This will be my third try at a blog post. I've been trying and failing to write over the last few weeks: I had this grand idea that I'd start writing daily throughout this global pandemic. I was going to call the chapter 'A blog a day to keep the blues at bay'. But every… Continue reading Facing a global pandemic: I just don’t feel right
Tag: University
New Job Nerves
"Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present." My mum's ironing and singing the Strictly Come Dancing theme tune. My dad's fixing a hole in one of the bedroom ceilings. I'm studying. Yep, that's right, I've finally made a start on the music therapy reading. I'm finding it SO interesting which is a… Continue reading New Job Nerves
Taking graduate life day by day
I'm on a train, London bound and the sun is out, so I'm happy as Larry but the signal keeps dropping in and out so this will have to be a quick one. Feeling wonderful this week! Volunteering again has genuinely been so much fun and I've caught up with a few close friends who… Continue reading Taking graduate life day by day
Embracing Change: The Excitement of September
Seriously, where did the summer go!? It's raining, I'm wearing socks and a cardigan, I feel the sudden urge to light candles again, I used my umbrella last night! You know what? No need to panic. September is a funny kind of month. It might be raining now, but the sun could reappear at any… Continue reading Embracing Change: The Excitement of September
Spoiled Rotten
This summer, my family and I spent two amazing weeks at a huge resort celebrating my Dad's 50th birthday. We were spoiled rotten with two pools, a section of the beach, on-site restaurants, a HUGE buffet, a gym, a coffee shop, need I go on? I don't recall ever having felt so relaxed! It was… Continue reading Spoiled Rotten
“Always look ahead, but never look back”: Quoting Miles Davis at the end of a challenging week
I just closed my laptop lid and then opened it again about five times in a row. Honestly? This week at work has been really hard, more challenging than ever, and right now I'm full of butterflies. But, you know what? If this week has taught me anything it is that I have some amazing… Continue reading “Always look ahead, but never look back”: Quoting Miles Davis at the end of a challenging week
Learning more about myself week by week
Oh my goodness, where to start? I did go to Reading to celebrate being 22. I turned up and my wonderful friends were waiting with cards and presents which made me ridiculously happy. Our night out started with Prosecco and ended with MacDonald's, need I say more? If you've never tried MacDonald's cheesy bites, be… Continue reading Learning more about myself week by week
Feeling Positive: A move into special education and the approach to my 22nd birthday
This week's been exhausting. In fact, if I'd tried to write this post a couple of days ago I'm sure I just would have grumbled about being tired and feeling anxious and about the gloomy weather forecast for the weekend.
Finding joy in music again
I'm sat at my desk, the sun has got its hat on, Passenger's album 'All the Little Lights' is whizzing 'round the record player and I'm making my way through a massive mug of tea. Last week, I worked my first day in a school! I was ridiculously nervous. In fact, think I forgot to… Continue reading Finding joy in music again
Feeling like a graduate who’s failing at life
This week: Dave and I booked a spontaneous trip to the cinema. I face-swapped with a minion. An amazing friend who obviously knows the way to my heart, cooked me a Mexican dinner: She made her guacamole from scratch. Doesn't get much better than that. I almost gave up on Plan A, get a… Continue reading Feeling like a graduate who’s failing at life
Navigating life after university: Step one, find a job
It's Sunday again. The whole house smells of roast beef and I can't stop smiling. Sundays are my favourite thing. Last week was a tough one - my anxiety was a little harder to deal with than usual and I was feeling a bit lost, alone and confused. But this week I've had a Cadbury… Continue reading Navigating life after university: Step one, find a job
Here Comes Chapter Two
Hello Stranger! I've been sat in the same spot, full of food and drink, for so long that my eyes are heavy and my bum hurts. I've still no idea where to begin. I thought I was finding my way in the world when I moved back to Cardiff for my second year, but I… Continue reading Here Comes Chapter Two
Studying at degree level is more
What is being a university student really like? It is more than anyone will ever tell you it is. They tell you it is hard work, when in reality it is more difficult than you can imagine and at times so stressful giving up is more tempting than pressing a big red button that… Continue reading Studying at degree level is more
And so the sun set on my teenage years
When one of my friends suggested we head to the beach the day before my birthday, I was excited, but I could not have imagined how beautiful it would be. I'd had an exam in the morning, so I spent the majority of the afternoon recovering in bed with a pizza. She picked me up… Continue reading And so the sun set on my teenage years
Trying and almost failing to overcome another anxious meltdown
During the last week of the Easter break, home became just wonderful enough to ensure that leaving it again would be as difficult as ever. I'm back in Cardiff now and until recently, I was feeling very sorry for myself. For the first time this year, I'd had a anxious meltdown and it felt like… Continue reading Trying and almost failing to overcome another anxious meltdown
Realising I’m growing up
My room at home has been pink and fluffy for as long as I've lived in it. When we moved in I was seven and I was allowed to choose just how I wanted it decorated. As a result, the top halves of my walls are covered in pink wallpaper with stars on it, the… Continue reading Realising I’m growing up
Mixed emotions about heading home for Easter break
Sat on my bed in my half empty room, in my very empty flat, listening to the radio and waiting for my dad to arrive and take me home. This semester has flown by. One minute I was taking on January exams and celebrating being back in Cardiff after spending a wonderful Christmas at home… Continue reading Mixed emotions about heading home for Easter break
Overcoming Winter Blues at Uni: Sunshine, Cocktails and Flappy Birds
I am no expert, but I think I've been suffering from a serious case of the infamous winter blues. January and February, through no real fault of their own, have very bad reputations. January signifies the end of the holiday season and our return to every day life. It is as we struggle through January's… Continue reading Overcoming Winter Blues at Uni: Sunshine, Cocktails and Flappy Birds
The day before I leave home for university again
Having just spent five whole minutes sat in the middle of my bedroom floor wondering where on Earth I am supposed to begin, I am beginning to wonder whether I will ever get used to this whole 'packing my bedroom into boxes' thing. If I'm honest, when I sit in my room deciding what to… Continue reading The day before I leave home for university again
Expert Procrastinator
Sat at my desk doing nothing other than daydreaming out of my window and singing along to my shuffling iTunes library. There is so much I should be doing. My room looks like a small bomb hit it. I'm sat next to a pile of books so high I'm surprised I managed to transport it… Continue reading Expert Procrastinator
Smiling like a student home for Christmas
I'm finally home. My last two days in Cardiff before Christmas were so much better than I expected. I was expecting to simply spend them at the flat, by myself, working my last couple of shifts and watching the clock tick by. BUT my amazing flatmate stuck around an extra day after her last shift… Continue reading Smiling like a student home for Christmas
Balancing work and study: Part time sales assistant, full time student
I feel like my heart never stops beating too fast and the butterflies are back with a vengeance and that maybe this job wasn't such a good idea after all. The first week that I had to juggle lectures and work shifts I spent so focused on getting to where I needed to be that, once I'd got there, I forgot to enjoy myself. Then, when I got back home I felt like I'd done everything I needed to do: I found food, cooked it, ate it, collapsed in bed and normally very quickly, fell asleep. Perhaps I did need sleep and perhaps I had done all I needed to do, but it meant I never took a moment to actually decompress or relax.
There’s no place like home
It felt like the entirety of my weekend at home had been nothing more than a dream when I woke up this morning; the horribly stressful journey back to Cardiff being the disastrous ending that finally woke me up. It feels like I went to sleep after the Halloween party last Thursday and I've been asleep ever since. A big part of me wants to curl up and go back to dreaming of home so I don't have to face today. Today is my first day at work and the day of my first rehearsal for my first concert of the semester. Today is terrifying.
Conquering a Busy Student Life – The early bird catches the worm
When I woke up Tuesday morning it was still dark. I felt like I should be jumping on an aeroplane and heading somewhere exciting, jumping behind the steering wheel of my car and driving across the country or just retreating under the duvet until the sun decided to put his hat on. In reality I'd… Continue reading Conquering a Busy Student Life – The early bird catches the worm
Deciding what’s next after university
One minute I'm ridiculously excited over a quote from a book on an interesting historical topic or I'm so engrossed in writing the opinionated conclusion to my essay that I forget it isn't cool to be caught enjoying coursework. The next minute I'm stood in my room singing Mozart's Agnus Dei, loving it and deciding that singing is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
Blogging Goodbye to Butterflies 