Looking back, so you can move forward...

08:45 Unknown 0 Comments

The clock strikes nine on a chilly dark Friday night in the stunning city of Edinburgh. I slip on my onesie, sit on my couch, and sip slowly on my favourite cup of green tea. Just two years ago, I would’ve been pouring G 'n' T's and gearing-up to paint the town red. But now, I'm ready to jump into my giant pillow-infested cloud-like bed and count sheep.


While I still get the urge to throw shapes until the sun comes up now and again, I realise how much my life has changed since graduating Brookes. The last four months really have been one bumpy roller coaster ride.


I found this very fitting quote when desperately googling ´how to be happier´ a few weeks ago. Silly as it may sound, I think we’ll all do this at some point in life. While asking a search engine how to solve life problems probably won’t help, one thing I learned at Brookes might just.


Reflection.


Anyone that was on the International Hospitality and Tourism Management course will know this concept very well. This was drummed into us from day one right through to graduation. At the time yes - to be honest - it was annoying. Always looking back, reflecting on what we’d done, how we’d done it, who was involved, what we learned, blah blah blah. It seemed like a tedious activity with no real outcome.


But now, as I sit here feeling lost and turning to Google for answers, my instinct tells me it’s time to reflect. This is because I have every reason to be happy yet I still feel lost.


Have you ever felt this way?


On paper, I should be happy. I reached my goal of getting a 2:1 at Uni, moved to the gorgeous city of Edinburgh with the love of my life, and started an incredible job at one of Scotland’s best hotels. And as I write this, I get butterflies as I’m super-duper proud of this!


However, I think leaving Oxford, Brookes and all of my friends after four years PLUS having to face find a new flat, job, friends in another city, has evidently played havoc with my emotions. As I reflect, I discover that I was so busy focussing on the positives, that I neglected how I’d feel about the negatives. And these hit me a lot harder than I ever imagined.


So what have I learned? To be patient.


Leaving a life you’ve built is difficult, and building a new life takes time. Happiness can’t be rushed, therefore each factor in life will fall naturally into place when the time is right. I just realised that I'm still learning therefore I shouldn't be so hard on myself.


So, maybe the reflection lesson was one of the best I learned. I’m grateful to each and every one of our incredible lecturers for instilling this powerful tool into us.

The only way is up from here!

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33 applications, 3 interviews and 1 trial shift...

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As the sun sets on this Monday 18th August, I reflect on my life since graduating Oxford Brookes two months ago...
'We'll never get everything in that car', claimed my boyfriend, shaking his head and waving his pointed finger at me. I confidently stuffed the last pillow in the car, quickly slammed the boot, and grinned proudly like a cheshire cat when everything stayed in place. We waved bye to family and the journey began from South Shields to Edinburgh to start our new life together.
After banging the agency’s door down to collect our keys, begging the traffic warden not to give us a ticket, and taxiing an elderly woman home after she’d fallen over- we had finally arrived at our very first home. This was a beautiful moment not just because of all the dramas we had overcome to get here, but because I instantly felt at home here with the love of my life by my side.
After a mandatory trip to IKEA, we chilled on the couch and devoured a yummy curry and celebratory drink.



The next day, my boyfriend headed off to work and I began to tackle the enormous case of deciding what to do with my life. I remember feeling an overpowering sense of worry and total confusion. Which jobs shall I apply for? What is the best route for me? How can I choose which career path to take? ‘Only time will tell and everything will fall into place’, I kept telling myself.
Around the middle of July, I had started a temporary receptionist position but soon realised that I craved something bigger. I needed a more stable job that would allow me to use my skills, education and passions to develop a career. This was clearly no easy task as I over-analysed each possibility and changed my mind so frequently.
‘It’s not always what you want to do, but what you can do’, said my boyfriend repeatedly. And I’m a stickler for being indecisive and not knowing what I want! Therefore, this golden piece of advice pushed me to apply for many different jobs outside of what I’d done before, and out of my comfort zone.
So, after 33 applications, 3 interviews, and 1 trial shift- I got offered an incredible job. The whole process was mega challenging, tedious and frustrating therefore I felt relieved and ecstatic!

Though there was no hesitation and no doubt in my mind when saying that magical YES, I did however look back on my life and ask myself some questions first.
What am I good at? Customer service.
Where have a worked before? Receptionist at a Luxury Boutique Hotel.
What did I study? Hospitality/ Tourism.
What are my passions? People, hospitality, travel, design, technology, writing.
This was to really get a feel for whether or not the position would be a good fit for me. I soon realised my answers mostly matched the role I’d been offered. YAY!

The hotel is phenomenal and I feel extremely lucky to be part of such a strong, friendly and passionate team. I’m so excited to start my career here and I’ll continue to write as one of my much-loved hobbies.
Good luck with your endeavours and thanks for continuing to read!
Lola


Photos: My own, laterals.com and visitscotland.com


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Putting the cherry on the University cake

03:47 Unknown 0 Comments

The alarm rings loudly at 6am; I hit snooze for the third time. I can feel the sun’s bright morning rays beaming through the window onto my face as if nature is telling me it’s time to wake-up. I reluctantly peel myself out of bed, eyes still closed and body moving slowly as if stuck in quick-sand. All this just to beat the morning rush of family members fighting over one bathroom in our cosy little rented cottage.


But today is an important day so I want to look, and feel, my best.


The hot shower fails to bring me to life but the upbeat tunes on Radio 1 provides the perfect remedy for tiredness. As I put on my make-up and brush my hair to the beat of Gorgon City’s, ‘Ready for your love’...




...I realise the lyrics perfectly match my current mood and feelings about Graduation Day.

It’s midday and after a hearty bacon butty and cup of tea; we’re all finally ready to rock. ‘Beep beep’, the taxi honks their horn and surprise surprise; I’m the last one to run frantically out of the door.


We pull-up to my University and waves of butterflies flutter in my stomach; I try to fight them. ‘Why 
am I nervous?’, I ask myself. I shake it off and talk about the weather; the usual topic people mention when they feel awkward or aren’t sure what else to talk about. I laugh to myself as I remember the topic in Canada was bears. So instead of ‘did you see the rain today’, the icebreaker was ‘did you see any bears today?’. And I did. Frequently.


This little but significant memory leads me to think of all I’ve accomplished since starting at Brookes. A work placement in Whistler ski resort and a study exchange in Australia is among them. Graduation day feels like a chance to recognise and celebrate them all; no matter how big or small.




Me and the gang (above) huddle around the table in the cafe of the new JHBB building. Its the first time we’ve all been together in years and I feel an overwhelming sense of happiness. Everyone grabs a coffee and I hand out the graduation booklet where they spot a familiar face in the middle pages.




While they’re entertained, I sneak off to register for the ceremony and collect my gown. The staff are welcoming, enthusiastic and super organised which puts me at ease. My hat and gown fit me like a glove; I feel so grown-up.





It’s 3.10pm and we make our way to the main hall for the ceremony. The place is buzzing with people and try to spot my friends in the sea of black hats.


‘Well done, we did it!’, my friends Hanka and Lenka say energetically. We take our seats the butterflies intensify and my leg twitches nervously.


The procession begins and I enjoy the traditional music and colourful outfits. The speeches contain the right combination of inspiration, motivation and heart. As I look around at people's faces, I see a mixture of happiness and relief. 

Each person’s name is then read out and I eagerly wait for mine.


As I walk toward the stage, a big smile sweeps itself across my face when I spot my lecturers. They helped me get here and saw me become the person that I am today. The gang are sat on the front row and I feel ecstatic they're all here. My boyfriend winks at me cheekily as if to say, ‘you got this’, which calms my nerves slightly.


‘Louise Frances Leach’


My name is called. I take shaky yet convincingly confident strides towards the vice-chancellor. I hear the faint ‘woos’ and ‘hoos’ of my father, but I’m too busy concentrating on not falling over.


This is it. I'm handed four years on a single crisp white piece of paper. All I’ve worked hard is here and I couldn’t feel more delighted.


The climax of the ceremony ends with an absolute whopper of a motivational speech by a good friend of mine; Janine Juma. As I listen to the confidence and passion in her voice, I realise how much life has changed me and friends in just four years.


At 4.30pm, we sip on cold sparkling champagne in the sunny garden reception. It’s a final chance to reminisce, say our goodbyes and give thanks to the ones who helped along our student journey.




Today is Tuesday 1st July at 3.30pm. I’m drinking green tea in my new flat in Edinburgh while writing my story to share with you.  And as I reflect upon my graduation day, I realise all the planning, anticipation and curiosity fell nicely into place. It truly was a momentous and unforgettable occasion for me.

Now, it’s onwards and upwards. I’d like to thank my family, friends, boyfriend and lecturers for their constant love and support. I'd also like to say a huge thank-you to Sophie who went out of her way to make this day even more special.


Wishing everyone the very best for the future.



Lola

Sources: Pinterest, Youtube

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Destination Graduation June 2014

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That momentous occasion we’ve waited, worked and wished for is finally here. We’ll see the smiling faces of friends, family and staff and throw our hats in the air to celebrate all we’ve achieved.

But I’ve come to realise Graduation is way more significant than I first thought.

I believe it’s an opportunity to reminisce about the good, bad and ugly student experiences and say a proper goodbye to those who shared them with us. This day, for me, feels like a chance to truly recognise that this chapter in our lives has finished so we can transition into the next one.


However, I’m not finished reading this chapter. And to be honest, I don’t think I ever will.


This is because University has given me so much more than just education. It’s re-shaped who I am and given me confidence to embrace what I know. I felt truly involved, included and challenged at Brookes; the recipe for an awesome education in my opinion. 




The skills I’ve picked up along the way will stay with me throughout my future experiences. This is why although my degree is over, I believe my learning never will be. And I’ll be forever grateful for that.





It seems I could pour a million words onto the page right now, but I don’t think any of them would be able to describe this jumbled-up mixture of emotions. I'm not sure where I'm headed which is scary, but this is the start.





But one thing I know is that this day is special to each and every one of us in some way. It’s probably the first and last time we’ll ever graduate so let's make it incredible!


Lola

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One degree, four years and a million stories to tell...

02:39 Unknown 0 Comments

Countless weird and wonderful moments stick in my mind when I look back on student life. Like the time I fell through a chair in a lecture hall or when I received my first ever A. I have a shed load of stories to tell and could write a list as long as my arm about the things I've learned along the way.

Being a student at Oxford Brookes presented me with fantastic opportunities. A wicked work placement in Canada, a sweet job at the London Olympics 2012 and a study exchange in beautiful Perth, Australia. Throughout my degree, I met brilliant people from all corners of the earth, learned heaps about their culture and made friends for life.

Fact is, I could write a series of books about my journey. From the moment I found out I got a place to handing in my final assignment ever, its been a wickedly awesome roller-coaster. So now it´s leading up to graduation, it´s time to look back at the good, the bad and the ugly and all that made my student experience.




























Words can't describe the feeling of handing in that last assignment. A huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders and it took days to switch off. To be honest, it still hasn't hit me that its all over. 



Memories...

The last four years have been phenomenal and I'll really miss Oxford and my friends. However,  I'm still feeling quite lost about what path to take next. I'm sure there are lots of students in the same boat. But one thing I know is that I'm going somewhere exciting. There's no rush, as long as it makes me happy. 



The future's in my hands now, which is super scary.  But that's part of the thrill, right? I'm now equipped with a wicked education, amazing friends and another awesome chapter to add to my story. This is where the journey begins again, so embrace every moment. 




Sources: Facebook, Spotify and Pinterest.

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Graduation is creeping up super fast. Are you ready?

08:36 Unknown 0 Comments




The build up is the most exciting part of any event for me. The thought of putting on my hat and gown then waiting patiently for my name to be called fills me with excitement.  Imagining everyone I love being in one place at the same time makes me smile like a cheshire cat. Friends, family and lecturers meeting, mixing and chatting away on probably the last, and only, ever day together. These are the things I look forward to the most and the whole experience makes me buzz like a bee.

Because graduation is such a momentous occasion, it´s time make sure everything is good to go! This is your chance to celebrate all of your hard work. You’ve got to make it a day to remember, right? Therefore, this blog aims to get you excited, help you make sure you've got all bases covered and provide links to all the important stuff.


I´ve organised and planned everything for the day; tickets, dress, accommodation, transport, the lot. It took time, but it will be so worth it. 


Firstly, make sure you’ve registered via PIP and purchased your tickets. This is SUPER important.
If you haven´t done so already, don´t worry- there´s still time. It´s really simple, just hop onto the ´my graduation planner´tab and go from there. The deadline is FRIDAY 30TH MAY.


Next, make sure you´ve booked your academic dress (gown, hat and hood) and photography. Ede and Ravenscroft are the official stockist and the website is full of information and details. Your gown will be delivered to Uni before the ceremony and there will be signposts for photography. The deadline is SATURDAY 24th MAY, so not far away!


Now that these things have been organised...


Are you still struggling to find accommodation? Check out the tips from my last blog.


Not sure where you’re going to park on the day? Take a look here.


Feeling confused and got any last minute queries? You can hop onto the graduation information pages, Facebook or Twitter for more info, deadlines and guidance. The graduation checklist and this little video below helped me get things sorted.




So after all this planning for graduation, you come to the realisation that your university experience is coming to an end. It´s good to look back on how you got here. For me, it´s been an incredibly wild, challenging and fulfilling roller coaster ride. 

I´d like to share my three most challenging moments of this semester with you.


Dissertation dramas. Hours spent editing one sentence then deleting it anyway. Sleepless nights, unlimited Haribos and a million red bulls. It was a highly challenging piece of work, but I learned so much and managed to get through it!


Frantic final day. I stayed awake for 30 hours straight on my last ever day at Uni just to finish two deadlines. It was the most exhausted and stressed I have ever been, but I can´t put into words the feeling of handing it in!


Chocolate chaos. I was in the library at 2am studying. I managed to scrape change together from the bottom of my bag to buy a much needed cheeky snack. Then, my KitKat chunky got stuck in the vending machine. Three times. I felt so frustrated and this seemed like the biggest drama in my life at that point in time. I suppose it´s a sign as I gave up chocolate for New Year! May seem crazy but it was a moment I´ll never forget.

All the challenges I encountered were totally worth it. I´m over-the-moon happy that I never gave up.


I´m sure all students can relate to this at some point. But all-in-all, the entire experience has been the best mix of challenges and rewards.These helped build the confidence I need to step out into the wonderful wide world out there. Remembering the journey of how you got to this point is so significant in my eyes. This is why I´m looking forward to graduation day as it marks my time at Brookes and celebrates all I´ve accomplished.

So until then, get planning- it´s going to rock!

See you on the flipside,

Lola

All photos are from pinterest

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