Hi, my names Dave, I’m 18, and this is the first of hopefully many blog posts to come as I take on the next stage of my education. On the 26th of this month I will be moving into a hall of residence at De Montfort University in Leicester to take a course in computer games programming.
I chose the course because I’ve always enjoyed the idea of creating my own video games having dabbled in Macromedia Flash using actionscript and a bit of Java. I wouldn’t call myself even an amateur programmer to be honest. It was sort a phase that came and went and now I think I’m ready to take it up professionally. Lets just hope I haven’t made a huge mistake :) otherwise I’ll probably take a course in linguistics.
I thought of doing computer games design but I’d much prefer to actually know how to build a game down to the core instructions than just the icing on the cake. Besides, I think I could teach myself a lot of the 2D/3D design, texturing, storyboarding, sound effects, ect. from the internet and books along the way. I know that’s not how it works in the real world and there could be hundreds of people working on the same project, but for the basis of a portfolio I think it would be very attractive.
I’ve also thought of changing it to general computer science because apparently some of the larger developers prefer candidates with a broad knowledge of programming before they mold them into their picture of the perfect employee, but after emailing the university apparently the first years in both courses are pretty much similar so if I decide to change within that time it should be ok; with the discretion of the course lecturer.
I already took a vocational course in 3D animation and 2D design for beginners at Solihull College after I was chosen during my GCSE years. I’m also learning piano at a grade 5 level so hopefully that gives me some music theory knowledge, whether it’ll actually be useful or not. I hope I’m still able to continue it during my time in Leicester.
Four months ago I finished A levels at Park Hall Sixth Form in Birmingham (lets hope I can still be motivated) taking Maths (E), ICT (C), Media Studies (B) and an AS in Film Studies (B) after failing Physics the previous year :| Science was my favourite subject as well; got an A at GCSE :). Altogether that gives me 270 UCAS points while they wanted 240, so s’all good. Otherwise I would of gone Stafford as their offer was 200.
I chose De Montfort in the end because I knew I wanted to stay in accommodation and Leicester was much more appealing with all the night clubs and places to shop. Having never lived on my own before or even in my own room! it should be an amazing experience and change me forever. Leicester is about an hours drive away from Birmingham so close enough for my parents to keep me on track but far enough to be my own man :).
I suppose I’m a bit nervous but then I don’t think it’s really hit me yet. Maybe I'll completely regret it and be miserable for the rest of the year, or maybe I’ll make loads of new friends and love every moment of it. That’s the main thing I’m worried about at the moment, making friends. What if no one likes me :/ I wont know anyone, but then hopefully neither will they. Being completely immersed in an unknown environment with people I don't know could teach me a great many things about myself and society. I just hope I don’t make friends with the nerdy outcast, especially as its computer programming :S (or maybe I’ll be the nerdy outcast *gulp*).
I am looking forward to joining loads of different societies and clubs such as Japanese in conjunction with Leicester University (only £85 a term woo!) and St Johns Ambulance. The fresher's fair should be interesting with lots of freebies :).
Over the last few weeks I (aka mom) has been collecting together all of the essentials that I’ll bee needing during my stay. For example cutlery, frying pan, toilet paper, emergency rations, you get the idea. I’m also going to be receiving crash courses in using dish washers, washing machines, dryers, ovens, stoves, grills, and even microwaves. I’ll be putting together a food schedule so I don’t find myself starving to death on my first week. I may also get a students cook book so I don’t spend the rest of the year surviving on super noodles and beans. So there we have it. Only two more weeks to go before my life changes. I’ll be splashing out on a new laptop and HDTV to pass the time so it shouldn't be too bad ;).
I’ll keep you up to date on how the moving in goes and hopefully fresher's week through all the hecticness, so long as I don't suffer a case of the dreaded fresher's flu :).
UPDATE: (2 years later) Yeah..
