Thinking out loud... Dropping my degree?

For the last few days I've been thinking about dropping my degree and restarting a new one. My current degree title is Film Studies and Media & Cultural Studies (it's a joint BA).

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE studying film. LOVE. I'm not that fond of the cultural part though... I find it a bit boring to be honest.

Anyway, I kind of jumped into this degree. I was made redundant in June of 2009 and applied through UCAS clearing. Having studied film and media at college... It was kind of a safe bet for me. I knew I didn't want to go back to full time work (because I only ever planned on working for a year and then going back to uni anyway), I knew that being made redundant was a sign and a kick up the butt I needed... If I didn't return to education then, I probably never would have. I applied for this degree because I knew I would enjoy it and be able to cope with it. Like I said, safe bet although I didn't know how it could help me find a job post grad.

When I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher (I even did work experience in a primary school). About 6 months into my degree I looked into it and found out that I could use my degree as a stepping stone onto another course that would qualify me as a teacher. So that's been the plan ever since.

I've now found out that it's actually two courses (one for the qualified teacher status and the other to teach me the basics for teaching primary school kids). This adds another two years, another two institutes, another two years of arguing with student finance (and actually... I'm not sure if I'll be able to get financial help with one of the courses)

So it got me thinking... I could just do a degree in three years which teaches me all of that and qualifies me as a teacher at the same time. Although this degree has substantially higher requirements to be accepted on the course. And I'd need to do work experience before I apply... Which is doable.
I just think it would be better and more convenient in the long run to switch courses now. It'd still take the same amount of time. And the two years of studying film and media haven't really been wasted... I mean time spent enjoying yourself isn't time wasted, is it?

I don't know. I need to speak to my university when I go back. Too confusing to think about.

/end of boring babble

Four Christmases (2008) & All About Steve (2009) And a bit of babble.

Four Christmases

This was my first movie of 2011. A Christmas film that has been lingering on my Sky plus box for ages. See that's the problem with having a Sky+ box... I always put films on to record and never get round to watching them. The only reason I finally watched it this morning is because I got up stupidly early, decided I was bored and flipped through the on screen planner and saw... SHOCK HORROR I'm down to 24% space. I had to start deleting crap.
So I ended up watching it thinking... Okay it has Vince Vaughn and Reese Whetherspoon in, it's going to be okay to occupy my half asleep brain. And it was for the most part. Although instead of having lovey dovey "aww" feelings towards the main characters (which is what you're supposed to feel in romcoms) I just found myself constantly annoyed by Brad (Vaughn's character). I don't know. I guess it wasn't the worst movie I've ever seen.


All About Steve

Another movie lingering on Sky. I'm a sucker for Sandra Bullock movies. And Bradley Cooper? Yum. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to like this movie... As soon as I saw a blonde Sandra Bullock I died a little inside. But I warmed to it. It was cute in an... Average way. But still cute. I also wasn't expecting Bullock's character to be a nut job (I'm sorry "normal in her own way"). I thought it was a romcom but it wasn't, although it certainly had that feel in the first half of the film. It was a nice early morning feel-good movie.




Note: I did say I wasn't going to review all the films I watch, and that still stands... But I probably will write a few words about some films. Like below. Not reviews, just grumbles or babbling.
And by the way, you'll soon learn from me that I'm not really a good film critic. Yes, I can study a film and analyse it 'til the cows come home if I need to... But I'm more interested in how a film makes you feel (and by you I mean me because... Well we all interpret things differently, obviously).

Introduction. Ish.

I'm a lazy blogger. I should say that from the start. Please don't expect much from this blog. At all.

Just thought I'd post a little intro. My name is Rachel and I'm 23. Probably the most boring person in the world. My new years resolution is to start and maintain a blog because... Well, I found an online diary I had a few weeks ago (from when I was a teenager) and realised I had forgotten a lot of stuff about my life back then. Although I really wanted to punch my former self... If only for the terrible grammar and spelling... Regardless, I liked reading it. I guess everyone loves a bit of nostalgia.

Also, last year I tried to do this thing where I challenged myself to watch one film a day. It worked out pretty well but I didn't have anywhere to really keep track of it. So this year I thought I'd start a blog to keep better track of what I watch. That's not to say all I'll be doing in this blog is listing films I watch... I'll be doing some "real" blogging too. And probably be doing some film reviews (although I won't be reviewing every film I watch because that would be too time consuming). I might add some of my film, media and culture essays I've written too. Although I'm not sure if I'm allowed to... I guess there's no harm in publishing past essays, right?

This "introduction" blog has been pretty crappy, hasn't it? I didn't really introduce myself much. I should probably add that I'm a twitter-holic... So if anyone actually comes across this and wants to know any more, you can tweet me @spacecampsucks

But... Just for the record... It's almost 11am of January 1st, 2011 and I've already watched TWO films. TWO. Okay, two crappyish films that were lingering on Sky anytime... And I got up stupidly early for no reason... But TWO films. 11 hours into the new year. Props to me?

Yes, yes... How very thrilling.