Welcome back to my little corner of chaos — where caffeine is a food group, glitter is a coping mechanism, and puppies are the emotional support squad. If you’ve ever tried to balance a full-time job, higher education, and a mildly delusional sense of optimism, then pull up a chair — you’re in good company.
You know that saying about making lemonade out of lemons? Well, I’ve become something of a professional citrus juicer at this point.
Between being a Learning Support Assistant extraordinaire and a mature student knee-deep in the world of Elizabeth I, I sometimes feel like I’m living two completely different lives — one in the classroom supporting others to reach their goals, and the other in the library, desperately trying to keep my own essays afloat.
At work, I go the extra mile (and then some). I stay late, I care deeply, I juggle deadlines, paperwork, and pastoral care like an Olympic event. I get the pats on the back, the “we couldn’t do it without you,” and the ever-so-familiar “you’d be perfect for the promotion!” But somehow… that promotion never quite lands. It’s the professional equivalent of dangling a carrot — or maybe a glittery pen — just out of reach.
Still, I keep at it. Because somewhere between the chaos and the caffeine, there’s the real reason I do it: the students. The ones who make me laugh on the worst days, who remind me that what I do matters, who make all the nonsense fade into the background. They’re the highlight, the sparkle, the reason I don’t just throw my planner out the window and move to a cottage by the sea (tempting though that may be).
And when it all gets a bit too much, there are study days. Blissful, quiet (well, quieter) moments where I can swap lesson plans for lecture notes and lose myself in the drama of Elizabethan England — where at least the backstabbing is historically documented.
So here I am: fed up, frazzled, but still fabulous. Surrounded by pups, glitter, and a never-ending to-do list, I'm making the best lemonade I can with the lemons life keeps tossing my way. It’s not glamorous, it’s not easy, but it’s mine — and somehow, it still sparkles.
Until next time — may your coffee be strong, your students be kind, and your glitter always find the light. ✨🐶📚🍋