FROM THE SUNSHINE COAST TO THE CAPITAL: FAREWELL, EASTBOURNE

Today's the day! It's January 27th 2020 and today is the day that I uproot the past six and a half years of my life and move to London. I can't believe that this day is finally here – it seems as though I've waited for this day all of my life. All of the boxes are packed, the removal van is en route and I cannot wait to get into my new apartment, stand on my balcony and look out at (faint but still very much there) London skyline.

Having lived in this seaside town for six and a half years, I can't quite believe I'm leaving it. In 2013, my mum and I decided to move to Eastbourne. We had moved a lot in my life and we was excited to move again. I changed schools often due to never having a solid group of friends and being picked on, and I genuinely loved to move on and start over.

In the summer of 2013 we moved to a flat on the seafront. It was perfect. We were happy. We knew nobody and it was a fresh start. We were so excited. The autumn saw me get diagnosed with gallstones so I wasn't able to attend my final year and a half of school. I had gallstone pain frequently combined with hospital visits, overnight stays and various procedures. By the summer of 2014, I could have fun and enjoy my final summer before heading back into education. We went to Cornwall on an amazing trip to see my nan, I got accepted to London Fashion Week and that summer was just brilliant. I was pain-free, I was excited to start college in September and everything seemed new and wondrous. 

I started college in the following autumn of 2014 and I completed my GCSEs before starting a media course. My college years were some of the best years of my life. I had friends, I had fun, I had crushes, I loved my courses and I felt like I belonged for the first time in a very long time – everything about college was truly amazing. I done a Media BTEC and achieved D*D*D*. I made movies, produced radio shows, wrote scripts, edited a magazine and had a blast in the process. It was wonderful.

Since then, I've completed two and a half years of my Journalism degree at University and will be graduating this summer. Me and my decided that now would be the perfect time to move area as it will give me a good period of time to hunt out jobs in magazines, do some work experience and decide whether or not I want to complete a Masters degree or jump straight into full time work. Obviously I'm still studying for my current degree – it takes a lot of organisation, determination and drive, but I'm smashing it! 

Anyway – today is the day that I bid farewell to Eastbourne. I'd like to thank this town for everything that I'm so grateful to have got out of it – my media qualification, my soon-to-be Journalism degree, the people that I've met, the lessons that I've learnt, the mindset I now have and everything else in-between. 

Last weekend my mum and I went on a little day trip around our town. We took loads of photos of the seafront, promenade, bandstand and pier, we had a battered sausage and chips in the Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging chippy and we reflected on our time in this seaside town. It was so lovely to reminisce, remember and reflect on everything from the past 6 and a half years – and it's crazy to see and think of how much has changed in our lives since a fifteen-year-old Mollie moved to the sunshine coast.

'FROM THE SUNSHINE COAST TO THE CAPITAL' is a new series on my blog, and one I hope you follow. I'm going to write a piece at least once per month – maybe more. It's going to be open, personal, raw and wonderful. It's going to include my thoughts and feelings, my ventures and discoveries. I'm so excited for this new adventure in my life and I cannot wait to share it all with you!

Anyway, I better go and hop in the car – it's time for me to head to London. Carnaby's in his bag, I have a suitcase with all of my essentials and I cannot wait to get there. See you in South West London... wish me luck!