University: A Blessing In Disguise

The smell of coffee continues to linger in the air. My bed remains unmade. And my results are still sat in the very same spot they have been since Thursday morning.

I've waited a few days to write this for everything to sink in. As you will know, A Level results were published on Thursday morning, with over 670,000 18 year-olds finding out their fate. In my case, I missed out by a grade on getting into my chosen university, which is gutting, but at exactly the same time, the most wonderful news I could have expected.

There are 470,000 places available at university this year, so by the law of averages, 200,000 people will miss out on the most competitive year the education system has ever seen.

Fees have to rise in order to keep our country afloat - I agree with this, and I know I'm probably the only one. With fees increasing, it means universities can now plough this money into keeping education at a quality standard, and will help our graduates compete with the likes of China and Japan again. It also means the government can concentrate their funding elsewhere, on the likes of defence, policing, and grassroots sport.

City University in London rejected my Clearing application, as they could only accept those with grades of ABB. This year, all universities can afford to be exceptionally picky with their grade requirements, knowing full well that most are applying this year to avoid the upcoming fee rises, and thus will fill their course vacancies. I don't begrudge City in any way - I will re-apply next year and I will ensure I take my position at the best journalism course in the land.

But that's the attitude you have to have this year. I've heard stories this week of people who wept because they saw all their friends get in, and they didn't. I was incredibly proud of everyone I saw open their brown envelopes on Thursday - we've been a year group for seven years, and now everyone is going their separate ways to become successful in whatever field they choose to join.

There were those who missed out significantly on their firm and insurance choices, but managed to find a course in Clearing that was the right fit for them. And to them, it was the best of a bad situation, and you can only wish them luck at their decision.

I sat at school for an hour on Thursday after opening my results, just to reflect. I wasn't upset, or depressed by my results - I got ABC, but still didn't get in, so a set of brilliant grades, yet not quite enough. I just sat and worked out my action plan. Did I want to throw away everything I'd worked towards over the last year, to get my place in City, or did I want to accept a degree at a lesser university, purely for the fact of avoiding the fees?

I had a look at what was available, and decided that a year out was the best choice for me. It means I can spend a year of my life doing what I love to do - I can write, I can earn some money, I can travel, I can work towards that coveted place at uni. I can do whatever I want with the next year - and it's the only opportunity I will ever get to do so.

I was in fact offered a place through Clearing to study Journalism. It was in London, which is exactly where I want to be. But would I have rather taken something that wouldn't necessarily have placed me at the top of my game, or would I regret that decision for the rest of my life, knowing full well I could have done better? So I opted out, rejected the place, and now the world is my oyster.

I blogged a few weeks back about a man in Portugal, who inspired me that there are so many different opportunities available to me. Cheap air travel, open boundaries, endless possibilities. I have the chance to become who I want to be now - I can mature over the next year, I can discover my true potential, I can study what I want to, where I want to. I can go and visit the industry's top establishments, and travel the world enjoying the most brilliant year. It may be tough to get back into hard work in 2012, but there is a chance, right now in my life, where a set of crossroads have led me down a path that can take me somewhere, and further my chances in life.

I know that if I died tomorrow, I made the right choice. I know that when I'm 70, and retired, and enjoying my house on the beach, that I won't regret this decision, and that come what may, I can still be good at whatever I choose to do. There is no need to consider money - the fees go up, so does that mean my happiness, and my chances should go down? Not a hope in hell - this next year is what will make me who I will become.

A message to all those who have found themselves in similar positions this week - congratulations on whatever choice you made. Whether it be university, a year out, or the courage to say you've changed your mind, you're a better person for it. If you're yet to make a decision - follow your heart. Trust what it tells you - don't throw everything away because your head tells you so. I've followed mine, I know plenty who have followed theirs, and now have opportunities available to them they never thought they could have had. Nothing can be lost; all is to gain.

Taking a year to consider my options is the most wonderful, brilliant news I could have hoped for - I have a chance to truly do what I wish to do. I can enjoy a year of my life with no pressure, and with a little work, I can go where my heart is set next year. There have been no tears shed, no blood lost - there's actually a smile where there should be a frown.

Because these results aren't the end of the world. They're the start of it.

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

University: A Blessing In Disguise

The smell of coffee continues to linger in the air. My bed remains unmade. And my results are still sat in the very same spot they have been since Thursday morning.

I've waited a few days to write this for everything to sink in. As you will know, A Level results were published on Thursday morning, with over 670,000 18 year-olds finding out their fate. In my case, I missed out by a grade on getting into my chosen university, which is gutting, but at exactly the same time, the most wonderful news I could have expected.

There are 470,000 places available at university this year, so by the law of averages, 200,000 people will miss out on the most competitive year the education system has ever seen.

Fees have to rise in order to keep our country afloat - I agree with this, and I know I'm probably the only one. With fees increasing, it means universities can now plough this money into keeping education at a quality standard, and will help our graduates compete with the likes of China and Japan again. It also means the government can concentrate their funding elsewhere, on the likes of defence, policing, and grassroots sport.

City University in London rejected my Clearing application, as they could only accept those with grades of ABB. This year, all universities can afford to be exceptionally picky with their grade requirements, knowing full well that most are applying this year to avoid the upcoming fee rises, and thus will fill their course vacancies. I don't begrudge City in any way - I will re-apply next year and I will ensure I take my position at the best journalism course in the land.

But that's the attitude you have to have this year. I've heard stories this week of people who wept because they saw all their friends get in, and they didn't. I was incredibly proud of everyone I saw open their brown envelopes on Thursday - we've been a year group for seven years, and now everyone is going their separate ways to become successful in whatever field they choose to join.

There were those who missed out significantly on their firm and insurance choices, but managed to find a course in Clearing that was the right fit for them. And to them, it was the best of a bad situation, and you can only wish them luck at their decision.

I sat at school for an hour on Thursday after opening my results, just to reflect. I wasn't upset, or depressed by my results - I got ABC, but still didn't get in, so a set of brilliant grades, yet not quite enough. I just sat and worked out my action plan. Did I want to throw away everything I'd worked towards over the last year, to get my place in City, or did I want to accept a degree at a lesser university, purely for the fact of avoiding the fees?

I had a look at what was available, and decided that a year out was the best choice for me. It means I can spend a year of my life doing what I love to do - I can write, I can earn some money, I can travel, I can work towards that coveted place at uni. I can do whatever I want with the next year - and it's the only opportunity I will ever get to do so.

I was in fact offered a place through Clearing to study Journalism. It was in London, which is exactly where I want to be. But would I have rather taken something that wouldn't necessarily have placed me at the top of my game, or would I regret that decision for the rest of my life, knowing full well I could have done better? So I opted out, rejected the place, and now the world is my oyster.

I blogged a few weeks back about a man in Portugal, who inspired me that there are so many different opportunities available to me. Cheap air travel, open boundaries, endless possibilities. I have the chance to become who I want to be now - I can mature over the next year, I can discover my true potential, I can study what I want to, where I want to. I can go and visit the industry's top establishments, and travel the world enjoying the most brilliant year. It may be tough to get back into hard work in 2012, but there is a chance, right now in my life, where a set of crossroads have led me down a path that can take me somewhere, and further my chances in life.

I know that if I died tomorrow, I made the right choice. I know that when I'm 70, and retired, and enjoying my house on the beach, that I won't regret this decision, and that come what may, I can still be good at whatever I choose to do. There is no need to consider money - the fees go up, so does that mean my happiness, and my chances should go down? Not a hope in hell - this next year is what will make me who I will become.

Taking a year to consider my options is the most wonderful, brilliant news I could have hoped for - I have a chance to truly do what I wish to do. I can enjoy a year of my life with no pressure, and with a little work, I can go where my heart is set next year. There have been no tears shed, no blood lost - there's actually a smile where there should be a frown.

Because these results aren't the end of the world. They're the start of it.

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

The Revolution. What Twitter Means To Me.

At this precise moment in time, I'm in the middle of a desert, with a large town to the left, and endless protruding mountains to the right. We're taking the five hour drive from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park, here in the good state of California.

To fill time when on holiday, I read. Like most people, books have become a stalwart in the suitcase before we jet off to some big destination. Currently, I'm dipping in and out of a book called 'Twitchhiker', by Paul Smith. It's the story of how Paul travelled the globe, purely from the generosity of his Twitter followers.

As most of you know, I'm a big fan of Twitter. I've been addicted since January 2009, six months before the Big Boom - and oh how it's changed. Growth has been undertaken by Twitter, whilst leaving the core ethos of the social networking site intact. It is still a place to meet new people, follow those people who make you smile and laugh, and a tool used by many to revolutionise the world as we know it.

Everyone has a Twitter story, though. A virtual life never before seen on such a global scale. The Revolution really had taken hold, and changed the way we interact with each other.

I mean, how many friends have you made on Twitter? Met anyone through it? Taken part in a big event from just one 140 character Tweet? Yep, I have.

Over the last two and a half years, I've met many a face who has made me laugh, get angry, feel sorry for, or weep at.

I met Ewan (@Ewbz), Isobel's dad, via Twitter. A very modern twist on a relationship. We Tweet and share stories and links all the time. I was asked once if Ewan and I actually ever speak, or just Tweet each other...

Another friend I've got to know even better is Marty (@nymrtz). I've never actually net Marty, but have known him since 2006. We met via a football forum, and since then we've stayed in touch. Whether it be a message on Facebook, a quick chat via MSN, or now several Tweets a week, I feel that I know him as if I always have.

There's always the lucky follow, too. As a massive Man United fan, following United-related accounts seemed logical. Stumbling across a retweet from one of these accounts led me to Stretty News (@StrettyNews). As many of you now know, I write pieces for the website, and have met a lot of really great people because of it. Another strike of luck for Adam. 1-0.

How about those people you've watched succeed? I've followed Poppy Dinsey (@PoppyD) for a VERY long time now, and watched What I Wore Today (@WIWT) go from strength to strength over the last 18 months. A new site about to launch, and her face in every newspaper - a job well done.

Then there was Mr Chris Floyd (@chrisfloyduk). A brilliant photographer, Chris had the idea to take 140 photos of his Twitter followers, which Isobel and I were very lucky to be a part of. Admittedly, we were probably the most uptight, annoying people Chris had to work with for the project, but in hindsight, it was a great opportunity. Plus Chris is one of the nicest blokes you could ever meet.

My best Twitter story has to be that of Lewis Wiltshire (@LewisWiltshire). A very early follow, as Lewis was the Editor of the BBC Sport website. A few early Tweets, and soon he became almost like a mentor, helping me choose different paths for different outcomes. Certainly someone I'll be keeping in touch with.

Of course, there are countless more people, tales and stories that I could spend all day chatting about. With over 300m Twitter users, there must be an infinite amount of links made and friendships created through a small set of characters.

Many question Twitter's purpose. Some see it as a way to interact with like-minded people. Others view it as a complete waste of time. Personally, I see it as a tool that can help change your life.

Okay, that sounds horrifically cheesy, but think about it - all it takes is 140 characters to make a new friend, get offered a job, or make a career for yourself. I've seen all three happen, so it's gotta be possible!

Agree with me? Fancy making a new friend?! Follow me on Twitter - I'm @Adam9309!

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

A Land Far, Far Away

So I finally return after two weeks flitting between Europe and the UK. I'd love to say on business, but I was on a bit of a jolly, really.

I spent a week in the Algarve, in Portugal, with my best friends on our big holiday after final exams. We had a great trip, despite it being in the middle of absolutely nowhere.

Towards the end of the week, we went to a small fishing village called Guia, famed as the 'founder' of piri-piri chicken. We stopped outside a small art gallery, which had some jewellery in the window. Bearing in mind Isobel was there, we HAD to go and have a look. Cheers love.

This art gallery was owned by a man called David Haines, who was Welsh. He and his wife moved to Guia 15 years ago, where they decided to open something they both loved to do - to paint and to create.

I took a look at the beautiful art whilst they looked at beads and bracelets, and an hour later, we left. Why did it take that long?

Because David was a very inspirational sort of bloke.

Our chat started very slowly, but by the end, we'd gone round the world in chat. His son has moved to China for a few months, and has been taking holidays trekking through New Zealand. He has travelled himself, and has told us he should go round the world whilst we can.

It's quite an incredible life, and thoughts started ticking that actually, the world IS so small these days, and everything is available to you on a plane. In 36 hours, I could be in Australia, via Germany, Russia and Singapore. The return journey could take in Argentina, the US and France. It's so easy to travel, so why don't we?!

Price is obviously he main factor. Time is another. But desire is certainly not one - I'm sure everyone has somewhere in the world they would adore to visit. I personally want to travel to Berlin, and travel to every state in the US, likewise visit China and Japan. But that's just me.

Every country is so, so different to one another. Compare the UK to the USA - supposedly two of the most similar countries in the world. Visit them both, and then tell me the same...

So go visit. Go travel. Go see the world whilst you can. If David can inspire me, he can inspire you. Why not go visit him in Guia?!

Tell him the five nutters who hate Cliff Richard sent you.

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

News of the World Scandal: Battleaxe Brooks Saves Her Ego

After 168 years, this Sunday will see the last edition of the News of the World come through the printing press, and end up in your newsagent. I won't bore you with the details; you're bound to have seen it plastered all over every news and media outlet in the UK, and around the world. The phone-hacking scandal under investigation by the police has exploded, and News International, who own NOTW, have decided that the best course of action is to completely wind up the organisation, and cease operations.

Now, I'm not going to write reams and reams of endless jargon today - that's not my job. There will be plenty written about this for months. But this is just farcical.

Rebekah Brooks, the former Editor of the NOTW, and now Chief Executive of News International, has managed to scrape through this with her job, but without her dignity. Brooks was the Editor when this phone-hacking supposedly happened. Remember, we still have nothing confirmed bar a private detective's word...

Brooks apparently announced the news that NOTW would be dissolved today 'in tears', and after immense pressure from the public, 'offered her resignation last night.' Now I don't believe that in the slightest - I think it's a very shrewd, quite vulgar move by Rupert Murdoch to keep a close ally near.

The compulsory redundancies from Brook's defiance in staying in her role have led to even further repercussions within the News International group - the Sun's sub-editors are rumoured to have walked out and asked the NUJ for advice on strike action. What Murdoch is about to force through will destroy the very essence of why he is so successful.

I've been Tweeting alongside the news all day, trying to keep on top of the industry that I wish to enter. But I really do fear for the print media industry now - especially tabloids. A lack of advertising within newspapers in which scandals takes place will kill them off. Web journalism will sky-rocket over the next few years as the print media industry realise that a dying art will inevitably crash.

That's why Murdoch launched The Daily.

Brook's should not be an employee of News International this evening. News of the World should still be in existence. To save herself, she's just demolished the livelihoods of families up and down the country. She's ruined lives.

Nothing can take that away from her now.

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

Music Musings - Beyonce Is No 4-ce To Be Reckoned With

My return is now permanent, thanks to the end of exams. Expect a horrific stream of selfless plugging on my Twitter feed.

Yes yes, I know, worst pun known to man, but it is unbelievably true.

Yesterday, Mrs Jay-Z, otherwise known as Beyonce Knowles, released her fourth album in the UK, and today in the US. The record, called '4', funnily enough, is a far step from the likes of I Am... Sasha Fierce, but has stripped back all the big drama to the old Destiny's Child days. It is a work of art, rather than a record. It is something you would happily have on a loop all day. I've waxed lyrical about how good Lady Gaga's new album is, likewise Elbow's, but Beyonce's record reinvents her sound, but at the same time manages to keep it the same - something the previous two haven't done. It really is quite special.

So, having spent the last two days having a few listens, in typical GMOAI fashion, let's take you for a quick spin round the album...

The record begins with the beautiful 1+1, a ballad that takes us right back to the album tracks from her first album Dangerously In Love. Performed as part of her headlining gig at Glastonbury on Sunday, the song captivated the audience, albeit with slightly creepy lyrics like 'Make love to me', having just told everyone the song is all about peace and being anti-war...

I Care has a heartbeat strewn throughout with the world's most catchy drum beat, and sounds like a cross between Leona Lewis and Nicki Minaj, with her smooth R&B vocals over the top. The synthesised layers from I Miss You give a soft '80's feel, and take the tempo right back down. Beyonce doesn't use power in her voice, making it a quite stunning record, combining her new sound with the old sounds we all know and love. Even the slow fade out isn't expected in the slightest, and immediately pulls up the next one.

B's new single, Best Thing I Never Had, has a wonderful orchestral backdrop, with strings and the piano making up the foundations for the synthesisers to make her voice sound quite so incredible. The heavy drums through the chorus, and singalong backing vocals make this one a big crowdpleaser, and the message of revenge, and how karma has bitten back makes this one something everyone can relate to. Not the one you want sung to you, put it that way.

Kanye makes an uncredited appearance on Party, which also features vocals from Andre 3000 - and it's verging on hip hop. His rap breaks the whole thing up, and adds a different element to a B track that we haven't properly seen since Deja Vu with Jay-Z. Yet Beyonce makes this one work, not Andre, and the chorus of 'We like to party, ay, ay, ay' creates images of this track appearing in every nightclub across the globe over the coming weeks. Rather Die Young is quite a disappointing follow-up to Party, and will be a track that will work on tour, but not on the charts. The repetitive verses just don't work here, but having seen that Luke Steele, of Empire of the Sun fame, wrote the song, you can begin to understand the ideas behind it.

Start Over has an African feel to it, and Beyonce begins to pull it out the bag here. Up to this point, the record is actually just quite a good one, but from here onwards, it's something special. A full-on emotional song, presumably about trying to break up with someone, it is something you can feel, and begin to 'interact' with. If it's even possible to interact with music....

But then comes my favourite moment from the whole album - Love On Top. Now this record could quite have easily been from an early '90's Mariah album, and has that fun, soulful production to it. Backing vocals are high, lots of horns, unbelievably catchy chorus, wonderfully-cheesy quadruple key change, and plenty of smiles. I mean, towards the end of it, only the cats could hear. Lyrically, it could win Eurovision, but in its final form, this will be a massive, massive summer smash if it gets a release.

Countdown received massive airplay when initially leaked, and the continual countdown from 10 to 1 adds a strange element to a track that wouldn't go amiss in a carnival. Again, very hip-hop, but the chorus reminds me a lot of Signs, another track from Dangerously In Love, that had a listy feel. This just works. For some strange reason, mind you. It really shouldn't.

A big build-up at the start of End Of Time continues the carnival theme, and just makes you want to dance. Beyonce seems to want to get through lyrics very quickly on this album, but it got big cheers on Sunday at Glastonbury. The beats are back, and the horns make a triumphant return, and this could quite easily have been straight off a Shakira record. Found myself humming 'Say you'll never let me go' all day as well. Beautifully produced, too.

Diane Warren appears as writer for the penultimate track, and it has a very Diane Warren sound too - if you know what I mean. Heavily strings based, I Was Here is a track I personally find really disappointing. Not a fan of Warren, but this really does just take the mick - repetitive, slow, horribly dull, and made even worse by what follows - Run The World (Girls), the track that was lead single off the album, and is a real grower. Heavy, heavy beats, cracking bridge throughout, catchy chorus and amazing dance moves to pull off in any club - this is the one that just tops off the record.

I know it is all very wordy, and song-by-song doesn't do it justice - you need to hear the whole thing to really appreciate quite how good an album this is. Yes, there are moments that based on personal opinion, it isn't great - but doesn't every album have that? It's quite brilliant, and won't get as much publicity as it deserves. So go get it. Please?

And as added incentive to go find the album, here's Run The World (Girls), from Sunday night's Glastonbury show!

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com

The Examination Season - An Aged Necessity?

As many of us know, the examination season is well under way, with GCSE's coming to a close, AS exams all but finished and A2 exams continuing till the end of the month.

On a personal level, I've already undertaken five exams, with three more to come over the next two weeks. Having been involved in the Impossible Question scandal, it threw us all a little, and then on Friday, the third of the Business Studies exams was one of the worst I have ever sat, and that will probably be that in terms of gaining a university place.

But as we have all suffered in our lifetimes, exam seasons are the most stressful, time-consuming periods of time you will ever undertake. Especially in recent years, so much rests on doing well in these exams. For example, a bad exam, like I had, will now force my hand into paying three times as much money to the government to gain a degree I need to do well in my chosen career path. It's a very cruel, vicious circle.

Put it this way - one of my teachers knows one of the Chief Examiners very well, and asks him every year how he can do this to kids when he himself hated exams. 'Exams are necessary to improve education.' How can he set exams, when he hates them too?

It begs the question - why do we still have exams?

About 18 months ago, Denmark's education system trialled the use of the internet within examinations. They figured that in the 21st century, all information needed was accessible via an ethernet cable and an internet service provider. Those who took the exams said they found it tough, as the questions were made more difficult. But there was a sense of calm in the pre-exam build-up, and then in the exam hall too. So why not embrace the technology available to us?

Or what about snap exams? Revision is supposedly the refreshing of what you have already learnt. So why does everyone who revises every hour of every day feel that they're learning certain points for the first time? Surely a snap exam - one that is just handed to you with no warning - is the best option to test what you actually know, rather than what you have taught yourself? That way, not only do we test raw knowledge, but the testing of the education system becomes more realistic, and we can see where the faults are in specific centres' departments.

The final option we have available is to ditch them altogether, and use the likes of coursework and practical exams to assess students across the academic year, rather than allowing for two weeks at the end of your schooling life to define what you will become. Coursework allows for high grades to be attained through the use of skills learned throughout the 14 years you spend in school, rather than in the six weeks beforehand when you cram before an exam.

Exams, in their current format, are not what will help educate the young adults of the UK. We will soon learn that fact when our candidates are overlooked for students from Asia and Scandinavia. Until we bring our education system into the 21st century, the stress and heartbreak students feel before and after exams will shadow the grades achieved come August 18th. There needs to be a change to make sure we remain the most employable nation in the world.

Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com