What advice would you give your younger self?

This July means it’s five years ago since I graduated [insert huge gasp of shock here]. 

There were times at university when I seriously questioned whether I was good enough and whether I was really cut out for this.  I didn’t want to move away from home and I was terribly homesick for the first six months.  But my desire to succeed outweighed my wish to stay in my comfort zone.  I knew this was something I needed to do for myself.

And it was the best decision I ever made.

I had a gut feeling about Staffordshire University when I’d visited, I was so inspired by the head of the Photography course and I just felt like I belonged almost immediately.  And though I didn’t want to admit it at the time and I was reluctant to move, as usual, my gut was right.

I couldn’t imagine where I’d be five years on from graduating and I know there’s so much more to come.  Looking back now, I want to offer the Karina of five years ago a bit of advice:

Learn.  You might have finished with uni, but you’ll never stop learning.  Always look to keep on learning, whether it’s about photography, business, or yourself, maintain that thirst for knowledge and know that you’ll never stop expanding your horizons.  Stay close to those who inspire you, and keep on aiming to do, live and be better.

Meet people. Get out there and meet people, surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you. By growing your network you’ll enhance your possibilities for opportunity and build a sense of community. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Dreams can change and that’s a-okay.  What you most want to do now will probably change and adapt along the way, just remember to follow what really calls you and go at your dreams full throttle.

Prioritise yourself. It’s not selfish, it’s sensible. In order to do the best work you can for your clients and to be the best friend and colleague you can be for others, you need to look after yourself. Self-care is where it’s at.  Be your best self, live your best life.

Mindset. Always look for the positives and build resilience.  Keep fighting the fight, girl, it’ll be worth it.

Timing. Trust the timing of things, whatever is right for you will come at the right time. Things often have a way of working themselves
out for the better.

Be brave.  Worry less and LIVE more.

What advice would you give your younger self?  Let me know on social media, I’d love to hear from you!