Problem Solving =]

So a problem has arisen with my A level options which might cause problems later on in University. For God's sake please change the record - I know I'm thinking ahead and that I haven't actually sat my GCSEs yet, but like the saying goes: prior planning and preparation prevents pish poor performance. At least I won't get a cold slap in the face for a wake up call and realise that everything I've done in my life has been a waste because nothing adds up. Yes, like Economics is a social science, Life is a social math. Those who can't work out probabilities of events occurring, sum up the consequences of their actions or arrange their priorities from highest to lowest are quite frankly screwed. I know that Elly's right, and that life isn't as difficult as people would have you believe, but if you want to be successful financially to be able to take time off in order to work on your dream, then I think that you need to get things right. You can't build a house on a shaky foundation and not be weary of disaster. I know that I've spent a lot of time explaining that I don't want to get things wrong now, but the more I write, the more of an insight you get into my mind. Yes, this is all stressful for now, but it's no way near as stressful as it would be if you hadn't the faintest idea as to what to do. This is a good kind of stressful, because you can always comfort yourself by reminding yourself that you can change your mind as much as possible as far as University is concerned, because you have two whole school years left to finish until your final decision is set in stone. You don't even need to go straight on to University, although I think it's best because then you won't be out of the habit of learning.

Basically, I wanted to take Psychology, Sociology, Biology and English Literature. Psychology to go on to Criminology; Sociology to go with Criminology as a back-up, plus I'm really good at it; Biology because I read in one of the prospectuses that you need two sciences, inc. Psychology, to do Psychology at degree level, plus it's my best science and most helpful; English Literature because English is my best subject and Mother has an English degree if I did happen to need any help or guidance. These have obviously been thought out and are strategic. Then we had our option sheets and to my absolute horror, Sociology and Biology clash (meaning their in the same column and therefore occur on the same periods every single week).

Now, this can be sorted out. My headteacher has to consider the needs of both Ysgol Tre-Gib and Pantecelyn as she's in charge of both schools, so if enough pupils take two subjects that clash, the clash can be sorted out via the subjects being rearranged. There are six columns, one of which is an after school column. There are three columns that I'm not using so hopefully something could be worked out and put in one of those. However, after a conversation that took place between Mother and the deputy head of my school, a surprisingly lovely and fair Griffiths-Jones, it turns out that out of the two schools, only one pupil selected both Sociology and Biology. What are the chances of that? Me - the only one. I feel like I've been thrown into the dark ages where if you're unique, you're ostracised. If anything around twenty people had selected the same two subjects as myself, then the clash could've been figured out. However, I was alone in my decision, and therefore nothing will be done. It's simply not worth it for one person, and although I am deeply upset, I understand. Why bother putting everyone else's options at risk for one person out of around two thousand? That person might become the richest and most successful person in the whole entire history of the world, and yet they never get their full potential achieved because it just didn't work out. That's just depressing though, that's why I think that people who believe in fate are happier (even though they tend to be lazier). What this means to me is that I need to compromise both emotionally and strategically, and to do this, I enlisted the help of Mother. (I've made her sound like some superhero, have I not?)

First off, we got out the sixth form time table and circled the two subjects that I'm definitely doing in red (Psychology and English Literature). Then, going through every single subject that wasn't in either of the used up columns, we circled the possibilities in green. In the end, I had six of these - Chemistry, Biology, Sociology, Math, Economics and Media Studies. Soon after, we discarded both Chemistry simply because I don't really enjoy Chemistry much - Sorry Lord Hammett. Plus, I think I lack the passion required.

Secondly, Mother gave them a 'difficulty rating', which was 1 - easy, 2 - difficult, 3 - very difficult and after writing up my four possible courses of action, we added up their scores. (We gave Economics a 2 because in the sixth form booklet, it says that the standard of maths required is at a basic level.) The end results were as followed:

#1: Psychology (3) + English Literature (2) + Biology (2) + Media Studies (1) = Hard (8)

#2: Psychology (3) + English Literature (2) + Sociology (1) + Economics (2) = Okay (8)

#3: Psychology (3) + English Literature (2) + Sociology (1) + Math (3) = Hardest (9)

#4: Psychology (3) + English Literature (2) + Sociology (1) + Media Studies (1) = Easiest (7)

#1 was branded Mother's choice, #2 was branded a good selection and Dad's choice, #3 was branded as the hardest and #4 was branded as the most enjoyable as they're all humanities, but Mother's choice for Publishing. We discarded #3 as it wouldn't help my mental state at all (if you don't know what I'm on about, please just gloss over my last blog entry), especially with the Math.

Pa came home and we showed him everything that we'd done. I then picked up the University of Gloucestershire's Undergraduate Prospectus for twenty-ten and looked at Criminology, then at Creative Writing (since it's a joint honours applicable to Criminology) and then Publishing: Books and Magazines (which is a joint honours applicable to Creative Writing). Now get this: Criminology requires 240 points only, Creative Writing requires 240 points and at least an AS in either English Language or English Literature, and Publishing: Books and Magazines requires 260 points. (Psychology, which I could've done with Criminology, requires 280 points and at least a C in GCSE Math. Sociology, which I also could've done with Criminology, requires 220 points from a minimum of two A levels.) I worked out the minimum of points that I expect to have and I'd have more than enough. I don't even need to do four. Mother spoke to the administrator and found out that they accept the Welsh Baccalaureate, which would give me 120 points if I pass it. Something else amazing about the University of Gloucestershire is that the courses I want to do are based in Cheltenham, which is one of my favourite places ever.

I know that you shouldn't let your parents decide what you're going to do for the rest of your life - I even explained this to Pa by saying that if he wanted me to be a doctor, then I'd do all the required stuff and go on to hang myself in University, and that it would all be his fault - however, having their support makes a big difference. Nobody was ever supportive of the Criminology track that I was going down, but now Pa is being extremely encouraging about the Publishing: Books and Magazines especially, and the fact that it's with Creative Writing leads Pa on to believe that it's absolutely perfect for me. He's highly concerned about my mental health though, reminding us about what the doctor said, which is nice.

So now I guess it's between Economics and Media Studies. Both of these have their advantages to Publishing: Books and Films, no matter what anybody says. I know that in Media Studies, I'd be stuck with a lot of drop out scum because it's one of 'those' subjects. If I did Media Studies though, I'd have a hell of a lot more points and it would be useful because it's to do with the business that I hope, wish and pray to enter. No, I don't want to be a news reader like my parents would like, and I don't want to be a news journalist, but I'd love to be a music journalist or reviewer. Obviously though, number one life ambition will always be to be an author that sells enough books to make a living off of it and is then enabled to stay at home, writing.

Just quickly to finish, I have become very annoyed at one of my friends and it is completely their fault. It seems that they're doing everything in their power to not only contradict me, but to make me not only doubt myself, but to doubt my decisions on things that I was certain and happy about. The latest two being what I eat and my decisions with my options. Everything here is well though out with both of my parents - I think we'd know if a subject was irrelevant, like Biology would be. I feel that I'll explode to them one day, like I did to Sara in the corridor when I screamed, "Why do you hate me so much?!" I won't tell you how they've put these doubts there because then they'll know exactly who they are, if they don't already. I'm trying to keep contained for now.

For now.