The beggining of History

Now, I want this to be a starter for my upcoming posts which will be based on the history of the Mughal Empire. I believe that reinforcing this adventurous and rich background would give me a great insight when travelling in India, but also be an amazing tool for anyone who is considering travelling there with all guns blazing - with knowledge!

I hope you will enjoy it and I will be starting from the very beginning and going to the very end. It will be a fabulous journey worth staying on. It won't be full in your face with information, but a gentle yet intricate tour of turbalances, the truimphant and colourful periods that was epitomized by the empire.

Moreover i created a Facebook page for this blog which I will update regularly: See here
Having found Podcasts that are absolutely worthwhile listening too, and do great in describing events in a chatty way, I will also add their links as I go!


Yours Truly ,

Sophia

A Look Inside: October

I have been a bit in the bushes lately. Mostly the reason is trying to perfect my personal statement which i have now finished. YESSSS!! it is a mixture of satisfaction yet worry, as i read it over everyday just to make sure its what i want to give in. Anyway aside from that i have also been shopping a little ( only a little), where i purchased a new coat and new makeup items which i am excited to try on.

This month i think has been a reflective one for me - thinking about what i have been through, experiences that have changed me, priorities and my ideal university. I think jumping from being in school to being more independent is quite a big change. despite it being a bit weird at first, you slowly learn more about yourself and identify what you want to do in the long run.

Also every morning and evening i have been listening to podcasts on BBC radio 4 - Women's Hour, Global News and Prime ministers questions. they are insightful and make you a more informed individual, and as i am interested in law and the way policies are shaped, it really grasps my attention. So instead of using my phone every morning and night and day ( have to admit i was a bit addicted), i should educate myself and use my time appropriately. Eliminating those cheeky distractions!

I have also been making a list of the possible camera's that i will invest in, but also making sure that i thoroughly go through their reviews.

Working part time has been such a learning curve - as its my first job, new skills come into play. further more, working in a team definitely helps you overcome challenging situations, as i know that not all of us get on with certain people, but we put our best foot forward to get the job done.


Yours truly,

Sophia

'You must learn a new way to think before you master a new way to be.'

Marianne Williamson

A look inside: September

So September mainly was an organizing and searching month. I visited a UCAS fair - where universities show their courses and talk about it. Also, i started my first driving lesson today ( but realized i booked the wrong type of lessons, manual instead of automatic, so i will have to book new lessons). And i am into my 3rd draft of my personal statement. Even though some days i feel overwhelmed or stressed i just think of the future and how exciting it will be. this month i have also been reading into international law and human rights - but still in early stages. so here is an insight of what i have been doing!!

• In my search for universities, i wanted to venture outside of london, so University of Exeter and Southampton seemed great. Exeter really managed to stand out to me and their law school looks amazing! - the campus is beautiful and after watching all their videos on you tube and the Xtv it has won me over and is definitely going to be my choice - i would go as far as to saying its my ideal university and i hope to visit their soon! 

• So i went on a tour of the campus at SOAS in london and also looked into their law course - its great that they have such a diverse syllabus and the area has a great feel to it. i managed to take a few snapshots while i was there too!

• I have also been researching into where i should travel in my gap year - Delhi is very likely to happen - even thinking about it makes me excited!! - and i am in the process of accepting a voluntary placement in India too!!
• I have nearly finished reading, so a blog post on the Byzantium empire will be up soon!!

• GBBO has been amazing this month!!!! As i love baking, this is my favourite show - Nadiya and Tamal are amazing and make mouth watering food! i have been watching this show religiously each week.

thats just giving you a look into what i have been up to! 

so will write soon.

yours truly

Sophia

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'