Dear London

Whenever I tell someone I'm from Bermuda they always ask me why I'd want to live in cold, rainy London when I could be chilling in the sun on a beach. Although my little island will always have my heart my goals and dreams are far bigger than the place itself.

During my time in highschool I knew exactly what I wanted to be. My whole life revolved around fashion - I was interning for every designer, publication and volunteering at fashion shows. The more knowledge I obtained the better. I had my heart set on studying fashion in NYC like every other fashion lover but after graduation I attended university in Canada where I studied business. It was a bittersweet experience but that was short lived due to a number of things. There, I learned the meaning of friendship and was the first time in my life that I "took one for the team" (we won't get into details).
I moved back to Bermuda completely clueless about my next move and feeling worthless that I hadn't accomplished anything. I enrolled in some courses at the local college, babysat for extra cash and wrote stories for local magazines.

It took me going through a horrible experience, losing friends, losing myself completely and simply not being happy for me to seriously think about what I wanted to do next.
The UK was never my first choice but I gave in my resume and landed an internship with London Fashion Week. I told my parents my plan and I wasn't taking no for an answer. It was now or never. I literally left within 2 weeks - without my parents, to a country I had never been to before. I was going to make it happen even if I didn't know exactly how I was going to do it.
Fast forward 3 years later, I'm a graduate in Journalism & Fashion Styling, write for a number of publications in Bermuda, New York and London, started my own art scholarship and a junior Stylist here in London.
It doesn't matter how lost you get.

Dear London,
Thanks for looking after me these 3 years. From the disappointments that I learned from to the highlights that I'm beyond blessed to have received at this age. Helping me find myself a bit better and teaching me that anything is possible. This city is full of creative kids just trying to make their dreams come true - so thank you for being home to the art heads, fashionistas & weirdos. Love, Ti