My Learning Experience Blog - by Emma Cannaby #1 The young enthusiast (To find out why Emma is writing about her own learning experience - click here)

I’m a 23 year old, full-time worker in the public service sector and have taken it upon myself to try a bit of everything, at the same time!  2010 has been a busy year; I thought I would get engaged, move into my first house, prepare a wedding, then get a dog, then a new job role, then some work experience, take up foraging, take up skiing, train for a (half) marathon, climb a mountain.... while trying to study for a masters.

I studied Psychology at the University of Leicester, then became an IT consultant for a year before becoming a project manager at NHS Leicester City.  My first job was at 15 in a sports centre cafe, but by 16 I was managing it over the summer holidays.

At University I was a committee member for the Cheerleading Society, and I both studied while working in various pubs and restaurants. 

‘I like to keep busy’

‘I like to keep busy’ I keep telling people... that is an understatement if ever I have said one.

So I have taken it upon myself to do the Masters in Project Management University of Wales through RDI) while trying to be an adult.  I have always been someone who likes to be everywhere at once, and the first thing I had to learn was I can do that if I pace myself.

The first skill I acquired was to plan for time management and execute that plan to a T... so I need 40 hours, that’s 5 days... I want the dress fitting on the 12th... so Sunday is a study day then Skiing is on the 23rd... so I better take annual leave to complete the essay giving me Saturday to format the references....and on it goes! 

The NHS reforms

Yes, we were all affected by this in our primary care trust.  I was put at risk at the beginning of 2011 and I am now safe (phew!)... I think I need a break.  The last exam I took was Finance in January and I could not plan a wedding (with hubby only vetting my increasingly more extreme ideas) AND do another module.  So I shall read through HR and take the exam in July...

By the way, RDI are very supportive in this way, if there is any ‘life’ reason for why you are unable to take an exam; you can just push it back.  What a comforting thought.

The wedding

HATS... all weddings need fancy dress hats, one great idea slipped past the slowly tiring husband-to-be, and a massive box of hats (over 40) came with us to the wedding - everybody loved it!  No wedding is complete if the father of the bride speech is not given by your dad in a giant Mexican hat.

Next time: The Royal Wedding

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