Hi again.

So this whole blog was designed for me to share my experiences from moving from a small city in Devon to the second largest capital in Europe. I feel like I should cite my source here, too much studying clearly. However, although I haven’t written many blog posts, it’s never too late or inappropriate to start.

I turn 22 next week and the whole idea slightly scares me, but then I was kindly reminded that I shouldn’t be scared, I should be proud. I moved to London in 2013 – I think, and since then I’ve completed a BSC in Psychology and I’m now working for the NHS still striving towards my end goal of.. well.. helping people. I’m not 100% on the exact position I’m working towards, but wherever I end up I want to make a difference.

So yeah. Not many people can say they moved away from all of their friends and family and have successfully built a new life with new friends and a new home. I’m not saying I’ve moved on from my friends or home, that could never happen. My school friends are some of the most amazing people in my life. But they’re slaying life too, so I couldn’t exactly be the odd one out right? Did I actually just use the word ‘slaying’? Looks like it. Anyhow what I’m saying is never doubt what you’re capable of because one day you’ll wake up and surprise yourself. I spent my first night away from home crying and the first year of university feeling pretty isolated, but I knew these feelings weren’t forever.

By year two I was friends with a lovely group of girls who pulled me through some shitty times. Even my final year of my undergrad was no easy ride, there were tears, sleepless nights, countless amounts of energy drinks and who knows how many days spent at the library. But I did it! It then came to the end of the year where I had to decide whether I wanted to carry on my studies in London or move home with my family and boyfriend. It was a difficult situation, it meant another year away from my family and boyfriend and working full time to cover rent and bills. YES, I became an adult. Or should we say a pre-adult? It’s the stage after being a student but not being a full blown adult. It consists of earning enough money to house and feed yourself.

So I took the leap and decided to stay in London for another year to complete a postgraduate diploma in Mental health studies. This is where I was welcomed with 6-day working weeks and 1 day weekends. Brilliant right? Not all bad if you can prioritise which tbh I think I’ve got pretty good at. As I type this I am actually meant to be finishing my essay due in for Thursday but instead thought it was a great idea to write a blog post. Oops. So there’s still room for improvement. However, I think I’m doing pretty well – better than the average student. I’ve really enjoyed my first few months of working on a mental health forensic ward – if someone asked me a couple of years ago I would have never imagined myself here. Some people think I’m crazy and others have literally no understanding of mental health.

I truly believe that so many people take their mental health for granted. People are so quick to slate others and assume anyone with a mental health problem is ‘batshit crazy’. So what if someone has a mental disorder? It doesn’t make a person any less, nor does not having a mental disorder make you any better. Until you’ve walked in someone else's shoes you can’t make assumptions. There are too many unwell people in this world to scared to talk to others due to the fear of being judged or misunderstood. I just wish that people would treat people with mental health problems like they treat people with physically health problems.

However, this blog isn’t meant to be me ranting about what’s wrong with today’s society, because believe me that blog would be long. It’s about realising how far I’ve come and about what’s still to come. I guess I’m scared because after January I’m not really sure what's next for me. Do I apply for a masters? Do I move home? Do I look at PHD’s? If so, WHERE? And don’t even get me started on everything else. One thing I’ve learnt is everyone's clock is different and just because society says you have to get married at this age and have a child at this age, you don’t have to. Just because Dom, Dick & Harry are doing something, doesn’t mean you have to, too. Do what’s right for you, when it’s right for you.

So if I could give any tips to 16-year Shannon who was just about to start their A-levels I’d say, don’t stress, you’ll get there! Your hard work will pay off and you are about to meet some of the most amazing people and make some of the most incredible memories. Oh and you can be loved and you most definitely won’t be forever alone. And even if you were alone, that’s okay too. Don’t be scared to be yourself and seriously a-levels are not worth your tears. Just keep being you, because apparently, that’s working out just fine.

If you’ve made it this far, I’m extremely impressed. And if you didn’t.. well shame on you. So here’s to another year of amazing memories and who knows where I’ll be this time next year!

Lots of love,

Shan x