We came to an end on another year and started a new one already. Isn’t it weird how fast a year can go, even though we have felt on March that this year was never going to end?! To me, this year was pretty unique in some cases. It taught me to be a lot and showed me what’s essential in life for the 100th time. It was a year of highs and lows as I said on the title. And here is how this year passed by and how it taught me so much;

We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives . . . not looking for flaws, but for potential.” – Ellen Goodman

January was an excellent, slow start to the year.

Getting back on track with work, and being favourable to the year expecting us. I have also made a significant decision; you can call it a resolution. Remember my welcoming post to 2020; I have been working at EUIPO in Alicante from September 2019 to September 2020. It was not the best experience; I didn’t enjoy the office nor the work I was doing. It came to a point where I almost hated everything in my life, so on the last day of December 2019, I made my peace with the office and promised myself I would leave in May. Because life is too short to be doing something you don’t like in a place you feel suffocated and undervalued. (Do what you love – Lessons from 2020 No.1)

“Even though February was the shortest month of the year, sometimes it seemed like the longest.” – JD Robb

It was by February we started getting worried with the Coronavirus.

I can genuinely say that none of us saw what was coming. We all thought it wouldn’t hit Europe; they would have figured it out before that happening. Well, we were wrong; it hit the whole world. As you may have read on my Stockholm post, we went to Stockholm to celebrate Cemre’s birthday at the beginning of February. It was a fantastic trip, although none of us thought it would be the last trip of 2020. (Appreciate the small moments in life – Lessons from 2020 No.2) February went great even though we were secretly worrying more about the future. We have shot my first green screen video for our final project. It was a lot of fun being on-screen presenting and goofing around. These joyful moments were followed by the carnival. As Casa de Tequila we hosted a big carnival party at our place with colleagues and friends. I can say that this was the biggest party we have ever had in our home, and the final one sadly.

“The stormy March has come at last, With winds and clouds and changing skies; I hear the rushing of the blast That through the snowy valley flies.” – William C. Bryant

The first week of March, COVID was all around the EU, and it was coming in Spain, growing the anxiety and stress on each of us.

On March 14th, I took a radical decision to leave Spain, because it was going under a lockdown. So, on March 15th, I left Spain to stay with my parents for a few weeks. Well, it ended up being four months.

March, April, May and June I haven’t left my parents’ house expect going out for walks.

I haven’t spent that long of a time with my parents for so long, so you can imagine how hard it could be. Although it was easier than I would have imagined, we had a great time, of course, we had highs and lows, but family is important. ( Love your family, spend time with them, appreciate your family cherish them – Lessons from 2020 No.3) Remember the first resolution I mentioned, well I didn’t fulfil it because I stayed at EUIPO instead of quitting. But I took this time to work on my language skills; I took German and Spanish. On top of these, I used my extra time to take courses to improve my digital marketing skills. I have also done many reading and yoga and many other things to stay sane and healthy during the pandemic. You can have a look at my quarantine diaries. (Don’t let things, outcomes to pull you down, you can always work harder to push harder and try again – Lessons from 2020 No.4)

“April is a promise that May is bound to keep.” – Hal Borland

By April, I accepted my offer from UCD Michael Smurfit for MSc Digital Marketing.

I received my offer on March, but it took me a while to wrap my head around it. It was fantastic news considering I didn’t get into my first choice, and let that pull me down. Have a look at my first time in Ireland here.

“May, more than any other month of the year, wants us to feel most alive.” – Fennel Hudson

On May, I got my first freelance contract with Goldfinch after working with them for three months with Acadium.

As an international finance graduate trying to get into the sector independently, this was a significant accomplishment to me. You can check out my digital marketing journey. ( Take your chances to turn them into opportunities, don’t listen to what people say, you can do it – Lessons from 2020 No.5)

“It is the month of June, The month of leaves and roses, When pleasant sights salute the eyes and pleasant scents the noses.” – Nathaniel Parker Willis

June went by pretty quick because we were counting the days to our flight to Turkey.

Which got cancelled several times, thank you pandemic. But it was July we finally set foot in Turkey and most importantly our paradise Datca.

“A little bit of summer is what the whole year is all about.” – John Mayer

July and August were magical; it was a well-deserved summer.

Being with family and friends and being able to enjoy the summer despite the Coronavirus was just spectacular. Datca being a tiny place and not having much tourist attraction kept us safe during the summer, or well most of the summer. And with friends, we made sure we kept the newcomers in a bubble before mingling with them. As you might already know, Datca is a safe haven for me. It is the place I come running to whenever I have a problem, it is the place I feel like home, and the place that calms me down and makes me feel safe. This is the reason every summer I come back here no matter where I am or how long of a journey it is. (Home is wherever you feel safe and loved and with whomever you want- Lessons from 2020 No.6)

Make it a September to Remember

On September I moved to Dublin for my master’s degree and hopefully a future living there.

After this well-spent summer with friends and family, I started a new journey. It was a hard move with pandemic there was a lot of uncertainties around the move. Which nearly broke my body and I got an awful rash. Stress can cause serious harm to one’s body. (Accept the fact that there are things you cannot control, and try not to stress over those things- Lessons from 2020 No.7)

“Notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

The first trimester of the school was quite heavy. I am not much of a studying type of student or I wasn’t before. Because seeing the people I have been studying with, well I can say they are super smart and successful people. I now understand why this is the best business school in Ireland. Honestly, I had my doubts after being accepted. Studying virtual is not the best nor the easiest. I get distracted easily, and I multitask all the time, so you can imagine how hard it can be to be in a class through Zoom.

This year was a learning year for what’s worth, even though it was one of the most challenging years I have ever lived. But the truth is that without this kind of challenges, we don’t always appreciate what we have or see what is essential in our lives. With its high and lows, I thank 2020 for what it taught me, and how it showed me for the 100th time what is essential in life. At this moment, I welcome 2021 with open arms. You better be good, let me travel and let UCD go back to physical studying system.

” I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” – David Bowie