Hey guys, It’s been a little while since I posted and there’s a reason for that. I recently had my Year 13 mock exams, and have had deadlines for my EPQ, all of which were quite stressful! But I’m back now, and have a small post about motivation. Motivation is such a key aspect in our lives. It drives us forward each day, to achieve our hopes and dreams, but it also keeps us on the straight and narrow. Without it, there would be a lot of chaos in the world. It’s happened to every single one of us where we’ve felt a little bit lost, a little bit confused and maybe a little lazy, and so we don’t achieve any of our goals for the day. This is normal, and it happens but to get back on track we need to continue feeling motivated. I know there’s some days where I feel like giving up with education and studying all the time, but I know that if I want to obtain my dream career I need to work hard. And working hard is rewarding. In order to feel motivated, I always write down a list of things I want to achieve each day, including lunch and dinner 😊, and I tick them off as I complete them. If I do a task that isn’t on the list, I add it and add a tick next to it! It makes you feel better, I promise. Plus, it keeps you organised! Now, that’s my number one tip of feeling motivated and accomplished but there are so many more out there like different quotes, movies and songs! Here are some motivational quotes and songs: Stronger – Kelly Clarkson It’s My Life – Bon Jovi Fight Song – Rachel Platten We Are the Champions – Queen “Don’t stop until you’re proud” “Everyday is a new opportunity to change your life" “Have some fire. Be unstoppable. Be a force of nature” – Grey’s Anatomy “You have one chance, one life. And what you do with that is up to you” – One Tree Hill Until next time...

Today is Shrove Tuesday. The day where people come together and stuff their faces with pancakes; it’s also perfectly acceptable to have a flattened pancake stuck on the ceiling! The name Shrove Tuesday comes from the word shrive meaning absolution for sins by way of confession. It was typically a Christian celebration that precedes Ash Wednesday, where Christians go to confession and admit sins to the priest and then a bell would be rung - the pancake bell! In America it’s called Mardi Gras which literally means Fat Tuesday because we use up all the ‘fatty’ foods before Lent - the time when people nowadays try to be good by giving up some foods - such as eggs, flour, ice cream, and sugar! Eggs, milk and sugar aren’t typically eaten during lent and so people traditionally threw them out of the house to avoid temptation. Whilst the tradition of eating pancakes is quite old, the same goes for the tossing of them: “And every man and maide doe take their turne, And tosse their pancakes up for feare they burne” - Pasquil’s Palin 1619. But with the addition of new foods, the toppings people use on their pancakes vary. Here are some top 5 toppings: Lemon and sugar Chocolate spread Vanilla ice cream Maple syrup Fruits - bananas, blueberries and much more! What are your favourite pancake toppings? Enjoy! Until next time...

She walked into the room, as if she held all the power, and yet nobody knew of her. Her voice echoed through the air; with each word she spoke. All their eyes focused on her, never glancing anywhere else, and their heads moved up and down, in a way of comprehension, but also in fear of the consequences if they didn’t fully understand. Her eyes were the most prominent feature on her face, grabbing your attention as they drew you in. All joy she could feel was concealed by the dark, grey irises, the colour of a late winter sky. Her hair was an opaque ebony, held tightly on the top of her head, with not a single strand out of place. Her narrow shoulders supported her long neck, which was covered by a black choker. She was an unusual woman for this place, with her strong-limbed, tall, and rather slim frame. Other women in the room, quivered under her gaze, whilst the men challenged her stare with their own, standing their ground, as if threatened by her presence. Her hands were clasped in front of her body, pulling the blazer tighter over her breasts. The badge, clipped onto her black trousers, increased the fear in the room. Everyone could see her at the head of the table, feet apart and her head held high. The windows of the room were covered by the blinds, hiding what was happening inside from the rest of the office. “I thank you all for your cooperation within this matter, and hope we can resolve it quickly,” she stated, and then collected all her materials, and swiftly left the room, the sound of her heels resonating throughout the room adding certainty to what has just happened. The people left let out sighs of relief, and their shoulders relaxed. “Thank god that’s over. I thought she’d never leave,” Jason, the chief of this department, cried out after the door was shut. They knew that somebody was coming to question them about what had happened that night, but they thought Mr Jameson would come instead. Mr Jameson was a friend of theirs, and somebody who they trusted to have their backs. This woman though, was somebody completely new, who threw their whole plan into upheaval. She breathed perfection and punishment. Her whole attire was slick and clean – the opposite to what they’re used to. Mr Jameson had been an associate of everyone in the room for some time, and so it had been thought that he would be the one to deliver the news and the next steps. Instead this unfamiliar woman turned up, barking out orders and assuming everyone would follow them obediently. How wrong she was! The matter was a serious one. One that needed to be handled with care, and consideration for not only the people involved, but also for the public. If it was made known nationally, there would be dire consequences, and uproar, which nobody could handle – although the woman thought she could.

In our lives, we all have to sit exams whether it be at school or later in our lives in our jobs. It may be at different times that we sit the exams, but one thing is the same for all of us: they are stressful! I’ve recently sat my Year 13 mock exams and was so stressed out I don’t think I had a proper break from revision until today – the end of my exams! I’ve always got stressed out when it comes to exams and whilst I can do things to calm me down, it doesn’t always work. I always try to de-stress, and my family tell me to de-stress too, and so I listen to music (almost two hours day lol), I watch TV and I write. Now these methods might not work for all you, and instead you may draw, or run or do something else, but I know that de-stressing is so important. When it comes to exams, you must de-stress and take breaks because otherwise you will get to the point where you become too exhausted, or too worn out, to actually study, which then means that you’ll become even more stressed out because you’ll feel like you haven’t revised a lot and therefore don’t know anything – but you’ll be wrong. Unfortunately, this is a short post (sorry guys!) but it has an important message: ‘It’s important, in life, to take breaks and de-stress and make time for yourself’ And so, I hope you all take moments of tranquility in the future. Until next time…

The first month of 2020 is over, officially meaning that the new decade has begun. I made a note of some of my firsts for this year, and thought it'd be most appropriate to share at the end of January. Here we go: First TV Show Watched: One Tree Hill First Song Played: Into the Unknown (Panic at the Disco) First Song Heard: Friends (Anne-Marie) First Male Artist That I Played: Sam Perry First Female Artist That I Played: Ava Max First Movie Watched: Hobbs and Shaw First Book I Read: The Great Gatsby First Game Played: Harry Potter Dobble First Person I Spoke To: My mum First Person I Saw (not who I live with): My grandparents First Drink: Baileys First Dinner: Southern Fried Chicken and Chips These are all the firsts of my year. What are yours? Until next time ...

Dear Kobe... It’s sad when someone leaves this earth, That the person has so much worth, It feels like a shock, a crack in our hearts, Don’t know what to feel, so many parts, Sadness, anger, grief all combined, Feeling like it wasn’t their time. Sunday morning saw the loss of a legend, A basketball player who was destined, For success and greatness, Add his talent and he was made famous, Playing his career at the LA Lakers, Bryant became a record breaker. 1996 NBA first round pick, Drafters saw his name, filled boxes with ticks, Many awards he had won, A true star player he had become, Straight out of high school, 6 foot 6, Thrashing other teams with his basketball tricks. 5 championships, finals MVP twice, 18 times All Star, reaching new heights, 2006 saw 81 points against the Raptors, Creating new career bound chapters, Slam dunk contest champion, never been beat, Not only a legend but a fantastic athlete. Today we mourn the loss of a star, One of the greatest players by far, Not only lost was he but his daughter too, Gianna a new talent, promising future that she grew, She was taken too early, much like her dad, The loss of them both will forever be sad. Loss is a part of every day life, But when it’s someone famous, it hits us like a knife, Everyone knew them, had heard their names, Even if it isn’t personal we feel a pain, We relate it to our loved ones, we hold so dear, As death is thing that many fear. People die all the time, Livings an unavoidable crime, Lives taken from us every day, Tears fall, fingers wash them away, Kobe Bryant is another soul lost, But one we’ll treasure, a legend never tossed, His memory will thrive, never erased, His name mentioned in prayers and grace, His daughter will be remembered for the young girl she was, Her talents, like her dads, deserves applause, They both died among other people, Who couldn’t overcome life’s steep hill. Forever remembered and forever treasured, Dear Kobe Bryant, Your memory will always be heard. Goodbye Kobe.

Everyone has favourite TV shows that they could pick any random episode and happily watch it - even if they've seen it a hundred times before. For me, picking my absolute favourite was actually quite difficult so I've gone with my top 10. I've seen so many over the years, I'm sure I've forgotten some but here are the ones that are my favourites currently. 1. One Tree Hill 2. Grey's Anatomy 3. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 4. Charmed (The original) 5. Hart of Dixie 6. Teen Wolf 7. Friends 8. The Originals 9. The Flash 10. Chicago Fire The other DC Comic shows are probably all joined at number nine, but the one I find the easiest to watch is The Flash. This is the same for number eight because I love The Vampire Diaries equally as much as The Originals. I'm telling you, it's hard to just pick 10! For any avid TV lovers out there, I highly recommend all these shows. Some are quite long (Grey's Anatomy is currently on its 16th season) but once you get watching, you'll whiz through it; I started One Tree Hill around November time, and I'm now on season six out of nine! If you fancy a mix up of your normal programmes, give some of these a go - let me know what you think! Until next time...

Recently I watched an episode of Hawaii 5-0, where a plane that had disappeared in the ‘80s was found and removed from the ocean. But, inside there was a recently murdered diver. The whole episode was centered on finding the killer, and it led to several conspiracy theories about what happened to the plane. Characters on the show had said the military were trying to cover up a STAR WARS (Strategic Defense Initiative) test gone wrong. There were several different theories and it got me thinking about conspiracy theories in our reality. The Bermuda Triangle is a classic. It’s the belief that if you travel in or across the Bermuda Triangle then you’ll disappear. I’m always tempted to find out, but there’s a part of me that doesn’t want to risk it! Area 51 is one of the many theories about aliens. People believe that the government are keeping aliens in Area 51. No one is allowed near Area 51 and so that encourages the belief that something strange is happening there. Do you think there are conspiracy theories that could be true? Let me know what you think! Until next time...

It's that time of year again where January blues are the most common feeling upon many. Children and teenagers are going back to school, ready to face the homework, and adults are going back to work to face the music. Most of these people aren't looking forward to going back to reality, but there are a few who are. For these people work isn't a job because they enjoy it and love what they do (Celebrities are a great example!). But going back to work or school after the Christmas holidays is tough, especially if your motivation hasn't come around yet. Christmas was a time full of laughter, happiness and relaxation but reality might not be all of that. Once you've been out of your routine for a while, it is a struggle to get back to it - I know! Children have it easier than adults. Whilst they probably want to stay at home, eat lots of chocolate and play with their presents, they don't mind going back to school and seeing all their friends and favourite teacher. Although this part of education is fun, the work...is not (sometimes!). January blues are a pain but the going back to work part of them actually has a bright side - it pays the bills, or helps you achieve what you want in life! I hope you all had a Happy New Year and a lovely Christmas! Now, work hard and dream big! Until next time...

2019, what a year it’s been, Blockbuster movies, new songs were seen. Politics was trouble, Shawn and Camilla became a new couple. Their track Señorita caused a stir in the crowd, Ed Sheeran is taking a break from singing out loud. Robbie Williams produced a Christmas album, Singing well, and still looking handsome. England got to the rugby final, But didn’t beat their last rival. Superbowl 53 saw the Patriots again, I don’t think their wins will ever end. Cameron Boyce passed away, As did George Michael's sister on Christmas Day. ... Many deaths sadly occurred, Both in reality and fiction, Luke Perry was one, But none were predictions. London Bridge was a victim, Another terror attack happened, Second time this decade, Where many were saddened. Australia has fires, Continuing to grow, Nothing can stop them, They have a powerful flow. Boris Johnson was elected, Back into power, Trump was impeached, Yet he did not cower. ... Star Wars returned for its final installment, George Lucas’ work catching people’s enthrallment. Avengers returned, ready for battle, Thanos defeated, nothing they can’t handle. Will Smith as Genie in Aladdin’s debut, The actors were great, and so was Aboo. Beyoncé was Nala in the Lion King, Dumbo a remake, flying without wings. Disney really wowed us this year, Creating a happy, childhood atmosphere. ... 2019 has been great all around, With a mixture of lows and highs, Let's focus on the positives, Now we've finished the mince pies. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Raise your glass and cheer, Hope you enjoyed this read, And I’ll see you next year! ...

It’s December 24th and that can only mean one thing: It’s Christmas Eve! Tonight is the night when good ol' Santa comes down our chimneys. Tonight is the night when families are filled with joy and excitement ready for next day. In my family, we have a tradition that we follow every year on the eve of Christmas. My sister and I help lay the table (mainly by doing origami with the napkins) and then we play Sims and create a Christmas family - The Clauses every time lol! In the evening of Christmas Eve, I have my annual bath (I know how it sounds, but trust me I have showers everyday too!), then we order Domino's for dinner and watch a Christmas movie. Christmas Eve is the day before families come together and enjoy a feast of a dinner and share presents. Christmas Day is a day that’s merry and bright where memories are made. Christmas is my favourite time of year, not just for giving and receiving, but for the memories made with family and the laughter shared. It’s a lovely time with festive songs and films, and festive foods and treats. Everyone comes together and the worries of life are somehow removed from the Christmas atmosphere, so that everyone can relax and enjoy. I hope you all have a merry and bright Christmas. And that Santa brings you all that you want. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I spent most of this weekend in London, at UCL where I took part in a Young Journalist programme, organised by InvestIn. Previously, I attended the Young Doctors programme (also by InvestIn), where I learned to suture a banana, and diagnose patients. But this was before I learned that I was in fact far more squeamish than I had anticipated! And so my plan to become a surgeon flew out the window, and then my focus turned to my passion of writing. I love writing, and hope for a future related to this, but for so long I’ve had no inclination as to what area of the media industry I’d like to work in. So, I registered for this taster day, and I must say what a fantastic day it was. I went to the university, with low expectations of the world of journalism, and came out with a completely different view that painted a smile on my face. Throughout the day, I met loads of new people, including inspiring professionals such as Francesca Ebel and Minnie Stephenson, who have opened my eyes to journalism. We participated in several interactive exercises as the day went on, including writing an article for a fictitious story, in a real life format (quite stressful I must say), and also having to do a broadcast of a similar story! My group, for the broadcast, decided to go and ask the public their views, which was stressful, very stressful, but actually rewarding once we’d done it! Our story in which we needed to report, was about the political chaos in 2022! Boris Johnson was in fact a robot, and Nigel Firage stormed parliamentary buildings, causing upheaval about Brexit. It was an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable activity. The information provided to us in all the different sessions (Print, Broadcast and Investigative) was very useful and helpful in that it has broadened my options for my future! Each professional from the industry that I met, have all achieved so much and are great journalists in their fields. All my questions were answered, but now I have a harder decision to make! I was skeptical at first as to whether I’d enjoy journalism as a career, and this taster day has given me a lot of insight into what it would actually be like – more so than Kara Danvers on Supergirl! Journalism is a rewarding, yet challenging job and I must say I am considering this more so than before – despite the stress it brings. Both the taster days I have been on run by InvestIn have been fascinating, informative and very useful! I definitely recommend taking part on one of these days, if you have the opportunity! Until next time…