School Life in Great Britain: Personal Experience

At present I am studying History, English Literature, Sociology and General Studies at A level. I enjoy all my A levels but find Sociology particularly interesting and challenging. This is because I enjoy reading and writing essays as well as debating issues. My History course involves two European topics: Nazi Germany and Mussolini and Fascist Italy. I find these topics give a very interesting insight into modern history. I am also looking forward to working on my personal study in History; I hope to base it on an aspect of Nazi Germany. In English Literature I have been studying Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy and Paradise Lost by John Milton. I have found all three texts interesting so far.

I have found that the style of study at A level is very different to my GCSE courses, and the more in-depth detail and discussions make A levels much more enjoyable. The skill of critical analysis developed in my A level subjects has been very useful in writing essays and studying sources. I have learnt how to carry out research using primary sources and how to construct an argument based on evidence.
Because of my love of History I hope to do a History degree at University. My other subjects have allowed me to develop a structured and discursive style of writing which I find extremely useful in my History studies. I also depend on the personal skills learnt to work on my own, only seeking the teacher's guidance and direction occasionally.

At the end of year ten I spend one week's work experience at the school of History at Birmingham University. It was a most interesting, educational and enjoyable week. I did filing, word processing and general administrative work. I particularly enjoyed sending and receiving e-mail. During the week, I discovered that I enjoyed working with people and got a great deal of satisfaction in meeting deadlines and working under pressure. I got on with other extremely well and made good friends with the people I worked with.

As well as my Sixth Form studies, I play an active part in organizing events to raise money for charity. The most recent was a Talent Contest. I play an active part in college life, and regularly perform in concerts and revues.
As a hobby, I enjoy both playing and listening to music. I have studied the clarinet but at present I play bass guitar. I have been in a band with friends for about eighteen mouths now, and we have played a number of gigs at the 'Songwriter's cafe', a free venue for the public every Sunday. I am also an avid CD and vinyl collector, preferring all types of sixties' and seventies' music. I also enjoy reading music biographies on past bands and books on subcultures of the sixties. I enjoy going out and spending time with friends. I also enjoy traveling. My previous trips have been to Ireland, the United States, Turkey and all over Europe. Through this, I have learnt about other cultures and ways of life - something which interests me greatly.
I enjoy sport a lot and love to watch football and cricket and regularly go swimming to keep fit.
I enjoy Sixth Form life very much and consider myself well-suited to the way of learning at Sixth Form level. I very much hope to go to university and enjoy university life as much as I have enjoyed my A levels.