Results
I got my exam results today, and as expected I failed one module, but I can still retake the module over the summer so I still get the degree, I just can’t go to the 2006 graduation, but I can go to the 2007 if I pass the module in September, which shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
I’ve got strange feelings about Uni; I’m not using what I learnt on my course in my life directly, but I learnt a hell of a lot over the past 3 years, so much of it outside of lectures, it was defiantly not a waste, it helped me realize what I want to do with my life, what I’m good at and what I’m not and it instilled in me that exams do not mean anything.
Just because you know the answers to every question on a certain test, does not relate into a huge amount in the world of business except that you are perfect candidate for working under someone else and following their orders well.
My family are a little disappointed about the results, I think everyone feels like I’m doing nothing at the moment and it’s quite frustrating. Everyone apart from my Dad felt that I should go straight into a standard job and go along the standard path.
That is certainly not for me.
At the moment I feel like I have too many good creative ideas to just give them to a faceless business and never see the benefit of them, I have the drive and creativity to make it on my own, but it’s just starting a little slow.
I’m in a situation which I’m sure many young people have been in, where I am going to have to prove to everyone that I can do these things by myself and that my ideas and skills are not worthless.
There are a few people close to me that completely support me, namely Lauren and my Dad, they know I have what it takes, it’s just going to take a bit of time.
This week has been rather frustrating, I’ve been working my ass off at ACI, earning some money to go towards insurance for the van which is likely to be about £1000 and waiting on Mark, the graphic designer, to get back to me with some designs for the logo. I don’t want to rush him because no-one likes rushing the creative process and what ever he comes up with is going to be amazing.
Until I pass my test and sort out the logo my business is standing pretty still, I can’t advertise heavily without the logo because I don’t want to seem like I’m jumping the gun and come off looking amateurish, and even if I do get work, I have no transport of my own and have to rely on lifts to people’s houses, which again does not look professional.
I’ll just have to play the waiting game for a month and them wham!
In the mean time I’ve been flying through Ruby on Rails, I’m about to start my first site (after I finish this post ), it’s going to be more of a test to see what I can do, and what problems I run into and once it is in a reasonable state I will put it online as a closed beta for all you faithful readers to destroy and criticize, it’s not going to be amazing or feature-full but at least you can sign up and have a go.
This is the first ever blog post my mum has read!!
Andrew on July 6, 2006 8:12 pm
Sorry to hear about the problems, fingers crossed and good luck to you. I’m waiting to hear about my own results as well, I suspect I may have failed at least one module, but time will tell! Keep us up to date won’t you?
RyanC on July 6, 2006 8:54 pm
Hi Andrew, don’t despair one module is nothing, go back and chop socki that module and start to feel better. This may surprise you but i am 34y and just completed my first year at university, this time last year i was stuck in a dead end job knowing i could do better with my life. So i did, it aint been easy cos i own my own home and run a car but i’ve done it.
What i’m trying to say is you are still young and still got loads of time to do what you want to do (have your own business) so don’t worry about time and rushing into having your dream straight away, chill, take in some more courses(if you can) and get ‘more strings to your bow’.
If i was you and knew as you do at your age what you want to do with your life then i certainly would be doing more courses, but that is just me i thirst for the knowledge now (tech knowledge) as i feel i’ve waisted alot of my life and i’m now on a very serious mission to get things done and finally do something.
So my advice is this, stop worrying you are on the right path in life and TIME is with you, you will get yor drivers licence, your projects will get done and money will start to come in. Like you’ve already said ‘play the waiting game’.
I hope this little rant helped.
Nick.
Nick on July 7, 2006 1:29 am
you know you don’t suit working for a crappy company, and i know you are going to do well with your business, even if it takes a month or two. It’s just going to take a bit of work. And even if you don’t graduate this year, you know i’m proud of you and everything you’ve done.love you xxxx
Lauren on July 7, 2006 1:41 am
hey andrew,
don´t worry about this one module…
I`m excited to see your first rails app.. when will the beta signup begin? by the way what kind of app is it?
Patrick
Patrick on July 7, 2006 10:56 am
Thanks for all your words of encouragement, if anything failing yesterdays news and the way people reacted has spured me on, I’m going to do more, learn more and create more.
I should have the first alpha build finished tonight Patrick, but I have never put a rails site acutally online (live), so that should be interesting, it will prolly be online early next week.
Andrew on July 7, 2006 1:03 pm
Gah, my first rails site has hit a few snags, combined with my lack of motivation and that I’m going away for the weekend it may be delayed slightly.
Andrew on July 7, 2006 10:19 pm
i know how you feel, well, somewhat atleast. hoping for the best.
stabani on July 8, 2006 2:19 pm
A few of the guys from my course are in a similar situation. Thier biggest concern is that they are now limited at a 2:2 degree, which excludes them from grad jobs with the bigger companies. Not sure if thats the same in England though. To be fair, you don’t seem the “traditional” career type … keep up the projects and you’ll do good
Chris on July 10, 2006 8:38 pm
You’re gonna make it for sure. Otherwise, you could probably become a professional blogger and make living on that. I’m sure there are companies in need of that.
And I definitely want to try out your first ror app! Especially since I was rejected to try catch404 since I’m a tech guy.
nitro2k01 on July 10, 2006 11:44 pm
It sounds like you actually learned some of the MOST important life lessons while at UNI. You determined what you would and would not accept when it comes to making a living. You came out of UNI with a very positive attitude and you are diving right into the pool and swimming instead of laying back and following someone else’s dreams. You are following your own dreams and now is the BEST time in your whole life you start a business. Once you have a bunch of bills and responsibilities it becomes really tough to take some risks. Go For It With Gusto!
Dewayne Mikkelson on July 11, 2006 6:28 pm
Sorry about the module, but good luck with the business.
Don’t go along the normal boring job path, you dad is right, stick with it, i’m sur you’ll do really well. We’ll be seeing the logo all around the UK someday!
Billytheradponi on July 12, 2006 10:56 am
Andrew-
Here is a really good blog post from someone who is a similar situation, just further along in time.
http://mattinglot.com/blog/2006/07/12/developing-a-detailed-vision-and-having-it-become-reality/
Dewayne Mikkelson on July 12, 2006 5:20 pm
Great link Dewayne, thanks very much, that is a very interesting blog to read
Andrew on July 13, 2006 7:04 am
[…] I’ve finished Uni, although I still have an exam and piece of coursework to retake. […]
AtariBoy » Where am I now? on August 11, 2006 9:02 pm