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I have always been a hands on person, and art has always seemed to catch my eye and fascinate me. Besides doing artwork at school I have never seemed to finish anything I start outside of school, this I do not know why. I have grown up in an artistic way, my mum loves to draw, both my sisters would do big art projects for school and I would just love to sit and watch them do their work and sometimes help them or give advice. My grandma would love to take me to the big art galleries and museums just for fun on the weekends, take me out for a day and just walk around the city.

Art plays a big role in my life, it is the best way I can express myself, when I’m angry, sad, happy or when I simply find an interest in something I can take out my sketch pad and quickly draw something up.

It also keeps me occupied, on those boring days where you have absolutely nothing to do I go out for a walk and take a look around me, take in the scenery then go home and sketch a bit of whats around me because art is all around you, even when you don’t know it, it is there. From a simple blade of grass to a tree with many leaves. Everything can be expressed in deep detail.

But when I start something I will tell myself that its not completely finished and I will finish it another time, but I never get around to it. I guess its because I don’t get marked on it and there isn’t so much pressure in completing it so I just don’t finish it.

Does social media help or hinder people’s connections?

Mmm this is a really hard topic to discuss, because it debated a lot. Social sites like Facebook have made a massive impact on our lives. It really depends on how you use it.

People get accounts to, yes keep in touch with people but they don’t know what they can come across or hot to even handle it. 

Personally I know some people that use Facebook to hide behind, they cause fights and cyber bully online so they don’t have to do it face to face because it is easier to do it online, you can’t see the person on the other side, or just the fact that they are bored and what something “exciting” to happen so they go out and cause trouble to others. Sometimes it even gets to the point where cyber bullying is at its worst you hear about teenagers taking their life because of the way society has said certain people are “pretty” or “popular” or “cool” and if you don’t fit in any of those characters than you are “unworthy” or “useless”.

There are many ricks when logging onto a social networking site. There’s a chance you could get cyber bullied, or a paedophile could “befriend” and act like a friend just for the sake of it and some cases where there has been pornography. Especially with paedophilia you could get many, many sick people asking you to send nudes or pictures of any private parts.

When you get friend requests from people you don’t know you should never accept, even if they have 100 or more mutual friends, if you don’t personally know them than you shouldn’t accept, or if someone is bullying you or asking for pictures that you are uncomfortable sending or even talking about than you should delete, block and report that person.

Although there are some negative ricks when using social networking sites there are some positive as well, like keeping in touch with family or family especially when they live overseas. Online sites are one of the easiest way to keep in touch, with just one click of a button you could be chatting with an old mate or keeping up with the latest news.

If you are using social networking sites safely and sensibly than nothing wrong will come to you. But if you decide you want some more “excitement” than you have a whole new thing coming. 

Tomorrow When The War Began review

Tomorrow When The War Began originally started off as a book but was then made into a movie. It is the first book in the series Tomorrow by John Marsden.

Published Date: 1993 (Aus)
Publisher: Quercus (UK)
Pages: 284
Series: Tomorrow (Book 1)
Recommended to: Young adult/teenagers
Genres: Action/adventure

Basically the book is written first person, from the point of view of Ellie. Ellie and group of teenagers decide to go on a camping trip out of town and hidden away in the bush. Although food becomes scarce and a couple of secret crushes everything goes to plan. It is only when they return home that they find their homes have been abandoned with no sign of their families. Before long they realise that their whole country has be invaded and the entire town has been captured including their families and friends. Ellie, her friends and a couple of survivors then face a tough decision; escape back to the mountains where they are assured safety, surrender or they can fight back.

Release date: 2010 (initial release)

Director: Stuart Beattie

Genre: Adventure

Rating: 6.2/10

Based on: Tomorrow When The War Began book by John Marsden

Starring: Caitlin Stasey, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Lincoln Lewis, Deniz Akdeniz, Phoebe Tonkin, Chris Pang, Ashleigh Cummings, Andy Ryan, Colin Friels

The movie was only recently released, compared to when the book was released. The movie is pretty much the same as the book except a couple mistakes like when Ellie and her friends go back to town they use push bikes to travel so it doesn’t make as much noise but in the movie they use motor bikes.

Personally I like the book better because it expressed more detail and depth especially in Ellie, Marsden did a good job with her as a character. The way he captures her fear, courage and confusion. The book takes its time developing the characters and the complications that come with teenage relationship, whereas the film focuses mainly on the action.