WHAT I WISH I HAD KNOWN BEFORE STARTING COLLEGE

A LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF

Dear Cecil,

How are you doing? I hope you are enjoying your last days of holidays. I know you are nervous and excited for college, so let me reassure you that there is no need to worry. It is very easy for me to tell you that, because by the time I am writing this I have already been through the worst part (even though there isn’t a “worst part” after all), but believe me, you will be more than fine.

First things first: you should know how much you are going to love the studies you have chosen. Languages are your thing and that is everything that you will do. It may sound boring but you are going to have loads of fun. Don’t listen to the people who tell you that “there are no jobs for translators” or “Don’t study German, there are many people who already speak that language. You should learn Japanese”. You are now studying Translation and Interpretation and you have as well chosen German regardless of what everybody said and it makes you happy, end of the story. However, you will miss having a Literature subject or something like History. Languages are great but you have always loved reading and learning more about other things as well, which is something that you won’t have, at least in your first year. Use your spare time to learn about these topics you also like.

I remember you wanted to get a part-time job during college. Well, I’m sorry to tell you that this has not happened (yet). You did apply for some vacancies but there was no luck. Do not beat yourself up, it is fine, focus all your energy into studying. There will be more opportunities! I know you wanted to start earning your own money, but in the meantime you will need to learn how to manage the money you already have (which is very important as well), so here are a few tips. Stop buying food after every class! Yes, now I am punishing you. It is very tempting to spend your change in vending machines around campus, but you should not do it. Bring snacks with you for when you are starving after a long day. The same goes for your lunch: meal prep the night before and put everything inside a lunch box. I have to congratulate you for that, because you have never forgotten your meals and you are eating pretty healthy. Going back to managing your money, why don’t you put your spare coins in a piggy bank and start saving to go studying abroad? This is something you have always wanted and although it may take a bit of time to figure out when and where you want to go, it is good to start gathering a decent amount of money. Keep looking for a job, maybe you find one out of the blue. Looking into and understanding your financial aid is important. You can refinance your loans as well but it’s important to look up all you can on making smart money decisions now! One last piece of advice: take advantage of the discounts you have for being a student! You can have special prices transportation wise, as well as cheaper menus in some coffee shops. Always have your student card with you, you never know when you will need it.

Going to college by train is something you will find awkward at the beginning, but eventually you will get used to it. You will read a lot during the way to college (maybe you should invest in a good e-reader, paper books are kind of heavy) and some days you will get really tired, especially when there are no seats and it is 8 am. There is going to be a day when you will share the 20 minutes journey with your new friends, since some of them have to pick up the same train as you. It sounds great, doesn’t it? After the first week of college or so, you will start hanging out with these guys and are going to become very close. You will have lunch together, hang out after classes, laugh in the middle of the lesson when you were supposed to pay attention to the teacher, start sharing some adventures… You will soon realise that there are people who share the same interests as you and that they are actually very kind and friendly. Take care of them.

I don’t know what else to say, enjoy this time of your life and keep doing what you do. 

Best wishes from your tiny-wiser self

BOOK REVIEW: HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

Hello dear readers of mine! Today I'm doing a book review on "The Cursed Child", the latest (and the last) Harry Potter book. It has been on the market for a while and I finished reading it about a month ago, but I decided that it was the perfect book to do my first review.

Here's some general information:

Original title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (parts one and two).

Author(s): JK Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Throne.

Number of pages: 330

Published: July 31st 2016

Genre: fantasy and fiction.

On the back cover...

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

Summary

The main characters of the book are Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy (Harry and Draco's sons). The two kids meet in Hogwards and they become best friends, something that bothers both parents. The relationship between Albus and his father isn't the best one as the kid has to live up to his father's expectation: he is the son of "the Boy Who Lived". One day Amos, Cedric Diggory's father, reaches out to Harry Potter, who's now the Head of the Departament of Magic Law Enfocement. He wants to bring his son back from the death because he has discovered that the Ministry of Magic holds a Time Turner, something unthinkable (and illegal) since all of them were distroyed after the Battle of Hogwards, nineteen years earlier. Somehow, Albus overhears this conversation and decides to tell Scorpius. From then on, the two guys start planning how to get their hands on the Time-Turner without their parents noticing it, and the adventure begins!

Personal opinion and thoughts

This book was a birthday present and I was very excited when I received it. I have always been a huge fan of the Harry Potter books (and movies) and I couldn't believe that there was an eight book coming out. Something that surprised me was the fact that it wasn't a novel, but a play. I'm not used to reading theatre plays and I realised that it was very fast to read, but nothing really happened. Being used to reading the enormous Harry Potter books, I felt as if it wasn't deep enough. The description of the actions was very superficial and there weren't any unexpected changes or turns. 

I really appreciated that Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco and the other "original" characters had a relevant paper in the story, even though the most important ones were their children. I did have very high expectations for this book and I have to admit that I haven't been completely disappointed. The idea was original and it had the kind of vibe that the other books used to have. However, I think that it has lost the "essence" and now it's all about squeezing the juice out of the Harry Potter sensation. After almost ten years of publishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows they release another book with the same concept as the previous seven but a bit watered-down, just to keep up with their fandom. I don't blame them, cause I was the first one to look forward for book, but I think that the Harry Potter myth should have ended with the last book in 2007. 

Rating

Overall I give it a 7/10.

REACTING TO A LETTER I WROTE TO MYSELF TWO YEARS AGO

Two years ago, during Religion class, my teacher told me and the rest of the students to write a letter to ourselves. She would keep it and send it to us in two years time. The idea of being able to talk to my future self was something I never thought of, so I was really excited. I remember wanting to write a very long letter, with loads of details in order to capture what was going on during that stage of my life. If I'm not mistaken she let us bring the letter home, finish it and then bring it back to her the next day.

I wanted this letter to be something that would make me think about myself and reconsider my goals in life. When I finished I sealed the envelope and wrote my address in front of it. I was sure that the day I received my own message I would feel proud of myself and I would realise that I had accomplished some stuff that looked as if it was impossible at that time. The next day at school I gave it to the teacher and then waited. For two years.

A week ago or so, my letter arrived to the mailbox, and believe me when I say it was an extremely awesome fantastic moment. I had very high expectations to read my own advice from a younger and less wiser self, and guess what? When I read it I kind of felt a bit disappointed. Everything I wrote back then didn't make me question anything about my present situation. The pages were filled with anecdotes and other stories that I thought were important by the time I was writing them, but now, they barely made sense. Of course I was glad to read it and I got a bit nostalgic, I also liked knowing what my thoughts were about certain people and other aspects related with studies, family and life in genera, but at the end of the day, the message wasn't "that big of a deal". It was good to know that I had accomplished some stuff I was planning on doing back then, and that I also wished that my future self would be as happy as I am now (which is a big achievement). 

I feel great knowing that I haven't disappointed the young girl who had big plans (and is still working on them).

The point is, even if my intentions were good, the result could have been better, but I don't care, because all the enthusiasm was worth it. I don't know many people who can say that they have received a letter from themselves and after reading it they are proud of who they are and who they used to be. One of my biggest fears when I started writing mine, two years ago, was to aim to high for myself, to write things that could make me feel bad depending on the time that I read the letter. However, nothing of this happened. I wrote everything I wanted and still, it turned out fine. 

Now I'm planning on writing another one... Anyone wants to join?

18 THINGS I'VE LEARNED IN 18 YEARS

I did this kind of post when I turned seventeen last year, and I think it is time that I do it again, because now I'm one year older, so here it is. These are some of the things I've learned in the past few years (I'll try not to repeat myself):

1. You can do anything but not everything: you are capable of doing lots of things, but in order to accomplish what you really want you need to prioritise. Choose what you want to do and focus all your energy into it.

2. Working hard isn't always enough: yes, I contradict myself. You can't be good at everything, even if you put a lot of effort into it. Sometimes it has to do with talent, sometimes it doesn't. Example: I will never be an amazing football player, even if I try my best because I have never been a sporty girl and my body isn't appropriate for these kind of games. The point is to find the things that you can be good at if you work hard on them.

2. Sing out loud until you have no voice and dance like nobody is watching until your feet hurt, because, why not?

3. Quality over quantity: would you rather have a diamond or a bunch of trashy jewellery? I think you all know what I mean.

4. Don't take anything for granted, work hard to keep what you already have, whether its people, your job... Take care of your friends and family, let them know that they are more than "just another friend", that they really matter to you. Make everyone you love feel special.

5. Be the best version of yourself.

6. Read novels and poetry, Sometimes you'll discover a side of yourself that you weren't aware of before.

7. It is okay not to have everything figured out at the age of 18, even when you're 25 and you have no clue about what you want to do, there's no need to panic. Life is a process and (as I always say) the best is yet to come.

8. Do good and good will come to you: no matter what, be nice to people, even if they were rude to you at some stage in their lives. I'm still working on that, but I think it is very important to be "the good one" since you never know when you're going to need someone in a determined situation.

9. Take care of your body: eat healthy, drink water and all that kind of stuff because you're going to live "inside" it until you die (does that make sense?).

10. "Having fun" doesn't involve getting drunk. It's okay to have some crazy nights or whatever you want to call them, but that doesn't mean that it always has to be like this. Get out and find something amazing to do and enjoy during your teenage years: climb trees, have deep talks on a rooftop, throw yourself into a pool fully dressed... Be creative and live life to the fullest.

11. Don't be afraid to take risks because at the end of the day, you're most likely to regret the things you didn't do than the ones you did do. Follow your intuition whenever you feel like it.

12. Changes aren't easy, but the more you change, the easier it will be for you to get used to new situations. 

13. Put yourself first, and no, it is not selfish. You have to be okay with yourself before loving others.

14. Listen to people, it is the key to learning. It's very hard for me to say that, as I am a very talkative person, however, when you take time to listen to other people's thoughts you see that (sometimes) they have very interesting things to share.

15. Find things to look forward to (ex: a holiday, an special date...), this way your life will be more exciting.

16. Treat triumph and disaster the same way (yes, I'm quoting a Kippling's poem)

17. Learn to diminish the importance of things. Maybe now you make a big deal out of something (example: can't afford going to your favourite singer's concert), but at the end of the day you'll realise that it wasn't that much. 

18. Do whatever makes you feel happy and free and never forget that you are still young.

PS: For some strange reason all the comments on the blog have disappeared and I'm very sad, if someone knows how could have happened, please tell me :)

Best of luck,

xx Cecil

HOW TO DEAL WITH FRUSTRATION

I usually like to start writing my posts really casually, you know, talking a bit about what has been going on with my life or sharing any anectode that happened to me recently. A few minutes ago I was loggin into my Bloglovin' account and I realised that it had been ages since I went there for the last time... Now I have plenty of opened tabs to read blogposts, which is exciting! Anyways, let's move on to the actual post.

I'm such a perfectionist and when something goes wrong I make a big deal out of it, when there's nothing to worry about. I still have to learn how to cope with those situations, but meanwhile I get so frustrated, an it's depressing, believe me. The smallest thing can completely change my mood and I'll become really mean, which is something I'm not proud of, because I end up hurting (not physically) people around me when it's not their fault. However, I've been trying to improve my behaviour towards the issue and, even though I have a lot to improve, I think I can teach you some steps you can take if you are like me and you get disappointed very easily:

1. Learn lo lose: you won't always win and it is not a problem! Many things can be learnt from your defeats. If your really want something, keep trying.

2. Don't take it personally: sometimes people say things without knowing how they're going to affect you. Ignore those comments, they are most likely to be harmless. Don't waste your precious time thinking too much about it (says someone who does it all the time...).

3. Don't give up and remember why you started: never forget your main motivation and how excited you where at the beginning of your journey. It's okay to have ups and downs, you just have to keep going, because the best is yet to come! Yey :)

4. Take time to assume that not everything goes as you expected. Your thoughts won't change overnight, but you can train your mind. Think about what makes you upset or disappoints you a few days after it happened, everything looks clearer with a cool mind.

6. Try to think about the situation from another point of view, what would someone else do? Sometimes it is easier to think about your "problems" as if you were another person. Try doing this exercise ;)

5. Talk about it with people you trust. Sharing your feelings with your friends and family is not something you should be afraid of, further. In my case I find it really hard because I don't want to disturb them, but after you have explained what's on your mind it feels great.

I took this picture back when I was in Amsterdam and I think it's lovely :)

Before I go I would like to add that there's nothing wrong with not having everything planned out in your life and it's fine to feel under the weather when things don't go as you'd expected. Life is awesome and chocolate is always there for you!! No, I'm joking, but seriously, there's always something that will brighten up your day, you only have to figure it out. 

WATCH OUT 2016, HERE I COME!

Hello from the other siiiiideee (of the screen)! Yes, I have been away for a while but new year is the best time for a come back, and I couldn't be more excited. I know I'm a bit late for all the new year related posts, but it's fine. This whole blogging thing always goes very early! Anyways,  I think I should start with my new year's resolutions... Well, I'm not the best at making goals and sticking to them, I don't know if you remember that time I tried doing it monthly and I failed... However, I will try (again) and see if this year I can achieve them all:

1. Learn how to make decisions: I'm the most indecisive person in the world and whenever I have to choose something (even if it's something as simple as: what do I eat?) I don't know what to pick and I become really nervous.

2. Think before I speak: it's a mistake I have to change. It's not that I don't think at all, but sometimes I say things that may offend people and I regret it. The resolution would be to choose wisely my words so I can control what I say.

3. Stop apologizing when it's not necessary: I constanlty say "sorry" or "forgive me" for no reason and I want to stop that because it seems as if I was a very insecure person and besides, I don't like people who do the same.

4. Exercise twice a week... I'm not going to say anything about this one because it's the typical fitness goal that appears in everybody's resolution list. Let's hope I can make it, it's pretty realistic isn't it?

5. Post once a week: (from now on) I'm still a student so I don't have much time to dedicate it to my blog. Since it's something I really enjoy I've decided to continue posting regularly. 

I think what happens to me is that I set up unrealistic goals for myself, therefore I can't accomplish them, so this year I tried to make them more realistic, if that makes sense. I will also try to make monthly/three months goals (mainly with blogging but also other stuff) to keep track of my process and stay motivated.

At the beginning of this year I was in Ireland, a place that brings me the nicest memories ever. What else can I ask for? 2016 has been great so far, it can only get better. I wish you all an amazing year and I'll see you around :) xxxx


PS: I wanted to thank all the people that has read the blog during my absence, The number of views has been great guys! Thank you so much.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE BUSY

Let me warn you: you will get nothing out of this post, you still have time to close the window and do something more useful, your life will appreciate it!

The title is kind of misleading, because if you're busy you already have stuff to do, which means that you don't need anybody to tell you WHAT to do. It doesn't work the same as saying "What to do when you're bored", so it makes no sense... I have an entire project that needs to be done by the begginning of next month, plenty of exams coming next week and lots of other work that I have to finish asap. The question is, why am I doing writing this post instead of putting all my effort into all these  tasks? It is called procrastination...and I'm the best at it, feel free to join the club if you can identify youself as one of us. 

Whenever I have to do something related with school I find myself thinking (in a very creative way) about other stuff, for example, when I have to study for an exam I like to google "how to be a good student" or "how to get an A+ without studying" and spend hours reading articles that won't help me because what I really need to do is STUDY! Yesterday I ended up taking a test to see what type of learner I was and it turned out to be kind of useful. Also related with studying: I go on Youtube and type "relaxing music for studying", I then click to the first video and start reading the comments which say: "thumbs up if you are reading this when you should be studying" and I think to myself "yep... so true". 

Now that you know everything that I do instead of school work, I'll tell you what YOU can do if you find yourself not wanting to do "important stuff" and you decide to PROCRASTINATE!!

- Watch videos on how to start having a healthy lifestyle and work out more (yes, I love to watch them while I'm eating a bag of crisps and drinking soda).

- Read blogs (I do it all the time) or books, or even cereal packs!

- Look for photography tutorials: Pinterest has the best cheat sheets regarding aperture, ISO...

- Sing up to an online course on EdeX, it is a website where they offer multiple courses for free and at the end you get a certificate (paying I think), so it's kind of cool.

- Reorganise your bedroom and tidy it up. Am I the only one who has this need of cleaning up the mess when I have tons of work?

- Take a look at the AppStore, you'll find plenty of apps that you didn't know that they existed.

- Start writing a book or a diary for yourself. You could also record a video of you talking and don't see it untill you're older (set a date for that).

- Read the Guinness World Records and/or try to achieve something never done before (without hurting yourself, be safe).

- Stalk your friends online and end up looking  your teacher's sister's neighbour's profile.

- Go out and do as if you where talking on your phone (when you actually aren't).

- Email me something at wednesday19th@gmail.com, I'll probably be procrastinating as well... 

- Bake cookies and eat them (the second part is the best one).

I hope you found something to do on this list! I'll try to post more frequenly from now on, I have to review my October goals (I'm a disaster) and set new ones. Before I finish the post I want to tell you that I've signed up to a course that has to do with growing your blog's audience. It is carried by Melyssa from The Nectar Collective (a blog I love) and I thought you may be interested in it. I don't know if you can join by now, but here's the link anyways :) Have a nice week!