August, For Me

A photo taken of the Leeds Town Hall

And just like that, another month has passed!

This round-up is particularly special. I started writing this back in August 2016, I’m very glad that I stuck to writing it every month since without fail! It is my favourite post to write. ๐Ÿค—


Main highlights

Personal & Work

  • ๐Ÿก I’ve officially hit my second month of living away from home, in my own little apartment (with Matt!) in a new city and getting used to working life once again.ย 
  • ๐Ÿ’ป As of today, I have completed my summer placement at a health tech firm. Write up about my summer placement experience will be up soon~
  • ๐ŸŒณ When I went home this month, I made sure that I caught up with my family and spent some quality time with nature. I noticed how much more I appreciate this now that I live in the city centre.

Community

  • ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿ’ป I attended my first tech meet-up in Leeds this month, “Ladies of Code” where I learned about the importance of accessibility, spoke to some awesome techie ladies and ate a lot of pizza. ๐Ÿคค๐Ÿ•
  • โœจ I am officially going to continue my paying forward of knowledge with Code First: Girls in Leeds, but instead of focusing on just University students – I’ll be helping out at their general course. Excited is an understatement.ย 
  • ๐Ÿท I also went on another Women in Tech meet-up where I had the chance to meet more awesome techie ladies in Leeds. The tech scene in Leeds is amazing!

Videos

  • ๐ŸŽค I had the chance to do a film project for BBC Bitesize on my non-linear journey into technology with VividEcho. I’m always so grateful for the chance to share my story and hopefully inspire younger people that they can become whoever they want to be regardless of their background.ย 
  • ๐ŸŽฌ The video project I did with the University of Sheffield last month was published in August in time for A Level Results Day 2018! In the video, I took new prospective students around the Students’ Union showing off the best places to eat, drink and hang out.ย 

Graduation Photos

  • My graduation photos arrived this month and I finally got to be included in the wall of Narvas graduates ๐Ÿ˜‰

Blogging

  • ๐Ÿ’œ For “Inspiring Figures” this month, I interviewed Tara – my friend from Instagram who is a full-stack developer and has built a successful Instagram community around her to support her and others work in technology.ย 
  • ๐ŸŒŸ I also talked to Natalie Franke earlier this week for September’s Inspiring Figures feature. She was incredible!

Celebrations

  • ๐ŸŽ‚ My blog hit 4 years old this month. To celebrate, I gave out around 50+ Pawlean stickers across the world and gave away a copy of Gary Vee’s “Crushing It!” book.
  • ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ Another celebration – close to later on in the month, I successfully hit 2 years of prioritising my health and well-being with #pawgainz. Again, to celebrate I gave away a ยฃ50 voucher to spend at my favourite place to buy gym wear… Gymshark! Thanks again for being part of this journey with me. ๐Ÿค—
  • ๐Ÿ’Ÿ Pawleanย Ltd has been officially registered on Companies House! ๐ŸŽ‰

3 Things I’m happy about

1๏ธโƒฃ Settling In

Last month, I struggled adjusting to my new environment. I sort of just jumped head-on with living in a new city, away from my family, working a new job…

Thankfully, this month has been a little bit easier.ย  In fact, as days go on, I’ve started feeling a bit more confident in the new city, I think attending meet-ups and meeting new people has made the city less of a stranger. There are still days where all I want to do is go home and return to my old life, but I’ve talked myself out of it.

Matt has been saying things like “That’s not the Pawlean I know.” and “What would Pawlean do?”

For some weird reason, this kicks my ass back into the present and stops me lingering in the past and future. ๐Ÿ˜†Pawlean feels like what Sasha Fierce must feel to Beyoncรฉ. Whatever it is…it helps! I managed to spend 2+ weeks without going home which is a huge step for me. ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿผ

2๏ธโƒฃ Working life

I’m very thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to get back into the working life grind with my summer placement before starting my new role next week in BT Consumer. I’ve learned a lot about general working life once again and have become much more self-aware on what my strengths are and equally what I can improve on!

Each of my experiences hasย given me strong foundations in my career, I’m always going to be very grateful. ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป

3๏ธโƒฃ The Month of Giving

I’m glad that I’ve had the chance to give back to those who continue to follow along with my journey on social media and blog. Giving stickers, books and a Gymshark voucher felt so good. Giving in general is something I think we should do a lot more of (in other forms – not always giveaways!) Thank you to everyone that participated!ย 


August in Pictures

From left to right: Filming for BBC Bitesize, Women in Tech meet-up, Matt & I (x2), Leeds Pride, Damflask Reservoir, Selfie before the gym, sending stickers, Breakfast w/ Matt.ย 
From left to right: Filming for BBC Bitesize, Women in Tech meet-up, Matt & I (x2), Leeds Pride, Damflask Reservoir, Selfie before the gym, sending stickers, Breakfast w/ Matt.ย 

#Pawsitivity๐ŸŒ 


Monthly Favourites

For all my favourite items each month,ย check out my Amazon list!ย Makinโ€™ it easier for you.

๐Ÿ“š Books

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money – That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki. This book has really opened my eyes up about finances and totally changed my views on money.

My favourite part of the book is the exercise sections where you can bring the concepts talked about in the book and reflect on your own life. Can’t recommend the book enough!

I’ve already started applying what I’ve learnt. ๐Ÿ‘€

You can get the book on Amazon.

๐ŸŽถ Music

This is all Matt has been hearing me sing day in, day out. I’m not even sorry. ๐Ÿ˜‚

๐Ÿ’œ Gymwear

I finally got my hands on some Lululemon – I love it! Quality is fantastic.


Quote of the Month

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.

– Melodie Neattie

Next month

My main goal next month is to make the most out of my first month at my new job in tech by being a sponge, soaking in as much as possible! But also reminding myself not to beat myself up if I don’t know things yet.

Here’s to another awesome month to all! โญ๏ธ

26 responses to “August, For Me”

  1. Awesome month indeed! Pawlean Ltd sounds cool! What are you planning to do now that it is a company?

    1. Thanks Sakura! In the works for now ๐Ÿ‘€

  2. This is such a lovely positive post! the gymwear looks amazing – I’ve been looking for some good quality cute gymwear for a while now. also, wow congrats on living away from home – I’ve been studying at uni and living away from home but I guess it’s no where near the same thing as actually having your own little place to move into.

    glad you’ve had such a wonderful month, with plenty of awesome things to come!

    Amy x Wandering Everywhere

    1. I can’t recommend Gymshark and Lululemon enough ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Oh sounds like you had a great time in August! And the video project sounds amazing ๐Ÿ™‚
    xx, Carmen – https://carmitive.com

  4. It makes me so happy to see these posts. You’re always so Paw-sitive and inspirational. <3

    Your photo looks so good up on your parents wall. I know they're so proud of you and all of your siblings(?). Cheers to a great September and a great month kicking off your new job. <3

    1. Thanks Brandy! My sister is yet to graduate and my brother has a long way to go. ๐Ÿ˜†

  5. Sounds like you are in perfect harmony with the universe and that is so good ๐Ÿ˜€ Happy to see you accomplish all your goals and growing stronger within!

    With love and light โ˜€

    Patricia & Miguel
    http://www.freeoversea.com

    1. Thanks both! ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. August was another great month for you, Pauline! Congratulations on settling in and feeling more comfortable living away from home <3 As I told you, it's definitely a process and each day is a learning experience. Looks like you're now learning to enjoy more of your independence ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Thanks so much Claudine! You were so right, I’m feeling a lot better now in this new life!

  7. Moving to a new place always takes so adjusting. I found that because I took the bus, it really helped me learn my way around. I’m sure you’ll be a local in no time. Good luck with your new job too. I’m sure you will make lots of new friends who can show you around.

    1. I agree – the bus does help!

  8. I’m glad you are settling into life in Leeds. It’s great that you are being so proactive and getting involved with as much as possible.

    As I think I said, my dad used to work for BT and the job came with lots of great perks. I remember they once hired out an indoor waterpark for the day for all their staff who worked in that particular region and they got to take their families too! I hope you have a great experience of working for them too.

    You look lovely in your graduation photos. Sadly mine turned out terribly! They took like 10 pictures and I had my eyes closed in nearly every single one.

    1. I don’t think you’ve mentioned that yet Holly! That’s great. They are such a progressive company, I’m excited to see where the new job will take me. ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Girllllllll you’re looking AMAZING in that Lululemon!! Those Pawgainz are making themselves known :). I love that our sweet significant others are able to remind us to step out of our comfort zone and grow in that way! Living in a new city is a huge change but in a few months you’re going to be calling it home!
    Love the quote too. Ever since I made gratitude a focus in my life, I’ve found that I have even more to be grateful for.
    Coincidence? I think not!
    Happy September!

    Susie | http://milehighdreamers.com

    1. Significant others for a reason, ay? ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thanks Susie! Have a fab September!

  10. Congrats on finishing your summer placement! Health tech firm – that’s so you! It’s great that you’re getting involved with all of these orgs. I like that your family has a wall of graduates. Glad you enjoyed your August! Hope you’ll have a good September :).

    1. Haha thanks Nancy! They’re pretty proud of it ๐Ÿ˜Š

  11. You had a busy and fun month of August, hope you have an even better September.

    http://www.busyandfab.com

  12. Hehe, I love the family graduation pictures wall! I graduated with a PhD in Biophysics this summer and sadly I did not get any professional pics taken-I was so stressed and emotional during the ceremony I completely forgot about it and now I regret it! :'(
    xo
    Anastasia
    http://www.natbees.com/

    1. Thanks! I hope that you get a chance one day. ๐Ÿ™‚ On the bright side, I hope your ceremony was good!

  13. Things seem to be going well! As usual you’re kicking butt and just keep improving! Good luck with your job!

    1. Thanks Megan! I hope that you’re doing well.

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