First of all I want to apologise for not having written anything in a while, during the run up to exams I was trying to focus all my energies on revision, and since exams have finished I have been incredibly busy. Having spent time at Glastonbury festival, in France and working at Highclere Castle, I'm now looking forward to a bit of a break...perhaps only a short lived one considering how quickly results day seems to be approaching. Because I am now "free" I've been able to spend more time with extended family and friends, which is really lovely, but unfortunately it has also meant that I have had to explain repeatedly that I was unsuccessful in my application for medicine last year. However I am feeling very positive about this and the opportunities that it has opened up for me: if I get the grades that I want, I plan to reapply in October and use my experience from last year to make sure I choose the appropriate universities and perform more confidently in interviews. During this time, I am looking forward to doing plenty of work experience, such as continuing after school sessions at Mencap, returning to the local care home for the elderly, sitting in on consultations at a GP surgery and shadowing a doctor at a nearby hospital. I want to further my understanding of the structure of the health service, and how it works with other services to support the community. Towards the end of the academic year, around March, I'm hoping to go travelling with a friend from school. We are planning to visit plenty of exciting places around the world for 6 weeks, then visit relatives in Australia for another 6 weeks. In order to fund this, I am going to try and get a different job, as the tea rooms where I currently work are only open during the holidays. It will be interesting to get a different perspective by working in a new environment.
Recently, I've been able to witness how complicated care of the elderly can be. My grandma is currently living in a housing complex associated with a nursing home, but is finding it difficult to do things independently. Together with my mum and aunts, it has been decided that a live in carer would be an appropriate step, as she doesn't want to leave her home yet. However, this is much easier said than done. Difficulties have come from choosing an agency, and then working with the agency to find a suitable carer. Last week I was at my grandma's house when the second of her carers was first introduced. She had been brought straight from the train station, and so had to be briefed once she arrived at the house, rather than at the agency's office. This was frustrating for my grandma, as she struggles to hear unless spoken to slowly, so she was unable to keep up with a conversation that was based on her and her needs. I feel that this was very unfair, and believe she would have felt more comfortable if the briefing involved her, by speaking more slowly and directing any questions at my grandma, rather than talking about her in the third person as though she wasn't there. I think it's important to remember that a care agency is not just a business, but that its primary focus should be providing the best care possible at all times.
As results day is little over a week away, I'm sure I will be blogging again very shortly with some news on my plans for the next year or so! I have decided to consider this an exciting time as I have so many opportunities and possibilities open to me, rather than thinking about how much pressure is lying on those four little letters.
