Defining Moments

This week has been reasonably calm. Although, if you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen on my story that I have been preparing something exciting for you guys this week. Read until the end for the grand reveal. I’m so excited to share this!

So, when planning what I was going to talk about this week on the blog a few weeks ago, I simply wrote the words “Defining Moments”. A little ambiguous, perhaps?

On Monday when I looked at this in my little planning book, I knew I’d have to think about ways to expand upon this idea. Defining moments. What exactly did I mean by that?

I figure that what I was trying to convey was the idea of moments in your life that have changed your future, or some event that you remember particularly. So, I’ve made a list of what I consider as my “Defining Moments” so far to share with you.

1. Primary School Nativity

Now, if you think describing that as a defining moment is a little strange, I suppose that’s because it is. But it is true. At my first primary school, all years took part in the nativity (peculiar, I know), and we all used to get really excited when nativity season came about. We’d all get our parts and start rehearsals down at the little village hall, dropping our wellies by the door and running into the hustle and bustle.

I remember these rehearsals and performances with surprising clarity given how old I was at the time, and I think it was these nativities that gave me the passion I have for performing. I loved rehearsing for the performance and the excitement before we all went on, usually trying to secure Mary’s cushion shaped baby bump with a few more safety pins and checking that our outfits were straight last minute.

These performances were some of the first times I was ever on stage, and I knew I loved it from the minute I tried it. So, I’m classing these nativity performances as defining moments, because without them, who knows if I would love drama and acting the way I do?

2. The Phantom of The Opera

When I was quite young (not sure how old I was), I went to see a performance of The Phantom of The Opera in London. It was amazing, and I was inspired by the music. I still love the story and the music. From seeing this performance, I dreamed to perform in the West End, particularly in the role of Christine. Maybe one day I will achieve that dream… who knows? 😉

{I also have decided to do this book as one of the novels for my English coursework, so I suppose that shows how defining this story/musical is in my life.}

3. Madame Naylor

Madame Naylor was the French teacher at my second primary school, and I absolutely loved her. I think she was definitely my favourite teacher, and I learned to love French because of her. She always encouraged me in my French, and I regularly stayed behind after class to do more. My mum tells me that Madame Naylor knew I would take French at GCSE and A Level.

However, I never imagined that after I’d left that school I would be doing A Level French. Just before I picked my GCSE subjects, we got a new French teacher for my class, and she was really bad, and so most of my class picked Spanish GCSE instead of French GCSE. I pursued French because of Madame Naylor because I still loved French despite the teacher. I’m so glad that I took French, because I love my new teacher; she is such an inspiration and just a genuinely nice person.

If I hadn’t had Madame Naylor as my teacher, I probably wouldn’t have picked French at GCSE, and then would never have had the chance to study with my current teacher, so I count her as a definite defining moment.

4. Second Primary School

Not all defining moments are positive, and even though we want to remember the positives, it is important that we recognise the low points as well. For me, a low point was when I moved primary schools. I loved my first primary school, and when I moved to my second primary school, it was so different from everything I had ever know that I was effectively chucked in at the deep end of the swimming pool.

I made friends and gradually worked to stay afloat in the pool, and I’m not saying that I was miserable for the whole duration of my second primary school. I wasn’t; in fact, I’d go so far to say that I made some awesome memories and had some great times.

But, when I started my year six year, I realised that I had begun to drown in the deep end of the pool. Nearly every night, I came home crying because of something that had happened. I had no self-confidence and felt like I didn’t know who I was anymore. I had let the people around me change me so much that I no longer felt happy in myself, so I had to leave and start afresh.

When I left, I was in a very low place. Shy and unsure of who I was, feeling like I had morphed into some sort of alien version of myself, I started my third primary school. This primary school was a feeder school to the high school I am at now, and if I hadn’t gone to that school, I probably wouldn’t have ended up here.

This school has helped me build my confidence and redefine myself. I know who I am now, and I am proud of that person, and if I hadn’t had that bad experience as a defining moment in my life, I would never have come here and become as happy as I am now.

5. Oliver

At my third primary school, the year six always put on a year group play. I knew I loved acting, so obviously wanted to take part. I was still feeling very shy about myself, and I had pretty bad stage fright at this point, so when I auditioned for the role, I literally shook throughout the audition, feeling sick and being unable to look at anyone watching.

When the cast was announced, I found that, despite my timid audition, I had been given the part of Nancy with another girl (we did a double cast, so everyone got a chance at a main role). I was really excited as this was to be my first main character role in anything, although I was terrified at the same time. The fact that my crush was playing Bill Sykes didn’t do much to calm my nerves either.

Somehow or another, with the help of my music and drama teachers, I got to the night of the performance. I had never felt more alive when on stage, and therefore I definitely count this as a defining moment in my life, as it was my first main role.

6. The Dream That Started It All

That sounds incredibly Disney-like, doesn’t it? Cheesy as it sounds, this label was the best description I could find for this defining moment. I think I’ve already talked about the dream I had when I was twelve that prompted me to start writing, so I won’t go into the details again, but if I haven’t and you would like to know more, comment down below.

Yet again, although I didn’t know at the time, this dream shaped the course of my life. Without it, I would never have found I had a passion for writing, written three novels, started this blog … Effectively, I owe the plan for my life to this dream, so it has to be classed as a critical defining moment.

7. Joining Choir

Sounds simple, but when I joined my school choir in year 9 I could never have imagined everything that I have learned whilst being a member of choir. Choir is a family, and as I’m facing down into my last year of choir come September, I can’t believe that it’s almost over. I also can’t believe that I’m going to be head of row next year (someone help me *cry*). Let’s hope I don’t screw up.

I remember that when my friend Elizabeth and I auditioned for choir, we were both so convinced that we wouldn’t get in because the girls in choir were so amazing, that when we did get in, we ran out of the music house and literally cheered. We were both so happy, and in a bit of a state of disbelief, and that moment turned out to be a highly defining moment in my life.

8. Barcelona

The year I joined choir, there was a choir trip going to Barcelona to sing in the Sagrada Familia and see the sights of the city. I really wanted to go, but I was pretty scared. I’d not been on a plane for a while, and I’d never travelled anywhere without my parents. It was a scary step to take, but I pushed through the fear and signed up to go.

I loved the trip. It was amazing, and I think I will remember my first sight of the city of Barcelona for ever. All the places we went and all the places we sung were so beautiful, and I loved going on holiday with my friends. It was my first taste of a sort of independence, and it was incredible.

This trip taught me that I wanted to travel and see more of the world. One day I will go back to Barcelona, and I will go to lots of different places around the world. And don’t worry; I promise I’ll take loads of pictures and keep you guys up to date.

9. Italy

Another trip (you will get the impression I go abroad a lot, but I promise you I don’t). Last summer, I went to Italy for the first time with my mum. I had always dreamed about going to Italy, so this was a dream come true for me, and I loved it as much as I had anticipated I would.

One night, I sat on the balcony of our hotel room, looking out onto the town as it was light up in the night time, and I was filled with so many words to describe what I was thinking and feeling that I really wanted to share my thoughts. It was then that I decided that I wanted to start a blog, so that moment definitely defined my life. I’d never have thought I would enjoy this as much as I do, and I’m so grateful for that moment in my life.

10. …

So, after a long post (sorry about that guys), I finally can reveal what you’ve been waiting for, as it is definitely a defining moment in my life.

On Tuesday, I filmed my first YouTube video!

I have been thinking about starting a YouTube channel for months now but couldn’t decide what sort of video to do. On Sunday, I finally decided, so I filmed it on Tuesday, and that video will be going up tomorrow night. I hope you all go and watch it (I will leave the link of the homepage when I have uploaded it). Like, comment and subscribe to the channel, because I will be filming more content soon for you guys.

I am so excited! 2018 is turning into a great year for me. I’ll finish up here and have a great week.

#definingmoments #reachforthestars #lifejourney