I'm pretty sure 2016 has been a bit of a weird year for everyone - myself included. I will share my thoughts and reflections on the ups and down of this year.
Thinking back to how I was feeling back in 2015 - tired, weary and ready to jet back home to England for Christmas, I could say I don't feel much different. I've experienced bouts of homesickness the last few days as campus is getting steadily emptier, and I've felt run down the last week after a series of exams and assignment deadlines. That craving to be around family just relaxing really starts to kick in around now, which is always the most painful thing since I really need to crack on with some ugly assignment deadlines for the beginning of January.
I remember this time last year I had finally started to feel comfortable and happy with Salamanca as my home during year abroad, I'd started to feel like I'd made some proper friends but I was so ready for the home comforts. Even though the difference is that I'm not as far away this time over in Southampton, I couldn't feel any further away from home right now.
2016 has been strange for me in the sense that I experienced so many drastic and sudden changes in my personal and working life, some which I had seen coming, yet I still did nothing about until things really came to a head. In working terms, almost out of nowhere I secured two internships over the summer in public relations, and now having just started my third with a wonderful team, I'm seriously considering it as a post-graduation option. I've always wanted a career path which combined my communication and writing skills, and it seems that PR offers me that opportunity!
First semester back at university for my final year has not been at all how I had imagined it would be, in fact I've had some very high and very low moments. This is mainly due to personal life, but the last month or so life changed pace again seemingly out of nowhere and I'm much happier. Of course, deadline and library life has taken a toll on me the last few weeks and no exaggeration when I say that tiredness has become an extension of my personality (okay perhaps just a little).
Looking more at the year overall, I'm so glad I made the most of the opportunity to travel in second semester of my year abroad. I saw so many wonderful places (Valencia, Lisbon, Sevilla, Madrid) with some lovely friends which I'm happy to say I've stayed close to. This year over any, I've felt my confidence grow in my language abilities, and as a graduate candidate in the job market.
Anyone who knows me will know that I'm the biggest worrier about future jobs, and whilst this aspect about me hasn't changed, I'm now more aware of my strengths and weaknesses in working life which have helped me make informed decisions about the type of work I'd like to do in the future.
Blog-wise, I would say this has been my best year to date that I've made the most of sponsored opportunities. My following is still very small so I find this a great compliment, particularly when brands have said specifically they like how I write or that they want my thoughts. The last few months I've managed to go to more blogging events again which I had missed a little on year abroad! I've met more people from the Southampton area and I want to build on this as it's always nice to put
faces to names.
What are your thoughts on 2016? Have you had mostly ups than downs (I really hope you all have!) Thanks for reading!
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What a lovely post! It´s so scary to think that the year is really almost over. I still can´t wrap my head around that. My year was such a rollercoaster as well with my health dropping completely in April but having the time of my life during my internship in August & September. I´m doing everything to end this year on a high though!
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