Being practical I am not a theory person but a doer. If something needs doing I will do it.

I work really well when I am organised with a beginning and end goal in sight.

I am a stickler for punctuality but also I am one who can be counted on to get the work done, as well as being a support to colleagues.

In the Holland Code the three areas of interest that equated with my personality were Investigative, Artistic and Social. It outlined a few careers that would align with these attributes, one being a Sociologist, which travels really well with History and researching.

Investigative involves being precise and is good at understanding and solving problems.

Artistic people are expressive, original and one who values the creative arts like drama, music, art, or the works of creative writers.

Social people see themselves as helpful, friendly, and trustworthy which could involve helping people and solving social problems.

Although I am one to work solely on my own, being in a team I would definitely have to be flexible and adaptable and not be defensive if the outcome is not the one that I thought it should be. Being flexible is definitely an important and positive trait that I can take with me on my career journey rather than being pedantic where I could annoy and offend people by caring too much about minor details.

Being flexible, I would have to be versatile, resilient and responsive to change. I would have to adapt to unexpected demands in the workplace which could be sudden surges in work, urgent problems, or an unpredictable event.

Being adaptable I would have to have the ability to adjust to changes in the work environment, job duties, or company policies. Examples of adaptability include flexibility, learning new skills, problem-solving, effective communication, embracing change, and multitasking.

To be able to do something I love, which is reading, would make my career so much more rewarding. I have a fascination in WW2 and how history revealed itself in that time period, how people reacted to their situation and were able to have the resilience to move forward.

The goal of historical literacy is to read history texts critically, to write thoughtfully, and to engage in meaningful discussions about the past. If I have the ability to think, reflect, debate, discuss and evaluate the past I will be able to succeed as a history researcher.

I feel with honesty it is essential for building healthy relationships, both personally and professionally. It creates a foundation of trust that others hopefully can rely on. Communication with colleagues in private or in the workforce have to be conducted honestly and respectfully. Supporting the values of whichever chosen career I choose. Also taking responsibility for my actions.

To have integrity in the career of my choice would be the adherence to moral and ethical principles, even when the choice is not an easy one. Respecting colleagues regardless of race, age, social status, or political beliefs. In other words treating colleagues as equals.

I have realised that to have this goal I need to put into effect the SMART theory. I have to be specific with what I want which is a history degree. I have to make sure that I prepare and study weekly to be able to attain a high mark in my assessments. These are achievable and in the long term will aid in attaining my degree. This goal is relevant in my life now as I have less distraction and more motivation. The time to take this degree is limitless for me but I would definitely prefer that I was successful in finishing the degree within a five year period.

Learning at university has been a steep curve for me but I have realised that lecturers, tutors, student services, library and forums are there to help with any support that may be needed. I have to realise that most people studying are in the same boat and appreciate advice from their teaching faculty and that no question is silly. To have the courage to ask questions, even if they are wrong, gives me the confidence that I will get the information I need and be on the right track next time. The information and practical help that I receive in my tertiary studies will only enhance my ability to attain my degree but also future career prospects.

Stress also could be a major obstacle as being a first year student there are so many things to learn and being able to produce the correct work with the correct references can be difficult. Self sabotage with thoughts that 'I'll never be good enough' or I'm not very good at expressing myself in writing', could set me back. I have realised that I have to keep my expectations realistic and remind myself that setbacks can sometimes be a part of life.

Also time as I am not getting any younger so I have to be realistic and just enjoy the time I am able to study.

Resilience is a skill that needs building over time but I feel I need to have social skills too and that is where my hobbies come in. I walk and enjoy knitting and jigsaws. These hobbies help me to regain the flow that I need to continue with my studies.

Flow is a state where you are completely immersed in an activity - in my case knitting or doing jigsaws. It involves intense focus, creative input and the loss of your surrounding, time and self.

.