked up to the Yr 12s, thinking "it's going to be such a massive intense year" and yet now that we are here it feels even more chill than last year. Teachers are basically starting everything back from base level again, particularly in English where the teacher is entirely re-teaching us how to write essays! :P

Had our first volley-ball game of the season last week after the previous game against the tough team in the league was cancelled, and despite playing badly we smashed the other team in 3 sets... it almost hurts to destroy such a bad team... Good start to the season though, hopefully it keeps going!
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Poet on February 18, 2018, 08:48:29 pm
Good to hear you're doing well, M.K! I agree with your statement about the younger year levels. Time flies when you're in a panic about schoolwork, amirite?

(Also, keep winning at volleyball. Volleyball is cool beans.)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 21, 2018, 12:29:08 pm
Good to hear you're doing well, M.K! I agree with your statement about the younger year levels. Time flies when you're in a panic about schoolwork, amirite?

(Also, keep winning at volleyball. Volleyball is cool beans.)
Thanks man! The weird thing is how fast this year is going, despite the fact that I'm not yet in a panic about work. I haven't even received notifications about SACs yet, my first one isn't for about 3 weeks still, while the other classes seem to have all had their first on. Anyway, this is how the first few days of this week have gone for me:

English: Boring, continuing to learn more of Skrzynecki's poems, which aren't that great, tbh. Our teacher makes Thursday LA day, so that's better than having all the LA in one block at beginning/end of the year, so that you've forgotten the other topic by exam time... be thankful for small mercies. Even when it is English :(
Methods: Pretty interesting, doing differentiation of complex functions, using product/quotient/chain rule, dy/dx of circular functions and logs. At times it is really confusing, but always remember when it is complex, write everything down so that you don't get lost in the confusing formulas.
Specialist: Still can't get into the Distance Ed website... :P
Texts and Traditions: Still covering the background of Luke which I had read up on before the year started and it's really easy and a bit repetitive at the moment, but all pretty fun anyway. The teacher is pretty funny, but a bit repetitive and soporific.
Saving the best two 'til last...
Chemistry: Chemistry is pretty cool, I really enjoy it, though (and maybe to some extent 'because of') many of the concepts are tough and hard to understand/visualize. Looking at redox reactions and preparing to head into Galvanic cells, it's really interesting, with many real-life applications. Chemistry would be, along with Physics, one of the subjects I would strongly recommend to anyone interested in science. Part of that is because they are the only two real sciences... :)
Physics: I still love Physics from the bottom of my heart, it is 110% my favourite subject. We've just started learning about circular motion, and it is so fun and interesting. Some of the concepts are pretty challenging, but that is one of the best parts :D . The Physics teacher and the Chem teacher are the same, and he is such a great teacher, a VCAA Physics exam marker also which is great, because he can give us tips about what the markers are looking for. Really looking forward to the Luna Park excursion/SAC later on in the year!!!!

Sport: Playing another school in volleyball this afternoon, based on past experience they are pretty bad at sport, so hopefully an easy game will help us to improve the quality of our game before the crunch game against one of the best teams in a couple of weeks.

Hope everyone else's week has started as well as mine!

Side-note: Heading towards Mechatronics Engineering as my Uni course of choice, but we'll wait and see. :D
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: PhoenixxFire on February 21, 2018, 01:48:50 pm
Part of that is because they are the only two real sciences... :)
(http://i.imgur.com/1QEkOnW.jpg)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: K888 on February 21, 2018, 04:07:39 pm
Quote
Part of that is because they are the only two real sciences... :)
What about Biology?
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: PhoenixxFire on February 21, 2018, 04:14:23 pm
What about Biology?
And psychology*
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Poet on February 21, 2018, 05:06:43 pm
And psychology*

Wait a minute...
(https://i.imgflip.com/24sh9y.jpg)

Proof!
Proof from the scroll of truth!

(EDIT: Stole this from the meme of the month thread. Creds to Sine. ;3)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 21, 2018, 05:35:02 pm
Wait a minute...
(https://i.imgflip.com/24sh9y.jpg)

Proof!
Proof from the scroll of truth!

(EDIT: Stole this from the meme of the month thread. Creds to Sine. ;3)
Exactly, but it forgot bio, the squishy science that isn't quite a real science. Nearly, but there isn't enough maths :P
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Joseph41 on February 21, 2018, 05:36:41 pm
Exactly, but it forgot bio, the squishy science that isn't quite a real science. Nearly, but there isn't enough maths :P

Why would maths be a required for a field to be a science?
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: K888 on February 21, 2018, 05:39:27 pm
Exactly, but it forgot bio, the squishy science that isn't quite a real science. Nearly, but there isn't enough maths :P
As someone studying a degree that is based around what is essentially an advanced extension of Biology, I can tell you that the only squishy thing about it is the wet specimens in the labs
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 21, 2018, 05:42:08 pm
Why would maths be a required for a field to be a science?
As our Methods teacher is constantly reminding us (and our Physics/Chem teacher), anything that isn't based on maths isn't a science, since science is a branch of maths. Bio is sort of a science, but not quite a pure science. It is chemistry that has been built on by observation. I'm digging myself into a hole here... ;P
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Joseph41 on February 21, 2018, 05:43:00 pm
As someone studying a degree that is based around what is essentially an advanced extension of Biology, I can tell you that the only squishy thing about it is the wet specimens in the labs


This is a great reason why not to eat a meal whilst surfing ATAR Notes.
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Sine on February 21, 2018, 05:44:06 pm
bio yes
psych no

 :D
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 21, 2018, 05:48:58 pm
This is a great reason why not to eat a meal whilst surfing ATAR Notes.
Nice...
bio yes
psych no

 :D
I would agree that bio is more of a science than psych, and in reality, when I'm not joking around, I really do think that bio is a science.

Actually today got to see the interiors of our new science labs!!! They look incredible, but we still have to wait until the 1st March to use them because the extra-high chairs for the extra-high desks haven't yet arrived :'( Still they look cool, my Physics and Chem classes of late have been happening in a room that is about 3.5m by 4.5m... feels really cramped even with just 4 students and teacher! Really hyped up for the new labs though, they are so up-to-date, unlike the old ones, which were like the cavern workshops of the ancient alchemists... :)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: K888 on February 21, 2018, 05:49:35 pm
This is a great reason why not to eat a meal whilst surfing ATAR Notes.
Wait till you read my uni journal and I've started learning about sputum and airway clearance techniques ;)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Poet on February 21, 2018, 05:53:28 pm
Wait till you read my uni journal and I've started learning about sputum and airway clearance techniques ;)

*spits out pasta*
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 21, 2018, 05:57:39 pm
This is a great reason why not to eat a meal whilst surfing ATAR Notes.
Wait till you read my uni journal and I've started learning about sputum and airway clearance techniques ;)
*spits out pasta*
When you're quite finished spattering my journey journal with regurgitated food and pasta... ;)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: K888 on February 21, 2018, 06:25:29 pm
*spits out pasta*
Whoever said physio wasn't an attractive degree? ;)

When you're quite finished spattering my journey journal with regurgitated food and pasta... ;)
I'll never be finished, Philboi ;)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 26, 2018, 09:37:58 pm
School still goes on. Building works continue, I'm still fed up with English, and still love the sciences. Volleyball continues to go well, but we've got the best team in the league to play this week with our coach on paternity leave... :(
Apparently I left my locker unlocked on Friday evening, but since all the Year 12 boys this year have two lockers, a bottom and a top locker, two of my friends took all my stuff out of my normal locker and put it back exactly the same as it was before in the other locker and locked it, which was kinda funny ;P
Otherwise, life is pretty normal, not really incredibly interesting at the moment.

Future:
T&T SAC on Thursday, a Methods test rescheduled from Thursday to next Monday, and next Thursday a SAC/excursion to Luna Park for Physics!!! :D
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on February 28, 2018, 10:01:03 pm
Well, the tough volleyball game was today, and it was a bit weird. What happened was that we were playing away at a school a long way away, and so it was unlikely that we would have time for the full 5 sets, and sure enough, the first and second sets took 20mins each, and that left us with 30mins to finish with the scores at 1-1, us winning the first set and the other school the second. So the ref came over and told us that best of 5 wasn't happening, and we said best of 3 would be fine. The other school's coach disagreed, and said that we should discuss it after the 3rd set.

Well we smashed them in the third set 25-11, but at this stage the other coach said that we had to play to best of 5 or forfeit, claiming that we hadn't informed her of the necessity of a best of 3 game, which we had, and so there was an argument between our coach, the ref and the other coach, and in the end all three will send in a report to the main board of sport to decide on the victor, but on the whole I think we deserved the win the most. Their coach also gave some pretty dodgy line calls, but we'll see how it goes. I was pretty happy with how I played, which is the important thing. :D
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: chooby on March 03, 2018, 08:56:42 pm
Future:
T&T SAC on Thursday, a Methods test rescheduled from Thursday to next Monday, and next Thursday a SAC/excursion to Luna Park for Physics!!! :D

So how was the trip to Luna Park and how did your SAC go?
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on March 03, 2018, 09:26:08 pm
So how was the trip to Luna Park and how did your SAC go?
The Luna Park trip is this coming week, so it hasn't happened yet, but the T&T SAC was pretty good. It was quite easy, just a couple of things I wasn't sure about, but I think that on the whole it was pretty good.

Yesterday was our school swimming carnival, and me and a friend of mine Eevrok made school history by being commentators in Yorkshire accents for various swimming events, which was pretty fun. We also planned a novelty event, a pool-noodle riding relay, but sadly we ran out of time to do it... :'( Now we're planning more commentary for athletics carnival, and this time hopefully we can do the whole thing rather than individual races... :P
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on March 08, 2018, 08:31:14 pm
Luna Park was today, and it was pretty cool! I've never been before, so it was a great experience for me. I only went on three things because of motion sickness problems, but I was glad to experience the Luna Park "rollercoaster" Scenic Railway, but man, it is so bumpy. Because I'm fairly tall, my knees constantly were touching the seat in front, and as you come up a rise it is so bumpy, so my knees are now super sore... >:( Still, it was pretty cool! The Silly Serpent was pretty good too, but what was fun was taking out the teacher's car in dodgem cars! :) Mostly I just watched though, and did the Physics workbook. It was still pretty good to have a day off school, and miss a double English Also got to see a McLaren, which was pretty cool. (shrug)

We won our volleyball game yesterday, so we've still got the top spot on the ladder, with one round to go... It was a pretty fun game too, so all round it's been going well.
Physics and Chemistry are still pretty cool, and we've finally had our first 'official' lessons in the new labs, having had some unofficial ones in there before. We had a Methods test that I did pretty well on, but I'm really waiting for the marks on our T&T SAC that we should be getting back soon. All round it's been a pretty good week, with the exception of the poetry in English and getting an email from Distance Ed saying "why haven't you handed in the first five weeks of work, you're getting behind, blah blah..." when their tech wouldn't let me on to the site until 3 days ago! >:( I hope everyone else's week has been even better! :)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: sarangiya on March 11, 2018, 06:40:03 pm
All round it's been a pretty good week, with the exception of the poetry in English and getting an email from Distance Ed saying "why haven't you handed in the first five weeks of work, you're getting behind, blah blah..." when their tech wouldn't let me on to the site until 3 days ago! >:( I hope everyone else's week has been even better! :)
How is specialist with DECV going? I've been curious as to what your impression would be.
I did philosophy DECV and I know lots of people who did Japanese through VSL, but I think both of those are quite difficult to do without face-to-face, immediate-feedback kind of teaching. Spesh I don't do, so I'm not sure what it'd be like. I'm actually imagining it wouldn't be bad, and since I'm reckoning that you would be very capable, maybe it isn't an issue. Hmmm. So, what do you think of it?
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on March 11, 2018, 09:36:32 pm
How is specialist with DECV going? I've been curious as to what your impression would be.
I did philosophy DECV and I know lots of people who did Japanese through VSL, but I think both of those are quite difficult to do without face-to-face, immediate-feedback kind of teaching. Spesh I don't do, so I'm not sure what it'd be like. I'm actually imagining it wouldn't be bad, and since I'm reckoning that you would be very capable, maybe it isn't an issue. Hmmm. So, what do you think of it?
Thus far it hasn't been too bad, with the exception of the start of this year, which was a fiasco. However, I do feel like they under-prepare students. For example, I don't find their work and exams hard at all, whereas the textbook is difficult. Sadly, when I don't have a teacher I have no accountability and am totally un-motivated, so I really don't do as well as I probably should, but I don't think that this is 100% my fault. I just don't think that they are a great school.

School's going OK at the moment, trying to improve my motivation and accountability, as well as trying to improve my attitude, which has been quite bad of late. If anyone has advice about how to improve attitude towards school, pls help! :)
Title: Re: Philboi's 'Marv'ellous Education Journey
Post by: sarangiya on March 11, 2018, 11:09:00 pm
Thus far it hasn't been too bad, with the exception of the start of this year, which was a fiasco. However, I do feel like they under-prepare students. For example, I don't find their work and exams hard at all, whereas the textbook is difficult. Sadly, when I don't have a teacher I have no accountability and am totally un-motivated, so I really don't do as well as I probably should, but I don't think that this is 100% my fault. I just don't think that they are a great school.
I think the same way. It was hard for me to stay motivated. However I really love the learning style of distance education, so I enjoyed it. But definitely, when you hit a wall it's seemingly impossible to actually bring yourself to do work.

School's going OK at the moment, trying to improve my motivation and accountability, as well as trying to improve my attitude, which has been quite bad of late. If anyone has advice about how to improve attitude towards school, pls help! :)
Legit same hahaha good luck!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on March 27, 2018, 09:28:30 am
Haven't posted for a while, so here goes again:
Since I last posted, we've had a T&T SAC returned, and I got 96% which I was pretty happy with. It wasn't a really hard SAC, but I got the top mark in a class of 22, so I was pretty happy with that. We also did an English SAC, and it was terrible. The teacher knows that I do better on structural questions, and there was one on the SAC, but for some reason that I cannot understand I didn't do it. I had a total freeze for 20min without writing anything, just because I couldn't think of anything. I don't even know what happened to me, but I feel like the SAC went really badly. We also won our first Teacher vs. Student game of the year, netball. Otherwise, not much has really happened since I last added to this. We've got a Chemistry SAC tomorrow, but after sport that afternoon we have holidays, really looking forward to that! Anyone going away over Easter?
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: sarangiya on April 09, 2018, 11:21:16 pm
Haven't posted for a while, so here goes again:
Since I last posted, we've had a T&T SAC returned, and I got 96% which I was pretty happy with. It wasn't a really hard SAC, but I got the top mark in a class of 22, so I was pretty happy with that. We also did an English SAC, and it was terrible. The teacher knows that I do better on structural questions, and there was one on the SAC, but for some reason that I cannot understand I didn't do it. I had a total freeze for 20min without writing anything, just because I couldn't think of anything. I don't even know what happened to me, but I feel like the SAC went really badly. We also won our first Teacher vs. Student game of the year, netball. Otherwise, not much has really happened since I last added to this. We've got a Chemistry SAC tomorrow, but after sport that afternoon we have holidays, really looking forward to that! Anyone going away over Easter?
Congrats on your fantastic mark in T&T!
Hopefully your English SAC wasn't as bad as you thought. Sometimes it isn't. I thought I'd completely botched my practice SAC - had the supervisor playing videos, people taking, and not the correct time allocated. I ended up not being able to write a whole paragraph and felt sick afterwards. To my surprise, I pulled an okay mark. Here's hoping the same happens for you.
Hope you did well on your chemistry SAC too!
I didn't go away this Easter - family came to me. How was your Easter weekend?
Best wishes!!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on April 10, 2018, 10:12:56 am
Congrats on your fantastic mark in T&T!
Hopefully your English SAC wasn't as bad as you thought. Sometimes it isn't. I thought I'd completely botched my practice SAC - had the supervisor playing videos, people taking, and not the correct time allocated. I ended up not being able to write a whole paragraph and felt sick afterwards. To my surprise, I pulled an okay mark. Here's hoping the same happens for you.
Hope you did well on your chemistry SAC too!
I didn't go away this Easter - family came to me. How was your Easter weekend?
Best wishes!!
Thanks, man! Congrats on your MotM, btw :)
The Easter weekend was good, went away up to Halls Gap, it was pretty fun. Apparently the English SAC didn't go badly, it just didn't go as well as either the teacher or I would have liked, so we'll see what the actual mark is next term. I think the Chemistry SAC went pretty well, but I can never be sure. It was all about comparing different types of cells, and I feel like I did well. However, each time I went and checked over my work after I was done I kept finding mistakes (and that was 4 times...), including finding a massive mistake where I'd totally misread the question, and it asked for an equation to explain the answer, and I'd merely explained the answer with only 3 minutes to go. Still, unless I was really badly second-guessing myself, I'm really glad I went through and checked repeatedly. That's all for this update, as the holidays continue to swallow up my time.

Update on Specialist Maths via Distance Ed:
I am gradually catching up, and mostly it is fun and interesting work, though occasionally mind-blowing. Though it's not as mind-boggling as Physics sometimes is, Yay Physics!!! :P
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: sarangiya on April 10, 2018, 09:21:12 pm
snip
Thank you! I was very surprised. I'll try to contribute more in the future haha.
Halls Gap sounds great! Bet it was busy.
I'm glad to hear your SACs seem okay. I'm sure all will be well.
Glad you're enjoying spesh, too. It must be great. I've heard from friends that Physics is just a big wtf did i just learn but that's probably what makes it fun, right?
All the best!!!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: turinturambar on April 12, 2018, 10:14:01 pm
Holidays swallow up your time?
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on April 24, 2018, 11:21:27 am
First week is done, so here is the update:

Had 3 SACs returned last week, the Chemistry, Physics and English ones. Really happy with the Physics and Chemistry SACs, 88% for both of them, but much less happy with the English SAC, with 21/30 :'(
Had our school athletics carnival last week, and it was pretty fun, had some time to have some fun with my mates, so in the end my last aths carnival ever was the best. Specialist is not going as well as I would have liked, still about 4 weeks behind, had one weeks work returned with 33%, and the SAC is coming up in 2 weeks. On the plus side, it is calculator-allowed and doesn't include anti-differentiation, so I'm pretty happy about that. In Physics yesterday we burned out a power-pack, short-circuiting it in a (failed) attempt to observe a magnetic field around a wire, there was a puff of grey smoke that looked pretty cool, but stank to be honest. Ah well... I'm rambling again. On the whole, the first week back (and a half) went pretty well, sorta looking forward to this term, hopefully it continues to go well.

Went to a couple of the AN VCE lectures, got to meet legends @zsteve and @insanipi, great to meet you guys. Massive shoutout to the people who run those lectures, a great job was done. Really good job from Luke and Stephen in the Chem and Methods lectures, keep it up guys!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Joseph41 on April 24, 2018, 12:08:01 pm
First week is done, so here is the update:

Had 3 SACs returned last week, the Chemistry, Physics and English ones. Really happy with the Physics and Chemistry SACs, 88% for both of them, but much less happy with the English SAC, with 21/30 :'(
Had our school athletics carnival last week, and it was pretty fun, had some time to have some fun with my mates, so in the end my last aths carnival ever was the best. Specialist is not going as well as I would have liked, still about 4 weeks behind, had one weeks work returned with 33%, and the SAC is coming up in 2 weeks. On the plus side, it is calculator-allowed and doesn't include anti-differentiation, so I'm pretty happy about that. In Physics yesterday we burned out a power-pack, short-circuiting it in a (failed) attempt to observe a magnetic field around a wire, there was a puff of grey smoke that looked pretty cool, but stank to be honest. Ah well... I'm rambling again. On the whole, the first week back (and a half) went pretty well, sorta looking forward to this term, hopefully it continues to go well.

Went to a couple of the AN VCE lectures, got to meet legends @zsteve and @insanipi, great to meet you guys. Massive shoutout to the people who run those lectures, a great job was done. Really good job from Luke and Stephen in the Chem and Methods lectures, keep it up guys!

Bummed we missed each other at the lectures somehow, but glad you enjoyed them!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on July 12, 2018, 04:22:04 am
Hi all, it's good to be back. I don't really know why I haven't posted on AN in forever, but I just never really felt like I could, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I'm back now, and mean to stick around for quite a long while now. Here follows a long and complicated update on the present which I would advise you to skip if you have any wish to maintain your sanity.

Life update
I'm in India at the moment, braving the heat. I've been sort of wanting to come on here, but at the same time I just felt uncomfortable about it, I don't know why, but being here away from my friends has reminded me of this awesome community, so here I am. It's good to be back, now that I am. There isn't really much else to say about my life...

School update
Here comes the meaty part of the journal. In terms of where I'm at at the moment, I'm pretty confident about school at the moment, really feeling good about it. The aim wavered for a while, but now I'm back to intending to go to Monash and do Engineering, and an excursion to Monash's Engineering and Science faculties strengthened this intention.

English
I still loath English with a deadly loathing. The teacher keeps telling me that I'm good at English and then gives me mediocre marks. I don't understand the point of writing all the rubbish that I am forced to. Why should I analyse books and articles in the way we have to, when I can see what they are trying to do without writing a long flowery essay on why the author put a comma after this word and how he/she/it is trying to get me to throw myself into the nearest pond. >:( I don't understand the point, and until I do I will keep ranting about it. Anyway, I'm still confident of a 35. English is a subject I do on sufferance, I don't pretend to enjoy it, I just do it.
T&T
T&T is just boring at the moment. The teacher just stands up the front at lectures us from slide after slide of notes, that few, if any, students copy or do anything with. 90% of the class play games on their laptops, and even I struggle to concentrate, and I have pretty good concentrations. We just slowly go through chapter after chapter of Luke, learning very little and being bored to death. On the plus side I'm still in the top 2 in the class, and in such a small state cohort (~350 students) I can probably get high 40s if I do well in the exam.
Methods
At the moment Methods is pretty easy. I haven't really struggled with anything at all in Methods this year, with a really nice 92% in the first SAC. I enjoy maths, so this is pretty good. There's not much to say about Methods...
Specialist
Almost caught up, after a semester to do so. It feels good to be nearly caught up, and once I have got through differential equations it should be a pretty nice run for home, with just probability and Physics left in the course. I find Spesh level calculus quite difficult, despite finding Methods calculus easy, but once I get past that it should be all good. It's hard not having a physical class to work with, but I'm coping OK I think.
Physics
Not very happy with Physics at the moment. I expected 100% on the SAC on Transformers, but missed out because I forgot to put a title on graphs. I don't know if I have mentioned before that we have to class-share with another school, but their teacher is dodgy. She marked that SAC and took a mark off because I answered a question with 1.2kV rather than 1200V although the question was in kV and did not ask for the answer in V. That was the second hint that she was dodgy after her marking of the previous SAC had her class vastly outscoring mine, despite it being the other way round in the first SAC. We have complained, and our teacher is getting the SACs cross-marked, so hopefully my 57% will get a bit of a boost... >:( On the whole though, I find the course itself really fun and much of it is quite intuitive, and quite easy.
Chemistry
Chemistry is quite fun at the moment. Organic and food chemistry are really interesting and not too hard. We got an excursion to Monash for organic chemistry which was really interesting. Now I just want to know how I did in our mid-year exam. It was the NEAP Unit 3 practice exam, and they are really hard, so we'll see how it goes. I was pretty happy with it though, so hopefully my feeling as to how I did was right.
There, now if you got through all that well done. If you read your way all the way through that, feel free to PM me (be honest ;P ) and I'll give you... I don't know, an emoji of a piece of cake and some kudos. Is that good enough?

It's really good to be back in this community after ages away, I look forward to catching up with y'all soon. Cheers!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Joseph41 on July 19, 2018, 05:16:05 pm
^Really nice to see this updated again! :) When are you back in the country?
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on July 20, 2018, 10:48:39 am
^Really nice to see this updated again! :) When are you back in the country?
Right now, actually. Got home at 11:30 last night, getting today off school as I only got up 10 mins ago. :) Good to be back!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: not.yet.a.nerd on July 21, 2018, 03:22:40 pm
🐢 🐢 🐢 I found you some more turtles!
Random question but what does your study set-up look like? 
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on July 21, 2018, 04:44:33 pm
Thanks for the turtles...

I don't really have a fixed study set up per se, stuff just happens in any order that I want, I'm really disorganised, but at the moment things are still going pretty well. How about you?
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on July 23, 2018, 08:30:16 pm
So it was first day back today, and I discovered that tomorrow we are going into the city to watch Invictus *yay* and then go to a lecture *boo* comparing Invictus and Ransom. That should be pretty interesting, but that takes up 5 out of 6 periods, and the last one is... English >:( I miss out on double Chem for this >:(

Otherwise it was nice to get back, discovered that in the one week I was away the Methods class got through the whole of normal distributions and for the first time in VCE Methods I am behind... :'(

Physics we're halfway through the Practical Investigation which the teacher held up for me while I was away and we'll be getting back to that soon. There's an upcoming Chemistry SAC, on nomenclature of organic molecules and spectroscopy techniques, which should be good, but I wasn't at all happy with my Chem mid-year practice exam. "I hate the NEAP exams!!!" I did pretty badly, but then so did the whole class. Must do better, Yertle!

Really glad I'm not doing the UMAT, but good luck to all those who are, I might try to think of you...
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on July 24, 2018, 05:28:23 pm
So, the lecture/movie was today, and it went pretty well. We lost 5 students in catching the train, which was pretty funny, and was enough to question the organisation of the group, but anyway... The movie was good, I've already watched it, but only in English style, in other words you start, and then the teacher stops it to mention a theme or a quote to take down, and then you start again, but stop again, stop, start, stop, start, ad infinitum. Therefore, it was very nice to see it in cinema style. The lecture was ok, even if the lecturer did her level best to put me to sleep. Then, after all, we got back too late to have a proper period 6, so me and a friend went and played pool in the common room instead of doing English ;D On the whole it was a really good day, though the weather on the way home was terrible, really really wet and cold. Ah well...
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Bri MT on July 24, 2018, 06:04:19 pm
I found my spectroscopy etc. SAC to be fun. (Yes, I found a SAC fun...) So hopefully you have a similar experience with yours.

What are you doing for your EPI?
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: S200 on July 26, 2018, 12:17:07 am
OK.A couple of points. this is the first time that I have read through anyone's Journal fully...
It's actualy awesome.

#1... What are your key takeaways from Ransom/Invictus?

#2... Going back to the start... Do you have family background in India, or just friends?
Just nosy. You can ignore if you wish...

#3.... Mind=Blown!. Yertle is Marvin K mooney!
I need to keep up to date here!!!!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on July 26, 2018, 07:47:09 am
I found my spectroscopy etc. SAC to be fun. (Yes, I found a SAC fun...) So hopefully you have a similar experience with yours.

What are you doing for your EPI?
Spectroscopy has been the most fun part of the course so far, it's really fun! I'm actually looking forward to the SAC for once. For the Practical Investigation (I'm assuming that that's what EPI is?!) in Physics I'm dropping cars down a ramp from varying heights and measuring how far they go to discover what affects the distance they will travel, change in height, mass, etc. It's going pretty well at the moment.

OK.A couple of points. this is the first time that I have read through anyone's Journal fully...
It's actualy awesome.

#1... What are your key takeaways from Ransom/Invictus?

#2... Going back to the start... Do you have family background in India, or just friends?
Just nosy. You can ignore if you wish...

#3.... Mind=Blown!. Yertle is Marvin K mooney!
I need to keep up to date here!!!!
I'm glad you enjoyed it and well done for the courage to read it. :P
1. Invictus/Ransom both feel like they leave a message of hope in other people, which is something that I really needed :D They're about forgiveness and courage, and I found that pretty interesting.
2. I don't have family in India (yet), but we do have a lot of friends and my older sister has a boyfriend there, so that's why we go mostly.
3. Yeah, it's true. It seemed to take a lot of people a long time to pick it up, but well done! :D

btw, congrats on 500 posts!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on July 30, 2018, 10:33:33 pm
Random motivation spiel
I'm a very cynical person, and for me whenever I start to lose faith in people, there's one thing that can restore it. I always watch Spor Delisi's Fair Play videos, and they make me cry. It's so good to realise that people are actually nice!

School stuff:
Well the first week back was pretty good, got a couple of SACs back, my worst score for T&T since the start of Unit 1, a B+, but I wasn't too upset about that. However, the English creative SAC I got really mad about because I only got 80% (marginally above the class average) despite the teacher only putting positive feedback on the response! >:( This always bugs me with English, I always get given 70s or 80s, but there's never any reason given. The comments always say "Good job" etc., never anything negative, but I never get the really good marks. I've basically given up caring about English, I just hate it. That's all I can say about it. *shrugs*

Today was our school Talent Show, and 7 out of 8 Yr 12 guys took part in a medley of the songs "Sweet Child o' Mine", "Eye of the Tiger" (which I'd never heard before, but it's awesome), "Shooting Star" and "What does the Fox Say?", and it was awesome. We didn't even get an 'honourable mention', but everyone liked it, I hear.

The Physics Practical Investigation is nearly done, just a double period tomorrow to type it up, so I'll be glad when that's done, though I hope our teacher is marking them, because otherwise I'm screwed for Physics, and that would make me so mad, and destroy the faith in people I've spent so long building up :'(

Chemistry SAC in 2 days, and then about a week until the next Methods SAC, and the Spesh SAC is coming up then too... ARGH! Not very happy right now.

cy@ l8r
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: S200 on July 31, 2018, 08:11:04 am
btw, congrats on 500 posts!
Thanks Bro!

What are you doing for your Prac?
Oops. Actually read the post rather than just glancing at it...  :-[ :-[

Do you just drop the cars from the very top of the ramp, or use a ruler to measure the height?

Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Joseph41 on July 31, 2018, 09:13:12 am
Re: English marks, have you asked your teacher why you're dropping marks? Sorry if you've covered this already haha.
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on July 31, 2018, 09:58:29 am
Thanks Bro!

What are you doing for your Prac?
Oops. Actually read the post rather than just glancing at it...  :-[ :-[

Do you just drop the cars from the very top of the ramp, or use a ruler to measure the height?
First I measured the top of the ramp, and then dropped them all from the top.

Re: English marks, have you asked your teacher why you're dropping marks? Sorry if you've covered this already haha.
I have complained about it a couple of times, and never get a satisfactory answer. There is never any serious reason given that I can understand, and that makes me quite mad. I just wish I knew why I lost the marks. But I will try again.
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Joseph41 on July 31, 2018, 10:37:13 am
^Yeah, I reckon it's worth persisting with (respectfully and within reason). Definitely understand the frustration!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: sarangiya on August 08, 2018, 05:20:31 pm
I have complained about it a couple of times, and never get a satisfactory answer. There is never any serious reason given that I can understand, and that makes me quite mad. I just wish I knew why I lost the marks. But I will try again.
Definitely can relate. You must be used to getting the "well, it was really good but we don't want to give you full marks because you'll get too complacent" BS too!
How about getting two of your pieces, and asking the teacher what was different between them? Forcing them to compare might also force them to justify their marking lol.
Good luck anyway!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: not.yet.a.nerd on August 08, 2018, 05:43:50 pm
Today was our school Talent Show, and 7 out of 8 Yr 12 guys took part in a medley of the songs "Sweet Child o' Mine", "Eye of the Tiger" (which I'd never heard before, but it's awesome), "Shooting Star" and "What does the Fox Say?", and it was awesome. We didn't even get an 'honourable mention', but everyone liked it, I hear.


Woah- are you saying there are only 8 guys in your year level?

However, the English creative SAC I got really mad about because I only got 80% (marginally above the class average) despite the teacher only putting positive feedback on the response! >:( This always bugs me with English, I always get given 70s or 80s, but there's never any reason given. The comments always say "Good job" etc., never anything negative, but I never get the really good marks. I've basically given up caring about English, I just hate it. That's all I can say about it. *shrugs*


That sounds pretty annoying. How can one improve without some criticism as feedback? My English teacher is the opposite, rather than say what we've done well, they like to point out all the flaws. So I can be a bit disheartening if you don't do well, and confusing if you do do well.  :P
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on August 09, 2018, 10:40:31 pm


Woah- are you saying there are only 8 guys in your year level?

That sounds pretty annoying. How can one improve without some criticism as feedback? My English teacher is the opposite, rather than say what we've done well, they like to point out all the flaws. So I can be a bit disheartening if you don't do well, and confusing if you do do well.  :P
Uh-huh. 8 guys, and 13 girls. That's it. It means that there is less competition, which is sometimes good and sometimes sucks.

This is basically a description of the most valuable thing I did today.

In the past week I've done two international Chemistry competitions, and not done very well at them. I also got an English essay back with 65%, a little more feedback this time which is good, and given that I wrote the essay at 11:30 at night, I wasn't too upset with the mark. Played soccer on Wednesday, it was raining heaps, but I got my second goal of the season, playing against a @J41 doppelganger which was cool. Got a SAC coming up tomorrow for Spesh on Calculus, which I'm really not ready for. (No one is answering my question in the Spesh question thread :'( ) I guess I'll live through it, but don't expect to do well on it. We're watching Invictus for the 3rd time, but in English mode, e.g 14 seconds at a time, with explanations in the middle, though the explanations are never quite long enough to finish taking notes before the movie is started again, leaving you frantically scribbling down the last sentence. >:( Anyway, things aren't great at the moment on the technology front. Ever since getting back from India my charger has been very temperamental, so finally I bought a new one. It arrived today, but within 10 seconds of being plugged in my laptop itself died. >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(

Note for those who followed the above link
You just got RICKROLLED

The most satisfying thing I did today was rickroll 3 people. And learn all sorts of Google tricks, such as 'askew'

Thanks for putting up with my weirdness, and thanks for the support of the awesome people who comment here! ;D
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Joseph41 on August 09, 2018, 10:59:52 pm
Well, I just got done good.
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: PhoenixxFire on August 09, 2018, 11:14:20 pm
This is basically a description of the most valuable thing I did today.
I was fully expecting that when I clicked on to it and it was very satisfying that I was right haha

playing against a @J41 doppelganger which was cool.
They're taking over...
Spoiler
Excuse the horrible editing skills haha
(https://i.imgur.com/S7XGrUF.png)
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on August 15, 2018, 11:32:34 pm
I'm glad that at least some people respected my prank... :'(

Anyway, VTAC preferences are all up now, and I figured I should probably do an update for this. I'm still quite unsure about exactly how achievable my goals are, but at the moment here are my preferences:
Preferences from VTAC
1. 2800328091 - Engineering (Honours) (Monash University, Clayton)
2. 2800328271 - Engineering (Honours)/Science (Monash University, Clayton)
3. 3200332711 - Engineering-Chemical (Honours) (RMIT University, City)
4. 2800328451 - Science (Monash University, Clayton)
5. 2800329401 - Civil Engineering (Honours)/Architectural Design (Monash University, Clayton)
6. 2800328671 - Mechanical Engineering (Honours)/Industrial Design (Monash University, Clayton)
7. 3400210741 - Engineering (Honours) (Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn)
8. 3400211141 - Engineering (Honours)/Science (Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn)

At the moment I guess I'll just have to wait and see, as the RMIT and Swinburne preferences are just there for backup at present, a little bit unsure about whether to do the double Eng/Sci or not, just have to wait and see I guess.

Had a game of soccer today, scored a brace which was good, doubling my season total. Otherwise it has been a pretty average week. Got a Chem SAC back with 93%, but did a Spesh SAC on Friday which defied explanation other than to say it was terrible. >:( :'( Currently got a Methods SAC happening that isn't too bad, one period to go tomorrow, and we had a T&T SAC yesterday, which actually went pretty well. Best of all, my new laptop arrived today and it's awesome! It's annoying having to reinstall so much stuff, but it is still really good having it.
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on August 24, 2018, 04:50:57 pm
OK, so it's been a while since I added to this, so here goes. The Methods SAC went well on the Wednesday, and terribly on the Thursday, and I got home feeling confident that I'd failed, which was massively discouraging given the score I've been telling myself I might be able to get. It was a really bad week for me, just having 2 really bad SACs and my laptop packing up all in the same week, and it's been really hard to bounce back. In the end I got most of the marks for what I wrote, so I ended up with 62%, much better than I expected, but finishing my expectation of no. 1 ranking. :'(  My Physics Practical investigation was returned this week as well, and I got 89% which I was really happy with. That's been about the only bright spot in the past fortnight, basically. Things are certainly not looking good at the moment.

Cross country was today, and I came second, which I was pretty happy with, but now I'm feeling terrible after it. >:(
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Bri MT on August 24, 2018, 04:57:55 pm
OK, so it's been a while since I added to this, so here goes. The Methods SAC went well on the Wednesday, and terribly on the Thursday, and I got home feeling confident that I'd failed, which was massively discouraging given the score I've been telling myself I might be able to get. It was a really bad week for me, just having 2 really bad SACs and my laptop packing up all in the same week, and it's been really hard to bounce back. In the end I got most of the marks for what I wrote, so I ended up with 62%, much better than I expected, but finishing my expectation of no. 1 ranking. :'(  My Physics Practical investigation was returned this week as well, and I got 89% which I was really happy with. That's been about the only bright spot in the past fortnight, basically. Things are certainly not looking good at the moment.

Cross country was today, and I came second, which I was pretty happy with, but now I'm feeling terrible after it. >:(

Congratulations on what has been going well, and I hope that the not so great gets better.

Especially congratulations on your EPI, I don't know about you, but I found that more stressful than the exams. Term 3 is the worst; it gets better.
Best of luck with that happening swiftly
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: hiyo on August 26, 2018, 11:10:12 pm
Anyway, VTAC preferences are all up now, and I figured I should probably do an update for this. I'm still quite unsure about exactly how achievable my goals are, but at the moment here are my preferences:
Preferences from VTAC
1. 2800328091 - Engineering (Honours) (Monash University, Clayton)
2. 2800328271 - Engineering (Honours)/Science (Monash University, Clayton)
3. 3200332711 - Engineering-Chemical (Honours) (RMIT University, City)
4. 2800328451 - Science (Monash University, Clayton)
5. 2800329401 - Civil Engineering (Honours)/Architectural Design (Monash University, Clayton)
6. 2800328671 - Mechanical Engineering (Honours)/Industrial Design (Monash University, Clayton)
7. 3400210741 - Engineering (Honours) (Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn)
8. 3400211141 - Engineering (Honours)/Science (Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn)

It seems like your eyes are set on Engineering at Monash, that's amazing !! Meanwhile, I'm so indecisive between medicine and engineering  :'(.
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on September 19, 2018, 10:57:04 pm
Yet again I appear to have lapsed and it's been a while since I last made an addition to this, so here goes:

Physically things are not the best right now. At the start of the week I just had a cold, but it has got worse. On Monday I strained/tore my trapezoid (neck muscle), which has caused issues with movement, and is quite painful, and then today (Wednesday) I developed a painful ear infection, so currently my nose, my neck and my ear all feel terrible. :(

Physics and Chemistry have both been going well, continuing my streak of mid-80s to low 90s in both subjects for SACs, really happy with how it's going at the moment, final SAC for Physics tomorrow if I'm well enough to go, and just the Practical Investigation to go for Chem.

Was actually happy for the first time in a Spesh SAC, the last one for the year, on kinematics, so hopefully the marks back up the good vibes and improve what has been an appalling year for the subject.

For Methods I'm down to one more SAC, hopefully a bit of a redemption after the last one, but currently feeling pretty good about it.

For Texts I've only got one SAC to go, tomorrow if I can make it, and hopefully that should back up the strong run of high 80s I've been getting there as well, feeling pretty confident about it at the moment, hopefully that is justified in the SS.

English is still the bane of my life. That's about all there is to say about it.

I don't really know what else to talk about tbh. Thanks heaps for the amazing support, hiyo, miniturtle and all the amazing AN fam! ;D
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: sarangiya on September 20, 2018, 11:19:47 am
Sounds like you've done amazingly in texts, methods, chemistry and physics... (and probably spesh, despite your worries)! Congratulations!!
All the best for your remaining SACs - I know you can do it.
Isn't it exciting that we are almost to the end of the line?!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on October 08, 2018, 05:19:10 pm
Returning to a feeling of déjà vu. I'm pretty sure that if you search for the words I'm about to type you will find it scattered all over this thread:

I feel like it's been a long time since I posted here, so here is a recap of the last few weeks. But first of all, a little bit of a rant
RANT
I hate the pressure and expectations that are around me. I don't think that anyone quite realises the pressure that I have to deal with. I've had quite a few older siblings who've all done pretty well, and all at the same school, so a) my family expect me to do well, b) I've grown up expecting to do well, c) the school expects me to do well because of my surname (I'm pretty sure that that was the only reason they offered me Spesh), and d) all of my friends (and enemies) at school expect me to do well, so when I don't top the class I get laughed at. THIS IS TOO MUCH PRESSURE FOR ONE HUMAN BEING AND I HATE IT! I'm not even sure if all of this is deliberate or whether I'm reading too much into it, but I'm constantly feeling like there's no way I'll ever do well enough to fulfill all the expectations that people have for me. I just want to get out of here!
Rant ended. I will now try to speak without yelling. Oh, wait, I'm typing. I'll get my caps lock off then.

In the holidays I basically didn't do enough, but I did get a couple of practice exams done, fairly satisfactory for this stage of revision, though I will need to do much better in the final exams. The Chem practical investigation ended up going pretty well, despite having to change question 3 times. It ended up looking pretty good, with a workable question, and I think I probably did alright. I'm feeling pretty comfortable with Texts right now, I got the last SAC and the trial exam done pretty well, as well as getting the equal top mark for the previous SAC. English continues to be pretty meh, I don't really care about it but it's not going terribly. I did the Methods trial exam 1 today and I think I did pretty well in it, I think I dropped probably 3-4 marks. Not ideal, but again revision isn't long started. The Physics SAC was alright, but I don't think I did quite as well as usual. 2 trial exams tomorrow, and then the last one on Wednesday.

During the holidays I went to 2 revision lectures, Chem and Spesh, and they were great! Huge thanks to Daniel and Jack, who both did an amazing job, as well as to J41 and Brenden, the organisers. Also great to meet up with @technodisney, it was awesome meeting you!

Not long to go now, hopefully I'll now update this a little more often for the next while... (fingers crossed) :P
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: rani_b on October 08, 2018, 08:04:06 pm
RANT
I hate the pressure and expectations that are around me. I don't think that anyone quite realises the pressure that I have to deal with. I've had quite a few older siblings who've all done pretty well, and all at the same school, so a) my family expect me to do well, b) I've grown up expecting to do well, c) the school expects me to do well because of my surname (I'm pretty sure that that was the only reason they offered me Spesh), and d) all of my friends (and enemies) at school expect me to do well, so when I don't top the class I get laughed at. THIS IS TOO MUCH PRESSURE FOR ONE HUMAN BEING AND I HATE IT! I'm not even sure if all of this is deliberate or whether I'm reading too much into it, but I'm constantly feeling like there's no way I'll ever do well enough to fulfill all the expectations that people have for me. I just want to get out of here!

Ahhh I relate! Sometimes a really helpful thing to do is strip away all those expectations and think about why you want to do well. Think about whether those expectations are motivation for you or are hindering you. Whatever it is, it's totally normal to feel that way! Good luck for all you upcoming exams  :)
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: turinturambar on October 08, 2018, 09:45:43 pm
RANT
I hate the pressure and expectations that are around me. I don't think that anyone quite realises the pressure that I have to deal with. I've had quite a few older siblings who've all done pretty well, and all at the same school, so a) my family expect me to do well, b) I've grown up expecting to do well, c) the school expects me to do well because of my surname (I'm pretty sure that that was the only reason they offered me Spesh), and d) all of my friends (and enemies) at school expect me to do well, so when I don't top the class I get laughed at. THIS IS TOO MUCH PRESSURE FOR ONE HUMAN BEING AND I HATE IT! I'm not even sure if all of this is deliberate or whether I'm reading too much into it, but I'm constantly feeling like there's no way I'll ever do well enough to fulfill all the expectations that people have for me. I just want to get out of here!

That sucks, bro. Unfair expectations can be a real killer, and even a good family name comes with burdens.  All I can suggest is that you try and do your best without worrying what other people think about it (easier said than done). And, like rani said, think about what you want, because the best expectations can come from within.  I know you picked at least some of your subjects because you enjoyed them and do well at them.  Which doesn't mean enjoying every single part of the process, but hopefully they're better than, dare I say it, English.

All the best!
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: technodisney on October 09, 2018, 11:58:15 am
Also great to meet up with @technodisney, it was awesome meeting you!

It was awesome meeting you too. I expected my social awkwardness to go into overdrive and for me to just stop talking (because new people aggghhhh), but that didn't happen, thanks for being easy to talk to. Looking forward to seeing you again in the future :)

You are almost there, keep pushing through and just do your best, and if your best isn't the same as your siblings best that is ok, you are after all different people.
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on December 14, 2018, 03:46:32 pm
Well, I guess that now is as good a time as any to wrap this up. Results are just out, so here they are:
Physics: 40 -> 43
English: 37 -> 36
Texts: 40 -> 40
Specialist: 26 -> 36
Methods: 35 -> 40
Chemistry: 37 -> 41
ATAR: 93.50

The last 3 parts of that list are the disappointing ones. Methods and Chem I both expected at least raw 38-39, if not over 40. I did better in English than expected, about as expected with Physics and Spesh, and was a little unsure with Texts. In the end, I'm not happy, but it was my own fault for not working hard enough, so suck it up buddy. I know that I messed the year up by laziness, so I shouldn't complain about my marks. I'll probably post on this thread one more time, when offers come out, but for now, I'll just give some reflections on the year.

It's been a pretty good year for me on the social front. I think I've improved my ability to be around people, I've gone out of my way to try and be more sociable. However, from an academic standpoint, I'm not very happy, not that my ATAR is terrible, but that I know I should have done better. I feel that I've got to know the teachers and students at my school better, and that is the great highlight of the year. You guys on here have been another massive highlight, particularly meeting @technodisney. Thanks so much for all the support that all you guys have offered on here, and thanks for the help that I've received. You guys are legends, and I hope that you have a happy new year in 2019! :D
Title: Re: Yertle's VCE Journey
Post by: Yertle the Turtle on January 19, 2019, 10:43:53 pm
So, that comment about wrapping up with the last post was not true. This probably will be the actual wrap-up. So I've received an offer for the Bachelor of Engineering at Monash, which I am in the process of accepting, though it's not working very well atm. With this post my VCE is officially over, and I am now a uni student, struggling under suddenly finding that life is full of responsibilities. I grew up in a very sheltered and isolated family where I really didn't have to do anything with initiative or responsibility, so suddenly finding all these things that I have to do myself, and if I screw up it's my problem is really stressing me out right now. Anyway, here is a list of good things from VCE and regrets as well:

Regrets
I regret not working hard enough, not just in English, but in everything (even Physics and Chem). I messed up my own scores, but I also think that in not working hard myself I damaged other people's work ethic in my class. I wish I had actually put more effort in. I also wish I'd been able to continue my fitness drive, but I procrastinated that out of my life as well. Lastly I regret being so argumentative last year, as I argued with almost everyone I came into contact with. I should have tried to really solidify some relationships, but instead I broke them up and so my attempts to improve myself socially really failed.

Good things
Look, 2018 was a year where I was able to really strengthen some relationships with some of my friends, I did meet some new people and get to know them better, and I learnt a lot about life from some of these encounters. I'm really grateful for the support of my friends and teachers, who helped me to learn about life in various aspects, as well as the subjects that they were employed to teach. I did feel like I got more fit in the year despite dropping the workout, largely thanks to sport at school, both organised and unorganised. For all of these things, as well as some very supportive siblings thanks turin and heids, I am very grateful.
In terms of a final breakdown of regrets vs. good stuff, I guess the things I regret were academics, while the things I am grateful for were people and relationships. I'm looking forward to learning new things this year and in the coming years, and I hope that the later years will help me build myself. If you want to find out about my goals and follow my journey through uni, I will be posting in the Uni Journey Journal, so stay posted if you can be bothered. Thank you to all those who have followed my journey on here and been very supportive, and good luck in the coming year :D