Song of the week - 22.9.13

Hey guys! Been slacking this week with the music posts as I've been up to my ears with college work and placement sorting etc. Anyways, here's this week's song choice of the week! This week's song is Boys Like Girls - Love Drunk.

 (source: www.youtube.com)

After the past few months, this song basically sums up how I feel. For those who have ever been through a pretty rough break up, I'm sure you guys can relate to this song too. Aside the fact it's been one of my favourite songs for years, I find that, lately, I can really relate this to my own feelings..

Relationships aren't as easy and fairytale like as you want them to be. Not everyone gets the happy ending they want and that sucks, especially when you see people who have been in relationships for years and seem to have their own perfect fairytale love story. Not like that for everyone. Definitely not for me. Been in a few relationships over the years, all incredibly different but all end in the same aftermath.

This song talks about the come downs after a relationship and the aftermath of it all. For some people, it's bitter and all that comes out of it is 'why did I waste my time with them'. however, for some people, it's more complicated and confusing. None of my breakups have ever been simple, not ever. The most recent one was probably one of the most painful though. But that's life. You can mope around over it and dig yourself a hole of depression, or you can get out there and make the best of your life and prove you're capable of better. It's just getting out of the hangover from being love drunk which is the worst...

5 Things I've Learnt At College.... So far!

Hey guys! So, now I've been at college for a year and Sixth Form for two, I've got to grips with what and what not to do and learnt a few lessons outside the classroom so I thought I'd share them with you guys!

1. Be Yourself

You are at college for your own benefit, no one else's. It's your life, not theirs. Who are others to tell you what you can and can't do?! (aside from teachers of course). You are doing what you want to do and doing what's best for you and your future. Don't waste your time pleasing other people on your course if they have no time/interest in you. You will make friends naturally. I have amazing friends on my course at college and I did in Sixth form too, but trying too hard pushes people away. You want to pass? Motivate yourself. Don't do what's best for someone else. Concentrate on yourself.

 
(source: chrispiascik.com)

  
 2. Don't dress to impress

Difference between college and Sixth form is the dress code. Sixth form has a 'business wear' dress code, whereas, college has no dress code. Some people take this a little bit too far and far too extremely. For example, just last week when I was trying to eat my lunch with my friends, I spotted a girl on a table across from ours. She wasn't the smallest of people either which didn't really help when she had some lovely short shorts with a crop top that was see through at the back. Seriously, I was trying to eat. Not what I wanted to look at. I wear comfortable, simple clothing: jeans, t-shirt, converses, done. Not trying to impress anyone.

3. Be organised

For some people, being organised comes naturally. For others, not so naturally. Admittedly, buying stationary stuff alone keeps me organised. So many highlighters, notepads etc! If you bring nothing to college or can't be asked to work hard, you will fail. Plain and simple. You work hard to get to where YOU want to be. No one else is going to sit your course, do your exams/coursework etc. 

 
(source: http://www.tumblr.com)

4. Be on time

For those who drive, you will know where I'm coming from with this. If you rock up to college late, you will pay for it. If you get the bus, at least you have an outlet to blame. If you drive to college and get there late, you are well and truly stuffed. With so many students and teachers driving to college, you have very little choice in your parking! If you're lazy like me, you will not appreciate the only spaces at the back of the college being free when you need to be on the other side of the building! Also, teaching get quite snarky when you're late which doesn't help if you're in a bad mood or still half asleep...

5. Last but not least, get some sleep

If you are one of those who's up all night on their laptops, games consoles, phones etc until past midnight, you will hate college forever. Being unbelievably tired for a long day of college is painful, especially if you have a long day from 9-5. Your day will drag, you will be in a bad mood and ruin the mood of everyone else around you. Not a good start. Get a decent night sleep so you feel refreshed and motivated for the morning and prepared for your day ahead. Trust me, college is so much better when you actually feel up to it!

 
(source: www.zenbedrooms.com)

'Girls must have thigh gaps to be normal..'

Hey guys! For today's society dictates post, I'm going to be discussing how the idea of thigh gaps has corrupted the image of a 'perfect figure' for girls. 

 
(source: www.cardiotrek.ca)

This media hyped obsession has become a lot more of an issue amongst teenage girls recently. Girls are becoming more and more obsessed with having the 'perfect figure' that they're going to any lengths in order to achieve these outrageous goals. This includes anything from starving themselves to diets and other alternatives. 

I came across this topic when I had a tumblr account. No matter who I followed, there would always be these images of thigh gaps appearing on my newsfeed and it didn't surprise me at all as to where so many girls get their ideas from. Tumblr promotes so many negative images of how girls should be and portray them as 'super skinny' with thigh gaps. This can be so damaging to any girl's self-esteem when they look in the mirror and don't see what they see online. They see something completely different, it's called being normal. Not super skinny, not having a thigh gap.. 

 
 (source: www.tumblr.com)

Celebrities are also to blame for this obsession and hype. In all magazines, you will see the skinny models and other celebrities who are praised for being so thin and others being slated for being 'fat'. Well, they're not actually fat. They're normal. Admittedly, some are a bigger than what's seen to be 'average' and 'normal', but they get slated on a daily basis. That is so damaging for them. It's only when a celebrity gets dangerous skinny that they will get slated for their image. But is it too late by then? 

Now, for some people, thigh gaps are somewhat natural. Where some girls are naturally skinny, they naturally have a thigh gap. However, the majority of girls do not. Admittedly, I do not have a thigh gap. Chances are I never will! But why should that bother me? I'm happy the way I am and the media should not influence the way I want to be. Yes, I have gone out of my way to become the shape I am now after working for it. 

Many girls are unhappy with their figures and aspire to be a few sizes smaller or remove certain areas of fat here and there. But certain 'norms' like these cause so many problems and can cause girls a lot of problems, both physically and mentally. You become obsessed with being skinny and try everything you can think of. If you don't like your figure, do something about it. But do not go to silly extremes. Go to the gym, eat healthier foods... Don't starve yourself or go on ridiculous diets when there are simpler and safer options.

(source: www.themetapicture.com)

So what do you think, are thigh gaps normal? To find out more, click here for the Daily Mail article focusing on this particular topic.

Insidious 2

Hey guys! Seeing as I've only posted one film review, I figured it was about time I posted another. For this review, I'll be talking about the new release that is Insidious 2. For all my UK readers, this was released Friday 13th September. For all you horror lovers who haven't already seen it, where have you been hiding?!

 As we're now coming into the horror season for film, we should be expecting to see a lot more of these films hitting our screens. This film failed to disappoint by far. Let's recap the first Insidious film released in 2010! 

(source: www.containsmoderateperil.com)

Basically, a family have to go searching for their son, Dalton, after he mysterious falls into a coma. Little do they know, he's lost in another world and unable to find his way back. After 3 months, ghosts start appearing around the house and all is not as it seems, with mysterious occurrences happening all round. From voices on the baby monitor to a bloody hand print on the bed sheets. After seeking out a medium who turns out helped the dad of the family in previous events, all becomes clear that Dalton is not alone in the other world which is causing him not to return. The family send the dad, Josh, into the further world to retrieve their son but doesn't come back alone as his past follows him...

Now, to chapter 2! When the family notice the signs of others being in their home, suspicions arise once again. But what could be causing them? After the death of the medium they seeked in the first chapter, the family must attempt to solve their own problems. But the problem is much closer than they think. As shown at the end of the first chapter, Josh doesn't return from the further world alone. This chapter looks back to the roots of all of his problems.

Like father like son, both have powerful entities which have haunted them from a young age. We go back to see the repression of Josh's memories and go forward to the present where he will have to face his fears again as he isn't himself. After finding Dalton in the other world, Josh did not return to the real world as he left. But when others try to help solve the issue, how will he react? What will they find that might explain the causes of these entities and the reasons behind their pain?

This chapters answers so many questions from the first chapter, as well as providing a twist to the story obviously inspired by The Shining. We look back at the past to see the cause of all the problems as well as look into the reasons behind lots of chapter one.  The disturbances, the trauma.. You also find out the stories behind the entities which haunt the family and see why they are haunted. The people before they died and the pain they had to suffer beforehand. So many unexplainable events become so clear and it definitely strengthens the story and plot by far!

Definitely one hell of a horror, would definitely recommend all you horror fans go check it out!

Friday 13th - Not so unlucky!

Hey guys! Bit late, but how was everyone's Friday 13th? For a day that is known for being superstitiously unlucky, mine was actually not so unlucky..

For those who read my rant about driving theory (can be found if you click here), you know of my sheer rage and attitude towards it. Well, after four attempts, I FINALLY PASSED! Such a relief and I was so unbelievably happy, it's incredible! Scary to think I'm now another step closer to actually driving. Well, as long as I pass by 2015, I won't have to sit it ever ever EVER AGAIN. Now I just need to book my practical eeeeeeeeek!!

In order to pass your theory, you need 43 in the theory itself and 44 in the hazard perception. Now, hazard perception is dead easy. Simply click when you see a hazard and don't click too much. Easy, yes? The questions are the downfall. Admittedly, they're all just common sense but a lot of them require you to actually think about the question. Something I struggled with a lot. Like, the first three tries involved questions on catalytic converters. Seriously, I haven't learnt about those since GCSE science if not before that - that was nearly 4 years ago! Ah well, all over and done with now and I'm sooo happy :)

College was really good too! Was only in from 9-1pm and had pretty easy going lessons. Really enjoying college if I'm honest. Childcare is such an interesting course and I love the girls on it! Made so many friends last year and we have such a laugh. Lots of banter going on.

Safe to say, this Friday 13th was a lucky one for me! How about you guys? :-)

Song of the week - 10.9.13

Hey guys! As everyone is going back to school, college, work and uni, I decided my song for this week is Bowling For Soup - High School Never Ends.

(source: www.youtube.com)

This song talks about how high school attitudes follow you throughout life, and I would agree with that. No matter what you do, no matter where you go, popularity will exist. Whether it's at work or college, there will always be a group of 'popular' people who have their own little click and there will be other little groups around that. There will be the people who everyone has heard of, for whatever reason (good or bad), and there will be people who some would have never given a second glance. There will always be the people who put themselves out there to get themselves known and potentially liked/favoured compared to someone who stays in the shadows and out of the way of these people. 

But it's true, and this song explains it. People who build themselves up some form of reputation and get known for putting themselves out there for whatever reason will be 'popular' in some way or another, compared to someone who has no reputation (good or bad) and doesn't put themselves out there who won't be as popular or well known..

Personally, I would never consider myself to be 'popular' in any way, shape or form. People knew me in school through friendship or my mum, same for sixth form, definitely not in college, definitely not at work, but I am trying to put myself out there more to do what's best for me. One of the reasons I made this blog, to try and get my name known and recognised. It may happen, it may not. But it's a start. Same with my career aspects! I'm trying to put myself out there so I can get my name recognised and achieve more for me to be proud of. But at the end of the day, who cares if you're popular or not?! A few close and true friends is better than hundreds of fake friends!

How will you know your true potential if you stay hidden in the shadows and let someone else take your place?

'Youngsters must stay in education until 18...'

Hey guys! For today's society dictates post, I'm going to be talking about how young people must remain in some form of education until they're 18. Saying that, it doesn't mean they have to suffer in classrooms for another 2 years after their academic school years. This could be anything! From Level 1-3 diplomas and more hands on learning, youngsters are having to find something to fill an extra two years which may encourage their futures. But what if you don't know what to do? How many will take what they consider to be the 'doss' and easier options...

For example, take the childcare courses at college. These courses are often slated for being easy and, often, people will go on this course as a last resort as they don't have any other option despite the fact the might not even want a career in childcare. What is the point? People see this course as an easy way out as it fills up the two years easily and gets them a good career at the end of it. Admittedly, the lower level courses are a lot easier than the higher level courses (the level 1 childcare course is a lot simpler than the level 3 course) but why waste your time if you're not interested?

Personally, I had no definite idea of what I wanted to do as a career at 16. I had a vague idea but I was never 100%. Schools and colleges expect you to know what you want to do straight away, but not many people do. Sure, they can find courses that they enjoy or that they might need for uni, but what if they discover what they want to do and it's too late?

A lot of people go onto the easier courses, such as childcare or hair and beauty, as it will get them a career a lot easier than some courses. What if they're not right for that work base though? Some people who take child care are being recognised for not being as 'academically challenged' as those on courses such as Biology or Psychology. Admittedly, there has been some evidence to support these claims as some settings have been noted for their worker's lack in spelling on display boards or being unable to help the children they work with. 

In any career, you need to be suitable for the job. If you don't like children or don't like being in a child-based environment, why take the course? At the end of the day, you are in that setting to help scaffold a child and their learning. Imagine what impact you have on them if you are unable to do the simplest of things, like spell simple words? That can easily affect them if they don't have the right role models. It's the same with any course. If you don't like cars, why do a motoring course? If you don't like working with elderly people, why do health and social care?

To sum it up, I think it's great that there are so many courses for these youngsters to do at different levels to suit their own ability. But why label some courses are being 'doss' and easy when you could impact someone else's future? You need to think how your actions could impacts someone else... 

For more on this story, check out the BBC News article here.