December. The last month in the year. And what a year it’s been!
I remember hearing people say 2020 was gonna be their year. Everyone, their mama and their dog was screaming this. They were about to be the best version of themselves; New Year. New Decade. New Me! The year of “2020 vision”. And boy did we get that vision, just not the vision we expected. This vision came and mashed. Us. Up!
This year was stupid confusing! Stupid painful! So much job loss, death, sadness in all kinds of the word, uncertainty. I could go on, but I think it’s safe to say that we were not ready for the year we got. I know I deffo wasn’t. LOL. I’m almost not even ready for 2021. But God.
This year, despite all the madness, I had quite a few blessings to be thankful for.
For one, I had my health. I did end up in the hospital for some other things, but this virus? It didn’t see me or anyone I know and love. I don’t personally know anyone who was affected by this and I’m too grateful for that!
Next, I was able to finish my Masters. A whole year late, so far no graduation, but I’m slyly so happy that it happened this way. Why? Well I had to defer a module from last year for religious reasons. They had put one of my exams on the Sabbath, and if you know about Seventh-Day Adventists, you’ll know that that couldn’t run. So I deferred it, but unfortunately, that just set off a whole load of problems causing what was supposed to be a one year course, to be made into two. Cool. Exams were deferred to March, but Corona. This pandemic caused my exam period to continuously get extended. Initially annoying, because I just wanted to be done with it. The “over it” that I was feeling yeah? Hmm. Kmt
Anyway, exams were eventually scheduled for May, to be done by something called Proctor. There was still the option to defer and wait for an in person exam time, but who knows when that would be? So I chose Proctor. For those who don’t know, it’s basically an online invigilator. So you do you exam through this website that you have to log into. There is someone on the other side of it who you can talk to, and your camera has to be on so that they can watch you. No one is allowed in the room that you take your exam in; if someone comes in, that’s the end of it. They have to see your work space, the material your using, and essentially watch you for the duration of the exam. Weird, but what can we do?
Having my exams postponed gave me extra study time, which I probably needed. It helped me to feel very confident and much more prepared. So when I saw those exams and those questions, I knew without a doubt that I had passed and officially finished my Masters. I didn’t even wait for my uni to tell me. Once I’d finished, I told the world!
Finally, I got a job! If you’ve read my previous post, you’ll know that I started working as a Family Law Paralegal. The exact job I had been applying for as the next step in this life. One of my friends (the MVP) told me of this job opening at the firm she worked at. At the time, I was applying everywhere. Literally. I was obviously doing my Masters, but also volunteering at a firm in my area and also working at Primark. If you’ve worked at Primark, you’ll know the stress. I was ready to leave. Those early morning Sundays were killing me! Not to mention, the firm that I was at had me really second guessing if this job was for me, because I hated it there. I even took a “study break”, just to get away, but I needed the experience so….
My friend told me about this job on a Thursday, because I remember leaving uni. I had a job interview for somewhere the next day, so I didn’t really pay much attention and focused on that. Went for the interview and heard back on Monday that I didn’t get the job. Cried and applied for the Paralegal job the same day. They got back to me on Wednesday for an interview on Friday. This was also the same day that I was supposed to drive up to Leicester for the weekend. So Friday, I went for the interview. Came home, changed and grabbed my stuff and literally ran back out of my house. I had a great weekend in Leicester. Monday, came back. I got the job. I still find the way it all happened so funny and I’m so so grateful. I think I even wrote my resignation for Primark the same day!
My start date was supposed to be in March, but Corona meant that I didn’t start till mid July. This gave me the time that I needed, and is why this year has been good to me. I was supposed to start part time (so work on the days that I didn’t have uni) but with the delay in my start date, it meant that I was able to fully focus on my studies. No work, because I’d already left Primark and the other firm. Just all the time in the world to study. I did me exams at the beginning of May and had just under two months to properly relax. How many people get to actually do that? Because I’ve barely heard of any. I had the break that I needed, so when I started work, I was ready.
And here we are, four months in and enjoying working from home. I don’t know if I’m ready for 2021, but what I can say is that I’m thankful to be getting through 2020. Your girl still got to tick off some goals this year, so for that, imma smile.
December?
Let’s get it!
I’m ready.
I eat cake 