The pressures on young adults today

It's that time of year where GCSE's and A-Level exams are looming. I did my A-Level exams last year and I know all too well how much pressure young adults are under.

I find now-a-days there is a huge amount of pressure on young adults to know exactly what they want to do with their lives. I have never known what path I want to take my life down or what career I want to venture into (and I still don't!). I feel like a lot of time at Sixth Form was based around finding the correct University degree for you and acing exams - which is not ideal for a student who does no intend on further education. I always enjoyed going to school, seeing my friends and learning when I was in the lower years but I found Sixth Form drained the energy out of my and I detested it. Not every student that wants to continue education after GCSEs wants to go to university - some are just want to continue learning and gain more qualifications before joining the world of work or taking a gap year. 

I remember the way I felt during my time at Sixth Form. The thought of the future was very daunting and made me anxious. The pressure put on me by teachers and by myself stressed me out and was truly overwhelming.

During my time at Sixth Form there were days that I would panic because I felt I was the only one who didn't know where my life was taking me. I would always turn to my parents at times like this and they would reassure me that everything would be okay. I know it seems easier said than done but there is always another option. In the last weeks of school I still didn't have a full-time job lined up for me and I was beginning to panic. That is when I heard about the Cabin Crew job I now work and I applied because I had nothing to lose. Sometimes in life things work out - some call it fate, others luck - but either way I couldn't be happier.


So some final words of advice from me

• Talk to someone if you are feeling down - my parents are great, but if yours aren't as understanding try talking to other relatives or friends that may be going through the same thing.
• Remind yourself that you don't have to do what everyone else is doing - just because your friends want to go to university and people 'expect' you to go, you don't have to. If you don't feel ready to move to the UK and go to university don't. It is your life.
• You do not have to know what you want to do with your life just yet - you are still young. If you are in Sixth Form you are only 17/18 years old - you have your whole life ahead of you! I know it can be scary not having a plan but sometimes you need to roll with the punches and enjoy life.
• Take life one step at a time. I have always been a person that thinks about my future and I like to plan everything in advance but sometimes you realise you need to live life in the moment and stop worrying about the future.
• Try your absolute hardest! Take time to revise, you are not missing out on anything - It is only a couple of months of your life you need to work your butt off then you can say you did your best. If you try your best in all of your exams then your relatives, teachers and friends should be very proud of you. Make yourself proud.
• If you try your best and you don't succeed, try and try again - If you don't get the results you are hoping for, just remember, there are always other options. There will always be another way to get to where you want to go whether that is retaking exams or gaining work experience and working your way up.

So live life for now. Don't panic about the future. Do what makes you happy and stop trying to please everyone else.

Best of luck to all of those taking exams and just think, this time in a few months it will be all over with!

Germanwings Flight 9525: Thoughts from a Flight Attendant

So I have been hesitant whether to publish this blog post or not. I am aware that the topic is controversial and potentially sensitive for some and the last thing I want to do is offend anyone. Despite this I have been thinking about the Germanwings plane crash since the 24th of March and I felt the need to share my opinions, as a flight attendant, with you all. Declaimer – Although we will never know exactly what occurred that day, the following post is based on information I have gathered from numerous news articles. All the opinions are my own.

The last few years have been deeply saddening for the world of aviation. Since I first applied to become an airhostess there have been a number of high-profile plane crashes and incidents that shook the world. It began on the 8^th of March 2014 with the Malaysia Airline Flight 370 that disappeared over the waters off Southeast Asia. To this day the whereabouts of the aircraft and the 239 people on board is unknown and with this there is huge speculation and a number of theories about what occurred that day. Following this incident another Malaysia Airline Flight, MH17, was shot down over Ukraine in July and an AirAsia flight crashed into the Java Sea after trying to avoid weather. These incidents were just few that have occurred since this time last year.

More recently, Germanwings Flight 9525 has made headline news after Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz intentionally crashed the aircraft into the French Alps. I wont go into great detail about what supposedly happened on the aircraft as it is all over the news and investigations are still being carried out. Instead I want to share my thoughts about the tragic event.

I first heard about the crash when I received a text message from my boyfriend after I had finished working an early shift. As a flight attendant hearing the news that a commercial aircraft has had a fatal crash makes my heart sink. The following day at work, after a pre-flight briefing, the crew and I were discussing what might have happened on Flight 9525. Decompression was mentioned which would have meant, due to a lack of oxygen, the pilots could have become unconscious causing the crash. This would have explained the loss of communication between French radar and the aircraft. The idea of pilot suicide did cross my mind but the thought of a pilot making the conscious decision to murder all passengers and crew on board is much more heart breaking than a technical fault or accident that could not have been predicted, in my opinion. As a member of cabin crew, I have full faith in all of the pilots I work with and trust them completely with my life. It is saddening to know that the crew members aboard the flight that day must have felt the same way – including the Captain who left the flight deck, trusting Lubitz to be in charge.

As the days go on, more information about the incident is being revealed in the news. Reports have emerged suggesting Lubitz may have been suffering from mental health problems and officials say Lubitz had been hiding an illness from his employer. Authorities said investigators found antidepressants and torn-up medical leave notes, including for the day of the crash, in the co-pilots apartment. Germanwings said it never received a sick-note from Lubitz. This makes me hope for change. In light of this incident I would like to see medical professionals personally contacting airlines if a member of crew comes to them and are deemed unfit to fly (especially if the reason is due to mental illness or depression). If the company had been contacted by the medical practice, the awful events that lead to the death of 150 people may have been prevented. I am in no means blaming the doctors Lubitz saw prior to the event. They were only following procedure and they could not have predicted what was going to happen.

When I first heard that the Captain was locked out of the flight deck by the co-pilot, I was shocked to discover that Germanwings did not require at least two people to be in the cockpit at all times. Since the incident other companies including EasyJet and RyanAir have changed their procedures, as they too did not have this rule in place. The sad truth is that we learn from our mistakes. Unfortunately, security and safety procedures change in aviation when an accident has occurred and authorities do the best they can to prevent this happening again in the future. Take 9/11 for example – since that day back in 2001 aviation changed forever. It was that incident that saw reinforced flight deck doors on every aircraft, US Federal Air Marshals onboard some flights and secondary barriers for flight deck doors on long haul flights – These are just 3 changes but there were many more, all of which make flying much safer.

I could write about aircraft accidents and incidents for hours but I would like to finish this blog post on a more positive note. Although I have mostly mentioned Andreas Lubitz, I would like to share my thoughts on the Captain and Cabin Crew that day. Reports say the Captain, Patrick Sondenheimer, was heard trying to break his way back into the flight deck to save everyone on board. He was a married man, father of 2 young children and it has been said he moved to the airline Germanwings in order to be closer to his family. According to CNN recordings from the black box are heard of Sondenheimer pleading with the co-pilot “open the damn door!” The recording also includes the sounds of loud metallic bangs that sound like someone is trying to knock down the cockpit door. As details emerge, Patrick Sondemheimer has been praised all over social media for his bravery and people have hailed him as a hero. As a flight attendant I could only imagine what the crew must have been going through in those last few moments – perhaps calming passengers and helping Sondemheimer’s attempt to open the flight deck door. I have the upmost respect for everyone who tried to save that aircraft. 

My heart and condolences go out to the family and friends of the victims on Flight 9525. May the 150 people on board rest in peace.

50 Facts About Me

I have seen a few bloggers and YouTubers share 50 facts about themselves and I think it would be fun to jump on the band wagon. I have plenty of blog ideas at the moment but I am finding it difficult to express these thoughts and put them into words so I've decided to upload this post in the meantime.

1. My full name is Tyler Thorne. That is all. But a lot of people just call me Ty
2. I feel deprived of a middle name (but I am also grateful that I don't have an awful middle name that I hate, so thanks Mum and Dad... I think)
3. When I was younger I used to make up middle names for myself that included Rose and Bunny - sorry but WHAT? haha
4. I used to hate that my name was predominately used for males until I met another girl called Tyler in McDonalds when I was about 9 and I came to terms with it
5. I now love stereotypical boys names for girls i.e. Dylan, Drew and Riley
6. I am currently 19 years old
7. I was born on the 5th of December 1995
8. It was snowing the day I was born (which is unusual for Guernsey)
9. I live on a small Island called Guernsey, which is in-between England and France
10. I was born in Guernsey but grew up 8 and a half years of my life in Perth, Australia
11. I moved to Perth when I was 2 years old
12. I have a pet cat called Sydney
13. I would LOVE to have a pet dog
14. But I am allergic to fur so I would have to have a hypoallergenic breed 
15. I am an air hostess/cabin crew member/air stewardess (what ever you prefer)
16. I absolutely love my job, the people I work with and the fact I am constantly learning when I am at work
17. I would say I am creative and I love making videos and editing, just for fun
18. I love taking photographs (and have recently just bought a new Canon G7X for photos and film)
19. I enjoy taking long walks along the beach (okay this is starting to sound like a dating profile)
20. I have an older brother who is 21 years old, called Zak
21. I love watching movies and my favourite would have to be Burlesque
22. But my favourite genre is actually Action
23. My favourite author is James Patterson
24. I watch YouTube videos everyday (sad I know)
25. I one day wish to travel the world with someone I love
26. I have been fortunate enough to travel a lot in my 19 years visiting countries including Canada, USA and Australia
27. I enjoy cooking - particularly Jamie Oliver meals from his cook books
28. But I don't like cleaning up after I've cooked
29. The sunshine makes me happy
30. I LOVE fillet steak - yum yum
31. I think I have an addiction to blueberry muffins (if you're in Guernsey seriously try the yoghurt blast blueberry muffin from Alliance. You. are. welcome.)
32. I like my eggs poached - there is nothing quite as satisfying as poaching an egg then popping its centre to see the bright yellow yolk poring out over some toast
33. My parents are my best friends
34. I am very family-oriented and I love spending time with my grandparents, cousins, aunties and uncles
35. When I was about 9 I won the Western Australian 100m hurdles at the State Championships - random fact, I know but I thought I'd just throw it in there
36. I play volleyball for Guernsey and we are currently training for the inter-insulars in April and the Island Games in June
37. I learnt to play indoor beach volleyball in Australia when I was around 8 years old
38. I think Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares USA is hilarious (Go and watch the episode called Michon's on 4OD "NASTAY")
39. I have a face full of freckles that I usually don't even notice until someone mentions them
40. I feel confident without wearing makeup but I tend to put makeup on because it's fun to apply and experiment with new looks
41. My favourite TV program is One Born Every Minute
42. I have both skied and snowboarded. Although I am not particularly great at either, I do prefer snowboarding - I find it more challenging and exciting
43. If I find something I really want I end up convincing myself that I NEED it. I do research more expensive items before I purchase them though
44. I have a great group of friends and boyfriend who I adore
45. I love the smell of petrol
46. I like having painted nails but I hate the process of painting them
47. I'm sh*t scared of spiders
48. I have asthma
49. I have so many thoughts and ideas that I struggle to put into words. I am working on that
50. I am clearly new to this whole blogging thing and I am most definitely not a writer 

Writing 50 facts about myself was actually much harder than I first thought. I hope you enjoyed getting to know me a bit better. 

Thanks for reading

Bye for now x

Feeling Lonely?

When I was at school I would always love to come home and have a bit of me time. After interacting all day with classmates, friends and teachers it was nice to take some time to just be by myself. As prophet Kelly Clarkson sings ‘doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone’  – and I wasn’t. Since working as Cabin Crew I have found I have a lot of time to myself whether that’s when I have days off in the week or I’m on standby. Most of my friends and family have your standard 9-to-5 jobs Monday to Friday so my days off tend to fall when they are at work. This resulted in me spending a lot of my time by myself at home, my own company was becoming very dull and I found myself feeling very lonely. So I have made some changes – Taking Flight, this blog being one of them – and since making these changes I am finding myself much happier.

Below I have conducted a list of 10 things you can do if you’re feeling lonely or bored:

1. Call or meet with and old friend or family member – As I mentioned, a lot of my friends and family are at work when I am off so it is the perfect time to spend time with family members who are retired e.g. your grandparents

2. Volunteering - volunteering is a great way to meet new people and give back to the community. It will also give you something to think about, to preoccupy your mind so you don’t begin to over-think and contemplate life (we’re all guilty of it)

3. Start a new project or find a new hobby – find something that interests you and go with it. Whether it’s fixing cars, making a model or even starting a blog! Join sporting clubs or local social clubs - this can be a great way to meet new people

4. Get a pet (if you’re allowed) or befriend an animal – company doesn’t have to come from a human. Having a pet can boost your energy levels and happiness. If you can’t have a pet for any reason, befriend a neighbours or family members pet and offer to look after them in your free time

Watching my Auntie Abbie's dog, Billy

5. Get creative – if you like to baking, drawing, painting or crafting use your free time to do just that. This will give you the perfect opportunity to express yourself and get the creative juices flowing

6. Exercise - join the gym, practice some yoga or even just go for a long walk with some great music. Exercise releases endorphins that will make you happier and feel much better – plus you will be benefitting your body and mind at the same time

7. Explore – whether it’s driving, walking or on public transport, take this opportunity to get out and about and see new places – take a camera with you if you like photography and capture some great imagery. This will make an interesting topic of conversation when you see your friends and family next

Finding beautiful locations to photograph in Guernsey isn't difficult, especially on a sunny day

8. Read a book or watch a film – sometimes it’s nice to forget about the stresses of everyday life and get lost in a good book or movie for a couple of hours

9. Do what needs to be done – it is so easy to procrastinate when you’re alone and end up watching hours of YouTube videos (guilty) when really this is the best time to do the housework, tidy your room and run some errands. Put your favourite music on and have a dance and sing-along to make the whole thing more bearable (you’re alone so go wild and have fun while doing it!)

Finally getting around to packing for my ski holiday
and listening my favourite songs at the moment
(dancing was inevitable)

10. Plan ahead – I am a huge fan of writing lists and being organised. So, if like me, you can’t see your friends and family when you’re off, plan ahead. Find time in your diary when you can meet with them and see when they are free too. Plan appointments you need to go to e.g. hairdresser or dentist. Plan what you can do on your next day off to keep you busy and give you something to look forward to

Remember feeling lonely is completely natural and anyone can feel that way from time to time. If you feel lonely the first thing you should do is talk to someone. The first people I go to when I feel like that are my two best friends – my parents. The next step to tackle loneliness or any feeling boredom is to read the list above and just do something!

I hope this helps some of you and if you’re ever feeling lonely feel free to email me or leave a comment below.

Go throw yourself into something new. Step out of your comfort zone and have fun when you have time to yourself because you don’t have to feel lonely when you’re alone.

Bye for now x

My first blog post – why am I doing this? (how cliché)

As someone who would regard herself as a creative type I have always found myself experimenting with new ways to express my creativity and personality… and struggled. I have previously had my own YouTube channel focusing on Beauty and Fashion when I was about 14/15 years old – this flopped when too many people I knew began to find out and I felt somewhat embarrassed and deleted the videos. Although I had gained a following of around 400 subscribers, I became rather self-conscious and overwhelmed so I binned the idea. Although I did love making these videos I now realise I didn’t have the passion to continue to talk about my beauty favourites or what I had bought recently in a haul video. I have however kept my YouTube channel and am now more focussed on vlogging holidays and my travels. These videos are far more enjoyable to make and a way to share these memories with friends and family.

Moving on to why I decided to start a blog… This is a new way, as well as continuing to make the occasional video here and there, to express myself. I’ll be able to express my ideas and thoughts publicly and have a document of my life that I can look back on – like a diary. Saying that, I did not have the idea of starting a blog myself. My parents have always encouraged me to start making videos again, perhaps daily vlogging because ‘Louis Cole & Ben Brown had to start somewhere’ but living on a small island like I do there are not many adventures or activities I can do on a day-to-day basis therefore the content would be pretty repetitive – so for now I will stick to filming holidays and exciting moments on little ol’ Guernsey.

I also have a couple of friends who blog and they too have inspired me to create this page, so thank you girls. Chloe has a ‘Fashion and Thoughts’ blog which links in perfectly with her degree in Textiles at Bournemouth University. Jaymee has her ‘Little Things’ blog where she writes about her life, beauty, baking and all the little things that matter – I have recently just discovered both of their blogs, after they kept them on the DL for so long! And I must admit I love reading their thoughts and having a new insight to their lives. Both blogs are absolutely brilliant and you should follow them both now!

Chloe:momentof-weakness.blogspot.com

Jaymee: jaymee-littlethings.blogspot.com

Bye for now x