It's fair to say that 2020 didn't go how any of us expected it to, but it certainly got people talking: about mental health, racism, politics. People are being more vocal about what they believe in.
I was lying in bed last night and started worrying because I didn't think there was anything I strongly believed in and maybe I'm not good person, but then I started thinking about all the things I care about and only slept for about 2 hours. I'm still learning every day and I think everyone should try to learn/challenge themselves to make themselves and the world better. Warning, it's a little political.
Here are the top ten things I passionately believe would make the world a better place:
1. Mental health provision. I believe everyone should have access to free mental health care from a young age. Every student at schools/colleges and universities should be able to have a chat with a therapist/trainee therapist at least once a fortnight, to learn how to express their emotions in a healthy way and have better self-esteem. When I was at university and my life was falling apart, the people who made my life a living hell received mental health support and I didn't because I didn't meet their 'criteria'. Everyone deserves the same access and everyone needs a little help sometimes. But this help needs to continue into adulthood and be readily available for everyone. And with this, can we normalise people being sensitive? It takes a lot of strength for people to be honest about their emotions and how they're feeling, so can we all just learn to not criticise people for crying in public or feeling strongly about things. You never know what someone's going through so just try to be kind.
2. No food banks or poverty. How there are still people living in poverty when there are billionaires in this world, is astounding. Nobody should own their own helicopter when there are people suffering and unable to eat. I admit, I don't know how I can help, but I want to be able to. It's not just having no money for food, it's three siblings sleeping in one bed, one laptop between an entire family so being unable to be educated. We shouldn't have to have a footballer campaigning for children to eat, it should be a basic human right.
3. Education and teachers need more support. As my dad is a teacher and I've been a teaching assistant about 10 times, I have an insight into the education system. Obviously right now children and teenagers are falling through the gaps and have literally zero support. While I don't want my dad to have to go into the school and teach, I recognise that a lot of kids have no support and should have been given wifi/laptops to access online schooling right at the beginning of lockdown. Teachers themselves are affected by ageism, particularly the ones who are teaching because they are passionate about it, and without the agenda to become a headteacher or Senior Leadership. Cutting the arts out of the education sector is just wrong. Not everyone excels in the same subjects, and sometimes their Performing Arts grade is the difference to them going to university or not.
4. Everyone should learn sign language. I'm currently learning (very slowly), and while researching I found out that until recently deaf children were forced to learn oralism and were not permitted to sign in schools. A lot of the children struggled with oralism and found it painful, and they were not learning any subjects, the focus of their teaching was learning to speak the words. I believe every single school should teach sign language, if they can teach French, German, Spanish, then they can teach a language that stops people from being isolated from their peers.
5. Animal cruelty is evil. I can't even imagine what goes through the minds of people that abuse their pets. We always get our cats from the RSPCA, and our cat Munch was previously hurt by an owner. As a result, he's slightly scared of men, terrified of deodorant, scared someone's going to hurt him after going to the toilet, and is very needy (but is also the most adorable and loving cat). There need to be stricter rules and background checks that prevent people from hurting or abandoning their pets!
6. Black Lives Matter. This shouldn't even be a question. Parents shouldn't have to worry if their children will come home. People shouldn't be discriminated by the colour of their skin or the religion they follow. BAME opportunities shouldn't need to exist. Just respect other people, regardless of their culture or race.
7. Abuse awareness. Obviously, I disagree with all abuse, but what I find really difficult is the fact that women's abuse towards men or women is often under the radar. It's never okay for anyone to hurt anyone, regardless of what gender the person is. I was in a situation where I was a witness to a woman abusing another woman for a long time and I tried to speak out about it, but each time it was dismissed because the abuser was a woman. If it was a man, he would have been arrested. People fight for feminism and equality, but with equality, you have to take responsibility for your actions. If you want to be equal, there have to be consequences for abuse and I honestly believe this is non-negotiable.
8. The Arts are really important. The cuts in Performing Arts in recent years and the way they have been dismissed this year is awful. It's in everything we consume: music, theatre, TV, film, books, dancing. I can't imagine a world without it, and I don't want to. They inspire us, they move us, and for many they're a reason for living.
9. We need to save our planet. I don't really know where to start with this, but I want to be better and for our planet to be better. To prevent global warming. To save the animals. Everybody can make a difference, no matter how small.
10. People don't all have to look the same. I don't want to feel like my worth is based on looking like someone else, or having the same body type as them, or just generally being someone else's idea of pretty. We're all different so don't hold people to the same body standards as someone else.
Sometimes you have to stand up for your beliefs and commit to making the world a better place.
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