What to Expect During Election Week at UQ

Happy Friday y’all!

If you are one of the many students of UQ, you are probably already aware of the splatters of blue, pink and orange tshirts that are floating around campus this week. To be honest, I’m not too sure when the election dates are, but I’m sure the many, many, many electives stopping you in you innocent walk to class will be more than happy to inform you (as well as why you should vote for them/why you shouldn’t vote for anyone else/why you’re wrong). So, without furtherado, here are a few things to expect during election week at UQ.

1. Being stopped.

You’re walking along, minding your own business. You pass the foodcourt, and it seems okay, just a few clubs trying to get you to join. Then BAM. You walk into the rainbow. Hundreds of people in different coloured shirts in their little tents with their little flyers and their little speeches. You will be stopped. You will be shoved flyers, possibly by more than one party at a time.

Tips to avoid this: Look at your phone. Even at a blank screen. Right now, your whole life is fixated on that phone, and there is no way you can stop for anybody or anything.

2. They will find you.

Just right now, I had to stop mid sentence and flick over to another tab so these guys could talk to me. Unfortunately I haven’t really thought of a better excuse than “I don’t really have time now, just doing an assignment” to scare them away, but if you do, let me know! The scary thing is, I’m no where near the campaigners and flyer stands. I’m in the middle of the Great Court, chilling and minding my own business…. they will find you. And they will inform you.

3. Beware of arguments.

Chances are, these people know a lot more about their party and other parties than you do. Don’t bother arguing about the minor details of student politics. Avoid judgey questions.

4. You get a free food voucher if you vote.

Rumour has it, if you vote, rewards come your way! Who would say no to free food? So think wisely, scan the signs and see who you want in charge of your university.

It’s important to remember that while these campaigners may be annoying, they’re people too, and they have feelings. Try not to crush them about something they are passionate about, regardless of what you think. Be kind, do what Jesus would do, smile and take their flyer.

Enjoy the last few weeks of uni!!

Love,

Anastasia

You’re Obviously Just an Attention Seeker

I saw a post the other day that made me so upset, I almost lost it, then and there. Here, let me find it for you.

Luckily, I did the thing where you take a breather before you start writing. Now, I’m going to be honest. I don’t relate to depression on a personal level. I’ve never had depression, and to be perfectly honest, for a while I’ve been avoiding writing about this topic. But enough is enough.

I’ve heard day in, day out, that “depression is just a faze,” “She’s not really depressed, she’s just wants attention.” The word “depression” has become somewhat of a joke within society, and is constantly linked to negative connotations. “Attention seeker.” “Annoying.” “Liar.”

To be honest, for a long time, I never understood depression, and I can honestly say I still don’t. I don’t know what makes people feel so bad about themselves and about life to have depression. I don’t get it.

But that certainly is never going to stop me from loving and supporting them.

So here’s my organised rant on this big topic called “Depression.”

Depression is diagnosed to hundreds of thousands of people every year. Now, I’m not a psychiatrist, but I do have some handy hints if a friend or someone close to you tells you they are depressed, diagnosed or not.

1. Do not say “you’ll get over it.”

On no circumstances is this ever a good idea. People suffering from something like that are very fragile and feel as though this is something out of there hands. While you think they’re being silly, they’re battling with their feelings on a level that you and I may not understand. Rather, encourage and love on them, while acknowledging that you don’t get it.

2. You are not a therapist.

Your friend or family member may just need someone to talk to, but remember that you are not a therapist. You are not responsible for solving their problems or taking them upon yourself. Listen, encourage, love, but the worst thing you can do in a situation like this is take this problem on as your own. If your friend needs serious help to overcome this, recommend they see someone who can give them professional advice. Not only is this safer for you, it’s also much safer for your friend. While you have their best interests at heart, it’s not always wise to give your advice, which could very well lead them into something worse.

3. Look after yourself.

You are responsible for you, and that’s what matters most. There is no point hurting yourself and losing your good spirits just because your friend or family is hurting. Make sure you take care of yourself and love yourself.

4. Ask them to see somebody.

If someone has opened up to you about how they are feeling, one of the first things I would do is suggest seeing someone about it; a school counselor, calling a kid’s help line, a teacher, an adult you trust or a doctor. The main thing with this situation, though, is not to push them into seeing somebody, and reassuring them that they will have you as a friend throughout it all.

5. If the situation becomes harmful..

If the situation changes and either you or your friend is in danger or physically harmed, it is very important you notify somebody who can help immediately. I know from personal experience that often your friend won’t be very fond of this idea, and often will threaten to cut all ties with you, but at the end of the day, their (and your own) safety is much more important.

Another thing, I want to address the people who are quick to call people “attention seekers.” Yes, I understand there’s some moments when it’s just crossing the line. I often scroll past anyone who posts vague, upsetting statuses as much as the next person does, but maybe we shouldn’t. What’s wrong with wanting a bit of attention? We all need it. We all crave intimacy and friendship and sometimes (especially if you’re a giiirrrlll *cough cough*) we feel pretty outside the circle of love. Honestly, we all have a bit of an attention seeking nature within us, and I don’t really see why that’s such a negative thing.

Let’s all try a thing. Next time you see someone post something a bit vague, and a bit “depressing”, shoot them a message. It takes 5 seconds, and if they don’t want to talk or tell you, at least it wasn’t for lack of trying. Sometimes, just knowing someone cares enough to say something is more than enough.

(Disclaimer: I do not endorse the posting of vague and “depressing” statuses, I much reccommend you confide in a friend or family member)

I hope this has been helpful, feel free to inbox me about anything and everything and hope you’re all having a lovely week.

Keep smiling,

Anastasia xox

Snippet of a Story

I recently realised how much growth and change I have gone through over the past few years, probably especially since leaving high school. I think some of the most important life lessons are learnt after leaving highschool. I’ve learnt I love writing; poems, stories, essays.. you name it, I’m your girl. After a bit of writer’s block, and a bit of reflection, I’ve decided to share a bit of my story here for you. So from my heart to yours, here’s a snippet of a much bigger story of my life as a teenager, and how it changed.

Let me take you back to an easier time, grade 6, let’s say, to a little girl, sitting in Mrs. Wren’s classroom, squinting up at a blackboard (yes, we used blackboards). All the self confidence in the world was in the eyes of this little girl. It was her first, “real” school experience, after being homeschooled for most of her primary years. She couldn’t wait to start grade 6 at a “real” school, and make millions of friends.

It was that year when her confidence started to crash.

Primary school kids can be the most cruel of all people, hands down. She made friends as quickly as she lost them, but there were only a couple of people who she could truly call “friends.” Ridiculed for being “too smart”, she soon was the little girl who sat by herself, nose in her books, as cliche as that was, it happened to her.

Needless to say, she left that school fairly quickly and went back to homeschooling. A month later, her mother invested into getting her some glasses, for her atrocious eyesight. She loved being able to see everything, and didn’t really care what she looked like wearing them.

Next year, grade 7, she started at another “real” school. This one was far worse than the last. With a mixed class and a total of 15 students and only 5 girls her age, she felt outnumbered. Her friendly, happy disposition didn’t help her at all. Almost instantly, she was ridiculed for wearing glasses, being a bookworm and a “teacher’s pet” (which she didn’t see anything wrong with, mind you.) Her “friends” had dated every boy in the class, and she was shunned for saying no to the one, “loser” boy who had asked her, saying she had “lost her chances for good” (let’s not forget.. grade 7!!!).

The rest of that term was a tough one. She had books stolen from her, deodorant sprayed into her face and forced to eat alone at lunch time, without the company of books. She was left alone in the bush behind the school, her “friends” saying they’d come back for her (Some friends, hey?).

Her feelings were hurt, she was scared and had heard so many curse words in the first week of school than she had ever heard in her life.

And it hurt.

It hurt being the only one who was left out. It hurt being the “weird, homeschooled kid” and the one who liked reading. It hurt being left out and made fun of. It hurt not having any friends, and it hurt knowing she was alone in school.

She begged her mum to let her leave after only going there for a term, which her mother agreed to.

This was the root of the problem, which followed her through her highschool years. In grade 8, she started at a lovely little school, which she stayed with until graduation. She had her fair share of drama and troubles there, but nothi
ng worse than the insecurity she had in herself, especially after hitting puberty. She felt compared, ugly and annoying to those people around her.

I just wanted to let you know, it gets better. Sometimes life isn’t fair, but it deals the same unfairness to everybody eventually. No one else’s life is going to be easy going all the time. Did I ever want to give up? Of course. But would I have? No way, because at the end of the day, your life is something beautiful, that only you can cherish. And you’re going to make it ❤

To be continued 😀