By: Jake Keller

In the blink of an eye, my time here at Paddington Arts has come to a close. During my stay in London, I have learned countless lessons that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I am incredibly grateful to the people at Paddington Arts who have helped to make this experience better than I ever could have asked for, and I am sad to say goodbye. 

It shocks me to say this, but my short 6-week stay here is the most time I have ever spent outside of my hometown in the United States. I was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, and I reluctantly decided to stay there for university as well. Although I am excited to see my loved ones, I don’t want to leave London behind. 

London was not my first choice of a city to live in; it just happened to be the city that my program chose to send me to. I’m glad that this is where I ended up because if it were left to me, I may have never gotten the opportunity to fall in love with this city. I do have a few complaints: London broke my bank account, hayfever nearly killed me, and I have several qualms with the plumbing… However, the list of what I love about London is much longer. 

There’s no time to be bored here, and there are endless activities to do and sights to see. Even on days when I felt like sitting around and doing nothing in my flat, I’d opt instead to make my way to a new park, grab a bite to eat, and just sit and read.  The options for grub are endless here as well, and as a foodie, that spoke to my soul. I made a new best friend in Too Good To Go, scoring deals on Indian, Japanese, and Ethiopian cuisine. The variety of food in London is one of the many benefits of the city’s multicultural spirit. 

The mission of Paddington Arts spoke to me, and I feel like I was meant to find my way to this organization. The arts, particularly theatre, helped me navigate through many challenges growing up. Performing helped me to find myself, and it truly shaped me as a person. Paddington Arts gives children the same opportunity to find themselves and provides them with the support they need to grow. I feel as if working as an intern here has allowed me to give back to the arts what they gave to me, and to pass the baton on to future generations. 

One thing I immediately noticed about Paddington Arts is how dedicated the people here are to the organization. The time and dedication that they give to this cause are beyond admirable, and I’ve been able to see firsthand the impact their work has on the community. 

Looking back on the past six weeks, there is not a single thing I would change, and for that I am thankful.