Gemma Kent discusses the paradoxes of being a perfectionist. I started writing for Motley just over twelve months ago, having spent my first year in college fleeing from the thought of trying to get my work published. The reason? The long version is that, in those hallowed, glossy pages I had been witness to a range of novel and engaging discourses on fascinating topics, and … Continue reading Practise Imperfect
Ruth O’Dwyer sets out some of the key things to take into consideration before deciding to work as an au pair. Have you ever considered working as an au pair for the summer in order to improve your fluency in a particular language, or maybe just to gain some experience living in a foreign country? Well, before you start making any set-in-stone plans, I highly … Continue reading Au pairing: not all it’s cracked up to be!
Working with local conservationists offers an invaluable form of education, writes Sarah Corcoran Set between the Pacific ocean and the Oaxacan jungle in Mexico lives a local community who have dedicated their lives to protecting and conserving local wildlife. I had the privilege of living and working alongside these people in the summer of 2017. I had applied for a Mexico Explorer award with EIL … Continue reading Sustainable Living in the Pacific coast of Mexico
Staff writer Cormac Dineen offers up his take on our complicated relationship with the world of internet dating. A few months ago, I had an interesting conversation with a work colleague during which I pressed him for his opinion on the phenomenon of internet dating. As we talked I saw him slowly and deliberately scroll through Facebook on his phone, pausing at brief intervals to … Continue reading Love in the Time of Followers
Dan Webb explores the ongoing legacy of the Dreamworks classic. When talking about movies, one of the most important things to note is how a given film affects its audience: whether it makes them cry, laugh, or jump up and down with joy. Movies can affect viewers differently at different points in their lives, whether they be a child, a teenager or an adult, but … Continue reading Shrek: Standing the Test of Time
By Hassan Baker It’s worth noting that this article is written more so to document the struggle one encounters when attempting to quit smoking, rather than as a confessional essay or a success story, as it by no means is one. I started a very different article a few weeks back. One that pinpointed the pros and cons of smoking, and highlighted why I wished to … Continue reading Motley Tries: Quitting Smoking
Michelle Rumley describes her return to education as a mature student, and her experiences as a non-traditional fresher. Becoming a student again was not a decision I made lightly. I have a checkered past when it comes to doing courses; I was in my mid 30s and broke. I had thought about it seriously for a few years, world-weary from working in jobs that lead … Continue reading Becoming a Student Again
