Thread 24 Covid Cohort - Oh Come, Oh Come offers from Emmanuel - and all other universities aswell!

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

I tried to sing the title... It kind of works...

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting. It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, please don't within this thread. Please also be sensitive when responding to posts about grades.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this goodwill continues.

Our DS/DD may go down various paths (such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will most likely find us within the Further Ed board.

Previous thread

@Seeline RWCMD is definitely the favourite in terms of both course, teachers and surroundings. It will be good to go back for another look as DD has been to wales once in her life so far! It’s furthest away at approx 4.5-5 hours drive which worries me a bit.

@Delphigirl how annoying the school have done nothing with your DS ucas form for so long.

@seeline similar experience to @icanbewhatiwant with learning to drive. Some dangerous overtaking on 60mph roads and tailgating however also some lovely people who pull over on one track roads (we live in the middle of nowhere).

@PaddingtonPaddington yes I find the country lanes people are better, get out the way etc. It's just the main roads. Everyone is always in such a hurry.

We had a lorry tailgate us on parts of the journey for about 12 miles in the summer when Ds was driving to work. It was a mix of 30mph villages and 60mph. The faster part the lorry didn't keep up, but on the 30 he came so close it was scary. Obviously trying to get us to go faster. Then when Ds turned off onto a side road the lorry driver blasted his horn and kept it on there a few seconds. Ds was furious, he wanted to turn round and give a hand sign to the driver 🙈

Sorry to hear about the rude drivers, it is so pointless. We were discussing it this morning and, apart from a lorry driver on an A road, DS felt that other road users has been kind. I would not want him to drive in London for a while.

Decided on a bit of a trip to see friends for lunch from up north with DH and without DCs (stayed at home for revision and interview prep) they drive south we drive north. Stamford was cold, bright and glorious - company fab … meant to start Christmas shopping 🛍 after lunch (with all the ucas, mocks, driving test and general stress we hadn’t started) but relaxed and chilled out and did NO shopping !! Ooopps - might need to start online instead tomorrow - some days us mums need a break

I haven’t started yet either @Fruitygal! For similar reasons… but then I never start early so they’re not really the reasons! There’s plenty of time yet!

Dd has been revising solidly since about 1. She’s a terrible procrastinator but then once she starts she hands over her phone and can focus for hours. Whereas ds can only focus for about half an hour at a time, hates working at home but will happily start three weeks before, fitting in half an hour on the bus here and half an hour in lunch hour there. Today he’s been out all day but apparently revised on the bus journeys and is now at a friend’s house revising! He’s literally only started revising this year (11) so we’ve yet to see how well his techniques work!

Dd has had an acknowledgement from Surrey and Southampton already...which she eagerly texted screenshots to us...it is going to be a long drawn out few months until August.

@Zebracat Loughborough is the insurance with ABB!

We didn’t look at Loughborough. It’s weird. I think we spent quite a lot of time on this process, and this is our 5th time at it. But we missed loads,and it would have been much worse without this thread. I kept swinging between she needs help and it’s her life! Parenting an older teenager I guess.

Abb is still hard!

Paddington, I wish your DD could see Cardiff at the moment, especially the park behind the college. It’s all lit up with fairy lights in the trees, and the castle has an amazing Christmas tree at the entrance, Winter Wonderland in front of the museum is in full swing, and there was a laxer light show tonight.
The whole city looks stunning. ❤️

Ds1 unfortunately lost his first ever boxing fight on a split decision that could’ve gone either way but he fought very well.
It was a huge occasion, big arena, 20 fights. Was hard for me to watch, but he wasn't injured at all and it was all good.

Not sure what the correct reaction to your post is, Oblomov. I hate any kind of violence and the idea of watching someone I love being hit by someone else makes me feel sick, but your DS is obviously a sportsman and it’s never nice to lose at something you’ve worked hard for.
Very relieved he hasn’t got any injuries. Did he love the experience?

We have news! DD got an email saying her UCAS form has been sent off by her teacher and sure enough, when she looked it online, it says it’s been sent to UCAS! Her predictions are AAB with an A in the EPQ.

Yay, BlueMarigold!
Hope the offers fly in now.

I like the way you’ve phrased your comments Piccolo! Hope your DS isn’t too ‘bruised’ by losing Oblomov I think the prep ahead of any sport is equally (if not more) key as the end result, the mental focus to get into a boxing ring aside from his fitness to compete must be immense.

Great news BlueMarigold

@Oblomov21 That's great that it was so evenly matched, less chance of major injury. I've never looked, is it a sport you can pursue at universities generally?

@BlueMarigold Hurrah progress!

Ah@BlueMarigold, pedctions are the same for mine, and hers has just gone off too. Fingers crossed it all works out.
@Oblomov21. Hope your boy is ok. He must be very brave, and so must you.

Predictions!

I hear you, but feel differently. It's not a sport I would have chosen for him. I get the objection to violence. But I suspect he might not fight again. I'm hoping I can persuade him to move over to rowing for Uni.

But the journey to here is what you are underestimating. how it benefited him specifically. Not the fight itself, but the year of training that led to it. Intense training unlike most sports. The skipping, the fitness is better than most other sportsmen. The discipline needed is like few other sports. Remember I said calories wise it's second only to rowing. The self awareness, mental strength, sacrifice of a fast day last weekend to get to his desired weight and 2 runs wearing bin bags. The support of the coaches and the camaraderie of the other boys who box. The fact it allows all your aggression out when you punch the big bag. A boy with mild ASD traits, who has been the happiest, calmest, best mental health ever since taking up the sport.

It was very controlled. The referees were brilliant. Ds has no injuries whatsoever. I am glad it's over though.

Could he continue to train in the gym with the other boxers, to keep reaping the benefits without having to go into the ring?
I am in awe of sportsmen and women - the discipline, mental and physical, that you’ve described isn’t something I can imagine being able to find in myself.

That's the plan.

Good news about ucas forms @BlueMarigold and @Zebracat!

@Oblomov21 I get you. Ds has been working out intensively for the past 9 months and has taken up Thai boxing more recently. He’s got ADHD and we had so many difficulties with him in years 8-10, but the discipline he’s learned in the gym has transformed him. He’s much more self-confident and focused, and even more organised, and it’s starting to have a positive impact on his school performance too. He says he wants to be a UFC fighter and I really hope he isn’t, but I’m really glad he’s on this path.

@Oblomov21 It's great that you feel he has benefitted hugely. Maybe he could also potentially try fencing at university? Same agility & focus.