REFLECTING ON 2017

This blog post is long overdue, but I guess it's better late than never!

2017 has been the toughest yet most rewarding year. Cheesy and cliche to say, but I feel like I've come into my own, I'm more aware of myself as a person, and I feel more confident and care free. On the other hand, it has also been a struggle this year, I slowly but surely accepted that I couldn't do some things on my own, and it's okay to go and seek help.

The start of the year was a quiet one, I was mainly wrapped up in deadlines and exams, so I didn't do much or take many pictures. I did however visit home in February to celebrate my Mum's birthday which was nice to go to my homely routine and see my family.

MARCH

I went on my second university ski trip, another amazing week with great friends. The night out every night definitely took its toll by the end as I spent the following week ill!

APRIL

When I got back from the ski trip, I found out that I had been placed at Camp Westmont, Pennsylvania to work as a ceramics teacher for 8 weeks in the Summer. 

April is my birthday month. I turned 20, and I celebrated by going to Windsor to have afternoon tea with my Mum, and then later went out for a meal with my family.

JUNE- AUGUST 

The biggest part of my year was my experience working at a Summer camp in Pennsylvania. I set off on my own, not knowing anyone there and I had never travelled on my own before. I was incredibly nervous, but I knew I had to prove to myself that I was capable of doing something that was completely out of my comfort zone. And I did just that.
I had the best Summer I have ever had, there were highs and lows but the friends I made, made my Summer such an amazing experience. There are no regrets of going to Summer camp although I am not going back this Summer, for me it was a one Summer experience and I am thankful it shaped me. (Sorry this is getting deep)

I spent the following two weeks after camp travelling with some friends I made at camp. We went to New York for a couple of days, walked down the Brooklyn Bridge, went up the Rockefeller, went shopping and I saw Yankees play against the Redsox at the Yankees Stadium, which was my first ever experience of a baseball game besides Wii Sports.

I then road tripped with a group of friends to Asheville, North Carolina where we stayed for a couple of days. We hiked in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where we saw a black bear, and visited Sliding Rock.

Then we headed to Jacksonville for a few days where we visited the Blue Springs, before heading to Orlando.

In Orlando we visited Disneyworld and Universal Studios as well as chilling by the pool and soaking up all the Florida sunshine. 

To end my travels, the last stop for me was Miami. I had been to Miami before, so I was excited to revisit. Chilling on Miami Beach, walking down Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue and taking in all the Art Deco architecture was a great end to my travels. 

When I got back home after 10 weeks away from home, I went to see Romeo and Juliet at The Globe with my Mum. I enjoyed the show and the acting was amazing, but I didn't like the modern take on it, I would of much preferred it to be performed in its originality.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 

I went back to uni to start my final year as an undergraduate English student. I was incredibly overwhelmed with the fact that this would be my final year of studying. My first term consisted of an option module, I chose New York Stories, Romantics to Victorians and my dissertation which I chose to do on Ernest Hemingway. 

The first term of final year was stressful and eye-opening. I learnt more about myself and my mental health in some ways than the actual books I was reading. Acceptance is key in order to get help!

NOVEMBER

I went to Edinburgh with my ski club for BUDS, which was a great weekend of competing with universities from across the country. I competed in slalom and slalom duals, and getting into the second round of duals did really make the weekend seeing as our club don't get that far in competitions, especially against all the uni's in the country!

My sister also came to visit me in November, which was lovely to meet with her before I went away on my uni ski trip.

DECEMBER 

December actually saw some snow in Leicester, which did stick around for more than a day surprisingly, only making  me more excited to go away to the Alps.

I went to Val d'sere with my university ski club for a week when term ended, and as always it was a hectic week of skiing, going out every night, and little sleep.

I met my family and family friends the week after to spend Christmas there. I have always spent Christmas's away since I was 12 and skiing over Christmas has been a tradition.

I spent New Years eve with my friends from home. I love that even if we don't see each other for months, we just pick up from where we left off, and that they're still the same friends I made when I was in secondary school.

This year, I'm hoping to become more clear in what I want to do after university, as my graduation is the final stepping stone of my university journey, it's scary to think it will soon be over.

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Emma x