Hi everyone!!

I thought I’d dedicate this post to a particular time in my life... I didn’t even realise what date it was until it came up on my Twitter that it was almost the anniversary of the Twin Towers tragedy and it got me reminiscing. You might ask why, what’s so special about this date, well let me tell you why. ☺️

Eighteen years ago, back when I was just sixteen years old and I was starting a new chapter in my life. I was having my first day at Beaumont College.

My family had left to go back home which was a very strange feeling to me. I was extremely excited but I was almost nervous, a part of me was scared that I wouldn’t like it or make friends. Growing up, I was used to being away from home as I spent much of my childhood in and out of hospitals; both locally and in Manchester. What was different about this time was that it had been my choice to enrol at a college away from home, away from all those I knew and loved. The thing was, when I was in hospital, the nurses and doctors were familiar to me. I had met a few people on my many visits to the college, not many will know this but I visited B.C six times before I started and asked several times if I could stay over so I could get a real feel of the place but they didn’t offer it... which is funny because after I had started, they started having prospective students staying a night, ha ha!! I was a little annoyed but it was too late and I was now a student living there.

I hadn’t met my key worker until I started as the one that I was going to have went on maternity leave but when I did meet Laura, I liked her straight away. It actually made me proud that my key worker was the area co-ordinator, thinking why I felt proud, I don’t know why. I can’t remember the other staff who were on that day in West Wing.

West Wing is the name of the area that I was residing in, it is like a little flat and there was seven girls of us each had a room to ourselves. There is a living room, kitchen/diner and own bathroom. When I started there were 3 members of staff on each team, A, B and C. In W.W, they were all female and all ages. There was only me and one other girl who were first years in W.W. I was the first girl to stay in W.W as the other girl didn’t start until the Wednesday so it gave me chance to become familiar with the area and the staff. It was a lovely week, and it was very relaxed.

My room was a decent size, it had a big window which overlooked the gardens at the rear of the college. In my room, there was the wardrobe and a built-in sink with a mirror at the back of it. My parents helped me make it my own and made it homely. I don’t know if the staff will remember all of my belongings that I brought with me, ha ha! There were a lot!

The rest of the day is kind of blurry, I think it was the reality of me actually being here away from home had started to sink in and I was just getting used to my new surroundings. I think I had a fleeting moment where I wanted my parents to turn back round but one thing about me is that I’m not a quitter. The least I could do was give it a chance and that I certainly did.

Would you like to read more about my time at B.C? What would you like to know about it?

Thank you for reading and I hope to hear your thoughts.

Love from Katie aka DinkyKt ❤️