Thread 51 - Covid GCSE Cohort - Summer 24 - End of Uni Yr 2

[Oblomov24]

2024 Summer, end of year 2 for those at Uni.

This is a support thread for our young adults post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting, and their results ( or life updates for those who went into work or have had results earlier). 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, uni vs employment please don't within this thread.

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 will continue. We were previously on the secondary board and then further education, now we shall be here in 'Parents of Adult Children' gulp

Our DS/DD may continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed). Experience is that everyone is welcomed wherever, whatever their child is doing we have some in work, gap years , apprenticeships etc too. Lots of contributors with different experiences and always sympathy and advice to be had.

Previous thread 50:

50

So we’ve arrived back in Notts this afternoon with DS2, was an absolute nightmare journey of over 3.5 hours instead of the usual 2! DS is rowing at the British National Junior Championship tomorrow, please send speedy oar vibes so the journey isn’t a complete waste of time! 😄

Good luck to your DS @justherewithmypopcorn!

Best of luck to him JustHere!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn Good luck! Going to be a beautiful day.

Best of luck to him!

Good luck! 🚣

Good luck to him @JustHereWithMyPopcorn .

Just about to post good luck vibes to @JustHereWithMyPopcorn but realised it was yesterday! Hope it went well.

We are away for the weekend down South. Visiting family
In a village near Chelmsford.
Its flipping lovely here.
Views from the decking are breathtaking. Never seen my DH so chilled.
Had plans to see places but happy to just sit here snd chat.

Well, it wasn’t spectacular but they didn’t come last so we’re taking that as a win! 😄. Thanks for the good luck wishes, hope everyone is having a good weekend.

DD is back in Cambridge before going on holiday with a friend, and DS is away at a music thing until Thursday, so the house is strangely quiet!

DD is starting to think about moving into museum work as a plan B, specifically conservation. There are some one-year graduate courses out there which look interesting, but we'd have to think about funding, and timing. Maybe she'll come home and give freelance art a go for a year while doing a "day job"? Don't suppose anyone knows anything about this?

I remember there was a Museum Studies masters/qualifying course when I left uni @PhotoDad as it was my back up. I don't know anything about it though, so not really very helpful!

Dd has wanted to work in 'mental health' in some aspect since she was about 14, but she's suddenly saying she's actually maybe interested in law - human rights/immigration/family law specifically. I'm really not sure it's right for her, but I'm trying to be encouraging and doing my research just in case!

I like to research, too, @crazycrofter! I've found that both of our local unis offer part-time MAs in museum studies. So one possible plan is that DD could live at home to cut costs, work part-time, and study part-time. I think we'd all enjoy that arrangement. Let's see what happens.

Your DD’s thinking process is quite sound Photodad, it’s a tricky balance being in creative fields, one needs to balance putting food on the table with feeding the heart. Hopefully she can do both early career.

‘I gave up 30 years of corporate life for a humble life as an artist. I can do it because my husband supports me, but it’s not an easy gig. She could balance the day job with signing up to pitch creative sites for say, illustration/artwork needs that also enables her to showcase her growing portfolio. It’s the building up of CV that’s key.

Good luck to her on working through it all!

@PhotoDad my DD is also considering some sort of museum/gallery work or conservation. The post grads for the latter she has looked at apparently seem to require chemistry A level which she hasn't got... I have no clue how we finance a post grad qualification either.

@ealingwestmum What a tricky balancing act! Might well be asking you for hints and tips at some point. And @Seeline, we can compare notes at some point. Part time MA while living at home seems to be plausible. The "Masters Loan" covers tuition but not maintenance.

My head is spinning a bit at the moment. My dad, who is in his late 90s, is starting to decline very rapidly after what was probably a stroke. Our complex plans for the next week are now all up in the air.

Oh I'm so sorry @PhotoDad

No worries any time Photodad, though I'm really no expert, just wing my way through like a self taught artist does; the young have so much more confidence in themselves (thankfully).

Hang in there over the coming weeks, it's so tough when our parents are so poorly and vulnerable like your dad is right now.

I’m sorry to hear about your dad @PhotoDad, hopefully he’ll pull through it.

@PhotoDad Hope your dad is receiving excellent care. Very hard to see a sudden decline whatever age they are.

That’s brilliant @EasilyDefined - well done to your ds!

Sorry to hear about your dad @PhotoDad 😢

That's fantastic news @EasilyDefined!

Very sorry to hear about your fathet @PhotoDad

@EasilyDefined Two jobs! Great result and the foundation degree too!

My dad passed away this afternoon. It was expected, but still a bit of a shock to the system. At least it was peaceful.

(I do have more positive news about both DC! But seems odd to post that right now.)

Oh @photodad I am so so sorry. May he rest in peace.