Weekly Inspiration (19/10/20)

 

 

 

Oh, dear friends. This entire week was bizarre in that everything and nothing happened. Everything changed and yet nothing did. Once more, I found my footing with starting back at school and am slowly but surely settling into a rhythm. A deep appreciation and love for live music has been kindled in me. I have spent many hours in utter adoration, immersing myself in the world of concerts. What’s funny is that I’ve never been to one, unless you count the Wiggles when I was little. So far, Fade into you by Mazzy Star, 1994, and Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls are my favourite to hear and have been playing on repeat. It must be the lack of autotune and the passion you can hear from the crowd and band as they share a moment. It’s the atmosphere- you feel as if you’ve entered into a different time and place entirely, even if just for a little while. It is knowing that once the time is gone, all you will have is memories so you’d best live life to the best and fullest of your capabilities. You’d best wave your hands back and forth and chant song lyrics until your lungs hurt and your heart is happy. I’m sure by now it is most apparent that concert music has carried me through this week. It has provided a much needed reprieve.

I want to begin by assuring you all that I am healthy and well. I’m simply at a crossroads come this point in my life and have begun making decisions that have a lead on effect. I remember being asked frequently what career path I envisioned myself taking when I was younger- I was always proud of myself for knowing how to answer but now I realise that isn’t enough. Knowing what you want to do is one part of the equation and making it happen another entirely. Just like that, my carefully set out plans for my future in education unravelled completely this week. Then, in an act of God, they came together marvellously. Every little corner and edge lined up and I was reminded of the beauty in being open to change. I haven’t yet talked about these new plans so this blogging community of mine will be first in line to hear about it! I am so happy to be able to share in the joy of this news with you all. In the last couple of days I’ve had more people decide to follow along with my journey so I will give a quick recap of what’s going on at the moment for clarity’s sake. Hopefully we will all be on the same page then!

A couple of years back I made the decision not to continue into Senior Years at High School and instead pursue further education at TAFE. What I hadn’t considered however was the possibility of attending a private college. On Wednesday, my mum came upon and enquired about a private design college called Billy Blue. It’s located in the Ultimo area, inner city Sydney. Best of all is that I have options and the opportunity for further study. I could go just as far study wise as any other person with their high school certificate. Since contacting the college midweek, I’d say I have answers to all questions and concerns I posed. This simply wasn’t the case with TAFE- their institutes have proved to be run of the mill, bland and certainly not a stand out option. It’s funny how your perspective can shift so dramatically when you are given the option to explore something better. Private college is certainly more expensive than TAFE but an investment in my future that I need to commit to making. They will accept me at seventeen years of age and have said my best course fit would be working towards a Diploma of Interior Design. After this would come Bachelor’s and, finally, a degree in the Interior Design field. I plan to carry on through the levels of qualification as long as financial circumstances will allow for it. Fee help is available which I am immensely grateful for. Without an afterpay system, Private College would be eliminated as an option for so many people. I am glad that this need for financial aid has been recognised and catered for so well. The system works in such a way that payments are only deducted from your chosen bank account when you begin earning $50,000 a year. Until this time, you are under expectation or obligation to pay a cent. This system will benefit young people greatly as they will have increased financial autonomy and perhaps won’t have to rely on family to contribute to their school fund. 

I would be undertaking full time study with a work load of thirty hours per week. The study I plan to chose is blended, allowing me to work from home and campus on scheduled days. Online lectures go for an hour and a half and in class, three hours. The commute from home to school should only take about an hour by train, give or take a bit. Billy Blue offers flexible hours and is open from seven in the morning till ten at night. I could choose between an 8 am ,11 am, 3pm or 6:30pm start but plan to stick to the morning hours as I’d feel more comfortable that way and would have undivided time for my family, hobbies and other pursuits. I would start College mid February after being on break since Mid December.

The other major lifestyle change agreed on this week was my upcoming move to my Grandma’s place in the Blue Mountains. I have been feeling beckoned to make a change for a while now and want a solid, stable home base to come back and forth to while I explore and really get in touch with my needs and wants. I can say with all seriousness that I am fast approachable young adulthood, a stage in life that you cannot turn back from once you’ve hit it. I want to sort out my living situation a year in advance so I can navigate other aspects of adulthood that will undoubtedly come my way. It is still a hope and dream of mine to move to the United States but this will happen at a snail’s pace with the virus running rampant, the possibility of safe travel being up in the air and my young age. I’ve been coming to terms with the fact that my life will not be run entirely on my own schedule, even if I am in the driver’s seat- and that’s okay. I look forward to sharing many long and happy days with my grandma, bringing a little life back into her place and us providing much needed company for one another. We have already settled on the bedroom I’ll take and sorted out details of when I can move in and what changes will be made. New carpet will be put in as the floor has some water staining and marks. There will be white wood panelled wallpaper on three of the walls and a gorgeous floral for the statement wall. The hanging light will be replaced with a tassel chandelier and the ceiling and cupboards painted. I’ll be moving in the furniture I currently own so there will be no cost there. I may add a new mini rug or ottoman. As with my current bedroom, there is a large window with a view of the neighbour’s yard. What’s most exciting is the French Doors leading out onto the balcony. I can imagine my Grandma and I going out to read and enjoy a cup of tea in the mornings. I’ll share pictures of my current bedroom and design inspiration above! x