Introduction

So, yesterday I got the chance to visit my old college of Cronton Sixth Form, somewhere I hadn’t been to since A-Level results day on August 14th. To be honest, I expected to be nervous, apprehensive. I thought being back in somewhere I had spent an intense 2 years of constantly pushing myself to excel would be overwhelming. But it didn’t.

Perhaps that is due to the A-Level pressure being removed and replaced by the arguably calmer experience of first year university, a welcome change after so much academic dedication. I arrived with excitement and anticipation, invited by my old English teacher Richard to converse with Year 12 English Combined students. The talks revolved around how English has affected my progression into university and I offered advice regarding the subject.

The sessions took place during first period between 9:00-9:45 and around lunch at 12:20-1:05, giving me a chance for a cheeky little nostalgia trip around my old college in between and after the last session. In retrospect, the sessions felt somewhat meta, as I referenced how I am an author here for you guys at LGSM. In doing so, I highlighted some of the pieces I’ve provided for you so far.

My goal regardless of teaching these students how to tackle English was to be relatable and sympathetic to them, as I understand the immense stress that A-Levels are. No matter what you choose to study, there is no “easy” or “free” A-Level. While some may be easier in understanding, the approach (especially if the subject was also in GCSE) is vastly different – looking at you, English, Computer Science, Business and History. My worry was that they would see how well I performed in English both at GCSE and A-Level and dismiss my guidance, but I’m confident they appreciated (and will appreciate it more in Year 13) the tips provided.

Furthermore, there were far more male students studying English Language and Literature compared to when I was in college, which I was glad to see; this helps challenge that dominant ideology of English being a more feminine subject, which I think is ridiculous.

In going through the PowerPoint, I began to feel a bit more reflective; seeing how far I’ve come, from GCSEs at Wade Deacon, A-Levels at Cronton, to now an Undergraduate degree at University of Liverpool. It’s not been an easy journey and I still have far much to learn but I’d like to imagine I’ve grasped at every given opportunity.

My main intention when constructing the PowerPoint was to give them a holistic overview of the course, covering each aspect so that when it comes time, this resource acts as a safety net they can choose to rely on. It was also an excuse for me to yap about English for around 40 minutes. Best of both worlds, I suppose.

Moreover, I also mentioned my revision grammar website Got to Grammar, which I made in Year 13 for my Computer Science coursework. When I first showcased this to my English class as part of my Evaluation stage back in Year 13, they seemed to really enjoy it, despite being a little problematic in terms of the scoreboards.

I remember someone in my class named Faye seeming genuinely grateful for this creation, which does imply the website is purposeful. My hope is now that future English students can use it to refine their linguistic terminology without it being too challenging and partake in the quiz.

After the sessions, I revisited my old media classroom of W22, which made me feel incredibly sad. What do you mean I couldn’t just go sit in my old chair next to my friend Aimee and get to do a lesson about Boris being scrutinised by The Daily Mirror’s front cover, or about the PTSD of hearing Beyonce’s Formation for the 100th time?

Once I finished being mysterious, I went to go and locate my old media teacher Kim, who is actually one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. In GCSE, I had a lot of teachers which I liked but I don’t think I’ve gotten along with any of them as well as her. That’s probably due to my interest within media and the fact that she does inspire me as a former journalist but still.

Our catchup felt like nothing had changed, which felt so comforting. Getting the chance to sit down and talk like old times made me incredibly happy, as she had always believed in me and sees my potential to leave a real mark on the media industry. I hope so but we shall see. This reunion felt more satisfying for me compared to Results Day, due to spending so much time talking with my friends and my main priority being to collect my results. If you’re looking for a teacher who goes above and beyond, then she is the person to go to. Seriously.

I also took the time to discuss with Dan Adams, where we reflected on my university experience and what I’ve been up to. I also discussed potential volunteering for Media and English, something which I would love to do. My plan is to be a journalist for a good few years, then settle down and teach Media and/or English.

Conclusion

When I look back on A-Levels, I am grateful for all of my subjects in where it has positioned me now. My main ambition is to be a digital journalist (partly why I’m sat here writing this). English at GCSE and A-Level gave me the literary and linguistic skills to decipher communication. Media delivered the crucial information and knowledge to help me comprehend my future plans. Computer Science provided understanding of computation and digital skills, which are crucial in any current career path. Definitely a unique combination of subjects but I think for me, it made complete sense to study them.

Any questions? Feel free to contact me via johnjoyce4535@gmail.com!

Check out my last piece: Creative Consultancy – My experience completing Accenture’s AI Micro-Internship

For more about the arts & culture, check out the following link:

https://www.liverpoolguildstudentmedia.co.uk/category/arts-culture