I saw this around (thank you sebastienne, silver_hare and annalytica!) and their answers were really interesting. I also feel I should post here but after my hectic month, haven't really been in the habit of writing stuff. So. Meme.
Ten years ago (2003, age 19), I:
1) Was essentially trying to un-fsck my A-levels so I could go to university and, as a result, ended up doing a two year A-level (in English Language, what else) in under a year. Within weeks I realised that actually, I didn't want to read English Literature at university and applied for combined Lit and Lang courses.
2) Went to university. It was not what I had expected and I felt very lost and alone.
3) Was in the New Relationship Energy period of what turned out to be a fairly bad relationship, but when you're 19 and in love you don't listen to anyone. Or at least I didn't.
Five years ago (2008, age 24), I:
1) Was mostly in the year I had between finishing my MA and starting my PhD. I worked on a dictionary for Oxford University Press and worked a bit as a classroom assistant for the teacher who taught me A-level English Language. I was mostly living with my parents with forays up North for another job's stuff.
2) Was also more-or-less single-handedly raising Charlie - this year, when my parents have been raising Penny, they've both (separately, and without prompting) gone to me "I don't know how you did it on your own! PUPPIES ARE HARD WORK".
3) Started my PhD and plunged into teaching myself about the suffrage movement and early 20th century British politics.
One year ago (2012, age 28), I:
1) Was having a fairly major panic about my PhD, if it was going anywhere and how to finish in time.
2) Was spending a lot of time in hospital because my mum was ill, and spending a lot of time supporting my dad who was on his own for the first time.
3) ...I don't know. It was a year that felt very grim and uncertain, with the sense that I just had to get through it and tough it out. I listened to this song a lot.
So far this year (2013, age 29), I:
1) Submitted a PhD thesis and passed my viva.
2) Went to Berlin and enjoyed myself immensely. The last time I'd been in Germany was in 2005 and that was in a small university town (with some time in Hannover and Hamburg) so Berlin was different and fascinating.
3) Read my creative work in public for the first time in ten years. It was scary, but people seemed to like it.
Yesterday, I:
1) Slept a lot - I've been at an intense week-long programming course in Lancaster between Monday and Friday, then caught the train to Stanstead for three days in Berlin with![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
askygoneonfire and got back home at a revoltingly early hour on Tuesday morning, so felt I had some catching up to do.
2) Read about dead whales and the Triceratops vs Torosaur debate.
3) Did my laundry. Basically, I want to wash everything that has been in - or, indeed, come into contact with - my bag.
Today, I:
1) Received a very apologetic phonecall from the County NHS Trust Head of Equality and Diversity over some stuff I'm organising with her.
2) Was invited to a Public Health meeting to review a survey of sexual health provision in the city. I went to an LGB&T scrutiny and consultative meeting a fortnight ago and SJ, one of their friends and I basically sat in the corner and ripped into their survey, so for our sins they want our feedback.
3) Got an email that made me do a flaily dance in real life (I am not, and will never be, "cool").
Tomorrow, I will:
1) Do some actual (academic) work!
2) Clean my kitchen because it's a mess (o my glamorous life).
3) Maybe seesebastienne, pteranodon and shortcipher in the evening?
In one year (2014, age 30), I will:
1) Have a job, preferably one making use of my skills and experience. Please.
2) Be in a better position for getting top surgery, either through the NHS but more probably going private in the US.
3) Be a published academic.
In five years (2018, age 34), I will:
1) Have worked out better ways to take care of my mental and physical health - through being better at self-care, working out what kinds of physical exercise work for me, working out what I can do to relax.
2) Again - have some form of employment that makes use of my skills and experience, one that challenges me and that I enjoy.
3) Still be involved in LGB and especially trans* and genderqueer activism.
In ten years (2023, age 39), I will:
It's hard to think this far ahead - still some kind of employment as outlined above, still involved in activism and making the world a better, kinder place for others. Hopefully some kind of pet - preferably a dog or two, and the time and money to take care of them. Somewhere to live where I feel settled. Maybe a partner? I want to be making stuff and fixing stuff and growing stuff; having a balance between my thirst for knowledge and the satisfaction I get from doing something practical.
Ten years ago (2003, age 19), I:
1) Was essentially trying to un-fsck my A-levels so I could go to university and, as a result, ended up doing a two year A-level (in English Language, what else) in under a year. Within weeks I realised that actually, I didn't want to read English Literature at university and applied for combined Lit and Lang courses.
2) Went to university. It was not what I had expected and I felt very lost and alone.
3) Was in the New Relationship Energy period of what turned out to be a fairly bad relationship, but when you're 19 and in love you don't listen to anyone. Or at least I didn't.
Five years ago (2008, age 24), I:
1) Was mostly in the year I had between finishing my MA and starting my PhD. I worked on a dictionary for Oxford University Press and worked a bit as a classroom assistant for the teacher who taught me A-level English Language. I was mostly living with my parents with forays up North for another job's stuff.
2) Was also more-or-less single-handedly raising Charlie - this year, when my parents have been raising Penny, they've both (separately, and without prompting) gone to me "I don't know how you did it on your own! PUPPIES ARE HARD WORK".
3) Started my PhD and plunged into teaching myself about the suffrage movement and early 20th century British politics.
One year ago (2012, age 28), I:
1) Was having a fairly major panic about my PhD, if it was going anywhere and how to finish in time.
2) Was spending a lot of time in hospital because my mum was ill, and spending a lot of time supporting my dad who was on his own for the first time.
3) ...I don't know. It was a year that felt very grim and uncertain, with the sense that I just had to get through it and tough it out. I listened to this song a lot.
So far this year (2013, age 29), I:
1) Submitted a PhD thesis and passed my viva.
2) Went to Berlin and enjoyed myself immensely. The last time I'd been in Germany was in 2005 and that was in a small university town (with some time in Hannover and Hamburg) so Berlin was different and fascinating.
3) Read my creative work in public for the first time in ten years. It was scary, but people seemed to like it.
Yesterday, I:
1) Slept a lot - I've been at an intense week-long programming course in Lancaster between Monday and Friday, then caught the train to Stanstead for three days in Berlin with
askygoneonfire and got back home at a revoltingly early hour on Tuesday morning, so felt I had some catching up to do. 2) Read about dead whales and the Triceratops vs Torosaur debate.
3) Did my laundry. Basically, I want to wash everything that has been in - or, indeed, come into contact with - my bag.
Today, I:
1) Received a very apologetic phonecall from the County NHS Trust Head of Equality and Diversity over some stuff I'm organising with her.
2) Was invited to a Public Health meeting to review a survey of sexual health provision in the city. I went to an LGB&T scrutiny and consultative meeting a fortnight ago and SJ, one of their friends and I basically sat in the corner and ripped into their survey, so for our sins they want our feedback.
3) Got an email that made me do a flaily dance in real life (I am not, and will never be, "cool").
Tomorrow, I will:
1) Do some actual (academic) work!
2) Clean my kitchen because it's a mess (o my glamorous life).
3) Maybe see
sebastienne, pteranodon and shortcipher in the evening?In one year (2014, age 30), I will:
1) Have a job, preferably one making use of my skills and experience. Please.
2) Be in a better position for getting top surgery, either through the NHS but more probably going private in the US.
3) Be a published academic.
In five years (2018, age 34), I will:
1) Have worked out better ways to take care of my mental and physical health - through being better at self-care, working out what kinds of physical exercise work for me, working out what I can do to relax.
2) Again - have some form of employment that makes use of my skills and experience, one that challenges me and that I enjoy.
3) Still be involved in LGB and especially trans* and genderqueer activism.
In ten years (2023, age 39), I will:
It's hard to think this far ahead - still some kind of employment as outlined above, still involved in activism and making the world a better, kinder place for others. Hopefully some kind of pet - preferably a dog or two, and the time and money to take care of them. Somewhere to live where I feel settled. Maybe a partner? I want to be making stuff and fixing stuff and growing stuff; having a balance between my thirst for knowledge and the satisfaction I get from doing something practical.
