The ‘BIG’ Little Things of 2017

CP Teens UK became a registered charity
Okay, this isn’t a little thing as such, but it cannot be missed. On Thursday 16th March I was sat in a lecture and received a message from Ellie (the founder of CP Teens UK) saying that we were officially a registered charity. That one message meant so much and attempting to focus on the lecture was very hard, it was such a milestone. Gaining charity status is a VERY long process and something that had taken a lot of dedication and effort from Ellie and her mum. By becoming a charity, CP Teens has had the chance to expand so much this year, get their own office and plan many more events for 2018!

Going solo!
As student who cannot drive, I am no stranger of public transport- unless my family were driving. Yet I had always got the bus or train with a friend or PA with this being safer. It may not be an achievement for most, they probably wouldn’t think twice when getting the train home! Getting on the train by myself was an achievement. I had booked assistance in advance so they helped me find the right train and got me to my seat in one piece. Then off to Chesterfield I went! It wasn’t necessarily difficult, just something at the grand age of 19 I had not experienced before. Luckily a friend was there to meet me at the other side and help me off the train. With this adventure starting all over again when I traveled back home, thank you to kind strangers pointing me in the right direction.

Teaching
As part of my university course I completed a 5 week placement at back at my high school. I had the chance to work with a wide range of abilities, many of the students having special educational needs. I throughly enjoyed my time there and probably learnt more than I was able to teach the children! However, the joy that comes from teaching simple topics like colours, days of the week or money was my favourite. How could I take these concepts and make them more interesting? Turning things into a game or mini competition kept them more engaged. However, I didn’t anticipate making mermaids out of play-dough most lunchtimes, but this was all part of the fun!

Voting for the first time
Turning 18 years old means you have the right to vote. This meant that the first time I was eligible to vote was during the EU referendum in 2016. Unfortunately, I was not very well and was admitted to hospital that evening. As a result, I never voted. In 2017 there was another general election, something you most probably are aware of. This time I did go down to the polling station near my house and vote.

Moving into a new house
Leaving student halls after your first year of studies is what the vast majority of students do. I did think very carefully about this decision as I was given the opportunity to stay on campus, making getting to university more accessible. Despite this, I chose to move into a house with friends. Getting to university is now more of a challenge, but is very possible and I live so close to a train station. By making university slightly harder to get to, I have made socialising easier. I have already been on more nights out with friends this academic year then I did during my first year of university- and I hope this continues to happen during 2018. You certainly will not see me out every single weekend, but the odd night is lots of fun!

Walk, walk, walk
Have you walked all day today? Did you think about it? Did you even consider it an achievement? Last year I really struggled with my mobility. With each fall being another step backwards, steps forwards were all small victories. I did keep fighting and kept trying to improve, despite there being moments where I gave up. My family never gave up and helped me back on my feet, literally! This year I have had days where I have walked all day, I have even had weeks where I have walked around everyday! I have gone from strength to strength and walked more this year then I have in a very long time, this is definitely something I would like to continue in 2018.

Starting anti- depressants 
This is something that I have not mentioned on my blog before. Yet physical health can affect mental health, and sometimes there is no reason to be struggling with your mental health. A few months ago I started taking anti- depressants for depression and having a low mood. It took me a long time to ask for help, but I hope things will continue to improve in 2018.

These boots are made for walking!
You will probably know how much I love shoes, even if they are shoes that I will never be able to walking in! However, shoes that my splints can fit in are even better- despite being incredible difficult to find. The time had come to find some new winter boots, and in the past the hardest combination is a pair of shoes that I like, are suitable, and durable enough to withstand the way I walk. To my surprise Doc Martin boots worked amazing and will definitely last! The joy of these boots meant that once I knew what size worked, I actually had a choice of shoes. I cannot remember the last time I had a choice of shoes when it came to my splints! In the end I chose some brown boots that looked slightly worn, with the hope of disguising all the scuffs I will inevitably make. I have found the boots very comfortable over winter, and they are covered in marks- but oh well!

This will be my last blog post of 2017. Thank you very much to everyone who has supported me over the last 12 months, whether that is in person or via social media. I hope you all have a lovely Christmas, a Happy New Year. See you all in 2018 for more adventures, blog posts and awareness!

~ Chloe x