Jack of All Trades, Master of None

09Jan11

As I near the end of my 6th Year, and go ever closer towards the Leaving Cert. one thing keeps bothering me. What am I going to do for the rest of my life?

Of course I would like to be the best in whatever field I choose.

In school, Maths is probably my best subject. I can remember clearly back in 3rd class, having to ask the teacher could i do the sums the short way, skipping steps on the way. Nowadays, the Honours classes are so boring, I end up doing exam questions the whole time (Im averaging three half hour questions correct in 35 mins).

I will be disappointed if I dont get an A1 in Maths, it is probably my most likely to get, unless I really panic on the day or something.

In other subjects, I tend to love the more science like subjects like Chemistry and Applied Maths, that require both understanding, and help acquire new knowledge. Both of those subjects I would think of getting high A2s if not A1s, again, if I dont like freak out on the day.

I have very good Spacial Awareness (I scored in the 99 percentile in an National Aptitute test we did in school a while ago) which lends itself well to Problem Solving and Puzzles, and subjects like DCG where I can exercise this.

I love building things, that other people get use out of. I still have loads of Lego and K’nex sets in the attic that I used to build for my younger brother to play with (I have several 6 feet rollar coasters, I remember standind on armchairs to assemble the top)

Lately I’ve thinking a lot about Space (prompted my playing Mass Effect, and my favourite TV show Star Gate: Universe), and the final frontier. I have been thinking recently how awesome it would be to be able to design like Rocket Engines, or similar, just something that would put me on the forefront of the next generations of technology and research.

My most prominent hobby these days, is Computer Programming. I’ve always been entralled by Computers, and I learned how to programme, so I could understand how they work better. Even today, I spent a lot of time today solving Programming Challenges on Facebooks Website.

These are some of the things I most enjoy as well.

So on to the purpose of this post, what should I do in University?

I wanted do Science since I could speak (literally), Ive wanted to do Computer Science since I was in 4th Year.

But really, I dont think I’d be happy, unless I was recognised as being known as an authority in my field.

I recently applied to Churchill College of Cambridge University, to do Computer Science. I found it a pretty great place, and a really nice atmosphere around the place. But when there my Maths ability really let me down. I could say it was because I had never attempted A level Maths before. (Our course pales in comparison to their, one of the bad effects of having things like Irish, and English, compulsary, I have 10 classes of those a week, which could be going towards some other subjects that I might find useful later in life.)

Ive often thought of Teaching second level, but the real turn off is correcting homework, would seem like homework, which is something I never want to do, and then theres the fact that some classes are pure nasty, and I wouldnt like to be in that situation.

So Maths I feel as if I dont have any of these super abilities that others display from a young age, and feel Id be at a disadvantage then. I suppose it is possible for me to do it, as my mother has a degree in maths, and she doesnt seem to be able to anything I cant.

The Computer Science too, I suppose I just dont think the quality of courses in Ireland is on par with other countries.

I would probably put Computer Science in UCD as my first choice on my CAO, as Ive been to their Computer Science Open Night, and I was impressed with their presentation, their facilities, and their enthusiasm for their subjects. I also like the campus, if i dont like its out of the way location.

With Trinity, I think the change would be too drastic or something. Ive always lived in the country with my little village up the road, and school 25 mins drive away, and nightclub 35 minutes away, that being in the middle of the city, although I like being in the city and all, is not something I think Id like to do for a whole period of my life. That and all the people within trinity seem like intimidating or something, even if they are just laughing among themselves, paying me no heed. I love the Architechure in Trinity. Its currently second on my CAO, but perhaps when I think about it more, I would consider putting it higher.

Points for both courses are relatively low. ( I would be disappointed if I didnt get in the 500s, not to mention not getting 370 for UCD.

So anyway, what do you think? Is there anything you would like to add? Any alternate courses you think I might like? Anything space genre related (A book perhaps)? Or even just what you are doing or have done.

Many Thanks for reading, and I hope you respond,
~Thomas

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