"I was going to study ancient and classical civilizations in university. But I completely messed up my history A-level in sixth form and just failed a unit. I don’t know what happened, I got 100% in a lot of my business class exams. Then I was planning to take a gap year before uni to go and teach English in China for a few months, but that all fell apart at the last minute because the school pulled out. So I thought, maybe I’ll go to uni earlier than planned. And I was literally searching for courses that weren’t full. I ended up doing a double honours degree in management and marketing, and I loved it. When I left uni, I wanted to go into marketing, but looking back, I have no idea why 21-year-old me thought that was a good idea. I graduated in 2009 during the recession in the UK. There weren't many graduate jobs, especially in marketing. But I was lucky enough to get a three-month, summer job in marketing in Jersey. And I ended up staying in Jersey for five years. Eventually, I thought, if I want a big career, I have to live in London. I guess that was drilled into me as a kid: you've got to live in a big city if you want this glamorous job. So I moved to London... and really didn't enjoy it. I had gone from living on the beach in Jersey to getting the Tube every morning and it was grim. So I was 27 and decided to take a gap year. I planned a two year working holiday visa for Canada and a six months placement in a surf school in Costa Rica, but by the way of Hong Kong, Australia, Fiji, and Thailand. So I left the UK and was like, “Guys, I'll be back in three years, see you soon!” But I got to Australia and never left. I'm one of those people who thinks everything happens for a reason. And I think probably messing up that A-level was a good thing because it made me work a bit harder after that. And I'm incredibly grateful for my life and everything I've been able to do in terms of traveling, where I've been lucky enough to work, and the group of friends I’ve met along the way. I think every mistake or everything that hasn’t gone to plan has led to something else that's been better."
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