Confirmation has finally been received about where Matiu Workman will spend next year - and it's good news if you live in Auckland.
Workman announced earlier today at a press conference that he will be spending 2011 in the "City of Sails" to take up the position of sports reporter at www.sportal.co.nz.
The offer had been made to Workman earlier this morning, which had been gladly accepted by the student of Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa descent.
It ends the two month long speculation about his future, which at one stage included going to South America in July 2011.
This move looks set to dash those plans.
An emotional Workman was still pinching himself over the announcement.
"Look, sports reporting is something I've had a huge passion for over the last few years. To get an in like this is just incredible.
"I'm waiting for the annoying alarm clock to wake up - this is the dream."
The news will come as a blow to Wellingtonians keen to catch up with the 21-year-old, while his South American friends will have to wait at least another few years before a reunion is thought up.
"I won't be moving away from this job any time soon. I feel sorry for friends, and family especially, who I have been away from for a long time.
"But it won't be forever, and to you South American friends, we will be seeing other again soon, I promise."
But for now, the biggest challenge Workman has to encounter is finishing four assignments by Friday afternoon.
"It'll be an interesting night tonight," Matiu laughed.
"But I'll make sure it gets done. I have to finish with my head high."
Workman begins at his new job on November 15.
ENDS
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Day 116/120
It has been an interesting few weeks. They have summed up the year rather well actually, with stormy clouds being offset, at times, by beautiful sun and clear blue skies in the not too distant horizon.
Yep, she's been a busy time.
But it's that hectic rush, it's the deadline, it's the encouragement, enthusiasm and enlightenment that AUT Journalism 2010 has provided that will ultimately be gone on Monday 25th October 2010.
Classes will have wound down, the last smidgen of activity will be limping around in the newsroom, the pressures of deadlines past will be all but over. Unless you have exams. Rubbish.
Sitting on my green, plush reclined chair that continues to break because of a supposed jigsawing problem, I'm caught wondering about the future at the same time as reminiscing over the last 8 months.
The rush of adrenalin that has pretty much powered my life over the last two semesters is wearing thin. I'm starting to get used to the kick. That is, the rush of the newsroom.
This is a link to my next par about a job interview I went for. It pretty much links the rush of the newsroom and how I am becoming more used to it, to the fact that I could be having that rush for on a more permanent basis.
The job interview was for a sports website called Sportal - www.sportal.co.nz. Not familiar? That's cool - neither was I until I checked them out. Turns out they're the content provider for some websites you might know. www.vodafone.co.nz, www.allblacks.com, www.skysport.co.nz to name a few.
Anyway, the interview went well, and I find out about the job by the end of this week. Who knows, could be in for a title change should this be the case.
Though let's not get ahead of ourselves. Because sometimes, despite thinking you're ahead of the pack, you still need to be humble. It's all about avoiding the left and right turns, staying straight and knowing you have done your best.
Otherwise, who knows, you could end up near The Edge. Heh.
Anyway, aside from all that riff raff, 2010 for me will be the year of the achievements. It's been a year of significant growth, maturity, and knowing just how much I can do.
There isn't enough time to reminisce just yet - I still have four assignments to do before Friday! Uni's good at keeping you grounded, isn't it?
Nah.
Far from it.
Uni has kept me floating for the whole year. It's an anti-grounding.
In fact, it's so distracting that the last thing it does is keep you grounded in general.
Over the last year I've seen other areas of my life become diminished. Some friendships, even close ones, have withered. It's a devastating feeling and one no one likes to feel.
One of my resolutions this year was to lose a bit of weight, but the only thing I have seemed to lose is the patience to wait. Patience for bigger and brighter things. It has become difficult with deadlines.
I've also felt I've left behind a few important things in my life.
Busy-ness is devastating business when you're an uncle. Last year I saw my nephew, Hikairo, twice. This year he turned two and I vowed to make the time to see him this year. To date, I haven't seen him once this year. The worst part? He lives 11 minutes away.
Eleven.
I've also lost touch with the Lord. Distressing as it sounds, I de-prioritised the Man and left him to catch all of my uni notes and deadlined documents. It's got to the point where I've lost my Bible. Ouch. But I know that He's looking down and seeing how I'm doing. He knows I'm there and ready for Him again. We're about due for a catch up :)
CAtching up with friends is also something I haven't done much of this year, as I'm sure most of you are the same. But come Friday, this will change. Come Friday, i'm free. It's the day where all assignments are finished, fellowship is at an all time high and the celebrations are going crazy.
Maybe they should have called it Freeday instead.
Here's hoping the weather will be full of sunshine and Vitamin Tan for all :)
Yep, she's been a busy time.
But it's that hectic rush, it's the deadline, it's the encouragement, enthusiasm and enlightenment that AUT Journalism 2010 has provided that will ultimately be gone on Monday 25th October 2010.
Classes will have wound down, the last smidgen of activity will be limping around in the newsroom, the pressures of deadlines past will be all but over. Unless you have exams. Rubbish.
Sitting on my green, plush reclined chair that continues to break because of a supposed jigsawing problem, I'm caught wondering about the future at the same time as reminiscing over the last 8 months.
The rush of adrenalin that has pretty much powered my life over the last two semesters is wearing thin. I'm starting to get used to the kick. That is, the rush of the newsroom.
This is a link to my next par about a job interview I went for. It pretty much links the rush of the newsroom and how I am becoming more used to it, to the fact that I could be having that rush for on a more permanent basis.
The job interview was for a sports website called Sportal - www.sportal.co.nz. Not familiar? That's cool - neither was I until I checked them out. Turns out they're the content provider for some websites you might know. www.vodafone.co.nz, www.allblacks.com, www.skysport.co.nz to name a few.
Anyway, the interview went well, and I find out about the job by the end of this week. Who knows, could be in for a title change should this be the case.
Though let's not get ahead of ourselves. Because sometimes, despite thinking you're ahead of the pack, you still need to be humble. It's all about avoiding the left and right turns, staying straight and knowing you have done your best.
Otherwise, who knows, you could end up near The Edge. Heh.
Anyway, aside from all that riff raff, 2010 for me will be the year of the achievements. It's been a year of significant growth, maturity, and knowing just how much I can do.
There isn't enough time to reminisce just yet - I still have four assignments to do before Friday! Uni's good at keeping you grounded, isn't it?
Nah.
Far from it.
Uni has kept me floating for the whole year. It's an anti-grounding.
In fact, it's so distracting that the last thing it does is keep you grounded in general.
Over the last year I've seen other areas of my life become diminished. Some friendships, even close ones, have withered. It's a devastating feeling and one no one likes to feel.
One of my resolutions this year was to lose a bit of weight, but the only thing I have seemed to lose is the patience to wait. Patience for bigger and brighter things. It has become difficult with deadlines.
I've also felt I've left behind a few important things in my life.
Busy-ness is devastating business when you're an uncle. Last year I saw my nephew, Hikairo, twice. This year he turned two and I vowed to make the time to see him this year. To date, I haven't seen him once this year. The worst part? He lives 11 minutes away.
Eleven.
I've also lost touch with the Lord. Distressing as it sounds, I de-prioritised the Man and left him to catch all of my uni notes and deadlined documents. It's got to the point where I've lost my Bible. Ouch. But I know that He's looking down and seeing how I'm doing. He knows I'm there and ready for Him again. We're about due for a catch up :)
CAtching up with friends is also something I haven't done much of this year, as I'm sure most of you are the same. But come Friday, this will change. Come Friday, i'm free. It's the day where all assignments are finished, fellowship is at an all time high and the celebrations are going crazy.
Maybe they should have called it Freeday instead.
Here's hoping the weather will be full of sunshine and Vitamin Tan for all :)
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Time for update :)
Ladies and gentleman, I apologise for my disturbing delay in this post, but it is here now and I hope it reaches you in good spirits :) Especialy those in the Canterbury region. We are all thinking of you.
Now, to the blog.
Over the last couple of weeks I re-stumbled upon a song that I loved for the song, but now has come to mean much more than a tune and a catchy chorus.
The song? Climb Every Mountain? You Raise Me Up? Pfft. Not close.
The song is in actual fact a Guy Sebastian song - Angels Brought Me Here.
Now, the flatmates will be barking mad by about now because it has been played a fair bit over the last two weeks as I lipsynched my way to perfection, but aside from the underlying message of love in the song, it's come to mean a lot more than that.
"It's been a long and winy journey,
But i'm finally here tonight,
Picking up the pieces,
And walking back into the light"
Oh Matiu, it's a love song. It's talking about how he's in a relationship with someone. Yeah fair enough, I understand that. Point noted. Well done. But at least let me attempt to explain my recent re-infatuation with this now infamous anthem.
I've just come back from a noho marae with my journalism comrades as part of our course. A noho marae, for those who don't know, is about encountering another culture. It's about experiencing things we often don't know exist - life without Twitter, without social media at all for that matter, where the only tweeting done is by the local birds on a sunny day. It's about understanding culture and understanding the need to become un-eurocentric. It's rad.
Some people went on the noho marae for the first time and, justfiably, were a little nervous about the whole ordeal. With fair reasoning too - the whole formal procedure (powhiri) is in an entirely different language, you're surrounded by people you only semi-know, and the meeting house has no Macintosh computers in it.
But they came out of the experience full, and satisfied. Full of food, full of culture, full of unity, full of awareness and, subsequently, full of life experience.
But how can one 27-hour event transform what we know as journalism students about the artform itself and the other pieces of art, that is, ourselves?
The night session was eye opening and eye watering. Emotion flooded the marae as stories were told about peoples' determination to battle everything from alcoholism to sexual abuse, to incidents that, while seemingly less insignificant, contain as much of a mental an emotional impact. Things such as adoption that aren't talked about much in the media.
These were journalists' own stories. And it was them who wrote them. It was them who ensured the piece had an ending. It was them who moved the story onward, whether it be by disproving doubters or battling through emotional scarring. This was truly beautifully intense.
The tears shed throughout the room, at both happy and sad stories, really do prove my underlying point for the blog: That journalists do indeed have hearts.
Most journalists throughout the country get a bit of stick for some of their stories - but the crop of AUT Journalism students from 2010 proved that they can understand a situation completely and offer that empathy and rapport.
That's something special, and should be treated with respect and dignity.
No reira, ki te roopu AUT Journalism 2010, ko tenei te mihi kia koutou.
So, to the AUT Journalism 2010 group, this is the acknowledgement to you.
Haere ki roto i te ao. haere ki te tuwhera nga kuaha ki nga hinengaro o Aotearoa me te ao.
Go in to the world. Go and open the doors to the minds of Aotearoa and the world.
Kua katakata, kua tangihia, me inaeanei, he kotahi tatou,
We have laughed, we have cried, and now, we are one.
No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
So thank you, thank you, thank you.
Now, to the blog.
Over the last couple of weeks I re-stumbled upon a song that I loved for the song, but now has come to mean much more than a tune and a catchy chorus.
The song? Climb Every Mountain? You Raise Me Up? Pfft. Not close.
The song is in actual fact a Guy Sebastian song - Angels Brought Me Here.
Now, the flatmates will be barking mad by about now because it has been played a fair bit over the last two weeks as I lipsynched my way to perfection, but aside from the underlying message of love in the song, it's come to mean a lot more than that.
"It's been a long and winy journey,
But i'm finally here tonight,
Picking up the pieces,
And walking back into the light"
Oh Matiu, it's a love song. It's talking about how he's in a relationship with someone. Yeah fair enough, I understand that. Point noted. Well done. But at least let me attempt to explain my recent re-infatuation with this now infamous anthem.
I've just come back from a noho marae with my journalism comrades as part of our course. A noho marae, for those who don't know, is about encountering another culture. It's about experiencing things we often don't know exist - life without Twitter, without social media at all for that matter, where the only tweeting done is by the local birds on a sunny day. It's about understanding culture and understanding the need to become un-eurocentric. It's rad.
Some people went on the noho marae for the first time and, justfiably, were a little nervous about the whole ordeal. With fair reasoning too - the whole formal procedure (powhiri) is in an entirely different language, you're surrounded by people you only semi-know, and the meeting house has no Macintosh computers in it.
But they came out of the experience full, and satisfied. Full of food, full of culture, full of unity, full of awareness and, subsequently, full of life experience.
But how can one 27-hour event transform what we know as journalism students about the artform itself and the other pieces of art, that is, ourselves?
The night session was eye opening and eye watering. Emotion flooded the marae as stories were told about peoples' determination to battle everything from alcoholism to sexual abuse, to incidents that, while seemingly less insignificant, contain as much of a mental an emotional impact. Things such as adoption that aren't talked about much in the media.
These were journalists' own stories. And it was them who wrote them. It was them who ensured the piece had an ending. It was them who moved the story onward, whether it be by disproving doubters or battling through emotional scarring. This was truly beautifully intense.
The tears shed throughout the room, at both happy and sad stories, really do prove my underlying point for the blog: That journalists do indeed have hearts.
Most journalists throughout the country get a bit of stick for some of their stories - but the crop of AUT Journalism students from 2010 proved that they can understand a situation completely and offer that empathy and rapport.
That's something special, and should be treated with respect and dignity.
No reira, ki te roopu AUT Journalism 2010, ko tenei te mihi kia koutou.
So, to the AUT Journalism 2010 group, this is the acknowledgement to you.
Haere ki roto i te ao. haere ki te tuwhera nga kuaha ki nga hinengaro o Aotearoa me te ao.
Go in to the world. Go and open the doors to the minds of Aotearoa and the world.
Kua katakata, kua tangihia, me inaeanei, he kotahi tatou,
We have laughed, we have cried, and now, we are one.
No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
So thank you, thank you, thank you.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
The shadow proves the sunshine
I love weather.
I don't know it works. I'm not eveng oing to try and be an expert on meteorology, because no doubt there'll be someone there to correct me. Which is fair. Educate the uneducated.
But there's something about the sun that just brings out the smile and happiness in people. Vitamin D withdrawals turn to overdosing in fear that there won't be another chance for a 'kick' soon.
I had both my withdrawals and my shot this week.
You may have read my previous post - you may have not, and that's cool. No hate here. It was a particularly raw post - probably the rawest piece I'll write this year. Because let's be honest - one doesn't have just one bad moment in their life, no?
But the post has become a blessing.
I'm a big fan of Switchfoot. For those not in the know, they're a Christian rock band. They aren't out to convert you, they're not out there to say GOD IS THE ONLY WAY - they're very subtle and that's what I like about them.
One particular favourite of mine is the title of the post - The shadows prove the sunshine. I don't even know if that's the correct title - the s belongs to either shadow, prove or sunshine - but it's true.
In all of my melancholy and dark grey, there was a light. Sometimes our lives are dark grey clouds. Our dull moments. Moments where we are in a far away land.
But it's temporary. The westerly winds blow the dark cloud again, and the sun is allowed to shine freely again.
I encourage you all to help someone out who has a raincloud or dull grey cloud approaching them. Do think of them, and ask what you can do to help. Everyone goes through them, but everyone can get through them with some help and encouragement.
It happened to me, I received that support, and now I'm back :) Thank you to all those that did, have and continue to think about me. You are all very precious.
Do let me know when I can return the favour.
:)
MW
-TJI
I don't know it works. I'm not eveng oing to try and be an expert on meteorology, because no doubt there'll be someone there to correct me. Which is fair. Educate the uneducated.
But there's something about the sun that just brings out the smile and happiness in people. Vitamin D withdrawals turn to overdosing in fear that there won't be another chance for a 'kick' soon.
I had both my withdrawals and my shot this week.
You may have read my previous post - you may have not, and that's cool. No hate here. It was a particularly raw post - probably the rawest piece I'll write this year. Because let's be honest - one doesn't have just one bad moment in their life, no?
But the post has become a blessing.
I'm a big fan of Switchfoot. For those not in the know, they're a Christian rock band. They aren't out to convert you, they're not out there to say GOD IS THE ONLY WAY - they're very subtle and that's what I like about them.
One particular favourite of mine is the title of the post - The shadows prove the sunshine. I don't even know if that's the correct title - the s belongs to either shadow, prove or sunshine - but it's true.
In all of my melancholy and dark grey, there was a light. Sometimes our lives are dark grey clouds. Our dull moments. Moments where we are in a far away land.
But it's temporary. The westerly winds blow the dark cloud again, and the sun is allowed to shine freely again.
I encourage you all to help someone out who has a raincloud or dull grey cloud approaching them. Do think of them, and ask what you can do to help. Everyone goes through them, but everyone can get through them with some help and encouragement.
It happened to me, I received that support, and now I'm back :) Thank you to all those that did, have and continue to think about me. You are all very precious.
Do let me know when I can return the favour.
:)
MW
-TJI
Friday, August 27, 2010
greetings from a far away land.
NOTE: Those preparing for an optimistic piece of journalism will have to wait for a while.
I write this in a mentally vulnerable state, please forgive me, as I trust you with what I find the most powerful tool ever: my words.
I am tired. Exhausted. Fatigued. Raw. It's not a good feeling. It's a grey area.
A dark grey.
Over the last 4 nights I've totalled around 11 hours of sleep. Most of the time it's to do with absolute nothingness. It's my fault. Easily.
As the days grew on, the numbers slowly adding to the sleep count, my thoughts and perspectives become more dark. It's a scary place - not sure how to describe it other than shutting your eyes, and listening to 'We Never Change' by Coldplay. That's what I'm doing.
I know this won't take long. Change is on the way. Greater things are on the horizon. There is land ahead, but until then I shall continue to sail in dangerous water. Until then, I'll be driving through the tunnel waiting for the light.
Throughout the last two weeks I've been more stressed than ever before. I have never really managed stress properly, and I'm learning about that as a result. Silver lining of an otherwise dull grey cloud.
This is some pretty disturbing reading I must admit, I never thought in my lifetime that I would experience this, let alone share it with hundreds of millions of people. But there's a reason.
Like the song I wrote, J'attends (I'm Waiting), I'm waiting for that moment for a turn for the better. I'm sitting and watching as the sky goes from a light blue to a dull grey.
All of this has taught me an important lesson, however.
To me, it's the little things that count.
Today I came home from work, I work at a suit outlet shop in central Auckland, battered, bruised, mentally 0. And then I stood on an envelope as I opened my room. A personalised letter, a concerned friend wanting to make sure I was ok.
I almost broke down in tears. In fact, I still almost break down now just thinking of it.
That, more than anything, gives me hope.
I love it when people care. When people genuinely want to know how I am feeling, and if I trust them with my situation, don't change their perceptions. I love it when people include me. I love it when people give me attention. I love that I can openly say this. I love that you're still reading!
So, to my friends, thank you. Thank you for being there. Know that you are all very much appreciated as I go through what can only be described as a series of crap events. Some might put it down to the lack of sleep, and if you do, well, we're clearly not good enough friends yet.
:)
"I wanna fly,
And never come down,
And live my life,
And have friends around."
(We Never Change - Coldplay)
I write this in a mentally vulnerable state, please forgive me, as I trust you with what I find the most powerful tool ever: my words.
I am tired. Exhausted. Fatigued. Raw. It's not a good feeling. It's a grey area.
A dark grey.
Over the last 4 nights I've totalled around 11 hours of sleep. Most of the time it's to do with absolute nothingness. It's my fault. Easily.
As the days grew on, the numbers slowly adding to the sleep count, my thoughts and perspectives become more dark. It's a scary place - not sure how to describe it other than shutting your eyes, and listening to 'We Never Change' by Coldplay. That's what I'm doing.
I know this won't take long. Change is on the way. Greater things are on the horizon. There is land ahead, but until then I shall continue to sail in dangerous water. Until then, I'll be driving through the tunnel waiting for the light.
Throughout the last two weeks I've been more stressed than ever before. I have never really managed stress properly, and I'm learning about that as a result. Silver lining of an otherwise dull grey cloud.
This is some pretty disturbing reading I must admit, I never thought in my lifetime that I would experience this, let alone share it with hundreds of millions of people. But there's a reason.
Like the song I wrote, J'attends (I'm Waiting), I'm waiting for that moment for a turn for the better. I'm sitting and watching as the sky goes from a light blue to a dull grey.
All of this has taught me an important lesson, however.
To me, it's the little things that count.
Today I came home from work, I work at a suit outlet shop in central Auckland, battered, bruised, mentally 0. And then I stood on an envelope as I opened my room. A personalised letter, a concerned friend wanting to make sure I was ok.
I almost broke down in tears. In fact, I still almost break down now just thinking of it.
That, more than anything, gives me hope.
I love it when people care. When people genuinely want to know how I am feeling, and if I trust them with my situation, don't change their perceptions. I love it when people include me. I love it when people give me attention. I love that I can openly say this. I love that you're still reading!
So, to my friends, thank you. Thank you for being there. Know that you are all very much appreciated as I go through what can only be described as a series of crap events. Some might put it down to the lack of sleep, and if you do, well, we're clearly not good enough friends yet.
:)
"I wanna fly,
And never come down,
And live my life,
And have friends around."
(We Never Change - Coldplay)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Whangarei - The biggest test yet.
It wasn't long ago that I thought the only creditable thing that came out of Whangarei was the Northland NPC team, the Taniwhas.
That team that never really did well, but you always supported because whenever they upset a 'good' team (Auckland - this is you) then you felt that their support was worth it.
Well, I'll be honest, those days are still here for me.
But not for long.
Tomorrow morning I embark on the biggest mission on my journalism path to date: Five days at a newspaper I've never read, in a city I've been to once at night (for a 21st) with a bunch of people who I met at the start of the year.
To put it bluntly, this will be the biggest test of my life as a journalist. Actual deadlines, real journalists, a legitimate newsroom, and probable criticism from the public.
But that's what drives you, right?
My mate Sam has a tattoo on his arm that says 'Sweeter through struggles" (or something like that - sorry Samo!)
But that's the whole deal - strength through adversity - what doesn't kill you make you stronger - you get the drill!
So on the way up to Whangarei, I'll be readying myself for my biggest test to date - one of the bigger tests of the year - life in the newsroom. I'm going up, admittedly, with a great group of people who I'm sure I will get to know and appreciate from day one :)
What'd you learn today, Matiu?
Today I learnt that I have people that read this blog :) It's a strange feeling knowing that people are genuinely interested in what you write - and I guess as a journalist I will be coming to appreciate that in the long term. But for now, it's cool :)
I'm also, as some of you know, an interested songwriter. I'm currently working on my third song at the moment, but won't reveal any more than that :)
Until next time, that was your news for tonight.
Tune in next time on TJI.
That team that never really did well, but you always supported because whenever they upset a 'good' team (Auckland - this is you) then you felt that their support was worth it.
Well, I'll be honest, those days are still here for me.
But not for long.
Tomorrow morning I embark on the biggest mission on my journalism path to date: Five days at a newspaper I've never read, in a city I've been to once at night (for a 21st) with a bunch of people who I met at the start of the year.
To put it bluntly, this will be the biggest test of my life as a journalist. Actual deadlines, real journalists, a legitimate newsroom, and probable criticism from the public.
But that's what drives you, right?
My mate Sam has a tattoo on his arm that says 'Sweeter through struggles" (or something like that - sorry Samo!)
But that's the whole deal - strength through adversity - what doesn't kill you make you stronger - you get the drill!
So on the way up to Whangarei, I'll be readying myself for my biggest test to date - one of the bigger tests of the year - life in the newsroom. I'm going up, admittedly, with a great group of people who I'm sure I will get to know and appreciate from day one :)
What'd you learn today, Matiu?
Today I learnt that I have people that read this blog :) It's a strange feeling knowing that people are genuinely interested in what you write - and I guess as a journalist I will be coming to appreciate that in the long term. But for now, it's cool :)
I'm also, as some of you know, an interested songwriter. I'm currently working on my third song at the moment, but won't reveal any more than that :)
Until next time, that was your news for tonight.
Tune in next time on TJI.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
La vie est belle :)
Holidays mean an increase in many areas. Some of these include:
Working hours
Facebook
Sleep
Football World Cup (topical)
But the main thing is enjoyment :)
The last two weeks have been just that for me. It's been a time for me to see what life is like post-assignments. It's blissful, serene. The sound of the birds and the rustling of the leaves gently by my window. It's something I could get used to.
Uh-oh. Remember. Early mornings next semester. Get prepared.
I've been using this time just...doing nothing :) Envisaging a better world, writing music, seeing friends and family.
Bliss :)
It's helped me calm down after a rather difficult first sem back at uni..but i'm about a week or two away from being back to full mental fitness.
Hadn't done a post in a while, so I thought that this would suffice for the time being.
Blessings
Working hours
Sleep
Football World Cup (topical)
But the main thing is enjoyment :)
The last two weeks have been just that for me. It's been a time for me to see what life is like post-assignments. It's blissful, serene. The sound of the birds and the rustling of the leaves gently by my window. It's something I could get used to.
Uh-oh. Remember. Early mornings next semester. Get prepared.
I've been using this time just...doing nothing :) Envisaging a better world, writing music, seeing friends and family.
Bliss :)
It's helped me calm down after a rather difficult first sem back at uni..but i'm about a week or two away from being back to full mental fitness.
Hadn't done a post in a while, so I thought that this would suffice for the time being.
Blessings
Saturday, June 19, 2010
the golden years
The golden years
A guy is waiting for his bus at a shelter. He spots some children also waiting, as well as an adolescent youth. It's hard for him. It reminds him of himself, and where he is. But soon, and very soon, his glory years will be here.
His golden years.
Enjoy.
Another day in a wintry autumn,
Anther sunset pases by,
And i, distracted in a moment,
Begin to analyse my life,
Children laughing, playing, smiling,
Innocence is such a bliss,
And as they sit here right beside me,
Could there be much better than this - childhood bliss - take me back to this.
The golden leaves begin to dance upon the wind,
Trees release their leaves, they start to want to sing,
And as the glow of autumn's sunset sails to sea, I know
come tomorrow there my golden years will be - more than memories - until then I will see.
Rebellious child he's waiting also,
He wants a reason to survive,
Cos in a world of please and thank you,
Where does he fit in this life,
fights away the thoughts of kindness,
With a carefully chizelled frown,
And when I see him in his struggle,
Another tear comes falling down - whoooa!
The golden leaves begin to dance upon the wind,
Trees release their leaves, they start to want to sing,
And as the glow of autumn's sunset sails to sea, I know,
come tomorrow there my golden years will be - more than memories - until then I will see.
And as I get old,
I remember what my mother had me told,
That life is for living,
For winning and forgiving,
So with this i wait until,
The sun will rise again,
Where all my fears from all these years,
Will come crashing to an end - come crashing to an end -hope's around the bend.
The golden leaves begin to dance upon the wind,
Trees release their leaves, they start to want to sing,
And as the glow of autumn's sunset sails to sea, I know,
Come tomorrow there my golden years will be,
My golden years will be,
More than memories,
My golden years will be,
Until then i will see.
While I usually don't listen to feedback, it's a personal romance, I'd be interested to hear what you think :)
A guy is waiting for his bus at a shelter. He spots some children also waiting, as well as an adolescent youth. It's hard for him. It reminds him of himself, and where he is. But soon, and very soon, his glory years will be here.
His golden years.
Enjoy.
Another day in a wintry autumn,
Anther sunset pases by,
And i, distracted in a moment,
Begin to analyse my life,
Children laughing, playing, smiling,
Innocence is such a bliss,
And as they sit here right beside me,
Could there be much better than this - childhood bliss - take me back to this.
The golden leaves begin to dance upon the wind,
Trees release their leaves, they start to want to sing,
And as the glow of autumn's sunset sails to sea, I know
come tomorrow there my golden years will be - more than memories - until then I will see.
Rebellious child he's waiting also,
He wants a reason to survive,
Cos in a world of please and thank you,
Where does he fit in this life,
fights away the thoughts of kindness,
With a carefully chizelled frown,
And when I see him in his struggle,
Another tear comes falling down - whoooa!
The golden leaves begin to dance upon the wind,
Trees release their leaves, they start to want to sing,
And as the glow of autumn's sunset sails to sea, I know,
come tomorrow there my golden years will be - more than memories - until then I will see.
And as I get old,
I remember what my mother had me told,
That life is for living,
For winning and forgiving,
So with this i wait until,
The sun will rise again,
Where all my fears from all these years,
Will come crashing to an end - come crashing to an end -hope's around the bend.
The golden leaves begin to dance upon the wind,
Trees release their leaves, they start to want to sing,
And as the glow of autumn's sunset sails to sea, I know,
Come tomorrow there my golden years will be,
My golden years will be,
More than memories,
My golden years will be,
Until then i will see.
While I usually don't listen to feedback, it's a personal romance, I'd be interested to hear what you think :)
musical musings
I'm currently at an internet cafe. I lent my iMac to a friend of mine who is still to do some assignments and doesn't have the right programs.
Whilst this is great, im no longer bound by my computer, I have an incredible ammount of spare time. An insane amount.
So I've gone back to doing something I enjoy: songwriting.
I don't write much, and when I do they're usually cheesy love songs, but with all this time I've been able to delve deeper in to music.
But that's as much as I want to talk about it. Most people like their music being listened to by others, but I'm not always like that.
You see, for me music is not a commodity, nor a profit, nor a shot at fame. It's incredibly passionate - it's a connection to something else that lives when plugged in, or tuned.
It's almost an interpersonal connection.
A romantic collaboration between words, music and love.
This idea behind it makes it all the more therapeutic - it relaxes me when i'm stressed, when i'm feeling a little down in the dumps there is my music to help me lift my spirits. And of course, it helps me really think about the world, and what I want to achieve.
I don't show many people my music, and I'm suspicious that talking about it will lead to more people wanting to hear about it. Which is fine.
The only thing i ask is that you respect my wishes for it not to be globalised. It's not that i don't want other people to perhaps be impacted by it, but I still want to maintain that personal romance.
So with that, if you're still interested in at least reading some of my music, read the next post. It contains the most personal lyrics i've written to date, about a man reminiscing in his golden years.
God bless you.
Whilst this is great, im no longer bound by my computer, I have an incredible ammount of spare time. An insane amount.
So I've gone back to doing something I enjoy: songwriting.
I don't write much, and when I do they're usually cheesy love songs, but with all this time I've been able to delve deeper in to music.
But that's as much as I want to talk about it. Most people like their music being listened to by others, but I'm not always like that.
You see, for me music is not a commodity, nor a profit, nor a shot at fame. It's incredibly passionate - it's a connection to something else that lives when plugged in, or tuned.
It's almost an interpersonal connection.
A romantic collaboration between words, music and love.
This idea behind it makes it all the more therapeutic - it relaxes me when i'm stressed, when i'm feeling a little down in the dumps there is my music to help me lift my spirits. And of course, it helps me really think about the world, and what I want to achieve.
I don't show many people my music, and I'm suspicious that talking about it will lead to more people wanting to hear about it. Which is fine.
The only thing i ask is that you respect my wishes for it not to be globalised. It's not that i don't want other people to perhaps be impacted by it, but I still want to maintain that personal romance.
So with that, if you're still interested in at least reading some of my music, read the next post. It contains the most personal lyrics i've written to date, about a man reminiscing in his golden years.
God bless you.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Student holiday = freedom.
It's now quarter to one in the morning. Time to throw on a new post.
Today i finished what I believed to be the unfinishable: Media Communication 3. The hardest paper I will ever face. A paper that kept me up at all hours of the night hoping to pass - it's THIS paper that I need in order to graduate.
You would think that they would make that paper a littttle bit exciting to get people motivated hey?
But alas, nevermind mate. It's over. Semester finished. Done. Freedom! Wait.
What does this holiday mean to me? What about the supposed freedom I now have?
Is it simply that these endless hours of procrastination are now guilt-free?
Is it that I'm able to wake up late and not worry about missing classes?
Is it a time for seeing friends and family?
Mowing the lawns time?
Definitely time for mowing the lawns.
But can you judge freedom by those?
It's hardly freedom if it is for a limited period, is it?
Is it that teaser trailer that you see before you decide on going to the real thing?
Is it that light at the end of the tunnel?
Or is it a mirage through a desert of deserted university campuses.
Well, it's a mixture of both. It's both a time of satisfaction and a time of questioning. It's a time to see what you did right and what you did wrong. It's a limited taste of the real world post-university. It's a time to appreciate those around you - especially your classmates.
This holiday this freedom involves my classmates, friends, family, the future. This is for one reason. They're all a glimpse of what life will be after uni.
And I always get excited about that.
Are you?
Today i finished what I believed to be the unfinishable: Media Communication 3. The hardest paper I will ever face. A paper that kept me up at all hours of the night hoping to pass - it's THIS paper that I need in order to graduate.
You would think that they would make that paper a littttle bit exciting to get people motivated hey?
But alas, nevermind mate. It's over. Semester finished. Done. Freedom! Wait.
What does this holiday mean to me? What about the supposed freedom I now have?
Is it simply that these endless hours of procrastination are now guilt-free?
Is it that I'm able to wake up late and not worry about missing classes?
Is it a time for seeing friends and family?
Mowing the lawns time?
Definitely time for mowing the lawns.
But can you judge freedom by those?
It's hardly freedom if it is for a limited period, is it?
Is it that teaser trailer that you see before you decide on going to the real thing?
Is it that light at the end of the tunnel?
Or is it a mirage through a desert of deserted university campuses.
Well, it's a mixture of both. It's both a time of satisfaction and a time of questioning. It's a time to see what you did right and what you did wrong. It's a limited taste of the real world post-university. It's a time to appreciate those around you - especially your classmates.
This holiday this freedom involves my classmates, friends, family, the future. This is for one reason. They're all a glimpse of what life will be after uni.
And I always get excited about that.
Are you?
Monday, June 14, 2010
Belief after relief
Nah nah that don't kill me
Can only make me stronger
- Kanye West 'Stronger'
Funny how sometimes questionable music can often influence what your feelings are.
Got an essay back that I was completely nervous about today. Not only did I think I wrote it bad, I had failed the first essay of the paper by half a mark. The standards were set high! I did my best effort, but alas it wasn't enough. So i thought.
This time, I put more effort in and allowed for some time for the topic to sink in. Success.
I passed it and passed it convincingly. Not my best ever mark, but at the end of the day those in the know know that this paper is difficult (Well, the people I've spoken to about it have said that!)
Anyway, what does this mean for my confidence? Pretty much everything.
Needing only 22 marks to pass the paper, the belief is back.
And boy am I happy about it.
Can only make me stronger
- Kanye West 'Stronger'
Funny how sometimes questionable music can often influence what your feelings are.
Got an essay back that I was completely nervous about today. Not only did I think I wrote it bad, I had failed the first essay of the paper by half a mark. The standards were set high! I did my best effort, but alas it wasn't enough. So i thought.
This time, I put more effort in and allowed for some time for the topic to sink in. Success.
I passed it and passed it convincingly. Not my best ever mark, but at the end of the day those in the know know that this paper is difficult (Well, the people I've spoken to about it have said that!)
Anyway, what does this mean for my confidence? Pretty much everything.
Needing only 22 marks to pass the paper, the belief is back.
And boy am I happy about it.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Community outreach centre
Here's a news article I wrote about an outreach centre in Mount Roskill. It never made it to print, which is a shame because its something I think is incredibly important.
Hope you enjoy.
Matiu
Stephanie Vakauta never really had anywhere to go with friends until a venture organised by an analyst and a builder organised what she calls a "hangout for kids and their siblings”.
The 17-year-old student from Mt Roskill Grammar School is one of up to 35 people who hang out at John Hunte and Matt Sheaff's house on Thursdays.
This is even more remarkable considering that both Hunte and Sheaff are both only 23.
“It's our second home. We go there even if they aren't there. We come and go as they please,” she says.
“We find it a safe place to go.”
That safe place to go is exactly what the builder and analyst had in mind when purchasing the house in Mount Roskill two years ago.
However, as Hunte says, initially there was not a welcome reception.
“When we arrived we just got crap for a year. We tried running these meetings in the [Mt Roskill] town hall and people were asking us what the heck we were doing.”
But they have all since been won over, including Stephanie and her family.
“When I look back at it all I can't believe how stupid we were in not accepting Uncle John and Uncle Matt,” she says.
Hunte, however, is not looking for any financial assistance. Instead he's looking for action.
“I think the opportunities for help are for a physical approach. We've been in the community for two
years now and we know most people and they know us.
“Now we just have to figure out where we can help people.”
The ideas of helping other people in need are intrinsic to Hunte and Sheaff, who bought the house they were 21.
“There's nothing so far in my life that has satisfied me more than doing something for someone else. But even out of that position in terms of making me feel good.” Hunte says.
“Something happens when you give something of yourself to help someone else.”
ENDS
Hope you enjoy.
Matiu
Stephanie Vakauta never really had anywhere to go with friends until a venture organised by an analyst and a builder organised what she calls a "hangout for kids and their siblings”.
The 17-year-old student from Mt Roskill Grammar School is one of up to 35 people who hang out at John Hunte and Matt Sheaff's house on Thursdays.
This is even more remarkable considering that both Hunte and Sheaff are both only 23.
“It's our second home. We go there even if they aren't there. We come and go as they please,” she says.
“We find it a safe place to go.”
That safe place to go is exactly what the builder and analyst had in mind when purchasing the house in Mount Roskill two years ago.
However, as Hunte says, initially there was not a welcome reception.
“When we arrived we just got crap for a year. We tried running these meetings in the [Mt Roskill] town hall and people were asking us what the heck we were doing.”
But they have all since been won over, including Stephanie and her family.
“When I look back at it all I can't believe how stupid we were in not accepting Uncle John and Uncle Matt,” she says.
Hunte, however, is not looking for any financial assistance. Instead he's looking for action.
“I think the opportunities for help are for a physical approach. We've been in the community for two
years now and we know most people and they know us.
“Now we just have to figure out where we can help people.”
The ideas of helping other people in need are intrinsic to Hunte and Sheaff, who bought the house they were 21.
“There's nothing so far in my life that has satisfied me more than doing something for someone else. But even out of that position in terms of making me feel good.” Hunte says.
“Something happens when you give something of yourself to help someone else.”
ENDS
Friday, June 11, 2010
Motivation for struggling third years
It finally hit me today. Two and a half years down, 1 semester to go.
It came as I was thinking of ways to distract myself from revising for an exam - usually baking fills this void.
But today it was different. Today I didn't need to Google chocolate chip recipes, yummy looking cheesecakes, or slices.
I graduate in around 6 months time.
This is pretty obvious to most, and while I apologise for what seems like a gloat to most people who follow me (Who are those that don't seem to be graduating this year - wait for your time and savour it!) it is more an epiphany than an opportunity to gloat.
Or, will it be?
I've been struggling my way through three years of one paper: Media Communication. The three levels of this paper are such large steps, and I have gone from writing amazing A grade essays in year one to missing out by half a mark on my first one this year. It's a wake up call for sure.
However, that's not the point of the gloat. The point is that it is an essential paper that one MUST pass in order to graduate - it's our only solely academic paper in third year which I'm stoking about. But the problem is that I'm nervous about my 2nd essay, if I indeed judge it from my first feeble essay.
That's where this blog comes in.
I thought about how I could possibly find any motivation to study for this paper's tedious exam - 3 hours to complete 3 essays.
And then it hit me.
If I don't do well in this exam, I'll be going to graduation, but not to graduate.
I will be going to the street parade, taking photos of my friends for them, rather than being in the photos with them.
I will be proud of my classmates, while not proud of myself.
And so whenever I struggle for motivation, I simply think of one image: Graduation. Not hearing my name being called out. Regret. More Media Comm study would have got me through. Disappointed. Sorry mum and dad.
And boy does that get me going.
Who knows, it could get you going, too. Do you have a Media Comm paper? One that is intensely arduous? Well, picture your goal - and picture you failing it.
That's far more gutsier than picturing you all happy receiving your degree. Why?
It's the pushing and shoving through the pessimism that will show you your character.
Do it.
Love you all.
It came as I was thinking of ways to distract myself from revising for an exam - usually baking fills this void.
But today it was different. Today I didn't need to Google chocolate chip recipes, yummy looking cheesecakes, or slices.
I graduate in around 6 months time.
This is pretty obvious to most, and while I apologise for what seems like a gloat to most people who follow me (Who are those that don't seem to be graduating this year - wait for your time and savour it!) it is more an epiphany than an opportunity to gloat.
Or, will it be?
I've been struggling my way through three years of one paper: Media Communication. The three levels of this paper are such large steps, and I have gone from writing amazing A grade essays in year one to missing out by half a mark on my first one this year. It's a wake up call for sure.
However, that's not the point of the gloat. The point is that it is an essential paper that one MUST pass in order to graduate - it's our only solely academic paper in third year which I'm stoking about. But the problem is that I'm nervous about my 2nd essay, if I indeed judge it from my first feeble essay.
That's where this blog comes in.
I thought about how I could possibly find any motivation to study for this paper's tedious exam - 3 hours to complete 3 essays.
And then it hit me.
If I don't do well in this exam, I'll be going to graduation, but not to graduate.
I will be going to the street parade, taking photos of my friends for them, rather than being in the photos with them.
I will be proud of my classmates, while not proud of myself.
And so whenever I struggle for motivation, I simply think of one image: Graduation. Not hearing my name being called out. Regret. More Media Comm study would have got me through. Disappointed. Sorry mum and dad.
And boy does that get me going.
Who knows, it could get you going, too. Do you have a Media Comm paper? One that is intensely arduous? Well, picture your goal - and picture you failing it.
That's far more gutsier than picturing you all happy receiving your degree. Why?
It's the pushing and shoving through the pessimism that will show you your character.
Do it.
Love you all.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Ode to Semester One in C minus
It seems fitting, really, that my first ever post as a student journalist would be to do with my first semester of really becoming a student journalist. Still, no time for irony, this is serious business.
The shock to the system hit home at least three times within the semester to either motivate me to do my best or 'bomb' the course. I tried the second one twice before eventually realising that the first was a better long-term option.
The first real moment of panic came in the second week. Our first weekly news story was due after just 11 days of settling in and moulding the newsroom seats to our perfect form, and it was plain to see that if the stress levels like this were continually frequent, how on Earth would i survive? Turns out I did. And just when I started to celeb- time for the next story!
The next few weeks went swimmingly you could say. Until I got my first mark back from Media Communication - a compulsory final year academic paper...Needless to say it was a very Dissatisfying mark. The floodgates began to pour and the stress levels began to escilate. So again I asked myself what the heck am i doing in this course! Somehow I managed to find a way to make another essay so could this time actually do better than I hope!
And then finally, the piece de resistance, a meltdown. I'd done something so frowned upon in the industry that I got called to see two tutors (Greg Treadwell and Helen Sissons). Thankfully they were both so helpful that I learnt much more than how to apologise in a professional manner. However, in dealing with Helen the floodgates had opened. My job as Maori Affairs Officer had got too much alongside uni. So Helen told me drop it. And without any hesitation I did. BAcked myself, and now here I am, carefree and on holiday!
I've been pretty fortunate that they have been my only pits of despair I guess - but it does give you an indication on how journalism isn't as easy as people think it is.
Either way, it's now the holidays and I'm well overdue for some Media Comm-less semesters. It's been a great learning curve - and Semester Two will be far tougher - features - but hey, Media Comm, you're a gonner, and that increases my spirits by one happy point every day.
ENDS
The shock to the system hit home at least three times within the semester to either motivate me to do my best or 'bomb' the course. I tried the second one twice before eventually realising that the first was a better long-term option.
The first real moment of panic came in the second week. Our first weekly news story was due after just 11 days of settling in and moulding the newsroom seats to our perfect form, and it was plain to see that if the stress levels like this were continually frequent, how on Earth would i survive? Turns out I did. And just when I started to celeb- time for the next story!
The next few weeks went swimmingly you could say. Until I got my first mark back from Media Communication - a compulsory final year academic paper...Needless to say it was a very Dissatisfying mark. The floodgates began to pour and the stress levels began to escilate. So again I asked myself what the heck am i doing in this course! Somehow I managed to find a way to make another essay so could this time actually do better than I hope!
And then finally, the piece de resistance, a meltdown. I'd done something so frowned upon in the industry that I got called to see two tutors (Greg Treadwell and Helen Sissons). Thankfully they were both so helpful that I learnt much more than how to apologise in a professional manner. However, in dealing with Helen the floodgates had opened. My job as Maori Affairs Officer had got too much alongside uni. So Helen told me drop it. And without any hesitation I did. BAcked myself, and now here I am, carefree and on holiday!
I've been pretty fortunate that they have been my only pits of despair I guess - but it does give you an indication on how journalism isn't as easy as people think it is.
Either way, it's now the holidays and I'm well overdue for some Media Comm-less semesters. It's been a great learning curve - and Semester Two will be far tougher - features - but hey, Media Comm, you're a gonner, and that increases my spirits by one happy point every day.
ENDS
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