Blogtober16 - My Biggest Accomplishment

This blogtober post discusses my biggest accomplishment, and I think I can say without any sort of arrogance that I've been lucky to have quite a few already. At almost the age of 24, I've ticked off a few accomplishments including:

• Completing a bungee jump for a children's charity
• Gaining good grades in my GCSEs
• Going to college
• Graduating with an honours degree from uni
• Skydiving for a Scottish animal charity
• Climbing Kilimanjaro in aid of Childreach International

Sometimes it feels like I am bragging, or being arrogrant, so sometimes I try not to mention it. Some people I know might know I went to Africa, but not why. Apart from this blog, where I feel it's mentioned heaps!

By far, the one that sticks out and has effectively changed my life in more ways than I thought possible (I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true) was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I've visited a few places and ticked off a couple of important goals, but this is way up there. This post will describe my journey getting there, and what positivity the journey has bought to my life.

To get there, I needed to raise £2,500, which I was terrified I would never achieve. I'd done fundraising before but never raised anything close to that. I did it in a variety of ways from promoting my BT Donate page on social media, keeping people informed about what things I was doing to prepare and fundraise and many other things. I think I did 2 or 3 pub crawls, where I shaked my can at drunk punters and told them what I was doing. I also did a street collection in Dundee. I was impressed most of all with the support I got from working at BHS. They donated on my BT donate page, helped organise a quiz night and even hosted a bring and buy sale in the staff room. All stuff not bought were then sold on ebay or donated to local charity shops.

Me at work - doing an easter quiz night

I also organised a date auction around valentine's day, where I sold friends for dates. One friend got sold for £50! I sold a lot of my unwanted belongings on ebay and music magpie. I even organised a race night event with my best friend, Julie who was also climbing Kilimanjaro with me.

I gained a lot from doing it. It was worthwhile as it was my first experience of going abroad, and it was an 8 hour flight! Although I had gone on domestic flights before that, I'd never gone further than London. It also provided me with great sights, including visiting Tanzania town and seeing a little bit of Kenya. I loved being able to meet the children that my fundraising was benefiting in Tanzania. It also gave me something interesting to add to my CV and discuss with potential employers.

From there, I knew I wanted a career in fundraising. It has been difficult to work up the ladder, but know it is something I have a talent at. I will keep trying!

Since climbing Kilimanjaro, I have gone on to hold more events, work for a charity close to my heart, complete a bungee jump on my uni campus, organised a tea party at my house and volunteer for some amazing causes.

Just before my bungee jump...

I even got a certificate to commemorate making the descent. It is means mor to me than my honours degree! I had a new positivity, where I knew I could achieve things.Sometimes I think it might be the only good thing I do.

Here are my favourite photos from the trip!

It feels odd to discuss something you're proud of. Being British means ignorance of your own talents and focusing on the praise of others. That being said I'd love to hear of yours. What is your biggest accomplishment? You probably don't even realise just how amazing you are, so here I am to say you rock!