Exam Stress...

Currently at my school, we're having a mock 'week' (it lasts two and a half weeks..) and the teachers are putting so much pressure on the students to do well, to revise, and to keep up with homework/activities outside of school. For a lot of people, this is no bother; "oh, it's only mocks, I ain't gonna revise" but this is the real world, and you have to at least try. 

Personally, I feel that I have even more pressure to do well. I don't think people quite understand this, but there is an immense amount of pressure on the naturally smart/smarter people, because they feel that they cannot make a mistake. 
I feel like I have to do well, in every test, because if I make a mistake, or completely f*ck it up,I think that people are going to make fun of me, and say things like "Ohhhhh, Dottie got a bad grade!" I know that people won't say this, or be rude, but it's pressure to do well. Also, I feel that I have to compete with my sister (people with siblings will understand this one), because she got amazing grades when she was my age, and I don't want to feel like a let-down. 

There are two things I want to write about in this post. The first is why it's wrong to put so much pressure on teenagers, and the second is what you can do if you're feeling stressed, or worried about exams, or anything else. 

Okay, so when teachers, and parents, put pressure on teenagers, schoolchildren, to do well and to get top grades in their exams, it does nothing to help. 

We know we have to do well, and revise, and work hard. We know it all already. Teenagers give themselves a bad time an awful lot, we beat ourselves up over little things. You, keeping on at us, does not help. At all. 

Secondly, putting pressure on teens makes us even more stressed. We're already worried about things like our appearance, and just small things, so to worry about school makes it all 100 times worse. Our emotions are little all over the place,  so small things can tip us over the edge. 

I know that I can end up crying hysterically after a brilliant day, because I'm tired and just feel like small things are piling up around me.

Pressure makes it waaaayyyy worse. 

But what I do when I'm stressed out are the following: 

• Listen to music (it really, really helps).  
• Social media. Just scrolling through news feeds, seeing other people's lives makes me feel, if not better, then distracted. 
• Clean your room. 
• Cry it out. It feels crappy, but you will feel better. 
• If you're not super-stressed, then do the work you need to get done. It will help you feel better to know you'll have less to do nearer the deadline date.
• Talk to someone. 
• If you can't talk to someone, write it all out on this site: http://thequietplaceproject.com/thethoughtsroom/ everything you write is anonymous, and not saved, and it's strangely satisfying to watch your thoughts disappear. 
• Finally, I cannot stress how much music helps (I put it already, I know), because we all have a feel-good song. Put it on, dance around and just forget. It helps. 

If you need any more ideas, then take a look at the following blog post: http://highlyfunctioningblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/10-things-to-do-when-youre-feeling-low.html

That's all for now, I guess.. 

- Dottie. 

People at Concerts...

Yesterday evening, two lovely guys from a lovely band that I love very much went to see an awesome band called Biffy Clyro. I am insanely jealous of them, because Biffy are the reason behind my music-loving. They changed my world. 

The lovely Biffy Clyro

Anyway, one of the lads posted on Twitter after the show "nahhh too many people recording 99% of the gig on their phone, try actually watching the band in front of you" 

And this got me thinking...
99% of the gigs that I've been to, there has been people stood in front of, or around me holding their phones out and recording the whole thing. And yes, it's a good idea, because you can relive the gig again and again. But technically, if you're on your phone, you aren't actually living in the moment, or watching the band. 

Sure, taking the odd photo is fine, but you have to live in the moment. Some people pay so much to go to gigs, and then either talk or text the whole time, get so drunk they can't stand up, or leave after the headline band has played two songs. Tell me, what is the point? 

I just don't understand it. I want to be able to look back on gigs and remember having the time of my life, singing and jumping around with the rest of the people. I don't want to experience it through a video. 

There are some seriously ignorant people at gigs, and I just don't like it, because some people actually do want to experience the gig first-hand. 

So if you're on of those ignorant, irritating people, either f*ck off, or stand at the back. 

That is all.
- Dottie

Symbolism and Meanings...

Today I'm going to write about something a little different. This post is about symbolism and symbolic meanings of objects that could be very ordinary. 

The definition of symbolic is something that serves as a symbol. I interpret the 'something' as being quite literally anything, be it a CD, a concert ticket or something more meaningful, like a piece of jewellery that could have some sort of spiritual meaning...  I don't really know. 

But I do know we all have something that means an awful lot to us. For me, even though this is stupid, but I think the thing that means lots to me is my collection of band merchandise (CDs, wristbands, t-shirts, tickets, etc.) which is weird, because I'm not really in love with material possessions, however, for me, I think these things mean so much to me because of the memories attached to them. For me, merchandise is a symbol of happy times. 

There are lots of types of symbols: religious, mythical, spiritual, and personal, and I think that everyone has something that can help them to feel better, or just to put them in a certain frame of mind. 

Some people see certain things are symbols of good luck, or other things. Birthstones are one of those things; if you wear the correct birthstone in the correct month (so wear a topaz stone in November) then it can heighten their healing powers. If you wear a Maori fish hook necklace, according to the legend of Maori (here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_mythology) , the fish hook represents prosperity and safe passage over water. 

This is my Maori fish hook necklace

I find that myths and legends about certain objects really fascinating (another is the wolf's tooth, all about power and bravery etc.), and it makes you think that not only legends can have meanings and symbols.

We all have something that makes us feel something, and it's just interesting..

This post didn't really have any direction, sorry guys.

- Dottie. 

My Favourite Three...

Live Bands

During the last year, I've been to a fair few live music events, I've been getting more involved with and interested in the live music scene, and though I'd share some great bands with you. 

Reel Big Fish are bloody brilliant, to say the least. I saw them at a music festival in Wales this summer, and they were incredible. They knew how to get the audience moving, played really catchy, upbeat songs, and the best thing, for me, is they showed how versatile they are; ultimately, they're a ska band, but they played heavy metal, country, folk, pop-punk, literally everything. Their musical ability was incredible, and they're just an amazing band. Do not ever turn down the opportunity to see them live, because, trust me, you'll enjoy it. 

Seth Lakeman is a folk singer/songwriter, and I saw him at a free music festival, again in Wales, but a different one to last time, and this was during summer. He was incredible. He can play so many different instruments (duh, he's a multi-instrumentalist), and his music really got my toe tapping. I must say I've not really listened to his recorded music, but the live show was really good. So, if folk or alternative music is your thing, check this out:

And, thirdly, Framing Hanley have got to be one of the most energetic, meaningful, and caring bands I have ever seen, or met. I'll start off by saying their set was incredible, they played old favourites and new songs, and got the whole audience jumping. They played for the audience, and really got us to join by singing, and they posed for photos! After the show, they sold their own merch, and took the time to thank everyone who came to watch them. For me, that means so much, it's insane. They're definitely worth checking out, because they care so much, and that is one of the best things about a live band. 

So those are three of my favourite live bands. 

Before I go, I own no rights to any of this music, please don't sue me.

- Dottie. 

Life is a Roller-coaster...

Sorry for the song lyric as the post title, but I feel like it accurately describes the day/weekend that I've had. 

I'll start off with my weekend; it was good, I didn't have much homework, which meant there was no stress. I went out for coffee both Saturday and Sunday, and felt so relaxed and peaceful. 

It was the same when I woke up this morning. I didn't feel rushed, or stressed or anything, I was fine. I got ready, did my makeup and then things started to go downhill when I was packing my stuff. You see, I couldn't find my charcoal pencils, and I really needed them for art today, and it was stressing me out because I knew I put them somewhere, I just couldn't remember where. It's the little things that throw me, you see. Anyway, I found them and got a lift to school. All good. 

The next thing that got me stressed, was the fact that my English teacher didn't show up. I know what you're thinking - why would that bother you, it means no work? - but I have mock exams in two weeks, and then my real exams in a few months, and it is just too much work, and I need to know what I'm doing. Anyway, as it happens, I'm not going to have a proper teacher for two weeks, so that'll be fun. Guess who is going to fail her exams. 

Then science is just so disorganised and crappy. No one shuts up in maths. I've been feeling really anxious, like I'm panicking, and I've felt sort of unable to breathe, I've been taking such deep breaths, in case I can't breathe suddenly. It's not fun. 

I don't even want to begin to write about art, it's just terrible, and I think I'll leave it at that for now. 

These next few weeks aren't going to be enjoyable, but I think the things that are going to get me through them are the long weekend I'm having next week, the two albums I got from my last concert, my next concert, and this song: 

But I'll be okay, I always am. 

Laters guys, 
Dottie. 

Here's To New Beginnings...

Hey there!
My name is Dottie, and I'm just some teenage dirtbag, and I was born at least 20 years too early...

That probably sounds hipster-y or something, right? I'm not a hipster, I promise you. I'm a punk. Well... I would be, if it weren't for school rules and my parents, but unfortunately, I can't look punk-ish until I'm about 20.. But I'm punk at heart! 

You see, I love bands such as Green Day, blink182, Sum 41 and Nirvana, and no one really listens to them any more, but they were on the radio all of the time in the late '80s/early 90s. So yeah, that's the 20 years too late thing. 

As for the new beginnings, well, I started a blog about two years ago, I think, but sort of neglected it. I found though, that it helped with emotional stress and just helped me to clear my mind, so that's what this blog is for! I'm going to rant, fangirl, and just post whatever I need to, to help me feel better. Feel free to come along for the ride! 

So here's to the future!!
Dottie.