Elise Paramore

Admittedly, I should be working on assignments but instead I'm writing this post. There has always been an emphasis on reflection throughout my education, and this is a result of that. 2019 has been a strange year for me. I have had some of the most amazing memories, with some of the best people but then had some of my lowest points which I have had to pick myself up from, and soldier on. This year has taught me that life isn't always the happy-go-lucky entity that it appears to be, and that everything that you want to achieve you have to give your all into. On reflection, I have begun to understand even more who I am and want to be as a person, and that life throws you challenges to learn from, and become even better. Anyone who knows me on a personal level will understand the event that caused this realisation. It sucked at the time however, I've come back stronger and more appreciative of the people around me, their support and encouragement that has boosted me to ke...

Coming to uni from a small town in the South West of England, I knew that I was going to have to do some additional activities in order to improve my career prospects. As someone who is always striving to achieve the absolute best for myself, I knew that I needed to do some sort of professional work experience in order to get ahead. As there are a small number of opportunities in the area I live in, I decided that a year in industry was the way to go for me. Placements are a pretty daunting prospect. Looking for a full-time professional job when my work experience is limited to retail was a challenging thing to try to comprehend. However, I knew that I had to take what I had and run with it. I was very fortunate to have a module dedicated to learning about placements. I quickly picked up how to construct a cover letter, CV and application form and the importance of not restricting your search by location. This sort of mentoring was so valuable, even if it was a 9am lecture. I sta...

My first year of uni has allowed me to learn many lessons. From making sure you wear shoes in your halls kitchen after there's been pres to remembering to shut your curtains at night when you get changed because your one way window doesn't work at night. One of the biggest takeaways I had from my first year at uni is be organised. As someone who really wants to achieve a lot academically, making sure that I was on top of coursework and revision was so important, and actually being organised elsewhere in your life as well can seriously help. I found that thinking ahead and being organised allowed me to save money and time when travelling home and to see my boyfriend, as well making the most of different opportunities. I want to pass on some of my tips for being organised that hopefully will help you out in the future. https://byalex.co.uk/blog/top-5-influential-dutch-graphic-designers/ 1. Get a Diary  In the age of smartphones, this tip might seem a little redundant. Adm...

According to the Oxford Dictionary a decision is "A conclusion or resolution reached after consideration". Decisions form the basis of our day-to-day lives, from the most mundane to the more substantial that require time and effort. As a marketing student, I've been exposed to the importance of effective decision making. Making a good decision can be the difference between survival or failure, especially with the growth of competition and innovation. What I personally find interesting is the argument of scientific versus intuitive decision making. I first came across this idea during my A-Level studies. Scientific decision making is using logical techniques such as probability and expected value to come to a final decision (Read more here ) The above diagram demonstrates the scientific decision making process. It suggests to start with setting objectives, usually SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Based) in order to provide direction and...

We are due to leave the European Union at some point in the coming months. It is easy to tell that Brexit will have a large impact on all UK business, regardless of the final result. However, I want to specifically focus on the NHS, as a large part of the 'Leave' Campaign's manifesto (found here ) was to 'save £350m a week' in order to spend on priorities such as the NHS. One of the greatest concerns the NHS is their workforce. The Withdrawal Agreement secures the position of EU nationals in the UK, however there is a large amount of uncertainty surrounding their position, and this is expected to grow. Read more about this here . It's also quite important to understand that 39.9% of doctors registered with GMC gained their qualifications abroad (Read more here ). Whilst this does not directly correlate that all of these doctors are immigrants who have moved to the UK to work, it does support the idea that a large proportion of the NHS' workforce is from...

I am writing this follow on post around two years after I published my last. I find it strange to re-read my thoughts after going through a set of A-Level exams. Whilst my thoughts on the pressure put on young people to achieve 5 GCSEs is the same, I now understand that GCSE results do not make or break you. You can still achieve great things even if exams are not your thing.  A Levels opened my eyes to a new kind of pressure, made up of both the environment I was in as well as the newfound pressure of my own expectations. One of the biggest difference between GCSEs and A-Levels is that you are your own motivator. You are expected to want to do well and that you will put in the work needed to get the grades you require for your next stage of life. This new desire caused me to become increasingly stressed and disappointed when I wasn't making progress during A levels.  As much as I got the grades I needed to progress onto the University of Southampton (the dock pictured ...

As of today, I officially have only 1 GCSE exam left to sit. I can't believe I am actually able to say (type) that. Just over a month ago, I sat my first exam. One of twenty (although I technically have twenty-one in total, as I had a practical drama exam), and now I have completed nineteen out of those twenty. That is an unbelievable thought. And if you had asked me a month ago, how was I feeling, I would have told you that I was so nervous and stressed. Ask me now, I still feel like it isn't real. The whole exam process is bazaar. You spend two years learning content, exam technique and how to apply that knowledge. Then you spend weeks revising that content. And then you have a half an hour pep-talk, recapping two years of content. And then you sit an exam. And that's it. Totally finished. All in the space of a few hours. I personally find this whole process so crazy. It's an unfair reflection of ones abilities and mental capacity. For some people, including me, exa...

Theatre, a home away from home. I have such a massive love of theatre, either being on the stage or being in the audience, the whole feel of walking into an auditorium or onto a stage is one that you only experience at a theatre. I've been lucky enough to do both multiple times. From seeing west-end shows to being in local productions I've experienced both ends of the theatrical scale. And with my love ever growing I wanted to share my passion of theatre and theatre going. I think that the first time I went to a proper theatre was around the age of 7 or 8, when I went to my local theatre to see the annual Christmas production. And whilst I can't remember what it was that I saw, I do remember the feeling of walking into the auditorium and seeing lots and lots of people and just feeling excited. I think it was pretty much then when I fell in love with the theatre. Since then I have performed on that same stage multiple times, done countless productions and have even per...

We've said goodbye to another year and welcomed in 2016. A new year, a new me? Not the approach that I am taking. I'm sitting here in a messy room, drinking Fanta and wondering what the next 366 days are going to bring. I believe that this year is going to be one of moving on and making big changes that will influence the course of my life. But it will also have those days where it's just normal life. The day-to-day doings that everyone will do the vast majority of the year. I didn't want to set any resolutions this year. I always find that by the end of January I've broken them or realised that what I want to do is far to unrealistic for what I can do considering that I am a teenager and I have little means of transport or finance. But what I do want to do this year is make the right choice. Or at least the choice that I believe will positively impact on my life and the lives of the people who have to deal with me. I have some very crucial decisions to make thi...