Week 20 - Professional

Mixed emotions

As this is the week before the last week of our Erasmus study feelings in the group were different to say the least as everyone was either stressed about the work load we had, sad about having to saying goodbye soon or happy just to still be here. If I could change the title of this week’s blog I would change it to emotions or feelings as this week has been so strange.

The week really wasn’t filled with anything all that exciting mostly filled with doing assignments and trying to meet the deadline. As I am generally organised and hate being disorganised I had already made a start on most of the assignments due to one of the assignments being on our school placement that ended up to be six pages long which was very unexpected! I always see that through my organisation it does pay off for me as it leaves me with less stress as the deadline date closes nearer.

“First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.” Hill, N.

Things coming to an end...

While doing all the assignments all I could think of them as ultimate signs of Erasmus coming to an end. Trying to think of Erasmus from a professional point of view is difficult as the assignments are similar to the ones that are set back home in Stranmillis but sometimes there was a lack of guidance on the tasks set as well as no clear success criteria given. No matter I got all my assignments sent in on time and thankfully after a few stressful days, once I clicked ‘send’ I knew that I had more or less just been given my summer break! This was fantastic as I was constantly seeing on Facebook all my friends either finishing exams, finishing with essays to gain their summer holidays or seeing posts about what they had achieved in their degree. Now that I too was gaining my summer it again just made me think more of home…

Additionally we finished all our classes this week too! We had a group presentation which surprisingly made

Where to go from here?

me nervous and made my voice shake a little (strange as I normally like hearing myself talk haha) but no matter the presentation went very well! As others carried out their presentations I realised that all of us were all going to be teachers which made me think of our futures. We already have plans for next year to meet up and go to America but what about further future plans? Should we grow up too quick – graduate and get a job? Or should we travel? More or less it showed me that as Erasmus closes a whole new adventure is going to be opened up due to what this experience has done for us. It has changed me as a person and this will be influenced through my teaching.

“I never think of the future - it comes soon enough.” Einstein, A.

As the final week approached I am feeling very anxious as I don’t want to have to say bye to some of the most amazing people I have ever met. I also am anxious as professionally I have performed well here but going back to home I feel that it will be difficult to get back into the ‘Stranmillis’ routine. No matter I have no choice and I just have to get used to it.

P.s. Top tip for this week don’t dwell on the past and don’t spend too much time pondering on the future but live for the moment and acknowledge what you are doing right now during the present.

References:

Einstein, A. Available: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_future.html#0I6Khpz6xX19u0l1.99. Last Accessed: 26/06/13

Hill, N. Available: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/organization.html#rEz4KdSTwkGSxUHH.99. Last Accessed: 26/06/13