Campus Session 13.10.15

Last Tuesday Paula led an all module session on campus at Hendon. Unfortunately I wasn't able to stay for the whole time as I had to go to work but I was glad to be able to make the first half.

Paula began by talking through with us some ideas about what could help us on our BAPP journey, Something that stuck out to me was the idea of 'AGENCY'.

There are two definitions I found of the word -

agency

ˈeɪdʒ(ə)nsi/

noun

1. 1.

   a business or organization providing a particular service on behalf of another business, person, or group.

   "an advertising agency"

   synonyms:

   business, organization, company, firm, office, bureau, concern,service;
2. 2.

   action or intervention producing a particular effect.

   "canals carved by the agency of running water"

   synonyms:

   action, activity, effect, influence, force, power, work;

What we were thinking about was an extension on the second definition. In social sciences agency is described as how we act as individuals and make our own free choices. This is particularly relevant to myself at the moment. Juggling work and doing a degree is difficult as well as keeping up relationships with friends and family and other day to jobs that have to be done. I have to have the 'agency' to keep myself organised and on top of things. Also if I do need help - ask for it. Paula mentioned Anthony Giddens to look into for more detail info on the topic. 

I noted that we start by using any influences that we have almost verbatim - then move on to find your own ideas as your experiences change. I noted this from our conversations particularly because I am finding that after a few years teaching and following from what I have learned directly from others I am having the confidence or 'agency' to adapt and find out new things that will work/not work. 

We also did a writing exercise in which we had to pick any memory from random and just write non stop for 5 minutes ( I think it was). The first thing that came into my mind was when I moved to London 7 years ago. I wrote about my feelings about getting into drama school - the excitement and sense of achievement. Then the shock at being left alone in such a big city. 

Paula then asked us to highlight key words and then write them out big on post its. The words that I chose were interesting because they are words that although from a memory really relate to me now. 

I missed the rest of the session due to work. However, as a live so close to the campus I've been trying to take advantage of the facilities there. I have been going to the library on my lunch breaks and getting some work done. It's a great place to get focused!!