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The Start of Something New

This is my first ever blog post so hopefully it will be a success...

My name is Lisa and I am currently performing in the West End Show, 42nd Street. 

This week, I have started my Professional Practice in Dance (Specialisation) MA and had my first group Skype session, last Friday. I was apprehensive as to what this new venture would entail and didn't really have a clue what to expect. The Skype meeting was very useful and helped to calm my nerves considerably, having not done anything academic for a very, very long time. The conversation involved students who were at different stages of the course. Some that had completed module 1 and some that had completed 1 and 2. This turned out to be very informative as they were able to give tips on what to expect and said it was perfectly normal to feel apprehensive and overwhelmed at the beginning and it would all make sense as Module 1 unfolded. It was also refreshing to hear that quite a few of them had not studied academically for a long time and were just as nervous to start as I was. I was given the advice to be excited at the thought of beginning something new and enjoy the reflection aspect of the course. I'm looking forward to reflecting on my past experiences and figuring out what I can take forward with me into my future endeavours. 

I learnt that it is normal to feel hesitant about starting something new. After being a professional in our chosen industries for so long, we are used to knowing and the unknown seems daunting and scary. I will definitely be pushed out of my comfort zone but need to take this as a positive. I need to remember that as a professional, I have chosen to go back to studying, so I can better my knowledge and understanding in my chosen field and am not expected to know everything already. So I must use this new experience to grow.
It was lovely to be introduced to other students on the same course and I'm looking forward to reading their blogs and hearing about their journeys too. I am going to try my hardest to enjoy the studies, give myself enough time to properly accomplish what I set out to achieve and embrace the unknown. Wish me luck!

Comments

  1. Hi Lisa! I thought I would have the honour in replying first! I think you will find that a lot of us when we started had not been to school for a long time and so the academic writing was a little overwhelming. I find it to be a "formula" that once you have it it's like riding a bike (thinking about the literature list, citing etc)! I enjoyed Module One and the self-discovery was of mixed blessings (I'm a teacher) but without those discoveries I really wouldn't be where I am now. Try and enjoy it and pace your studies with your work, like dancers who need to rest their bodies I also found I needed to rest my head (I got quite obsessed in Mod One working every single moment I could!). Sam

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    1. Thank you so much for this advice, I am in the process of putting together my first essay. Hopefully I'm on the right track!

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    1. Hi Lisa I am now starting module 2 . Module 1 was in the end very interesting and informative, but very frustrating. There are no short answers, or quick help aids. It does stretch your brain. If you know what you want to achieve it helps. good luck.

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  3. Welcome and good luck! It's definitely normal to feel apprehensive but things get sorted out so quickly. :) I hope you enjoy the journey as much as the rest of us are!

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  4. I am in the same boat, except I have never done anything academically! except for high school. I have done a ton of dance training, pre-professionally, and professionally, and danced professionally, but none of the really requires finding out how you got there, or anything that requires analytical thought.

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