DISCLAIMER: Of course, these are just highlights of my life, there were times of sadness and/or stress at different times throughout the year, which I did not mention in this article. Please do not compare yourself to me or to anyone else.

I hope that this helps you all out or you find it somewhat informative!

1. January – I started the year off strong by doing my interview for the medical school I now go to – BSMS! Little did that girl know that she would now be attending the same medical school she interviewed at Alhamdulillah!

2. January – I also attended my sister’s graduation (Masha Allah Allahumma Barik to her). This was a spectacular moment for me and my family as my siblings and I are first generation university students. The lesson that you can take away from this is to be the change in your family and be the leader. Do not wait for your siblings or your parents to change, be embodied as your best version of yourself and they will surely follow you if they choose to. 

3. January – I also started my Medium blog! This was a way for me to build an audience and see what types of blogs people are interested in. Now that I am writing this in December 2023, I am now at 179 followers on Medium at the time of writing and I even got monetised on my blogs. However, my Medium blog is not that active, so my lesson to you is that it is okay to start something that makes you happy long term and then give it up later if it no longer aligns with you.

4. February – this was a huge month for me in my life. I peaked in my religious journey and my Imaan and I made a really big decision for myself in my faith and this helped me to accelerate in my growth and my relationship with Allah (swt). I am so proud of myself for taking that decision! The lessons that were reiterated for me from this is that Allah is the best of planners because initially, I wanted to delay in taking a decision on this, but I then took the leap and with Allah’s help, I decided. Secondly, it taught me that when you give up something for the sake of Allah, He will always make it easier for you!

5. March – I remember having a good time with my sister by going to one of my favourite cafes – Filli Cafe! On the same day, I went to the London Central Mosque which is a very beautiful mosque. I also got the opportunity to volunteer for this charity ‘Action For Humanity’ where I had the opportunity to meet Mohammed Hijab (a quite famous Muslim influencer) at an event. Another cute event I remember is going to this girls’ Iftar event with some of my sixth form friends as Ramadan had begun. Staying committed to my faith while doing my A Levels is one of the things that kept me going.

6. March – I received my conditional offer from BSMS Alhamdulillah and I remember shaking while telling my sister over the phone. Due to this news, I had the Federation of my sixth form email me to take photos of me in Central London as I was one of six Medicine offer-holders amongst around 23 sixth forms in the Federation Alhamdulillah! I did not go to have my photo taken despite feeling tempted, because I wanted to only tell everyone of the success after I had gotten into medical school. My sister also had so much faith that she told me that if I got into Medicine with an unconditional offer, she would have photos of me taken in August. This taught me that good things take time, and when you receive the fruits of your hard work, it tastes even sweeter!

7. April – this was a very busy month for me! I remember going to the library quite frequently and I was studying for my upcoming A Level exams. Ramadan had also ended so it was great to celebrate Eid where I went to some family friends’ houses with my mother. Sometimes, you just have to appreciate the silent and boring work that is making you progress.

8. May – There were more library sessions here and I got closer to the Quran. Sometimes answers for my problems in life would appear in the Quran. As exams were approaching, I spent more time studying and for breaks, I would go on walks and connect with nature – scientifically, spending time in nature makes you happier! 

9. June – this was the month of exams and stress. All my exams that culminated my 2 years of gruelling, hard work spanned over a period of three intense weeks. I had two exams in the first week, three exams in the second week and FOUR exams in the last week. My first exam was the Pure Maths and Mechanics Paper 1 and my last exam was my Chemistry Paper 3. Alhamdulillah, I still managed to complete all my exams which I was incredibly grateful for. The lesson here is that you must praise Allah for all that He gets you through. 

10. June – after completing my exams and finishing sixth form (which was somewhat emotional), I started my holidays! I started my first ever TikTok account which I post on even today. I travelled to places in London and went on a cruise, tried a new drink and even had pizza in the Outlet Shopping Centre at the O2. Make sure you always diversify your identity and not just base it upon one thing solely. 

11. June – another pinch-me moment is that I went to visit BSMS with my mother, not knowing that I am now writing this as a current medical student in that university. Fun fact: one of the staff members that gave me the tour of the medical school building that month still recognised me when I came in September as a student. Make sure you talk to as many people as possible and ask them questions when you go to an open day!

12. June – We also celebrated Eid-ul-Adha and my sister and I went to Dil Pasand Restaurant! I have posted a TikTok on my review of this place, which you can check out below. Documenting memories can be absolutely great!

13. July – July is always a special month for me because it is my birthday month! In this specific month, I went to many places such as Green Street, Primrose Hill, St James Park and the Garden at 120. I also tried new eating places such as Indulgence and Akaya Lounge for my birthday. I enjoyed doing some solo travelling around places in London (again many of the places I went to are on my TikTok). Learn to enjoy solo travelling – you get to learn a lot!

14. August – I passed my theory test for driving a car the first time Alhamdulillah. It feels amazing to be well-rounded in every aspect of my life.

15. August – Results Day was just around the corner so as I was preparing for that, I continued going to new places and documenting them along the way. I went to a hidden beach in London known as Ruislip Lido Beach and I also went to Chelmsford. When Results Day finally arrived, AHH! I got into Medicine and I even secured two other university offers Alhamdulillah! Being a first-generation university student who had dreamed of doing Medicine for a very long time, this was truly very exciting for me! I enrolled to BSMS and also secured my accommodation. I got gifts from my family members, Alhamdulillah. My mother, sister and I also went to Grand Rasoi Restaurant. 

16. August – I started my YouTube channel! My YouTube channel was made to help Muslim girls to become high value. It is now a place where I film videos to help you grow academically, emotionally and spiritually!

17. September – As I was preparing for medical school, I continued… you guessed it… travelling! I spent time with my family and packed to move out for medical school. My sister and I went to one of the most expensive restaurants we have ever been to celebrate the fact that I got into medical school which was Coco Canary Wharf, where I had some delicious steak and it was very luxurious Subhanallah!

18. September –  I then moved into my accommodation for medical school near the end of the month. I made some new friends, went to new places and had some fun in Freshers’ week! More details are on my blog linked here.

19. October – I was in medical school, going to lectures, doing my chores and habits and also having fun in a way that makes me happy long term! Some highlights were going to the ‘Sip and Paint’ session for the sisters in Islamic Society, going to Afters with my mother and brother and receiving my first DM on TikTok of someone appreciating my TikTok content. 

20. October – I also wrote and submitted my first ever academic skills essay for university which was formative, but it gave me some insight into how independent uni life is. I would also commute roughly every two weeks to go back to London to visit my family home for the weekends which was a great balance!

21. November – Again, the workload in medical school started increasing as it was slowly approaching near the end of the end term. I went out with one of my friends in London from sixth form and I also had another highlight this month – the Islamic Society Charity Auction Dinner! This was incredibly useful since Palestine has been going through so many hardships – may Allah make it easy for them!! I also went ice skating for the first time – don’t be afraid to do new things but only if they make you happy long term! 

22. November – I passed my first ever essay and presentation for medical school Alhamdulillah! Remember that if you were given a place in the institution, you are capable of doing well in that place and you deserve your place! 

23. December – December has been one of my favourite months! I got a scholarship from Zero Gravity unexpectedly which I was very happy about. I have truly manifested many things but one great achievement was manifesting going on an aeroplane after ten years! I managed to achieve that and I went to Dublin for five days with my mother. This was after I had completed my first ever medical school term. ALHAMDULILLAH! I have also been having so much fun this past week visiting relatives and family friends, and even going to Central London to see the pretty winter lights. 

I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR 2023!! It has been one of the best years of my life and I believe it is always about to get better and better! I praise Allah for all the blessings, wisdom and opportunities I have received! Thank you to everyone who I have met along the journey of life! I am looking forward to 2024 In Sha Allah

I hope that you have enjoyed reading this article as much as I have enjoyed reading it! 2024 is my year of abundance and prosperity In Sha Allah! Happy New Year! 

P.S. If you like my content, don’t hesitate to check out my blog with 200+ free articles, my TikTok account and my podcast with lots of insightful information. It can all be found here: https://linktr.ee/surobiscribbles

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

Academia and Workload

Let’s start with the workload – from my previous article, there has been quite a drastic change. After the first month of medical school, the work ramped up quite a lot and there was actually quite a lot to do! Having 5 lectures in one day means that sometimes you cannot finish all the notes of that day and so then, the work is transferred to the next day. This work eventually piles up, so it is inevitable to fall behind in medical school. Of course, there are 10% of people who do not fall behind, but if you want to go to societies and work on other side projects (like me), then it can be hard to stay on top of work all the time. 

I completed one academic skills essay and one academic skills presentation and Alhamdulillah, I passed both of them. They were formative and a chance for us to get a feel of how university assessments are like. There is much more limited help than school, but remember that if you were chosen to be there, you are capable of passing!

1. It is normal to fall behind in university. Try to track all your lectures and stay on top of it, as that will reduce your stress.
2. You are capable of getting through university and medical school if you were able to get in! 

Societies/Gym 

In my last article, I talked about Islamic Society and how it is one of the societies I regularly attend. However, Alhamdulillah, this time I am happy to say that I managed to attend other society events such as IndiaSoc, African And Caribbean Society and British Sign Language Society. I hope that next term, I can participate in an even wider range of societies. 

Additionally, I also went to the gym and it is something I love to do! Gymming makes me feel empowered and that I am really improving myself and I hope to carry this on next term and increase the frequency of my gym sessions.

Friendships and Flatmates

Now, this is where we get to some drama – in the last article, I talked about how I really enjoyed hanging out with my friends and how I have the best flat. Now firstly, yes, I do have some good friends, Alhamdulillah. But if there is one thing I have known from my many years of having many different types of friendships, it is that I wait to see people’s true colours. Never get attached to people and never think that people owe you anything. This is crucial and I remember someone telling me that you should wait until December to see people’s true colours. This is not to say that everyone is secretly mean/has bad intentions, it is just to warn you to protect your energy against those who do not align with you.

Secondly, in terms of flatmates, one thing that I learnt is that going back to people’s true colours coming out later, it is important to know your boundaries. Every flat has a different issue, so if there is something that your flatmates are doing that is concerning you, you have every right to speak up. Let them know. Also, think about how you can keep improving yourself because, ultimately, you can only change yourself. However, ALWAYS stick to your boundaries and your values regardless of the situation. 

My Brand

My brand is something very important to me as I want to document my journey along the way. I have been posting TikToks as regularly as possible and I have recently hit 100 followers on TikTok. I also started posting live study with me videos on my YouTube channel which you can check out. Lastly, I have also been posting advice videos on my YouTube channel such as how to be confident and also how to ace specific years in school such as Year 12. 

Helping others through my brand really motivates me and makes me feel happy! If you do find any of my content on any of my platforms helpful, please do leave a like or a nice comment – it means a lot to me! 

That was my blog post on my first term of medical school. These were some of my highlights and I hope that it helped you guys out! Please comment below how your first term of your academic year went – I would love to know!

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

P.S. If you like my content, don’t hesitate to check out my blog with 200+ free articles, my TikTok account and my podcast with lots of insightful information. It can all be found here: https://linktr.ee/surobiscribbles

I wanted to write a diary entry of some of the highlights of my first month of medical school. 

Moving Out 

This was the first time I moved out as an 18 year old. The day I moved out, it was quite cool and I remember getting all my stuff and heading out for a long road trip. I was happy to see my room and the kitchen, which were both super clean and spacious. I have so many tips for moving out for the first time which I will make a blog post on in the future In Sha Allah. Realise that this is something new but within a few days, you will have some new friends and a new room you call home.

Freshers Week 

Here is a hot take: so many people believe that you need to go clubbing or have alcohol to have fun in freshers or to get the full freshers experience. But that is not true!! I did not go clubbing once ever since I started medical school nor have I ever drank alcohol and I don’t plan to go clubbing, drink alcohol or do any of that forever! For all the Muslims out there, do not feel peer pressured. I made the most of my Freshers week by attending other events. For example, I went to the non alcoholic events such as the Beach BBQ, coffee morning, golf and even chatted to my flat mates! There were also many Islamic society events taking place in my university. You do not need to go to any Haram place to make friends because the right friends will come to you regardless! Freshers week was amazing for me and I felt do happy to talk to new people, explore the city and take some nice photos and videos! Please do take photos because you want to remember these moments. In Sha Allah, I will make another blog post about how to make the most of Freshers Week as a Muslim. 

Academic Workload 

This is where I get to spill the tea: is medicine really that hard? The answer is yes and no. I find the content really interesting as it makes me feel grateful that Allah has given us human bodies that work miraculously and has gifted the intelligence to humans to be able to explore this. There are such a wide variety of topics to focus on in Medicine and you can never get bored! That can also be a negative because you are so busy that you can get behind in lectures really quickly! I have had over 40 lectures already! I have even submitted my first essay! However, I have learnt that seeking support from other medical students both in your year and other years can be helpful. Also, whenever you feel stressed, remember that you are literally fulfilling a dream that you worked so hard for. I love the independence that Medicine gives me and it is one of the things that make me want to wake up every day Alhamdulillah.

Societies 

Societies are one of the things I was most looking forward to for medical school. I love that you get to dive into different hobbies and skills and either learn something new or revisit an old passion. One of the societies that I will rave on about is Islamic Society. The Islamic Society in my medical school is absolutely amazing! They hold regular events, there are many brothers and sisters who help each other and they incorporate Islam into it. I went bowling for the first time through this society, we had a sip and paint and overall, it had been great! I also became the first year representative for the Ophthalmology society Alhamdulillah! 

Extracurriculars 

We all know that I love to do things outside of academia! So here I will talk about other things I have done. I have been by posting on my TikTok and YouTube as regularly as possible. This is alongside maintaining my chores such as laundry and shopping. Adjusting can be hard at first and there can be homesickness so I have not posted a lot. You need to find a good routine that works for you. I aim to increase the amount of content I post over the coming weeks In Sha Allah. 

Friendships 

The last segment of this article is friendships! Alhamdulillah as the years have increased, I find that I get more mature friends that are more similar to me. I get on well with my flatmates and even other people have said that we have the best flat! I do have more female friends over male friends and I also have a variety of friendship groups rather than sticking to one, which is fabulous! I hope that these friendships grow even further In Sha Allah! 

That was my article on some of the many highlights of my first month at medical school. I hope that In Sha Allah you gained some insight into how life is at medical school. Let me know if you have any suggestions for future articles. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day! 

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

I truly believe that the last two years have been some of the best years of my life as I have just grown so much as a person.

So, just like I did in Year 12, here are some of the highlights of sixth form which makes me feel quite emotional! I will also In Sha Allah make articles for advice for Year 12s and Year 13 to help you all out!

A Levels:

For those of you who don’t know, I have done A Levels Biology, Chemistry and Maths throughout the two years of sixth form and also an Extended Project Qualification in Year 12. Alhamdulillah! I say that because Allah teaches us to say Alhamdulillah regardless of the situation we are in. Because despite these A Levels being subjects that I adore to this day, I still had challenges to get through. I still remember the Year 12 Surobi who would be upset over grades that were lower than she expected which she considered ‘bad grades’. But this was not only a test of my academic knowledge, but it was also a test of building my character. I remember those times (even yesterday) where I would feel so tired but I would push myself to just do one more question and keep going! But, also I reminded myself that mental health comes first. When you prioritise yourself, work hard and have faith in Allah, everything works out in the end. And Alhamdulillah, I was still able to sit all of my exams successfully. I would have that big smile on my face when I finally started seeing improvements in my grades. So, to all the students out there, don’t give up! It will work out in the end!

Throughout sixth form, my favourite subjects fluctuated. But with all honesty, majority of the time, for me I loved Biology the most! I just love how AQA Biology can just get deeper and deeper and you are constantly forced to keep asking ‘why?’ ‘So what?’ Yes, the specificity of the mark schemes would annoy me sometimes but, I love learning processes and cycles, something that Biology encapsulates around!

Next up, was Chemistry for me! It would be a disservice to myself if I hid the fact that I actually disliked Chemistry in Year 12! So I will tell you right now, I did not really enjoy Chemistry in the beginning! But as soon as I found the right revision techniques (which I will In Sha Allah share one day!) it really skyrocketed my learning and I started loving Chemistry. There was one point where Chemistry even took over Biology because of how addictive doing the questions were. (But Biology is still my favourite, sorry).

And last but not least, Maths was at the bottom! Don’t get me wrong, I love Maths and that’s why I picked it. But A Level Maths is quite different to GCSE Maths and this really challenged my problem solving skills. It was frustrating at times sitting there trying to work out the answer and the range of questions available in Maths is huge! But again, once I worked out how best to revise, it really helped me!

So, yes, that was a very brief overview of my A Level subjects. My most creative project was the EPQ, as it allowed me to broaden my knowledge on a topic related to the degree I applied for as well as also being able to communicate with others! 

I hope that I can continue broadening my knowledge just like these A Levels have done for me! Have exams been stressful? Yes. But has doing the subjects I am passionate and enthusiastic about also helped? YES ABSOLUTELY!

Teachers:

Okay, of course I cannot name any of the teachers due to privacy. But what I will say is that every teacher I had during my A Levels have helped me in some way. Maybe some to teach me content, others to scare me or others to provide free entertainment! One piece of advice I have to anyone and everyone is to make teachers your best friends. Please do not try to act cool and upset your teachers because a) they are just humans trying to do their jobs b) they don’t deserve mistreatment, just like any other person and c) they will want to help you more if you help them! 

If you have a teacher whose teaching style you don’t understand, try your best to understand but if you can’t, go and seek help from a teacher whose teaching style you do understand. Perhaps, ask for their timetable or when they are free and ask them then! Also, seek help from your friends too, that can help!

Friends:

Friends. These are the people who come to your life for a reason, and usually only for a season. I can safely say that I have made better friends as every year the more I grow and level up, so does my friend circle with the mercy of God. Friends can be amazing as they can empathise with you, joke around with you and also make you learn new things. But also, they can get you involved in drama too. This is why it is so important to not get attached to a group of people. These people are amazing but I did subconsciously get attached to some drama but Alhamdulillah I detached from it, and I never did anything that broke my boundaries and values. I followed my gut on who to stop talking to and who to keep in my life.

That is the most important thing. Always stick to your boundaries and values and be yourself regardless of who is there and regardless of the situation. Follow your gut on who to keep in your life.

Social Life:

So did I actually get to go out with my friends? Yes and no. Yes, with some friends I did go out who needed my energy at the time. So for example, one great memory I have is where we had a girls’ Iftar this year in Ramadan in one of my friend’s houses. It was such a great way to bring the sisterhood together. But there were also a lot of the times where we had to cancel the plans because either I or my friends were busy. And I am here to tell you, that is okay! Because firstly, you do need to sacrifice quite a lot for the good grades in A Levels and also 2 years is not a very long time to be able to talk to everyone! So yes, have a social life but don’t let it overpower your education and goals!

Social Media:

For the past two years, the three social media apps that I really used was: YouTube, Pinterest and Snapchat. I think that Instagram and TikTok can be quite addictive and distracting so that was one of the main reasons why I avoided these apps. This was one of the best decisions because I really focused on my education without these apps and it meant I had more time to do things such as travelling. I feel that you should only have these apps if it will benefit you or if you are building a brand.

Health:

Alhamdulillah, I do believe that my health has improved and two of the main things that really helped me was having a growth mindset and also learning how to destress. Having a growth mindset means that instead of beating yourself up, you instead ask what you learned and you try your best not to make mistakes. Learning how to destress ensures you don’t burn out. These are things that can really help your mental and physical health. 

I also had higher levels of physical activity during sixth form as I walked from home to school with my heavy bag (sometimes 9kg, which I do not recommend!). This was roughly a 40-minute walk but I really enjoy walking!

Religion:

Everyone’s journey with religion is completely unique and my story is no different. Some of the key events in sixth form that led me to getting closer to my religion are: praying in school, finding religious friends and also going to Islamic events. 

I even started wearing the headscarf (Hijab) in February of Year 13 because I really feel that Islam is part of my identity and this is a commitment to my faith.

My best tip would be to stay consistent in your Salah 5 times a day every day and I have made a variety of articles on this topic here. 

Extracurriculars:

I had to do quite a few extracurriculars within my school, some of which you can now check out on my Linkedin profile. Extracurriculars are great to have a work-life balance but some of the extracurriculars outside of school that I have been passionate about is my blogging and podcasting. 

I haven’t been as consistent on my podcast over the past year just because my sister has moved out and we have been quite busy. I have been consistent on my blogs here and on Medium, but I have stopped posting for the last few weeks due to exams. But In Sha Allah, I plan to be quite active on these platforms over the summer so stay tuned and follow me on these platforms.  

These were some of the highlights from these past two two years of sixth form! I will truly miss my sixth form because there were some amazing people and vibes, I was able to grow as a person and also really liked the environment! Now, I am on my summer holidays for the next 2-3 months and I have now started a new TikTok account to document my memories and share some more of my knowledge. Check out and follow my TikTok account here: https://www.tiktok.com/@surobiscribbles 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

What is FiLLi Cafe?

FiLLi Cafe is a cafe that sells sandwiches, snacks and drinks. The signature item is the Zafran tea. We went to the branch in Marylebone, London. 

My Experience And What I Ate:

Chicken Dynamite Pizza (£10.99)

This pizza can only be described in one word: delicious! Firstly, the pizza looked awesome with a drizzle of the orange sauce and it had a nice orange-brown colour. This pizza had a juicy texture and the flavours were outstanding. I would highly recommend this pizza and I would rate it a 5/5. However, the pizza can really fill up one person or maximum two people as the pizza was not that large in size.

Chicken Fill Z (£5.29) 

Next up was the burger, which was the low of this cafe. This burger looked like a pretty standard small burger on the outside. On the inside, it was sticky and red inside with little flavours and the bread was just standard. Overall, this was underwhelming so I would rate this a 2/5 and I would not recommend this.

Manchurian Foodles (£6.99) 

However, do not fret, because this was one of the most unique dishes I have tried and gosh, it was amazing! It was a 5/5 because this dish had an egg on top which melted like honey and on the inside, the noodles were packed with spice and flavour, which was nicely washed down with the Zafran tea I had separately It was in this small container and the portion size was good too. Absolutely fantastic dish!

Medium Iced Spiced Zafran Chai Lemonade (£4.99)

This chai lemonade was brilliant! Firstly I have to appreciate the most unique packaging of this drink. To open this drink felt like a new experience because the drink was in a ziplock bag and I had to weave the straw through the hole and drink this. This tea has a nice yellow colour and it was so sweet, cold and soothing. It was the perfect way to cool down the spice from the savoury foods. Would give this another 5/5 because of its unicity and originality! 

What did I like about FiLLi Cafe?

• This cafe was definitely very unique. You had to go up a flight of stairs and there were well lit smaller sofas on the sides where you could look down on the windows, where my sister and I decided to sit. There were also tables on the middle for bigger families and gatherings. 
• It was well lit and it was orange and black in colour.
• The staff were a bit tired and unbothered and the waiting times were a bit long, but they still provided great food, which is what I needed so I cannot complain!

What didn’t I like about FiLLi Cafe?

• As I said, the staff and the service was a bit slow, especially as we went at lunchtime. Otherwise, there was nothing wrong with the cafe!

Would I Recommend It?

I would recommend this cafe 100% as it really brought out some new Indian food, different from the previous afternoon teas I have tried. I just recommend not taking the burger but apart from that, all the other items were great and filling! Also, it was very modern and the environment and atmosphere was nice for me and my sister to have our girly chats.

My Rating: 5/5

This was my short review or diary entry about FiLLi Cafe. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles.

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

What is Cinnamon Bazaar?

Cinnamon Bazaar is a modern Indian restaurant in Covent Garden. This contains Indian afternoon tea, desserts and many other foods. 

My Experience And What I Ate:

• Cinnamon Bazaar was a beautiful restaurant that had these sky lanterns on the ceilings and the restaurant just had a pop of colour in it. 
• The restaurant was posh and was quite pricey. 

Afternoon Tea (£27.50)

This afternoon had some of the best Asian classics! I took Indian Masala Chai, Pani Puri, the non vegetarian nibbles and for sweets, we had saffron macaron. 

The Indian Masala Chai was warm and just a wonderful chai to have in general. It had the nice brown Asian colour and was freshly brewed. I wished it was a bit stronger in flavour, and for that reason I would rate it a 3/5.

The Pani Puri for me was really delicious! It was a bit spicy and had the tamarind to add, but they were a little thinner than other pani puris. I would have to rate this a 3/5.

The Papdi Chaat ended up being one of my favourite dishes here as it contained the different textures. It was soft and creamy on the outside as well as a crunch on the golden bits. Overall, this had many flavours I could taste from this and o really enjoyed this snack so I would rate this a 4/5.

The Watermelon Chaat seemed like a very unique combination to me. It had a bright red colour. The Asian flavours were truly highlighted from the top due to chickpeas and the masalas and again, there was a good play in different seasonings. The watermelon gave some freshness. However, I still rate this a 2/5 just because I don’t think I like fruits in my chaats. 

The fish finger sandwich was better than I expected, yet it still had the smell of fish that I did not particularly enjoy. The Brad was soft and the colours were nice but due to the smell of the fish, I really would not want to eat this again. But this was expected as it is an Asian restaurant and I would rate it a 2/5.

The chicken rolls were quite delicious. They were very cute and small and they had a bit of a crunch from the outside. I enjoyed having these but I wish the portions were bigger of these. I would rate it a 3/5. 

Lastly, for dessert we had the macarons which were okay and I have tasted better macarons before. They were small and they had cinnamon cream inside. Overall, I would say that it was a 3/5.

What did I like about Cinnamon Bazaar?

• The place itself was incredibly unique due to the vibrant, bright colours and the decoration on the ceiling. 
• The service was good too and there was enough tables. The tables are a little small for the two seaters but we could manage.
• You can take good photos here!

What didn’t I like about Cinnamon Bazaar?

• The food was definitely a mix in the bag. Some of them were average, such as the macarons and others were delicious such as the pani puri and chaat. 

Would I Recommend It? 

I think Cinnamon Bazaar is a unique place to go and it does sell afternoon tea and some of the dishes stood out, however, I believe that it is not necessarily a must go place and I would only visit this place once. 

My Rating: 3/5

For the rest of the day, my sister and I went to Winter Wonderland 2022, which honestly, was a bit underwhelming. Things have definitely gotten more expensive now and the rides are pretty much the same but it is nice to go for the vibes and the photos. My sister bought me a postcard with our selfie on it as a nice memoir. But overall, Winter Wonderland is a must go only once in your life. 

This was my short review or diary entry about Cinnamon Bazaar. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles.

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

It is that time of the year where we sit down and we reflect. We truly reflect on all the brilliant times and the bad moments. We admire the gifts and the times of growth. We cherish the love given by our families and learn from the lessons. 

In this article, I will be sharing the top 22 things of 2022. From books to music to moments, I hope to document some of my best highlights of this year, as well as recommend you some new things to try for 2023! 

Disclaimer: My intention is not to show off or brag. I have also had my own share of bad days this year but I choose to focus on the positives. If you need help with anything, please reach out to me in the comments or contact me via my email privately.

My Word of the Year and Why:

Word: Consistency

This year, it was all about being consistent and applying the lessons I learnt throughout my life to authentically be me. To me, consistency was showing up on both the good and the bad days!

My Top Quote of The Year And Why:

‘And they planned and Allah also planned, and Allah is the best of planners’.

(Surah Al-Imran 3:54)

This is my favourite quote of the year and it somewhat encapsulated some of the moments of this year. It is okay to plan out your goals – I love to be ambitious and know where I am going in life. But sometimes, the GPS can reroute and Allah can take you somewhere else. Stay calm and patient. Always follow your gut and keep moving. One day, you will realise that there was a reason why everything happened to you <3.

Top 2 Books of 2022

I don’t necessarily agree with all the lessons in each of these books but there were some lessons that I learnt or were reiterated to me in these books. 

Who Moved My Cheese? 

This was one of the most recent books I have read and it was so creative yet insightful! This book is a business fable based on two mice and two Littlepeople (humans the size of mice) who are looking for Cheese. The Cheese is a metaphor for what we want in life and the story describes the lessons that they learn while trying to look for the New Cheese. Because of its versatility, I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

The Courage To Be Disliked 

This was another great book which I still keep some lessons from. For example, treat all relationships as horizontally not vertically, meaning that treat everyone the same. Another great lesson was that you create symptoms for problems and problems arise due to people. There were some very unique lessons here!

Top 5 Places/Restaurants of 2022

Mi Chaii

This was a 5/5 afternoon tea place for me as it sold Asian afternoon tea. It was very delicious and I remember that coupled with the great service, great conversations with my sister and with the great food, I really enjoyed this place!

Brigit’s Bakery 

This was a very unique experience where I had an afternoon tea in a bus for the first time. This is where I had my bridesmaid proposal (where my sister asked me if I could be her bridesmaid). The vibes were so cool and with the picturesque view, tasty cupcakes and being in a cute bus, it made me feel very special and honoured.

Chai Ki 

I ate this food on the hottest day of Britain (19 July), so it was hard to eat this in the heat, but going back I really enjoyed this food! They even gave me a free cake at the end because it was my birthday that day!

Charista 

Again, the fuchkas from this place are so memorable. I really enjoyed having this food near the window and it was truly a pleasant experience!

Bond Street

Bond Street in the winter has beautiful lights which really look very pretty when you walk around. I would recommend going there in the winter and when it is a bit darker to see the colours of the lights but stay safe though! 

A bonus: I also really liked going to other cities and areas in London and admiring the views there!

Top 5 Nasheeds of 2022

I have listened to many nasheeds and it was hard for me to shorten it to 5 of my top nasheeds. All of these songs below are vocals only to the best of my knowledge, so enjoy these nasheeds in 2023!

Love Nwantiti Ckay by Rhamzan  

This was one of my favourite nasheeds and according to YouTube, I listened to it over 43 times. It is pure talent that Rhamzan is showing through his vocal only beats to make it sound like music while also keeping the lyrics Halal! I enjoyed listening to this Nasheed and God bless Rhamzan!

Grateful by Muad and Siedd 

Another song that makes me feel positive and full of energy is ‘Grateful’. It incorporates the remembrance of Allah as well as having some light vocals only beats. I would highly recommend anyone giving this a listen and enjoying the tunes like I did. Masha Allah Allahumma Barik to these two talented singers.

Good Day by Maher Zain 

If you want to wake up to some upbeat music in the morning, I have the song for you! I enjoyed listening to this song especially in the start of 2022. It is absolutely amazing Alhamdulillah! Maher Zain radiates talent through his songs and according to YouTube, I am one of his top 0.5% of listeners. 

Eidun Saeed by Mesut Kurtis feat. Maher Zain 

I remember mostly listening to this song in Ramadan time, reminding me of the joys of Eid. This was very joyous and also had a great combination of two great songs Mesut Kurtis and Maher Zain. As Ramadan is approaching, remind yourself of the great rewards of Ramadan by listening to this song In Sha Allah! 

Heartbeat by Muad 

This song is for mothers and I would love to sing this to my mother. This song is emotional, so sweet and beautifully composed.

Top 5 Moments of 2022

I am blessed to have had many great memories and moments this year Alhamdulillah. But here I have listed a few of them: 

Endless Trips With My Sister  

From Mi Chaii to Chai Ki to Charista to Cinnamon Bazaar, my sister and I are incredibly privileged and grateful to have been able to try new foods from different cuisines (I promise we tried other cuisines except Indian lol!) All these conversations, food and places will be forever treasured!

My Sister’s Wedding 

This year was a big year for my sister. She graduated and she got married Allahumma Barik. My sister’s wedding was fabulous Alhamdulillah, as I got my makeup, henna and photos done professionally, got to spend time with my sister and also talk to my family and close relatives. 

Going out of London and other areas in London such as Southall

For the past few years, I have always travelled within London (which just shows you can never run out of places to travel within London!) and this year, we ventured out to other areas of London such as Southall and two other cities outside of London. 

Chandraat and Eid 

This year’s Eid ul Adha has to be the best Eid in my life! From going to Chandraat to going to Eid prayers to eating at a restaurant, it was a fun-packed day. 

Going To Islamic Events 

Alhamdulillah, I have grown even closer to my religion this year, and I have also been able to attend events. I got to see more Muslims and I got to meet people such as Hamza Tzortzis, Aatif Nawaz and Ali Official.

Top 5 Lessons of 2022

Some/all of these lessons were lessons I had known before but they were re-emphasised and reiterated this year to me. 

Trust your gut

If you have to make any decision in life, always trust your gut. It will always give you the right response and the right answer. I have always made the right decision by following my gut.

Diversify your identity

Make sure you have other things going on in your life outside of academia. For me, some examples are my blog and my podcast. This allows me to channel my creativity towards something else, help others and build my brand. Do something that you are passionate about and will make you happy long term.

Go at your own pace.

This goes hand in hand with trusting your gut. But make sure you follow your gut and do things when they feel right to you and don’t be pressured by anyone. 

Company is key.

Throughout my years, I have always been quite selective with who I befriend and this year, I am blessed to have found some friends who are good. You are the average of the 5 people you stay with, so choose your group wisely.

Allah plays a huge role in success

I have seen many stories on YouTube where people get rejected from their dream university/job even though they have all the perfect grades, perfect qualifications and the perfect profile. This just goes to show that luck, or for me, Allah’s will and choice plays a huge role in success.

This was my long article on my top things in 2022. I could not list everything and of course, I am incredibly grateful Alhamdulillah for all of these blessings. Comment down below your best highlights of this year!  And Happy New Year!

Check out my latest posts:

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

“By Allah, that Allah guides a man through you is better for you than a herd of expensive red camels.”

Sahih Al Bukhari 2487

Assalamu Alaikum to my Muslim readers or hello to my non-Muslim readers. I had the pleasure and the privilege of going to an Islamic event on Friday 16th December 2022. This event was known as ‘Paradise on Earth’ and it featured four great speakers Subhanallah. They were none other than Hamza Tzortzis, Yahya Rabbi, Asim Khan and Kazi Ashiqur Rahman.

In this article, I will be sharing my experience at this event. I was not able to list all the lessons I learnt, but In Sha Allah, you can still benefit from this article.

What is the ‘Paradise on Earth’ event?

The ‘Paradise on Earth’ event is an event that was hosted by some speakers. This event was held at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel, London.The four topics that it consisted of were: ‘Up All Night’, ‘Pathway To Paradise’, ‘Your Mother’ and ‘The Great Struggle’. This event was for brothers and sisters.

Timeline of Events:

The doors opened at 6:30pm. My female friends and I arrived around that time and after we got registered, we took our seats. There was food available such as sweets and samosas. At around 7pm, the event began whereby the host went over some logistics before going over to speakers. 

1. First Speaker: Kazi Ashiqur Rahman
2. Prayed Isha in East London Mosque
3. Second Speaker: IlmForum
4. Third Speaker: Hamza Tzortsis
5. Fourth Speaker: Charity Partner ‘Action For Humanity’
6. Fifth Speaker: Yahya Rabbi
7. Sixth Speaker: Asim Khan
8. Seventh Speaker: Closing Dua
9. ‘The Divine Reality’ Book Signing 

First Speaker: Kazi Ashiqur Rahman – Pathway To Paradise

• Allah gives you 10 Salams when you give Salam to the Prophet (pbuh).
• Some of the ways to get to Jannah:
• Repeat after the Muezzin when he does the Adhan, except when they say ‘Haya alal Falah’ and ‘Haya alal Salah’, where you say ‘La hawla la quwwata illa billahil alliyul azeem’.
• As long as you do no Shirk, you pray your Salah, fast in Ramadan, do the 5 pillars of Islam and do many acts of Ibadah, you will go to Jannah.
• If you visit a sick person, it is very rewarding.
• There are a few signs that one will go to Jannah when they are in their grave: perfume/scent will emanate from the grave, the grave is widened and it is a peaceful death.

Second Speaker: Ilm Forum

• ‘Charity extinguishes sins like water extinguishes fire’.

Third Speaker: Hamza Tzortzis – The Greatest Struggle

• Dawah is to invite and it is to spread the essence of Islam and the Quran which is Tawheed. The main messages one should spread when giving Dawah is: to promote the oneness of Allah, to encourage using the Prophet (pbuh) as a role model, to reduce hatred of Islam, and showcase its superiority as Islam is not a failed civilization.
• Allah praises us if we give Dawah. We have a collective duty to give Dawah as Muslims and Allah favours, honours and considers those who give Dawah/perform good work as the best of people.
• Dawah also means you start connecting to the Quran more and there is an Imam Bukhari Hadith that states that guiding people to Islam is the best type of wealth.

Fourth Speaker: Charity Partner ‘Action For Humanity’

‘Tara Taree’ Samosa and Chicken Roll

Each of the food items were £1.50 and they were being sold in the centre. The samosa was filled with the chicken and the delicious Asian flavours. It was large in size and had a nice golden colour at the front and filled with the toppings inside. It was definitely a nice snack to have while listening to the lecture.

The chicken roll looked like one of my favourites, ‘Aloo Chop’. It was nice and large, and it had the orange-golden colour. Overall, this also tasted delicious as well but it did have a hint of spice in it! It was yummy!

‘Cakes And Craves’ Chocolate Cake and Custard

Yum! This was just yum! In the mosque, there was a selection of desserts available and I had a hard time choosing one. In the end, I chose this chocolate cake and custard and there were no regrets Subhanallah! This chocolate cake combined with the custard was absolutely tasty and it was smooth at the top. Even just looking at the cake was tempting. I really enjoyed this dessert, and it was £4.

This charity, Alhamdulillah raised over £30,000 for charity in less than an hour Alhamdulillah, which really shows the generosity of Muslims.

Fifth Speaker: Yahya Rabbi – Up All Night

• No act of worship is more important than Salah.
• Prayer protects you from Haram, and if it doesn’t make you feel bad for committing sin, then it either means that you have not been praying, or it has not been observed properly.
• Salah differentiates whether you are Muslim or not ‘Whoever abandons the prayer, there is no religion.’

Sixth Speaker: Asim Khan – Your Mother

• Imam Bukhari, the great author of the Sahih Bukhari books, was partially sighted and eventually became blind. His mother made so much Dua for him and saw a dream with glad tidings for him that He regained his eyesight.
• His eyesight was even better than he had previously and he got photographic memory after the Dua. 
• The 3 prayers were always accepted: the Dua of the Oppressed, the Dua of the Traveller, and the Dua of both parents. In terms of your parents, make the best of the situation by doing what you think Allah would want. 

Book Signing

I received the book ‘The Divine Reality: God, Islam and The Mirage of Atheism’ for free with the book signing by the author!

Alhamdulillah, this was my article on this amazing event! I really enjoyed this event by the mercy of Allah and I would highly recommend anyone to come to events such as these. Please share this article with anyone who can benefit.

Of course, as always Allah knows best.

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

What is Bond Street?

Bond Street is an area in London that has many beautiful buildings including high end stores and cafes. My sister and I also went to Seven Dials Market.

My Experience And What I Ate:

• Firstly, my sister and I roamed around Bond Street with the pretty lights and there were high end stores such as Dolce and Gabbana. At that specific store, I did not enjoy it as much as the staff kept following us for security reasons which made sense but it left me and my sister feeling a little uncomfortable. 
• My sister and I then went to the Ralph Lauren Cafe to try the hot chocolate and also walk around the Ralph Lauren store. 
• In Seven Dials Market, my sister and I were amongst the crowds of people and we tried three different foods and one drink. 

Ralph Lauren Hot Chocolate (£4.45)

This hot chocolate was overall delicious! It tasted of rich chocolate and it was also quite affordable. It was also given in a Ralph Lauren cup. For the price and the brand, I was quite happy with the hot chocolate. It wasn’t anything unique but it satisfied me. 

Dumplings From Osh Paz Dumplings  (£13.50)

This was my first time trying Uzbek food! We were given eight dumplings along with some cucumber, tomatoes and sauces. Overall the dumplings were of different sizes and we tried three different flavours – vegan, beef and chicken. I personally liked the beef one. It was executed nicely, with a waiting time of about 10-15 minutes. It looked appetising as it was shiny and it tasted uncommon yet I liked the texture of the dumplings. Overall, it was a 4/5.

Matcha Wheelcake from Wheelcake Island (£3)

Next up I tried the Wheelcake. This Wheelcake contained matcha. It was very small in size and you could identify the flavour from the pattern on the bun. The waiting time was painfully long as it took around 20-25 minutes despite it being small. Overall, it didn’t deserve the long wait as it was burning hot for me and the matcha was not very strong. Perhaps, the chocolate and vanilla ones are better. I would rate this a 2/5.

Cookies and Cream Crème Brûlée Crepe Cones From Boolay (£6.60)

This was one of the most exciting new foods I tried as I had seen Crème Brûlée in Masterchef before and I wanted to really try it.  Firstly, I must appreciate the experience of watching the lady make the cone in front of us. This composed of putting the crepe in the cone, pouring the chocolate inside and then placing the top on fire slightly to make it slightly burnt and create the crème brûlée. The waiting time was around 15-20 minutes for this. In terms of appearance, it was quite small but you could see the orange at the top with the gleam from the fire. In terms of taste, I really enjoyed tasting the chocolate inside. I expected there to be a bit more of a crackle when I ate the top,but it wasn’t so the texture was not the best. But the taste was nice and for that reason, I would rate this a 4/5. 

Kadak Chai From Chai Guys (£7.60)

The last item of this article was the Kadak Chai. This chai did not taste bad but it was not the best kadak chai I had. I liked how it was in a cup with the brand and it was freshly made in front of us, yet it did not meet my standards. Overall, I would rate this a 4/5.

What did I like about Bond Street?

• The colourful lights in the dark are so pretty and they illuminate the whole road.
• There are many high end stores to explore and look around in.
• Seven Dials Market had so many people and the diversity of the foods and people was spectacular!

What didn’t I like about Bond Street?

• You may not be able to purchase many items as many of them are very expensive. 
• You also have to ensure that you check that all the food is Halal and avoid going to places that serve alcohol.

Would I Recommend It? 

I would recommend Bond Street, especially in winter when there are all the lights (stay safe though!) I would also recommend Seven Dials Market but check for Halal food and be prepared for long waiting times especially in the weekends and holidays. 

This was my short review or diary entry about Bond Street and Seven Dials Market. These are my opinions about this place. Make sure to check out my other articles.

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

What is Tiffany Blue Box Cafe?

Tiffany Blue Box Cafe serves breakfast and afternoon tea. It is presented by Tiffany and Co, the retail company, and the food is unique and pricey. 

What I Ordered And My Opinions On It:

Breakfast – £45 each 

This was a set menu so you had to pick which item you wanted from each category. 

Seasonal fruit bowl

This fruit bowl contained a normal selection of fruits and acted as a side. They were just your standard fruits but were a healthy side/starter to nibble on before the main meal. It was a small portion. My sister really enjoyed having this. It also added some nice colour to the table. I would rate this a 3/5.

Baked all butter croissant with chocolate filled cremeux 

This croissant was pretty standard but I loved how the chocolate was oozing out of the croissant. This reminds me of a classic French breakfast and again this was quite small so it was easy and quick to eat. I would rate this a 3/5. 

Eggs Florentine 

Eggs are one of the food that my sister and I do not try very regularly. This looked interesting so we decided to try this egg dish. It looked very unique and it was this nice royal yellow and green dish. To me, it tasted pretty delicious and it is definitely do those people who love eating their eggs. It was also very heavy and filling because I think I was quite full already at this point! I would rate this a 3/5. 

Drinks (hot chocolate and juice)

I don’t remember if we have to pay additionally for this but do double check if you want to have other drinks with your meal. I had juice which was again pretty standard and also the hot chocolate (as a chocolate lover). The hot chocolate was rich and creamy and I believe it was one of my favourites from this whole meal. Again, I couldn’t fully enjoy it though because I was quite full already! But I really liked these drinks and would rate it a 4/5.

The Place:

The place was large enough and you did have to prebook your table. There were other people at their tables and the tables were quite big yet, you will be on close proximity with other guests. I loved how everything was very clean and blue in the shop which really brought out the Tiffany vibes. I felt like a royal person!

The Service:

With great prices and great money spent comes great service! Of course, the standard of the service was high at the Tiffany Blue Box Cafe and the staff were kind and were willing to answer any questions my sister and I had about the menu. They also served the food at a decent amount of time – it perhaps took longer than usual as they are pretty unique dishes. 

Would I Recommend It?

If you want to try living the Harrods life, I would say trying this place once is worth it! I was slightly disappointed with the lack of choices, especially in terms of Halal food and I wish there were more choices available for the price we are paying. I feel like the food however was quite unique and it was a new experience. I felt like a queen being served all the new and uncommon dishes at this beautiful restaurant and spending time with my sister! So, yes go with your loved ones if you have some spare money saved up once but it is definitely not a must for teenagers or anyone with a budget! It was a great experience after all and my tummy felt full after having all the food!

My Rating: 3/5

My Rating System:

⅕ – was below average and would not recommend even trying once

⅖ – the food was average and would not recommend trying

⅗ – the food was delicious but would recommend trying maximum once

⅘ – the food was really good and would recommend trying here

5/5 – the food was outstanding and is one of my favorites!

Order from here (not sponsored): https://www.tiffany.co.uk/blue-box-cafe/harrods/

If you have stayed till the end, you can have a bonus gift! Listen to my podcast released this week: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/girl-how/ep95-why-all-women-should-lhids6Of_Mr/

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know