Dreams of becoming a teacher

soooo i wanna be a teacher.

Its something i have wanted to do since i was a little girl. I have worked hard, i got 6 GCSEs and 3 A-Levels, i am on an english and creative writing graduate degree in my final year, but it isnt enough!

First i heard of a thing called Teach First who offered on the job training and experience working towards getting a PGCE qualification. I dont fit their criteria as i only ended up with 180 UCAS points and they need you to have 300.

Next i did a google search and looked on loads of other ways of getting into teaching. The train while being paid ones want you to have 3 years work experience .... how do you get this if schools need you to pass requirements for that as well, and while studying a degree and working to pay bills? secondly they offered a training way in which is unpaid and with a fee. Requirements i also dont have for that, and funding i would need which as i have been at university for 4 years, i am not entitled to.

Soooo what am i supposed to do now. Requirements are:

• 300 UCAS points 
• Grade C english gcse
• Grade C maths gcse
• Grade C science gcse (for teaching early years) 
• a 2:1 degree or equivelent
• and in some cases 3 years experience in schools

okkkay so i have:

• 180 UCAS points
• Grade B in English GCSE
• Grade D in maths GCSE
• Grade C in science GCSE
• working at a 2:1 degree level (graduate next year)
• experience in catering, bar work and waitressing, modelling and promotions and not in schools
• an extra 4 GCSEs and 3 A levels which are apparently irellevant 

guess i can maybe do an apprentership .... except £3.30ph is not really going to pay the bills (im on min wage £6.70ph and that just about does). Or i could try and get my maths GCSE ( i should note that this is something i have redone already twice at college each time i got the EXACT same mark 4 points off a C so er yeah oh and it costs £250-399 to do this independantly atm)

Fuck it .... i shall just be a writer and will not pass my wisdom on to the world via a classroom, but instead through the words of my novels.

I cant be the only one in this position right? help a sister out!!! 

First group submission

Today i had to submit my first bit of work to my Final Portfolio module at uni. It was nerve wracking! 

It turned out not so bad in the end as most people said they either couldnt wait to find out what happens, or that they would definately buy my book, which was a real confiedence booster. 

Im not too good with focus group work. I dont mind submitting for feedback, but when its a room full of people who are all looking at you and verballing giving feedback, its a different ball game. 

I shouldnt have a problem with people watching me, i used to model, but when it comes to writing ive worked hard on, its nerve wracking to have it torn apart. 

Maybe its because i dont know my peers. I should do. They all know each other, but i had a year out of uni meaning really i should have graduated in 2013 with my friend keisha and class mates i at least knew names of, instead i resat a year on top of the break, and now i know no one. 

Part of me thinks this works better, leas distractions in classes, but with 3 hour breaks between lectures and seminars, sometimes a friend would be nice. 

Victorian Crime

Okay soooo

I am currently working on a biography on Amelia Dyer. She was a baby farmer in the victorian times and it is estimated she killed over 400 babies in her time before she was hung at Newgate prison in 1896. 

I have been researching her since her name came up in one of my Women Behaving Badly lectures about 2 weeks ago. As horrific her crime was, it strunk an interest, especially when i could only find one biography about her. As i need to do a biography (3000 words of one at least) for another module, i settled on her. 

Over 2000 words of research and still more to find, it is only today on week 4 that it all began to feel a little too real. 

I discovered that upon her final arrest for the discovery of the body of little Helena Fry aged just 15 months, a list of so far 10 children who at the time were in her care. 

I already knew the names of not only Helena Fry, but also Harry Simmons and Doris Marmon. I also knew that when Helenas body was found, and the river Thames dregged for more. That more bodies including those two were also found. 

I now know that out the 10 children in her care by March 1896, 4 of them survived, with 2 being rehomed and 2 being returned to their mothers. 

For some reason now having full names of the children and ages, has made it feel even more real and upsetting and i found myself tearing up, imagining being the mother of one of those returned children, or even worse, one of those whos child was never returned. 

I will post my extract on Amelia Dyer if you are interested (its over 1000 words so far and due in january for submission). 

I cant help but wonder what happened to the children named who survived.

House Of Trend, Manchester

With the latest in house music blaring and pool table greeting you as you walk in, you may think you have walked into a swanky new bar. Shiny black flooring and fancy gold decor, lit up brilliantly by the many lights, a wall mural of a city landscape. All high quality work done. This is not a bar. This is House of Trend!

Only the finest in apperance because that is how you will step out. Take a seat on the black leather seats and enjoy a game of pool, even treat yourself to a drink from the bar which is stocked with everything from soft drinks and beers, to the option of a hot drink or fresh home made smoothies and shakes. Whatever you need while you wait, its catered for at house of trend manchester!

The staff are friendly and the banter is top class as you let Ben or Kenny get to work on giving you the look you want. From shape ups, trims, fades or a whole new restyle, just say what you need sit back and let them get to work. Taking pride in their jobs, these perfectionists will ensure that you are 100% satisfied.


If its not a haircut you're after, house of trend offers more than your average barber shop. Why not indulge in a massage? Or treat the missus to something from the impressive range of body treatments? With everything from Therapeutic massages, botox and teeth whitening, you'll even soon have the option to book in a tattoo in this every growing business.

Heard enough? Why not pop in and upgrade your experience.

Barber Ben hard at work

Barber Kenny working hard

Swanky Bar full of refreshments

Have a game of pool

A life of an urban princess

So this is my blog ....

I am a final year student studying English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Salford. Engaged, parent to a cat and a part time waitress in a cafe shop, undercover princess by title.

This blog will no doubt be full or random ramblings, stuff i am working on as a budding writer, and sharing of my addictions and obsessions.

For my final year at salford i have chosen the following options to complete my degree;
Women behaving badly: Representations of Deviance in the 19th Century
Biography: innovative and tradition
Poetry: New departures
Womens writing in the 21st Century

So if you have any interest in these areas, then you may enjoy reading things im working on. Please feel free to comment your feedback on any of the work i do share, and please do not steal anything (most of it will be submitted as actual work and it would be unfair to get done for plagirism of my own work).

Aside from university i live with my Fiance of 2 years and our crazy cat skittle (yes im a cat person, expect lots of pictures). I am addicted to social networking like facebook, instagram and have just got my head around snapchat (finally). My fiance is called Benji and he is a full time barber, he works way too much (mon-sat 8-8) which means i dont get to see him much (boo!) but he loves his job and can be found at House of Trend Manchester, on Rochdale road and on instagram (@Houseoftrendmcr). I currently work in a secret location (sorry stalkers) as a waitress which i enjoy because my team are mostly the best ladies i could work with/for. When i am not in uni or work i am a SLOB! No im just kidding i dont have that much free time so i mainly watch tv (Bones, Big Bang Theory and Scream Queens are FAVES! and Game of Thrones of course when it hurries back) and write my own stuff from biography, poetry to fiction.

Comments always welcome :)

Bye for now

Princess Candi