January Round-Up: What Happened?

We've already reached the end of the first month! How crazy is that? That honestly flew by so quickly. I remember January feeling like 3 months long last year. but this year it came and went in a blink.

I thought I would do a post I have never done before. I want to put more time and thought into my blog this year. Although I work hard on my blog all the time, I want 2019 to be the best one yet for Chelle Belle. I'm hoping to see the community grow significantly, for my photography game to level up and for my posts to reach the engagement it never has before.

So, I have decided to start a new "series" called 'Round-up'. Being at university, having set academic goals for every month is very difficult. Unlike school doing a degree isn't as set in stone. You don't have assignments and homework every week like you may do in school or sixth form, making it very hard to make goals at the beginning of every month. I will still be making academic goals posts whenever I am able to, but I wanted something I could post every month, that would be continuous. That is when I landed on the idea of doing round-up. Essentially, at the end of every month I will share some of the things I got up to, achieved or struggled with during the month. Some may be personal and others to do with academia.

Hopefully you enjoy these posts as I go down memory lane every month. Of course this is the first of 12, that you can look forward to reading this year.
So, what did I get up to in January?

One Of Us Is Lying Book Review [NO SPOILERS]

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus was my first read of the year. Usually I would have a book ready to read from the 1st of January, but I took a long time reading my last book 'Battle Field of the Mind by Joyce Meyers. I finished that book somewhere around the 2nd or 3rd, after reading it on and off throughout December. After closing the last page, I created my TBR- See here if you are interested, and ordered my first couple of books. I decided to start with One of us is lying, and it did not disappoint.

Just in case you haven't read my TBR post that I posted last week (which you should), here is what the book is all about:

The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide. 

Pay close attention and you might solve this.

On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. 
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. 
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose? 
Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them...

When I first heard about this book, I thought it would be more centred around the actual death of Simon and have me on edge the whole time, but actually it's a very light-hearted and fun read. The book is of course focusing around the idea of a sudden death but once you get into it, you realize that it focuses more on the characters' lives, which I kind of liked. The book follows each characters' perspectives on what happened, what they were going through in their personal lives and their social status at school etc. I really loved the way the author built each character. I think the character development was my favourite thing about the book. 

As the story goes on, you really start to understand each person and almost become attached to them. There were times when I felt really sorry for each of them, annoyed at them and happy for them. With the setting being a high school, it's very easy for young people to relate to and some of the secrets they kept are secrets I am sure many other students have. 

This book covers a lot of ground. It talks about A LOT of things that teenagers have to deal with in their lives. For the sake of not spoiling the book I won't go TOO into it but it discusses identity, relationships, friendships, depression and pressure of making a future for yourself. It was really nice to see how REAL the book was, regardless of it being fictional. 

The book took me 5 days to read, which isn't bad considering I had an exam I was studying for. It was nice to read a couple chapters when I had free time, before bed or in the morning. 

One thing I wasn't too fond of though, was the way it kind of jumped ahead towards the end. There was a section where there was utter chaos and then all of a sudden things just changed out of nowhere. I feel like it didn't follow the rest of the realism the book stuck to, but I really can't complain because it is a fiction book. 

Overall I would give this 4 out of 5 stars. I did really enjoy it, and it's a book that taught you something important in a very subtle way. 

Have you read this book? Let me know in the comments your thoughts, if so. And will you consider reading it if you haven't? 

Thanks for reading, 
Have a great day x 

Books I Want To Read In 2019

If you know me, you'll be very much aware of my love for books. Reading is one of those things that I just get so much happiness and excitement from. Unfortunately with doing an English Language degree, I don't have much time to read my own material, however I still have a list of books I would like to read this year. I make a TBR (To Be Read) list every year but I realised the other day that I've never actually shared them with you guys. Today is the day that changes!

I'm always encouraging people to read because there are so many benefits to reading. Hopefully you'll be interested in one of these books too.

I'm pretty sure that this list will be added to over the year, however this is the list I came up with over the last week.

(This is in no particular order and the descriptions are all from goodreads)

1. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life. 

2. The Thousandth Floor by Katherine Mcgee
NEW YORK CITY AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.

A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future where anything is possible—if you want it enough.

WELCOME TO MANHATTAN, 2118.

A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. Everyone there wants something…and everyone has something to lose.

LEDA COLE’s flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.

ERIS DODD-RADSON’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.

RYLIN MYERS’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will this new life cost Rylin her old one?

WATT BAKRADI is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy for an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.

And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is AVERY FULLER, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.

Amid breathtaking advancement and high-tech luxury, five teenagers struggle to find their place at the top of the world. But when you're this high up, there's nowhere to go but down....

3. The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah
France, 1939
In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another.

Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can...completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real--and deadly--consequences. 

4. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

5. Always Never Yours by Emma Wibberley and Austin Siegemund Broka
Seventeen-year-old Megan Harper is about due for her next sweeping romance. It's inevitable—each of her relationships starts with the perfect guy and ends with him falling in love . . . with someone else. But instead of feeling sorry for herself, Megan focuses on pursuing her next fling, directing theater, and fulfilling her dream college's acting requirement in the smallest role possible.

So when she’s cast as Juliet (yes, that Juliet) in her high school’s production, it’s a complete nightmare. Megan’s not an actress, and she’s used to being upstaged—both in and out of the theater. In fact, with her mom off in Texas and her dad remarried and on to baby #2 with his new wife, Megan worries that, just like her exes, her family is moving on without her.

Then she meets Owen Okita, an aspiring playwright inspired by Rosaline from Shakespeare's R+J. A character who, like Megan, knows a thing or two about short-lived relationships. Megan agrees to help Owen with his play in exchange for help catching the eye of a sexy stagehand/potential new boyfriend. Yet Megan finds herself growing closer to Owen, and wonders if he could be the Romeo she never expected.

6. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
In his journal, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck called East of Eden “the first book,” and indeed it has the primordial power and simplicity of myth. Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.

Adam Trask came to California from the East to farm and raise his family on the new rich land. But the birth of his twins, Cal and Aaron, brings his wife to the brink of madness, and Adam is left alone to raise his boys to manhood. One boy thrives nurtured by the love of all those around him; the other grows up in loneliness enveloped by a mysterious darkness.

First published in 1952, East of Eden is the work in which Steinbeck created his most mesmerizing characters and explored his most enduring themes: the mystery of identity, the inexplicability of love, and the murderous consequences of love's absence. A masterpiece of Steinbeck's later years, East of Eden is a powerful and vastly ambitious novel that is at once a family saga and a modern retelling of the Book of Genesis.

7. The Seven Husbands of Everlyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn's story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways.

8. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

9. Still Me by JoJo Moyes

Louisa Clark arrives in New York ready to start a new life, confident that she can embrace this new adventure and keep her relationship with Ambulance Sam alive across several thousand miles. She steps into the world of the superrich, working for Leonard Gopnik and his much younger second wife, Agnes. Lou is determined to get the most out of the experience and throws herself into her new job and New York life.

As she begins to mix in New York high society, Lou meets Joshua Ryan, a man who brings with him a whisper of her past. Before long, Lou finds herself torn between Fifth Avenue where she works and the treasure-filled vintage clothing store where she actually feels at home. And when matters come to a head, she has to ask herself: Who is Louisa Clark? And how do you find the courage to follow your heart--wherever that may lead?

10. Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
Two young people are forced to make a stand in this thought-provoking look at racism and prejudice in an alternate society.

Sephy is a Cross -- a member of the dark-skinned ruling class. Callum is a Nought -- a “colourless” member of the underclass who were once slaves to the Crosses. The two have been friends since early childhood, but that’s as far as it can go. In their world, Noughts and Crosses simply don’t mix. Against a background of prejudice and distrust, intensely highlighted by violent terrorist activity, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum -- a romance that is to lead both of them into terrible danger. Can they possibly find a way to be together?

11. One of us is lying by Karen M. McMarcus
On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule. 
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess. 
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose? 
Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

12. The Wait by Meagan Good and DeVon Franklin
Hollywood power couple DeVon Franklin and Meagan Good candidly share about their courtship and marriage, and the key to their success—waiting.

President/CEO of Franklin Entertainment and former Sony Pictures executive DeVon Franklin and award-winning actress Meagan Good have learned sometimes all we can do is wait for “the one” to come into our lives. They spent years crossing paths but it wasn’t until they were thrown together while working on the film Jumping the Broom that their storybook romance began.

Faced with starting a new relationship and wanting to avoid potentially devastating relationship pitfalls, DeVon and Meagan chose to do something almost unheard of in today’s society—abstain from sex until they were married.

In The Wait, DeVon and Meagan share the life-changing message that waiting—rather than rushing a relationship—can help you find the person you’re meant to be with. Filled with candid his-and-hers accounts of the most important moments of their relationship, and practical advice on how waiting for everything—from dating to sex—can transform relationships, allowing you to find a deep connection based on patience, trust, and faith.

What Books do you want to read this year? Let me know in the comments. 

Thanks for reading, 
Have a great day x 

My Current Favourite Bloggers

The blogging community is full of creative, hardworking individuals with amazing content to show for it. Blogging is definitely not easy. Over the almost 3 years I have been doing this myself (wow 3 years.......time flies), I have definitely come to realize the hard work that goes into it. I am not a full time blogger and I've felt the stress and pressure that comes with being a writer, so I really rate those who do this as a career. There is so much more work than just writing, that you kind of need to do for yourself in order to understand. I thought I would do a little appreciation post for some of my favourite bloggers at the moment, to let them know that they're doing great AND maybe introduce you to some new blogs.

Jasmine Talks Beauty:

Jasmine Talks Beauty was one of the first Beauty blogs I became really invested in reading. Jasmine really works hard on her posts and you can see it! She posts so frequently and I have no idea how she does it. I love how her website looks too. It's so aesthetically pleasing and so easy to navigate. Everything about her blog is just so beautiful. Her photography is great and it's just light and refreshing. Before you even read anything, it just inspires you. I've come to really appreciate her advice when it comes to makeup products and beauty. Her reviews are really informative and shes always so up to date with releases. If there is a product I'm looking to buy, I pretty much wait until she posts about it.

ScarletSlippers:

I discovered Charlotte's blog through her vlog channel almost a year ago. I had been watching her university vlogs for months and one day I saw in her description that she had a blog. Of course I checked it out because I'm always looking for new blogs to read and be inspired by. Charlotte's blog is one of my favourites simply because of how relate-able she is. We're only a year a part in age and I guess that makes her personal posts a little easier to relate to. She is such a lovely girl and I would love to meet her one day. She just seems extremely genuine and fun to be around. You can tell that she puts a lot of effort into her posts and I love her photography! It was actually her who inspired me to do a bucket list page. I've always had my bucket list but I never thought to share it, so thanks Charlotte!

Lauren Victoria: 

I cannot remember when or how I discovered Lauren's blog, but I'm glad I did. She has one of the prettiest looking websites and I feel like it really reflects her writing style. Like Jasmine's it is just so light and radiates happiness. I hope you'll check her out and understand what I mean. Her blog mainly focuses on Beauty but she also writes lifestyle posts too. I really enjoy her writing style as well as her photography. I would LOVE some photography tips from her because they really add something to her content.

Humaira's Corner: 

OK this might be cheating a little bit because we're friends HOWEVER she would be on here regardless. I've known Humaira for as long as she has started her blog only a few months ago and she's definitely doing a better job than I did during the earlier stages. Let me tell you, one thing I didn't get right that Humaira has is consistency. I'm going to be pestering her for the secret because I'm still struggling with it. Whether it be on her blog itself or her socials, her followers always have content from her. Her posts are such a great read and she's already forming a great connection with her audience, which is super important in the blogging world. I'm proud of you sis!

The Macaron Girl Travels:

As you can tell from the name, this is a travel blog. The owner of the site is called Timi. I'm quite jealous of her to say the least. She has been to some of the most BEAUTIFUL countries. Her photography is outstanding and every post makes me want to travel. Her blog style focuses more on photography but with short almost diary like writing to go with it. She goes through some of the best things to do and places to go in each destination. I love that she has a little map on the side bar so you can see her next journey. It's super cute. If you're not already itching to see the world, follow her blog and Instagram.

Lavender Vines:

Lavender Vines is a Christian Blog created by a lovely woman called Tiffany. I discovered her blog very recently and I've been LOVING it. I'm currently doing a 21 day fast and her blog posts have really inspired me to make more time for God in 2019. In fact, make him the centre of everything. I love how real she is and you can tell she is such a loving person just through her writing. I actually found her blog through Instagram, as I was looking for more Christians to follow. I'm so glad I came across her blog and I feel like it was the perfect timing.

So these are some of my current favourite bloggers. I read SO MANY blogs so I will definitely be doing more posts like this in the future. I think it is so important to show appreciation for people's hard work.

I hope you enjoyed this post and found some new blogs to read this year!

Thanks for reading,

Have a great day x

The Peony Planner 2018 Review

I asked on my Instagram whether people wanted me to review the planner I was using throughout 2018 and 98% said yes. I thought I would break down my thoughts about the planner and whether it is worth the money.

Disclaimer: I was gifted the planner by 'The Happiness Planner' however my opinions are 100% honest regardless. The company is not sponsoring this post (although I wish they were). 

The Peony Planner is a beautiful faux leather planner with metal detailing. It comes in several colours, however I chose Black with Rose Gold accents. It is possibly the most stunning planner I have ever seen. It almost looks like a clutch bag, which makes it so elegant and feminine. It's definitely made to sit as a centre piece for your desk.

The description of the planner by the company:

'The Happiness Planner is a planner like no other. Instead of focusing on productivity, it focuses on “your happiness”. It is designed to help you welcome more positivity, joy, and happiness into your life by applying the practices of positive thinking, positive affirmations, mindfulness, gratitude, and self-development. 

On top of the typical daily pages, this planner is packed with questions and guides that help you become a happier and more positive person.'

When you first receive the planner, it comes in a beautiful box (The same colour as your chosen planner), and the product is carefully wrapped in tissue paper. Not only is this great for keeping your planner in perfect condition, but it feels so luxurious when you open it up.

Things that came in the box:

• 1 Rose Gold Pen 
• 3 Rose Gold Paper Clips
• 2 Rose Gold Binder Clips 
• The Planner 
• Loose Sheets 
• Some Stickers 
• A Note from the Company 

I was so surprised to see how much came in the box. I honestly expected to just have the planner and a pen but it comes with so many worksheets that stimulate reflection and help to build a vision. I loved this throughout the year because it ensures that you always remember your goals. At the beginning of the year you are required to fill out some pages. Some of the things include writing your goals for the year, where you want to be in 5/10 years and your achievements so far etc. I honestly found it so therapeutic to sit down and look back at the past and focus on the future.

Every month you have a calendar, where you can write down any important events you have. I also decided to highlight the boxes where I knew I was working, so I could keep track of my shifts. This really helped me to stay organised. If someone ever wanted to make plans, all I needed to do was flip over to the calendar page and see if I was working that day.

Following this, you have a monthly spread where you can give yourself personal and professional goals, highlight things you can look forward to and write a quote or message of encouragement. I often wrote bible scriptures in this section. The planner also comes with stickers with quotes that you can use to decorate any of the pages.

Everyday there was a page to fill out. At the top you had a quote and 4 boxes. These were 'Today I'm excited about', 'Main Focus', 'Exercises' and 'Meals'. Then beneath this was a section for your schedule and To-do list. Finally, there were 4 more boxes at the bottom, that were labelled as 'Good Things About Today', 'What I'm grateful for', 'What I hope for tomorrow', and 'Notes'. I really loved having this as part of my daily routine, because it forced me to see the good in every day. Even when I had days that weren't so great, sitting down and having to complete the page prompted me to think positively. Looking back, I can definitely tell that doing this changed my mindset for the better. 

At the end of every month you have to complete a reflection page. I really enjoyed doing these as I was able to look back at the struggles I overcame, goals I met and memories of the month. The page includes a table where you must rank certain areas such as health, productivity and moods. At the end of the year, you add up these scores and you are able to clearly view how your mood progressed and changed throughout the year, as well as your habits. I found that happiness was my number one mood of 2018, which clearly indicates that the planner works, and my productivity was pretty constant. One thing I found interesting is that my energy levels were low throughout most of the year, so I know this is something I need to change in 2019. 

My favourite thing about this planner is that it always focuses on the positive. Although you may be required to write down your monthly struggles, it also asks you to write down how you overcame or will overcome them. It acknowledges that your year won't be perfect, but it focuses on the things that make us happy, by having daily focus on gratitude, areas to write down your happiest moments and what we can look forward to.

I truly believe that this planner has changed my life. At the end of the year I was able to see all the challenges I overcame, the memories I made and the goals I met. I met all my goals for the year, which makes me so happy. I definitely think this is an extraordinary planner that could help so many people. It gets you to evaluate every area of your life and come up with ways to develop. The planner itself is definitely not cheap. The 2019 planner is currently £54.00. HOWEVER, it is an amazing product. I actually bought the weekly inserts for this year, as I was so happy with it. I think it is worth the money, if you have it. I will definitely be buying new inserts every year, unless I find a new planner to try. 

I've found a new desire to find the best planner out there. I've always been into organisation and journals etc, but The Happiness Planner has really brought out a love for planning out life. Maybe you'll see more planner reviews in the future. 

Overall, I am extremely satisfied with this planner. Not only do I have the dates for all the BEST days due to documenting them, but I finished the year HAPPY. 

Here is the link to the website if you would like to purchase the planner or any other product from the company: 

https://thehappinessplanner.co.uk/ 

I hope you enjoyed this review. Let me know in the comments what blog posts you want me to write this year! 

Thanks for reading, 

Have a great day x

January Academic Goals 2019

It has been so long since I have done an 'Academic Goals' post. My last one was back in May! I originally planned to start them again in September but finding time to blog during the first semester was a bit of a nightmare. Now that it is a brand new year, it is only right that I kick start them again. These type of posts always had a great response and honestly having academic and personal goals every month is essential for me.

I don't have many goals for this month as I don't start university again until the end of January. I have an exam on the 17th but my first lecture of second semester is the 29th.Most of these goals focus on the exam.

1) Learn how to draw Grammar Trees

If you have never studied English Language above GCSE level, you'll probably have no clue what these are, but they are THE WORST. I had heard of them during my A-levels but we didn't ever have to do them, so being told drawing them in first year was worth a hefty amount of marks in exams was quite the disappointment. When we were first introduced to them in a lecture, I had never left a room so confused. I went to the seminar the week after and still had no clue what I was doing. The week we broke up for Christmas, we had a revision session and I didn't improve much then either. It is now 2 weeks before the exam and I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM DOING. My number one goal for this month is to learn how to draw a stupid grammar tree. I understand the concept and the first couple steps but honestly I'm lost from beyond that point. Send help.

2) To Practise writing the two exam essays

This is obviously a goal I need to meet BEFORE the final exam, but it is one I am yet to even touch. The exam is 3 painful hours long and includes writing two essays. I feel like such an unprepared student because I haven't attempted to do a practise essay ONCE. I've known about this question for over a month and haven't even dissected the question, let alone wrote it. I don't know what it is, but I've come home and forgot I'm a student. I'm planning to sit myself down and plan the question out and then write it next week.

3) Learn the definitions for linguistic terms

This is a goal I have actually started trying to reach, thank God. It's probably the easiest of the tasks because its all a memory game. All I do for this is write out definitions over and over until I wake up repeating them.

4) My one goal for after the exam is to look into my modules before the term begins.

I am able to view what my modules are for second semester, so I want to read around the subject a little bit just to take off some of the stress. If I know the basis of the modules, then perhaps it will make assignments a lot easier and maybe I'll have to do less reading during the term (lol a girl can dream).

So these are my academic goals for the first month of the year! What are some of your academic goals? And if you're working full-time, what are your professional goals?

Thanks for reading,

Have a great day x