Charlie Lavin

It's okay to feel panicked, scared, nervous, annoyed. Just please don't stay there. I feel you and how daunting it is to know you won't return to university until September, or never if you're final years. For some, this may be amazing news, but for the majority it feels disappointing.  You won't have your last classes, graduation shows, graduation etc how you imaged it. No goodbyes. I myself moved back home this week, for the foreseeable future. My parents moved to a small village near Hull last year, which means I have no friends or community here.  It would be super easy for me to feel frustrated (I have had those moments for sure) and just stay in that place.  Whereas I believe in a God who is calling us higher, to see above our own circumstances. To be thankful for what we do have in this time. Also, to make the most of this season we're in.  If you're anything like me and thrive from people, you will probably not like the i...

Photo by  Francesco Ungaro  from  Pexels   Hey! I'm here on a less cheery subject, but there is hope. Now don't be expecting to come here and read educational facts about COVID-19, as honestly I am as stumped as you are. I just wanted to share my feelings and how it's effecting the communities I am apart of. Being a student and living away from home in a time like this can be scary and daunting. The media has covered this with so many agendas that it has left me questioning what is true and what is being hyped up to create moral panic. Should I be going home asap and self isolating for the unforeseen future? Or should I be living my life like normal, just with extra precautions? I am still unsure where I have landed on that one. However what I do know is that I cannot be living this out in fear. My God calls us higher than living in fear and promises to bring us peace in troubling times. As Psalm 91 teaches "v1- Whoever dwells in the shelter of the...

Photo by  PhotoMIX Ltd.   from  Pexels So the other night I was having a chat with a good friend of mine, who never fails to encourage and bring his wisdom. We were talking about University and how much time (might not feel it guys, but it's probably true....) you have compared to working a 9-5 job as a fully fledged adult.  We got talking about how the foundations you put down whilst at University really prepare and speak into how you live after graduating.  I love a good analogy and found this sums up what we were trying to say.  So University is the time you're building your house, which when you graduate you will live in. The disciplines (or lack of!) will be what takes you into adulthood and drives you.  Do you want to build a tent that may be quick and easy to put up, but will probably fail you when storms hit? Or is putting in the hard work now, to live in a secure and safe house with good foundations actually more...

Oh hey! Most blog posts seem to start with an apology of why I haven't posted in 6 months, so lets just skip that and accept this blog is not as consistent as I wish. (Still determined to be a weekly publisher- one day!) Life has been pretty chaotic for me these past few months, with lots of life changes and new seasons. I have been learning a lot about myself- the good, the bad and the down right ugly. So I thought I would share a bit of that with you, in the hope that you can join me on this crazy journey. Lets take a backtrack..... I moved to Bournemouth in 2018 to study a Communication and media degree. I was so fresh faced and genuinely ready to tackle adulthood and all it threw at me. I got stuck into church and university very quickly- trying to make friends with everybody and give everything a go. Looking back- I really was living my best life. This was the year that 20 year old Charlie learnt what an unhealthy extrovert looked like. I would never spend time alon...

So being a 2nd year student myself, I know and feel the pressure of finding a placement. You've applied for 100's of jobs and nobody’s gotten back to you or you've been rejected. Feeling hopeless?  Yep, I get it. Now I was going to write a blog post after I had found one and use it as a chance to reflect and encourage. However I soon realised how unrelatable that is for those of you who don't yet have one.  So here I am giving advice on something I am currently journeying through myself. My journey of this is likely to be different to yours, but I thought I would share some encouragements I have found along the way. It’s not personal. Okay so maybe it is personal because everything you are is not what they’re looking for. This sounds like a real damper and is definitely one way to view it. However I see it as a redirection. I want to be in an environment where I can add to the company and where I’m wanted. When someone eventually hires me (It wil...

I was having a chat with a lovely couple from my church whom I value very highly. They came over for dinner (I got to try out my NEW slow cooker- 10/10 recommend!)  and they were saying how they so often host and cook meals that they never get invited out. Then it hit me. We’re such consumers. As a student in church, we’re highly blessed with families who love to support us by cooking, praying, chatting to us. However it’s so very rare we ever invite them over, ask what we can pray for and invest in their life. If you’re reading this and you do this, then well done you. I am clearly late to the party haha. Ever since that conversation it’s been on my mind how much we take those gestures for granted. So In response to this, I am going to try and be a blessing to those who bless me. Now I have an awful lot of blessings to catch up on, but I’m ready! I am sooo guilty of this too but being a student doesn’t mean you can’t host. Just because your house may...

Choosing the Tea over the Gin Why don't I drink?  This is not a topic I tend to really discuss all that openly, as nobody ever really asks. I find in most cases people have their pre-set assumptions about 21-Year-old students who don't drink. Boring. Can't handle it. Light weight.  Since starting at University last year, I found out way more people don't drink at this age than I ever thought. I used to be really self-conscious about the fact I don't and would hate bringing it up.  However I now realise it really isn't a big issue. Me not drinking doesn't mean I judge those who do, or I can't hang out with people who do. I have a few reasons as to why I have decided to not drink over the past few years.  The first reason is I just don't like the taste of most alcoholic drinks, so what's the point? I'd rather remember my time and enjoy what I am drinking, than get really drunk and not even enjoy the experience...