[Cilla's 2016 Highlight Reels] Firsts and Achievements

08:00 Cilla 8 Comments



I've always loved reading end-of-year best-of lists. Now that I have my own blog, I thought I'd write a couple of my own! Every day from 28 to 31 December, I'll be sharing some of the highlights of my 2016 in music, movies, television shows, books (of course), and life.

In case you missed them:
My favourite television shows of 2016
My favourite music and movies of 2016
My favourite books of 2016

It's the general consensus that 2016 has been a terrible year, globally speaking. Personally, it has been challenging and busy, but on the whole, pretty all right! For the last day of year, I thought it's best to end on a high note and look back on the good things that have happened.



One of my resolutions for 2016 was to try new things and take more opportunities. Looking back, I'm pleased to say this is one of the resolutions I actually kept! In 2016, for the first time, I:

Went to Supanova with a new friend. I'd always wondered what it would be like to attend a convention where everyone's unabashedly nerdy about something, and let me tell you - it was so fun. I didn't have time to contemplate cosplaying, but I got to wear my patronus dress from Blackmilk!

Tried freakshakes. You know you have a hard-core sweet-tooth when you finish one of those and don't feel icky at all. 😛

Went to not just one, but two writers' festivals. At the Melbourne Writers' Festival, I got to meet Rainbow Rowell and Lev Grossman and attended some excellent sessions about writing. I also went to the Emerging Writers Festival, which was also fabulous. Both of them re-lit my desire to complete writing my own novel.

Roasted a pork belly on my own for Christmas and succeeded, complete with delicious crackling. Really, anything that involves cooking anything more complicated than a vegetable stirfry has been an achievement for me, and this year I've been surprising myself with what I can cook (even if they may come out a little flawed at times).



Went to my first uni ball. If I learned anything from that night, it's these: events like that are only fun when you have the right group of friends; people bring their glasses to the dance floor so there's a good chance you'll get splashed with alcohol at some stage; a pair of heels that you can comfortably wear for hours is an actual treasure.

Also, this year, I've accomplished some things that I'm proud of:

My short pieces were accepted by The Regal Fox. My first submission to The Regal Fox marked the first time I've made my writing public in about eight years. It's scary, but also thrilling. Read them here if you're interested!

I got into the swing of bookstagram. My account is still small and I only recently feel content about my theme, but I'm pleased with its growth! Check it out here.

↠ And, of course, the biggest accomplishment of all: I completed my first year of my master in psychology. Getting into the program was a huge deal for me, particularly since Master of Psychology programs are notorious for being highly competitive. (I was informed later that the fifteen of us who made the cut had beaten 300 applicants). Plus, it took me two tries: the first year I applied, I didn't get any interview out of the 10 programs I applied to. It's been a ridiculously steep learning curve, dogged with a sense of impostor syndrome. Now that I'm at the halfway mark, however, I feel comfortable acknowledging that I've done well so far!

All in all, I'm happy with how my year has gone. It's my hope that I can continue to work hard and take on small adventures in 2017!

Tell me about the good things that happened in 2016 for you! 
Hope you'll enjoy your New Year's Eve, and I'll see you in the new year!


8 comments:

  1. I've never even heard of a freakshake before, but they look DELICIOUS! I have SUCH a sweet tooth, and I love milkshakes, so that looks like it was made for me. You've accomplished so much this year!! Even getting into one of those programs is an accomplishment to be proud of, and making it this far and doing well while simultaneously doing so many other things is amazing! I'm sure 2017 will be just as good!

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    1. You have to try a freakshake if you can! The ones I've tried are so yummy. Thanks so much, Clara <3 Here's to a great 2017 for both of us!

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  2. I loved reading this Cilla! :D I'm go glad to see you included little things that made you happy and proud, these things are precious <3 also congrats on surviving the first year of your master degree! I'm also excited for my own master degree but feel like I want to take a break first this year hahaha but I also heard that it IS tough, hope the second year is better and (if possible) easier :D

    Puput @ Sparkling Letters

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    1. Thanks Puput! <3 You definitely should take your break first - it's good to have one before you start a master degree just so you can have a different experience. :D My second year is unlikely to be any easier haha, but I'm hoping I can handle it! Have a wonderful 2017! <3

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  3. Congrats on finishing your first year of your Master's in Psychology! My boyfriend did his undergrad in psychology and I found it so interesting whenever he told me about what he was studying! I also got to meet Rainbow Rowell this year too (isn't she the sweetest?!) Also, those Freakshakes look AMAZING!

    -Cristina @ Girl in the Pages

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    1. Thank you! :D Rainbow Rowell really is the sweetest, and she's so fun to listen to. Can you believe that those freakshakes are actually on the tamer side of their kind? :P Haha, have an awesome year ahead, Cristina!

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  4. Sounds like a really good year! It's so good that you're getting out of your comfort zone by going to those sorts of events. I would really love to go to some of those book events, but unfortunately I live too far away from them all :( And congrats on finishing your first year! Congrats on even getting in! That's such a big deal, go you :)
    (commenting from #eotybh chat)

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    1. Yess, it was challenging at times but good overall! :D I hope some of the book events would go out your way in the future. They really need to spread out a little more geographically. Thanks so much, Victoria! <3 Have a great 2017!

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