As most will know I graduated from University with Honours (in I.T) last year. I loved University, I honestly did. My first and second year were pretty uneventful, but by my third year I finally started to make an effort to get more involved, and by my forth year I was pretty entrenched in the University, known amongst all the faculty staff, present nearly every day, hosting and attending I.T events, and I even taught one of the practical classes (which was such a joy and highlight of my entire time there).
Late during my Honours year I was asked by one of the senior lecturers if I would like to co-author a paper with him, I was still currently finishing my Thesis at that time but jumped for the opportunity anyway. My part was going to be minor compared to his (due to my other commitments), but I put in the required effort and produced a good quality write up containing the area of research he needed looking into to support his primary hypothesis.
It was quite a while ago since I did that so I had almost forgotten all about it, until the other day he emailed to inform me that it has finally been completed and was accepted into the academic journal IEEE for publishing =)
Cool.
While I was only a co-author (and not the primary author that is), it is still a nice achievement and is not something everyone gets a chance to do in their life time, so I am glad I got the opportunity. My next goal however is to be the primary author of my own published paper, something I am in the middle of doing at this very minute so hopefully we will be seeing a second post about this topic before long.
I haven't written this post to brag or to fish for congratulations, I simply like to document any monumental achievements for my own safekeeping. What I would like readers to get out of a post like this is for you think about setting your own goals to work towards, so one day you can document your own achievements that you can look back on some day and be proud of.
Showing posts with label Honours Study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Honours Study. Show all posts
27 February 2012
27 April 2011
Oh yeah, did I mention I graduated?
All this buzz about full time work, planning for big trips, forever thinking forward, and I forget the milestones that are happening right now.
The year before last I graduated from University, then went back for an extra year to complete an Honours* degree within my field. Well after successfully completing my thesis, it being submitted for approval and consequent grading, I have finally officially graduated from my degree with a Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours). Yay!
It. Was. Hard.
But worth it? Totally.
I documented the entire thing as it went, under the label Honours Study, something I am extremely grateful and glad that I did now that it is all well and truly over. I am such an active person (and as evidence shows, a bit of a dreamer) that I often forget or even struggle to remember what I have already accomplished. It all becomes a bit of a blur, a distant memory that often feels like it happened to someone else.
After briefly browsing over the entries there was an overall theme that could be extracted out of just about every one of them: a sense of impeding doom. Hilarious. Which for those who know me that pretty much sums me up. Often stressing over nothing, forever 'carrying the world upon ones shoulder' in a constant epic battle against the 'evil universe that is out to get me'. Well, that is at least what it feels like from time to time, especially when I remember times like this where I declared myself to be "officially doomed" ha!
Overly dramatic, or cool and collected? You decide.
I can't really sum up my final year of University, well within a single post that is, because to be honest there is just too much to say. How does one sum up one of the most challenging, toughest yet rewarding achievements of their life?
I guess, you can't.
What you can do however is accept it, feel proud, cherish and learn from the memory for ever after, and as you shut that door forever you can feel better prepared to step through the next one, where ever that may lead.
*An 'Honours' degree is the equivalent to a 'Masters' degree.
The year before last I graduated from University, then went back for an extra year to complete an Honours* degree within my field. Well after successfully completing my thesis, it being submitted for approval and consequent grading, I have finally officially graduated from my degree with a Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours). Yay!
It. Was. Hard.
But worth it? Totally.
I documented the entire thing as it went, under the label Honours Study, something I am extremely grateful and glad that I did now that it is all well and truly over. I am such an active person (and as evidence shows, a bit of a dreamer) that I often forget or even struggle to remember what I have already accomplished. It all becomes a bit of a blur, a distant memory that often feels like it happened to someone else.
After briefly browsing over the entries there was an overall theme that could be extracted out of just about every one of them: a sense of impeding doom. Hilarious. Which for those who know me that pretty much sums me up. Often stressing over nothing, forever 'carrying the world upon ones shoulder' in a constant epic battle against the 'evil universe that is out to get me'. Well, that is at least what it feels like from time to time, especially when I remember times like this where I declared myself to be "officially doomed" ha!
Overly dramatic, or cool and collected? You decide.
I can't really sum up my final year of University, well within a single post that is, because to be honest there is just too much to say. How does one sum up one of the most challenging, toughest yet rewarding achievements of their life?
I guess, you can't.
What you can do however is accept it, feel proud, cherish and learn from the memory for ever after, and as you shut that door forever you can feel better prepared to step through the next one, where ever that may lead.
*An 'Honours' degree is the equivalent to a 'Masters' degree.
18 December 2010
The End
The journey that was my University Honours year.
93 pages.
24,000 words.
Final year presentation complete.
The end.
 |
93 pages.
24,000 words.
Final year presentation complete.
The end.
28 November 2010
Upon the eve
Well, here we are, the day before my thesis is due.It was been quite a journey, it was good to document it as I went, it will be great to look over once all this is complete. Although, to be fair, it isn't over yet, not quite anyway.
At this very moment in time I am at a pretty awesome 17,811 words and 75 pages. It is by far the biggest piece of work I have ever for my studies, and from what is done so far I am actually rather proud of it to say the least. As the title says, today marks the eve it the due date... will I finish? Majority is complete, it really is just my Discussion chapter that needs completing (read: starting)... ha!
This week I made fantastic progress, managing 1,200 words on Thursday!
Friday I went terrible managing nearly no words due to a terrible headache I have been experiencing for quite some time now... which since yesterday is completely gone! The difference is amazing! Friday (well, the entire week really) was just so painful, it was impossible to write with a massive headache. Yesterday (Saturday) I decided to wear my sunglasses while staring at the computer screen, thinking maybe the headache was caused by the excessive amount of time spent in front of computers lately... and it worked =D With the headache gone I managed an awesome 1,200 words, with the finish line within grasp.
Over the weekend (yes, I spent my entire weekend at Uni also) I completed a pretty good 1,800 words, which sets me up fairly well for completion by (hopefully) tomorrow, if not then the next day.
I suspect this will be my last post for a until then, the end is near!
24 November 2010
Final days!
Woah, what's this? Currently midnight on a Tuesday might, meaning my thesis is due in only 5 days!
Before I continue, I'd like to direct you to one of my all time favourite songs. Circa Survive - The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is in the Dose. Let it play in the background as you read the rest of the post, I am confident you won't be disappointed =)
Back to my thesis, is it time to freak out? Probably, although to stay rational my progress has actually been, believe it or not, going rather well. Sweet!
From my last update, last Thursday to be exact, I was at an average 11,179 words with 51 pages. Since then my thesis epic has gone continued... wow, just remembered a conversation I was having with Lee today (the only other Honours student). We were remembering how it was like back in March, when we first chose our topics and started the year. We had no idea what so ever what to expect... was it to be hard? Impossible? Would we even make it!? It is so strange to be close to the end, to see the light, yet still sit here at this very minute, with all I have accomplished this entire year, and still not know what the next 5 days of my life are going to have in store for me.
Pretty amazing when you think about it.
Anyways, yes, sorry, got a little reminiscent there didn't I haha. Yes so last Thursday is where I left off. Over the weekend I forced myself into Uni... and wow was it hard. Most weekends I don't usually have that much going on. Maybe a get together with some mates, or I'll go visit my parents... this weekend, the weekend I decide is dedicated to thesis writing, I suddenly turn into the most popular guy on Earth.
First a mate of mine wanted to go golfing, sorry no can do buddy I replied. Then another mate calls, wants to see if I want to come over for a few drinks... sorry, already said no to golf, so I'll say no this also... thanks anyway! Wow, two invites on the same day, would of been a great weekend if I could have gone to both... oh well, this is one of those testing times, have to stay strong, it is short term pain for long term gain! The next day, my newly gained friend Rob calls (I recently tried out for a band and got accepted)... "Dude, Harry (the guitarist) has finished his exams, we want to see if you wanna have a jam this weekend, get some beers, make a day of it"... aww man, that sounds way fun. But, I held strong, saying I'll reschedule. The importance placed on this weekend to write my thesis was immense... I knew that the progress (or lack of) on my thesis this weekend would make or break.
Saturday arrives, Rob comes down also to do some work. We get some beers and pizza, turns into an awesome day of laughs with bursts of thesis writing. 5pm arrives... my mate Rod calls, reckon he has an awesome night planned with the boys... damn it! I never get to join the guys for a good night out anymore... that makes 4 invites on the one weekend (which is 3 - 4 more then any other weekend lol).
Long story short I managed an awesome 1,700 words over the weekend! Which I am rather proud of myself considering it was a weekend, I had to resists a heap of distractions, and I had downed 6 beers when I finally started writing ha!
So, well. I am about to go to sleep, to wake up and repeat the cycle all over again. Sophie (my amazing Honours supervisor) has returned from her two week holiday and has already been an amazing help. Tomorrow will be important, I have 1 chapter to finish off (Results chapter) and start on my final chapter (Discussion chapter). If I can finish off Results chapter tomorrow, I should be set.
Wish me luck!
Before I continue, I'd like to direct you to one of my all time favourite songs. Circa Survive - The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is in the Dose. Let it play in the background as you read the rest of the post, I am confident you won't be disappointed =)
Back to my thesis, is it time to freak out? Probably, although to stay rational my progress has actually been, believe it or not, going rather well. Sweet!
From my last update, last Thursday to be exact, I was at an average 11,179 words with 51 pages. Since then my thesis epic has gone continued... wow, just remembered a conversation I was having with Lee today (the only other Honours student). We were remembering how it was like back in March, when we first chose our topics and started the year. We had no idea what so ever what to expect... was it to be hard? Impossible? Would we even make it!? It is so strange to be close to the end, to see the light, yet still sit here at this very minute, with all I have accomplished this entire year, and still not know what the next 5 days of my life are going to have in store for me.
Pretty amazing when you think about it.
Anyways, yes, sorry, got a little reminiscent there didn't I haha. Yes so last Thursday is where I left off. Over the weekend I forced myself into Uni... and wow was it hard. Most weekends I don't usually have that much going on. Maybe a get together with some mates, or I'll go visit my parents... this weekend, the weekend I decide is dedicated to thesis writing, I suddenly turn into the most popular guy on Earth.
First a mate of mine wanted to go golfing, sorry no can do buddy I replied. Then another mate calls, wants to see if I want to come over for a few drinks... sorry, already said no to golf, so I'll say no this also... thanks anyway! Wow, two invites on the same day, would of been a great weekend if I could have gone to both... oh well, this is one of those testing times, have to stay strong, it is short term pain for long term gain! The next day, my newly gained friend Rob calls (I recently tried out for a band and got accepted)... "Dude, Harry (the guitarist) has finished his exams, we want to see if you wanna have a jam this weekend, get some beers, make a day of it"... aww man, that sounds way fun. But, I held strong, saying I'll reschedule. The importance placed on this weekend to write my thesis was immense... I knew that the progress (or lack of) on my thesis this weekend would make or break.
Saturday arrives, Rob comes down also to do some work. We get some beers and pizza, turns into an awesome day of laughs with bursts of thesis writing. 5pm arrives... my mate Rod calls, reckon he has an awesome night planned with the boys... damn it! I never get to join the guys for a good night out anymore... that makes 4 invites on the one weekend (which is 3 - 4 more then any other weekend lol).
Long story short I managed an awesome 1,700 words over the weekend! Which I am rather proud of myself considering it was a weekend, I had to resists a heap of distractions, and I had downed 6 beers when I finally started writing ha!
So, well. I am about to go to sleep, to wake up and repeat the cycle all over again. Sophie (my amazing Honours supervisor) has returned from her two week holiday and has already been an amazing help. Tomorrow will be important, I have 1 chapter to finish off (Results chapter) and start on my final chapter (Discussion chapter). If I can finish off Results chapter tomorrow, I should be set.
Wish me luck!
18 November 2010
Thesis update
Just browsing my blog then, it appears (despite my strong desire to do so) I have failed in keeping a rolling documentation on the progress for completing my Honours thesis. I know this doesn't make for particularly interesting reading for you readers, but as I have said many times I write this blog purely for myself, thus would like to document what is the most challenging task I have ever tackled.
My last update (all the way back on the 30th of October... nearly 3 weeks ago... ha!) I was at 4,100 words. Keeping in mind that my thesis is due on the 29th of November...
*queue dramatic music* Dum dum duuummm!!!
Yeah... lame... I am extremely tired ha.
I have been keeping a mini log in the abstract section of my thesis, it reads like so:
Which alas brings us to today, the 18th! For some reason I do my best work real late in the day... say 4pm to 9pm. Keeping in mind I usually arrive at Uni around 11am... I spend a good 5 hours of procrastination. Come about 5pm today though and I got a big breakthrough, managing to pump out about 800 words to bring my total to a pretty cool 11,179 words at 51 pages.
If I can get out another 800 tomorrow, I will be well on track =)
I am seriously on the edge lately though... I am not quite stressing, but it seems like I will at any moment. These next few days will be absolutely crucial, if I can managed to finish the chapter I am working tomorrow, and on the weekend get 70% of my final chapter done by Monday, I will be able to make it. Sophie comes back on Monday from two weeks absence... I am desperately waiting her return, it has been quite difficult, but great for self improvement at the same time now that I think about it.
Anyways... I would of liked to have made this post more interesting and funny, but it is 12.36am and I am too tired. I was going to save it and re-write it tomorrow when I am awake, but I guess posting it now it true documentation, showing how tired I am during these times.
My last update (all the way back on the 30th of October... nearly 3 weeks ago... ha!) I was at 4,100 words. Keeping in mind that my thesis is due on the 29th of November...
*queue dramatic music* Dum dum duuummm!!!
Yeah... lame... I am extremely tired ha.
I have been keeping a mini log in the abstract section of my thesis, it reads like so:
1/11/2010 - 5,349 words, 28 pages… progressing too slowly…
7/11/2010 3.14pm – 7,718 words, 33 pages… hmm not bad for the week I guess. Still going far too slow =S
12/11/2010 8.48pm – 9,039 words, 40 pages… majority of pages gained was due to changing font size from 10 to 12 (as per the Honours guidelines). Hmm.. roughly 1300 words done this week. Not enough, should have been at least 2000. Sigh.
14/11/2010 6.09pm – 10,252, 48 pages. Lots of pages gained due to adding of appendices. I actually went pretty awesomely today and Friday night (see above)… managing around 500 words written (which for writing on a night after work, and writing on a Sunday, isn’t too bad).
17/11/2010 3.59PM - 10,385, 49 pages. Even though it looks likes I have only managed 100 words since the 14th, I actually deleted about 300 words, then re-wrote another 400. So have managed 400 yesterday... which is bad but it is progress nonetheless.
Which alas brings us to today, the 18th! For some reason I do my best work real late in the day... say 4pm to 9pm. Keeping in mind I usually arrive at Uni around 11am... I spend a good 5 hours of procrastination. Come about 5pm today though and I got a big breakthrough, managing to pump out about 800 words to bring my total to a pretty cool 11,179 words at 51 pages.
If I can get out another 800 tomorrow, I will be well on track =)
I am seriously on the edge lately though... I am not quite stressing, but it seems like I will at any moment. These next few days will be absolutely crucial, if I can managed to finish the chapter I am working tomorrow, and on the weekend get 70% of my final chapter done by Monday, I will be able to make it. Sophie comes back on Monday from two weeks absence... I am desperately waiting her return, it has been quite difficult, but great for self improvement at the same time now that I think about it.
Anyways... I would of liked to have made this post more interesting and funny, but it is 12.36am and I am too tired. I was going to save it and re-write it tomorrow when I am awake, but I guess posting it now it true documentation, showing how tired I am during these times.
30 October 2010
The loop
It appears even in my rather frantic and neurotic state due to the stress that is writing an Honours thesis... I just can't bare to see my blog lay dormant. Oh, also, this just occurred to me... I am sure everyone is sick of hearing about my Honours thesis by now ha! You know, my Honours thesis... as part of Honours for my University degree... that I have been doing since the start of the year... ok I will stop =P
Anyway in my sudden realization that the last few weeks has been dominated by talks of... you know what, in honesty it can't be helped. I have my first official rough draft due this Tuesday, with the final published copy due by November 29. That is not a lot of time at all.
Besides, I have always written this blog purely for myself (never in an attempt to gain followers), and I would like to document this journey to hopefully some day (in the relatively close future I would hope) be able to look back on this, and be proud of what I have accomplished.
Thus I would like to keep everyone (and myself) up to date.
With the typical me moment on Tuesday, resulting in (somehow) writing an awesome 1100 words on Wednesday, I started today (Saturday) with 4100 words in total. I had planned to spend the whole day with the objective of 500 words at minimum.... note to self: do not try and do Thesis work at my parents house. There is just far too many distractions, food to eat, parents to argue with, lack of adequate work space... it has been a struggle just to sit down for 30 minutes without some kind of interuption. Sigh.
Oh well, I have another 2 hours before I have to head out (meeting a group of friends for dinner which should be awesome)... let's hope I can get that 500 words after all.
Anyway in my sudden realization that the last few weeks has been dominated by talks of... you know what, in honesty it can't be helped. I have my first official rough draft due this Tuesday, with the final published copy due by November 29. That is not a lot of time at all.
Besides, I have always written this blog purely for myself (never in an attempt to gain followers), and I would like to document this journey to hopefully some day (in the relatively close future I would hope) be able to look back on this, and be proud of what I have accomplished.
Thus I would like to keep everyone (and myself) up to date.
With the typical me moment on Tuesday, resulting in (somehow) writing an awesome 1100 words on Wednesday, I started today (Saturday) with 4100 words in total. I had planned to spend the whole day with the objective of 500 words at minimum.... note to self: do not try and do Thesis work at my parents house. There is just far too many distractions, food to eat, parents to argue with, lack of adequate work space... it has been a struggle just to sit down for 30 minutes without some kind of interuption. Sigh.
Oh well, I have another 2 hours before I have to head out (meeting a group of friends for dinner which should be awesome)... let's hope I can get that 500 words after all.
27 October 2010
This is how you write a thesis!
On my continued quest to finish my Honours thesis by its deadline I am dedicating a few days of my week solely to its completion. Yesterday's attempt... was a little unorthodox I admit, but highly effective!
Yesterday (Tuesday) marks a week since I really started writing my thesis. At the start of the day I had around a meager 1000 words or so... the goal of the day was to not leave until 1000 words had been written. Doable! (I thought).
It appears however, and this is easily backed up by many of my previous posts, is that I suffer from a severe case of procrastinitis (that word even made it into theurban dictionary, thus proving it is a very real disease =P). I even produced a documentary series of my struggle with the disease about a month ago when trying to write a report.
So, the goal was 1000 words... after sleeping in, getting to Uni late, chatting to Sophie for 2 hours, wandering around Uni, surfing the net, returning to Sophie's office again to chat some more, I had accomplished 200 words before heading home (booyah?). Upon arriving at home I figured I should have a relaxing night. I made an awesome meal, sat down and had a beer... or two... or three.
Four beers later I am buzzing immensely haha! I know, let's sit down and write my thesis!
...
I wake up the next day, not really sure what I got up to the night before...
Sigh, I wonder what damage I've managed to do in my drunken blur. I open up my thesis, not sure what to expect... hmm, I actually have words written? 300 extra words!? Awesome! Hang on, what's this part?.. they appear to be... song lyrics? Ha ha! Ok so 300 words minus the chorus of "Meatloaf - For Crying Out Loud" and it appears I actually managed to get a decent paragraph or two.
A tad short of my 1000 word goal but words nonetheless.
I get to Uni, sit at my PC, hoping desperately that the day doesn't become a repeat to the previous. By this stage I am looking at 2500 words in total... I need at minimum 5000 by the weeks end, preferably somewhere over 6000. I check my emails before I begin the day.
What's this, two emails from myself? I vaguely remember sending them ha. I open them up, they are links to published papers. Ok.. interesting... let's see if they at least have some kind of relevance to my research at least ha. Interestingly enough, they do! So much so in fact that that they are actually two of the most beneficial papers I have in my possession!
Wow, I can really use this stuff!
Long story short (after procrastinating until about 3pm), I left home at around 7pm with an impressive 1100 words written, bringing my total to a much more admirable 3500 words.
Now that's how you write a thesis!
Yesterday (Tuesday) marks a week since I really started writing my thesis. At the start of the day I had around a meager 1000 words or so... the goal of the day was to not leave until 1000 words had been written. Doable! (I thought).
It appears however, and this is easily backed up by many of my previous posts, is that I suffer from a severe case of procrastinitis (that word even made it into the
So, the goal was 1000 words... after sleeping in, getting to Uni late, chatting to Sophie for 2 hours, wandering around Uni, surfing the net, returning to Sophie's office again to chat some more, I had accomplished 200 words before heading home (booyah?). Upon arriving at home I figured I should have a relaxing night. I made an awesome meal, sat down and had a beer... or two... or three.
Four beers later I am buzzing immensely haha! I know, let's sit down and write my thesis!
...
I wake up the next day, not really sure what I got up to the night before...
Sigh, I wonder what damage I've managed to do in my drunken blur. I open up my thesis, not sure what to expect... hmm, I actually have words written? 300 extra words!? Awesome! Hang on, what's this part?.. they appear to be... song lyrics? Ha ha! Ok so 300 words minus the chorus of "Meatloaf - For Crying Out Loud" and it appears I actually managed to get a decent paragraph or two.
A tad short of my 1000 word goal but words nonetheless.
I get to Uni, sit at my PC, hoping desperately that the day doesn't become a repeat to the previous. By this stage I am looking at 2500 words in total... I need at minimum 5000 by the weeks end, preferably somewhere over 6000. I check my emails before I begin the day.
What's this, two emails from myself? I vaguely remember sending them ha. I open them up, they are links to published papers. Ok.. interesting... let's see if they at least have some kind of relevance to my research at least ha. Interestingly enough, they do! So much so in fact that that they are actually two of the most beneficial papers I have in my possession!
Wow, I can really use this stuff!
Long story short (after procrastinating until about 3pm), I left home at around 7pm with an impressive 1100 words written, bringing my total to a much more admirable 3500 words.
Now that's how you write a thesis!
24 October 2010
Cave dweller
Shame that I am stuck inside all day ha...
Surprisingly I have disciplined myself enough today to sit down and do some work on my Honours thesis... at the sacrifice of having to sit inside while the best day taunts me from my window. I haven't achieved much to be honest, it is currently 4.16pm and thus far since waking up at 11.30am I have played 2 hours of Call of Duty, had breakfast, listened to music on YouTube for an hour, watched half a movie, and only managed to so far write 200 words. Ha!
But, I am not annoyed nor disappointed with myself, because that is 200 words less to do, written on a day that I could of easily done other things. As I blogged a few days ago I have changed my mentality in regards to writing my thesis, instead breaking it down into little daily 'word goals' to try to achieve.
Today's goal was 400 words, I am confident that can be done =)
I have my first rough draft due November 2nd, that is only one week away. After that my final copy is due November 29th... a little under 5 weeks. That when you think about it is a very short amount of time... but I remain confident if I can continue to work on it constantly and consistently.
It pains me to see a nice day such as today drift by... but one month of suffering will be worth it in the long run I know.
19 October 2010
Simple words
SMS received 8.50pm from Sophie: "How's the literature review going? ;). Good work on sorting your thesis structure out I look forward to reading it. Really do."
SMS sent 9.05pm from me: "hey hey, going good I reached my 1000 word goal, just left Uni then lol. thanks so much for encouragement, means a lot to me =)"
SMS received 9.13pm from Sophie: "Good work! Yay. Well I believe you can be a published author with this work ;). Keep it up."
Simple words, completely out of the blue, can mean the world to someone.
And these words certainly did.
SMS sent 9.05pm from me: "hey hey, going good I reached my 1000 word goal, just left Uni then lol. thanks so much for encouragement, means a lot to me =)"
SMS received 9.13pm from Sophie: "Good work! Yay. Well I believe you can be a published author with this work ;). Keep it up."
Simple words, completely out of the blue, can mean the world to someone.
And these words certainly did.
Thesis writing time
Today, thus far, has been a great although unproductive day. It is currently 3.37pm Tuesday, I have been here (at Uni) since about midday with the intentions to spend the entire day writing my thesis.
Well, as I am sure you can guess from my terrible track record, I am yet to touch it lol. I spent the last 3 hours chatting to an awesome new friend of mine Angel, one of my mates girlfriends. She is really awesome, actually uses her brain for thinking, I find I can have great conversations about any topic, the more controversial or complicated the better.
I really wish there were more people like that in the world.
Anyways, getting back to my topic in question... my thesis. The process of my thesis has been going on for quite some time now, starting around March this year. You can follow its process in its entirety here. I myself refrain from reading it, as with only 4 weeks before my thesis is due, reading my past progress annoys me as I see all the countless, countless, hours I wasted over the months. In essence I could of had it all finished by now and could be out enjoying full time work and guilt free weekends.
Instead, I am still here. With all my assignments finished for the year this is the only thing holding me back. It is my lazyness that forces me to still be here.
My problem however has been an utter and complete lack of motivation to sit down and write it. It is strange, because in all other aspects I have excelled. I can, and gladly, do the researching, the surveys, the interviews, the presentations... it is just the act of sitting down and writing it that seems to get me stumped day after day.
Which is rather ironic as I seem to have no qualms writing pages upon pages on this blog haha.
Today, however, I think I might of cracked my problem. The answer is untested as of yet, I will try it immediately after posting this. I think my problem all this time is that I am great at small tasks, but terrible at large ones. Solution? Break it down! With this new revelation in mind, I am going to put it to the test right this minute.
As of 3.47pm, Tuesday, 19th of October, I have 395 words written. I vow to have 1000 words before I head home tonight. Could this be the answer I have been looking for?
Wish me luck!
Well, as I am sure you can guess from my terrible track record, I am yet to touch it lol. I spent the last 3 hours chatting to an awesome new friend of mine Angel, one of my mates girlfriends. She is really awesome, actually uses her brain for thinking, I find I can have great conversations about any topic, the more controversial or complicated the better.
I really wish there were more people like that in the world.
Anyways, getting back to my topic in question... my thesis. The process of my thesis has been going on for quite some time now, starting around March this year. You can follow its process in its entirety here. I myself refrain from reading it, as with only 4 weeks before my thesis is due, reading my past progress annoys me as I see all the countless, countless, hours I wasted over the months. In essence I could of had it all finished by now and could be out enjoying full time work and guilt free weekends.
Instead, I am still here. With all my assignments finished for the year this is the only thing holding me back. It is my lazyness that forces me to still be here.
My problem however has been an utter and complete lack of motivation to sit down and write it. It is strange, because in all other aspects I have excelled. I can, and gladly, do the researching, the surveys, the interviews, the presentations... it is just the act of sitting down and writing it that seems to get me stumped day after day.
Which is rather ironic as I seem to have no qualms writing pages upon pages on this blog haha.
Today, however, I think I might of cracked my problem. The answer is untested as of yet, I will try it immediately after posting this. I think my problem all this time is that I am great at small tasks, but terrible at large ones. Solution? Break it down! With this new revelation in mind, I am going to put it to the test right this minute.
As of 3.47pm, Tuesday, 19th of October, I have 395 words written. I vow to have 1000 words before I head home tonight. Could this be the answer I have been looking for?
Wish me luck!
10 October 2010
Conclusion
I would like to write this small post to bring this insanely hectic week to a closure... =)
I am rather numb today... it is currently 1.20pm Sunday and I sit at the dining room table at my parents house (came home for the weekend, Mum's home cooked meals are the best!), and as I look outside on this nice sunny day, and take humour from the fact that I only got out of bed about 30 minutes ago and am yet to have breakfast... I take comfort in the fact that I have no more assignments to complete =)
Sweet!
Which is to say, to continue on from yesterdays post, that I did indeed manage to complete the presentation that was required. Although it was ridiculously painful to do so haha. From the day before I didn't get to bed till 4am, slept till 12.30pm Saturday, then spent roughly 2pm to 9pm finishing the presentation... ouch.
Hope and morale were pretty stretched over the last few days, I seriously was concerned that I may not be able to complete this last remaining assignment (as you can read here), and while I did manage to persevere and finish it, it was admittedly not my best work ha. But oh well, I tried.
I can now smile at the fact that I could spend the whole day doing absolutely nothing (which I fully intend to do), and not have guilt at the back of my mind from knowing I should be spending my time working on a piece of work from a looming deadline. A deadline I am most likely ill prepared for haha.
It has been a long year, but it is not quite over. My thesis is due in about 5 weeks, something I have been struggling to write all year now (I am sure you are noticing a pattern by now, me and time management aren't very good friends haha).
I think I might spend some time today researching for my plans for next year. Something I have been doing throughout the year, but at least this time I won't feel guilty for doing so =)
I am rather numb today... it is currently 1.20pm Sunday and I sit at the dining room table at my parents house (came home for the weekend, Mum's home cooked meals are the best!), and as I look outside on this nice sunny day, and take humour from the fact that I only got out of bed about 30 minutes ago and am yet to have breakfast... I take comfort in the fact that I have no more assignments to complete =)
Sweet!
Which is to say, to continue on from yesterdays post, that I did indeed manage to complete the presentation that was required. Although it was ridiculously painful to do so haha. From the day before I didn't get to bed till 4am, slept till 12.30pm Saturday, then spent roughly 2pm to 9pm finishing the presentation... ouch.
Hope and morale were pretty stretched over the last few days, I seriously was concerned that I may not be able to complete this last remaining assignment (as you can read here), and while I did manage to persevere and finish it, it was admittedly not my best work ha. But oh well, I tried.
I can now smile at the fact that I could spend the whole day doing absolutely nothing (which I fully intend to do), and not have guilt at the back of my mind from knowing I should be spending my time working on a piece of work from a looming deadline. A deadline I am most likely ill prepared for haha.
It has been a long year, but it is not quite over. My thesis is due in about 5 weeks, something I have been struggling to write all year now (I am sure you are noticing a pattern by now, me and time management aren't very good friends haha).
I think I might spend some time today researching for my plans for next year. Something I have been doing throughout the year, but at least this time I won't feel guilty for doing so =)
09 October 2010
The doom is...
It is currently 1.22am on Saturday morning... I am still at my University and have been since roughly 10am... that's 15 hours! The reason? An assignment of course.
A few days ago I posted with what appeared to be a rather bleak outlook in regards to this last ever University assignment I had left, standing between me and my graduation from Honours. You can read about it here. The outcome? I completed it... should I celebrate? Not really ha ha.
In all honesty the report was rubbish, 4,288 words of... who knows really ha ha. Whenever I finish a big report such as this I refuse to re-read it after I have submitted it, because in doing so I know I will find mistakes, which will form regrets, that will cause me to stress. So, once something is complete I understand there is nothing I can do to change anything so I am content to just walk away and wait until a mark is released =)
Why however did I say that I am not quite complete? Well annoyingly so the report wasn't the only criteria... I also have to prepare a 15 minute presentation, highlighting the steps I went through, what I discovered, my results... yeah crap like that. Sigh!
Oh well, I will do it tomorrow... waaaay too tired to think clearly right now. The end is near!
05 October 2010
Offically doomed
I can't do it. It pains me to say it, but it is in all likeliness the truth... I just cannot complete this last assignment that stands between me and graduation from my Honours degree.
Sigh.
For the entire year now I have embarked on quite the challenge, after successfully graduating from my degree last year (Information Technology, majoring in Games Design and Development) with great marks I decided that one more year of study was needed for numerous reasons, and decided to stay for a postgraduate degree (Honours).
Thus far it has been going great, last semester I got HD's (High Distinctions, a grade of 80% or higher) across the board for every assignment, report, literature review... so yay for that =) It seems however that that trend of high achievement may go out the window due to a failure of concentration on my part...
You see, back at the start of the year I was able to choose 3 Masters classes as part of my Honours year. Awesome I thought, who knows what cool things I can learn! What's this, a subject called 'Recent Developments in I.T'? How cool of a class does that sound! Oh, it is only offered in the second semester and it is highly recommended you complete all your classes in the first semester so you have the second semester completely free to work on your Thesis? Aww but, but, but with a class title as cool as that I just HAVE to take it! Done! I am going to ignore all advice from people much wiser then I and leave the class until second semester anyway. Brilliant idea! How could I ever come to regret that...
Well, turns out in my naive haste I didn't read the fine print of what this apparently 'coolest class of them all' that was 'Recent Developments in IT' was really about... and didn't realize the whole semester is spent on the extremely tedious and boring subject of Data Mining... ouch.
It has turned into one of my most complex, demanding classes I have ever taken in my life.
So here we come to the final week of the semester, I have the final assignment for this class (coupled with a 15 minute presentation) due this Friday... and I have absolutely no idea what I am meant to do. I feel completely lost, with no one to turn to. It scares me to think that my perfect record of never failing not one piece of work in my entire schooling to fail on the very last one! And even if I somehow manage to pass, it will completely ruin my HD streak for this year, something I have strived for with great intensity since before I even began.
The possibility to graduate not just 'Information Technology with Honours'... but instead 'Information Technology with First class Honours'!
About 5 weeks ago the first assignment for this class was due, and we all know how ridiculous that turned out... yet I somehow (as you can read in the linked post) managed to throw together a report in one of my biggest efforts ever, achieving an acceptable 73% grade. I have 3 days until this second assignment is due... can I repeat my previous feat?
I have doubts...
One thing that I pride myself on is the ability to somehow stand up victorious when the odds are incredibly against me. I have managed this many times before, with this assignment being by far my toughest ever. I am about to go home now as I am terribly tired from being here all day, I will be here first thing tomorrow morning, I have come too far to let this go to waste.
It is going to be a long 3 days!
Sigh.
For the entire year now I have embarked on quite the challenge, after successfully graduating from my degree last year (Information Technology, majoring in Games Design and Development) with great marks I decided that one more year of study was needed for numerous reasons, and decided to stay for a postgraduate degree (Honours).
Thus far it has been going great, last semester I got HD's (High Distinctions, a grade of 80% or higher) across the board for every assignment, report, literature review... so yay for that =) It seems however that that trend of high achievement may go out the window due to a failure of concentration on my part...
You see, back at the start of the year I was able to choose 3 Masters classes as part of my Honours year. Awesome I thought, who knows what cool things I can learn! What's this, a subject called 'Recent Developments in I.T'? How cool of a class does that sound! Oh, it is only offered in the second semester and it is highly recommended you complete all your classes in the first semester so you have the second semester completely free to work on your Thesis? Aww but, but, but with a class title as cool as that I just HAVE to take it! Done! I am going to ignore all advice from people much wiser then I and leave the class until second semester anyway. Brilliant idea! How could I ever come to regret that...
Well, turns out in my naive haste I didn't read the fine print of what this apparently 'coolest class of them all' that was 'Recent Developments in IT' was really about... and didn't realize the whole semester is spent on the extremely tedious and boring subject of Data Mining... ouch.
It has turned into one of my most complex, demanding classes I have ever taken in my life.
So here we come to the final week of the semester, I have the final assignment for this class (coupled with a 15 minute presentation) due this Friday... and I have absolutely no idea what I am meant to do. I feel completely lost, with no one to turn to. It scares me to think that my perfect record of never failing not one piece of work in my entire schooling to fail on the very last one! And even if I somehow manage to pass, it will completely ruin my HD streak for this year, something I have strived for with great intensity since before I even began.
The possibility to graduate not just 'Information Technology with Honours'... but instead 'Information Technology with First class Honours'!
About 5 weeks ago the first assignment for this class was due, and we all know how ridiculous that turned out... yet I somehow (as you can read in the linked post) managed to throw together a report in one of my biggest efforts ever, achieving an acceptable 73% grade. I have 3 days until this second assignment is due... can I repeat my previous feat?
I have doubts...
One thing that I pride myself on is the ability to somehow stand up victorious when the odds are incredibly against me. I have managed this many times before, with this assignment being by far my toughest ever. I am about to go home now as I am terribly tired from being here all day, I will be here first thing tomorrow morning, I have come too far to let this go to waste.
It is going to be a long 3 days!
21 September 2010
Thesis writing
Energy is draining fast... or maybe there was none there to begin with. With only 4 weeks until my Honours thesis is due I am still yet to write any substantial amount of words. 276 words so far to be exact... out of an approximate 20,000 needed.... yeah...
I expressed about a month ago that I was lacking my work motivation, although this happens every single year so I wasn't really concerned. This year, however, isn't an ordinary year. A thesis is not an ordinary piece of work. In fact, it will be by far my biggest single piece of work I have ever done on my own in my entire life.
Wow... that's a scary realization.
Yes I know, 'what am I doing here writing this post instead of writing the thesis' you may be thinking. Sometimes a bit of a word spill helps so I thought I would give it a go. Besides, my hope is that in a months time I can look back on this post, with a completed thesis submitted, and reflect on the journey and be proud that I over came the hard days such as today.
It is strange though, and I think I wrote this on the post I linked above, but usually when this happens I usually somehow get into a working mode when I really need it and miraculously just pump out massive volumes of work in an impressive amount of time, always achieving a high grade. What is different this time? Is it a sense of overwhelming that is hindering me from even starting? Or is it just the fact that I am lazy and I need to just sit myself down and force out some work?
The problem there is that all my best work is always done spontaneously. You may recall that big literature review that I wrote up in only 1 day just last month. 3,500 words written in one day, on a topic I know nothing about, I am happy to announce that I got a Distinction for my efforts. Thus proving I work best on the run.
But this is a thesis, no way could I knock it out in 1 day. Nor even a week. Hell, I am even pushing it to try and complete it in 1 month as it is. And then days like this arrive where I take the day off work, have unlimited hours ahead of me, and I waste it listening to music, chatting on gchat or blogging.
Oh well, for some reason, I am still not worried... I think something is wrong with me ha. I have 276 words done so far, let's get cracking.
I expressed about a month ago that I was lacking my work motivation, although this happens every single year so I wasn't really concerned. This year, however, isn't an ordinary year. A thesis is not an ordinary piece of work. In fact, it will be by far my biggest single piece of work I have ever done on my own in my entire life.
Wow... that's a scary realization.
Yes I know, 'what am I doing here writing this post instead of writing the thesis' you may be thinking. Sometimes a bit of a word spill helps so I thought I would give it a go. Besides, my hope is that in a months time I can look back on this post, with a completed thesis submitted, and reflect on the journey and be proud that I over came the hard days such as today.
It is strange though, and I think I wrote this on the post I linked above, but usually when this happens I usually somehow get into a working mode when I really need it and miraculously just pump out massive volumes of work in an impressive amount of time, always achieving a high grade. What is different this time? Is it a sense of overwhelming that is hindering me from even starting? Or is it just the fact that I am lazy and I need to just sit myself down and force out some work?
The problem there is that all my best work is always done spontaneously. You may recall that big literature review that I wrote up in only 1 day just last month. 3,500 words written in one day, on a topic I know nothing about, I am happy to announce that I got a Distinction for my efforts. Thus proving I work best on the run.
But this is a thesis, no way could I knock it out in 1 day. Nor even a week. Hell, I am even pushing it to try and complete it in 1 month as it is. And then days like this arrive where I take the day off work, have unlimited hours ahead of me, and I waste it listening to music, chatting on gchat or blogging.
Oh well, for some reason, I am still not worried... I think something is wrong with me ha. I have 276 words done so far, let's get cracking.
01 August 2010
Researcher's Block
So yes while I am thoroughly practiced in that art my worry is in the fact that this particular spell has lasted 3 weeks now... 3 weeks! It was about 2 weeks ago I was expressing (somewhat unstably) my piling workload, establishing that if there ever were to be an ideal time to procrastinate, now would definitely not be it.
I have no idea how to get around it. I have a 4000 word literature review to complete, something I promised my Honours supervisor I would have complete by last week 'at the absolute latest'. To be honest as I am sitting at my University library in the attempt to get some of it done without any of the distractions present at home, I have done a measly 510 words. Doomed I tell you!
Hmm, this isn't something new I guess. I have worked like this throughout my entire schooling and somehow every single time things just work out. Keep the faith perhaps? I worry for the day that that faith fails me haha.
Well the library is about to close, I've spent 2 and a half hours here and didn't write a single word on my research. Oh well, time to go home and continue my The Big Bang Theory marathon.
P.S Oh yeah, I seen a shooting star whilst at a party last night, pretty cool I guess. I wonder if my wish will come true.
14 July 2010
Yikes, things just got real!
As you all know, I am currently undertaking my Honours degree at University which entails completing 4 Masters level units as well as a Thesis. Thus far I have completed 3 of my 4 units and found it rather manageable and very enjoyable... today I realized the second half of my year will not be such a walk in the park in comparison to the first.
You know when things are bad and you cringe every time you think about it... I'm past that. I am at the stage where it is so bad that I can't stop laughing at just how bad it is! I kid you not, the amount of work is just... see now I am laughing too hard to think of a description haha!
I think I have gone insane!
My last remaining Masters unit is titled 'Recent Development in IT'. When you begin an Honours degree it is suggested that you get your 4 Master level units done in the first semester, leaving the second semester free for your Thesis research and writing. Recent Development in IT was only offered in the second semester but with a title like that I just had to take it!
Oh how I have come to regret that choice. I have the sheets of paper in front of me that list what this weeks practical class involves... It entails so much work for just 1 weeks worth of class that it is almost the entire weeks work load of what I would of done in only one week last semester. And I have to do these once a week, on top of my Thesis research and writing!
Then I looked at the Assignment 1 for the class... it was a Literature Review... are you kidding me! A Literature Review! Now, it needs to be minimum 3000 words, which honestly is a breeze... the problem is I am already in the process of writing a 4000 word Literature Review for my Thesis, and it is about a topic I have very limited prior knowledge of. This has to be squeezed in with my teaching rounds every Tuesday whilst still researching for my Thesis, actually writing my Thesis, all of this scheduled in between my 9 - 5 job three days a week!
*interval of 70 minutes*
Ok, I am back. I had a bit of a mental-insane-laughing-breakdown of some sorts, so I went and played my drums and watched my housemates play a drinking game. I would be drinking with them, but yeah, you know... there is no time!
Time! There is none! The other day I spent about 4 hours whilst at work reading about Einstein's theory of general relativity... yeah I love that stuff and proud of it. Anyways, there are theories that suggest that gravity isn't a constant after all and in fact can vary depending on factors such as mass, size and proximity of surrounding bodies like planets and suns, which apparently therefore alters the speed at which time passes (known as the Shapiro delay).
Maybe I could travel there to buy some more time!
Haha oh geez, I don't think it is safe for me to return just yet...
You know when things are bad and you cringe every time you think about it... I'm past that. I am at the stage where it is so bad that I can't stop laughing at just how bad it is! I kid you not, the amount of work is just... see now I am laughing too hard to think of a description haha!
I think I have gone insane!
My last remaining Masters unit is titled 'Recent Development in IT'. When you begin an Honours degree it is suggested that you get your 4 Master level units done in the first semester, leaving the second semester free for your Thesis research and writing. Recent Development in IT was only offered in the second semester but with a title like that I just had to take it!
Oh how I have come to regret that choice. I have the sheets of paper in front of me that list what this weeks practical class involves... It entails so much work for just 1 weeks worth of class that it is almost the entire weeks work load of what I would of done in only one week last semester. And I have to do these once a week, on top of my Thesis research and writing!
Then I looked at the Assignment 1 for the class... it was a Literature Review... are you kidding me! A Literature Review! Now, it needs to be minimum 3000 words, which honestly is a breeze... the problem is I am already in the process of writing a 4000 word Literature Review for my Thesis, and it is about a topic I have very limited prior knowledge of. This has to be squeezed in with my teaching rounds every Tuesday whilst still researching for my Thesis, actually writing my Thesis, all of this scheduled in between my 9 - 5 job three days a week!
*interval of 70 minutes*
Ok, I am back. I had a bit of a mental-insane-laughing-breakdown of some sorts, so I went and played my drums and watched my housemates play a drinking game. I would be drinking with them, but yeah, you know... there is no time!
Time! There is none! The other day I spent about 4 hours whilst at work reading about Einstein's theory of general relativity... yeah I love that stuff and proud of it. Anyways, there are theories that suggest that gravity isn't a constant after all and in fact can vary depending on factors such as mass, size and proximity of surrounding bodies like planets and suns, which apparently therefore alters the speed at which time passes (known as the Shapiro delay).
Maybe I could travel there to buy some more time!
Haha oh geez, I don't think it is safe for me to return just yet...
16 June 2010
10 Things I Enjoyed About Today - Day 7
Today was an absolutely awesome day so this top 10 (continuation of my little experiment) will be an easy one:
1. Got to sleep in (always a bonus)
2. Had a nice lazy morning eating breakfast while watching episodes of Two and a Half Men
3. I had a presentation to attend which started at 11am... I thought it started at 11.30am... luckily when I logged onto my personal Uni computer at 10.56am my calender popped up with a message reminding me haha
4. Today was the day of my very important Honours presentation*
5. My Honours presentation went AWESOME!
6. Hung out with Sophie in her office afterwards (she is ridiculously cool)
7. Did I mention that my presentation went good =)
8. My presentation kicked 2 out of 3 of the other presenters easily (one of them by the end I literally had no clue what it was about haha)
9. With my presentation out of the way my next deadline isn't until July 12th (ages away!)
10. Felt really pleased and proud of myself on how well my presentation went
*Ha, just reading over today's list there seems to be a focal point of some sorts. As mentioned multiple times already today was time for my mid-year Honours presentation that counts for a considerable amount for my end of year mark (something I am extremely determined to get as high as possible). The presentation had to be 20 - 30 minutes long to an audience consisting of Honour student supervisors, fellow Honour students, PhD students and a few staff... usually I would be extremely nervous but surprisingly this time I was rather calm, something that definitely showed during my talk.
Ha, I guess it helps to know what I am talking about during a presentation for a change, makes rambling much easier. And yes, as any good student does, I put the slides together the night before =P
My slides flowed brilliantly, I spoke (although with a slightly shaky start) with great clarity and detail, something that was echoed by a few members of the audience afterwards. One reason why I am making such a big deal about this and why it is such a big deal to me isn't just because I went well and that should result in a good mark. It is all because of what one of the staff Rosie, our Student Administrator at my Uni, said to me.
She said "Aaron that was a fantastic presentation, for someone like me who doesn't really understand this technical stuff yours was the only one that was clear and concise and I actually enjoyed it." Now while that was nice of her to say that wasn't what made this such so monumental to me, it was what she said next. "I remember you gave a presentation a few years ago at IBL (a business lunch between the Uni and local companies), I had never seen anyone more nervous in my life" and then she cracked up laughing.
I cringed and laughed at the memory of that presentation... I had purposely tried to block it out (it was embarrassingly bad). But it made we realize something great. While it wasn't the praise I got after wards by some of the audience, or the sense within myself that I knew I had given a good talk, it was the fact that that was clear evidence of how much I have grown over the last few years. Today I performed much better then I would have only a year or two ago, I am accomplishing goals that I had set myself back when I was still in high school, I am sitting, talking and conversing with people of a status that I would have never of dreamed of only a year ago, or even a few months ago for that matter.
It was amazing to see and actually feel how far I have come.
During question time the Honours Head Coordinator asked me "Tell me, what do you find most rewarding about your Honours study".
I had to pause and think for quite some time, eventually I came up with this "When I graduated last year I felt that I was just another face in the crowd with so many other people in my same degree graduating as well. Doing Honours I feel like I am proving myself, standing above the rest, accomplishing something much greater then anything I had done before".
That sense of accomplishment and self improvement is what I am happy about the most.
1. Got to sleep in (always a bonus)
2. Had a nice lazy morning eating breakfast while watching episodes of Two and a Half Men
3. I had a presentation to attend which started at 11am... I thought it started at 11.30am... luckily when I logged onto my personal Uni computer at 10.56am my calender popped up with a message reminding me haha
4. Today was the day of my very important Honours presentation*
5. My Honours presentation went AWESOME!
6. Hung out with Sophie in her office afterwards (she is ridiculously cool)
7. Did I mention that my presentation went good =)
8. My presentation kicked 2 out of 3 of the other presenters easily (one of them by the end I literally had no clue what it was about haha)
9. With my presentation out of the way my next deadline isn't until July 12th (ages away!)
10. Felt really pleased and proud of myself on how well my presentation went
*Ha, just reading over today's list there seems to be a focal point of some sorts. As mentioned multiple times already today was time for my mid-year Honours presentation that counts for a considerable amount for my end of year mark (something I am extremely determined to get as high as possible). The presentation had to be 20 - 30 minutes long to an audience consisting of Honour student supervisors, fellow Honour students, PhD students and a few staff... usually I would be extremely nervous but surprisingly this time I was rather calm, something that definitely showed during my talk.
Ha, I guess it helps to know what I am talking about during a presentation for a change, makes rambling much easier. And yes, as any good student does, I put the slides together the night before =P
My slides flowed brilliantly, I spoke (although with a slightly shaky start) with great clarity and detail, something that was echoed by a few members of the audience afterwards. One reason why I am making such a big deal about this and why it is such a big deal to me isn't just because I went well and that should result in a good mark. It is all because of what one of the staff Rosie, our Student Administrator at my Uni, said to me.
She said "Aaron that was a fantastic presentation, for someone like me who doesn't really understand this technical stuff yours was the only one that was clear and concise and I actually enjoyed it." Now while that was nice of her to say that wasn't what made this such so monumental to me, it was what she said next. "I remember you gave a presentation a few years ago at IBL (a business lunch between the Uni and local companies), I had never seen anyone more nervous in my life" and then she cracked up laughing.
I cringed and laughed at the memory of that presentation... I had purposely tried to block it out (it was embarrassingly bad). But it made we realize something great. While it wasn't the praise I got after wards by some of the audience, or the sense within myself that I knew I had given a good talk, it was the fact that that was clear evidence of how much I have grown over the last few years. Today I performed much better then I would have only a year or two ago, I am accomplishing goals that I had set myself back when I was still in high school, I am sitting, talking and conversing with people of a status that I would have never of dreamed of only a year ago, or even a few months ago for that matter.
It was amazing to see and actually feel how far I have come.
During question time the Honours Head Coordinator asked me "Tell me, what do you find most rewarding about your Honours study".
I had to pause and think for quite some time, eventually I came up with this "When I graduated last year I felt that I was just another face in the crowd with so many other people in my same degree graduating as well. Doing Honours I feel like I am proving myself, standing above the rest, accomplishing something much greater then anything I had done before".
That sense of accomplishment and self improvement is what I am happy about the most.
28 May 2010
Exciting possibility!
An awesome opportunity has presented itself which I am (for reasons not completely known to me) insanely excited about! As I mentioned just the other day in fact, I am really enjoying my Honours course I am currently doing, working with Sophie my supervisor being one of the highlights.
Anyway, my last meeting was a few days ago, and I had another with her today during which the topic of tutoring opportunities being available to me as I am Honours student came up. This will allow me to teach the practical classes for 2 of the current units in the Games Design and Development degree at my University! Awesome!
I have a choice between 2 classes, although I might try and teach both.
One of which would be teaching the first years in Game Fundamentals, which pretty much involves exposing the students to all the different elements that make up a video game (lighting, characters, stories, themes, graphics and so on) and how these all work together and what they bring to the gaming experience. This one I feel will be really rewarding as I am pretty good at connecting with people if I really need to, and it would be great to get the students thinking about how a game presents the experience to the player that could lead to some excellent discussions. The students also get free reign on their creativity, something I would love to encourage and shape if I could.
The second class is Audio and Visual Game Elements for the second year students. This involves using 3DS Max (a 3d modeling software) to draw things like swords, spiders and rocks in 3d, complete with textures and lighting. Then changing from visual to audio elements where we focus on how audio can enhance the visuals and induce a desired mood that changes the experience that the video game has on the player. There is also the fun challenge of producing sounds using the Foley technique.
I have got wild imaginations running through my mind on how being a teacher could turn out. My best case scenario would be being able to connect with the students, seeing their minds turning away with the breadth of their imagination the limit. Fresh faces to an old field is always exciting.
So many people play video games, watch movies, read books, but how many actually stop to think about what kind of experience that medium had on them. Did you feel immersed in the world, invested in the characters, found yourself lost in thought about the back story, debated the resulting ramifications when critical monumental events occurred. If you did experience something profound, look further to how it had that affect. Was it the way the characters were described, the towns portrayed, the lighting and sound involved (if it was a visual medium obviously). Think about why a certain colour and texture was used in a certain scene, the background music used to set a desired mood, the camera angles, the names of the characters. All chosen for a reason.
Then of course, how this was all brought together to (hopefully) seamlessly create an entire dimension within your own mind.
Anyways, I was pretty excited about that and thought I'd share it here. If I do take the offer I won't start until next University semester which is 2 months away yet. Will keep you updated!
Anyway, my last meeting was a few days ago, and I had another with her today during which the topic of tutoring opportunities being available to me as I am Honours student came up. This will allow me to teach the practical classes for 2 of the current units in the Games Design and Development degree at my University! Awesome!
I have a choice between 2 classes, although I might try and teach both.
One of which would be teaching the first years in Game Fundamentals, which pretty much involves exposing the students to all the different elements that make up a video game (lighting, characters, stories, themes, graphics and so on) and how these all work together and what they bring to the gaming experience. This one I feel will be really rewarding as I am pretty good at connecting with people if I really need to, and it would be great to get the students thinking about how a game presents the experience to the player that could lead to some excellent discussions. The students also get free reign on their creativity, something I would love to encourage and shape if I could.
The second class is Audio and Visual Game Elements for the second year students. This involves using 3DS Max (a 3d modeling software) to draw things like swords, spiders and rocks in 3d, complete with textures and lighting. Then changing from visual to audio elements where we focus on how audio can enhance the visuals and induce a desired mood that changes the experience that the video game has on the player. There is also the fun challenge of producing sounds using the Foley technique.
I have got wild imaginations running through my mind on how being a teacher could turn out. My best case scenario would be being able to connect with the students, seeing their minds turning away with the breadth of their imagination the limit. Fresh faces to an old field is always exciting.
So many people play video games, watch movies, read books, but how many actually stop to think about what kind of experience that medium had on them. Did you feel immersed in the world, invested in the characters, found yourself lost in thought about the back story, debated the resulting ramifications when critical monumental events occurred. If you did experience something profound, look further to how it had that affect. Was it the way the characters were described, the towns portrayed, the lighting and sound involved (if it was a visual medium obviously). Think about why a certain colour and texture was used in a certain scene, the background music used to set a desired mood, the camera angles, the names of the characters. All chosen for a reason.
Then of course, how this was all brought together to (hopefully) seamlessly create an entire dimension within your own mind.
Anyways, I was pretty excited about that and thought I'd share it here. If I do take the offer I won't start until next University semester which is 2 months away yet. Will keep you updated!
25 May 2010
Enjoying Uni
I tell you what I don't seem to do on this blog anymore, reflect. Which to me at least is a shame, which is cool because I write this blog purely for myself and never in an attempt to gain followers. I am selfish in that regard aren't I? =P
Today was an absolutely awesome day, it was the exact kind of day that I needed right now. This year I have two major events in my life, my job (which is exactly related to the field of work I want to form a career in) and completing my Honours degree at University.
Every week I meet up with my absolutely awesome supervisor Sophie. She is one of the coolest person I have ever met in my life, I look up to her tremendously both as an academic and as a person. During these meetings we brainstorm ideas, I usually bombard her with about 3000 questions on everything from report writing methodologies to referencing citations, and as we have become good friends over the last few months, usually spend a while talking about whatever springs to mine.
They are definitely a highlight to my week.
Anyways, it got me thinking. She asked me how I am going with everything in general, how I am finding my other classes, how my research is progressing, basically my current mood if I am coping or feeling stressed (she is awesome like that). I took a minute to think about it.
My classes are going well, my research is progressing nicely with about 3 key components that are crucial to my research currently in motion, I seem to be on track with everything... and then it hit me. While this is a lot of work involving lots of reading of published papers, writing reports to be done, constant meetings, other classes assignments to complete, all this balancing with work, in the end I can sum it all up... I am enjoying everything minute and aspect of it immensely.
I get bored and lose focus with things extremely easy. Ha, for instance, right now I am sitting at my University library writing this blog when I had promised myself I would spend this time writing a report that is due. If I don't find something enjoyable, I just can't do it, so it was an awesome realization to know that I really value being here, it feels exactly where I am meant to be, where I belong at this point in my life.
Knowing that you are where you are meant to be is invaluable, I see and meet too many people that are in jobs, or courses, or even relationships that they just shouldn't be in. Their heart isn't completely in it, perhaps I am wrong (I usually am). If you aren't 100% invested in something then you're just kidding yourself and wasting your time. Life is too short is all I am saying.
This year, which scarily is already half way through, will be one of my toughest but also most rewarding of my life. By the end of the year I aim to have a completed Thesis written, with hopes (and possible plans) to even get it published with a recognized international journal.
Life is short, you can do whatever the hell you want, nothing is stopping you, make the most of it.
Today was an absolutely awesome day, it was the exact kind of day that I needed right now. This year I have two major events in my life, my job (which is exactly related to the field of work I want to form a career in) and completing my Honours degree at University.
Every week I meet up with my absolutely awesome supervisor Sophie. She is one of the coolest person I have ever met in my life, I look up to her tremendously both as an academic and as a person. During these meetings we brainstorm ideas, I usually bombard her with about 3000 questions on everything from report writing methodologies to referencing citations, and as we have become good friends over the last few months, usually spend a while talking about whatever springs to mine.
They are definitely a highlight to my week.
Anyways, it got me thinking. She asked me how I am going with everything in general, how I am finding my other classes, how my research is progressing, basically my current mood if I am coping or feeling stressed (she is awesome like that). I took a minute to think about it.
My classes are going well, my research is progressing nicely with about 3 key components that are crucial to my research currently in motion, I seem to be on track with everything... and then it hit me. While this is a lot of work involving lots of reading of published papers, writing reports to be done, constant meetings, other classes assignments to complete, all this balancing with work, in the end I can sum it all up... I am enjoying everything minute and aspect of it immensely.
I get bored and lose focus with things extremely easy. Ha, for instance, right now I am sitting at my University library writing this blog when I had promised myself I would spend this time writing a report that is due. If I don't find something enjoyable, I just can't do it, so it was an awesome realization to know that I really value being here, it feels exactly where I am meant to be, where I belong at this point in my life.
Knowing that you are where you are meant to be is invaluable, I see and meet too many people that are in jobs, or courses, or even relationships that they just shouldn't be in. Their heart isn't completely in it, perhaps I am wrong (I usually am). If you aren't 100% invested in something then you're just kidding yourself and wasting your time. Life is too short is all I am saying.
This year, which scarily is already half way through, will be one of my toughest but also most rewarding of my life. By the end of the year I aim to have a completed Thesis written, with hopes (and possible plans) to even get it published with a recognized international journal.
Life is short, you can do whatever the hell you want, nothing is stopping you, make the most of it.
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