27,000 and counting….

 Yup, you got it. Right now, the bare minimum amount of debt a student starting uni now can leave with is £27,000. A figure that many eighteen year olds cannot even begin to comprehend let alone find themselves owing. £27,000 is solely the course alone, this does not cover any accommodation and living costs which accumulate over the period of study. It is not uncommon to leave university with a total debt figure of £40,000+.

Today saw thousands of students line the streets to march against these extortionate fees, asking for them to be both abolished and the maintenance grant to be reinstated. It does seem as though the government doesn’t want to induce anything other than debt for today’s students.

Uni for me, is a necessity, I couldn’t get access to my career path without the degree title. Firstly, i was not here to do any of the social things, I didn’t want to join any societies, I wasn’t particularly interested in going out or socialising massively, and I certainly was not a fan of nightclubs. I solely wanted uni to act as a stepping stone to my dream job. I will freely admit that although only just in my second year of university I have been engaged in so much more than just the educational material. Having to pay this £9000 per year was for me a no brainer, it seemed like it was a justified means to an end. What about those who are here and don’t know what they want to do yet and are solely on a journey of self discovery or to broaden their knowledge of a particular area. Why should we have to pay so much for either of these paths into uni?

Although I agree with the principles behind today’s march, what I don’t believe in, is their methods of protest. It was not solely peaceful and individuals were spotted wearing masks and releasing fireworks outside the Department for Business Innovation and Skills as well as throwing eggs and smoke bombs at police officers working the march. When I look at violent acts such as those carried out at the march today, I wonder whether it is passion fuelling these acts or sole stupidity? When violence comes into play, those who need to be targeted to make a difference, notice the acts only temporarily but they are also not taken seriously in that they will be associated with children, not knowing or understanding what they really want and maybe even incapable of understanding the situation in the wider context.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell took it upon himself to address the students before the march claiming that

Your generation has been betrayed by this government in increases to tuition fees, in scrapping the education maintenance allowance and cuts in education. Education is a gift from one generation to another, it is not a commodity to be bought and sold.

Very wise words however, the incorporation of various different political parties in the issues only complicates things, more parties promising things they more than likely will not uphold. Students tend not to care who will implement the move they just want to see it happening.

Do not misunderstand me here, I don’t necessarily believe that higher education should be free. I do not understand exactly what I’m paying for?! Perhaps I am coming from a naive perspective and not understanding the ins and outs of what goes into running a university establishment I just do not understand why we are paying £9000 for weeks full of powepoint presentation, flipped learning, restricted library opening hours, ridiculously high printing costs and late night preaches?! I think if students are to continue paying such extortionate fees then perhaps they need to be offered more?

Right now, I find it very difficult to understand what each student is paying £9000 for.
What do you think? Are the current fees justified? Can you think of an alternative?

Think yourself lucky

The details of this post are going to be a bit sketchy but the principle will remain the same throughout… you should always think yourself lucky. No matter how your day may be going you have something that somebody else longs for, whether that be good health, a roof over your head, food in the fridge or frivolous things such as the latest handbag.

A few weeks ago two friends of mine had some awful news, it has been incredibly difficult to wrap my head around but at the same time it has required strength I never knew I possessed, to help them out and do anything that can lighten their load in the slightest. As well as all of this it has made me regress into my own little world for a bit because I haven’t entirely known how to deal with the situation myself let alone help them.

How are you supposed to help with a situation that there isn’t anything you can do to rectify it? I could pray, I could worship the sun, moon, stars and elements, I could jump up and down and scream a thousand times for things to change but there’s no guarantee that any of that will work and ultimately all I can do is be there for them. I could never begin to understand how they must feel but, personally I just cannot comprehend the situation. I look to the future and things are dramatically different, I look to the past and again they are hugely different and I look to the present and I do not know what to do.

Everything is very hushed, others send rumours flying around without knowing the true facts, they make things worse, they speculate, they put their foot in it, they ask the wrong questions and they treat them different. This is all wrong. I want to scream at them tell them they’re doing nothing to help but only hinder. How can they do this to someone they see every week, they play games with and drink beer with, someone they would call their friends?

I continue to make them cake, I continue to ask them how their day has been, I still pop round for the occasional cuppa, give them a big squeeze whenever I see them and treat them to a drink. I don’t do any of this because of the latest news, I do this because I always have and always will do.

I do it because I think myself lucky for everything I have and everything they have just had taken from them and put upon them.

Think yourself lucky and live your life to the full for you never know what is around the corner.

Get away.

Right now it’s like a revolving door,
people keep arriving more and more.

“Hey, how’re you doing, I’m sorry to hear”,
I’m not really listening it’s not really clear.

I just want to run far away,
it’s here I do not want to stay.

I don’t want to talk,
I just want to walk.

These four walls are pushing me in,
but to leave this house is apparently a sin.

What is right and what is wrong?
I’m not really sure what is going on.

I’m sat in the chair, not knowing where to look,
and at this point I cannot even concentrate on my book.

Everyone is just sitting around,
right now there is not so much as a sound.

They do not eat and hardly drink,
last night we all slept barely a wink.

I don’t want to be here to go through this,
but my nanny I do so truly miss.
I’d do anything to give her one last kiss.

But, please can you get me out of here,
I cannot cope with even one more tear.

A year in review!

Well, where to begin? This year has been a journey with many of you. I was tempted to save this post for the forthcoming New Year but why wait? Now is a better time than ever. I’m feeling good, everything has fallen into place and for the first time in a long time everything seems to be right with the world. This year has seen so much occur and veritable amounts of progress have been made.

This past year has seem me achieve many of my hopes, goals and dreams some bigger than others albeit all on my list. To list just a few, I’ve gained myself a lovely set of A levels which consequently and much to my surprise gained me places at my chosen university! I am writing this now as I’m heading back to Derby University, that’s right, I’ve actually managed to become an official university student!! Something I wanted so for long and planned out for so many years has finally been granted. So it was much to my dismay when I arrived and less than a week in was begging my family to allow me to come in. How was it possible to want to run so far away for something I has shed so much blood, sweat and tears for? Something that would ultimately lead me to my end goal? Alas, my family and friends were tough for me when I couldn’t be and wouldn’t allow me to give up on my dreams. So many people had put so much into getting me there it would have been very selfish to run from it all. “At least give it until Christmas” they all said. Well, this Saturday marks the date I return to Norfolk for the Christmas break and to everybody’s relief I have decided to stay! In fact I love it so much that I could easily stay another few weeks without going back! How the tables have turned. We’re now looking into getting our first house for next year, it’s all very scary but a new adventure which I’m very excited to embark upon and I’m sure as always it will have it’s ups and its downs but we’re going to do it anyway and enjoy every step!

Although this year has definitely been one for academic achievements, it has also seen me achieve one of my travelling dreams – I FINALLY GOT TO GO TO CANADA!! Yes, it was one of the highest things on my bucket list and I can finally say I’ve been. It was one of the most incredible adventures of my life. I finally got to meet my little cousin Markus and all my other cousins Debbie, Susan and Faye. Uncle Bill took me under his wing as one of his own which was one of the most beautiful moments of my life and has agreed to help me out with funds to get back over there! When I go back (and I will) it will be during hockey season and I will see my beloved Canucks play. Faye’s wedding was simply beautiful and the things we got to do well, nothing will ever beat them. We got to take Faye and Jimmie’s boat out fishing, moor up on the dock and have a delightful shopping trip around the harbor. The family time was simply beautiful, especially as my sister came along too. The weekend in Whistler, the morning walks in the parks with the dog, the scenery, the shops, my first Tim Horton’s and Tim bits, even the airport was beautiful. Saying ‘see you soon’ was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Albeit, I had the most perfect time in the world and shows you that dreams really do come true!

This year has really shown me who my friends are. Some have really gone out of their way to make me happy. Some have driven hundreds of miles when I needed the most. Others have provided evenings of escapism to provide a safe haven amongst an otherwise world of chaos.

Others have allowed me to soak their shoulders in tears, danced the night away or just been there for that all-important hug. I might be hundreds of miles away most of the time now but, it has shown those who really truly care and it has been a beautiful journey. Even those with the most difficult and busiest of lives have made time in their lives for me. That gives me that warm fuzzy feeling inside to know that people really care.

This year has shown me that no matter what happens if you keep your head high, don’t look back and keep it all on the track, you can fake it until you make it. A wise woman once told me to take baby steps until you get where you need to be. This is quite possibly one of the most important pieces of advice anybody has ever given me and boy has it come handy on more than one occasion.

Although this post highlights just a few of the amazing things that I have experienced this year, it is by no means the end of the list; it could go on for a very long time. This year hasn’t been easy and has consisted of some very sad times too but this just shows you that keep on taking those baby steps and you will get there.

There are far too many people to thank for helping me to get where I am today but the important ones will know who they are and a big shout outs go to you for every little thing you have done for me. I will forever be in your debt but, I assure you all of your efforts and time has been worth it for now at least I’m in a much happier and better place.

Thank you again, here’s to the month of all months to finish the year off in style and kick off the new one in even higher spirits. I wonder what the New Year holds?

Keep on smiling y’all, good things come to those who wait or those who have an Eve Alana Moore and Queenie in their life! 😀