It’s just a couple of weeks until I finish my placement in Waterloo and move on to new things and real jobs (eek). So I meet again with the bittersweet feeling of things ending and new things beginning, and the limbo time in between (which I still don’t enjoy). As I reflect on my first year in London, there are so many things I’ve seen, heard, done, learnt, experienced, loved and not loved so much, but I’d like to share just a few of the best bits. 

Young people are a lot of fun. Yes, they’re annoying and frustrating and hard work, but most of the time that’s all repayed in sheer entertainment and the occasional joy of a young person who really appreciates you, and who you can see changing and growing positively. Young people are our future, and it’s worth spending time on them. 

Creativity is essential, and getting the chance to be around creative people and all the riches of London’s culture has inspired me to create more. The art club I run has given me an outlet for this, and also shown me how important it can be for people to be able to express themselves through art.  

Making coffee is a very enjoyable job. I still haven’t perfected my coffee art, but I’m working on it. 

Always believe in people. There’s a lot of negativity around in our culture. Yes, there are lots of bad things in life we have to deal with, but sometimes it’s easy to forget there’s a lot of good too.  

Hope is important. Without hope, life seems futile, and I’ve learnt this year to try to be a bringer of hope in all that I do. 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope (Romans 15:12-14)