What happened when I was 23?

"Youth is a gift of nature, but age is a work of art"

Can someone pinch me? How was my birthday a week ago? It honestly feels like I just turned 23 yesterday, the past year flew too fast. Now as I'm typing, I'm trying comprehend what's happened in the last year, thinking of all the lows and highs and thinking to myself "Fair play, Jess. You're still here".

A lot has really happened since this day last year. This time last year, I was in the middle of finishing my final year of college. I wanted to give up so many times because it was all getting too much. But, I fought to get that place in college in my course and I wasn't going to give up. I did get there in the end and honestly I could cry with happiness that I did. Then in November, I finally got my hands on the degree and was able to call myself a graduate. All that work did pay off!

But what happens after college? The job search. Since March of last year, I started searching for a job, not just any job, something that I knew I truly be happy in and not just to work to earn money. So, I started my #HireJess campaign. I wanted a job in social media, so what better way to apply for a job then through social media itself. I created a campaign to try and get the attention of different brands. After several retweets and mentions on Twitter, it nailed my an interview on RTÉ 2 FM's Nicky Byrne & Jenny Greene show where I got to talk about the campaign itself and I got to have a voice. From there, I started having more meeting with different people in the industry to find the "perfect" job. While doing this, I was freelancing, working on different different events. But then, my job came up! I was asked to apply for a Sales & Marketing role which I didn't think it was the perfect fit at the time but I applied and 3 interviews later, I got the Job! I honestly couldn't of been happier to take on the job. To call myself a Sales & Marketing manager is pretty surreal. I've been there 8 months now and like every job it can bring just a little stress (actually, very rarely) but it's just so rewarding and lucky for me, I work with an incredible team.

Selfie with Jenny Green & Nicky Byrne

My friends are still putting up with me, another year later. I'm lucky I have a lot of low maintenance friends because sadly I don't get to see them that much but they know I love them and we're there if we need each other. With starting a new job, I was trying to find my feet and didn't to see as much as my friends as I wanted to. I thought things would change after Christmas but they haven't. So, I know I need to start making more time for them. It's so important to make time for the people you love.

Speaking of love, Jess is no longer single? What?! Yes, I think that's the funniest thing to come out of the past year. After so many dates (yes, many), someone managed to pick me up off my feet. If you asked my 4 months ago was I happy, I would've said yes. I was so happy and content with being single and on my own. I finally had got to a stage where I was going to accept being single for another few years. But if you ask me now if I'm happy, I'll say hell yes! Good things happen to those who wait and when you least expect it and I didn't expect it. I thought it was going to be another one of those guys I'd have a few dates with and it would fizzle out, but instead, I simply fell for him ( literally can't find a non cheesy way to say it)

Where we met.

Exploring with him is my favourite.

So in terms of my personal life, a lot has changed this past year but I'm looking forward to seeing what this next year will bring in terms of my blog, love life, work and personal life. From my year at 23 years old, here are 5 things that I learned over the last year that I'm going to keep in mind for the next year:

1. Make most of free time- try not to be lazy.

2. Work hard and then you can play hard.

3. Start saving more, be strict on myself

4. Surround yourself with positivity

5. Good things happen to those who wait

Stay tuned for more chaos,

JB X