Music for Mongu

Last night I went to a friend's charity event. The event comprised of local acts and bands, all playing to help the charity and to raise awareness and publicity for themselves. The atmosphere was polite, with a wide range of ages from 6 to 60 year olds, all joining in for a good cause. It made me think about the concept of altruism and if there was such thing as a truly altruistic act - because it seems to me that even the most seemingly selfless acts might seem to have something in it for themselves.

My sister is coming back from holiday in France tomorrow. No doubt she will bring back souvenirs for me and my parents. At a glance, this may seem like an altruistic act, however, upon further inspection, I realised a couple of things:

1. In giving us gifts, we will be expected to return them when we go away.
2. In giving us the gifts, it will no doubt make her feel good about giving us souvenirs.


I'm not saying that either of these consequences are immoral or anything even like that, but I would urge to think next time an altruistic act is mentioned. I urge you to think, is that really altruistic? Or is that purely another reason for us to make us feel good about our actions?

Baby Boomers

Today I am learning about the history of Britain's economy, not at a lecture, not watching a documentary but at an evening at a family friend's house, with my Dad and his friends talking about the history of Britain, its economy, what was done, what should have been done and everything else there is to talk about it.

When I was younger, I was always astounded by how much adults were able to talk for so long, exchanging anecdotes, quoting their favourite writers or poets and just talking -  but it's only now that I realise just how much people enjoy telling other people about their lives. It makes me hope that I'll have so many interesting things, anecdotes and quotes to talk about when I'm sipping wine and eating cheese so that I can truly feel that I've lived.

Clichéd may it be, but I am beginning to really understand the concept of growing now. Not just physically or in terms of maturity, but also in terms of experiences .  .  .

LBW

Lousy British Weather! Despite the fact that I've only had one or two cricket games rained off this year, it's still infuriating when the weather ruins a game - but I suppose living in England I've come to expect it.

It did make me think about how much weather can affect sport, and so many other things too. I also generally find myself talking about the weather when I don't know what to say; how quintessentially British!

Looking Forward To It

Here I am at the start of a two year International Baccalaureate Diploma course with all these challenges ahead of me.

I want to be able to look back at this and think: "That wasn't as hard as I thought  it might be".

I feel that if approached in the right way the IB need not be a ridiculous amount of effort that some have suggested that it might be.

For example, I think that a blog will be the best way to keep track of my experiences and reflections, not just in relation to CAS and Theatre Studies, where journals are required, but for all the aspects of the IB, and my transition from GCSE student to a prospective university candidate.

My ambition is to pursue a career in Psychology, and my IB subjects have been chosen with this in mind, and I am hoping that this blog will allow me to document my own insights and feelings about my studies as I go along, so that it will prove of benefit to me in retrospect - and if it is useful or interesting to other (prospective or current) IB students then all the better.

I am writing this in August 2011 before term starts, because I subscribe to Colin Jackson's advice to Linford Christie that turned him from a good sprinter into an Olympic Gold Medallist: "You can start on the B of BANG".

Mobile Phun

As you may have guessed from my hilarious pun in the title, I was recently given a new phone as a reward for my GCSE results, however, the condition was that I would use it for my IB blog, as well as for personal use.

So I thought what better way to start than to blog my first mobile post!

The phone I am using is the HTC Desire S which seems to be one of the best Android systems around, for both work and play, which is good because all work and no play makes Glyn a dull boy, but my Dad adopts a different ethos; "all play and no work makes Dad a scary man", so maybe I should go and do some Biology work . . .

(By the way, Angry Birds rocks!)

GCSE Results - IB Confirmation

Today I got my GCSE results, I know that the done thing is to seem worried or anxious, with one of my peers claiming "it was as exciting and nerve-racking as Christmas Day and Judgement Day all at the same time"  but I wasn't too anxious. I was quite sure of what results I was going to get because of copious amounts of revision, but I must admit that when I got the envelope I wasn't sure I wanted to look, then I realised how clichéd that sounded and it was too much to bear.

So I ripped open the envelope, quite unceremoniously, revealing the key to my future - and fortunately I met the requirements to do the IB at my school for sixth form quite comfortably. With 5 A's and 4 B's I felt proud of myself and the work I had done. I can only hope I do as well in the IB.

I've been told that for the IB you can have two of the following three: Sleep, a social life and passing the IB, maybe I can be the first to have my cake and eat it . . .