Introduction

So here I am and it’s the end of the Semester, or should I say Block 1? Ok it’s the end of the semester and the end of Block 1. It has really been a busy busy time. Work has been mega busy and I’ve been working really hard on my Masters. I have made a really good effort this time and stayed focused on what I wanted to do. Every Sunday my lecturer posts our new topic online to Pebble Pad, and like a true nerd, I’m logged in and eagerly reading the tasks before trawling through my selection of airpower books and starting to jot down some initial thoughts and feelings.

Pebble Pad

I like to try to make my first posting onto the Pebble Pad Blog by Tuesday at the latest, so I usually do this on a Monday evening after I’ve finished work. If you want a tip then stay focused and make sure you allocate at least an hour each day for reading and another hour for write-up and posting. One more tip, do your write-up in a word document and then cut and paste it into the Pebble Pad editor. Only one downside about Pebble Pad, I can’t use my Ipad to access it as “IT DOESN’T HAVE FLASH!!!!!” (sorry about the excessive use of exclamation marks)

Air Power Module

So a little more about this module I’ve been doing…… It’s Called Air Power and it’s about air power (obviously) so we have been looking at the definitions of it and the early uses and techniques, strategies, theories used in air power throughout mainly the twentieth century. I’ve had mixed pleasure with the weekly blogs as this time round the rest of the people haven’t been as active as last year’s group. But luckily for me there is one person on there who makes a good contribution and we are able to engage with each other’s posts and comments (so thank you). It really is about peer-to-peer engagement and I really value this as a learning tool. It’s really powerful to have this sort of interaction with the other students on your course as it’s good to see something from a different perspective and even have some of your ideas and thoughts challenged. Especially as this is a 100% online module. I really look forward to meeting the rest of the group on my future modules.

Putting It All Together

So here’s a little more about what I actually did…. The weekly blogs make up 25% of the total grade, I think it should be more, but hey. I made sure that I made regular contributions to this and tried to post at least three times. I only missed one week and that’s because I was a way and with my Ipad. The second component was a Source Analysis. I hate these, but in some ways I also love em. I think it’s because I prefer to write an essay and look at different sources and bring it all together. I guess the benefit of doing a source analysis is that it can be about my personal thoughts so I’m able to adopt a different writing style. Anyway, that was worth another 25%. Finally the last component was a 3000 word essay. I once again get to choose my question and once again I’m spoilt for choice. To cut a long story short, I finally got it done and submitted. I did well by writing a pretty comprehensive plan. I even stuck to it and gave myself plenty of time to start it and get it finished. I even managed to hit the word count exactly (allowing for my plus 10%) so, now all I have to do is wait for the final results I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a B overall. Let’s wait and see.

Thanks for reading and I will add a bit more personal info in the next instalment.

Bye for now

I think that we had around six thousand new starters this past week, and even thou I work in the Students’ Union, I was also one of those returning students. I managed to get myself enrolled onto evision and have now just got to select my modules. I know what I’m doing already cus I met with my module leader and discussed my options over the summer. The nerd in me is really excited about getting myself back into the library and ready to submerge myself under a pile of books for another year.

So, this will be my second and final year on my Masters course for Conflict Studies and then I will have the summer for my dissertation. If you want to see how I cope with the pressures of finding that balance between, Work. Social, Family, Leisure and Sleep, then keep reading. I will be delivering you a taste of all. I would very much like to make this an interactive blog, so I welcome your feedback, comments and suggestions.  Feel free to email me or come over and see me at the Students’ Union in MD building. 

For now I would like to welcome you to my blog, welcome to the university and welcome to my world.  Now I need to rest my weak legs and get some rest before my lectures start.

Bye for now.

Day two video

Day three video

Day four video

Day five video

Students' Union
As you know by now, I work in the Students’ Union. I’ve spent most of May working on different student issues, from attending NUS conferences like International Students Conference and NUS Black Students Conference.  These are amazing places where I can really influence positive change in the student movement. I get a chance to utilise the knowledge and skills that I have gained whilst studying in both my undergrad and current postgrad studies. So I’m proud to say that I’ve written a handful of policy motions ranging from combating cultural shock, increasing black representation in Higher Education, and improved funding for all students. It’s a win-win-win for students.

NUS Awards Dinner

We won!!! Time to celebrate

I really am honoured to be the President. Although I have no plans to run the country. But I’ve really had lots of opportunities to get involved in the wider workings of university and student life, whether that be in my role as a Governor, a Trustee of the Union, judging the winners of the upcoming Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Awards, or simply arranging an end of year party for all you lovely students. And the best thing is, I get another year to do it all again. Perfect.

SU Council together one last time!

The summer months
The course has been absolutely amazing. I have some really intelligent and compassionate lecturers who are all experts in their field. There really is no limit to their knowledge. (No I’m not sucking up to boost my grades.) So after many months of lectures and assignments and endless reading lists, I’m finally at the point where I have a big task ahead of me for the summer. It’s time to start the research side in preparation for my dissertation, just a few thousand words to write up.  It’s awfully quiet around here now that teaching has officially ended and exams are over. What’s that sound I hear? Oh it’s the library calling me!

The library calls me

So I’m spending most of the next few months preparing for the new academic year and Welcome Week which starts this September. If you really want to know what’s happening, check out our website www.wolvesunion.org or follow the usual social network sites on facebook and twitter.

I really must thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope it’s given you a little insight into the life of a postgrad student and has given you a chance to experience what is actually involved in it all.  You’ve also had the chance to learn a little bit about me and my personal and working life. Thank you to those of you who have contacted me personally and are now following me on twitter and facebook. I really hope that this has been entertaining for you.

Even though this blog is now drawing to a close, please feel free to ask me anything you want about student life at the university.

Take care and good luck in your future.

Thank you and goodbye

Pebblepad

THAT: My work in the Students’ Union, every day different, new and exciting.
THE OTHER: Lots of fun, play and other exciting activities.  Read on for more details.

THE COURSE:

The course is going really well. I’m able to find just the right balance between work and study. It’s definitely about staying focused and strict to your schedule. My tip is allocate a set day over the weekend dedicated solely for study, reduce your T.V. intake (as in I don’t watch any soaps, so I save my sanity and I save around four hours a week.) The time you save not watching T.V. you can use this for valuable reading time. So I’m looking forward to my next assignment and will have an enjoyable (seriously) time doing my research for my final project.

Work, work, work!

The JOB:

The job is also going fine. It’s been a busy month. So busy I’ve not had a chance to stop and blog. My time as the president has been full of lots of exciting and different things. I will definitely miss this when my term is over.  The good news is (to cut a long story short) I’ve just re run in the elections and I won by a comfortable amount. So I’ve got another year to really cement things in.  This is perfect cus now I can really concentrate on the new Walsall Union project and get on with an International Audit for the NUS.

N.U.S. National Conference has also just passed by and again this was a very enjoyable time that I shared with others from the Union and University, Colin, Naveed and Claire. There was supposed to be six of us but that’s another story. Myself and two others (or me and two of the others- yeah that’s how I’d speak it) got up on stage and spoke out on some student policy motions.  I was very happy that Liam Burns was successfully elected as the new NUS President. I won’t bore you with all the results but everyone I voted for got in. I’m expecting a positive year ahead.

Electons Team

Conferences, conferences, conferences!!! It’s conference season so pretty much most of my weeks are filled with conferences. You can get your ‘learn on’, catch up with other union officers, do the networking thing and really get the latest info on what’s happening nationally. Plus at certain ones you get a stack load of freebies. I’m really looking forward to NUS Black Students’ Conference and NUS International Students’ Conference. I’ve been working on some new policy motions to go to both NUS Campaigns and they will bring positive change for all students. Good Times.

University of Wolverhampton attending the NUS National Confrence

Dissertation period for most students now so the Activities Centre is always buzzing with activities. 

SU Activity Centre

THE PLAY:

The Kenny does sometimes get the play.  After Ken Harris is finished with talking about himself in the third person, I like to do my usual workout in the gym and get my sweat on. Not had much time for it lately, but I’ve been trying to get to know my motorbike a bit better. Save money and learn a few useful things at the same time. Brought myself some new brake pads, well not for me but for the bike. Also had to buy a new fuel hose cus it turns out the one on there is the wrong type.  I am now the mechanic of my own motorcycle, job done. Well I’ve still gotta do the brake pads, but I did the first part. 

Bike work

I’m still sifting through my leisure activities but I have to say that cooking, is still up there in my top four. Why a top four and not a top three? I hear you ask. Well I’ll give you the full run down in the next blog, but for now I will leave you with the thought of.........

UAE (Norwich) Student Union

Stourbridge College

VISITS & TOURS

I spent most of last month on different tours and visits to other students’ unions and colleges. I enjoyed a visit to UEA Students’ Union and coupled this with a touch of mentoring at a local event co-organised by an organisation called Reach and a group called Future Projects. They mentor and inspire your people to achieve more and break out of the restraints of their stereotyped roles. (I think I summed that up well in that little sentence) I think I’d definitely like to get more involved in this area of work, but I’d like to utilise my knowledge and experience in deafness and put my British Sign Language to use. So in the essence of all this, I’ve been over to Stourbridge College (they are partnership linked with this university) to check out their Student Council. I will be mentoring their president and helping to shape their council so it works better for the future.

WORK IT OUT

Things are looking up, I’ve booked a couple of days off work and right now I’m sat at home with a pile of books around me, internet logged on to Pebble Pad and I’m spending the next five hours  to do my uni work. Sometimes this is what it takes to get it done. So I really need to get off here and get stuck into it.

So it’s Saturday night. A guy like me you’d expect to be out on the tiles, dressed up to the nines and making some serious funky moves on the dance floor, with a JD & coke in hand.  Guess where I am right now?  I’m sat in front of my laptop working on my latest assignment!  Back on the ole pebble pad baby!  Just submitted my final entry to this week’s online task.  I’ve been writing on Propaganda and the Media.  Had to answer two questions.  I had to answer the second question first because I didn’t have the book needed for it.  Managed to find it in the library, or should I say, ‘Harrison Learning Centre’. The only downside is I’ve been off all week so had to make a special journey in on Saturday to finally pick it up.  But when I finally did, oooooh it was well worth it, cus here I am on this Saturday night tapping away at the keys on my trusty Samsung. Like I said before, I’m really gonna try for an ‘A’ on this module, so that means making sure I contribute to the forum every week and interact with the rest of the group. 

The middle bit

It’s not all bad though, I’m sat here with a Budweiser, some cheese biscuits and ‘Dusk Till Dawn’ is on the TV while I’m working away.  I’d give you a quote right now from the scene where they pull up at the bar in Mexico, but then I’d have to put a reference into this blog, but I think I’ve done enough Harvard Referencing for tonight.  Oh look it’s not a bar after all!  Someone pass me a stake!

Conclusion

Tomorrow, week two’s task is posted online, so I’m gonna switch off and catch the end of the film. Goodbye for now.

What’s the best way to start my latest blog entry? Usually I jump straight in with my first thought, but today I’m thinking ‘let’s do something a little different’. I’m not sure what it is, but let’s go with it anyway. So it’s been just over a week since I had my Saturday lecture “Understanding War in the Modern World”.  Got there and started with my usual cup of tea, of course, and a blueberry muffin. So tea and cake in hand I head over to MC Building and I’m off at the third floor. The first part of this lecture we looked at different tactics used in World War Two and Blitzkrieg Operations. Extensive scribing on my note pad, lots of interesting facts to get down, really looking forward to getting my teeth into this one. I’ve gotta do a presentation and an essay for this module. Hopefully I’ll not have to spend two long trying to decide what my topic will be, guess I’d better start doing some research around the subject and start sooner rather than later. Besides the fact that I always feel motivated by an impending assignment deadline, I really feel that I should step my game up and really get an early start on this one. Hmmmm,  I’m gonna really try and stick to this one, think I’ll make a schedule. 

Part two

The second part of my lecture was on the Holocaust. Not really an area that I’ve studied much, but obviously very relevant to WW2. Found out that my lecturer has two PHD’s. That makes him a double doctor! So back to the blog... and the lecture. So the theme of the lecture was on Historiography and Controversies, looking at some of the current and past writers on the subject, early instances of the word Holocaust, and some of the events that happened. Lots of food for thought, this is a full day of lectures and by now I’m low on paper and my energy drink is nearly finished. Next Lecture in a few weeks, in the meantime I’ll be getting stuck into my new online module, looking at War Media and Propaganda. History has never been so exciting, I can’t believe I hated history in school, but here I am now having completed my undergrad and now doing an MA in the subject.

What a coincidence that after a weekend on the subject of war and conflict I turn up to work the following Monday and the front entrance of MC Building is filled with a tank, rocket launcher and a load of army vehicles and soldiers.  It’s not the latest tactics by students fighting the war on tuition fees, but a new course just launching at the uni.  Weird coincidence, but the court yard is full and everyone is getting their photo snapped as they pose in front of the tank. 

Tank on campus!

Closing Thoughts- The Next Instalment

I’m trying really hard to update this blog on the regular, but I’m also still trying to decide on the exact mix between my academic, work and personal life. What do I write about? What do I include? What do I miss out? Do I keep it jovial or serious? Think I’ll go for all of em and try to get a decent mix. So that’s what you have install, but for now, I said earlier I was gonna start a schedule of work and make sure I get stuck into these new modules. So why am I writing this blog entry?

See you soon.....I’ve still gotta work on planning the International and Erasmus events at the Students’ Union, Welcome party, and sort out the site visits to our other campuses.

Hello again and here is instalment two.

So what have I been up to since the Christmas break?  I’ve been doing lots of reading, lots and lots of reading!! Turns out I had a 6,000 word essay to do as part of my MA. It was an independent study, so I eventually decided to base it around Racism in the U.S. Military during the Vietnam War. I got deep, I got well deep. That’s what I love about history and the whole subject. I love the fact that on this course I’m able to choose where and what I want to study and can shape it to what interests me. It’s a very interesting subject, whether you’re a geek or not.

12 Book Limit

So once again I had a pile of books, definitely not enough to only have a twelve book limit on this library card. Eight short loans and four long loans. It never really works out, especially when you have a lot to read about.  I’m so glad that we have Ebray. If you don’t know what it is, I strongly recommend that you look into it, but basically its an on-line library of books and texts. Perfect for when you are up to your loan limit and cant get any books out. Plus it saves you getting a muscle work out by not having to carry a massive pile of books home.

Pebble Pad

I was even back on “the award winning pebble pad”, (I can’t call it anything else now, not since hearing it said at every graduation I attended this past year).  Managed to get the final entry submitted.  I really tried to push the boat out by making sure that this last entry met all the assessment criteria.  I challenged, related to other comments and even underpinned my comments with quotes from relevant sources.  Its worth 50% of the total module so no point in throwing away valuable points.  I now have to just keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.  Phew…….

Submitted!!

The bonus is, (back to my 6,000 word essay) that by careful planning and organisation, I was able to finish my essay, leave it a day, then come back to it and read over with fresh eyes, and a clear head.  None of this running from the printer and trying to get to registry to hand in before 5pm.  Not me!!  I printed it out, then took a leisurely stroll over to “Here To Help”, handed in my assignment and thought about a short period of relaxation.  Well at least until next Saturday and my whole day of lecture.

Personal Life

The holidays are a great thing.  A chance to relax after a semester of hard study. I managed to enjoy a selection of cocktails, visit friend, spend some quality time with family and loved ones.  Enjoy and indulge in my love of cooking and my greater love of eating. Managed to catch up and step-up my gym activities. I haven’t played snooker in a while, so I enjoyed the chance of getting a few games in, verty expensive now!! One of the best things about having a little time off from work and studies, is I was able to wash my car, finally!!!

There are times when I have to really sacrifice my gym/swim for the sake of the degree, but I do enjoy getting back into the usual swing of thing. Luckily for me, it’s too cold to do any work on my allotment garden. Yes that’s right, I have an allotment garden!!

January is looking like it’s gonna be a very busy month full of lots of new things especially work and play. So much to say that I think I’ll have to save it for another blog entry. If you can’t see it above this one, then that means I haven’t written it yet. So check back shortly and enjoy.

Thanks for taking an interest. See you soon.

So as we are here and the new year begins,

I’ll tell you a bit of what is happening.

There’s not many problems, or trouble and strife,

But plenty of variety in my day to day life.

It starts in a second and shows you the way,

Take a sneak peak and come relive my day.

A Day in the Life….

06:30-06:45 Wake up, sit-ups for breakfast

07:00 Swimming at the gym (1mile or 2k)

07:45 Showered, dressed and in the car to join the A5 and M54

08:30-08:45 Arrive at Wolves Uni car park

08:50 Breakfast (either a bagel or a bowl of cereal) & a cup of tea

09:00 Check emails & calendar

09:30 Executive meeting

10:00 Staff briefing/update

11:00-13:00 Open Surgery in Students’ Union

13:00-14:00 Lunch

14:00 Meetings

15:00 Order and payment signing

16:00-17:30 Various duties, student issues etc

18:00- Gym (weights, cross trainer, rowing machine, swim, steam room, sauna)

20:00- Dinner, various choices but today it was a huge mixed grill!!

21:00 Reading & Internet related research-typically on Conflict Studies or Deafness

23:00 Sit-ups, Brush teeth, bed

23:30-06:29 The creation of letter “Z” (aka sleeping).

Cheers!

My drive to work starts here

Mocha

Enjoying some free time

Gym pool

Dinner!

SU official opening last month and we were honoured to have our very own Chancellor Lord Paul of Marylebone officially open our building.

Saturday studying

Saturday lectures - working hard

University students sit in

More from the sit in at the University MC building

Thumbs up!