Between deadlines and daydreams: Our 2025 King’s year wrapped

Hi, I am Chloe and I am in my second year studying Digital Media and Culture. Every time we reach the end of the year, I naturally start looking back at everything that has happened, the things I achieved, the things I learned and the things I want to reset before the new year begins. With Spotify Wrapped making its return this month, it felt like the perfect moment to make my own version and reflect on the moments that shaped my year at King’s. 

As the year draws to a close, we are invited to slow down, look back and appreciate how far we have come. Stepping into 2025, a year shaped by transformation, community and personal growth, we are reminded that the true heartbeat of King’s has always been its students, our stories, our journeys and the milestones we create along the way.

Whether we found a new passion, discovering a favourite food or study spot, or even stumbling upon the Uniqlo Cafe in Covent Garden (a personal triumph for me), it’s important to celebrate our achievements - big or small. These moments, often tucked between deadlines and daily routines, are reminders of how much we’ve grown without even noticing. Each small victory is evidence of resilience, curiosity, and the courage to keep moving forward. Every step counts in the story you’re writing for yourself. 

Some of the most memorable moments from campus life were never planned. For me, it was those late-night study sessions at the Maughan Library, the ones where we swore we’d only stay for an hour. Instead, we huddled around a table with friends, fuelled by snacks, and collectively panicking for the next day’s deadline. Somehow, between bursts of laughter bounced off the walls in the study pods and shared silence during typing sprints, those long nights became a kind of ritual. That’s where belonging took root: in showing up for each other, swapping ideas, and realising that none of us were doing this alone.

As the holiday season arrives, campus begins to glow with the warmth of our diverse traditions - from twinkling decorations and Secret Santa exchanges to the religious and cultural celebrations that make this time of year feel so rich and welcoming. It’s a time to slow down, savour a good meal with family and friends, and appreciate the comfort of simply being together. Last year, for instance, King’s Art Society hosted a tote-bag decorating session “Santa’s Angels”, where we painted Christmassy designs while filling each tote bag with heat packs and scarves for the homeless. Acts like this truly define the holiday spirit on campus.

This past year taught us lessons that unfolded slowly, often in the quiet moments between responsibilities. We learned to balance competing demands, embrace uncertainty, and discover strengths we didn’t know we had until challenges brought them out. With each setback, our character stretched; with each accomplishment, our sense of purpose deepened. We became more confident, adaptable, collaborative, and self-aware through consistent effort and honest reflection. Growth rarely announces itself loudly, it builds gently over time, shaping us into people better prepared for whatever comes next.  

As we turn the page to a new chapter, let’s take a moment to celebrate our experiences, challenges and connections, and ask yourself: what’s your proudest achievement this year?

Moving into 2026, may we do so with intention, hope and gratitude, trusting that our stories and growth will continue to shape who we are becoming.