Life Looking Back at Me

Some of my friends are really not liking life at all. Upset about everything about themselves or their life. Feeling like they are never good enough. Demoralized, hurt and alone. Just know that you are not the only one. Just know that I feel the same way too. Just know that if you need a friend to talk to, I'll always be there for you. It doesn't matter if you need to rant for literally hours on end, because I'll always be listening. I owe it to the people who have done the same for me.

To you, I am a friend

To me, you mean the world

I think the education culture here needs to change. We have tests and exams week after week, parents who don't understand how we feel, who set unachievable goals and compare us to other people, hundreds of projects and thousands of assignments, tons of other commitments, until we don't have time to be just who we are - kids.

Why are our projects powerpoint presentation? Why aren't they stuff like making a leaf collection? Behind the forced smiles, kids are being killed slowly inside. Sometimes people think that some of us are lucky enough to have perfect lifes, just because we tried our best to hide the tears and pain.

To me living a life thats about exams and benchmarks and not about enjoying life as it is, is to live a lie.

I think the value of UYO as a leadership development tool is very misguided. I don't think it should be compulsory. Come on people! The only reason people listen to you in a UYO is because of rank and hierarchy. You have not won your people's respect. Yelling at people or punishing them to get them to do what you want them to is not leadership. Its just intimidation and bullying. 

Of course there are some really good UYO leaders out there who are exceptions to what's written here.

Leadership to me is coming in on the same level as everyone else, as one of your own people, and inspiring them to do great things. Thats why to my best ability, I don't scream and shout and be mean to the people I lead. Call me inefficient, and an ineffective leader, but thats how I want to win respect, thats how I want to lead. This is the kind of leader that I am.

I hate the things and the people who try to take away my individuality and the stuff that make me who I am. The people who try to make me someone else. I am Allister, I am me. Just try to stop me.

I think that its morally irresponsible for countries to auction artifacts that came from another country. Its the same as selling stuff you stole.

I saw a really big mushroom while walking home. That made me happy.

I think we just need to stop and appreciate the little things that make life great.