Thirty Days Meme: Day 15 - Graduation
Sep. 8th, 2013 02:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitA couple of days ago I wrote about my son, so, in the interests of fairness (and believe me I've had quite enough "you favour him/her", although since the comments were evenly balanced I don't think I did, either way) I'm now writing about my daughter.
Entering year 11 she knew that she didn't want to do A-levels, so we looked around at more vocational courses and she settled on a National Diploma in Outdoor Education, a course that would involve theory, land based activities and water based activities, like kayaking/canoeing/sailing. She was accepted at Hartpury College (originally an agricultural college, but which like many had broadened its courses) and therefore spent her evenings that year helping at Brownies, Guides, and Beavers and going to her Explorer Scout Unit, rather than doing much study. She had also been selected to join one of the units that were going to the Centenary World Scout Jamboree, so several weekends were spent in preparation.
Many of her teachers were surprised that she wasn't planning on doing A-levels, but we knew that she would do better in a different atmosphere. One of the teachers clearly knew here better though; when asked what grades she needed I told him and he said that that was exactly what she would get. Which really summed her up: perfectly capable, but would only do what was necessary.
She spent two years living at college, coming home at weekends and enjoying the freedom. One of the advantages for her of doing the course was that whilst most students who take the National Diploma do so because they can't manage A-levels, in my daughter the tutors had someone who was capable of getting high marks with a bit of encouragement, which they gave her. She passed her Diploma with three Distinctions, the highest level she could achieve.
She originally wanted to become a paramedic but was unable to get a place at uni and so had a year out, struggling to find work at first, but then getting a part-time retail job and finally working for PGL the leading provider of children's activity holidays in UK and therefore using her diploma course. By this time she had also decided to apply to university to train as a child nurse, an interest that she had had for several years.
She is now approaching the end of her third year at Coventry University, where she has done very well at her placements, less well at the theory and essays (no change there then). She has a job to go to at Coventry Hospital when she finishes her training. This past year, as well as her studies and placements, she has been working as a Health Care Assistant in Warwick Hospital, taking bank shifts, most of which have been in the Accident & Emergency Dept. Like her brother, she is prepared to work hard.
And this November we go to Coventry Cathedral to see her graduate. Yes, I am a very proud mother.
Entering year 11 she knew that she didn't want to do A-levels, so we looked around at more vocational courses and she settled on a National Diploma in Outdoor Education, a course that would involve theory, land based activities and water based activities, like kayaking/canoeing/sailing. She was accepted at Hartpury College (originally an agricultural college, but which like many had broadened its courses) and therefore spent her evenings that year helping at Brownies, Guides, and Beavers and going to her Explorer Scout Unit, rather than doing much study. She had also been selected to join one of the units that were going to the Centenary World Scout Jamboree, so several weekends were spent in preparation.
Many of her teachers were surprised that she wasn't planning on doing A-levels, but we knew that she would do better in a different atmosphere. One of the teachers clearly knew here better though; when asked what grades she needed I told him and he said that that was exactly what she would get. Which really summed her up: perfectly capable, but would only do what was necessary.
She spent two years living at college, coming home at weekends and enjoying the freedom. One of the advantages for her of doing the course was that whilst most students who take the National Diploma do so because they can't manage A-levels, in my daughter the tutors had someone who was capable of getting high marks with a bit of encouragement, which they gave her. She passed her Diploma with three Distinctions, the highest level she could achieve.
She originally wanted to become a paramedic but was unable to get a place at uni and so had a year out, struggling to find work at first, but then getting a part-time retail job and finally working for PGL the leading provider of children's activity holidays in UK and therefore using her diploma course. By this time she had also decided to apply to university to train as a child nurse, an interest that she had had for several years.
She is now approaching the end of her third year at Coventry University, where she has done very well at her placements, less well at the theory and essays (no change there then). She has a job to go to at Coventry Hospital when she finishes her training. This past year, as well as her studies and placements, she has been working as a Health Care Assistant in Warwick Hospital, taking bank shifts, most of which have been in the Accident & Emergency Dept. Like her brother, she is prepared to work hard.
And this November we go to Coventry Cathedral to see her graduate. Yes, I am a very proud mother.
