Sky's Mindfulness Journal (Mk.II)

You didn't make me write anything - I wanted to write - so please don't apologise for that. Glad you're not mad at me

It is really hard - especially at your age and your time in life - to separate being genuinely happy from finding the perfect uni/course. So I do really sympathise with that. I just don't want you to feel disappointed or dissatisfied each time you move onto something else. You've been through so many things no one should ever have to go through, and healing won't come from getting the uni/course right in itself. Though those things are obviously conducive to better mental wellbeing and obviously that can form part of the healing process. I just fear you are so easily swayed by the past and by others, that you will never end up truly figuring out what *you* want

I can tell because Astrophysics and Medicinal Chemistry aren't really related that I can see. A bit like Lampeter's International Relations degree. With Jazz.

If you want a career path in academia though, that's a different story. You can do whatever takes your fancy and still end up in research.

Yeah, they're not really related. I looked at Keele for NatSci once and sorta just thought it was like that just for Medical Bio / Physics, so it seemed valid somewhere in my mind

You can? Huh, I had no idea. I thought you just have to get a bachelor's close to what you want to research because funding is so competitive...seems I have a lot of misconceptions to iron out

Well, I mean yes given funding and things that can be difficult. But it's not like some careers with restrictions about certain qualifications. The rules are not rules, just norms.

So taking Biology as an example then, if I want to do a PhD in Genetics, I don't specifically have to do Genetics at undergrad? K had no idea, thank you for the clarification

Thank you!!
Sussex is pretty bad, I've visited the uni before and I hate Brighton . Keele I think might actually be better for grad prospects anyway, which was the only thing in Sussex's favour to begin with

I think I've spoken with him a few times before about it, think he showed me what the building looks like? Honestly I'd just go there if I were more certain it was green and natural, I couldn't really find much about the campus - do they have an observatory or at least anywhere I can make use of my telescope?

York seems fun! Just didn't give very much information about their course. Also they don't do pure Astro, but then again neither does Leeds and that's my first choice

Manchester I have heard is a little dead, I just imagined its international prestige would help making a case for Oslo

Oh, really? Well, do introduce me so I won't not know anyone I have a friend there who does Politics and wasn't that keen, so honestly was a little hard to make an opinion on it. Ofc if it's semi-reputable, very natural and has a good course content, I'll go basically anywhere



I wanted your bias Like I said, if the campus itself is nice and natural I can certainly make up for a less-than-stellar (did u get the pun ;o ) building! I just want somewhere small, green and calm, I can deal with the rest later You definitely did help, and don't worry I know the feeling? Just appreciate your wisdom

Definitely nice and natural! There's five times as many squirrels as people, that tells you a lot there's a big observatory too, and loads of people (/most non healthcare) do joint honours so they're well used to dealing with it. I do psychology with music for god's sake and had a place for physics with music a few years back but yeah basically that

Given the rest of this thread since then I'm genuinely afraid to decide anything for the forseeable future, but that does sound lovely

Does the joint honours system usually not give the impression undecidedness if they're not linked? Bc while I see the value in doing 2 subjects you enjoy, some of Keele's are pretty out there, i mean like Biology and CompSci for example

There's always links you can make and things talking to employers, there's more in common than you think! Coding scientists will always be in demand. But that aside, please don't rush into anything. You've got a great opportunity in Norway but that doesn't mean the course is right for you, think it all through and see where you get. TLG as usual is very worth listening to! You've got time so make the most of it

You're probably right! I mean even music and psychology link together for things like therapy, the way the brain responds etc - I was reading something really cool about how the brain actually prefers sad music because it meets an expectation going in

TLG is ever a beacon of wisdom so I will definitely listen to her, time on the other hand I just don't feel I have much of for some reason, probably because the UCAS deadline is next month

I know that Biology is ultimately what I love and I can prove that by the lengths I went to just to get admitted here - I just don't know how to cope with Cardiff sucking all the joy of discovery out of it, y'know? Biologically-related subjects have been my interest for the majority of both blogs' duration, I think this course just makes me induce the "grass is greener" effect ;-;

As for Norway I think it might be worth asking if I could try for Biology there instead, but...egh, it's a mess isn't it? I see so many people just immediately and always know what they want to do, and just pick some places and stick to it. I literally can't understand how anyone does it

Have to admit I've been surprised by how much they have linked, partly just what we're covering in music atm but still. One of the lecturers got ridiculously excited they had a psychology student there and I was just like but yeah, long as they're still accredited.

Good it's January, and needs be you can apply late or even in clearing. It's all better than rushing into things. Can definitely relate to everyone seeming like they know what they want to do but they really probably don't! I applied for physics originally as I didn't know what else to do, it's interesting enough but I really wouldn't have got a lot out of it. Three years on I'm starting something totally different. My boyfriend went ahead and did something he really wasn't sure about and has regretted it ever since, and now still has no idea having managed to finish it and graduate. Everyone takes different paths

I can definitely understand that. It won't be the same everywhere though, well you know it isn't. You love biology! It could be worth an ask for that in Norway, I guess? But yeah, grass is greener is always a problem. And when you're not 100% sure in the first place it just makes it even harder

In a way your psychology background probably makes you a better musician as well; you know how to elicit the emotion out of a person and hit them with those sweet minor-key chords right where you need them It is pretty nice they're so enthusiastic about having you, though!

We're starting the Genetics module (something I love) and Physical Chem (haaaate) on Monday so I think the next month will be the real test, and then decide later on once I've faced the worst of it. And I guess maybe people don't really! I just see they're there, not if they enjoy it per se. Age is somewhat of a concern, but i think you're older than me and you're only just starting so maybe it shouldn't be ^^;

I'll try at least ^^; It definitely makes it harder! Apart from the few places I've been to or lived in (ie Belfast or Surrey), but even then uni is such a different experience too. Maybe one of those is easier...what made you pick Keele and your course? i think I might've asked but forgot, apologies ;-;

Maybe. It definitely works the other way, as my tutor keeps telling me. I'm well used to working and doing a little bit at a time, patience etc and as I discovered in a concert last night they don't even bother me any more. I just go out there and do whatever. Apparently two grade 8s and 50+ gigs with my last band did do me some good after all

That makes a lot of sense what you've said in your last post is really good too, all of it. I'm 21 yeah, there's people on my course in their 40s and 50s. Noone will know you're any older, people were amazed with me cus I look younger than any of them, and it's about when's right for you anyway

Yeah definitely. Mostly the location for me, and I love the campus and the bits I need are fairly close together. The disability support is brilliant and combined with the fact I could combine psych with music (parts of which I find easier and would like to do anyway) meant that I could possibly come this year rather than next. Grades wise I could get in somewhere a lot better but here just works for me, now. Which is a big thing

How on earth did you do TWO Grade VIIIs? I did one and never wanted to play again, stopped violin at Grade V

Thank you, am definitely dedicated to making a difference There are a lot of older people on my course too, I just wondered if that was only bc it was a foundation - good to know this is fairly standard I don't look 20 to be fair so it might be fine hahah

Those all sound like good reasons! I think I need relatively the same things, a good campus, MH support and a course that has parts I like (have yet to see a Bio and Music course or I would be so on that). The grades thing is where it gets more difficult I think. Idk what you achieved or where you could've gone, but for me I think bc I worked hard to get RG-standard grades I keep thinking "this might be a waste" if I don't go somewhere on that standard, ya feel?

I feel I should point out that I didn't come up with the sub-headings for the mindfulness challenge - they were the ones suggested by the original mindfulness challenge post

I've not done any exams since, the second one was three and a half years ago which is longer than I'd been playing the instrument in the first place

That's a big thing yep, far more than you'd think! Exactly

Yeah there might not be bio and music courses as such but a lot of places you can do the odd music module without the rest. There's quite a few non music in one of mine and the other one was available to everyone too. Same with language modules, well even more so. So don't give up hope for it! But yeah, am exactly the same. They're only ABB but I was so ill and worked so hard for them- way more than I should have done, it made my health far worse. But there's always postgrad and rankings are always changing anyway

Still discovered them because of you, so I felt it only fair to credit you



I mean once you've done up to VIII you don't need to anymore anyway

Oh man, I just completely stopped looking at optional modules because of Cardiff ;-; They had an awful "first come first serve BUT you can only come first if your surname is in the first half of the register", so I never got to take the cool Brain Disease module bc my surname starts with R. Am terrified other universities will operate like that so I just don't bother looking at options

That's such a stupid system. Never heard of anywhere else doing that so hopefully they don't! There's always an element of luck which options you can take but generally places seem to try their best to get people what they want. So hopefully it won't happen like that again!