Happy new year- what's next for Owusu?

Oh that fabulous time of year- the beginning. Full of so much promise, hope, resolutions and aspirations...

I'm 22 and have six months to go until I'm unemployed and potentially out on my arse. I've had the most amazing year and a half working at Staffs- transforming from a subdued and reserved graduate to a confident and outgoing professional. I don't always feel like it during those self deprecating moments but when I reflect on where I've come from it's hard to ignore the change. 

Knowing a sabbatical officer's shelf life is that of a 2 year period, I had it all planned and sorted out this time last year right down to a tee: I'd finish my role as president, move back to London and live in my family home while working in some corporate field...but circumstance and lovely-but-interfering parents can be a bitch.

My 25-year-old sister is going through a quarter life crisis and after being stuck in a 6 year dead end relationship, has been mercilessly rocked to the core by my no-nonsense mother's harsh words. This conversation resonated and now my sister is lost, no longer wanting to live outside of London with no clear cut future and potentially no partner.

A week ago I was at home, job hunting and going through the motions blissfully happy. Seven days later I discover VIA TEXT (cheerz fam) my sister will now be moving back home. Into my bedroom. And we don't exactly get along too well.

So now my initially buried and long-forgotten aspirations of wanting to work abroad have been revived in my psyche and the possibilities are looking endless. I've spent countless nights researching jobs abroad but now I'm going to take the plunge.

I'm a little bit terrified but if I let fear eclipse my excitement there's no way I'll ever fulfil any of the things dreams are made of.

I have a few friends across the globe whose bravery inspires me to go for it with every message, snap or check in. When I stop and pause and reflect on my life I have nothing holding me back or keeping me in England. I have no commitments and the ties that bind my family, good friends and I are strong enough to survive: if not, thanks for the memories.

It's taken me a while but just by writing this I know it's a done deal. Where to go next...that's my big question! Africa or South East Asia are taking my fancy, but anything goes...

Another great gone

Whitney

I'm really trying to focus on imminent deadlines but do so with a heavy heart. Reports of Whitney Houston's death began circulating at approximately 1am in he morning British time. The incredible and powerful singer was allegedly found dead in her hotel room


The bottom line is you will never be appreciated or truly missed until you're dead. Rest in peace Whitney: you have left the world your beautiful gift of song.

JobJobJobJob

So I'm three months into my job as a Students' Union officer and it's been quite the journey so far.

Learning to push myself out of comfort zone in order to achieve wins for students and gelling with a whole new team, who have become friends, as opposed to colleagues has been interesting.

Most days are different but I sometimes struggle to prioritise and compartmentalise all the different tasks in the grand scheme of thingas; the bigger picture so the week, as opposed to things I need to do for the day. Having no titles as opposed to identifiable remits has had its pros and cons. Being able to do a bit of everything is helping build our skillsets and experience but it can be challenging to spread yourself across tasks that are poles apart, but all have a common thread: students.

I am also a huge worrier but one of my managers has told me if you're not worrying then you sometimes aren't doing your job effectively enough becuase you won't care what people think of you.

I don't want to be stuck behind a desk all day but I fear it could become part and parcel of the job in order to represent students until we start having campaigns and real solid reasons to venture out!

Being able to be a master multiskiller is going to look kick arse on a CV, if that's even a thing. I don't care. I will make it happen.

very seldom in life do you have moments or meet people where in their absence after they've left you feel a seismic shift inside and know something has happened that has changed you.

I experienced that very moment today.

Motivational speaker Craig Pinkney volunteered his time at Staffordshire University this evening to speak to a body of students. Mesmerised by his words and gripped by his struggle we were given an educational insight into a cultre that very many of us are only aware of through the idealised tripe fed to us by the media.

Dropping a powerful stastic of 42 people whose lives have been claimed by gang violence Craig started the session with a bleak yet stark reality which many communities face daily.

Click below Video:
Unheard voices

Craig spoke to students about his work with disaffected youths and the active steps he has taken to improve broken communities and people living in them.

http://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/publications/pdfs/GangsRevisited(online)-2011.pdf

J.Cole at Manchester Academy 20/11

In one of the rare instances I chose to venture out of my room seeing as so little R&R time is afforded to many a 3rd year, I spent yesterday evening (Sunday) in the glorious city of Manchester.

My friend and housemate Mica is due to be 23 on the 23rd November so I thought I'd be a considerate chum and surprise her with gig tickets to see one of her favourite artists J.Cole.

The rapper who hails from North Carolina across the pond put on a brilliant set to a bunch of raucous students on a cold Sunday evening. The air was crackling with anticipation and excitement as only a concert can encompass.

Brooklyn resident DJ Dummy was on the decks warming up the crowd with popular mainstream hip hop before moving on to a bit of dubstep to ‘rep the UK’.

J. Cole made an entrance simply: there were few flashing lights or tricks. Just one man and his microphone.

Performing a plethora of songs from his debut album Cole World, past mixtapes and collaborations. He opened with Looking for Trouble and title track Cole World.

Slowing the pace for a more formal and humble introduction over keyboard accompaniment, he continued with a bouncy cover of collaboration with[out] R&B singer Miguel, All I Want is You, with the entire crowd rapping every word.

After Higher, he slowed the pace right down moving the set to a more intimate level sitting on a stool at the front of the stage for the slower Daddy’s Little Girl.

The tracks continued to come thick and fast, including Lost Ones and Rise and Shine, generally performing one verse and the chorus for a mix of songs from the new album and his previous two mixtapes.

Upping the tempo once again for Mr Nice Watch and Work Out, his energy was matched every step of the way by the crowd who continued to recite lyrics with sheer ease and dedication along with him.

After asking the audience who had bought his album, the inevitable deafening response prompted him to sing a cover of the chorus of 2Pac’s Hail Mary.

This clip of his entrance (which I do not own, btw) demonstrates the wild reception the humble artist received from the crowd.

Disclaimer: This video features swear words...a lot of them.



He seamlessly switched between songs knowing exactly how to interact and work with the crowd keeping them engaged. He gave the audience his all spitting lyrics with pure passion. After seeing him back in January supporting Drake in Birmingham I felt it wouldn't be long before the stage was his, as he still is the best opening act I've ever seen.

We stayed at Premier Inn in Deansgate Locks where the beds were ridiculously gigantic, about twice the size of our doubles at home. It was the best sleep I'd experienced in a long time, bar a weird spluttering coughing fit which came from nowhere waking up Mica.

Can any of you cite your best gig or performer you've seen live?

Soundtrack: Bedouin Soundclash ft. Coeur De Pirate- Brutal Hearts

"Are you the Brutal Heart that I've been looking for
Cause if you're looking for love, you can look for that door..."

Stumbled upon this gem of a song 'Brutal Hearts' while watching one of the worst films I think I've ever sat through The Romantics. After one and a half hours of drivel the one single thing that stood out to me is this song from the soundtrack.

I'm not sure whether it's the rumbling percussion throughout or the haunting collaboration of female singer Coeur de Pirate and Bedouin Soundclash frontman Jay Malinowski

The song charts a one night stand but the sound is so pure and rough it is one of the best bittersweet accounts of a fleeting encounter portrayed through a song.

I just loveeee this track. It is incredible. Just felt compelled to share its brilliance.

What do you think: am I seriously obsessing over nothing or would you not agree this song is all I'm making it out to be...?

Shellowooo x

Death of Osama Bin Laden (not Obama as some thought) -_-

While taking a break from the hard slog of Politics revision I logged onto Twitter and was faced with breaking news at quarter to 5:

Osama Bin Laden has been found and killed by US forces.

Not quite sure what to make of it but from a lot of my followers I spied obvious relief and cheer and unsurprising bouts of racist or borderline slurs and comments. I hope that people don't think that this is all over, as it's far from that. An official statement transmitted live from the White House by Obama confirmed he had been killed in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Acts of terrorism may have a figure head at its forefront or a prominent face attached but it's much more than one person. The intent to attack and desire to act itself is ingrained in the hearts and minds of all those who oppose their target. Surely the death of a prominent figure is not enough to eradicate these people's desire if not provoke further action?

And yes Bin Laden's dead and justice may have been served but it won't change nor rectify what has already occurred. I understand that his death will bring some kind of closure to all those affected and satisfaction, naturally. However 9/11 was much more than just one man, mastermind or otherwise, lest we forget.

Topping the 'US Most Wanted List' Bin Laden has become a notorious household name since the Twin Tower attacks and a name connoted with terrorism worldwide. His whereabouts for the last 10 years had caused a global man hunt with no success. With a redonkulous bounty on his head, diatribes from patriotic Americans have concurred: "Well done to our military for bringing Osama to justice", etc but at what cost? Think a cool $25mil should do it...

The cynic in me can't help but think this is a new beginning and not an end.