An eye-opening morning...

This morning on the way to school, mum had the car radio playing softly and I tuned it out of my thoughts as I watched the rain falling down softly across the window pane. I was so comfortable, so untroubled by anything greater than the trivial little issues I faced at school. My school that is so comfortable and so sheltered from this 'big, bad world' that so many people tell me exists. They tell me it exists so I believe them. But do I really know? I'm 15. I've had 'challenges' so far...but I've also had support. Lots of it. I have strength in the form of several important women in my life- all of whom I am able to use as a guiding light to teach me the difference between what is right and what is wrong...

So that is why, when I turned up the volume of the radio this morning, I was absolutely appalled at what I was hearing and found myself transfixed in shock- horror with the story of one of the most sadistic and barbaric reports I had ever heard!

Far worse than anything I had heard of in my life. This was sick. 

It was about a video that had been released, revealing the cruelty towards Australian cattle in Indonesian abattoirs. The RSPCA had spent hours reviewing footage from slaughterhouses and found that every slaughter facility filmed by Animals Australia had breached the International Animal Welfare standards. They discovered that on average, animals had their throats cut ten times before they died. RSPCA chief scientist Bidda Jones said, "Some of them had up to 33 cuts"

I don't know about you, but in my eyes, anyone that is capable of committing that level of cruelty is both diabolical and mentally insane. One thing is for sure, no one was there to teach them  the difference between right and wrong when they were a kid...

The good news is that there is something that can be done to put a stop to this...

There are now websites supporting the cause of saving these animals subjected to such barbarism such as RSPCA ( go to http://www.banliveexports.com/ ) where you can sign a petition and send a letter to Julia Gillard to put a stop to the live export of Australian cattle to places where they will be abused.

I emplore you all to act now and give a voice to those who have none, being the decent, compassionate human beings I know you are capable of being.  It is our duty as humans with power to protect the vulnerable.


Put simply in the words of a very wise man...


"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing"
  ~ Walt Disney (1901-66)

 

Approximately 1183 days to go...



Until next time...


Katelynn xx

Ivy Climbing...

Ivy Climbing. 

I know I might sound a tad pretentious in using that title... Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself here?? Some say I'm too ambitious. Unrealistic. If I only had a dollar for the amount of times I heard "But you're only 15..." or  maybe TWO for the cynical looks I receive upon mentioning Yale to anyone that asks about what I plan to do with my future. Is it really such an outrageous dream though?

It seems that lately people have forgotten how to dream. They're dream crushers. Stuck to the confines of their own narrow minded views and 'realistic' lifestyles. Come on, it's the twenty-first Century people!!

There's a Nelson Mandela quote that has always stuck with me..."Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world."

God, he's just so freaking awesome.

So anyways, I can't remember the exact date that I realised this dream of mine but it was sometime last year. Sometime last year, I realised that I had to do everything in my power to get to Yale. Don't ask me why. Obviously it's one of the best (in my opinion, THE best) universities on Earth but for some reason, I cringe to think of attending any other university. CRINGE. Nope, it has to be Yale. I should probably let you know....in case you haven't already realised...that I am extremely stubborn. No convincing from the 'Dream Crushers' has been able to dissuade me from my choice. 

I know it might sound crazy but hey, you only live once right?  I think it would be just plain stupid of me to not at least try and do this. They do say, after all, that it's "the journey, not the destination, that counts" and that is exactly what I intend 'Ivy Climbing' to be about. My journey. I'm inviting all of you (Even if there is no one reading this...YET) to join me on my journey to Yale. Who knows what the outcome will be. All I can do is aspire and achieve the very best I possibly can. What I can guarantee is that there will be a whole lot of laughs (not to mention speed bumps) along the way. 

A closing thought....

"I keep six honest-serving men
(They taught me all I know);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who."
- Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Approximately 1189 Days to go and counting...

Until next time...


Katelynn xx