Your Voting Voice

Voting is a right which, as members of a democratic country, we have. It is a necessary means to govern a country democratically. In the UK (this is a English centred post, sorry), unless you are in prison, you can vote once you are 18 years old. To be able to exercise this right, you have to be on the electoral register (you can register from the age of 16). If you satisfy these requirements, then you should be registered and ready to vote.
The reason why I wanted to create this blog post was, primarily, due to the upcoming European Elections which will be held on 22nd May. Begrudgingly, I am unable to vote in these elections because I am a July baby (I personally think it's ridiculous that someone who will turn 18 in less than 2 months at the time of voting should be excluded but hey, that's the law).
So, as I am unable to vote, I thought I'd first address the growing issue that many young people (or at least from what I've gathered from Sixth Form and other places where I might have contact with Youths) don't see the point of voting. The most common phrases I've heard are "Whats the point?", "All the parties are the same anyway" , or "It doesn't change anything". After curling up in a ball and crying for 20 minutes, I try and challenge these statements and explain why these are misconceptions which have sadly become the norm. I'm not trying to make these people feel stupid, I'm trying to make them understand that voting is a vital part of living in a democracy. If everybody held their views, nobody would vote and we wouldn't have any say in how our country is run which I believe has been tried and tested- and it sucks.
I could give you a long list of why you should vote, but the best reasons are listed on the AboutMyVote website which is GREAT (and unbiased)! Not only does it break down the political jargon (which made me really happy) but it guides you through the process of understanding the voting system.

Secondly, I wanted to point out all the 'bits and bobs' surrounding the European Elections.

• Who can I vote for? Each bit of the UK has separate candidates (see your list here). Each political party puts forward a list of candidates, and you have one vote for a list.
• Wait, so what gets elected? Members of European Parliament (MEPs) are elected to represent a region depending on the overall votes for that region. 
• Why is this so important? The powers of the European parliament have increased since 2009 so your vote will make a difference. The MEPs that you elect will, for the first time, choose who will head the European Commission (more info here). PLUS, whichever political party gets the majority within each region, and overall in the UK, will have a certain amount of power within the European parliament and will probably influence how people vote in the General Election next year.
• I want Britain to leave the EU. Okay, fine. please don't vote UKIP.
• What is wrong with UKIP? I shouldn't have to tell you, but here is a nice little article from the Guardian about it.

So get registered and go and vote on 22nd May! The polling stations are situated pretty much everywhere and they're open 7am-10pm so you will have time. You should have received a polling card through the post by now, but you don't need it to vote (you can take it with you for funzies).

If you're still confused, the links to AboutMyVote and the European Parliament website are really helpful and will help you through every step of the way

Please don't vote UKIP, they are super super dodgy and dangerous and racist.

Please vote. If you're still not convinced, just think of me; the poor political 17 year old who is restricted by 2 lousy months.

Thanks for reading,
Kitty x

How Not To Revise

Revision is not a fun pass-time, or at least it isn't for me. As you may remember, I am revising for my A2s which will be my last exams taken in school ever. Due to this, several different family members/friends/teachers keep telling me that "it's a hard push now but it will be over soon". I am perfectly aware of this, but it doesn't make it easier- I would rather just give up and become a full time crazy dog woman. Nevertheless, I have spent this past week of Easter break revising, and I couldn't help but think of ways which I could (unsuccessfully) revise whilst having fun.
So I made a list of things to try at home to spice up revision!

- Take a shot every time you get a question right, so you get drunk and revise at the same time! Everybody knows alcohol makes you remember better.

-If you get a question wrong, do 10 push ups. Your brain will work harder to not get them wrong or you'll be so muscly that you won't need to revise, you can simply impress the examiner.

- Do an Easter Egg hunt thing around your house, but with clues as exam questions.

- Remove your eyeballs and imprint mind maps on them, but remember to put your eyeballs back in your head.

-Busk revise! Speak through and explain the topics you're revising on the street to the public. It will stay in your head and someone will probably hopefully give you money. Either through pity or insanity.

- Pretend that you are learning everything in order to survive a Zombie Apocalypse. Really commit to the part by only dressing in rags and carrying a large weapon during your allotted revision time.

- Turn yourself into a Disney princess and swish your hair out of a window whilst singing what your revision is. You can then re-enact the songs during the exam!

- Create a trap in your house in which you can only escape from if you do an hour of revision and a past paper.

- If you get really desperate, try snorting/smoking/ingesting your revision notes just before the exam. Your body will then soak up the information due to the Adrenaline and you'll pass with flying colours!

I hope these will help over the next few months when we are all revising. Best of luck mes amigos!
Thanks for reading,
Kitty x

The Great Open Day Obstacle

I should, if I had it my way, be writing this blog post from the rooftop apartment which overlooked Rome, eating mozzarella and bathing in the spring sunshine. This is sadly not the case as my holiday has now ended, and the next 10 weeks will be filled with crying and revision- oh to be a sixth former!
To give myself peace of mind that I am in some way spreading my somewhat limited but amusing (at least I hope) wisdom, here is a post about open days.

Summer time (shh we're nearly there. Or at least I was when I was in Rome yesterday. Sigh.) means open day time. This roughly translates to gallivanting around universities, aimlessly looking at slightly shabby accommodation and nabbing as much free stuff as possible. For many, there is no clear action plan with open days and this makes me sad. As an experienced open day goer (I went to 9, I was a little bit obsessed.) I have developed a solid plan for you to follow.

• Make sure you book yourself onto said open days, if needs be, and sign in. They will keep track of who has signed on and arrived, and may help your application (this could be an urban myth, but it doesn't hurt).
• Take a parent/guardian/someone responsible. I mentioned this in my 'How Do I University' post, and I meant it. Going with your friends sounds like a laugh but, sorry for being a party pooper, your parents/guardians/responsible person are the ones who will be helping you/probably paying through this process. Plus they will inevitably ask questions to the slightly scary people who you're too shy to say anything too- which is a bonus.
• Plan before you go. Check how to get there and what talks/tours you want to do. The planning will get smoother with each open day, and soon you'll be darting in and out of the confused crowd of teenagers who don't know where the shuttle bus leaves. Amateurs. 
• Take a bag and a pen/paper. One of my parents always did, and we always used them. I don't know how just do it- you'll look really prepared and cool.
• Go to student finance talks. Please. At least one. They are super helpful in outlining what you're entitled to and will make your process for student loans a lot easier. And it will make your parents happy which, during the uni process, is a blessing; trust me.
• Go to the course talk. Every time. This seems really obvious but, even if like me you're doing a course that has to be the same at every uni, the way its presented etc is really important. If the course leader squishes you all into a small room and talks at you for 2 hours, re-evaluate that uni.
• Visit the course building(s) that you are interested in! You'll find current students there who will give you the most realistic spin on the course that they can, and it will be worthwhile. Plus you should be going for the course talk anyway....
• Go along to the student union because they're usually super cool and make you think 'oh wowee I wanna go here!', plus that is where the free stuff is.
• If possible, hop along to student accommodation. It's a distant future thought, I know, but it could be a make or break. One uni I visited planned to put all the nursing students together in this creepy cul-de-sac; deal breaker.
• Know your limits. Once you start wishing that you had never even thought about uni because your feet ache so much, or you are planning on slicing off the face of the next person who mentions the word student loans; stop. Take a break. It's a surprisingly tiring experience, don't be afraid to have a nice piece of cake and a cuppa.
• Try and be practical. You could be living in this environment for 3 years! Don't decide to choose a uni based on the fact that it has a really pretty lake on campus.

I know it's a long list, but its stuff I wish I had known. I grant my knowledge to you, young warrior, use it well.

If you're mega keen to know where I went/applied to get the inside gossip, Tweet/comment/tumblr message me.

Thanks for reading,
Kitty x

The Wonderful World of Work

I'm a big believer in part-time jobs for teenagers. Having worked two jobs in my life, waitress and my current job as a pot washer, I feel like I've got some 'part-time job wisdom'. Part-time jobs as a teenager are mega important as they allow you to peek into the adult world and see how you'll cope once the safety of school is taken away. Its a chance to mature, earn some money and work with new people of different ages and backgrounds. Yes, it can suck and you might, like I have been, be treated as some sort of pariah for all misfortunes within the workplace, but that just gives you the chance to learn your rights as a worker.

My time as a waitress was really interesting; it made me begin to realize how much I loved working in a busy environment, and that talking to people all day made me really happy. I worked really hard to become part of the team, despite the large age gaps and the fact that I wasn't in some way related to the boss. I made friends with the chefs and laughed with the waitresses whilst earning my way through the summer. Sadly, due to the surprising workload I had to deal with for my AS-levels and the inflexibility of my hours, I had to leave that job behind.
For over a year, I was unemployed but happy; I had saved enough to be comfortable. This changed last summer when I made the decision to take a gap year, and when my money started to run out. I had to get a job and fast so I gave out CVs to 9 different places, hoping that my experience as a waitress and first aid qualification would get me through- it didn't. I was nearly out of luck until my friend told me that her ex-boss was looking for people at a new bar in my town. I applied, and was given the chance to become a pot washer. I took it, despite knowing how I would hate it.. and I was right. I don't work in close proximity with anyone else, so I haven't gelled with the team. Other than that they are fantastic to work for and they pay well, but I'm not happy. I know that jobs won't always make you happy but that doesn't change how I feel. I honestly believe that I don't deserve a job which I know I'm not suited too; someone else does. I am not a pot-washer, I like to talk and serve.
So, after another stint of giving out CVs which failed again, I managed to get an interview for a full-time waitress position (thanks to the guy I'm dating for notifying me of the position and getting me the application form). I'm desperately hoping that I'll get this job so that I can start to feel happy and enjoy my work gain.

The point of that rather long winded anecdote is that my part-time jobs have shaped who I am. Without being a waitress/pot washer, I wouldn't have realised how much I loved providing a service and I might not have applied for nursing. And I would be broke, which would really suck. Even though there have been times when I wished my life was more similar to those in Super Sweet 16, and that I had pretty much unlimited money to my name, that isn't my reality. Part-time jobs are essential to your personal growth from adolescence to adult (yuck sorry) so get out there if possible. (Unless you aren't coping with your current workload, in which take it easy!!)
I hope that gave some insight, or provided you with 5 minutes of procrastination.
Thanks for reading,
Kitty x