Goals:
So, a big warning right at the start: there’ll be
little to no organisation in this document,
largely because I’m writing it the day before it is
due. Let’s hope I get marks for honesty.
The first topic listed in the workbook is Goals,
so I’ll start off with them. My biggest goal in life
is to not be a bum. Plain and simple. I have to
somehow earn a comfortable living. It also
must be stable, so I can’t do something that has
a variable pay or is on an indefinite term.
The only other condition is that it must
involve something I have a passion for
because I’m an unmotivated person and I’d
quickly stop attending a job I didn’t care
for. Unfortunately my passions are limited.
Any job that doesn’t involve history,
languages, or computer games/fantasy is
out. The last one is unreliable in it’s
acquisition and usually has a fluctuating
pay so it’s out. That leaves me with
languages , specifically dead ones, and
history.
• Note taking: Am currently using refill for taking
notes. This will have to change as it is not very
manageable. Each subject is all over the place, and
there is not any real system going on.
• Have read note taking hand out and have decided to
experiment by using the method of dividing my page.
In depth notes on the right hand side, and key words
to reflect back on, on the left. So far, I have not found
this strategy very effective. I am finding that I do not
really have enough space to right my detailed notes,
and that I am not using my left hand column
affectively. Therefore there is no real point in me
using this strategy, so I will have to come up with
another way of taking notes.
• As for taking the correct notes. I do not know
if I have been writing down enough to reflect
on. Will have to review this next week
My experience in CUP has ultimately been a
good one so far. I know I’m going to have to
work harder if I want to pass the course, and
I’m prepared for that. I don’t know what the
future holds, but I hope it to be a bright one.
[week 3 ] I have begun setting aside additional
time every day to spend in the library filling in any
gaps from time in class with work we were given
and attempting to get ahead on upcoming
assignments. I find the blue zone in the library an
excellent area for focussed work and study and
the library computers useful for accessing
blackboard and printing any important
documents, as I don’t have any printing facilities
at home. I have found some of the algebra we’ve
been doing in CUPR014 slightly difficult, but have
benefited also from talking about it with one of
my classmates who has an extensive knowledge
on the subject.
Time management:
I find that just allocating an hour extra a day
between classes to work on assignments quite
useful also as I tend to be more productive
after having just been in class than when I’m
at home and feeling comparatively
unmotivated.
Budgeting:
Uni skills is going well and having lectures on
budgeting encouraged me to go and see a financial
advisor. Although I was already good at budgeting
and new where I was heading with it, I also thought
that it would be great to have a second opinion on
things and see if she had any advice for me.
The result, I LOVED IT. Seen as I am already a
budgeting freak (as my partner would say) it was cool
to have someone to talk to and to get new ideas and
other possible income to support my family. We
established that if I asked my job to give me 6
permanent hours a week then there would be a lot
less money stress. Nicky also gave me an awesome
excel sheet cash flow. I have this set up at home now
and use it on a regular basis.
• Oral presentation: I felt somewhat nervous and
shook like crazy which I knew would happen. I find
this strange as I don’t feel shy giving my opinion in
lectures, it is only when I know I’m being marked
that I feel anxious. I was passionate about my
subject, so I felt I delivered some good information
and critical thinking, with ideas to the class to
discuss.
Oral presentations:
Some things I should work on for future
presentations would be more eye contact, and
to breathe slowly, taking my time to get
through everything and making sure slides fit
with my main points and arguments. I am
looking forward to seeing the constructed
criticism given by me tutor so I can work on
these faults.
• Note taking/Storage
• This seemed to go a lot better this week. I
made sure that I really wrote down as much
detail as I could in lectures and tutorials. This
has been affective, as I have found that I am
understanding everything a lot more.
• Storage still seems to be a bit of a mess, I
think I need more clear pocket document
holders
Goals
I can happily say that I completed most of
my goals for this course. I’ve made some
contacts in Wellington, met people, gotten
to know the campus and have a general
understanding of how the university works.
Also I’ve had a look around wellington and
conclude that the cost of living is high, quite
high compared to other places. However, I
can see that if I budget accordingly and
utilise the universities financial planning
and support people.
CUP so far has been quite the lovely and
enlightening experience. I love going to
University, and am apprehensive to leave it
during the summer trimester.
That being said, living entirely off of the
Student Living Cost, it is financially a bread
and water existence. I have since set up an
overdraft, which was initially a very useful
resource at my disposal. However, from a few
loose nights out in town, and also spending
$30 over-budget each week, my overdraft has
been creeping ever higher. Thank God it is
zero interest.
I’ve learnt about the university system, customs
and ways of life that no amount of Victoria
pamphlets could ever explain. I’ve learnt some
library etiquette and discovered that most
things are cut-throat.
The university is a large place full of strangers.
For this reason, it is best to not trust people, or
ensure that trust is a reciprocal action, as is
respect.
I learnt some social skills, which I didn’t foresee
before I joined this course. Also, I need to be
very price weary and conscious as to whether I
need something or not.
Another thing I’ve learnt, if I want something I
have to make a move for it myself and ‘grease
the wheels’ my own way, because in real life,
nobody cares what I want or why I want it.
These skills are easily ported to the real world,
money and socialising are both very large parts
of society today, and oddly enough there’s no
point having a degree in xy or z if I can’t socialise
or manage my money.
Time management:
The only real obstacle in this course was the way I
managed my own time. My apparent lack of time
management means that I might end up doing an
assignment slightly late, which reflects in the
grading.
In real life I plan to be better at time management,
using the time management strategies I’ve learnt on
this course, ironicly I’ll do this later, but I try to do it
with each assignment. Also I find that I can write
better if I’m out of my home environment. Like at
the library. Sometimes I write better in my home
environment, and sometimes not. It’s kinda hit and
miss.