Where Do We Go From Here? Part One

I still remember my first day of year 7 really clearly. I had only ever gone to what was then my new school a couple of times before, and with my mum driving me, I was obviously late (cos you know... black people timing). Rushing down the pathway to the school entrance, I realised that I missed the introductory assembly and I saw everyone filing out. Great way to start a new time in your life! When I look back at it, being late on the first day was just a standard Eman thing to do. It always has to be me.

It was still an exciting new chapter of my life though and I had no idea what secondary school life was going to hold for me. I had no idea what I was getting into...

And now, hopefully a better person than I was back then, I'm on the verge of another exciting new chapter. 6 years have flashed by and suddenly, I find myself 7 weeks away from legally turning into an adult, 7 months away from A Levels and 10 months away from what some call the best years of your life: university. And it's exciting, don't get me wrong, but it's scary at the same time.

When you've been in your comfort zone all your life, with work being organised for you at school, with food already on the table when you get home, with the hassling of teachers to get work done and get it done on time, it will be surely be a shock to suddenly have to do it all by yourself.

Everything instantly just comes your way, whether you're prepared for it or not, whether you're relishing it or not. Managing your money, actually reminding yourself to do beneficial work, having an active social life, keeping yourself and your room tidy, keeping yourself fit. All at the same time. You're not a kid anymore and within 4 months, you move from still being treated like one in 6th form/college to being an independent adult at uni. 4 months with hardly any preparation. So when I write this doom and gloom tale of the standard worries of university life, it doesn't surprise me that some people decide to opt out of paying the £9k a year.

The daily sessions awaits...

But let's stick to the positives. A fresh start, a new opportunity to make friends, (possibly) new surroundings, new social opportunities and new interests/sports to try out. The world becomes your oyster. Life won't just be about grades, you won't be stuck in an exam factory and... AND you can be free from your parents. All of that just 10 months away. You can dream about it all you like but some of us need to make sure we get there first.

Wherever 'there' will be.


Part two is about the process and feelings of applying to uni, interviews and any rejections. Coming in January!

'Grab her by the p****' - A Reflection on the U.S. Presidential Election

Patriotism in politics is today a tricky subject. It's human nature to support what's in your blood. However, our world today is so colourful, ethnically diverse and culturally mixed that it's time the prejudicial body of nationalism was laid to rest. To amend Reagan's powerful damnation of communism:

Nationalism is now 'the focus of evil in the modern world'.

On the day of America's 'New 9/11', the US has sneezed for the whole world to catch a cold. Donald Trump, known racist, sexist, anti-Semetist, xenophobe, homophobe, transophobe and just about any 'phobe' or 'ist' you can think of, has been democratically elected by the people of the United States. And what strikes me most is that of all the words in that sentence, 'democratically' is the one which holds most meaning. 

Whilst the men convicted of the greatest atrocities in human history rose to power through violence and authoritarianism, the people of America have consciously chosen to elect a man incapable of running a country without prejudice. Why? How? What's appealing about a man with no political experience who believes in everything we say is wrong?

In reality, nothing. Except nationalism. Without exploiting the patriotic urges of the American population, Trump has everything against him and nothing for him. It's truly shocking that someone's delusional nationalism can outweigh the clear problems of a character like Trump in government.

And it's not as though the American people can't see this. Mainstream media has made every attempt to paint Trump for what he is, just take a look at the clip below:

The fact is you can't blame Trump for as much as you think. He wouldn't have made it this far without the will of the people (and a bit of cash). Anyone's allowed to run for Presidency. But while the Bolsheviks took power through the storming of the Winter Palace and Hitler wiped out all his political enemies on 'The Night of the Long Knives', Trump sat there in the open, like a sitting duck, waiting to be ridiculed and punished for his bigotry. That moral response never came. The American people have voted for this. For racism. For sexism. For everything.

This is a bleak time for international relations. On the right of us we have Russia scheming to expand their share of the world. Domestically, we have voted to leave the EU based on bigotry and discrimination. And over the Atlantic one of the most vulgar men in the U.S. has assumed power of one of the biggest forces in the world. Prejudice has won everywhere. The modern manifestation of Woodrow Wilson, racism, misogyny and all, is now one of the most powerful men on the planet.

We, us, the 'new minority' of people, without racist motivations or sexist intentions, need to protect those who are vulnerable. Trump's mountain of prejudice will try to crush the minorities of the U.S, and when it drops someone needs to be there to break the fall. Don't be passive. Don't stand and watch as police brutality escalates, as women have their hijab ripped from their head, as those in wheelchairs are pushed from their seat. As the 'new minority', and this isn't debatable after two elections have shown, we need to make our voices heard:

Excessive, prejudicial and immoral nationalism has had its last victory.