Well it's the day after the thesis was due. To be honest, it's an odd feeling. I'm sitting at my computer and I don't feel guilty for being on Facebook. There's no sense of urgency anymore. There's just an empty feeling. For the past few weeks, my life has been all about the thesis, and now that it's gone, I feel so empty. Hahaha I doubt that this feeling will last, as I soon realise that Europe is coming up so soon.
The thing that I will miss most about Honours year is Lab201 and its motley crew. I can't believe I didn't end up joining this lab until second semester (not that I would have had room to test in first semester anyway). Either way, it's a shame that the whole bonding experience didn't occur until the last month of thesis writing. To think that in such a short period of time, everyone became such good friends. It certainly made the last month of intense stress more bearable. Just knowing that I wasn't the only one going through all that made it a lot easier. In particular, staying overnight with a lab full of people was definitely better than being there alone. If only we had been pulling all-nighters/weekenders earlier. We could have finished so much earlier!! Anyway, I'm sure we'll be keeping in touch. Our next gatherings will under less stressful circumstances (and we also won't be in PJ's lol). Much love to the 201 Crew!!
And although I'm finished with the thesis, I can't relax just yet. I have my interview for org psych at 9am on Thursday. So much for sleeping in. I'll be the guinea pig, since this is the first year that they're interviewing, and I'm the first interviewee. Hope it all goes well. But at least getting it done now, means I won't have to worry about anything once I'm in Europe. I'll just be eagerly refreshing my email in mid-November for the results of dentistry, and then again mid-December for the results of org psych. In the situation where I don't get either (which will be a depressing day), I might apply to do a Masters in Human Resources Management at USyd. Either way, it looks like I'll be studying next year. I just don't know what.
In terms of Europe, I now need to get a camera. My camera died. It was kind of symbolic. As soon as I was finished with my thesis, I took one last photo of my home (Lab Room 4) and then it vibrated in my hand and died. So I'll be needing to get a new camera. Possibly a laptop. Need to pack so much, and I have no winter clothing. Guess it's too late to buy any now, so I'll just have to buy it once I get there.
Anyways, I need to start researching org psych so that I'm prepared and awesome for my interview on Thursday. Plus I still need to find a restaurant for my farewell. Hahaha I'm kinda wishing I hadn't booked my flight to leave so soon after the thesis now.
HBL signing out.
Showing posts with label Thesis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thesis. Show all posts
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Mission accomplished...
THESIS IS DONE!!!
Well, done in terms of writing. I might still need to edit a few more times (if I have the time or can be bothered). I don't really want to go through my thesis again. It was so painful to write that it would just be torture to read it again so soon after writing it.
The feeling of finishing the thesis is so awesome. It was like a massive wave of euphoria engulfed me. I really wanted to do cartwheels down the hallway in joy, but there were others in the lab plus my prior experience regarding hallways and cartwheels was not positive (although no alcohol was involved this time lol). I can only imagine that the feeling tomorrow when I actually hand it in - it's gonna be a million times better than right now.
The thesis now stands at 14000 words of content, and at 76 pages with everything included. My "whole" year has been for the sole purpose of creating this piece of work. And now that's done, it does feel like I've accomplished something major.
The issue that I have is that I absolutely hate one aspect of APA formatting where you're not allowed to have a gap between the previous paragraph and the next subheading/heading. Between normal paragraphs is OK, but I think that a gap is necessary if changing to a different topic area. I've always done it my way, and have never been told otherwise during the earlier years. And I refuse to change it. I tried doing it, and the ugliness of my thesis made me want to vomit. To me, it was just that bad. I've been working my whole year for this thesis. I should be able to look at it and feel happy about it. If the markers are petty enough to deduct marks for that bloody gap, then I honestly have no idea what to say. All other aspects of APA formatting, I've followed. I just really hate the fact that you can't have a bloody gap. I'm keeping it the way I want it (and besides, I followed the formatting of a previous year's thesis which got a HD). We'll just see what happens, not that I would know whether they had an issue with my "gaps". Regardless, as long as I'm happy with my work, that's the best anyone can hope for.
And in Europe news, I finally bought my travel insurance today.
HBL signing out.
Well, done in terms of writing. I might still need to edit a few more times (if I have the time or can be bothered). I don't really want to go through my thesis again. It was so painful to write that it would just be torture to read it again so soon after writing it.
The feeling of finishing the thesis is so awesome. It was like a massive wave of euphoria engulfed me. I really wanted to do cartwheels down the hallway in joy, but there were others in the lab plus my prior experience regarding hallways and cartwheels was not positive (although no alcohol was involved this time lol). I can only imagine that the feeling tomorrow when I actually hand it in - it's gonna be a million times better than right now.
The thesis now stands at 14000 words of content, and at 76 pages with everything included. My "whole" year has been for the sole purpose of creating this piece of work. And now that's done, it does feel like I've accomplished something major.
The issue that I have is that I absolutely hate one aspect of APA formatting where you're not allowed to have a gap between the previous paragraph and the next subheading/heading. Between normal paragraphs is OK, but I think that a gap is necessary if changing to a different topic area. I've always done it my way, and have never been told otherwise during the earlier years. And I refuse to change it. I tried doing it, and the ugliness of my thesis made me want to vomit. To me, it was just that bad. I've been working my whole year for this thesis. I should be able to look at it and feel happy about it. If the markers are petty enough to deduct marks for that bloody gap, then I honestly have no idea what to say. All other aspects of APA formatting, I've followed. I just really hate the fact that you can't have a bloody gap. I'm keeping it the way I want it (and besides, I followed the formatting of a previous year's thesis which got a HD). We'll just see what happens, not that I would know whether they had an issue with my "gaps". Regardless, as long as I'm happy with my work, that's the best anyone can hope for.
And in Europe news, I finally bought my travel insurance today.
HBL signing out.
So close...
It's now 11:30am on the Sunday, which is 29 hours before the thesis is due. Managed to get most of my discussion done last night/this morning, and was so close to finishing. However, fatigue/delirium set in about 7am and I was forced to sleep after I couldn't think of suitable implications and a conclusion.
Hopefully I shall never have to do an all-nighter ever again. Although in actuality, the way I feel right now is exactly the way I feel after a long night of drinking (except my eyes are stinging so bad). So therefore, I can conclude (quite loosely) that alcohol does not actually affect me, but it's the fatigue that does all that shit to my body.
Just had some Maccas. Now that I've got food in me, I should be able to function properly. This weekend has been so unhealthy. Constant junk food snacks and fast food for every meal, plus all these caffeinated/energy drinks. No wonder why stomach's all weird and in pain.
I should really get back to work. I'm so close to finishing. In my refusal to do my discussion, I've completed everything else that needed to be done. Hence, my abstract, acknowledgements, contents page, tables and figures page, PSY output, appendices, and references are all done. All I need now are those final few paragraphs. Then I'm done. Finally.
HBL signing out.
Hopefully I shall never have to do an all-nighter ever again. Although in actuality, the way I feel right now is exactly the way I feel after a long night of drinking (except my eyes are stinging so bad). So therefore, I can conclude (quite loosely) that alcohol does not actually affect me, but it's the fatigue that does all that shit to my body.
Just had some Maccas. Now that I've got food in me, I should be able to function properly. This weekend has been so unhealthy. Constant junk food snacks and fast food for every meal, plus all these caffeinated/energy drinks. No wonder why stomach's all weird and in pain.
I should really get back to work. I'm so close to finishing. In my refusal to do my discussion, I've completed everything else that needed to be done. Hence, my abstract, acknowledgements, contents page, tables and figures page, PSY output, appendices, and references are all done. All I need now are those final few paragraphs. Then I'm done. Finally.
HBL signing out.
Friday, 8 October 2010
Camp...
It's the Friday before the thesis is due. Lab201 camp begins now. Hoping to get it done by Sunday evening.
After redrafting again, the intro and two experiments are now 10063 words. That's 1100 cut from my first draft. Discussion will hopefully add another 3000 words.
I've got some food with me, as well as change of clothes and a sleeping bag. I'm prepared. Time to get cracking!!
HBL signing out.
After redrafting again, the intro and two experiments are now 10063 words. That's 1100 cut from my first draft. Discussion will hopefully add another 3000 words.
I've got some food with me, as well as change of clothes and a sleeping bag. I'm prepared. Time to get cracking!!
HBL signing out.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Almost over...
89 HOURS TO GO!!
As of this point, I've finished redrafting my intro and Expt1. Expt2 is taking a while since I had the whole idea of the rationale wrong, hence all my predictions and results are not worded correctly. Word count is a bit hard to say since everything is being redrafted, but a rough estimate for my intro and experiments (when it's done) should be around 10500. My discussion section is currently 800 words (although it might be more since my supervisor told me to move some stuff from my Expt2 into the general discussion).
Anyways, this weekend will one hectic ride. Planning to stay there Friday and Saturday nights to hopefully finish by Sunday evening. Actually not hopefully. I will finish by Sunday evening. Come Monday 4pm, I will officially have finished my degree. I will be a graduand!!
In other news, I have just found out that I will be having my interview for org psych before I fly out. They finally got back to me. But the good news is that I won't need to change my departure date!!
HBL signing out.
As of this point, I've finished redrafting my intro and Expt1. Expt2 is taking a while since I had the whole idea of the rationale wrong, hence all my predictions and results are not worded correctly. Word count is a bit hard to say since everything is being redrafted, but a rough estimate for my intro and experiments (when it's done) should be around 10500. My discussion section is currently 800 words (although it might be more since my supervisor told me to move some stuff from my Expt2 into the general discussion).
Anyways, this weekend will one hectic ride. Planning to stay there Friday and Saturday nights to hopefully finish by Sunday evening. Actually not hopefully. I will finish by Sunday evening. Come Monday 4pm, I will officially have finished my degree. I will be a graduand!!
In other news, I have just found out that I will be having my interview for org psych before I fly out. They finally got back to me. But the good news is that I won't need to change my departure date!!
HBL signing out.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Easy part done!! Hard part still to go...
I'VE FINISHED MY SECOND DRAFT OF INTRO AND BOTH EXPERIMENTS!!
Yes, it's a day late but at least I got it done. Currently on 11227 words. Hoping that feedback is good and I won't have to change too much. Need to focus on the hard part now: the discussion. I think 3000 words should be a good length (that's if I can even get 3000 words).
The feeling I'm feeling right now is indescribable. I'm just feeling so...happy. Can't even imagine how I'll be feeling when I actually finish the whole thing.
HBL signing out.
Yes, it's a day late but at least I got it done. Currently on 11227 words. Hoping that feedback is good and I won't have to change too much. Need to focus on the hard part now: the discussion. I think 3000 words should be a good length (that's if I can even get 3000 words).
The feeling I'm feeling right now is indescribable. I'm just feeling so...happy. Can't even imagine how I'll be feeling when I actually finish the whole thing.
HBL signing out.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
No time for sleep...
8 DAYS TO GO!!
And that's if I work right up until the deadline. Ideally, I would like to get this done by the Saturday night or Sunday morning, so really, I've got around 6.5 or 7 days. I keep trying to wake up early to do work, but it just seems impossible. I find that I'm sleeping in til 12 or 1, and I definitely do not have time to be sleeping (or Facebooking for that matter, but I can't help that).
Aim: Finish the redraft of intro, method and results by end of today (end is defined by when I go to sleep, and today could go on for a while lol). Also need to send an outline of discussion section too.
Tomorrow is Labour Day. Hoping to head into uni to work, and then spend the night there as well. But it all depends on how tired I am and if I can drive there in such a state.
HBL signing out.
And that's if I work right up until the deadline. Ideally, I would like to get this done by the Saturday night or Sunday morning, so really, I've got around 6.5 or 7 days. I keep trying to wake up early to do work, but it just seems impossible. I find that I'm sleeping in til 12 or 1, and I definitely do not have time to be sleeping (or Facebooking for that matter, but I can't help that).
Aim: Finish the redraft of intro, method and results by end of today (end is defined by when I go to sleep, and today could go on for a while lol). Also need to send an outline of discussion section too.
Tomorrow is Labour Day. Hoping to head into uni to work, and then spend the night there as well. But it all depends on how tired I am and if I can drive there in such a state.
HBL signing out.
Friday, 1 October 2010
Confident and happy...
It's been a while since my last post. It's been a very cognitively demanding week. Psychologically speaking, this should mean that my level of willpower is diminished. So if I gorge on food, or splurge on buying clothes, I can blame this week. Finished both exams feeling like I could have done more (had I only studied more), but there's nothing I can do about that now. I just hope that they scale final marks up so my marks don't look too bad.
As for dentistry interview this morning, surprisingly I feel optimistic about it. I've never walked out of an interview feeling that happy and confident (if I find out that I don't make it -*knock on wood*- I'm coming back to delete this post lol). I felt like my answers were coherent and pleased the interviewers since they were nice and joked with me (or maybe they're like that with everybody). Nevertheless, I was so nervous before the interview, and being me, I showed up 40 minutes early. That gave me time psych myself out, and then calm myself down (slightly). But once I went in, I think my first interviewer was just so nice that it made me feel at ease for the rest of the interview. Even when they threw some hard scenarios at me, I felt like I was able to explain myself without sounding too lost. I'm actually glad that we had an ethics course, cos that helped me so much in answering the questions. Anyway, I'll find out sometime in November so it'll be a bit of a wait.
Now I've completed everything I needed to, besides the thesis. From now til the 11th, it's gonna be all thesis. Maybe a few more all-nighters at uni, but I won't be alone anymore since most of Lab201 are staying over as well. I've told my supervisor that I will send him a redraft of my intro, method and results by Sunday night, so I need to really get cracking. At the moment, it stands at 9500 words, but after cutting out the apparently irrelevant sections of my intro could bring the word count down a bit.
Well, I'll be staying at uni til 1 tonight to work on the thesis. John will pick me up. Don't think I could do an all-nighter at uni in my formal clothes. So bloody uncomfortable. But alas, I needed to look good for the interview.
HBL signing out.
As for dentistry interview this morning, surprisingly I feel optimistic about it. I've never walked out of an interview feeling that happy and confident (if I find out that I don't make it -*knock on wood*- I'm coming back to delete this post lol). I felt like my answers were coherent and pleased the interviewers since they were nice and joked with me (or maybe they're like that with everybody). Nevertheless, I was so nervous before the interview, and being me, I showed up 40 minutes early. That gave me time psych myself out, and then calm myself down (slightly). But once I went in, I think my first interviewer was just so nice that it made me feel at ease for the rest of the interview. Even when they threw some hard scenarios at me, I felt like I was able to explain myself without sounding too lost. I'm actually glad that we had an ethics course, cos that helped me so much in answering the questions. Anyway, I'll find out sometime in November so it'll be a bit of a wait.
Now I've completed everything I needed to, besides the thesis. From now til the 11th, it's gonna be all thesis. Maybe a few more all-nighters at uni, but I won't be alone anymore since most of Lab201 are staying over as well. I've told my supervisor that I will send him a redraft of my intro, method and results by Sunday night, so I need to really get cracking. At the moment, it stands at 9500 words, but after cutting out the apparently irrelevant sections of my intro could bring the word count down a bit.
Well, I'll be staying at uni til 1 tonight to work on the thesis. John will pick me up. Don't think I could do an all-nighter at uni in my formal clothes. So bloody uncomfortable. But alas, I needed to look good for the interview.
HBL signing out.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Mission complete...
So I survived my first all-nighter. That was my mission. Not my thesis. As if I could have completed the thesis in one night. Surprisingly I'm not as tired now that the sun has come up (not that I would know since my little cell has no windows). I managed to get all the training data from my 111 data files, and collate them into one simple graph. Also worked on my second draft of my method and results, and added 400 words. OK that doesn't sound like much, but when you're redrafting, that's actually heaps. Had a 1.5 hour nap at 4:30am, which really helped.
From my first all-nighter here at uni, I now know that the cleaners come into the building at 3:30am to start the whole cleaning process. And they certainly are a noisy group of people. But I guess they wouldn't expect anyone to still be in the building working. The cleaner came into Lab201 at 6am, and was surprised to see me in there. Luckily he didn't come in earlier, or he would have seem me lying on the floor semi-asleep. I'm sure in the next few days, there'll be more and more of us honours students staying back at uni to work on our theses. We will probably need to put a "Do Not Disturb" sign up on the door, in order to stop them coming in and disturbing our sleep/work.
It's only 9:20am, but the memory of yesterday and last night seems like it happened so long ago. But as for today, lots of studying to be done. Fun.
HBL signing out.
From my first all-nighter here at uni, I now know that the cleaners come into the building at 3:30am to start the whole cleaning process. And they certainly are a noisy group of people. But I guess they wouldn't expect anyone to still be in the building working. The cleaner came into Lab201 at 6am, and was surprised to see me in there. Luckily he didn't come in earlier, or he would have seem me lying on the floor semi-asleep. I'm sure in the next few days, there'll be more and more of us honours students staying back at uni to work on our theses. We will probably need to put a "Do Not Disturb" sign up on the door, in order to stop them coming in and disturbing our sleep/work.
It's only 9:20am, but the memory of yesterday and last night seems like it happened so long ago. But as for today, lots of studying to be done. Fun.
HBL signing out.
Intro done, but still so much to do...
The building is eerily quiet. I'm surprised that all the lights are still on. You'd think that they'd turn off the lights to save power. From time to time, I hear doors open and close, which I'm gonna assume is the result of the security guard patrolling the place (and not because of the ghost that haunts Lab201). He hasn't checked in here though, so I assume he doesn't have swipe access, or maybe he just assumes that no one would be stupid enough to spend the whole night at uni.
Anyways, so it's now 12:30am. I've "completed" my intro and sent it off with a grand total of 4628 words. Just had a great bludging session on Facebook. Now it's time to start getting back into the workload. Only another 8 hours before the rest of the 201 crew come in.
HBL signing out.
Anyways, so it's now 12:30am. I've "completed" my intro and sent it off with a grand total of 4628 words. Just had a great bludging session on Facebook. Now it's time to start getting back into the workload. Only another 8 hours before the rest of the 201 crew come in.
HBL signing out.
Monday, 27 September 2010
First all-nighter...and at uni...
TWO WEEKS TIL THE THESIS IS DUE!!
It's amazing what a deadline can do. I've been so productive over the last few days, even though I failed to meet my (self-imposed) deadline. I was meant to send my supervisor my completed intro by last night. However, I was only at 3500 words for the intro. Unfortunately, I couldn't send that to him, because at our meeting on Friday, I lied and told him I was at 3500 words (when I was only at 2000). Therefore, if I sent him my intro with 3500 words, it would be like I'd done nothing over the two days. Currently on 4362 words and anticipating finishing it and sending it to him tonight.
Tonight, I am pulling my first ever all-nighter. And to make it interesting, I am doing it at uni. I'll be in my little 1.5mx4m cell, with my Red Bull and family size pack of biscuits to help me through the night. Hoping to get my intro done before 9pm, and then spend the rest of the night fixing up my method and results sections. And possibly starting my discussion section. Or studying for my upcoming exams. Bah! So much to do. I think there's gonna be a lot more all-nighters in the next two weeks.
HBL signing out.
It's amazing what a deadline can do. I've been so productive over the last few days, even though I failed to meet my (self-imposed) deadline. I was meant to send my supervisor my completed intro by last night. However, I was only at 3500 words for the intro. Unfortunately, I couldn't send that to him, because at our meeting on Friday, I lied and told him I was at 3500 words (when I was only at 2000). Therefore, if I sent him my intro with 3500 words, it would be like I'd done nothing over the two days. Currently on 4362 words and anticipating finishing it and sending it to him tonight.
Tonight, I am pulling my first ever all-nighter. And to make it interesting, I am doing it at uni. I'll be in my little 1.5mx4m cell, with my Red Bull and family size pack of biscuits to help me through the night. Hoping to get my intro done before 9pm, and then spend the rest of the night fixing up my method and results sections. And possibly starting my discussion section. Or studying for my upcoming exams. Bah! So much to do. I think there's gonna be a lot more all-nighters in the next two weeks.
HBL signing out.
Friday, 24 September 2010
Psych trumps dent...
Currently on 6000 words for my thesis, and it's due in 17 days. I'm starting to really freak out. I know I've left things to the last minute before, but this is just so major that it seems that there's a possibility that I might not finish in time. In order to get myself up to speed, I've imposed a mini-deadline, and told my supervisor that I would send him a completed intro by Sunday night. That gives me 48 hours to write another 3000 or so words, plus fix up my method and results.
Once that's all done by Sunday night, I should start studying for my two final exams on Wednesday and Thursday. The exam on OCD and PTSD should be OK. There's only two lectures to study. As for the exam for my elective, there's twelve or so articles to study, and memorise. And the annoying thing is that the article I presented won't be tested. But I guess with some solid study time, I should be able to get both these exams done with relative ease.
Then comes Friday. My interview for dentistry. I'm not really sure how to prepare for this. I've done a few interviews before, and the only one I can truly say that I was successful in, was my Yellow Shirt interview when I first got selected. I've failed at all other interviews. Not a very good track record. However, I do now have a lot more examples of initiative, leadership, communication and teamwork examples because of Yellow Shirts. Although, I'm not sure whether they'll appreciate constantly hearing about Yellow Shirts. But we'll see.
Being a dentist was something I'd always imagined myself doing. However, I just can't picture myself going through another four arduous years of study. But I guess it's nice to have options just in case org psych falls through. Dentist or organisational psychologist? I know I'd definitely prefer being a psychologist. I'll know the results of dentistry in early December, and the results of org psych in mid-December. That's gonna be a nerve-wracking few weeks for me. Luckily, I should be somewhere nice. I anticipate that I'll be somewhere in London at that time (or Lucerne, if I need to be Skyped for my interview). Either way, I'll be a lot happier when it's all over and I know with a bit more certainty what my future path is. Please give me at least one of them!!
HBL signing out.
Once that's all done by Sunday night, I should start studying for my two final exams on Wednesday and Thursday. The exam on OCD and PTSD should be OK. There's only two lectures to study. As for the exam for my elective, there's twelve or so articles to study, and memorise. And the annoying thing is that the article I presented won't be tested. But I guess with some solid study time, I should be able to get both these exams done with relative ease.
Then comes Friday. My interview for dentistry. I'm not really sure how to prepare for this. I've done a few interviews before, and the only one I can truly say that I was successful in, was my Yellow Shirt interview when I first got selected. I've failed at all other interviews. Not a very good track record. However, I do now have a lot more examples of initiative, leadership, communication and teamwork examples because of Yellow Shirts. Although, I'm not sure whether they'll appreciate constantly hearing about Yellow Shirts. But we'll see.
Being a dentist was something I'd always imagined myself doing. However, I just can't picture myself going through another four arduous years of study. But I guess it's nice to have options just in case org psych falls through. Dentist or organisational psychologist? I know I'd definitely prefer being a psychologist. I'll know the results of dentistry in early December, and the results of org psych in mid-December. That's gonna be a nerve-wracking few weeks for me. Luckily, I should be somewhere nice. I anticipate that I'll be somewhere in London at that time (or Lucerne, if I need to be Skyped for my interview). Either way, I'll be a lot happier when it's all over and I know with a bit more certainty what my future path is. Please give me at least one of them!!
HBL signing out.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Uncertainty's a bitch...
I've now got 4500 words of my thesis done, which is my method and results section completed for both experiments plus a little bit for intro. Progress is painstakingly slow. I really wish I found my topic interesting, so it would make writing it up so much easier. Staying at uni til 9 tonight to try and get more words down on paper.
But at the end of it all, what do I get? I get a single degree for four years of study. There's so much emphasis on having that degree. And then there's the need for a postgrad degree as well. If I were brave, I would just venture out into the world with only my Bachelor's degree and see where that takes me. It's been drummed into my head since that very first day of uni that I need that Masters degree. Well if I need it so badly, why not just make it a 6 year degree then? Why make it so that not everyone who starts the road to psychology can finish it? To me, this is a stupid system, and one that has given me so much grief over the past few months.
Right now, my only option is Masters of Organisation Psychology at UNSW since Macquarie doesn't conduct interviews over Skype. But what if I don't make it? I will only find out whether I'm in or out in mid-December and by then, all of the applications for grad positions are closed anyway. Not that I could apply anyway given that I'll be somewhere in Europe. But nevertheless, the whole uncertainty of the road to registration as a psychologist is something that annoys me so much.
But whatever happens happens. I'm not a big enough person to say that I won't rant and rage if I don't make it, because I know I will. That's just how I am. Anger management is not one of my strong points. And it will take me a while to get over it. But eventually I'll be able to move on from it, by justifying that I never really wanted to a Masters degree in the first place. But hopefully, it all works out for the best. If not, I'll still have my back-up option of dentistry (assuming I can get into that).
HBL signing out.
But at the end of it all, what do I get? I get a single degree for four years of study. There's so much emphasis on having that degree. And then there's the need for a postgrad degree as well. If I were brave, I would just venture out into the world with only my Bachelor's degree and see where that takes me. It's been drummed into my head since that very first day of uni that I need that Masters degree. Well if I need it so badly, why not just make it a 6 year degree then? Why make it so that not everyone who starts the road to psychology can finish it? To me, this is a stupid system, and one that has given me so much grief over the past few months.
Right now, my only option is Masters of Organisation Psychology at UNSW since Macquarie doesn't conduct interviews over Skype. But what if I don't make it? I will only find out whether I'm in or out in mid-December and by then, all of the applications for grad positions are closed anyway. Not that I could apply anyway given that I'll be somewhere in Europe. But nevertheless, the whole uncertainty of the road to registration as a psychologist is something that annoys me so much.
But whatever happens happens. I'm not a big enough person to say that I won't rant and rage if I don't make it, because I know I will. That's just how I am. Anger management is not one of my strong points. And it will take me a while to get over it. But eventually I'll be able to move on from it, by justifying that I never really wanted to a Masters degree in the first place. But hopefully, it all works out for the best. If not, I'll still have my back-up option of dentistry (assuming I can get into that).
HBL signing out.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Cos you're hot then you're cold...
So the Yellow Shirts interview was harder than expected. Definitely harder than last year's. But hopefully my answers were good enough to get me through. Plus, breaking out into song during the group activity should have helped my chances lol. I can honestly say that this will be the only time that I will ever break into song during an interview. Now comes the long four-day wait until the email comes.
And on a side note, once again no thesis work done today. However I did watch the first episode of Survivor Nicaragua. I anticipate a full day of thesis writing tomorrow. Aim: To get total word count up to 6000. We'll see how that goes.
HBL signing out.
And on a side note, once again no thesis work done today. However I did watch the first episode of Survivor Nicaragua. I anticipate a full day of thesis writing tomorrow. Aim: To get total word count up to 6000. We'll see how that goes.
HBL signing out.
Uni. Sunday. Morning. These words do not go together...
It feels so weird (and wrong) to be at uni at 8:30am on a Sunday. It's a freakin' ghost town. Needed to come in for my Yellow Shirts interview which is in the arvo, but since there was a marathon on or whatnot, roads were closed off and I didn't want to run the risk of being late because of buses taking detours. As for the interview itself, I'm not as nervous as I was this last time last year. I guess it's because I've been through it, and know that I can make it. Plus, there'll be a lot more friendly faces this time around.
But while I'm here early, I might as well take the time to do some of my thesis. Word count currently at 3500 words. After reanalysing the data last night, I seem to have stumbled upon an interesting result. There appears to a significant interaction between saliency and surprise which, if I've done the correct analyses, will be the basis of my 5000 word discussion section. Fun.
HBL signing out.
But while I'm here early, I might as well take the time to do some of my thesis. Word count currently at 3500 words. After reanalysing the data last night, I seem to have stumbled upon an interesting result. There appears to a significant interaction between saliency and surprise which, if I've done the correct analyses, will be the basis of my 5000 word discussion section. Fun.
HBL signing out.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Dedicated to my dear look-alike Benson...
I couldn't really think of a title for this post so I decided that it would be dedicated to my Mermaid counterpart, Benson. Hope you had the most awesome birthday ever. You're finally 21. Make sure to live it up while you're still young, especially before you get bogged down with surgeries and Grey's Anatomy style relationships/flings. I signed your guestbook as Benson, but I assume you would know who it was lol.
Now, a recap of my night. Great time catching up with the Double Squad last night to celebrate Benson's 21st birthday. Met up with Kyle at uni and went for dinner at a nice little Malaysian restaurant on Hunter Street that sold laksa. First time trying laksa. It was...ordinary, but nice. Kyle would stab me for that. Then met up with Rommel at Lindt Cafe where we decided to bum until 9ish cos only lame people show up to a party on time. Hot chocolate was awesome, but not as sweet as I would have liked it. Seems like all we talked about during that time at Lindt Cafe was our upcoming travels and acne. Interesting topic. Did you know that a type of acne treatment is also an anti-malarial treatment? Yeah I didn't either. That's how the two topics linked.
After that very insightful conversation, we headed up to Benson's, where we found that he wasn't even drunk yet. Alas, I'm sure that would have changed later in the night. Emo King Mirza and Mermaid Queen Meg were already there, as was Boobie Beth. It was like a little Mutinous Mermaids reunion (but Mermaids won this round lol). Some random (besides Meg) confused me with Benson. I still don't see how we can be confused, but Meg appears to have a natural skill for mistaking me for Benson, but never the other way around. I think it's time to take out the competition. Benson, get ready to duel to the death. Only one can survive. But knowing everyone, once I destroy you, I'll still be called Benson. Looks like I'll never win so I'll allow you to live. Consider it your birthday present, look-alike.
Well, after leaving Benson's, found out I just missed my train and would have to wait half an hour til the train at 12:30am. By that time, it would have been easier for me to just wait until 1:30am and get driven home by Amanda. So I just wandered around the city that whole time. And then I found out that they weren't leaving til 2:30am. Was now regretting the decision not to take the train back. But alas, couldn't change it now and so I just continued to wander the streets of the city like a tourist (but without a camera). Must have trekked at least 5kms last night. Time seemed to slow down, and 2:30am seemed to never come, but when it finally did, it was a welcome relief. No more walking in the bloody cold. Finally got home at 3:30am. So much for having an early night.
But yeah, I'm now doing this instead of my thesis, and I'm about to head out for coffee to catch up with an old friend. Thesis, you will have to wait til I'm done.
HBL signing out.
Now, a recap of my night. Great time catching up with the Double Squad last night to celebrate Benson's 21st birthday. Met up with Kyle at uni and went for dinner at a nice little Malaysian restaurant on Hunter Street that sold laksa. First time trying laksa. It was...ordinary, but nice. Kyle would stab me for that. Then met up with Rommel at Lindt Cafe where we decided to bum until 9ish cos only lame people show up to a party on time. Hot chocolate was awesome, but not as sweet as I would have liked it. Seems like all we talked about during that time at Lindt Cafe was our upcoming travels and acne. Interesting topic. Did you know that a type of acne treatment is also an anti-malarial treatment? Yeah I didn't either. That's how the two topics linked.
After that very insightful conversation, we headed up to Benson's, where we found that he wasn't even drunk yet. Alas, I'm sure that would have changed later in the night. Emo King Mirza and Mermaid Queen Meg were already there, as was Boobie Beth. It was like a little Mutinous Mermaids reunion (but Mermaids won this round lol). Some random (besides Meg) confused me with Benson. I still don't see how we can be confused, but Meg appears to have a natural skill for mistaking me for Benson, but never the other way around. I think it's time to take out the competition. Benson, get ready to duel to the death. Only one can survive. But knowing everyone, once I destroy you, I'll still be called Benson. Looks like I'll never win so I'll allow you to live. Consider it your birthday present, look-alike.
Well, after leaving Benson's, found out I just missed my train and would have to wait half an hour til the train at 12:30am. By that time, it would have been easier for me to just wait until 1:30am and get driven home by Amanda. So I just wandered around the city that whole time. And then I found out that they weren't leaving til 2:30am. Was now regretting the decision not to take the train back. But alas, couldn't change it now and so I just continued to wander the streets of the city like a tourist (but without a camera). Must have trekked at least 5kms last night. Time seemed to slow down, and 2:30am seemed to never come, but when it finally did, it was a welcome relief. No more walking in the bloody cold. Finally got home at 3:30am. So much for having an early night.
But yeah, I'm now doing this instead of my thesis, and I'm about to head out for coffee to catch up with an old friend. Thesis, you will have to wait til I'm done.
HBL signing out.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Dear Diary...
Blogging is strangely addictive. I was never one to keep a diary or anything, but I can now understand why people do it. It's not like anything interesting has happened but having somewhere to write your thoughts seems to be quite therapeutic.
Just finished my presentation for today, so that means I have no more assessments (apart from two final exams) until the thesis is due. Aiming to get my intro, method, results and mini-discussion done for Experiment 2 today. We'll see if that actually ends up happening though. Most likely, I'll get halfway through and then reward myself for working so studiously with a Facebook break (which will last for hours). Or maybe I'll just post on this blog.
Currently at uni now, and I'm all dressed up since I have a party to get to tonight. It's weird to be wearing such dressy clothes to uni. I keep getting looks from randoms. But the compliments from friends are worth it. OK I have four hours before I should leave for dinner. Time to get serious!!
HBL signing out.
Just finished my presentation for today, so that means I have no more assessments (apart from two final exams) until the thesis is due. Aiming to get my intro, method, results and mini-discussion done for Experiment 2 today. We'll see if that actually ends up happening though. Most likely, I'll get halfway through and then reward myself for working so studiously with a Facebook break (which will last for hours). Or maybe I'll just post on this blog.
Currently at uni now, and I'm all dressed up since I have a party to get to tonight. It's weird to be wearing such dressy clothes to uni. I keep getting looks from randoms. But the compliments from friends are worth it. OK I have four hours before I should leave for dinner. Time to get serious!!
HBL signing out.
Thursday, 16 September 2010
I refuse to change my plans...
Showed up late to my tute today whilst they were in the middle of a discussion about moving the final exam to after the thesis is due. No way was I gonna let this happen when I'm due to fly out the week after I hand in my thesis. Why would you not discuss the idea of moving the exam when the tutor told us about the exam six weeks ago? Why wait til now (when my travel plans are set)? Obviously I objected to the idea of a change in date, although I wasn't the only one. Got a few death stares. If it's not unanimous, it's not changing. That was the deal. You didn't even get the majority. Deal with it.
HBL signing out.
HBL signing out.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
A way to procrastinate...
Editing and posting on this blog is a great way to procrastinate. Same with planning a holiday. My thesis sits unopened on my desktop, feeling neglected.
At the moment, in terms of travel plans, I've got my ticket booked and that's it. I haven't even sorted out my accommodation at my uncle's place in Switzerland but I assume it's all good. Still waiting on an email regarding travel insurance from the travel agent to see whether she can match the quote of $280 that I got from iTrek. It's been ages. But if she matches the price I have, then that's a saving of $370 since she initially quoted me $650. Dodgy. As for my travels around Europe, I bought "Lonely Planet: Europe on a Shoestring" online which should be enough to direct me to all the good sites. Finally got dispatched yesterday. Here's hoping that it arrives before I fly out (which it should, otherwise it's the worst delivery company ever).
And at the moment, it looks like I might be travelling with a Texan who is also travelling solo, whom I met on CouchSurfers (great website for finding other travellers and finding hosts to show you around). Sending my Texan cousins over to check him out, but it should be all good. Anyways, that appears to be all that I've done to prepare for my trip so far. Here is a checklist of things I need to have done before I fly out:
HBL signing out (still) from Sydney, Australia.
At the moment, in terms of travel plans, I've got my ticket booked and that's it. I haven't even sorted out my accommodation at my uncle's place in Switzerland but I assume it's all good. Still waiting on an email regarding travel insurance from the travel agent to see whether she can match the quote of $280 that I got from iTrek. It's been ages. But if she matches the price I have, then that's a saving of $370 since she initially quoted me $650. Dodgy. As for my travels around Europe, I bought "Lonely Planet: Europe on a Shoestring" online which should be enough to direct me to all the good sites. Finally got dispatched yesterday. Here's hoping that it arrives before I fly out (which it should, otherwise it's the worst delivery company ever).
And at the moment, it looks like I might be travelling with a Texan who is also travelling solo, whom I met on CouchSurfers (great website for finding other travellers and finding hosts to show you around). Sending my Texan cousins over to check him out, but it should be all good. Anyways, that appears to be all that I've done to prepare for my trip so far. Here is a checklist of things I need to have done before I fly out:
- Finish the thesis
- Finish applications for postgrad courses
- Sell Bon Jovi ticket (any takers?)
- Borrow a spare netbook/laptop from someone so I can Skype and blog easily using wifi
- Buy winter clothing
- Sort out accommodation with my uncle
- Organise my farewell dinner
- Sort out whether I need to buy snow gear or I can just borrow
HBL signing out (still) from Sydney, Australia.
Let's see if this works...
So this is the first time I've ever posted a blog. I don't know why I'm creating it now when I have more important things to attend to, like my thesis. Anyways, just a "test" post to see how this whole thing works so I won't have to fiddle around with learning how to use this thing once I'm in Europe and ready to blog my actual adventures. But for now, this is all. Time to work on the thesis, which is due in 28 days. And in 35 days, I fly out!! I think it's obvious which one I'm more excited about.
HBL signing out from Sydney, Australia. G'nite mate!!
HBL signing out from Sydney, Australia. G'nite mate!!
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