Hey guys!
It truly has been a while since I have posted here. I never intended to take such a long break but life just got away from me!
I finished my Masters in Law last May (2021) and graduated in August 2021 top of my class, with a first class honours! Whilst the graduation ceremony was scaled back due to Covid, it was so nice to see the majority of my class again!
Whilst I finished my formal education last May, in Ireland you have to sit the FE-1s with the Law Society before you can start a training contract with a law firm. So, I never really stopped studying at all! I sat my first four exams last October and passed all four but, let me tell you, the FE-1s are no joke... my social life was non-existent and my life literally revolved around sleep, study, walk, food, repeat!
To celebrate the end of the exams, and take a break from all the study, I went to Barcelona with one of my best friends a few days after I finished. Barcelona is such a stunning city and it was still fairly warm when we went in mid-October.
It was such a stunning break and I loved getting to spend a few days discovering a new city with people I love!
I had also made the decision to take a study break until after my birthday, November 19th and naturally, jetted somewhere else to celebrate turning 24! I spent a stunning few days in Florence with some family, discovering the gorgeous Tuscan countryside and immersing myself in the history of the city and the Medici family.
Tuscan wine and food was definitely indulged in as well!
Then, sadly it was back to studying for my final four FE-1s, which I sat in March 2022. However, that didn't stop me from celebrating Christmas and the New Year with friends and family. Whilst celebrations were still slightly impeded by Covid, the festive season was a lovely break from a 9-5 of study!
The freedom was short-lived though, and I was back to study shortly after the New Year. My saving grace was the fact that a friend of mine decided to sit the same exams as me, and we were in constant contact about topics, confusion and overall stress relief - I would definitely recommend staying in touch with people from your course for friendship and support for the FE-1s (and, of course, beyond the exams)!
I honestly think my final four FE-1s were more difficult than the first round. It wasn't that the exams I chose were more difficult, I think it came down to the fact that I had originally covered the courses two years ago, and for some reason I found it more difficult to retain the information. Nonetheless, I survived, and will get my results (send all the positivity!) in a few weeks.
Then, naturally, I jetted off again to celebrate FREEDOM! I went to New York for a week with another good friend, who sat some of the exams as well! It truly was a wonderful week,,, even though some MetroCards were lost along the way... and I cannot wait to travel more this summer.
Since I've come home, I've been catching up with friends and slowly spring cleaning everything. It is so odd to me though, until I start my training contract in August, this is the first time since I was 15 that I haven't had any commitments. No college, no job and no deadlines. I definitely need the downtime and refresh though and, certainly plan on making the most of the summer, travelling wherever and whenever I can.
I plan on trying my best to blog more often as well. I have definitely been more consistent with my Instagram but do want to get back into it.
I will leave you with one question though, because I am STRUGGLING! What is the best lip balm or treatment you have come across for persistently dry lips? My lips suffered in the below freezing weather in New York and I have not been able to fix them since!
Let me know in the comments below!
Ciara xoxo
