The end of the year always brings a strange mixture of looking forwards and looking back. The past thirteen months have brought a lot of changes, all of which, now that I think about it, were unexpected.

I think I am a different person at the end of this year compared to the beginning. Sadder in some ways, less optimistic - though I think often I am an optimistic person, I try to believe the best of people and the best outcomes - perhaps with an added dollop of realism this year. I learned my limits, after years of trying to please people by taking on as much responsibility as I could handle I finally overreached myself in March this year, which in itself turned out to be a good thing as I’m starting out on a career path which I’m excited about, not because it’ll allow me more time to do other things, but because I think - hope - I’ll love the work itself.

I’ve stretched myself academically, finding the writing of the MPhil I’m doing consistently interesting and challenging, and creatively, with the costuming of Iolanthe at the RNCM. That itself raised some interesting questions as it’s the kind of thing I would adore to keep doing, as I knew when I made a balldress recently for a Christmas party, which I loved doing. I don’t think it’s the career for me, though, more of an intense hobby.

I’m hopeful that this year will bring better things by the end of it. I’m looking forward to The Sorcerer, and coming up with plans for that to get more tickets out there, and deciding what my role in MUGSS could be next year, as well as still enjoying my study and aiming to submit in the summer, before starting my PGCE in September.