Tomorrow marks the start of a big change. Today is my last day at home until Christmas. This time tomorrow I will be on a train heading to university. Where I will live for the next 4 years. Not going to lie, I've been pretty scared up until this point, however now I'm excited about a complete change and new start.

In a week I will be moving to university. My life is going to completely change. A lot of it is really hitting me recently. I won't see my family until Christmas which is extremely strange. I'll be living 400 miles away and will no longer be at home with family all the time. I'm going to be living in a flat with people I've never met before. I'm an independent person, but I have to rely on myself more to do things like cooking actual meals. I haven't done any educational things in over a year, so that is going to be a struggle and will take time to get used to. I have no idea what my life is going to be like. Nobody in my family has gone to university and I never expected myself to reach this point. Everything is changing. Honestly, it's terrifying, but I'm excited.

Obviously, school wasn't the best for me. Going back into education and having this whole university experience is going to take time to get used to. Most importantly, I want things to be different compared to my time at school. I'd like to have a social life. I'd like to go out with friends. I've changed a lot during my gap year and I really do hope that socially things go well. This is what worries me the most. I'm going to make the most out of every opportunity to ensure that things go well.

I'll be inactive for 2 weeks starting next Friday. I need to completely focus on uni and worrying about things on here isn't going to help. That 2 week period covers freshers week and my first week of classes. From that, I'll be able to see how much free time I have and it will allow me to fully adapt and make the most of everything.

16 days until I move to uni.

Totally not terrified C:

TBH - I'm not the best with enjin bbcode so you you'll have to excuse it xD But honestly over all my time on Mineplex, you're like superrr unique. You're one of the few people on here who are real. Kind of a weird word , I know but it's super thing in my eyes. What you see is what you get , you're such a kind, friendly and overall pleasant person to be around. I think you're a super strong individual who's very mature and independent. Since I've had you as my TMA for several months I got the opportunity to see all these great qualities develop and it was just great to see. You get your work done , not to please others but just to do it for yourself which is definitely admirable. If you hadn't applied for TMA we probably wouldn't of become good friends which is scary to think. I'm super proud of how much you have achieved for yourself , between your ability with communicating with others, having lasted in your wonderful job in Boots , and taking a huge step in your life in going to college . I can really see a great future for you Breeze so don't change for anyone or anything . Now excuse the cringey post and have an egg

I feel so weird putting a random generic TBH post on your formal, clean wall, but since you liked the post I'm going to do it anyway, haha.

TBH

Breeze, I have to admit I was kind of happy to see you like the post, because I was somehow looking forward to writing this, although it's going to be rather short compared to usual. From all the people I've met on my journey on Mineplex, you definitely gave me the most. At first you were my truly amazing TMA, you kept me motivated, made me happy when I wasn't, even though that was nothing mandatory for your position. You treated me like a friend when I felt somewhat left out. And then, eventually, we did become friends, which made me fairly happy, because I was kind of sad that I'd probably not talk to you anymore as I was promoted to Moderator.

From those days up until now you never failed to inspire me, make me smile, giving me a true place to rest among the staff team. Even now I still respect you as if you were my TMA (Although you already moved on to being a Mentor, which made me very proud.)

Stay the way you are, keep going in live, and remember that you can't change the past, but you can definitely change its effect on your future, and how much you let it influence your life.

Mineplex Journey

Recently, I've been inspired by reading others journeys on here. I thought I would just go into detail about mine. I have mentioned a few of these things on my wall a few times because I like to make long posts like this haha.

Mineplex has always been a server which I have enjoyed playing on. Back in 2015 when my application got denied I decided to take a break for almost a year to focus on school. I didn’t really expect myself to get so back into things, but that break did the world of good. I started getting back into Mineplex when I went through a pretty rough time. I had absolutely no hope in anything. I had been trying so hard to make things better and then it all fell apart again. Along with other stuff going on, I lost a very close family member and got denied from the universities I dreamed of going to. Going to university was my only hope at the time, it was all I had and then it had just gone. I started playing on Mineplex more again. It became my escape. A place where I could escape all of my real life worries and truly be myself in a community which I was extremely passionate about. I had very little goals because I felt so unmotivated with my life. Throughout my time on Mineplex, I have constantly been working towards a goal and this is something I strive to do in my real life. Mineplex has taught me to never give up no matter how many attempts or how long it takes you.

From the day that I got accepted, that is where things changed. I can never really explain how much I truly love being a staff member. It brings me so much happiness. Always do what makes you happy in life. A lot of people may see it as silly and stupid because it’s just a ‘block game’. To me, it’s so much more than that. It’s a community which has shaped me to become the person I am today. Looking back at this time last year, I still think it’s crazy that I have managed to get myself to where I am today. The skills and qualities you develop and apply as a staff member can be brought into so many real life experiences and every single day you’re experiencing this constant development.

I have gone into detail about this a few times, but the one thing which being a staff member has helped me with so much is my communication skills. At school, I got through the day without talking to anybody. If I ever did talk then it was a few words which were very quiet. I felt terrible about myself and felt so alone in a place crowded with people. The anxiety I got every single break or lunch time would almost make me sick. Now, I am a completely different person. I can confidently talk to people. I don’t have to mutter my words because I’m confident in myself and what I say. I have learned how valuable it is to communicate with others and how to effectively work within a team. I feel valued. I can be myself and people accept me for who I am. And finally, I have made friends. I used to wish that I would have some proper friends and it never really happened at school. Now, I have made the best friends. People who I’m truly so grateful to have in my life. They have taught me so much and I have such amazing memories with people on here.

There have been some times of feeling unmotivated. That happens. It’s about learning to get back up and do even better than you did before. There have been times where I have been very close to losing everything. That’s when you wake up and learn to appreciate every little thing you have. It's not easy, but it's incredibly enjoyable and one of the best things I have ever done.

Heyo,

The Trainee Management team will be hosting a Q&A on TeamSpeak on Friday, August 11, 2017 after the Trainee Acceptance Party. To ask questions, please refer to this form. More information can be found here. We hope to see you all there!

Almost survived working full-time in retail for a year. Don't know how I have survived, but I have. Had people scream at me, tell me that I'm stupid and that I'm terrible at my job, but I've also met some of the most amazing people ever.

I could be leaving next week which is such a weird thought. When I first started working in retail, I could barely have conversations with customers and now it's one of the places where I can actually be myself. I used to get through the day at school without talking to anyone and now my job revolves around assisting others. Never would have thought that I would be able to increase my confidence so much in a year. Also, going to be nice to have some time off as only 2 weeks off since September is exhausting.

Next step is university.

One Year on the Staff Team

One year ago today my name was announced at TAP. This marked the start of my journey on the staff team. I remember that exact moment. I was so excited, yet overwhelmed with how I would cope with all the new responsibilities. It's incredible how I have managed to achieve so much. I remember doubting whether or not I could even pass the EOT. I would never have imagined that being on here would have such a large impact on my life. All of this has occurred during my gap year. It has turned me into the person I am today and has allowed me to learn and experience so much. The confidence I have gained is amazing. I used to be terrified to even go to a meeting as a trainee and now I'm the one doing them almost every single week. I love what I do so much and I’m grateful to have the opportunities I have. Every day I get to work with the most amazing mentees, see them achieve their goals and become more comfortable within the staff team. Being on here makes me so happy.

I have met the most amazing friends. I don't know how you all put up with me, but you stick by me no matter what. I’m not going to list people in this post, but you’re all amazing and I can’t even explain how much you all mean to me. I have learned how to effectively communicate with people and that has even helped me in real life. The whole staff team is full of the most incredible people. But, if there is one thing I have learnt, it’s to surround yourself with people who make you happy.

Looking back a year ago, I see myself just being terrified. Terrified to do anything. Sure, I’m still not the most confident person ever, but it's a gradual process and I'm so proud of the progress I have made.

I have made mistakes, but I've learned from them. That’s a part of life. Picking yourself back up and showing your full potential.

If you scroll right down my wall, you can find my horribly formatted post from when I first got trainee. Who knew that I would be sitting here a year later making this post.

Huge congratulations to Runkia

One year ago today.