2013

I know this is super late 2 weeks in to 2013 now but I've actually come up with some goals for this year! I'm not going to call them resolutions because these really are general things I just think will be good for me to work constantly. I don't want to say I need to do this within the year because I need to carry some of them on. But I suppose some could be counted as the usual type of resolution...
So here goes; My goals for 2013 and beyond.

Revise work from the beginning
I'm pretty horrible at revising. I end up leaving the bulk of it until about a week until the exam and then having a mental breakdown at the amount of work I have, resulting in me becoming a complete social recluse who only comes out of their room for food. I've decided that the stress isn't worth it so this term I'm going to try and revise what I learned in the lesson that night. Hopefully this way the information will start to sink in and I won't have to work as hard to remember everything!

Read more
Obviously because of the subjects I take, I have to read a lot of books that are on the syllabus. However, I get very little time to just read a book because I want to read it. This year I'm going to try and read more purely for the sake of reading instead of for a subject. It will be a nice way of taking a break for working while still doing something valuable and productive.

Take more photos
Not all memories stay in your mind so photos are the best ways to preserve memories of days, people, places or times. I don't take many photos of (or with) people I know so I'm going to try and change that.

Don't get distracted as easily
I know, easier said than done, but I really have to stop getting so distracted because it doesn't help with my work. Yes, breaks are good, but I need to know when to stop and know when to get back to my work.

Be confident in myself
I need to be more confident with what I look like and myself in general. I need to just accept who I am, because no matter what, I'm stuck like this for life, happy with it or not, and there's no point being awkward/miserable about what I can't change.

Talk to people more
If I know them, I can talk to someone for days. Annoyingly, if I don't, I'm as awkward as anything.  want to try and be more confident when meeting new people because you can meet some lovely people if you just talk to them!

Make an effort with friends
I feel like I neglect my friends due to my work load which I feel really guilty about. I'm worried that if I carry on just solely focussing on work then I'll lose my friends which I really don't want to do. I love them all loads but my work always take priority over everything which is good if I want a good education and good results at the end, but I don't want to become a social recluse that only works and doesn't ever meet up with people. Hopefully I can change that this year and see everyone more!

Blog more!
Even though I had over 100 posts last year, I feel like I've neglected the blog quite badly this year and I feel bad! I lovelovelove blogging but sometimes it's so hard to think of something new to write about. However, I also feel bad if I just leave it for ages until  come up with something! I'm compiling a list of ideas that I can write about if I ever get stuck though so fear not! I'm going to aim for a post every other day at the least, but I really want to try posting at least once every day; it's a nice break from proper work and I can just write for ages about whatever I like instead of a book or source I've been set!

So hopefully I'll be able to actually stick to these goals, it will be fun and exciting to try new things and do more of things I love!
Jess xx

2012

Yes, this is going to be one of those generic end of year posts, but this year has been such an amazing turning point for me that I couldn't help but feel like I should do one.

This year really has been the year for firsts. I've experienced so many new things that have impacted me and I've gained new experiences as well.

Prom
I can't explain how much I loved prom. It was everything I hoped for; dancing around in gorgeous clothes and having a good time with friends! It was nice to just have a thing with all of our year fully together again for the last time, and most of us looked really good! Obviously there had to be the girls that decided to go wotsit then wear a yellow dress...but that's just part of the fun, isn't it?!

Some of my closest friends in secondary school, I love these guys :)
That's me in the middle wearing the black dress :)

Sometimes I don't know what I'd do without these guys, Prom marked an end of a 5 year stint with them because I moved to a college away from them, but luckily, I'm still close with most of them and I couldn't be happier :)

Friends
As with most things, they begin and they end, same with friendships. I'm incredibly lucky this year to have made new friends, made stronger bonds with old ones and realised who my true friends are so I could move on and be happy.
Half the time I don't know where I'd be without my friends, they've been there for me whether I wanted advice or just a laugh, they know what I need to be happy though and I love them for it :) I love that I can have both a good laugh and a decent chat with them too, it's nice! If any of you are reading this (I know some of you do :P) then thank you for being here for me, I really appreciate it.

GCSEs, Results and College
I did my GCSE exams and got good results back, thankfully! Then I made the hardest decision of my life; I moved to a completely new college of over 2000 students where I knew a single person that is in the year above. I moved away from my friends, my old school, and basically everything I was familiar with. It was a big step for me and I was so scared, but I can confidently say, that even though I had to leave my friends behind, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I'm so happy and the courses that I'm doing are also fantastic, I love learning because all of the teachers are great and I think I'm actually doing pretty well! I'm also happy because it was a good decision that gives me another step towards University life. Plus I get to do subjects I enjoy and love instead of doing subjects I don't and being miserable like I would have been if I had stayed at my old school.

And obviously being the huge nerd I am, I also discovered Sherlock this year, which is fantastic and bad at the same time! I also went to Harry Potter Warner Brother's Studio tour which was just fantastic! I can't wait to go again in February!

My blog
I started my blog this year and I am so genuinely happy that I did; it's so much fun and it's really nice seeing that people actually want to read about the random stuff that I go on about!

I basically just want to say thank you to everyone who has been a part of my life in 2012, old or new, you're all great! And I also want to say thank you to my followers and readers, I wouldn't do this without you so thank you!
I hope you all have a fantastic new year!
Jess xxx

Internet teenager initiation: complete!

I stayed in bed with my laptop for the entire day yesterday! I'm officially a teenager of the internet! I'm planning on doing the same today! Apart from this time I'm in my lounge clothes instead of pajamas...
Granted, I have been working on my extended project almost solidly since yesterday morning so I think a bit of comfort and laziness is allowed! I'm determined to finish the background research today, it's driving me insane! It's 15 pages long and I haven't finished yet! It's mental!!!
I have so much work to do over the next week and a half or so...I have to read 2 and a half books, revise a whole term of biology, do a 500 word piece for my English coursework and finish this off...all by 7th January!
In advance, if I don't blog much between now and then, it's because work is taking over my life completely. But I'll make up for it next year hopefully!!
Jess xx