As of September 6th 2010, I am officially a full-time student again! I’m really excited but also very nervous. Mainly because I don’t know how I’m going to manage my time. I have less than two weeks to prepare myself and I’m a little concerned at how I’m going to fit everything in. I’m in college 9.30AM-3.30PM on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Meghan is going to be going to pre-school from 9AM-12PM and then she’s going to lunch club before going to nursery at 12.45-3.45PM. The pre-school teachers take them over to nursery which is at the school the pre-school building is on. I still have things to buy for college. I’m actually looking at a backpack now and even though I would LOVE this one, it’s definitely out of price range so I think it’s going to have to be this one. It’s still nice but I would prefer the green one if I had the money.

Although there is the option of doing an Online Schools course but I really wanted to go back to college and while I’m not working, I have the opportunity to. Online courses are really good for people who still have to work full time but want the qualifications to improve their current job or to get a new career.

I’m very close to being enrolled at college now. I have had assessments at both college’s I applied for and have had an interview at one. I’ve also spoken to both college’s about financial assistance and have been given advice on that. I’m waiting for a letter or call from the first college about coming in to enroll and I’m waiting on a letter from the second college about coming in for an interview. I didn’t realise just how much hard work it would be just to get into college! I hope university isn’t as stressful but I have a feeling that it will be. I think its the financial aspects that are wearing me down more than anything.

One of the reasons I have made the decision to go to college and university is so that I can get myself a decent career and then I’m not stuck on any form of social security benefits for the rest of my life. Even now, if I were to get a job, I would still be relying on receiving a benefit to help me pay my rent and another benefit to top up my wages. I’m hoping to be able to have a job that will allow me to live completely independently. Lets hope that these four years are worth it.

Alex only had two weeks left of college now and then he’s finished with his course. He’s worked so hard all year but he still has quite a lot of work to do before he’s finished all of his assignments. I was helping him earlier on this afternoon with one of his assignments, just going over his grammar and helping him extend his explanations a little bit more. There is one tutor that keeps leaving his work unmarked and handing it back to him yet when he does what he asks him to do, it still doesn’t seem to be right. He’s getting a little frustrated to say the least. Hopefully he can get it sorted out this him this week.

Alex will be going back to college next year for a two year course on the same subject and then he’s finished with his education. His initial plan was to go to university but he’s changed his mind about that now and has decided to not go. I’m hoping to start college in September too for one year and then start university in 2011. Its quite scary but also exciting! I’m so excited to study English Literature at long last. Hopefully I can get the funding I need to go.

Right, I’m off to actually do what I’m supposed to be doing – that shopping list! Take a look at this life insurance lead if you’re currently looking for insurance.

Like you know, Alex started college in September and he’s loving it. I have an interview at college on December 1st for the course I want to do and I’m really excited. I hope I can get on the course and if I do, I will start in January. I’m a little worried about being an older student at university when I eventually attend – I will be almost 26, I think – but my Dad went back to college at 55. He did a couple of courses on cad drawing to help him with his freelance work that he does. When people want an extension done on the house, he draws up the plans for them and it makes things a lot easier for him now he’s learnt CAD. If he can go back at that age, I’m sure I can go to university in my mid-twenties.

First I apologise for leaving you with a paid post at the top of my blog. I’m losing interest in the internet at the moment and its taken me two days to actually want to blog. Everything else just seems to be more interesting. I promise I won’t do it again.

I got a call from the tutor of the photography course yesterday afternoon. I was really nervous when I spoke to him for some reason. He was just asking what photography training I had done – which is none – and just general questions. He sounds pretty cool. I asked him how much the course was and managed not to drop dead there and then. Its not that expensive but there’s no way I can afford it. I need to ring the guy who does funding to see about a grant or student loan. I don’t mind getting a student loan because even though I’ll have to pay it back, I’ll have to earning over £15,000 before I have to do so.

I’m off to blog at Reading Robot then I’m coming off. I’m bored already.

Last week I sent an online enquiry out to St. Helens college for a Photography HNC course. Today I got the application form. Within 45 minutes of the postman delivering it, it was back in the postbox ready to go back to them. I’m really looking forward to starting the course, thats if everything goes to plan. Getting there isn’t really a problem. Its the cost. I’m hoping Alex isn’t earning enough money so I am able to get a grant and help with travel. Plus there’s the fact that I don’t really have a relevant qualification. Yes I have the actually qualification level but the course asks for a qualification in an art, which I don’t have. It says that they will consider mature students (which I am now classed as) just through their portfolio so lets hope my photos are good enough to get me in. I’m sure some of them should be good enough. I’m thinking in between now and whenever I get my interview, I should start going out and doing some more photos. I’d really love to get some street photography but its the initial getting out there and doing it that’s scary. I might borrow my dad’s 70-200mm lens again and use that then I won’t have to get too close. We’ll see. I’m just looking forward to the interview. I’ll keep you posted when I get my letter.