‘The Study Skills Book’ by Kathleen McMillan and Jonathon Weyers has been an intriguing read for me so far. In just 32 pages I have been asked to reflect on all skills thinkable ranging from my social skills to my organisational ability. The book also made me ponder what I want in my future life. I will now discuss some of the things I found out about myself in relation to my abilities as a student, my skills as a trainee teacher, and where I wish to be in 5-10 years.
‘The Study Skills Book’ outlined some important points about setting goals for yourself at University. I paid particular attention to the following questions:
What career path do you have as your aim?
I am quite certain in my career path in the way that I know that I want to become a teacher. However, this question did lead me to think about what type of teacher I aim to be. I decided over all I simply want to become a teacher who provides an excellent education for all children regardless of their needs. I realise this will take a lot of hard work and dedication which I am willing to aim high for.
How might University limit your options?
University will limit me in the way that once I have achieved my course I will be limited to the field of teaching primary children. This is what I aim to do so I do not see this as a potential problem. If in the future I decide I want to go down another path I can return to education and work towards this new aim.
Apart from a qualification, what do you want from your time as a university student?
I would like to become more independent. I have already contributed to this goal by moving away from home. Although I am finding it difficult to be away from my family, I am coping well with looking after myself.
I would also like to take this time to do more fun things that I have always wanted to do. So far I have joined a gym and I aim to join a sports club. I have also taken a step in a new direction and signed up to be a Marrow Donor until the age of 60. This is something I would never have done if it wasn’t for attending the Freshers week events. I look forward to helping raise money for charities and any other way I can help save someone’s life.
The book also outlined points about university that I must keep in mind. I have made the mental notes to take notes at every lecture, take notes of my tutor’s emails, prepare my timetable every week and be punctual. Although these things are mostly common sense it was helpful to be made aware of them in the book.
Some of the advice in the book will be very helpful for when I become a teacher. The advice to keep up with work deadlines is very valuable. If I get used to completing all deadlines on time I will be more prepared for the busy schedule of a teacher. I was also made aware of skills I possess such as meeting deadlines and negotiating. This did however lead me on to thinking of skills I need to develop more over the next 4 years such as learning how to motivate others, giving clear and manageable instructions and participating in more activities.
In the next 5 years I hope to be finishing my probationary year as a teacher and securing a job for myself. I also hope to start my financial journey to own my own home. In 10 years time I hope to have a family and a secure job as a primary teacher.
Overall I have learned a lot about myself from this book. I have learned about the skills I possess, ones I must improve on and ones I must gain. I learned that to succeed in university I need to work hard and keep on top of my workload. I even learned about the person I want to be in the future – something I had not thought so in depth about previously.
