I woke up today to the news that Robin Williams had passed. Shock, confusion and a great sadness crashed into me in waves, and to be honest I'm still trying to wrap my head around the world losing such a magnificent talent. Not only was he a brilliant actor, but an all-round wonderful human being.
Growing up in the 90s/early 00s, Robin Williams was a huge part of my childhood. Jumanji, Mrs Doubtfire, Flubber, Aladdin... this man made me laugh more than any other actor. His body and face seemed so animated, his wit knew no boundaries, yet there was also a gentleness there which made me feel safe.
As I grew, I found Williams' other work just as, if not more, compelling; seeing Robin Williams in One Hour Photo really made me realise just how amazing the guy really was. I was watching the man I loved as a child play a complete psychopath, yet I wasn't horrified or disturbed, I was engrossed. Its a true testament to an actor when you don't see the actor in the film, instead you see only the character. In every film I have seen Williams in, he has fully immersed himself into the character, into the story, and that is what makes him a legend.
I knew very little of Robin Williams' battle with addiction and depression; the only things I knew were what I'd heard him joke about in various interviews. It's terrifying and deeply upsetting to think that his only escape from the demons that he battled was to leave this world, but we can all hope that he has found peace. Today I watched a lesser known film starring Williams named What Dreams May Come. The film tackles the subject of suicide, and I can only hope that Robin has made the journey into a safe and happy place - I do not believe in God or Heaven, but that doesn't mean that I cannot hope that this magnificent man has found peace.
My favourite Robin Williams film is Dead Poets Society. The message that each and every person should make their life extraordinary is a mantra which I firmly believe. I hope to fill every day with laughter and love.
So thank you Mr. Williams for making my childhood memories sweeter.
Good night, O' Captain, My Captain.
Tuesday 12 August 2014
Friday 27 June 2014
5 Things That All English Students Cannot Stand
This blog post is tailored to all of us English Scholars..
1) We are not all 'Grammar Nazis'
God I hate that term. Using the word 'Nazi' to describe anybody who isn't a racist, fascist, small-minded imbecile is offensive and embarrassing. And no, not every English student cares about whether Joe Bloggs wrote 'your' instead of 'you're' on his Facebook status. Every once in a while, you're bound to fuck up on spelling or grammar. Everybody does it, so stop making it your mission to correct every mistake under the sun! We don't think you're clever, we just think you're a stuck up know-it-all.
2) "You study English? Oh, so you must have read..."
Yes I study English. Yes I have read a lot. But please, please don't presume that I have read every book to have ever been published; if anything it'll just make you feel uncomfortable when I tell you that I have never even heard of that particular book. It appears that anybody outside of a University English Department thinks that we just pick books at random from the library and choose to study them. Erm, no! Our modules are pretty tight about what we are supposed to read, and if you think that we have time for extracurricular reading then you are very, very wrong.
3) "Oh I love that movie!"
Oh, erm, actually I was talking about the book... *Cue awkward silence*. I'm not a snob and I understand that not everybody enjoys to read. Yet I do find it incredibly difficult when people over the age of 15 don't know that The Great Gatsby is one of America's finest pieces of literature and not just "some Leo DiCaprio movie about a rich guy". It makes me despair in all honesty.
4) Other students telling us that we don't do a real degree
Seriously? So I don't do Maths or Quantum Mechanics or Medicine; I'd love to see all those people write an essay on the comedic value of pathos and misfortune in Nabakov, or deciphering and then analysing medieval texts. So to anybody who says that English isn't a real degree - fuck off.
5) Reading...
(The books that we are supposed to). I know this sounds insane and contradictory, but at the end of the day students will be students and do the bare minimum that they need to to get that coveted 2:1. We chose English degrees due to our love and passion of books, yet when somebody tells us that we have to read a novel? Yeah... it aint gonna happen, especially when more often than not you only need to write on three novels max. per module. Therefore, we have all experienced the damning silence of a seminar full of hungover students who have not even bothered to buy the book. Thankfully, there's generally one person (who tends to be fresh as a daisy) who may as well be having a one on one discussion with the tutor. To those people, the rest of us simultaneously despise and salute you.
1) We are not all 'Grammar Nazis'
God I hate that term. Using the word 'Nazi' to describe anybody who isn't a racist, fascist, small-minded imbecile is offensive and embarrassing. And no, not every English student cares about whether Joe Bloggs wrote 'your' instead of 'you're' on his Facebook status. Every once in a while, you're bound to fuck up on spelling or grammar. Everybody does it, so stop making it your mission to correct every mistake under the sun! We don't think you're clever, we just think you're a stuck up know-it-all.
2) "You study English? Oh, so you must have read..."
Yes I study English. Yes I have read a lot. But please, please don't presume that I have read every book to have ever been published; if anything it'll just make you feel uncomfortable when I tell you that I have never even heard of that particular book. It appears that anybody outside of a University English Department thinks that we just pick books at random from the library and choose to study them. Erm, no! Our modules are pretty tight about what we are supposed to read, and if you think that we have time for extracurricular reading then you are very, very wrong.
3) "Oh I love that movie!"
Oh, erm, actually I was talking about the book... *Cue awkward silence*. I'm not a snob and I understand that not everybody enjoys to read. Yet I do find it incredibly difficult when people over the age of 15 don't know that The Great Gatsby is one of America's finest pieces of literature and not just "some Leo DiCaprio movie about a rich guy". It makes me despair in all honesty.
4) Other students telling us that we don't do a real degree
Seriously? So I don't do Maths or Quantum Mechanics or Medicine; I'd love to see all those people write an essay on the comedic value of pathos and misfortune in Nabakov, or deciphering and then analysing medieval texts. So to anybody who says that English isn't a real degree - fuck off.
5) Reading...
(The books that we are supposed to). I know this sounds insane and contradictory, but at the end of the day students will be students and do the bare minimum that they need to to get that coveted 2:1. We chose English degrees due to our love and passion of books, yet when somebody tells us that we have to read a novel? Yeah... it aint gonna happen, especially when more often than not you only need to write on three novels max. per module. Therefore, we have all experienced the damning silence of a seminar full of hungover students who have not even bothered to buy the book. Thankfully, there's generally one person (who tends to be fresh as a daisy) who may as well be having a one on one discussion with the tutor. To those people, the rest of us simultaneously despise and salute you.
Wednesday 25 June 2014
Post First Shift Review
Hey everyone,
So it has been a fretful and exciting few days. I landed myself my first job since leaving uni - I'm waitressing at an Italian restaurant. It isn't anything towards my big dreams of Publishing but it's something to tide me over until I get there! Plus its a great earner in regards to my holiday planning so I can't complain really.
I've never waited on tables before so I've been really nervous in the run up to my first shift, and although I felt like a bit of a plonker at times I think I could get the hang of it. To be honest though, working with the public is a great thing to whack onto your CV;
Showing that you can handle difficult people and make customers happy is great experience for any type of career, and employers will (or should!) be impressed by this. A lot of employees have to deal with challenging people every day in their work life, and so by showing that you can handle the pressure, you're in turn proving that you are right for the job!
Anyway, I just wanted to share the encouraging news with all you guys!
Bye bye,
Ally X
So it has been a fretful and exciting few days. I landed myself my first job since leaving uni - I'm waitressing at an Italian restaurant. It isn't anything towards my big dreams of Publishing but it's something to tide me over until I get there! Plus its a great earner in regards to my holiday planning so I can't complain really.
I've never waited on tables before so I've been really nervous in the run up to my first shift, and although I felt like a bit of a plonker at times I think I could get the hang of it. To be honest though, working with the public is a great thing to whack onto your CV;
Showing that you can handle difficult people and make customers happy is great experience for any type of career, and employers will (or should!) be impressed by this. A lot of employees have to deal with challenging people every day in their work life, and so by showing that you can handle the pressure, you're in turn proving that you are right for the job!
Anyway, I just wanted to share the encouraging news with all you guys!
Bye bye,
Ally X
Tuesday 17 June 2014
There's no place like home...
For many, Dorothy's famous words are the absolute truth. But for us recent graduates, home isn't as easily defined as one might think. I'm back in my hometown, in the house that I've lived in for 13 years, and yes it does feel like home. I mean, it is my home. But I have also spent the last 3 years living across the country making a life for myself with my boyfriend and friends. Suddenly this was ripped away from me, and though I'm more than grateful for having a loving place to come back to, home just isn't as appealing anymore. My freedom has been stripped, my love is miles away and I may never see half of my friends again. It's clear to see why your student days are the best days of your life, and I can't help but feel melancholy thinking about losing it all.
The hardest part is being away from my boyfriend... Seeing each other once a month at most is the most difficult thing. I have to hold back the tears whenever I think about the distance and how much my heart aches from missing him. We have grand plans to one day move in together and more, and although I have no doubt that this will happen, it's hard when you're struggling to find a job and to save up money for this eventual future.
Coming from the perspective of an English grad, I know how hard it is to base yourself in a career. Unless you're a miracle worker, publishing and journalism is an absolute fortress to break into, and for all those wondering the inevitable... NO! I do not wish to become an English teacher. No doubt my next few blog posts will be me moaning about finding work in a desolate, god-forsaken town where unemployment is strife, so apologies in advance.
Peace,
Ally. X
Friday 30 May 2014
End of an era...
Hey everyone,
On Wednesday I handed in my final piece of coursework for my degree. That's it. Finito. It was the most terrifying, exhilarating and emotional thing I've had to do in a while. After I posted my essay through that little dropbox, I felt like my world had changed forever. I would never have to go through that again. The stress of referencing, printing in that god awful library and relying on the dreaded Turnitin for my receipt will never cross my mind again for the rest of my life. Will I miss it? You may think I'm crazy, but yes. All of those feelings, those emotions kind of made me feel safe. They were my security blanket, reassuring me that I'm still just a student who doesn't need to think about growing up yet. My mantra was always, I'll think about the future once my degree is over... and now it is I don't want to think about the future. I don't want to face the reality that I'm facing unemployment and moving back in with my mother (even though she's pretty fantastic).
So whilst applying for jobs way out of my league here and there, I'm spending my days watching crappy TV, reading cheap books that Kindle recommend and perfecting my skincare routine with the help of some free Clinique samples (every little helps). I'm still waking up in the morning with the feeling that I have something to do, some piece of work that I'm yet to hand in. I'm still completely in denial to the fact that in a couple of weeks, I won't be a student anymore. It's the worst feeling, but a part of me is convinced that something good will happen soon. I mean, its got to... hasn't it?
Anyway, on that rather depressing note I'm signing off.
Sayonara kids. X
On Wednesday I handed in my final piece of coursework for my degree. That's it. Finito. It was the most terrifying, exhilarating and emotional thing I've had to do in a while. After I posted my essay through that little dropbox, I felt like my world had changed forever. I would never have to go through that again. The stress of referencing, printing in that god awful library and relying on the dreaded Turnitin for my receipt will never cross my mind again for the rest of my life. Will I miss it? You may think I'm crazy, but yes. All of those feelings, those emotions kind of made me feel safe. They were my security blanket, reassuring me that I'm still just a student who doesn't need to think about growing up yet. My mantra was always, I'll think about the future once my degree is over... and now it is I don't want to think about the future. I don't want to face the reality that I'm facing unemployment and moving back in with my mother (even though she's pretty fantastic).
So whilst applying for jobs way out of my league here and there, I'm spending my days watching crappy TV, reading cheap books that Kindle recommend and perfecting my skincare routine with the help of some free Clinique samples (every little helps). I'm still waking up in the morning with the feeling that I have something to do, some piece of work that I'm yet to hand in. I'm still completely in denial to the fact that in a couple of weeks, I won't be a student anymore. It's the worst feeling, but a part of me is convinced that something good will happen soon. I mean, its got to... hasn't it?
Anyway, on that rather depressing note I'm signing off.
Sayonara kids. X
Tuesday 27 May 2014
All About Yours Truly
Hey World,
I started this blog out of pure procrastination from writing my final ever piece of work for uni (wahh)! I've been putting off completing my essay for weeks so that I don't have to face the fact that I'm growing up and leaving studenthood. However, as it's due tomorrow, I really should get cracking... however it does mean that I'll probably be blogging a hell of a lot more on here and my other blog lushliterature.blogspot.co.uk
While my other blog focuses on lit reviews, I decided to set this one up as more of a personal diary, highlighting (and whining) about the struggles of becoming an English Grad; the first and foremost being unemployment! Like so many of my comrades I am still yet to find a job, and the inevitable of moving back into my parents house is happening. I know, woe is me. But I think perhaps the most difficult reality for me to face is having to move away from my boyfriend. After 1 and a half years of bliss, we'll be moving to opposite ends of the country (literally) and the ten minute walk to each other houses turns into a 5 hour and bloody expensive journey.
Anyway, I'll be chatting about all life has to throw at me over the next few weeks, months, years... so stay tuned folks!
Bye,
Ally
I started this blog out of pure procrastination from writing my final ever piece of work for uni (wahh)! I've been putting off completing my essay for weeks so that I don't have to face the fact that I'm growing up and leaving studenthood. However, as it's due tomorrow, I really should get cracking... however it does mean that I'll probably be blogging a hell of a lot more on here and my other blog lushliterature.blogspot.co.uk
While my other blog focuses on lit reviews, I decided to set this one up as more of a personal diary, highlighting (and whining) about the struggles of becoming an English Grad; the first and foremost being unemployment! Like so many of my comrades I am still yet to find a job, and the inevitable of moving back into my parents house is happening. I know, woe is me. But I think perhaps the most difficult reality for me to face is having to move away from my boyfriend. After 1 and a half years of bliss, we'll be moving to opposite ends of the country (literally) and the ten minute walk to each other houses turns into a 5 hour and bloody expensive journey.
Anyway, I'll be chatting about all life has to throw at me over the next few weeks, months, years... so stay tuned folks!
Bye,
Ally
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