So, last year I created a list of things that I wanted to do before I turned 22, I can reassure you that, not everything was checked off. Mind you, I did manage to accomplish a vast majority of it, so I am pleased with myself.
My year of being 21 was full of goodbyes and hellos. All of my friends from Australia, who I met at 19, travelled back to their homes in Australia and ended their fairy tale adventures. It crushed me, I will be friends with all of them for the rest of my life, as thanks to Facebook and iMessage I can pester them with cat videos, unicorn pictures and action hero trailers. SnapChat is also great for just simple pestering, and bragging. (I'm still in London after all ;]) To save myself from missing my Aussies terribly, in the summer they travelled back to Auz or went travelling around Europe, so I thought it best to throw myself into work. I became a crazy workaholic, I managed, over the summer before school started, to complete 4 work placements related to Costume Design in some way. I helped out a little bit, on an outdoor theatre production of Richard III. I didn't work as much on it as I had hoped because I still had an actual paid job that I had to go to. After Richard III I spent 3 days at a wig makers and made a fully useable moustache for their company, I learned so much! It was just so inspiring. I worked at the Royal Albert Hall in my time when I wasn't doing placements, I still work there, I sell programs, it is super glamorous. I then did a 6-7 week internship with a milliner, Noel Stewart. It was at this internship that I discovered the Fashion realm is not for me. I did fashion week, I was at the Somerset House and things were CRAZY.
I also said hello to a new house, I can not tell you how living in this house has changed me and made me grow into a person I am quite proud of, thank you Gudrun, Hayley and Bushra. Around the same time I moved in, my brother flew over to visit!!!I said both hello and goodbye in the space of a week, It was the best week of the summer. We did so many things and it was just really amazing to see him as I hadn't seen him in a year. A year is far too long, but these are the little sacrifices we take to pursue dreams, to the both of us, I am proud of us. (I'm also really proud of my brother because he is starting his acting career perfectly, he's done 2 or 3 shows in 2015 and he is an inspiration to me.)
I should also mention that during the summer there was a possibility that I may not go back to my second year of school, tuition fees and costs of living, it became a little bit much for me, but I set up a crowdfunding website and was able to get enough together so that I could come back!
I then spent a week, before the start of Uni, up in Scotland working at the Ryder Cup, I served fish and chips for 10 hours a day, for 7 days, I said hello to a new friendship as well, one who I would consider one of my go-to-girls. One of those people who are so beautiful in being and their essence is so refreshing and welcoming, I am so glad to have met Kate M.
A Couple days before Uni started back up again I did another work experience thing, it was for a web-series, filmed out near Cambridge, I spent only a day with that crew, but it was a lot of fun, It was there that I rediscovered my energy and drive to want to pursue Costume Design again, because by the end of my 1st year and over the summer, I wasn't really that into it, but being on set and working in the costume work room, it was just magical and inspiring.
The summer and the freshness of 21 was great, but by then end of the 1st term and Christmas coming up, I was getting bummed out and depressed, because I wasn't going home for Christmas. I felt like a toddler wanting to throw a tantrum. I just wanted to scream and cry and get all my emotions out, but instead I got a Job at Harrods in the Toy Kingdom, as an Elf, and distracted myself that way. It was not healthy, I realise that now. I also spent New Years surrounded by people I knew, but didn't know too well, I spent my New Years in Bristol at Kate's new settlement. I got messily drunk and the next day was the most cleansing day I've ever had in my entire existence. January 1st was the day that I decided that 2015 was going to be my year. It was a little walk that Kate and I took, in our hungover, gross state, it started to rain, we didn't bring an umbrella and we got absolutely soaked to the bone. I haven't experienced the power of nature like that since I was very young.
The vow I made to myself, that 2015 would be my year, has definitely worked in my favour. I have put a lot of effort into my uni projects I finished a full working costume of my own design and creation, which was recently shown at Windsor Castle (see pictures below). I also must tell you that it was around the end of January that we were briefed on our essay project, which we had to write in pairs. This is about the time that I said hello to a friend, Holly, I know will stick with me, and I with her, for a long time. She looked at me when the time came to find out essay partners and with a look, the words "Wanna be my partner?" and a nod, history was made. I was also around the end of January that, out of frustration and dissatisfaction that I reached out to a very significant person.
(I must explain something here to make this, make sense: Holly and I liked the idea of Disney Princesses for our essay topic, So with the recent release of the live action Cinderella I thought wouldn't it be great if there was a quote from Sandy Powell, the cinderella costume designer, that was in our essay.)
I searched the web for interviews, and started some initial research for our essay, that Sandy Powell had done, dissatisfied with the answers and questions, I made an attempt to get in touch with Sandy. the title of my blog is "Why not go out on a limb, that is where the fruit is." I went out on the limb, I can tell you the fruit is better than anything in the world. Holly and I had an interview with Sandy Powell for our essay, it went really well and I could not have done it alone. Doing this essay in pairs is probably the highlight of the year. Holly really helped to encourage and inspire me to keep going, she is one of the most beautiful beings on the planet, I am talking strictly about her looks. (I am seriously kidding)
After the interview and hype, I learned that some of my friends from Canada were coming over to europe for a month, they asked to stay at mine and of course I said yes! They mentioned that they were going to France after England, and I asked to tag along, sure enough I made it to France in 2015, in hindsight, I probably shouldn't have gone, for financial reasons, but I needed to look forward to something, because it was at this point I was getting really homesick. By homesick I mean I was missing my mummy, it was 1 year and 6 months since I had given her a hug, at that point it was too long. I said hello and goodbye to my Canadian amigos after spending a week with them. A couple days after, one of my fellow Seaton graduates made a stop in London after being in India for 3 months, she and her girlfriend were so inspiring and it was so interesting to hear all they had seen and accomplished, they really inspired me and made me realise all the different paths available in this life.
My Easter break was full and non-stop, the last 2 weeks Holly and I finished our essay and kept in contact with Sandy. When we did our interview with her she mentioned that she would like to read our essay, so we sent it off along with the question "We have a work placement section of our course coming up, do you have anything or know of anyone who would be able to offer us anything?" She replied with a yes, yes she had something for us. Work placement with Sandy was in the works for about a month as she is an incredibly busy lady, we understood and were reasonably flexible with dates. I was so excited and so was Holly, we couldn't believe what we had accomplished. I am so proud of us. All I wanted to do was tell my mum and give her a hug, luckily Holly's mum is good at sharing excitement and giving hugs. Sarah is a wonderful woman, Holly, you have a great mum.
April felt like a big month and even though May is not over it also feels like a big month. Around the middle of April I got a call from my mum, she broke the news to me that she had bought a plane ticket to England and would be here for my Windsor Castle Costume Parade. Not a thing will top this year, it keeps getting better and better. She was only over here for a week, but it was the best week ever. 1 year, 8 months and 4 days was the amount of time that we had spent apart. I really love my mum, she is my hero, she has done so much for my brother and I and I cannot think of anyone who I love more. When she was over and when I gave her the first hug, of many while she was here, it felt like we had never been apart. now that she is back in Canada it feels a little bit weird, but describing the week with any other word, other than perfect just wouldn't put it rightly. Part of her trip was also to see the Alexander McQueen; Savage Beauty exhibition, because in 2011, it was either a plane ticket to England or a trip to New York, I chose better in saving this exhibition until now. It was so exquisite, inspiring, brave, breathtaking and powerful. I think it wa my mum's highlight.
So, the lead up to my birthday was huge, my mum was here, I got offered a work placement with Sandy Powell, I had my show at Windsor Castle and I still have uni projects to finish. So my mind wasn't in the birthday spirit, but I am in a really happy and fulfilled place right now. I have so much to look forward to and the rest of 2015 is going to be one of the best. Some of my Aussies are returning in July, my work placement will eye opening, my 3rd and final year will commence. I am very grateful for everything that has happened in my life, I am surrounded by women who inspire me and by men who I feel respect me. My peers at school are also all incredible and I know the friendships I am building will last for life.
21 has been one of the greatest years, and for my 22nd year, I just want to be happy. Here's to 22!!!!
This is the best photo of my costume that I could find.
Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2015. Photographer: Todd Whites
