If I had to sum up 2025 in one line, it would be this: I did a lot of things for the first time, and none of them were as “Instagram smooth” as they look in hindsight.
This year wasn’t about perfection. It was about showing up, doing the thing anyway, and learning as I went, sometimes the hard way. I travelled more than ever, pushed myself professionally, finally took action on health issues I’d been carrying for years, and tried to build a life in Germany while handling everything mostly on my own.
The struggle is real. But so is the progress.
Italy for the First Time: Venice and Bolzano
First Major First of 2025: Italy.
Italy was a first in the best way because it didn’t feel like a “quick trip,” it felt like stepping into a completely different rhythm.
My first time in Italy started with Bolzano, tucked into the alpine landscape, fresh air, mountain views, and a slower rhythm that made everything feel lighter. It’s the kind of place that encourages long walks and quiet moments without trying too hard. After that, I headed to Venice, which felt like stepping into another world. The canals, the faded grandeur of the buildings, the bridges, the narrow lanes, you’re constantly surrounded by history and beauty. Experiencing them back-to-back was the best part: Bolzano felt restorative, and Venice felt unforgettable.
It wasn’t just ticking Italy off a list. It felt like a proper “I’m really living in Europe now” moment.
My First Solo Birthday Trip (Luxembourg: Chaos Edition)
For my birthday, I did something I’d never done before: I travelled solo.
I chose Luxembourg, and let me be honest, it was not smooth sailing. The Airbnb situation was stressful, I took the wrong buses (more than once), and there were moments where I was like, why did I do this to myself on my birthday?
But here’s the thing: I handled it. I figured it out. And by the end, it felt like I’d unlocked a new level of independence.
All is well that ends well but even more than that, it was proof that I can rely on myself when things go sideways.
A Health Fix I Should’ve Done Earlier: Nasal Turbinate Laser Surgery
This year I also went through a minor laser surgery for nasal turbinate reduction, because I’ve been dealing with a deviated septum, breathing problems, and a reduced sense of smell.
My nose was constantly blocked. Regularly. For years. And it’s exhausting, physically and mentally, to live like you’re never breathing properly.
Getting this done felt like taking my health seriously in a way I should have earlier. It wasn’t dramatic or life-changing overnight, but it was a step toward actually living more comfortably in my own body.
Taking Control of Something That Has Bothered Me Since I Was a Pre-Teen
This year, I started electrolysis for facial hair, something that has been a constant frustration since I was a pre-teen, and had only gotten worse over the years.
This isn’t one of those “self-care is bubble baths” stories. This is practical, sometimes painful, and very real. But it’s also one of the most empowering decisions I made in 2025: finally choosing to deal with something I’ve carried quietly for so long.
I also got proper bloodwork done, which gave me answers I needed. My results showed high free DHT, and that put things into perspective. It’s not “all in my head” or just “bad luck.” There are biological factors at play and having that information matters.
I’m still trying to reduce stress consciously, intentionally but I won’t pretend it’s been easy.
Moving to Germany has been a major life shift, and when you’re building your life somewhere new while juggling a studies (Master’s/PhD) and everything that comes with adulthood, you don’t exactly get a lot of quiet time to “reset.” A lot of the load has been on me. Too much to do, too much to manage, too many moving parts.
I’ve learned that stress doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like constantly being “fine” while running on empty.
So yes, I’m making the effort. And yes, some weeks it’s working better than others.
My First Conference as a PhD Student (and My First Poster Presentation)
One of the biggest “I can’t believe I’m doing this” moments of the year was attending my first academic conference as a PhD student in Lyon and presenting my poster.
If you’ve never presented a poster before, it’s a mix of excitement and mild panic. You prepare for weeks, you overthink every sentence on that poster, and then suddenly you’re standing there explaining your work to people who actually know what they’re talking about.
And honestly? It felt good. Not because it was easy (it wasn’t), but because it made everything feel real. Like: okay, I’m actually in this. I belong here. I’m building something. Plus, I made A LOT of new scientist friends!
My First Girls Trip (Barcelona: Great Weather, Mixed Company)
I did my first girls trip this year to Barcelona.
Barcelona was one of the highlights of the year, full stop. I went in expecting nice weather and pretty streets, but what I got was that rare mix of energy + beauty that makes a city feel alive from the moment you arrive. The light hits differently there. The air feels softer. And everything, architecture, palm-lined streets, the sea, makes you want to stay outside all day and only go back to your accommodation to recharge for round two.
I also did it properly: not the “I saw one landmark and called it a day” version, but full tourist mode where you actually go and see what the hype is about. La Sagrada Família was genuinely mind-blowing in person. Photos don’t prepare you for how huge it is, and they definitely don’t prepare you for the inside, the way the light comes through the stained glass and turns the whole space into colours. It felt unreal, like you’re standing inside a building that’s still becoming itself.
Then there was Park Güell, which was exactly the kind of place that makes you pause and think, how did someone even imagine this? The shapes, the mosaics, the views over the city, it’s playful, but still impressive, and it gives you that panoramic “okay, I’m really here” moment. It’s touristy for a reason. Barcelona doesn’t hide its beauty; it puts it on display and dares you not to fall in love with it.
I also made time for the Picasso Museum, and I’m glad I did. It was one of those visits that adds depth to a trip, less “checklist,” more “this place has layers.” Seeing the work up close, and how his style evolved, made it feel more personal than I expected. It was a quieter kind of impressive compared to the big landmarks, but it stayed with me.
One of my favourite moments, though, was the catamaran sunset ride. That was peak Barcelona: warm breeze, the skyline slowly shifting into golden hour, the sea doing what the sea does, instantly calming your nervous system. Watching the sun go down from the water made everything feel more cinematic, like the kind of memory that sticks even after you’re back home, sitting at your desk, wondering if it actually happened.
And beyond the major spots, the whole city just works as a travel destination. You can spend your day bouncing between iconic places, and then still end up wandering random streets, grabbing something casual to eat, and feeling like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. It’s vibrant without being chaotic, touristy without feeling soulless, and it has that effortless holiday atmosphere that makes you feel lighter even if your real life is waiting for you the moment you land back.
The funniest part is: even with the company being mixed at times, Barcelona still carried the trip. The city was that good. It delivered the views, the warmth, the bucket-list experiences, and the kind of mood boost that stays with you for weeks afterward. If I ever go back (and I probably will), I’d do the same major spots again because they were genuinely worth it and then spend even more time just living in the city, slower, with better company and less complaining in the background.
Europe in One Year (Who Even Am I?)
When I look back, I realise how much I travelled across Europe in 2025 – more than any year before. New countries, new cities, new systems to navigate, new “first time” moments constantly.
And one of the most unforgettable parts: driving through the Austrian Alps.
That was one of those cinematic moments where you don’t even need music because the view is doing all the work. It felt like freedom, real freedom, the kind you feel in your chest.
The First Time I Got My Nails Done (and I’m Into It)
Another unexpected first: I got my nails done properly for the first time, slightly longer, with acrylic.
I’ve never grown my nails out like this, ever. I always thought it wouldn’t suit me, or I’d hate the feeling, or I wouldn’t manage them.
Turns out: I actually like them. A lot.
It’s a small thing, but it gave me that “put-together” girly feeling, like I’m investing in myself in ways I never thought of before.
What 2025 Taught Me
2025 wasn’t calm. It wasn’t perfectly planned. It wasn’t “aesthetic.”
But it was full of firsts. And firsts are messy by nature.
This year taught me that I can do hard things even while stressed, even while overwhelmed, even while figuring life out far from home. I can take action on health issues that have been weighing on me for years. I can travel solo, recover from mistakes, and laugh about it later. I can grow into new versions of myself, even if the process isn’t graceful.
And if 2025 was the year of firsts, then 2026 can be the year of building on them with more confidence, better boundaries, and a little less chaos (hopefully).
But even if it’s chaotic again?
I know I’ll handle it.
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