Hello September!

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Today is September the first, the beginning of a very important month. This month feels like a little bit of a count down with so many things going on! 

 

  • 1 Day until I get my boyfriend home!
  • 6 Days until I say goodbye to a lot of Basingstoke People 
  • 11 Days until I move to my halls 
  • 12 Days until I am fully enrolled 
  • 15 Days until freshers starts
  • 17 Days until my 19th Birthday
  • 18 Days until I see my family after moving 
  • 19 Days until freshers ball
  • 20 Days until Jess’ birthday in London! 
  • 22 Days until lectures start 
  • 26 Days until Paramore 

As you can see I have so much going on at times it gets a bit overwhelming. As with any fresher I imagine we all have feeling of how on earth will I do this? Sometimes (especially at night) I do get quite stressed and wonder how I’ll cope with university life.  Despite any fears I have about university they are usually discarded when I think about all the exciting things that will be happening too! Some of them are quite small things such as meeting a few friends I’ve made to go food shopping on my first evening, finding a nice pub to have a few ciders, finding my way around. Most people think that freshers is just alcohol the whole way through and I sure for a lot of people there is a lot of booze involved and club nights (the amount I’ve been invited to already is crazy!) but well that isn’t my scene. 

It’s odd but this is the first time in many years I haven’t completely dreaded September. For me the song Wake me up when September ends couldn’t have been more true. I’d spend so much time stressing and crying and saying I’m not going back. At my worst I was about to go into year 11, there were two sides of me one full of dread and one with some silly form of optimism. At this point I was at one of my lowest points at the beginning of that year unfortunately, all my friends had left and I’d already told my teachers in the previous year I wasn’t planning on coming back (thankfully they ignored me). Ali walked me to school that morning, I’m not sure if it was to make sure I went or just to give me the support I needed. Either way it worked, I walked through the gates and watched him leave before I met with a support assistant in the morning. I don’t remember what happened after that really but it was horrible how hysterical I was before and after.  It is honestly such a breath of fresh air to just be happy and excited about September and starting Univeristy that I can’t wipe this smile off of my face.

 

So what I’m really trying to say is

Hello September 

I’ve been waiting for you 

A Freshers Tale

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Long ago in a  city far, far away lived a fresher living on Cider, Toast and Baked Beans..

Ok so that isn’t how my story is going to start (well hopefully not, I’m not that keen on bean on toast). My name is Chloe if you’ve been following this blog or my other blog (www.ihadtobuyanotherbookcase.wordpress.com) you may know a little about me. I’m an 18 year old student, in Sptember I’ll be accepting the slightly dizzying challenge of starting university in a city I don’t know.  I decided to start this blog for myself and other freshers, I’ve scoured the internet for advice and thought I could take a crack at it.  In 13 days I will attend my enrollment and become a full time student at Kingston University London (which is actually Surrey as well but is mainly classed as London). I’m studying English Literature and Creative Writing (yeah think about THAT reading list when you are buying your own!), something which I find absolutely fascinating, I can’t wait to start.

 

There is another reason I wanted to start this blog and it’s something that isn’t widely spoken about. In July 2013 I was diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety meaning that some aspects of education are a little bit harder. The main thing I want to come out of this is an understanding of people like me. I’m not the worst, I’ve seen people in a far worse situation but at the same time I have seen stigma towards anyone who says they have a mental illness.  I have been bullied on and off from the ages of 11 – 18, now I finally feel that I’ve found a place that accepts who I am and where I want to be. Although I’ve been suffering with the illness for 3/4 years I want to make it clear that for many people their illness is a small part of them and although it will be a common part of this blog it is not the only part of me. 

For example 

  • I’m a writer 
  • I’m a musician 
  • I love creating stories 
  • I want to travel 
  • I love to study 

I want this blog to do two things. 1, change at least one persons perceptions of mental health and 2, be somewhere where students can just have a flick through and just ask me any questions! 

 

Honestly give me a comment and I’ll be happy to chat! 

Thank you for reading and look out for my daily updates! 

Chloe

Miley Cyrus, Rock and Roll or a Cry for help?

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Now it would have been nearly impossible to miss what happened at the VMAs last night. As Miley Cyrus rampaged across the stage with a far from safe routine. The star (above) famous for her role as Hannah Montana went on to strip off into a small and tight fitted outfit, before rubbing herself against singer Robin Thicke and posing suggestively with a foam finger. Frankly I found Cyrus’ performance humiliating and reminiscent of one of Britney Spears meltdowns before she was finally taken away from the spot light (with possible rumor that the star had been suffering from Bipolar Disorder for a long time). There have been rumors that the new and ‘grown up’ Miley has been taking drugs since the break down of her relationship a few months ago. Although nothing has been confirmed her recent performance is bound to raise some eyebrows, as the ‘good girl gone bad’ shows no shame over her performance posting more naughty pics on twitter.

It is not Miley that I am worried for, of course if this is a cry for help people must try and help her before she truly damages her career, instead it is her fans. I myself have a twelve year old sister and many younger cousins who adored Miley’s character Hannah Montana and closely followed her music career. It is stunts like this however when I feel that Miley has forgotten not only her fans but her past. It has merely been a few years since squeeky clean Miley hung up the star spangled Montana boots, her fans are still at a very young and impressionable age where stripping into scraps of clothing and dry humping a fellow pop star could cause issues.  It seems that it is not only Cyrus’ fans are embarrassed and shocked by her performance. Fellow music stars seemed to be appalled by her antics as pictures emerged of  shocked stars such as Taylor Swift, Rihanna and One Direction. In some pictures stars seem to be laughing at the young pop star and her antics. Although this is something we’ve seen before one reporter describes Cyrus as ‘making Madonna look like a nun’.

To me this in’t a case of feminism as many people are clinging on to, it is a case of a young girl being exploited. If you think about it this can not be all of Miley’s doing, these routines and events are planned for almost an entire year meaning someone at the top has a lot to answer for. It is simple enough if Miley wanted a new image being stripped away from Disney (which she most definitely has now) however it is simply not good enough that the girl was dry humping a fellow married musician. For one what must her parents think? She is now being paraded around as one of the sluttiest girls in the world and I’m sorry but it is repulsive. There is a difference between expressing yourself and using a foam finger in that way!

Chloe Metzger

I do not own the photograph in this picture.

Malala Yousafzai: An inspiration to all

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Most teenagers would spend their 16th birthday with friends, family and being spoilt with presents, or trying to have a house party without damaging too much of the house. Malala Yousafazi, however, spend her 16th birthday in front of a UN conference giving a speech on the importance of education. The difference between Malala and the majority of girl in the UK is that at the tender age of 16 she is a campaigner for the right to education and has survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban. 

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From an early age Malala has been fighting for the right to gain an education simply because she is a girl. Under threat from the Taliban, Malala and her family would not let them win as she claimed yesterday extremist groups are ‘scared of books and pens’. It is this attitude that we should adopt,after all knowledge is power. At the age of 12 Malala began writing a blog for the BBC ( although obviously not using her own name) about how it was to live under the rule of the Taliban. As well as this she still fought to go to school, along with her female friends as well as filming a documentary for the New York Times about her life and struggle. This in itself is extraordinary and I salute her parents, many would be too scared and no encourage her but according the reports she has the full support of her family. Unfortunately the Taliban carried out their threat and attempted to assassinate Malala, boarding her school bus and asking for her. Malala did not hide away and identified herself proceeding to be shot in the head along with her school friends (proving their cowardice). Malala was flown to the UK for emergency treatment and is now living in Birmingham and still working hard to provide education for all children around the world and give equal opportunities to all women.  

Yesterday Malala took to the worlds stage again at a UN conference and I actually got goosebumps watching her speech. You would not guess that she is only 16 years old her bravery and total commitment is something that many adults do not have. It made me appreciate my education more than anything and just marvel at her. I researched more about her and found out that she is the youngest contender for the Nobel Peace Prize in history and has already won awards in Pakistan for her contributions. I could not find a single person who did not watch the speech and agree that she is incredible, watch it here. 

It also strikes me that in the western world we still hear cries of ‘feminism’ and how we need to fight harder for equality. In certain situations this is right but in the UK today even an idiot could see that we are better off than many of our sisters around the world. In the UK the majority of us are free to make our own choices, we can receive a free education, decide what to do with our own bodies and have wide access to contraception. It is my belief that with the help of girls like Malala we can make the world a better place for women. It has shocking that we are still seeing a lack of education for girls, reports that female babies are being aborted or given up for adoption quickly after birth simply for being the wrong sex. It is incredibly sad that women are still begin treated as objects and are not free to marry who they choose. This is NOT because women are not strong, it is simply through following ancient traditions and not entering the 21st century. It is when I think of this that I get angry at girls in this country who do nothing with their lives. I can tell you now there would be thousands of girls willing to trade for your position and pro creating because you were bored or drunk does not count as ‘doing something’. I am incredibly proud of my country for allowing Malala to live here and gain the education she deserves because to me she is a true hero. 

 

Report by Chloe Metzger

Should an NHS fee be introduced for all non UK residents?

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I was born in 1994, my birth (like my sister and all my cousins) was in an NHS hospital meaning luckily our healthcare came out of our taxes and mothers would not be charged for giving birth in a clean and professional environment. It came to my attention today that many other women can travel to the UK to avoid paying in their own countries. Some people would argue that women can go into labour early and I understand that part it’s not a fault of the women if they go into unexpected labour! However there is a much more sinister side to this, I found out today that anyone can come to the UK and receive free medical treatment. There are a lot of people who are travelling to the UK to gain access to our healthcare system while unfortunately we are paying the price.

In latest news the British government are proposing that in order to enter the UK you must pay at least £200 towards healthcare costs. In my opinion I do not feel this is enough, £200 is not a lot in the case of many treatments and appointments. When you can see the strain that the NHS is under at the moment I wonder why this hasn’t been done long ago. To travel to other countries from the UK you must have travel insurance and to move to countries like the USA or Australia health checks and travel insurance. I cannot even begin to understand why we are not stronger on this! We can’t simply keep giving to everyone else and watch our country crumble around us. It is not only healthcare we are far too free in many ways, benefits for example are another problem.  Some people are calling this racist but I don’t see it that way, people should come here either with money or job prospects just as we are expected to when visiting/moving other countries. 

For once I think this government has a point (and I am not a fan at all normally). There has also been a call for NHS ID cards, also not a bad idea (although I may lose one because I am hopeless with cards). It has also been made clear that in the case of emergencies people will not be simply turned away they will be treated (STI’s will also be treated to stop any infections) so it is not unreasonable. I feel that this could be a good idea, we should not try and stop people from moving into the UK. Some of our greatest doctors,nurses,lawyers etc are from other countries and some of our brightest students, however we must be as strong other countries in this situation. 

 

I need to point out that in this blog is all my own opinions. 

Thanks for reading! 🙂 

News Opinion: Should Brady be left to die? and Why are we still tackling Racism nearly 20 years after the death of Stephen Lawrence?

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Moors murderer Ian Brady has lost his appeal for the right to be transferred to a normal prison unit and will remain in a high security mental hospital.  If reports are to be believed Brady’s efforts could be considered a suicide attempt. Moors murderer Brady, now 75, has been on hunger strike since 1999 and is now fed by hospital staff by a feeding tube to fight his resistance. Throughout the trial this week Brady himself made his case to the judge on trial stating that he had learned many things in prison, studying German and Psychology and appears to have had a fairly luxurious life inside. His boasts of  socializing with  the likes of gangsters the Kray twins as well as the great train robbers give a hint of some warped sense of glamour. Brady painted a picture of a fairly homely experience of living off of steak until the inmates were ‘sick’ of it, the mere thought angering the British public. When questioned about his plans of suicide Brady consistently avoided the question, instead lavishing in his ‘fame’ comparing himself to notorious Victorian villain Jack the Ripper and his views that the British public and press loved the mystery of the moors murders. The families of Brady and girlfriend Hindley’s victims were outraged as to the cost that Brady was costing the British taxpayer in legal aid as well as claiming that this was all part of Brady’s love of the spotlight. Image

Brady and Hindley in the 1960s after they were arrested for murder. 

Although fresh claims have come to light that may pull Brady into the spotlight once again, much to the torment of his victims families. If reports are to be believed  Brady has claimed to have murdered more than just the five children that were believed to be buried on the moors.  If Brady’s rants are anything to go by many of the British public would consider him mad, calling his crimes ‘petty’ and comparing himself to a soldier at war. We must consider however if we should let Brady have his wish and let him die. For many there is a strong agreement of let him starve himself or better yet hang him for his crimes. With the latest evidence however which includes claims that the police have been searching for the body of Keith Bennett in the wrong place for the last 50 years. It begs the question are we letting Brady lead us on a wild goose chase or could there be some truth to his many ramblings. Unfortunately we may never know and for Keith Bennett’s mother, who tirelessly begged for her sons body to be returned it is too late after she passed away last year.

Although I am no expert it appears to me that this is all part of Brady’s plan to gain attention from the public again. Although incredibly disturbing Brady’s speeches made in the trial appear to want to shock and anger people. I feel that letting him die or killing him would be pointless. Why should we give him the release of death? What this does highlight to me however is that British prison systems should be stronger and restrict anything that is unnecessary. There are too many reports of mindless thugs, murderers and rapists being able to lounge in a cell with free health care, television and internet access as well as three meals a day. I doubt Brady would even kill himself as the nurses who care for him have stated that he does make himself food giving even more evidence that this is all an act. In light of this I feel we should bring back old prison systems, a small room with the only access to the outside world being a pen and paper, a small exercise yard and certainly no luxuries.

Why are we still tackling Racism nearly 20 years after the death of Stephen Lawrence?

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Another story hitting headlines this week is that during the case of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence senior police officials tried to smear the credibility of  the campaign. It took 18 years for the killers of Stephen Lawrence to be brought to justice however after a television interview reveled that there may have been racist actions behind the slow response to Stephen’s murder. Stephens mother has always stood firm in her opinon that her and her family were not treated well in the aftermath of Stephen’s murder, often left in the dark and having to fight for their basic rights as the family of the deceased. I take my hat off to her as she has finally been proven right nearly 20 years later with claims that the family were watched and that undercover police had tried to get close to Stephen’s friends and family and ‘find dirt’, simply to make them appear in a bad light to the British public. To some extent unfortunately this worked as Lawrence’s friend was branded a thug for taking part in a rally in London in the late 90’s after getting arrested. At this current stage an inquiry will be taking place in the near future and details and allegations are sketchy however my gut instinct is that the allegations may well prove to be true. If and when they are proven this will not surprise me, I am sickened that nearly 20 years after Stephen’s murder that his family have had to fight so hard for the truth and justice which the British courts should have provided them with. I am horrified at the levels of racism that are so clearly present and if this has been hidden I will be incredibly ashamed. Stephen was murdered two years before I was born but the story has dominated the news pages throughout my life and it truly does highlight the extent of racial hatred, not only in his senseless murder but also the neglect following the case simply because he was a black man.  I give my best wishes the the Lawrence family and will be following this story closely and hoping they get nothing but the best treatment and there are not minimal penalties for those allegedly involved.

 Stay tuned on this story..

I do not claim to have any copyright over these photographs.

Don Broco.

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I’ve just come back from the worst gig I’ve been too. For the first time ever I’ve willingly left a gig (the only other time was when I was 8 and had Glandular Fever, so it wasn’t willingly). After all the stuff with the tickets, we got there early to pick them up so there wasn’t a rush. The tickets weren’t there for at least another hour so we walked around Camden and tried to keep warm, even after we got them we had a further two hours of shivering in the cold. I was so cold I couldn’t move and almost fell asleep standing up clinging on to Ali to try and keep some heat between us. 

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waiting in the freezing cold 

Once we were in and near the front we finally warmed up. I was so excited, I’d waited for this gig for so long the tickets were actually a gift from my Mum. The support bands started to play and I wasn’t that impressed but you’re always polite to the support bands, always. That is part of gig etiquette, something which the majority of people didn’t have tonight. Still it was live music so I enjoyed it, even if the two damns didn’t really match the music we had come to see. Then the crowds started pushing and shoving. The problem was that people were getting crushed and nobody gave a damn, something you don’t do. I’ve been to a lot of gigs and if someone is about to go down you give them as much room as possible and either get them to the front to get them over the barrier or you let them move. It was the worst gig experience of my life, I couldn’t breathe and Ali was trying to keep me upright, as was the guy behind us with his girlfriend. The idiots around us were laughing pushing people for no reason and trying to ‘mosh’ unsuccessfully and at the wrong time. Idiots. They woudln’t even let us move towards the back so that I could get a drink and some air. 

After a while Don Broco came on. It cheered me up but I still felt pretty ill and people were still throwing themselves around like know what, and on top of that the sound was pretty bad. So we watched for a while and decided that it wasn’t worth it, we wanted to get out of there. It was sad that we left early but it was just not that great a gig, with really awful people. So now we’re curled up with How I Met Your Mother on TV and hoping there’ll be a good gig to go to next month.