I Even Hate Potential Change

Today at school, we sat through a talk on applying to university, which must be done by early October. Long-term readers (there must be one of you out there) will know that I have only a very vague idea of what I want to do in life. I'm aware that it should involve computers and I hope to be involved in the video game industry somehow, probably in a game design aspect. I also hope to do a lot of writing, which could easily just be a hobby once I gather some momentum, and I have more than a passing interest in physics, astronomy and robotics.

I have yet to find a university course that combines all these things.

It might help if I was actually looking at prospectuses and so on, something I probably should have done before now and will have to be doing over the weekend. Of course, that's only the start of the whole process and the problems involved.

My resume extra-curricular-wise isn't exactly stunning and such things are apparently very important. Seems like I have just over one month to turn myself into a well-rounded human being with a diverse range of interests and skills. Cue 24-esque countdown starting.... now!

...

Or not.

I figure I can do the C++ for Dummies book I've had lying around for ages and claim that as a skill. I've come up with a challenge to build my own PC (or Linux box as it may well end up) for under £100, not counting various parts I can scavenge from here and there. Playing some sort of sport or musical instrument is apparently helpful but I'm supremely untalented at both and now is no time to start.

I guess I'll just have to see how it goes and try to lie my way out of it. I've always been very bad at this whole “I performed task X outside of school, proving Y and teaching me that Z”. As far as my cynical and logical mind can see, doing X proves only that I can do X. People can draw from that what they will.

So I'm going to do a to-do list. Here goes.


Go through C++ for Dummies

Complete Visual BASIC stuff (technically homework which I'll have to do anyway)

Research building a computer

Continue writing fiction and sketches, turning it into a regular thing

Write more for the MacTake

Revive the VersusCOM podcast

Get back into Game Maker (I'm supposed to be helping little kids learn it in Computing club anyway, so why not?)

Look into university courses, particularly what I would need for a career in video game design, with other options available (I can't believe this came so far down the list)

Do something about the VersusCOM website

Stop writing these blog posts when people can come into my room and annoy me

Stop adding irrelevant items to lists without giving them proper context

Sell more stuff on eBay, particularly the NESi and spare retro consoles (nothing to do with the future, I just need some cash and my brother asked me to sell some stuff of his too)

Become more proficient with Linux and declare it a skill


I think that about covers it for now. I really need to get some hobbies that can be summed up in one word like “archery”, “photography” or “paintballing”. Video games don't seem to count as a hobby, I don't like telling people about my writing, such as it is, and everything else I do sounds very geeky and academic. Maybe I could invent a sport based on retro gaming and claim commitment for having done it for years.

But I don't want to get started on a rant about that. I fear I may already have done so elsewhere and elsewhen. Which really ought to be a word. I think I'm going to try writing something tonight. Or practising Street Fighter II some more.

No! I must focus on shiny things my future! My future hopefully involves getting some sleep soon. My body still hasn't adjusted to the school routine of being awake in the morning.