Have just finished my second year at the University of Bath studying Politics and International Relations, I absolutely love it - no doubt I chose the right city and the right degree! I am now, therefore, on my placement year.
This is something that almost all universities offer, but none do it quite like Bath, there you see 2/3rds of students take their 3rd year out to work/ study/ intern before coming back for final year. So my friends and I are all going off in different directions from this summer till next.
Being me then I decided against the usual, supported and probably easier and potentially paid route - because why do that when you could write your own and volunteer in an organisation you never imagined spending so much time in?
Originally I was going to spend three months of the summer living and working in London at Lib Dem HQ in the membership and engagement department. However my medical advice for several reasons was to cancel this and prioritise rest, after an intense pros and cons list I agreed and am now adjusting.
This means that my placement properly starts in September back in Bath. .
Despite brainstorming and talking about this for the last 6 months, it still takes me aback slightly that this is the direction my year is going in. Had always thought I would be working for an NGO that specialised in human rights. Looked at going to the UN, the Hague, Amnesty International and Freedom from Torture amongst others. As I spoke to students who had got back from their placements at the start of this academic year then I made a point of asking about the pastoral support in the offices they worked in, keen not to trigger my PTSD - and the consistent response was 'what pastoral support?! Mental illness and breakdown is just part of the office culture' this was rather painful to hear.
But left me with an ultimatum, either I could risk my parents disowning me and spend my final year in recovery by taking on a high risk placement in something I loved, OR I could do something very out of character in some ways, and do a placement that was safe.
I imagine you will be pleased to hear that I opted for the second option and am working for the Church of England, specifically St Michael's Twerton. One day teaching/supporting the Chaplin in the local junior school, one day helping out at the local coffee shop/ food bank, one day doing a foundation theology course, one day working in the church office/ volunteering at youth group and one day to ground myself and catch up.
If you want to find out more about the church then follow this link: http://stmichaelstwerton.com/
Also stepping up my student politics by being on three committees: Public Debates Manager for BUDS, Women's Officer for Lib Dems and Ethical Political Representative for Societies Exec.
That all feels quite a way away at the moment, got 3 months till all of that begins.
So, have made a list. Need to rest this summer but also don't want to get bored, so am applying some of the coping mechanisms I benefited from in my gap year.
- Binging books
- Going to the theatre with friends
- Cooking for family
- Walking around Dorridge
- Attending conferences I wouldn't have otherwise gone to
- Visiting friends around the UK
- Notebooking and blogging
You will see all of the fun on my social media, but I will continue to also make an effort to share the moments in between, the exhaustion/ frustration and challenge. When I got diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome then I followed activists, joined support groups and liked awareness campaigns for Invisible Illness. This has been heartwarming, humbling and refreshing. If you are ever in a position where you feel lost as a result of circumstance or diagnosis, then finding other people who are getting angry about the same things is so worth it.
Here are some of my favourite posts:
Change is something I have always struggled with.
Perhaps because I tend to give my all to everything and fully immerse myself in tasks then it takes a lot of head space to let a project go and begin another one.
Here is some photos to capture the time that has elapsed between my last blog post (November) and this one and to give you an idea of the transition I am in:
I have now been home for 2 weeks and haven't been able to do loads, but these are the headlines.
Here are some books I have read so far:
- Rise by Gina Miller
- Everything I know about love by Dolly Alderton
- A Feminist Manifesto for the 99%
- Why I Write by George Orwell
- Return to the Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez
Key books currently reading:
- Harvesting a Heart by Jodi Picoult
- Psmith, Journalist by PG Woodhouse
- The Strange Death of Europe by Douglas Murry
Also been to see three shows, two at the RSC and one at the Rep
And probably the best thing I've had the chance to do is go to the National Liberal Club for the Lib Dem Christian Forum annual Gladstone Lecture - this time it was on 'Prophets, Protesters and Poets' by Mark Oakly.
So there you go, this is where I am at right now.
I aspire to post 5 blog posts in the next 3 months, including this one.
Turns out this is something I have founder harder to do post Cape Town, when my body is broken then it is a challenge to form sentences to my standard. This post was okay, because it was just about providing context and life updates. But I want to write about big thoughts and internal and external debates, will have to be patient and see whether that is realistic.
Prayer Requests:
- Help transitioning from university to home and from thinking I was moving to London to staying at home, and my family as they journey this with me
- Good use of time, balancing projects and sleep
- Radical acceptance of my limits
- Head space to be grateful
- For the country as we see a change in Prime Minister and await their plans regarding Brexit and general legislation between now and the current deadline of the 31st October
- Healing as I reflect on the past, especially as I write letters to all the people who have hurt me - will never send these, but am using my spare time to gain some closure
Thank you for making it to the end of my twenty seventh blog post, I hope you have a restful week!
