15 Things I'm Proud Of

Over the course of my life, I had an arbitrary timeline for things I wanted to complete. Prime examples are married by 25, children by 30 (clearly I had no foresight or was incredibly optimistic when I was 12; I'm currently 26, single and about as ready for a child as I am to land on the moon!). As other people in my life have reached these milestones I've found it difficult not to think about "failing" to "achieve" at the same rate. Birthdays have come and gone while I sit and think about all the things I haven't achieved or experienced. Well this year is different!

Over the past few years I've tried harder and harder to accept who I am now, even if I still want to be more and achieve more. Learning that being enough while wanting to progress are thoughts that can live simultaneously and one doesn't block the other. So, here's my list of 15 things I have achieved in my 26 years on this planet we call home (I did try 26 but that was very difficult - sad right?). A lot of them come from later years in my life (I can't really remember things from when I was 2 that I'm proud of, I leave that to my family). It's also worth saying that these are in no particular order and some of the items may not feel "worthy" of the list for you, but that's why this is MY list. Feel free to make your own.

1. Passing my driving test, first time, with only 2 minors. (2016)

Although a "rite of passage" for most, passing my driving test represented freedom; I was no longer reliant on other people to get around.

2. Taking 36 young people (aged 14-18) to America and South Korea to represent the UK at the World Scout Jamboree. (2019 and 2023)

This will go down on this list as one of the most difficult things I have accomplished in my life. I talk more about my experience in South Korea here.

3. Travelling solo to Portugal to represent UK Scouting at a European Scouting event. (2018)

While incredibly nerve wracking, the process of travelling solo went well and gave me evidence that I could adapt to a lot of scenarios - spending a weekend with people I'd never met before (including sharing a hotel room with one of those people), reacting and finding a solution when the hotel room I was booked had been booked for one day shorter than I was staying, becoming spokesperson for a group as the event was in English and I was the only person who spoke English as my first language.

4. Becoming a godfather. (2023)

I am incredibly proud, and honoured, to have been asked to perform this role for my best mate. Although, since being asked, I'm not sure I have fulfilled this role to the best standard, I hope that both my goddaughter and her parents forgive that and know that they hold an incredibly special place in my heart.

5. Representing my county (Cambridgeshire) at the national finals for pool. (2010, 2011 and some other years)

I first started playing pool when I was so short I needed a glasses crate from the pub to stand on so I could reach the table. My Dad taught me how to play and I ended up playing in multiple teams with him and pool has always been something we can bond over.

6. Committing to a year and a half (and counting) of going to the gym consistently and building a stronger, healthier body. (ongoing)

When I first went to the gym, I was a nervous wreck (read more here - So, I became a gym bro...) but I am so glad I started. I'm about 17 months in and loving every session and the effects it has had on me. The confidence I now have in my body is incredible and the proof I have that I can push through pain and grow is something you won't find much easier than sessions in the gym (or going for a run but that's not really for me).

7. Getting good grades in my GCSEs (2014)

There had to be an academic achievement in this list somewhere!

8. Starting my career in an industry I've loved since I was 13. Including being nominated for national industry awards. (ongoing)

I've wanted to work in events for so many years now (roughly since I was 13) and although I'm not doing the exact job role I thought I would be, I have been involved in so many different and interesting events. My time in the industry is something I hold dear to me. I have grown so much since my first day.

9. Taken photos for sporting events, christenings, and local charity events. Allowing me to expand on my skillset in a hobby I really enjoy.

Photography is a release for me. Alongside the gym, it's one of the only things that shuts out the rest of the world for me. When I'm taking photos, I'm focused on the subject, the composition, the lighting - there isn't time for anything external, if you listen to those things you might miss the shot. But it is also something I enjoy as a craft. The ability to catch a special moment in time and save it forever is something that still baffles me to this day. And the fact that people trust me to be the person to do that for them baffles me further.

10. Became a mental health first aider as part of my roles within Scouting (2020)

I've had mental health challenges for most of my life. Initially after my Grandad died (I was 7 and "mental health" wasn't really a thing at that point), but also more recently. Learning how to support other people when they're struggling was really important to me. I'm glad the Scouts were able to offer this opportunity.

11. Volunteered as a Scout leader, supporting the growth and learning of hundreds of young people within Peterborough and Cambridgeshire (2012 - present)

I first became a Scout volunteer at the age of 14 as a "Young Leader". This meant supporting other leaders (18+) to run sections within their local area. For me, that was cubs (8-10 year olds). Since then I have also run Explorer units (14-18 year olds) and been to two World Scout Jamborees. The skills learned being a leader are too vast to list (they'd definitely surpass the count of 15!) but I can say that I am today a far different person to who I would've been had I not volunteered with the Scouts.

12. Completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in 11 hours and 15 minutes, raising money for Music Support. (2023)

You've probably been in a situation at work where someone suggests a charity fundraiser and then the sign up sheet comes around. Well in our industry, where people tend to be outdoorsy and active, a bake sale wouldn't cut it. So as a company, the decision was made to walk the Yorkshire Three Peak challenge. Having been a Scout since the age of 6 and spent a lot of time walking various hillsides in my life I thought "what's the worst that can happen? This'll be alright". 11 hours in, heels covered in blisters and my internal monologue telling me I should've been doing it faster, I decided that next time I'd do some training...

I really enjoyed the challenge and found it rewarded but it also taught me a lot about my internal talk. I spent some of the walk between groups where I was the only person to "speak" to. This is where I heard everything from "just quit now, you won't finish anyway" to "come on, you thought this would be easy, get a move on". As it turns out, I'm not only my biggest critic, sometimes my internal voice is an absolute arsehole!

13. Performed on stage in Peterborough Gang Show. Singing, dancing and acting in a 360 seat theatre. (2006 - 2022)

Another Scouting one!
Scouts all over the world produce "Gang Shows". Typically a mixture of songs and comedy sketches, a Gang Show is performed by Scouts to the general public. In Peterborough this happens at the Key Theatre (or at least it has done all the times I performed in it). I have sung (including solos!), danced (I told you there were comedy elements) and acted alongside fellow Scouts from the local area. Once again, a owe a lot of my confidence and resilience to the Scouts and activities I did with them.

14. Becoming a qualified football referee. (2014)

It might not seem a lot, I mean anyone can attend a course and run around a football pitch with a whistle, but for me this was more than a Sunday morning fitness exercise. I started refereeing as a way to stay involved in football and sport despite recurring injuries. Although you needed to move around the pitch, there was very little chance of getting a rough tackle, meaning injuries were far less common as a referee than as a player. And as someone who only needed to see an outstretched leg to pull a hamstring, this was perfect for me.

Refereeing has so much to offer young people. The ability to make a decision, and stand by it despite arguments from players, fans and parents (of the players, not my own) leads to a great deal of self confidence and grit. Of course, there are times where the arguments are too much and I wish the FA did more about this both at professional levels and for grassroots but I can safely say that I really enjoyed my time refereeing (most of the time).

15. Made it through several national lockdowns due to Covid-19. (2020 and 2021)

You can't have lived through this period of time without mentioning the big C (Covid). In February 2020, we were told to work from home and shortly after we were told not to leave our home unless for an emergency (or your allocated 1 hour time for exercise). I'm very fortunate that my family and I stayed healthy for the majority of the time (to this day, June 2024, I still haven't tested positive for Covid-19) which meant I spent a lot of time running, sunbathing and generally having a massive reset in my life. I can't imagine what it must have been like to have a family member taken ill during this time period so I won't say that it was a positive experience but, for me at least, the time was a welcomed change to a non-stop, always busy, life.