On the 12th September my blog turned two, meaning that I have managed to keep up blogging for longer than I perhaps expected.
I initially began this hobby as I wanted to document my time at university. I planned for this space to be a virtual memoire, if you will, of the highs and the lows; from moving away to London to making new friends and discovering all what the city had to offer. Two years on, and I think that this tiny corner of the internet has become something much greater than I ever could have imagined. I’ve been offered incredible experiences, made new online friends and being a helping hand over email to students just like me, and all because, I started blogging. 
Where my blog began…
My blog began long before I ever had the guts to publish by of my posts. During the summer of 2014, I decided that blogging was something that I wanted to pursue. I had just completed a Creative Writing course at college where I discovered a love for writing. I wrote several posts that never made it to this space and still to this day remain as drafts. It was during the last few weeks before I moved to London that I decided to share how I was feeling; I wanted to express my excitement towards moving hundreds of miles away at 18 and finally being independent! But like everything in life, it wasn’t all a walk in the park…
The whole process of going to university and transitioning into higher education can be overwhelming, daunting and fun all at the same time. I talked a lot about what I was packing, my expectations and my concerns. Then once I arrived in London, my very first few days from hospital emergencies to freshers week. It was a great time in my life as I met new people, began study a subject that I really loved and to explore a place that I had only ever dreamed of living. However, it wasn’t long before I began to feel homesick. Still to this day, I am so glad that I wrote about the topic of ‘homesickness’ as I receive multiple emails asking for advice on the student taboo topic.
In August 2015, I got to go on the Unite London Student project with 11 other fabulous bloggers and vloggers. The project was later on nominated for an award! Pretty cool, eh? A definite highlight of my blogging career.
The Past Year
The past year has been one of the hardest in my entire life; if you have been here for a while then you will be aware of that. I’ve struggled with insomnia to feeling utterly useless and pretty much six feet under at times. I’ve felt stress like never before especially throughout my second year exams; which, you’ll all be pleased to know I pass with grades beyond my own expectations. I have shared so much on here and in return received an unbelievable amount of support at every twist and turn.
Over last Christmas, I got to work with the fabulous Doddle on a secret santa blogging mission and had a cosy night in courtesy of Ocean Finance. I worked with O2 on a project about ‘how we use our phone’ with reference to my One Direction obsession; and I have just embarked on a new campaign with CO-OP about saving energy as a student. But the absolute best thing to happen was that my blog post was shared by an idol of mine, Louise Pentland on her own, super duper successful, blog; which, to be honest, I am still fangirling over…
I find it incredible that I am to do something that I love, help so many people and be continuously recognised for my hard work. Who knew that blogging could be so much fun?
Blogging into the Future
The real question is, what do the next two years hold for ‘heythereChannon’?
Well, despite the fact that I will graduate in July 2017, I don’t think I can completely let go of my blog’s student roots. But at the same time, this is an evolving space that is constantly growing as I grow. I plan to talk more about my slight obsession with planning, stickers and stationery. As well as documenting more of my own personal life experiences and adventures to here, there and everywhere. For example, my latest visit to Paignton Zoo or discovering Wonderland in the woods of Tehidy have been excellent experiences that I couldn’t help but share with you lovely lot.
If there is one thing that I can recommend that you do, then that will be “start something new”. You never know, you might just surprise yourself. I recently shared my guide to blogging and honestly, I would recommend it to anyone.
Here’s to two more years, wahoo!
