My ten greatest achievements so far
If I were to rank my greatest achievements it would be something like this. You might be surprised at some of them; it’s just a bit of fun don’t take it too seriously!
10. Accepting I have a mental health issue
Realising I needed help in 2019 was difficult but then sharing that with someone was even harder. I overcame the hurdle by speaking to a mental health first aider at work, after which I saw a doctor and told my manager. In fact I told my friends pretty early on as well and I got the help that I needed.
9. From 50kg to 65kg
Gaining weight is an achievement… for me at least! More so than the numbers, it was the discipline of attending gym 5 times a week and eating 5 meals a day that led to success. I gained 10kg in two months and a further 5kg in the three months after.
8. Being voted by my peers
It’s one thing being recognised by your teachers and another to be recognised by your peers. In my year 11 leavers assembly I won two awards voted by the rest of the year. One of those was the “most hardworking student”, and the second of which was “most likely to become a millionaire”. I haven’t quite realised the second award yet but I’m still hardworking!
7. Comeback from injury
I play Kabaddi, for those that don’t know, it’s a contact sport and as suggested you can get injured. When I was playing for Imperial Kabaddi I dislocated my patella in a friendly match. The doctor said no sports for 10 weeks, but I decided to start playing again after two weeks because we had a tournament coming up. I played and we won the tournament just 4 weeks after I got injured… worth it 100%!
6. Being confident
I used to be a shy person, so going up to and talking to someone that I liked was super difficult. Thankfully, I gradually got better at this throughout university, I was still a hopeless romantic but I was brave enough to put myself in vulnerable situations. Since graduating I’m a lot more confident thanks to solo travelling, dating and the working life. I stand up for myself more often and I can be my weird crazy self!
5. Breaking into the first team for Imperial Kabaddi
I played Kabaddi for three years at Imperial and it was only in my final year that I represented the first team. I think it was an accumulation of experience, training and desire to get better. The Imperial team won all tournaments for those three years and to be part of that winning team was special.
4. Overcoming fear of not being able to swim
I should really learn how to swim! But this one is two fold, both in Wales actually.
The first time was on a school trip when I was in year 12, we had just finished a competition where we had to build rafts. After which everyone was jumping into the lake and having fun. Even though I wasn’t able to swim I still wanted to get involved and so I asked my friend to push me in and I panicked on the way down but I felt like I had conquered a fear.
In fact my biology teacher said what I did was fantastic and that I had made the most out of my trip.
The second time was when I went gorge scrambling with the Hindu society in my third year of university. We had to slide down rocks and jump into pools of water. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without everyone helping and encouraging me.
3. Getting into Imperial
I worked hard during my a levels. I stayed after school completing my homework, went home and studied for more hours. I studied inefficiently but I did enough to achieve my offer. I did five A levels in two years, I got 3 A*s 2 As and I achieved a grade 2 in STEP. STEP is a harder 3 hour maths exam that some universities require you to do as part of their offer.
My dad says I shouldn’t show off but I’m proud of my achievements and I worked my ass off!
I couldn’t sleep at all on results day, I watched 3 fast and furious movies and then I threw up in the morning! It was such a relief that I got confirmation in the morning and I went clubbing in the evening. That’s when I had my first alcohol shot, it was sambucca and I sipped it LOL!
2. Finishing the Annapurna circuit
Trekking for 18 days is an achievement. To do it at altitude was a tough challenge. I had altitude sickness but I recovered enough to be able to trek to a height over 5000m and getting over the mountain pass felt like the greatest achievement ever. More so mentally than physically because all the time your mind is just saying give up and to go back. But I just kept telling myself that I could do it and I did. Never give up!
1. My first solo trip
In hindsight my trip to Nepal would never have happened unless I took the decision to go on my first solo adventure. In fact I didn’t know anyone that had gone on a solo trip, all I knew was that it was on my bucket list and that after finishing my degree, it would be the best time to go (I went in late 2017 after graduating earlier in the same year).
I planned the trip myself, booked it myself and then I told my parents after! I visited North India, including Amritsar, Dharamshala, Manali, Shimla, Rishikesh and Delhi. I stayed in hostels and met so many different people… it was a trip of a lifetime and one that I will never forget!
Notable omissions
Some notable omissions were me completing my maths degree and me breaking into my primary school football team.
The best thing about my maths degree was the realisation that getting a first wasn’t the be all or end all. In fact this was something my A level physics teacher said to me way back when I was 18. I got a 2:1 and all was good.
Breaking into my primary school football team was difficult because the team was pretty much constant for two years, in year 5 and year 6. But after persistent training and some good performances I got named as a substitute for a cup game. I came on halfway into the game and we won the game 5-2 after extra time. The fact that I still remember the game is an achievement in itself!
Edit: Upon posting this it was actually my first day at work in my new job. I was working from home which was a little weird. Securing this job probably ranks somewhere in this list but I’m not sure where!
