Equality.

I fight for equality because I find it ridiculous how some people are treated differently to others because of who they are. I find it so hard to understand why good people are discriminated against because of something as simple as their skin colour or sexuality. Why is it that some people think they deserve more because of the pigment of their skin or the gender of their partners? It baffles me so much because why does it matter? Why aren't people respected in the way they deserve? I'm not saying this applies to everyone because it defiantly does not, but it's such a shame that certain people see things so black and white because they truly missing out on getting to know some fantastic people. I wish people saw others the way that I do because they are isolating themselves from a whole world of wonderful things. I just hope one day that everyone is seen as equal. 

There are so many stereotypes surrounding gender and sexuality that people are put into categories and labeled. There's a preconceived idea of what it means to be male, female, gay or straight and people feel like they have to figure out who they are to make other people happy. It's like certain people should hold a set type of characteristics for society to accept them. 

I'd also like someone to explain to me how the word "gay" in an insult. It isn't an insult. It's something that shouldn't be thrown around to hurt others feelings; it's something  to be proud of. Just like people shouldn't be teased or bullied for the way they decide to live their lives. Who are you to decide something is "normal"? 

Why is religion used as an excuse? If you were to ask 10 people why being gay isn't "natural" I bet at least 5 of them would say "because that's not how God made us". If this is what someone truly believes then it is their decision to follow their religion but a lot of people who use that statement as an argument don't even believe in God. I'm religious but I still believe in equal rights for everyone.

It seems to have taken me quite a while to post this and I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe it was because of the response I may get but to be honest I'm sick of seeing people about hurt by the way others think. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and there is NO DIFFERENCE. I shouldn't have to write this or fight for equal rights. It should be an automatic right to be treated as an equal. I'm proud of who I am and the amazing friends I've found, and I really do hope that people start to form an understanding of the world around them because they are missing out on so much.

"When everyone else is more comfortable remaining 

voiceless 

Rather than fighting for humans the have had their

rights stolen 

I might not be the same but that's not important 

No freedom 'til we're equal, damn right I support it"

-Same Love 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0

Bye Bugs xox

A new chapter?

So, after 5 years at the same school, with the same people and the same attitude, I am finally able to move on. After finishing my exams and relaxing over the summer it's time for me to start college. I always imagined this to be an overwhelming and scary time and although those things are both true, it's also filled with excitement and happiness. I didn't like school, it was an environment where I didn't feel comfortable at all. I found it lowered my self-esteem and confidence and I was never truly happy there. I didn't like the people, the place or the pressure. This is why I'm so looking forward to college, it's like a whole new start in a place I am able to properly relax and enjoy my education, unlike before. 

I believe that first impressions stick. I also believe that this is one of the reasons I hated school so much. I feel like I wasn't truly being myself when I first started because I was so shy and I guess that stuck with me. This is now a time that I am able to reinvent myself and become the person I wanted to be before. I'll be in a completely different environment with different people and that makes me extremely happy.

I also suffer with anxiety which is something I was really worried about. I was worried it would take over again and I would become the same person I was before but I've realised that I'm in control. I'm the only one that can change and make a difference to my life. This a chance for me to be happier and more confident and there's no doubt in my mind that I'm going to do my best with the situation.

This is a completely different chapter in my life and I can't wait. I'm not saying I'm going to become a whole different person over night, but I am saying that I want to become a better version of myself. So to anyone who is in the same position, whether it be starting college, or high school, or university or even just moving up a year, good luck. No matter you want to achieve this year, if you try your best you'll succeed.

"Your dreams don't work unless you do."

Bye Bugs xox 

The End?

So after spending 5 years in one place, it's finally over. Not only have I spent the majority of my days at school but I practically dedicated my life to it. I was so excited to leave school but the day before my leaver assembly, I'm left wondering what I'm supposed to do next.

Don't get me wrong, I don't exactly enjoy school, quite  honestly I hate it but I can't help the feeling of my heart sinking at the fact it's all over. They say there's a fine line between love and hate and I think that's what my problem is right now. It seems I've suddenly become worried about the fact my security is about to be taken away from me, the one thing that was there whether I wanted it to be or not is gone. I mean if anything else I knew that I'd be getting up of a morning for one reason and that reason won't be there anymore.

I know that the next step is college and it's all part of natural progression but it's not the same. High school is your natural environment, it's the place you feel safe and secure, so what happens when it's no longer there? I get that it's filled with obnoxious cliques and people that you can't stand to be around but it's also filled with the your closest friends and the people you love. It's crammed with people whining at you all the time but it's also attached to the people you've begun to look up to and have relied on over the past few years. So are we just supposed to accept the fact that it's time to move on? I'm aware that this may sound depressing but in reality we are just part of a running cycle. We entered the system when they needed us and now we're exiting when there's no longer any need for us and that's something we have to learn to deal with.

I think I decided to write this post as closure for myself because at this point of the blog I've come to realise that this isn't the end, it's actually just the beginning. I don't care how cliché this sounds, this is the start of a whole new chapter in my life and that's really exciting. Although the reality of it is that I will lose friends, I'll make so many more along the way that I won't even care. I'm just happy that I have the people closest to me to share the rest of my adventure with.

So, with all of that said, I'm ready to say goodbye to the last 5 years with some amazing memories that will stay with me forever. I'm not sad anymore, I'm excited. I'm excited for the future and the people I get to meet along the way.

I would like to thank two incredible people who have helped me through the last 5 years and whom I'd never change. Thank you guys, I love you.

Bye Bugs xoxo

Exam Preperation?

Exams are possibly the most stressful things that a person will go through, yet we're made to take them at such a young age. At 16 years old we are taking tests that will literally affect our whole lives. If that thought doesn't stress you out, I don't know what will. I don't believe exams even test your knowledge; in reality, for most of your subjects, you are tested on your memory and your composure in certain situations. I've come to question how this is fair; if someone suffers from an anxiety or stress disorder how can it be healthy to put so much pressure on then? The answer I've received from most of the people I've questioned on this topic is the typical 'life not fair'. Now, I'm fully aware of this fact but why make it harder than it has to be?

Anyway, there's nothing I can do to change the legal system at the moment, no matter how much I dislike it. What has surprised me recently is the way I've dealt with the exam situation. I'm generally a very stressed and anxious person and I find these kind of things too much. However, over the past couple of months I haven't done half the revision or preparation as I normally would have or panicked as much as I usually would. After thinking about this for a while, I concluded I was in denial. I was trying to push it to the back of my mind and pretend it wasn't happening. and now, 11 days before my first exam, I've realised this is actually happening. This is why I've decided to write this post. When my brain had finally processed the fact that my exams were so close, I thought I was going to have a mental breakdown. That's not the case now though; I used simple things to get myself prepared for and ready for the next few months.

1. Realisation
It's time to come to the realisation that there is no time to waste. Right now you should be feeling the pressure! So sit down, get out you're study resources out and start refreshing your memory.

2. Coping
Now it's time to learn to deal with the pressure your feeling. Obviously it's really important to revise but you also need to find to relax and do the things you love most. So, run yourself a nice bath and grab your earphones- that is after you've done 3-4 hours of revision.

3. Organisation
Make sure you have everything organised. Find a place where you can put everything into some kind of order (this can be in subjects, exam dates, colour codes) and become familiar with your system. Make sure all of your study notes are accessible and quick to get to so that your ready if you have any spare time. An affective place to keep your revision is on your wall- use blue-tack, clips, post it notes, anything!

4. Sleep
Knowing everything about a certain topic is great but it's no use if you've had no sleep and can't function. Try to get 8-10 hours of sleep a night so that you can be as refreshed as possible when studying and doing your exams.

5. Just Try
I know it's such a cheesy thing to say but honestly, just try your best. If you've made an effort and tried your best then people can't ask much more of you.

and lastly...

6. Well done.
well done, you've worked so hard will show on results day!

Good luck in your exams if you have them and if you need any help with stress and anxiety then there's a post about it on my blog!

Bye Bugs xox

The Magic of Music

I believe music is one of the most powerful influences in the world. Whether it's instrumental of full of heart warming lyrics, everyone has that one special song that means a lot to them. Music accompanies most parts of life, there's pretty much a song for everything. There's so many genres of music out there and everyone seems to have such a big opinion on it, but what's the point in arguing about artists as long as they make amazing music for people to listen to?

Music is something that has been a massive part of my life for a very long time, it gets me through every situation and its something for me to rely on. I don't typically stick to one genre, I like to mix it up defending on my mood. But, something has been bothering me with the music community lately, its always been a very competitive industry but why are so many people fighting over it? Obviously most teens stick to an artist they've fallen in love with and that's great. However, when people start arguing over it I start to question what the point is. Music is something beautiful and creative (the majority of the time) and its meant to bring people pleasure, so what's with all the politics? With all of the horrific things going on in the world should we really be fighting with people over something like music?

This blog post was purely about reminding people of what the point of music is and how ridiculous some people are being. Songwriters put so much effort into creating music and I think its time everyone starts realising and respecting that fact. 2014 has been a great year for music so I thought I'd add some of my favourite songs and (in my opinion) some of the post amazing pieces from the last year or so below.

Take Me To Church- Hozier

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYSVMgRr6pw

 

 

Sam Smith- Lay Me Down

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv77KoMEYu8

 

 

Ella Henderson- Empire

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuGX3tArKxQ

 

 

5 Seconds Of Summer- Social Casualty

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4XCuu93bw4

 

 

Birdy- Not About Angels

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxVUee4WsoA

 

Taylor Swift- Style

 

 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/1989/id907242701

 

Arctic Monkeys- R U Mine?

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngzC_8zqInk

 

 

One Direction- Fool's Gold

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gK3QD2QSRo

 

 

Imagine Dragons- Demons

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWRsgZuwf_8

 

 

M83- Wait

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAwYodrBr2Q


Thanks for reading,
Bye bugs xox

 

 

Anxiety and Stress

This is a blog post I've been wanting to do for quite a while now because I don't think its something that is talked about in the way it should be. I mean, its definitely talked about more than it was a couple of years ago but does anyone really address it properly? I believe its important to look at the science behind it as well as ways to help. I've been struggling with stress and anxiety for years but its never really been explained properly to me, not even by a doctor. So, I did a bit of research...

 

Stress

 

Stress is a completely normal thing and if your body uses it in the correct way it can be great. it can keep you motivated, active and challenges you.It's a natural reaction and can really help you in dangerous situations (its part of the fight-or-flight process). Stress is part of releasing hormones, like adrenaline, when you in an emergency situation. However, when your body is overworked and you become too stressed it can very negative affects. This kind of stress can effect your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life. It is important that we keep our stress levels as low as possible and find a way to recognise when we are becoming too stressed. Sometimes stress starts affecting you so much that eventually you don't even release it there- this can be extremely dangerous. It's so important that you listen to your body because if you don't it can have some very devastating affects.

(http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-causes-and-effects.htm)

 

Anxiety

 

If you are affected by anxiety then it can be really controlling. It generally takes over you and affects how we feel, how we behave and has a lot of physical symptoms. There are different levels of anxiety- some people have mild anxiety, where as some people physically can't do anything because they are so scared. Anxiety, similar to stress, is part of the fight-or-flight process. It's an action that sometimes takes place in our body and can cause uncontrollable fears. Anxiety, ironically, is caused by stress. Some of us are more vulnerable to anxiety than others but we can learn to control it. Anxiety is sometimes made worse by negative self talk- the process of which we tell ourselves things are worse than they actually are.

 

Symptoms of anxiety- Tense muscles, trembling, churning stomach, nausea, headaches, backache, heart palpitations and numbness. I also get panic attacks with my anxiety which is also very common.

(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7603.php)

 

I am currently going through sessions of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) which is the process of changing the way you think and feel about things. This has really helped me and is something I highly suggest if you are struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, panic disorders or anything similar.

 

I am in no way an expert in anything I have just written about but I do have experience with it and I really hope this blog post has helped at least one of you!

 

Bye bugs xox

 

 

New Year, New Me?

Happy New Year to all of you! It's such an exciting time of year, everyone's getting over Christmas and feeling motivated, although that doesn't always last. That's a thing that always comes around with the celebration of the new year- the resolutions. Everyone makes these whether you believe you'll follow them through or not. But how many of us actually do?

 

Resolutions are  funny things really, it's like you're deciding you're going to change your entire personality overnight. It's crazy the difference that one day can make on someone; the leggings and the running shoes come out and suddenly everyone has an iPod shuffle and can bare the cold January mornings. Most people vow to lose weight or something like that- but what's the point if it's not actually going to happen?

 

That's why I don't normally make new years resolutions. However, this year I made an exception. I don't want to talk about how I'm planning  to change every part of my life, that's not what this blog post is about. What I am going to talk about is how I plan to become happier with myself.

 

Over the last couple of years I've noticed that my self-confidence has dropped to a record-breaking low. My anxiety got worse and everything just generally felt like crap. This year I've decided enough is enough- I'm doing my exams soon and I want to make sure my last year at high school is one I can enjoy. This doesn't mean that I have to change my life drastically but  what I do need to do is slightly adjust the small things I'm not okay with.

 

I decided the first thing I needed to do was become healthier- this didn't mean losing weight but I wanted to make sure my body was happy so that my mind would eventually catch up with it. The next thing I have decided to do is to remove the people that brought a negative energy to my life. Now, obviously that wasn't completely possible, but I did press that big red delete button on the people that had brought me down and quite frankly treated me like crap.

 

These are just a few changes I've managed to make in the last few weeks (and I intent to continue) but I've already noticed a massive difference in myself. The purpose of the blog post was to show you that new years resolutions don't have to be impossible or drastic, just do the things that make you happy. Do things step by step, little by little and you can do anything.

 

I hope everyone enjoyed there new year and you all have a good week!

 

Bye bugs xox