We are all individuals

"Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you!"

~ Dr. Seuss

One of the biggest quests in life is the search for self; to find the answer to ‘who am I?’

Society all around us tells us to be this and that. In high school, the pressures of trying to fit in and be the same as everyone else can be even worse.

During high school I found it quite difficult to fit in properly, I guess everyone feels like this as we try and find out who we are.

I had friends but sometimes it can be difficult to truly fit in when they don’t understand your sense of humour, or hobbies or your general nerdiness.

Nowadays, I have found many places where I feel I truly belong.

How? By embracing who I am and not letting society dictate who I am.

I am my family and friends, my passion for justice and a little bit of quirky nerdiness mixed in.

I am that girl who will fight for others when I see injustice.

The girl who will reference Doctor Who whenever there’s a chance.

The girl who will silly dance with children or by herself.

By embracing who I am, I have found friends who are just as quirky as me. Friends who get super excited over quoting Harry Potter in their exam or by free comic book days, friends who are obsessed with puppets or share my passion for peace and friends who love to join in with my silly randomness.

So my advice to you all is to disregard society’s so-called norms and embrace what you are passionate about. At the end of the day, we are all individuals.

Be proud of who you are!

Twenty years too long

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of mandatory detention for all asylum seekers who arrive here by boat.

This is not an anniversary to be celebrating.

Instead over one hundred community groups and many more individuals gathered at the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne to have their voices heard.

This year’s World Refugee Rally calls for an end to mandatory detention.

It has been twenty years too long.

Asylum seekers are just that; seeking asylum.

Yet when they arrive here on our shores, we ship them off to detention centres where the conditions are shocking. Talk about separation of families, suicidal ideation and occupational 

boredom.

God only knows what they have managed to escape from.

I have been involved with the local refugee community for a few years now. I know that these 

people would return home if they had the chance but with war, violence and risk of persecution...Australia is their refuge.

So instead of sending refugees and asylum seekers into detention centres when they arrive seeking help, why can’t we open our arms and welcome them into our communities?

Before mandatory detention was introduced, asylum seekers were processed within the community. Why can we not continue this more humane processing?

I will continue fighting. I will continue to make my voice heard.

Especially for those behind detention centre gates who cannot be heard.

Detention centres have got to go!

Halfway happiness

As I handed in my final assignment for the trimester, I could not believe that half the year has passed.

Around me, people in my course are celebrating the fact that we only have one trimester left of our course.

Only six more months and my uni course comes to an end.

Six months and my thesis will be complete.

Six months and we go our separate ways into the world of occupational therapy.

Nerves. Excitement. Celebrations.

So let’s raise a glass and celebrate our achievements so far. We’re almost there!

For now, I am in halfway happiness.

Living life to the fullest with my uni friends, embracing what uni has to offer and dreaming about next year.

With only a few stepping stones left ahead of me, life is good.

Surrounded by papers...

There have been many ideas for leaves on the Peace Tree over the past month.

However, when surrounded by papers and textbooks it can be difficult to find the time to write these musings down to share with you.

This week I will be completing my honours literature review and then I can return to sharing many leaves of peace with you all.

Till then I shall return to my papers of play and sensory processing.

May peace fill your lives.