Experiences which Change you

I was just thinking about my life - a reflection. it lead me to think of the people and places which left an imprint in me and totally changed the way i think and believe. There has only been a few things in my life that i have encountered that certainly left an impression.

When travelling and studying abroad allows you to open your mind and understand the culture and society around you. it also makes you appreciate certain things and make things you were confused about clear. But also makes you happy - in a sense that you finally understand.

When people you get to know and talk to suddenly change the way you think and perceive the world and yourself means they are special. there are only a few of these people and i believe that even if you only see them once or twice you can learn a lot from them. I met someone who was so different, funny and shared the same interest in history and travel as me - it was fascinating to talk to and also to joke with. even though i regret being a bit shy and not saying as much , i knew i conveyed total interest. I hope to bump into that special person soon and talk all day!!

Also i found that i tend to have a greater understanding in life than i normally would of, and the quote ' everything happens for a reason' comfortably fits in this topic. i hope not to sound like those dull therapists, because thats the last thing i want to give off, and would be a bit pretentious of me. it may be a bit odd in me sharing random experiences but i thought maybe there is someone who enjoys reading this. and the fact that you have read this far, means a lot!!

yours truly,

Sophia

'The Unexpected Moment is always Sweeter'

Being Independant

This is Elizabeth Bennet (*Lizzie*) - she is the main character in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I always admired her demeanor and grounded disposition. She was never afraid to speak her mind in matters that required it and although makes mistakes, she learns well from them. Her character displays an independent attitude with a unique personality. 

Being in my gap year is totally different to school where your being constantly guided by teachers. Similarly to those in university or starting a new job, the atmosphere and pressures change.

So to me being independent is a vital step in understanding how to deal with these pressures and how to be more confident in doing what you do and your decisions.

1. Know your boundaries and when to say No - In the real world there will always be pressures from others that might force you to do/think of something you don't want to. Being in this situation can be uncomfortable. So know your limits and make sure you enforce them. Don't be afraid to say no, as you have the control over your life not them. Even if it may sound harsh, its best to be direct rather than shying away from the answer. 
2. Its Okay to be Selfish sometimes - from my experience its absolutely fine to have more time for yourself. Even if it means sacrificing your socializing time, as although it can make you seem isolated its actually giving you a breathing space to reflect on your goals and what you need to do to constantly improve yourself. This will make you a more set and focused individual.
3. Be confident - Before I used to be shy and fear for the worst in every situation. this made me avoid all types of interactive activities or socializing. But making your voice heard, asking clear questions and pushing yourself forward in things you would normally be more scared to do, develops you as a person. It makes you feel stronger and get what you want. Although initially  it will be hard, the more you do it, the more easier it gets. 
4. Be organised and up to date - Organising your papers, room, handbag and studies can make you feel more reassured. Also being more up to date with current affairs will always make you aware of whats going on, and any events that may be coming up. I read the newspapers and also law blogs. This can be useful for topic of conversation but also to know any future dates. 

this is what I do to reinforce my independent outlook and I thought I might share it with you too!

yours truly,

Sophia

'Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You'

A Refreshing Change

In this post I decided to discuss something that I have experienced, and which forces us to question and challenge everything we have done.

Its good to begin the idea highlighting that 'if one door closes another one opens.' This quote represents a lot, as if something in our life goes wrong or not to plan, we instantly begin to cloud ourselves with negativity and depression. Initially its natural to go in a phase where you feel as if your unlucky and the tragic victim to ambition. It will take you down for a few weeks and will force you to be angry and feel hopeless. But that is definitely not the case.

You see, we can either take failure in a bad way and just give up, or we can take it positively and use it to build ourselves further in succeeding. Failure is just a mistake learnt and allows us to conceive an urge to do better always. And its this motivation from going strength to strength that will cause us to be more insightful and triumphant individuals in the future.

So now you've taken a wrong turn and its a dead end. Just start again but this time take a different path. But take this path with resilience, determination and confidence. Its important to start on a good note so you can end on one, rather than fueling your mind with unnecessary thoughts that would only take you down further in the long run.  This is probably the time to explore the passion in a certain area that you haven't explored, or just trying again for something you believe in. Everything Happens for a reason, so it is just a blip in a large universe that we're going through. But don't let it pull you down.
Take a short break, get into you hobbies, try and find time to what you believe you can do and the lengths your willing to go. For me I am reading books on the Ottoman and Byzantium empire which I am loving , baking new recipes and exploring the world each day.

My story was that after being let down by failure I began to explore subjects that I never really thought I was passionate about. I initially believed biology and genetics was my calling but identifying my strengths and success in History and debating, made me begin to question myself. Winning the debating competition and getting top grades in my history essays made me realize what I needed to do. So this gap year will allow me to venture into the unearthed area of law, that I have never thought about. So on that note i want to leave you with a quote that I found, which i believe is relevant:

'One of the hardest decisions you'll ever face in life is choosing whether to walk away, or try harder'

Let the games begin!

Well hello there!

This is an exciting time for me as I have finally reached my goal of starting my very own blog! Its immensely thrilling to be able to take you with me and share memories that I have and will experience.
Sophia's Serenade was a long awaited name that took me a couple of weeks to conceive. I believe it captures everything that will be included in this blog, and is a special exclusive treat that I can expand in the near future.

To give you an overview of myself:

I am 18 years old and my name is Sophia (hence the title of the blog). At the moment I am in my gap year and hope to pursue law at University. In my gap year I hope to travel and take part in voluntary projects which I am looking forward to share on this blog.

Moreover I hope to expand my baking skills, and this may or may not be influenced by the Great British bake off, which I am an avid fan  and a devoted viewer. *proud*
In addition to that I am saving to buy a good quality camera, so I can upload photos which are worthwhile, so bear with me on that one :)

So all in all I am ecstatic to be part of this blogger atmosphere! I know it will be something that I will keep with me for a lifetime.

Yours Truly,

Sophia