About Me

Hello!

Welcome to my personal website!

I am Selina, a British girl from Birmingham, England, who is now based in Los Angeles, California.

Who am I?

For as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to experience more of what life had to offer and move to a place that matched the weather, lifestyle and opportunities I was looking for.

So at the age of 24, I made the difficult decision to move to a brand new city in an unfamiliar country that I had never visited before. That city was Los Angeles. I had no friends or family here and a settled life in England. I knew I was taking a big risk, and in doing so I have learned more than I could have ever anticipated and grown so much as a person.

I am currently pursuing my Masters degree in Journalism at the University of Southern California, on behalf of a scholarship from the Fulbright Commission. My academic background includes a Bachelors degree in Economics and Political Science and a Masters degree in Financial Technology, having studied at the University of Birmingham and Cambridge back in the UK.

I have extensive professional experience in all forms of traditional and social media, as a result of working in the digital world for the last few years. Journalistically, I feel most impassioned when reporting on foreign affairs, particularly relating to Middle Eastern culture, politics and identity. As a third-generation Brit, it is important for me to not only talk about my home country but also keep my heritage alive through writing about the region and shattering misconceptions.

Outside of school, I enjoy exploring LA, playing with my cat, reading, watching (British!) television and catching up with my friends and family (albeit virtually these days…).

Who is this website for?

I know how daunting it can feel to consider moving from one side of the world to another, let alone actually go for it and take the leap.

Los Angeles is so different to England, and there’s a lot I wish I knew before I moved here.

So, it’s my aim to share as much of my journey and experiences as I can, to hopefully impart some tips, advice and general musings on life in LA.

This website will have something for you if:

• You’re considering a move to LA and want to hear what it’s like.
• You’re an American wanting to learn more about British culture and life.
• You’re a British person wanting to learn more about life in the US.
• You want to learn more about the Fulbright application and experience.
• You’re interested in studying in the US.

Whilst I intend to be as helpful as I can, another aim of mine is to inspire.

When I was leaving school, my parting words to my ex-classmates were, “You can soon find me in Hollywood.”

And whilst I’m not quite there, I wasn’t too far off as USC is close enough.

Anybody can do what I did, it just takes some discipline, self-belief and preparation.

Finally, in typical writer style, I can’t help but also share some of my thoughts and general musings on life here – so if the ramblings of a 20-something year old British girl in LA interest you, then stick around for that, too.

Please feel free to send me a message if you have any questions about my posts or if any of what I write resonates. I’d love to hear from you!