21 Things Before I’m 21

Over the past year I have been trying to complete 21 new ‘things’ before I made it to 21. Things that I always wanted to try, pushed me out of my comfort zone or were purely spontaneous. I didn’t have a definitive list because unfortunately I can’t yet work like that… but I’ve started to combat being a dreamer rather than a doer through this little project! The one ‘thing’ that I am most proud of is the 21^st (and I would be stoked if you would check it out). Anyways here’s the full list of 21 things …

1. This blog! This was one of the first things that I set up. I have to admit that I actually set it up when I was attempting to complete ‘20 things before I’m 20’ (like the next 2 things in my list) … but unfortunately I didn’t complete enough. Anyways this blog is a kinda fun creative outlet for me even if noone else finds anything that I write worth reading!
2. Paddleboarding … this was pretty awesome. I have surfed before, which is harder so this was a pretty cool, relaxed activity to do. The reason I went paddleboarding was because there was no surf predicted for that day. At the end of the lesson, after both my instructor and myself had fallen in at least 5 times each, my instructor said that we should probably have gone surfing instead…
3. Learning to ski! My friend and I went to Xscape to do a free ski lesson at Xscape as part of an initiative to get girls to do more sport. The whole experience was pretty fun and my friend had pretty much been converted into liking snowsports, which was awesome!
4. First sports initiations. So I managed to ‘miss out’ on sports initiations in my 1^st year at uni (I didn’t really drink at all back then … I was known for my single bottle of cider at any drinking fest). The initiations were for the rowing club and they were pretty fun but we had to eat vodka-soaked malt loaf (I don’t recommend).
5. First snow holiday! I was extremely excited about this one!! I had done some snowboarding lessons at Xscape since I was about 12/13 (but literally one lesson every 2/3 years) so I was stoked about getting the chance to attempt to shred some pow in Val Thorens on Varsity trip with my uni friends. It was an amazing week spent mostly on my bum but a trip that I will never forget!
6. Rowing training camp. So I’m definitely no athlete but I had the opportunity to go on my college’s rowing training camp in January so I decided to give it a shot. It was very hard and my hands were ripped to shreds but it was cool experience nonetheless!
7. Travelled solo. This actually happened twice this year. The first was simply travelling to Ireland by plane, which was good preparation for travelling solo to Honduras via Atlanta, for sure!
8. St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland! At some point in your life you should check out St. Patrick’s day in Ireland. A group of us were invited over by our Irish uni friend and it was an awesome experience … I did try Guinness but I’m personally not a fan, unfortunately!
9. Back on a horse. So whilst in Ireland we went horseriding. At that point it had been 10 years since I last rode a horse and was thrown off. I have to admit I was pretty nervous but it was great to be back in the saddle, although it did feel kinda weird!
10. Met royalty. This is probably the thing that I am most embarrassed about. Prince William came to officially open up the library at my college and I decided to make a poster to welcome him … he really liked it and we had a brief chat which was awesome!
11. Rowed in Summer VIII’s. In my first year I wasn’t able to row in this popular bumps racing event (because I was on a field trip) but I managed to get involved this year, despite being pretty ill the week before. Even though I was in the 3^rd boat we still did well and I had a great few days with those girls!
12. Attended a Cambridge May Ball! So I got the cool opportunity to go to Gonville and Caius May Ball as part of a ball swap with our ball committee. Most people don’t get to go to Cambridge balls unless they know someone there so I felt pretty lucky!
13. Helped organize a ball. I’m not gonna lie my role was pretty small and definitely less stressful than the top jobs but it was amazing to see the work that my friends and myself put into the Magdalen Commemoration Ball and how it all came together, literally as people started walking in at 7pm! Staying up for 34 hours straight, with the actual ball fitting in halfway through that period, was very exhausting though!
14. Rode in a tuk tuk. I’ve never been to India but it turns out that other places in the world use tuk tuks to get around (maybe I’m just naïve). Whilst out diving in Utila, I regularly used the taxi tuk tuks to get between my hotel and town.
15. Learnt to scuba dive! This was something I kinda vaguely thought that I would do at some point in my life put I’m so glad that my dissertation required this because I now love diving. I had a bit of tough experience but it was all worth it in the end (check out my experience in full here)
16. First drinking challenge. The only place that I have discovered with drinking challenges, which if completed you receive a t-shirt, and Utila has plenty! I ended up doing the Tranquila tequila challenge as well as the infamous Skidrow challenge (which I ‘loved’ so much I completed it twice)
17. First time skinny dipping. There is definitely something slightly strange about skinny dipping but it’s very freeing (and definitely better when you do it the second time). The first time I did it we were walking back from a night out in Utila and 15 of us stripped off and ran into the sea. I can’t believe I am actually writing this.
18. Started my Youtube channel/posted my first video. Seen as I already had a google account, my youtube account was apparently started a while back but I didn’t post my first video (6 weeks in Utila) until a couple months ago. It’s already at over 200 views too!
19. Became Rescue Diver certified. After coming back from Utila I straight away tried to find a local dive centre and it turned out that they were starting a rescue course in a the next couple of weeks, so I dove in (excuse the pun!) It was pretty challenging and I learnt a lot but it was a great experience with great people. I am definitely a warm weather diver (but maybe I just need to do my drysuit course?)
20. Travelled to all 4 parts of UK over this past year. I went to Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, as well as spending time in different parts of the UK. I’ve never been to the whole of the UK in one year so I think it’s pretty cool and some of the trips were fairly spontaneous. It was great to spend time with family and friends for these trips too!
21. My first guitar video. As my final 21^st ‘thing’ I did something that I am most proud of. I decided to push myself to showcase the one hobby that has been a major part of my life (11 years now) and I am so stoked to be sharing it. This was filmed in a limited timeframe and it features plenty of mess ups, a tad of editing skill and a myriad of head bobbing. The availability to pick up a guitar, having lessons to learnt it and the support to keep it up is one of the greatest gifts that my parents have given me! I definitely need to learn to smile whilst playing the guitar though!

1. Blog

2. Paddleboarding

3. Learning to ski

4 Rowing Initiations

5 Ski/snowboard holiday

6 Rowing Camp

7 Travelling solo

8 St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland

9 Back on a horse

10 Meeting royalty

11 Summer VIIIs

12 Cambridge May Ball

13 Magdalen Commem Ball

14 Tuk tuks

15 Scuba diving certified

16 Drinking challenge

17 Skinny Dipping spot

18 Youtube channel

So those are my 21 things! I hope you found this post pretty interesting and if it’s inspired you to do anything yourself then that’s awesome. Finally thank you to everyone who has been in my life these past 21 years, however little because I really appreciate the amazing experiences that I have had with you and everything that you have taught me!

Peace out,

K