Long Time No Speak...

 In the words of Adele's beautiful new song, 'Hello, it's me...'

Even though I've only ever really succeeded in blogging twice a month, but that has been consistent, I feel like this time I've been away for a long time. I think it's because so much has happened since I last blogged, just shy of a month ago. Then, I was trying to pass on some wisdom to my 15 year old self, and looking forward to third year. Now, third year has begun, and it's been ridiculously hectic already.

Amongst all my reading for my dissertations;

Trying to be the best social sec I can be for the Keele Panthers;

Catching up with people I missed greatly over the summer, and enjoy my last year of freedom to go out on a weekday and dance into the wee hours;

I haven't even given myself a chance to take photos of it all, the pics above are taken by a photographer in our SU every night pretty much, and so far they're about the only record I have of nights out. To be honest, I barely have given myself a chance to think, and really take it all in, until now I suppose, so the lack of pictures doesn't surprise me. I'm definitely going to try and take more though, they're lovely to look back on and take stock of what really matters. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the little things, whether it be someone's tone of voice so you take what they say the wrong way, but actually they didn't at all mean it, or worrying about material things that in the grand scheme of things really don't matter. That's what I like about most photos, they show a time and a place that even if only momentarily, forgets all the stuff that doesn't matter. Having said all this, it's then very easy to get wrapped up in the web of horror that is social media, but I feel a blog about that is brewing so more on that soon.

In all this year so far has been one of my favourites, yes of course there have been some less than great times already, but the general atmosphere and comfort I feel right now is the best I've ever had at university. I sort of wish that the other two years at Keele had been a lot more like this, but I completely understand that it took those two years and their events to get to this point. My hope and aim, is that the rest of the year continues with the great balance of getting degree related work done (and done well), keeping up with all my friends both home and away, and still organise regular socials that the cheerleaders enjoy. We shall see how it goes...

Dear 15 Year Old me

Second year was a rollercoaster of growing up. I spent half of it in Texas, half of it in Keele
not being able to understand myself, and all of it figuring out who I am, what I want, and who is there to share it with. So after this brilliant summer that rounded off the madness in the most lovely way, I had a look through some old photos and diaries as I decided what to pack to take with me back to Keele tomorrow. On Facebook I have this thing about naming my birthday photo albums after songs, and my one for my 15th is called 'didn't know who I was supposed to be at 15' thanks to the glorious T Swizzle. 15 was a really rough year for me, the only one probably more rough than the 20-21 one, and my diary reflects that. I thought, coming out of the other side of it all, and going into my final year of my undergraduate degree, and finally seeking help for the problems caused for me by that year of 15, I would write a little letter of advice to myself.

Look after yourself, pursue your dreams, be healthy, be happy, be able to look in the mirror and smile. But please, don't forget that there's no point in being a vibrant amazing soul if you have no one to share it with; if a tree falls when no one is around does it make a sound?

Others ought to experience how great you are, and you can help them by being the best version of yourself, so by all means do whatever it takes to reach that. The cliche is that it is lonely at the top, but that doesn't have to be the case. Decide what you want, and never lose that aim, but make sure you have people to share it all with, to support you, and celebrate with you. You don't want to ditch everyone while going for the top job, or while in a new relationship, then having no one around if you get fired, or to be your bridesmaids/groomsmen if the relationship works out.

Having said this; ain't nobody got time for toxic people, so don't be afraid to move on. If a person can't be happy for you at your best, no matter what they're going through, then don't trust them at your worst. Never forget, that JOY = Jesus, Others, You. The two most important commandments are love your God and love your neighbour, then the ten commandments are all about sustaining a relationship with God, while looking after others and yourself. However, you can love your neighbour without living next door to them, or in their pocket. We're all brilliantly different, so of course we'll never all be best friends, but seek to learn how to have a working relationship with every kind of person you'll meet, there's never any point in creating drama, especially if it merely comes from being very different to someone else. 

Don't focus on who you ARE, and get bogged down with who you are going to BE. The fact of the matter is, at least scientifically you're always a human BEING. Even binging on fast food and Netflix you're still being, that's ok, that's great, that's how it is. Let yourself be, whatever happens will happen, but don't worry about that. Keep your personality and 'self' in tact, then you will BE, and it'll be great. 

I'm so excited by the prospect of my third and final year of my undergrad, but also intimidated by it. I feel like this is the final year to figure out how to go about things, which is probably highly untrue as you never stop learning in life, but I'm a worrier and consequently a planner. Writing this little note has helped me organise my approach to this next year, so I can work out the kinks and move on into the big wide world.

Let's do this!
 

No Human Is Illegal

For many reasons I have let this blog go quiet for a few weeks, apologies, but I should be back on track soon. This issue that has really pulled me out the slump though is that about immigration currently going on. I'll try to keep this succinct, and not a massive rant about every little thing related to this topic.

Firstly, immigrants and refugees are completely different. Secondly, even though people bitch about immigrants, they actually brought more into the British economy than they have taken out, and they do jobs that born and bred Brits are to idle to do in some cases. Thirdly, if you don't like people feeling it is necessary to come to Britain for a better life, attack your politicians and vote against those with policies that promote the inequality across the world.

Considering the West holds at least some responsibility when it comes to the wars, and problems across the Middle East, I find it disgustingly astounding that at any point the likes of David Cameron could refuse helping the refugees. He finally has bowed to public pressure, and has said Britain will fill it's moral responsibilities (http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2015/sep/03/tory-mps-join-call-for-cameron-to-agree-to-britain-taking-more-refugees-politics-live), he should never have suggested otherwise. Then again this is the man who talked about leaving the human rights act...

I know that it can be argued that the resources in Europe are somewhat stretched, but we have resources that the majority of these refugees have only ever been able to dream of. As a believer of treating others how you wanted to be treated, even on only that level, I really can't fathom why countries are blocking off their borders. However, today my home city of Liverpool for example, has said it will provide safety and security for 100 Syrian refugees, and as I said David Cameron has bowed to public pressure, all this points to the fact that every little helps. We have to keep trying.

This blog began when I travelled to Texas to study abroad, that's the kind of way we should be seeing the world, a three year old child should not be forced to leave his home because of war, and then drown along the way.

No human is illegal.
No human is worthless.