16/06/2021

We have this twisted idea that we have to achieve everything and then plateau before middle age hits. In reality, all the years you have on this planet are worthwhile and full of growth, not just the first half that are painted with this glorified ideal of “youth”

People starting new hobbies later in life are awesome. Like after all of these years, they’re still going out there and exploring new things instead of remaining stagnant.

13/01/19 - Flying to Berlin

So this trip is an important one for me as someone with major anxiety when travelling. When I got on this plane I was 17 years and 364 days old, it was my first time without family or school and I had only my best friend to keep me company. I planned this and paid for it all myself.

Today it is the 14th January and I am 18 years old today. We have today to explore the city and do whatever we want. I’m going to make this fantastic.

Yes I am anxious, especially about trains because they scared me yesterday. But I know if we stay in well-populated areas and exercise common sense we will be just fine.

More kidney notes before I leave for summer school at the University of Cambridge!

I finally have a usable desk lmao

I have three days’ worth of labs to do and I’m super excited for them! One of them is recycling PET water bottles - I’m planning my procedure before I do it on Friday:)

I don’t use watercolour very often but I thought it’d look cute drawing a fawn :)

This is an incredible book. Thoroughly recommend!

“She was brave and strong and broken all at once.”

— Anna Funder, Stasiland (via books-n-quotes)

My friend posts photos on Instagram with revision tidbits as captions which 100% makes me feel better about scrolling through Instagram

25/9/19 Good morning

Induction day 2 :)

I love quiet mornings that just go your way. I also love staying dry... yesterday I got soaked to the extent of having actual puddles in my still-sodden boots and I sat through three hours of talks wet through and cold haha

To any GCSE/A level students who have to teach themselves because of the coronavirus outbreak

Everyone is very much focused right now on Years 11 and 13, whose exams have been cancelled, but Years 10 and 12 will more than likely have exams next year that aren’t - and this time off means you’re losing a lot of teaching time. Whatever measures end up being taken for you next year, it’s important that you are still preparing yourselves for the eventuality that every exam goes ahead as normal. Even if it doesn’t, it’s better to be over prepared than underprepared. I imagine you’ll have been given resources to help you with this, but it’s not the same as being at school/college/sixth form.

So, if you need help with chemistry, French, German, biology or maths, I am happy to answer your questions. I took these subjects at A level and achieved A*AAAA, and I achieved 11 A* grades at GCSE. I am now doing a chemistry degree at a Russell Group university. I taught myself the A level maths course in a year, on my own - I know how difficult self-teaching is and I know that there will be people who will struggle more than others with this. I’m not saying this to brag at all; I’m saying that I am more than qualified to give you some tips if you would like them!

I have no doubt that your teachers will be doing their best to help you as well; I am just offering to do what I can because these are unprecedented circumstances. Nobody knows what next year will look like, or even if we’ll be able to return to our respective institutions in time for the new academic year. The best thing you can do for yourselves is to keep your heads down and do the best you can to keep learning, ready for your eventual return.

I know you probably feel a bit lost (or maybe you don’t - lucky you!) without a teacher in front of you to guide you, but if I were in your boat - and to some extent I am, because I still have to think about standing myself in good stead for next year - I’d be looking to do all I could to minimise my disadvantage.

(Obviously I am busy with my own work as well so I won’t be able to respond immediately, but wherever I am available I will try my best to give you a different perspective on a topic, or perhaps point you towards some new resources if I know of any!)

Good luck guys.

The vermillion Mildliner is my favourite colour right now. Channelling those autumn vibes (despite the fact it’s still technically summer) 🍁

The Cambridge bottle reminds me of my ultimate goal at this point in my life. Let’s go get it!