When I was a child, I was extremely happy all the time. I lived in a big house in a safe neighbourhood with my Mum and most of my extended family lived nearby. I was average at school but this was okay because I had very dedicated tutors who encouraged and taught me every day after school, to ensure that I never fell behind. I had many friends at church and school and at times, I even felt like a mini celebrity as twins are a big deal in Nigeria.
This all changed in August 2004, when I moved to the UK at the age of 9. The massive culture change caused me to go from a chatterbox to a recluse, and I started to bottle up my feelings, writing them down in a diary instead of saying what I really felt. In those first few weeks in the UK, I would spend lunchtimes and breaktimes crying to my teachers about how alone I felt. This was a very sad time for me. Seeing how sad I was made other kids reach out more to me and eventually, I became happy again and made new friends.
To say that it touched me to see a scenario similar to this play out in Pixar's Inside Out would be an understatement. I sat there in the cinema, bawling my eyes out like a sap. Inside Out is set in the mind of a young girl called Riley, where her five personified emotions, Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust, try to guide her through life as she moves to a new city with her parents. The story is made even more touching by the fact that it's based on the real life changes that the director, Pete Docter, noticed in his daughter's personality as she grew older.
Change and growing up can be sad. And it's okay to feel sad because acknowledging this sadness is the way to happiness. This is the very powerful message that I got from Inside Out, which is why I think that it's a vital and important watch for everyone. Some might say some of the 'deep brain stuff' that's mentioned in the film is too difficult for younger children to grasp. However, I'd counter this argument with the fact that my five year old cousin and seven year old brother understood the film's message perfectly. I nearly cried again when they were telling me that feeling sad is okay as this is a message that feels even more poignant because of this.
I'd even go as far as to say that Inside Out is the best Pixar film that I've ever seen. That's right, I went there, Go check it out!
Rating 9.5/10
Wednesday, 19 August 2015
FAMILY
One of the things that I love most about being home for the holidays is that I can watch films and not feel guilty as there are no university deadlines looming over me. By coincidence, the last few films that I've watched have been about families and their importance: Meet The Robinsons (2007), August: Osage County (2013) and Stand By Me (1986).
Meet The Robinsons is about a young orphan and aspiring inventor, who dreams of one day being reunited with his birth mother/ finding a family, Stand By Me is a coming of age comedy-drama that follows four young boys from troubled families, who hike across the countryside to find the dead body of a missing child and August: Osage County is about a dysfunctional family that reunites to deal with the sudden disappearance of the patriarch.
These three films are completely different but one of the few things that they have in common is the fact that there's no such thing as a 'perfect' family. Every family has its quirks and issues and it is important to not take family for granted because as they say, blood is thicker than water.
Meet The Robinsons is about a young orphan and aspiring inventor, who dreams of one day being reunited with his birth mother/ finding a family, Stand By Me is a coming of age comedy-drama that follows four young boys from troubled families, who hike across the countryside to find the dead body of a missing child and August: Osage County is about a dysfunctional family that reunites to deal with the sudden disappearance of the patriarch.
These three films are completely different but one of the few things that they have in common is the fact that there's no such thing as a 'perfect' family. Every family has its quirks and issues and it is important to not take family for granted because as they say, blood is thicker than water.
Monday, 10 August 2015
How To Survive Your First 'Proper' Internship.
Inspired by the amazing Economics & Management boiz that I lived with this year, I decided to apply for my first ever 'proper internship' in April and to my joy, I got one of the eight intern spaces! This meant that I was able to spend a month as an intern at the world's largest advertising company (!!) and it was absolutely incredible and one of the best experiences of my life to date. Before it began, I was super nervous, as I'd never done anything like it before. So, for people out there who feel as nervous as I did for their first internships, here's a Kenny guide on how to survive your first ever internship.
1) Alarms. Alarms GALORE, to ensure that you're never late.
2) Make sure that your phone/ iPod is fully charged so that you have something to entertain yourself with during long commutes.
3) If you can, try to get to the office before your boss. It's keen, but you'll definitely get recognition for it.
4) Drink tea. Lots and lots of tea (or coffee if that's more your kind of thing).
5) Make the most of the free breakfasts and snacks around the office, if you get them.
6) Don't be afraid to strike up conversations with people. Making connections is important and if you're genuine and friendly, people will remember you.
7) Ask questions if you get stuck (it really doesn't make you look stupid) and try to learn and soak up as much information as possible.
8) If you forget things easily like I do, make sure that you have a little notebook with you at all times, so that you can make key notes of things when you get set tasks to do.
9) Make friends with the other interns. Having an unfriendly, competitive attitude with them will not go down well with the staff who are observing you.
14) Most importantly, HAVE FUN!
PS- I found out the other day that two friends of mine found this blog and I'm impressed, albeit slightly scared at the same time. If you're reading this, heyyyyy Phoebe frog and OP x
1) Alarms. Alarms GALORE, to ensure that you're never late.
2) Make sure that your phone/ iPod is fully charged so that you have something to entertain yourself with during long commutes.
3) If you can, try to get to the office before your boss. It's keen, but you'll definitely get recognition for it.
4) Drink tea. Lots and lots of tea (or coffee if that's more your kind of thing).
5) Make the most of the free breakfasts and snacks around the office, if you get them.
6) Don't be afraid to strike up conversations with people. Making connections is important and if you're genuine and friendly, people will remember you.
7) Ask questions if you get stuck (it really doesn't make you look stupid) and try to learn and soak up as much information as possible.
8) If you forget things easily like I do, make sure that you have a little notebook with you at all times, so that you can make key notes of things when you get set tasks to do.
9) Make friends with the other interns. Having an unfriendly, competitive attitude with them will not go down well with the staff who are observing you.
10) BE ON TIME TO MEETINGS!
11) Do NOT leave the office until you're absolutely sure that there is no more work for you to do that day. Leaving the office at 5.30pm on the dot will not impress.
12) Get on the good side of the HR people because if you ever want to get more experience at the company that you're interning at, they're the ones that can make it happen.
13) If you don't have a LinkedIn, make one. LinkedIn is very useful, if you want to stay in contact with all the people that you'll meet.
14) Most importantly, HAVE FUN!
PS- I found out the other day that two friends of mine found this blog and I'm impressed, albeit slightly scared at the same time. If you're reading this, heyyyyy Phoebe frog and OP x
How To Survive Your Second Year At University.
Wow. You know things are really bad and that you've been away from your own blog for too long when you type your blog url into the Google Chrome search bar and your blog doesn't even come up....
Second year was...tough. The toughest one yet. But I survived and now I'm at home and I can sleeeeep before I move to France for ten months, ahhhhh! I learned and grew a lot this year so, here's a Kenny guide on how to survive your second year at university (here's the one I wrote for first year):
1) Grief sucks. But it's easier to deal with when your share your pain with others.
2) It can often be hard to say no to people, especially close friends as you don't want to look like a stick in the mud. However, true friends will accept you and love you exactly as you are, so don't be afraid to say no from time to time.
3) Speak out so that explosions of anger don't occur from bottling things up for weeks. It's also important to speak out so that micro aggressions are always addressed and tackled.
4) True friends are true gems and certain situations can really showcase people's ugly sides. Basically, don't put people on pedestals because eventually, they will let you down as nobody is perfect.
5) Don't let others take advantage of you, which is why 2) is always important.
6) Naps are important for survival, VERY important.
7) If you're a super keeno like me, and you like doing as much stuff as possible, post-it notes, diaries, and phone schedules are vital in order to stay organised and on top of things.
It's a massive bummer that I won't be at university in third year and the fact that most of my close group of friends will have graduated by the time I come back from France is something that weighs on my mind a lot and there were many, many tears as I said my goodbyes to people.
However as Winnie the Pooh once said, "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."
Second year was...tough. The toughest one yet. But I survived and now I'm at home and I can sleeeeep before I move to France for ten months, ahhhhh! I learned and grew a lot this year so, here's a Kenny guide on how to survive your second year at university (here's the one I wrote for first year):
1) Grief sucks. But it's easier to deal with when your share your pain with others.
2) It can often be hard to say no to people, especially close friends as you don't want to look like a stick in the mud. However, true friends will accept you and love you exactly as you are, so don't be afraid to say no from time to time.
3) Speak out so that explosions of anger don't occur from bottling things up for weeks. It's also important to speak out so that micro aggressions are always addressed and tackled.
4) True friends are true gems and certain situations can really showcase people's ugly sides. Basically, don't put people on pedestals because eventually, they will let you down as nobody is perfect.
5) Don't let others take advantage of you, which is why 2) is always important.
6) Naps are important for survival, VERY important.
7) If you're a super keeno like me, and you like doing as much stuff as possible, post-it notes, diaries, and phone schedules are vital in order to stay organised and on top of things.
It's a massive bummer that I won't be at university in third year and the fact that most of my close group of friends will have graduated by the time I come back from France is something that weighs on my mind a lot and there were many, many tears as I said my goodbyes to people.
However as Winnie the Pooh once said, "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."
Questions that I dislike.
1) Where are you from?
2) Where are you really from?
3) When did you learn how to speak English?
4) Which one of you is the smarter twin?
5) Which one of you is the hotter twin?
6) Which twin do your parents love the most?
7) Have you always spoken English?
8) Why can't you talk 'normally'?
9) Why are you so skinny?
10) Why don't you drink?
2) Where are you really from?
3) When did you learn how to speak English?
4) Which one of you is the smarter twin?
5) Which one of you is the hotter twin?
6) Which twin do your parents love the most?
7) Have you always spoken English?
8) Why can't you talk 'normally'?
9) Why are you so skinny?
10) Why don't you drink?
Thursday, 16 April 2015
The Privilege Games.
I go to Oxford University. Oxford University is a university that has a lot of students from privileged backgrounds. According to recent figures, 56.8% of UK undergraduates at my university come from state schools, which is actually quite low, considering how the independent sector only educates around 6.5% of the total number of school children in England.
In the past, whilst at university, people tried to play up their wealth and privilege as much as possible because in those days, wealth and privilege meant a higher status at the university. However, the opposite seems to be happening today. This is because due to films such as 'The Riot Club', TV shows like 'Harrow: A Very British School', and the 'Old Boys Club' that seems to dominate UK politics, an 'other-worldly' vibe is ascribed to private and public schools. Therefore, there is a kind of stigma attached to them nowadays, that is not unlike the stigma in the past that came with coming from an 'unknown' school and being a 'poor' student, in a literal sense.
As a result of this, phrases like "Yeah, I went to a private school but it was a really crap one" and "My school was really bad; it only sends about 10 people to Oxford a year" are thrown around a lot. There are many reasons why phrases like that really irk me whenever hear them.
I was the first student in my school's history to get into Oxford, and one of less than twenty people from the school to ever make it into a Russell Group university. It can be very frustrating to hear ex-private school students talk about how hard things were for them in their schools that were and still are always in the top fifty in league tables. "My school only offered three languages at A Level." I was the first student in my school to choose a language for A Level and I had to work out of a 2001 OCR textbook for a few months, even though I was sitting the 2013 AQA exam...the struggle was so real. "The teacher who ran my Oxford mock interview for Law was rubbish; she did History at Cambridge!" The career's adviser at my school strongly encouraged students to only apply to universities that accepted UCAS points, and not grades, as that was all she believed that students from my school could achieve.
I could go on and on about how bad things were for me at school and how the fact that I made it into Oxford without the opportunities that my private and public school educated friends had is a miracle. However, I'd be lying if I don't own up to some of my own privileges, privileges that helped me get to where I am today.
I lived in Nigeria until I was nine years old and I went to a private school. Although the private schools in Nigeria are not the same calibre as those in the UK, I was still part of an elite few, and the excellent quality of my early Nigerian education played a big role in me being able to excel in my UK primary and secondary schools. My parents paid for more than ten years of music lessons and youth theatre, which increased my confidence growing up and all those years of confidence boosting exercises enabled me to give a strong and confident performance in my Oxford interview. All those years spent at the theatre introduced me to numerous plays, operas, ballets and even classic films, and I can hold my own in discussions at formal dinners, when such topics arise in 'small talk' with tutors and peers.
So, from all that, it's evident that things were not all bad for me. What's the point of all this, then, you ask? I think it's important that we all accept our privileges and we should never try to downplay them. It's also very important to check your privilege at all times, and this is something that I'm still trying to get better at myself. There are people out there who have had things much worse than you and they will definitely get annoyed if you try to make light of their situations by turning things back to yourself all the time. Don't put others on a pedestal just because they went to a certain school. This is something that I personally feel very strongly about because as Eleanor Roosevelt once said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." With this in mind, it is important to remember that nobody is automatically a better person because of the school that they went to, be it a rubbish comprehensive or a 'posh' public school. Treat everyone equally and if you ever hear someone talking about how bad their situation might be/ might have been/ is, resist the urge to say, "Oh, but things were/are so worse for me!" As cringey as it sounds, just listen to them. Listen, instead of making comparisons and maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to start having constructive discussions regarding how to do something about the various privileges that separate people and impede equality.
In the past, whilst at university, people tried to play up their wealth and privilege as much as possible because in those days, wealth and privilege meant a higher status at the university. However, the opposite seems to be happening today. This is because due to films such as 'The Riot Club', TV shows like 'Harrow: A Very British School', and the 'Old Boys Club' that seems to dominate UK politics, an 'other-worldly' vibe is ascribed to private and public schools. Therefore, there is a kind of stigma attached to them nowadays, that is not unlike the stigma in the past that came with coming from an 'unknown' school and being a 'poor' student, in a literal sense.
As a result of this, phrases like "Yeah, I went to a private school but it was a really crap one" and "My school was really bad; it only sends about 10 people to Oxford a year" are thrown around a lot. There are many reasons why phrases like that really irk me whenever hear them.
I was the first student in my school's history to get into Oxford, and one of less than twenty people from the school to ever make it into a Russell Group university. It can be very frustrating to hear ex-private school students talk about how hard things were for them in their schools that were and still are always in the top fifty in league tables. "My school only offered three languages at A Level." I was the first student in my school to choose a language for A Level and I had to work out of a 2001 OCR textbook for a few months, even though I was sitting the 2013 AQA exam...the struggle was so real. "The teacher who ran my Oxford mock interview for Law was rubbish; she did History at Cambridge!" The career's adviser at my school strongly encouraged students to only apply to universities that accepted UCAS points, and not grades, as that was all she believed that students from my school could achieve.
I could go on and on about how bad things were for me at school and how the fact that I made it into Oxford without the opportunities that my private and public school educated friends had is a miracle. However, I'd be lying if I don't own up to some of my own privileges, privileges that helped me get to where I am today.
I lived in Nigeria until I was nine years old and I went to a private school. Although the private schools in Nigeria are not the same calibre as those in the UK, I was still part of an elite few, and the excellent quality of my early Nigerian education played a big role in me being able to excel in my UK primary and secondary schools. My parents paid for more than ten years of music lessons and youth theatre, which increased my confidence growing up and all those years of confidence boosting exercises enabled me to give a strong and confident performance in my Oxford interview. All those years spent at the theatre introduced me to numerous plays, operas, ballets and even classic films, and I can hold my own in discussions at formal dinners, when such topics arise in 'small talk' with tutors and peers.
So, from all that, it's evident that things were not all bad for me. What's the point of all this, then, you ask? I think it's important that we all accept our privileges and we should never try to downplay them. It's also very important to check your privilege at all times, and this is something that I'm still trying to get better at myself. There are people out there who have had things much worse than you and they will definitely get annoyed if you try to make light of their situations by turning things back to yourself all the time. Don't put others on a pedestal just because they went to a certain school. This is something that I personally feel very strongly about because as Eleanor Roosevelt once said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." With this in mind, it is important to remember that nobody is automatically a better person because of the school that they went to, be it a rubbish comprehensive or a 'posh' public school. Treat everyone equally and if you ever hear someone talking about how bad their situation might be/ might have been/ is, resist the urge to say, "Oh, but things were/are so worse for me!" As cringey as it sounds, just listen to them. Listen, instead of making comparisons and maybe, just maybe, we'll be able to start having constructive discussions regarding how to do something about the various privileges that separate people and impede equality.
Thursday, 8 January 2015
Je Suis Charlie.
Yesterday, the Paris office of French satirical newspaper was attacked by masked gunmen. Twelve people were killed, two police officers and some of the best cartoonists in France included. According to the media and various sources, the attack was a terrorist attack from Islamic extremists who were angered at the newspaper's constant depictions of their prophet. The terrifying thing is that two of the men have not yet been found.
The attacks launched a wide range of comments and reactions worldwide and on the internet. Many world leaders, including Obama and Cameron, have already weighed in, condemning the horrific actions of the gunmen, cartoonists around the world have produced many heartbreaking images to show their solidarity for their fallen peers and the online debates are plentiful.
Some people believe that the actions of the gunmen was an attack against the fundamental human right that is freedom of speech and expression. Others believe that the deaths of the twelve were horrific but it is important to remember that a lot of the things that were published in Charlie Hebdo were often homophobic, misogynistic and anti-religion (especially Islam and the Catholic Church), spreading negative stereotypes of the religion.
When I first heard the news, I was incredibly shaken. Paris is one of my favourite cities in the world and I'm going to be moving there in October for a year. I'm even hoping to do a bit of journalistic work whilst out there. I spent most of yesterday watching the news and reading articles on what was unfolding and after a lot of thought, I decided to share 'Je Suis Charlie' on Twitter and Instagram. Here's why I did so.
I am a huge believer in freedom of expression. As someone with a diary/journal, a blog, who writes reviews and hopes to even be a critic one day, I believe that it is very important to be given the freedom to share your own opinion and critique things. However, due to my own personal beliefs, I also believe that there is a fine line between freedom of expression and being rude/ offensive. You can have an opinion on something, but you have to be considerate about the views and opinions of others.
So, when I shared 'Je Suis Charlie', I was not condoning or agreeing with everything that Charlie Hebdo has ever published. I shared it because even though people might hold opinions that others consider offensive, it is NOT right to kill people for their opinions. This will NEVER be okay. I shared it in solidarity with the victims, their families and the whole of France. I believe that we are all Charlie because we all have opinions and what happened to those poor cartoonists could happen to anyone, myself included, if we start policing the opinions of people, and the world will be a very awful place indeed if we descend to that.
It really pains me that hateful people and organisations such as Nigel Farage and Britain First are using this awful incident to spread their own negative agendas that support racism and are against multiculturalism and integration. It is NOT right to condemn a whole community for the evil actions of a few culprits and this idea can be applied to many things. So, enough of the hate. La haine attire la haine (hate attracts hate).
Je suis Charlie et je suis totalement pour la liberté d'expression. May the victims rest in peace.
The attacks launched a wide range of comments and reactions worldwide and on the internet. Many world leaders, including Obama and Cameron, have already weighed in, condemning the horrific actions of the gunmen, cartoonists around the world have produced many heartbreaking images to show their solidarity for their fallen peers and the online debates are plentiful.
 |
| copyright Jean Jullien 2015 |
When I first heard the news, I was incredibly shaken. Paris is one of my favourite cities in the world and I'm going to be moving there in October for a year. I'm even hoping to do a bit of journalistic work whilst out there. I spent most of yesterday watching the news and reading articles on what was unfolding and after a lot of thought, I decided to share 'Je Suis Charlie' on Twitter and Instagram. Here's why I did so.
I am a huge believer in freedom of expression. As someone with a diary/journal, a blog, who writes reviews and hopes to even be a critic one day, I believe that it is very important to be given the freedom to share your own opinion and critique things. However, due to my own personal beliefs, I also believe that there is a fine line between freedom of expression and being rude/ offensive. You can have an opinion on something, but you have to be considerate about the views and opinions of others.
So, when I shared 'Je Suis Charlie', I was not condoning or agreeing with everything that Charlie Hebdo has ever published. I shared it because even though people might hold opinions that others consider offensive, it is NOT right to kill people for their opinions. This will NEVER be okay. I shared it in solidarity with the victims, their families and the whole of France. I believe that we are all Charlie because we all have opinions and what happened to those poor cartoonists could happen to anyone, myself included, if we start policing the opinions of people, and the world will be a very awful place indeed if we descend to that.
It really pains me that hateful people and organisations such as Nigel Farage and Britain First are using this awful incident to spread their own negative agendas that support racism and are against multiculturalism and integration. It is NOT right to condemn a whole community for the evil actions of a few culprits and this idea can be applied to many things. So, enough of the hate. La haine attire la haine (hate attracts hate).
Je suis Charlie et je suis totalement pour la liberté d'expression. May the victims rest in peace.
Thursday, 25 December 2014
Christmas 2014
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6).
People have a tendency to get fixated on material things when it comes to Christmas. I scrolled through my Facebook and Instagram feeds this morning and most of the pictures were uploads from people showing off the presents that they had received. This is not what Christmas is about. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, who was sent to die for our sins so that we can have grace and the hope of eternal life when the end comes. And I personally think that this is so incredible.
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about this particular subject. Jesus himself was born in a stable and slept in a manger, which is pretty much as low as things could get back then. He didn't have much but He was surrounded by love and family. I stayed behind in college at the end of term again and those lonely weeks made me realise that for Christmas, all I want is to be with my family, surrounded by love, as cringey and corny as that sounds. And this year, I got exactly that.
About a month ago, when my Mum asked me to give her the list of what I wanted for Christmas, I had nothing to present. This is because for the first time in my life. I am truly content. This picture accurately sums up exactly how I'm feeling (read 'Santa' as God :):
Merry Christmas, one and all :)
People have a tendency to get fixated on material things when it comes to Christmas. I scrolled through my Facebook and Instagram feeds this morning and most of the pictures were uploads from people showing off the presents that they had received. This is not what Christmas is about. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, who was sent to die for our sins so that we can have grace and the hope of eternal life when the end comes. And I personally think that this is so incredible.
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about this particular subject. Jesus himself was born in a stable and slept in a manger, which is pretty much as low as things could get back then. He didn't have much but He was surrounded by love and family. I stayed behind in college at the end of term again and those lonely weeks made me realise that for Christmas, all I want is to be with my family, surrounded by love, as cringey and corny as that sounds. And this year, I got exactly that.
About a month ago, when my Mum asked me to give her the list of what I wanted for Christmas, I had nothing to present. This is because for the first time in my life. I am truly content. This picture accurately sums up exactly how I'm feeling (read 'Santa' as God :):
Sunday, 14 December 2014
I failed.
So, even after amending one of my New Year's Resolutions of blogging at least once a week, I still failed. I seriously underestimated how busy and intense the first term of my second year at university would be and I can honestly say that those ten weeks were the busiest weeks of my life. Going into Year 2 as an Access Officer, a Christian Union Rep, and Netball captain, as well as trying to keep on top of a pesky little thing known as a degree was....difficult. I've had a lot of fun though and the only thing that I will change next term is my organisational skills, so that I'll be able to balance and take on more things. I've learned a lot of things this term:
1) It is still important to speak now.
2) The true meaning of this scene.
3) Dealing with grief is a very difficult thing.
4) Dealing with your morals being attacked can be very very difficult as well.
5) It is important to become more engaged at university.
6) Truuuueeee friends (as ma gal HM sings) are still awesome.
1) It is still important to speak now.
2) The true meaning of this scene.
3) Dealing with grief is a very difficult thing.
4) Dealing with your morals being attacked can be very very difficult as well.
5) It is important to become more engaged at university.
6) Truuuueeee friends (as ma gal HM sings) are still awesome.
Thursday, 6 November 2014
Morals and literature.
I had the worst tutorial ever yesterday. Do you want to know what was worse than the fact that I wasn't feeling well and the pitying looks from my lovely tutorial partner? The fact that I cried even though I tried really hard to hold it all in and my tutor could see that I was crying. And yet, she didn't relent in her attack.
This weeks essay was on seventeenth century French tragedy, so the likes of Corneille and Racine. My tutor said a lot of things but the main thing that brought on the waterworks was the fact that she implied that my personal morals get in the way of me analysing literature 'correctly'. Ouch. This is probably one of the worst things that a tutor has ever said to me. I cried and I was in a low place for quite a while because my morals are a huge part of who I am. I wouldn't be who I am today without my morals or my beliefs. Am I expected to go against my beliefs and upbringing just to get a 1st of a 2.i?
Her harsh words made me reflect a lot on exactly why I chose to a degree where literature is a huge component. I love literature. I love reading. I even love writing essays. I love all of these things because unlike with the sciences for example, there isn't one exact answer. Literature and texts can be analysed and read in so many different ways and I find this so exciting, as nerdy as it sounds. I love reading because I love learning more about different times and cultures, empathising with them and seeing what I can learn from them. If this means that I am not reading literature in the right way, then I am not sorry.
It took me a long time to reach this conclusion. Heck, I was even going to apologise to my tutor for crying in the tutorial. Tough words from my friends made me realise that this was not the right thing to do. It is not okay to attack someone's personal morals. Not okay at all, no matter who you are. You cannot tell someone how to read. Everyone connects with literature in a different way, One should not undermine someone else's interpretation just because it is different from theirs.
I'm not going to change my morals just to get a first. So, future Kenny, the next time your views are destroyed in a tutorial, don't cry. Defend your views and fight back.
EDIT- The tutor apologised for making me cry in my next tutorial with her.
This weeks essay was on seventeenth century French tragedy, so the likes of Corneille and Racine. My tutor said a lot of things but the main thing that brought on the waterworks was the fact that she implied that my personal morals get in the way of me analysing literature 'correctly'. Ouch. This is probably one of the worst things that a tutor has ever said to me. I cried and I was in a low place for quite a while because my morals are a huge part of who I am. I wouldn't be who I am today without my morals or my beliefs. Am I expected to go against my beliefs and upbringing just to get a 1st of a 2.i?
Her harsh words made me reflect a lot on exactly why I chose to a degree where literature is a huge component. I love literature. I love reading. I even love writing essays. I love all of these things because unlike with the sciences for example, there isn't one exact answer. Literature and texts can be analysed and read in so many different ways and I find this so exciting, as nerdy as it sounds. I love reading because I love learning more about different times and cultures, empathising with them and seeing what I can learn from them. If this means that I am not reading literature in the right way, then I am not sorry.
It took me a long time to reach this conclusion. Heck, I was even going to apologise to my tutor for crying in the tutorial. Tough words from my friends made me realise that this was not the right thing to do. It is not okay to attack someone's personal morals. Not okay at all, no matter who you are. You cannot tell someone how to read. Everyone connects with literature in a different way, One should not undermine someone else's interpretation just because it is different from theirs.
I'm not going to change my morals just to get a first. So, future Kenny, the next time your views are destroyed in a tutorial, don't cry. Defend your views and fight back.
EDIT- The tutor apologised for making me cry in my next tutorial with her.
Saturday, 1 November 2014
A letter to one of my bestfriends.
"I love you, I just don't like you anymore."
This scene from 'One Day' has always made me feel sad. I saw the film about two years ago and although the scene moved me, I could never really understand how it is possible to love someone but dislike them at the same time. That was then. Now, I fully understand what Emma meant.
Everyone loves their bestfriends, right? Your bestfriends know you better than other mere acquaintances. They know what makes you tick, share your interests, know how to cheer you up when you're feeling down, know the things that you stand for and believe in, as well as your hopes and dreams and aspirations. Bestfriends become your family away from your family, kind of like your home away from home and you know that they'll always have your back.
Then, how does this dislike come in, you ask? It starts to seep in when this bestfriend, the one who knows what makes you tick begins to subtly insult you every now and them. He'll claim it's just 'banter' and 'friendly teasing', but banter can only last so long. Is it 'banter' for your bestfriend to repeatedly mock the way that you talk, the Nigerian/British/American accent that you can't help because you grew up bilingual and spent the first half of your life living in another country? Is it 'banter' for your bestfriend to repeatedly put down your beliefs, going as far as to imply that there is a 'negative correlation' between intelligence and having a faith, even though he knows that these beliefs make you who you are? Is it 'banter' for your bestfriend to repeatedly suggest that he is better prepared for the world than you are because he went to a private school and you went to a state school? Is it 'banter' for your bestfriend to repeatedly make disparaging remarks about those that you know who give blood and are dyslexic, for example?
Dear bestfriend, I love you, I really do but I'm afraid if this continues, I'll start to dislike you and this dislike might even become hate and I really don't want this to happen. How can I prevent this from happening? I'll stop bottling things up and I'll start calling you out when you say things that are not okay or PC. Please don't see this as me attacking you. I only want to save our friendship and save you from alienating me and others. Thanks and speak soon.
This scene from 'One Day' has always made me feel sad. I saw the film about two years ago and although the scene moved me, I could never really understand how it is possible to love someone but dislike them at the same time. That was then. Now, I fully understand what Emma meant.
Everyone loves their bestfriends, right? Your bestfriends know you better than other mere acquaintances. They know what makes you tick, share your interests, know how to cheer you up when you're feeling down, know the things that you stand for and believe in, as well as your hopes and dreams and aspirations. Bestfriends become your family away from your family, kind of like your home away from home and you know that they'll always have your back.
Then, how does this dislike come in, you ask? It starts to seep in when this bestfriend, the one who knows what makes you tick begins to subtly insult you every now and them. He'll claim it's just 'banter' and 'friendly teasing', but banter can only last so long. Is it 'banter' for your bestfriend to repeatedly mock the way that you talk, the Nigerian/British/American accent that you can't help because you grew up bilingual and spent the first half of your life living in another country? Is it 'banter' for your bestfriend to repeatedly put down your beliefs, going as far as to imply that there is a 'negative correlation' between intelligence and having a faith, even though he knows that these beliefs make you who you are? Is it 'banter' for your bestfriend to repeatedly suggest that he is better prepared for the world than you are because he went to a private school and you went to a state school? Is it 'banter' for your bestfriend to repeatedly make disparaging remarks about those that you know who give blood and are dyslexic, for example?
Dear bestfriend, I love you, I really do but I'm afraid if this continues, I'll start to dislike you and this dislike might even become hate and I really don't want this to happen. How can I prevent this from happening? I'll stop bottling things up and I'll start calling you out when you say things that are not okay or PC. Please don't see this as me attacking you. I only want to save our friendship and save you from alienating me and others. Thanks and speak soon.
Friday, 24 October 2014
Trueeee friends!
Aristotle said that "friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies." Deep stuff, huh? These first few weeks back at uni have been so so stressful but due to the stress, I've been reflecting a lot on what true friendship means to me and the different ways that I have seen it so far this term.
True friends are the ones that will come to your room at 2am in the morning to keep you entertained and to let you know that you're not alone in your essay crisis. True friends are the ones that will buy KitKat Chunkies during their weekly shopping trips for you to have when you come to visit them in their rooms because they know that those are the chocolates that you love the most. True friends are the ones that will swap cleaning days with you so that you can get to have a lie in on your only day off. True friends are the ones that will bring oranges to you when you're not feeling well. True friends are the ones that will offer to help you with organising an event even though they're in an essay crisis. True friends are the ones that will offer to play Netball for you at the last minute when other people bail on you.
I could go on and on but I'll draw to a close here, To all the friends that have been there for me these past few weeks, thank you. As Clarence Odbody said in 'It's A Wonderful Life', "No man is a failure who has friends."
True friends are the ones that will come to your room at 2am in the morning to keep you entertained and to let you know that you're not alone in your essay crisis. True friends are the ones that will buy KitKat Chunkies during their weekly shopping trips for you to have when you come to visit them in their rooms because they know that those are the chocolates that you love the most. True friends are the ones that will swap cleaning days with you so that you can get to have a lie in on your only day off. True friends are the ones that will bring oranges to you when you're not feeling well. True friends are the ones that will offer to help you with organising an event even though they're in an essay crisis. True friends are the ones that will offer to play Netball for you at the last minute when other people bail on you.
I could go on and on but I'll draw to a close here, To all the friends that have been there for me these past few weeks, thank you. As Clarence Odbody said in 'It's A Wonderful Life', "No man is a failure who has friends."
Friday, 17 October 2014
Grief.
In the first term of my second year at university, two members of my family died. Grief can be defined as 'deep mental anguish.' It's one thing to know what it means but going through it is another kettle of fish.
My aunt died when I was five and I lost an uncle at the age of nine but at those ages, I was too young to fully understand the meaning of death. When my Mum broke the news to me earlier this week about the deaths in the family, I tried not to think about them too much. Instead, I threw myself into work and my various responsibilities, overworking myself to an extent. This is denial, stage one of the five stages of grief. I realise now that I was trying to run away from dealing with the issues and my feelings. This was a really bad idea. At the end of the week, all the feelings that I'd been trying to suppress and ignore came crashing down on me on my day off and I was completely taken aback, unsure of how to react.
I felt guilty, sad, and ashamed that I was having fun, when my family was going through so much. I ended up leaving the club alone and nearly hysterical, bawling on the phone to my sister on my way back to college. I now know that this was depression, the fourth stage in the five stages of grief. After lots of crying and Bible reading, I eventually reached stage five, which is acceptance.
Dealing with grief is very difficult. Even though I've accepted the deaths now, the littlest things can set me off, from looking at a postcard to reading a book. (Simone de Beauvoir's 'Une mort très douce' is heartbreakingly poignant but perhaps not the best book to read when you're upset about a death...). Everyone deals with grief in different ways as we all cope in different ways. What keeps me going is the fact that God has a plan in everything and that my lost relatives are with Him. Rest in peace, uncles.
My aunt died when I was five and I lost an uncle at the age of nine but at those ages, I was too young to fully understand the meaning of death. When my Mum broke the news to me earlier this week about the deaths in the family, I tried not to think about them too much. Instead, I threw myself into work and my various responsibilities, overworking myself to an extent. This is denial, stage one of the five stages of grief. I realise now that I was trying to run away from dealing with the issues and my feelings. This was a really bad idea. At the end of the week, all the feelings that I'd been trying to suppress and ignore came crashing down on me on my day off and I was completely taken aback, unsure of how to react.
I felt guilty, sad, and ashamed that I was having fun, when my family was going through so much. I ended up leaving the club alone and nearly hysterical, bawling on the phone to my sister on my way back to college. I now know that this was depression, the fourth stage in the five stages of grief. After lots of crying and Bible reading, I eventually reached stage five, which is acceptance.
Dealing with grief is very difficult. Even though I've accepted the deaths now, the littlest things can set me off, from looking at a postcard to reading a book. (Simone de Beauvoir's 'Une mort très douce' is heartbreakingly poignant but perhaps not the best book to read when you're upset about a death...). Everyone deals with grief in different ways as we all cope in different ways. What keeps me going is the fact that God has a plan in everything and that my lost relatives are with Him. Rest in peace, uncles.
Thursday, 9 October 2014
'Ghetto Princess'.
"Yeah, this is Kenny. She's the college's ghetto princess."
There are so many reasons why this was not an okay thing to say to someone that is one of two black girls in a college. Especially as it was said by someone who is supposed to be my friend to a group of freshers that were meeting me for the first time! Sigh because this is the third time that something like this has happened. I confronted the 'friend' and she said the usual.."Oh, I'm not racist, this is just how me and my friends talk to each other back home." Sigh again. She was quite apologetic though and the good thing is that I don't think she'll ever say something like that again.
The statement is a micro-aggression, a microinsult in fact, to be more specific. Microinsults are communications that convey rudeness and insensitivity and demean a person's racial heritage or identity. They can take the form of subtle snubs and hidden insulting messages to the person of colour. It is still important to keep speaking out against comments like these because although racism is no longer as overt as it once was, it has now taken the form of snide remarks like the aforementioned, which can become quite harmful if allowed to grow and fester.
I'm still learning and trying to speak out more as it is not always easy to be the one voice that calls out things like these. But things are looking up because the more I speak out, the more my friends are starting to notice and speak out as well against things that are not okay. So yay for wins!
There are so many reasons why this was not an okay thing to say to someone that is one of two black girls in a college. Especially as it was said by someone who is supposed to be my friend to a group of freshers that were meeting me for the first time! Sigh because this is the third time that something like this has happened. I confronted the 'friend' and she said the usual.."Oh, I'm not racist, this is just how me and my friends talk to each other back home." Sigh again. She was quite apologetic though and the good thing is that I don't think she'll ever say something like that again.
The statement is a micro-aggression, a microinsult in fact, to be more specific. Microinsults are communications that convey rudeness and insensitivity and demean a person's racial heritage or identity. They can take the form of subtle snubs and hidden insulting messages to the person of colour. It is still important to keep speaking out against comments like these because although racism is no longer as overt as it once was, it has now taken the form of snide remarks like the aforementioned, which can become quite harmful if allowed to grow and fester.
I'm still learning and trying to speak out more as it is not always easy to be the one voice that calls out things like these. But things are looking up because the more I speak out, the more my friends are starting to notice and speak out as well against things that are not okay. So yay for wins!
Tuesday, 23 September 2014
Student Journalism
I'm officially a 'student journalist'! I wrote an article about being a front of house usher, and I bit back my fear and sent it to one of the main student papers at my university. The paper (which I won't name) rejected it, saying that it had 'nothing to do with theatre'.... right.
Initially, I was crushed but I didn't give up! I sent it to another paper, it was accepted and my 'quasi-conversational tone and David Michell-esque rant' were praised. Here it is- http://www.cherwell.org/culture/stage/2014/09/28/the-men-in-black-life-as-an-usher
The moral of the story is...rejection will come but never give up!
Initially, I was crushed but I didn't give up! I sent it to another paper, it was accepted and my 'quasi-conversational tone and David Michell-esque rant' were praised. Here it is- http://www.cherwell.org/culture/stage/2014/09/28/the-men-in-black-life-as-an-usher
The moral of the story is...rejection will come but never give up!
Thursday, 18 September 2014
Dead Poet's Society
A few weeks ago, the world lost a phenomenal actor. I was so taken aback, shocked and upset when I heard the news of Robin Williams' death. Strangely, before the awful news broke, I'd spent most of the summer re-familiarising myself with my favourite films of his such as 'Hook', 'Night at the Museum', 'Jumanji' and 'Aladdin' to name a few, films that were huge parts of my childhood. To honour him, I decided to watch a film of his that I'd never seen before, 'Dead Poet's Society', a film that I'd heard a lot about in the past but had never gotten round to watching.'Dead Poet's Society' shows a more subdued side to Robin Williams as Mr Keating, an inspirational English teacher in a 1950s all boys American Prep school, who uses somewhat unconventional methods to teach his students valuable life lessons. The film really really touched and moved me; I would loosely describe it as a kind of American 'History Boys' but it is still very different from that classic. Although Williams isn't as wacky in this film as we're used to seeing him, there are still bursts of that comedic genius that we know and love. For example, there's a scene where he reads Shakespeare as John Wayne and Marlon Brando and his different voices are hilarious and spot on. Here are a few lessons that I learned from the film:
1) Carpe Diem- Seize the day! As cheesy as it sounds, don't be afraid to break the mould and make the most of the big world out there.
2) Live your life for you- don't feel pressured into making life-changing decisions that you don't choose for yourself. If I'd listened to people in the past instead of doing what I want to do, I'd probably be studying Economics or Engineering right now. Don't get me wrong, those are great degrees but they're not for me.
3) Teachers can really make a difference in the lives of their students. So, they should never be underestimated or looked down on and I think I'll probably teach at some point in my life.
4) Finally, if you're feeling sad or depressed, please seek help. Don't be afraid to share your real feelings and it is never too late for you to get help and support. You're not alone.
(If you or someone that you know needs help or is going through a tough time, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (UK).
Rest in peace, Mr Williams, and thank you so much for all the laughs.
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
A Streetcar Named Desire
To say that I was very excited to see the Young Vic's production of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' would be an understatement. The play was one of my AS English Literature set texts for coursework about two years ago and I loved it instantly. I'm also a big fan of the 1951 Academy Award winning film adaptation that starred Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando. So, it's another understatement to say that I had very high expectations from this production and it certainly didn't disappoint.
Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize winning play follows Blanche DuBois (Gillian Anderson), a fading Southern Belle with delusions of grandeur and a lot of emotional baggage. After losing her family's plantation and wealth to death and debt, as well as her young husband, who committed suicide after Blanche discovered his homosexual affair, Blanche relies on her grand exaggerations (often lies), her fraying poise and affairs with young men to protect herself from the harsh reality of her life. Due to her immoral conduct, Blanche is eventually forced to leave her home town of Laurel, Mississippi and she goes to stay with her sister, Stella Kowalski (Vanessa Kirby), and her brutish and abusive husband Stanley Kowalksi (Ben Foster), in their already cramped apartment in the French Quarter of New Orleans, a decision that brings about the play's tragic ending.
Gillian Anderson, who is best known for the American sci-fi horror drama television series, 'The X-Files', was heartbreakingly stunning as Blance DuBois. I laughed and I cried with Blanche as Anderson effortless portrayed the varying moods of a woman whose life is slowly spiralling out of her control. Her performance reminded me a lot of Cate Blanchett's Jasmine in 'Blue Jasmine', a 2013 loose adaptation of 'Streetcar' from Woody Allen and just like Blanchett, Anderson too deserves numerous accolades for her performance. Vanessa Kirby (Great Expectations, 2011) held her own as Blanche's long-suffering sister, Stella, and Ben Foster (Kill Your Darlings) truly shined and chilled as the primal Stanley; he was charming enough for us to see why Stella is so enamoured by him but still terrifying enough to cause Blanche's final breakdown.
A great show needs a great production team and this is the case for the Young Vic's 'Streetcar'. Magda Willi's set design is brilliant due to it's revolving and open nature; nothing is hidden to the audience and this visually represents how the truth about Blanche's situation cannot stay a secret forever. Jon Clark's lighting design also adds to this, especially through how Blanche gets more and more spotlights as her lies become exposed. The music and sound from Alex Baranowski and Paul Arditti respectively add a modern twist to the story, making Tennessee William's masterpiece even more timeless.
This production deserves endless amounts of praise but it is nearly half two in the morning and even wannabe theatre critics need sleep sometimes. So, I'll end with this: the Young Vic's 'A Streetcar Named Desire' was incredible and there was a stella-r performance from everyone involved with it (pun intended).
Rating 4/5 ****
Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize winning play follows Blanche DuBois (Gillian Anderson), a fading Southern Belle with delusions of grandeur and a lot of emotional baggage. After losing her family's plantation and wealth to death and debt, as well as her young husband, who committed suicide after Blanche discovered his homosexual affair, Blanche relies on her grand exaggerations (often lies), her fraying poise and affairs with young men to protect herself from the harsh reality of her life. Due to her immoral conduct, Blanche is eventually forced to leave her home town of Laurel, Mississippi and she goes to stay with her sister, Stella Kowalski (Vanessa Kirby), and her brutish and abusive husband Stanley Kowalksi (Ben Foster), in their already cramped apartment in the French Quarter of New Orleans, a decision that brings about the play's tragic ending.
Gillian Anderson, who is best known for the American sci-fi horror drama television series, 'The X-Files', was heartbreakingly stunning as Blance DuBois. I laughed and I cried with Blanche as Anderson effortless portrayed the varying moods of a woman whose life is slowly spiralling out of her control. Her performance reminded me a lot of Cate Blanchett's Jasmine in 'Blue Jasmine', a 2013 loose adaptation of 'Streetcar' from Woody Allen and just like Blanchett, Anderson too deserves numerous accolades for her performance. Vanessa Kirby (Great Expectations, 2011) held her own as Blanche's long-suffering sister, Stella, and Ben Foster (Kill Your Darlings) truly shined and chilled as the primal Stanley; he was charming enough for us to see why Stella is so enamoured by him but still terrifying enough to cause Blanche's final breakdown.
A great show needs a great production team and this is the case for the Young Vic's 'Streetcar'. Magda Willi's set design is brilliant due to it's revolving and open nature; nothing is hidden to the audience and this visually represents how the truth about Blanche's situation cannot stay a secret forever. Jon Clark's lighting design also adds to this, especially through how Blanche gets more and more spotlights as her lies become exposed. The music and sound from Alex Baranowski and Paul Arditti respectively add a modern twist to the story, making Tennessee William's masterpiece even more timeless.
This production deserves endless amounts of praise but it is nearly half two in the morning and even wannabe theatre critics need sleep sometimes. So, I'll end with this: the Young Vic's 'A Streetcar Named Desire' was incredible and there was a stella-r performance from everyone involved with it (pun intended).
Rating 4/5 ****
Monday, 15 September 2014
Scandal
'Scandal' is everything. I want to be a gladiator in a suit. I want Olivia Pope's fashion sense. If these three sentences mean nothing to you and you have no idea what I'm talking about, don't worry, I'll explain.'Scandal' is an American political thriller television series created by Shonda Rimes, the writer of the critically acclaimed 'Grey's Anatomy'. It stars Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, a Washington D.C based crisis manager with her own firm, 'Olivia Pope & Associates'. Pope is also the 'White House fixer', and it is her job to solve problems and scandals (hence the title) that the political elite face, in order to protect their public images. Pope's team (or 'gladiators in suits'), ex-CIA pro hacker Huck (Guillermo Diaz), judgemental but lovable litigator Abby Whelan (Darby Stanchfield), fast-talking lawyer Harrison Wright (Columbus Short) and new recruit Quinn Perkins (Katie Lowes), are all very loyal to Pope as she 'fixed' problems for all of them in the past and with their help, she is an unstoppable force and the best 'fixer' in Washington. Interesting fact: the lead character of Pope is loosely based on Judy Smith, who served as George H.W. Bush's Deputy Press Secretary and who also represented Monica Lewinsky in the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal.
However, Olivia Pope has her own problems: her past. Before she started her own business, she was the White House Director of Communications and her close relationship with the married President Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III (Tony Goldwyn), who she helped with his presidential campaign was not (and still isn't) innocent. What do you get when you add an affair to election rigging, assassination attempts, blackmail attempts, bombs, conspiracy theories, family dramas, and pregnant White House interns? An incredible television drama that leaves you on the edge of your seat with your mouth agape!
It's not only the fantastic writing and crazy plot twists that make 'Scandal' the thrilling watch that it is. Kerry Washington truly shines in the lead role with her spot on efficiency and line deliveries, whilst also emitting class and elegance- the lady sure can work the colour white! (Another interesting fact: a clothing line has just launched that is inspired by Washington's outfits in 'Scandal'). The other cast members are also exceptional and the show seems to have everything from humour and wit to heart quickening romance and action.
But that's still not why I like 'Scandal' so much, The show amazes me because even though Kerry Washington is an 'African-American woman in the lead role of a prime-time television series', the colour of her skin is not her defining feature on the show. In 'Scandal', Olivia Pope is not 'Olivia Pope, the African-American woman', she's just Olivia Pope, a very intelligent woman that is the best at her job. I wish all of society could be this post-racial in real life, with all POC being recognised first for who they are and their skill sets, rather than the colour of their skin.
I could go on and on about why this show appeals to me so. I could continue to praise Olivia Pope's strong character and day-dream about how I want a Jake Ballard (Scott Foley) in my life (swoon). I could even rant about why Olivia's relationship with the President really irks me (he doesn't deserve you, Olivia!!), but I don't want to give away too many juicy plot details.
Watch 'Scandal'. Really, I mean it. If you don't like it, that's fine. If you end up loving it like I do, that's fine as well. The show has its flaws like all great things do and I might do another blog post about them. However, right now, I'm going to retire and continue with 'The Becoming Olivia Pope Plan' with my Nokia Lumia 925 and my growing collection of white blazers. I'll work up to the heels and white coat.
Rating- 8/10
Wednesday, 27 August 2014
Two years!
Hip hip, hooray, my blog is two years old today! I've come a long way since I first started this blog. Back then, I was seventeen and about to start Year 13. Now, I'm nineteen, I'm about to go into my second year of university and I was on national television today! (Wait, what?) Crazy times indeed!
I still have the same intentions that I had back then of reviewing things. However, university has made me more political and socially aware and there has been a lot of venting recently.
It's important to speak out against injustice so I definitely won't stop venting but I intend to be less slack with reviews. Watch this space!
I still have the same intentions that I had back then of reviewing things. However, university has made me more political and socially aware and there has been a lot of venting recently.
It's important to speak out against injustice so I definitely won't stop venting but I intend to be less slack with reviews. Watch this space!
Sunday, 24 August 2014
Change
I'm not a big fan of change. I'm the kind of person who will find a restaurant, pick one thing from the menu that I like, then get that same thing every single time that I go to the restaurant because I am wary of 'trying something new' (Pizza Express- dough balls and lasagne, Wagamama's- Yaki Soba etc). I'm also the kind of person who keeps things like old clothes and school books for years because I can't bear to part with them, even though I don't need them any more. My sister is witness to the fact that I'm a nightmare to share a room with because I clutter the place up with old junk that I should have binned years before. Yes, I know it's weird. If I know it's weird, then why do I do it, you ask?
Well, for me, I guess there's something somewhat intimidating about the idea of change. It has connotations of making or becoming something different and letting go of something in order to take on something else. The scary part of this is that people like me often feel like they've only just adjusted to or gotten used to a certain situation when it is time for that situation to change. Also, in order to change, it is sometimes important to let go of a part of yourself and elements of the past. This too can be scary because established routines are comforting and familiar whereas the unknown is exactly what it says on the tin.
However, change is not always all doom and gloom with no light at the end of the tunnel. With change, bigger and better things can come. In addition, one will not fully embrace these things if one keeps looking back and clinging to the past, instead of looking ahead. Furthermore, one can be changed for good (cue music from Wicked....).
Peter Capaldi's first episode as the new Doctor in Doctor Who inspired this post. As someone who isn't too fond of change, I didn't like it when Matt Smith became the Doctor (I even boycotted his first episodes as I was fiercely loyal to David Tennant lol). Eventually, he grew on me and I liked him a lot so I was super gutted when he left last Christmas. I like to think that nineteen year old Kenny is now miles way mature fourteen year old Kenny. So this time, I didn't boycott the new Doctor and I actually really enjoyed the episode. From it, I learned that although change is scary and you might feel like you're becoming a completely different person, it'll be okay because deep down, you're still yourself.
So, if a big change is on the horizon for you, like heading off to university for the first time or moving house, remember this piece of advice from someone who's been though a lot of change in her life: everything works out in the end and you'll be fine. I may not be a big fan of change but getting used to it will get easier and with time, I'll get better at it.
Well, for me, I guess there's something somewhat intimidating about the idea of change. It has connotations of making or becoming something different and letting go of something in order to take on something else. The scary part of this is that people like me often feel like they've only just adjusted to or gotten used to a certain situation when it is time for that situation to change. Also, in order to change, it is sometimes important to let go of a part of yourself and elements of the past. This too can be scary because established routines are comforting and familiar whereas the unknown is exactly what it says on the tin.
However, change is not always all doom and gloom with no light at the end of the tunnel. With change, bigger and better things can come. In addition, one will not fully embrace these things if one keeps looking back and clinging to the past, instead of looking ahead. Furthermore, one can be changed for good (cue music from Wicked....).
Peter Capaldi's first episode as the new Doctor in Doctor Who inspired this post. As someone who isn't too fond of change, I didn't like it when Matt Smith became the Doctor (I even boycotted his first episodes as I was fiercely loyal to David Tennant lol). Eventually, he grew on me and I liked him a lot so I was super gutted when he left last Christmas. I like to think that nineteen year old Kenny is now miles way mature fourteen year old Kenny. So this time, I didn't boycott the new Doctor and I actually really enjoyed the episode. From it, I learned that although change is scary and you might feel like you're becoming a completely different person, it'll be okay because deep down, you're still yourself.
So, if a big change is on the horizon for you, like heading off to university for the first time or moving house, remember this piece of advice from someone who's been though a lot of change in her life: everything works out in the end and you'll be fine. I may not be a big fan of change but getting used to it will get easier and with time, I'll get better at it.
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