As Fi Bows to Peer Pressure

It’s weird to think that we are one week away from the end of term. It’s been insane! I keep wishing I had more time but I love working as much as I am, studying as much as is possible (or just enough to keep up for now), and thinking through how to be an effective candidate for Wellington Central. I think I’m going to create a weekly timetable because I struggle, at present, to keep up with myself. Fantastic!!

I’ve been thinking a lot about the future, next year particularly. If I am the person that enough people in the Wellington Central electorate want, I will have a seat in the NZ House of Representatives from October. What an incredibly surreal thought . . . and yet exciting! If I don’t get in, I’m contemplating going to Europe, probably the UK, to do Masters in International Relations or Development Studies. I’d go and get a job for six months, backpack round with friends for Euro Summer 06 and then put my head down and go back to study. Either way, it’s going to be crazy, scary, and yet sooo sooo much fun!!

But, I have to finish honours first, which is why I’m never updating this blog or emailing anyone at the mo. I’m being a very, very good girl and studying excessively, followed by working too much (26 hours over Easter Saturday and Sunday for example). Is anyone else feeling tired?

I can’t study without music, I can’t work without music (which is why my job is fantastic), I wake up to music, I sleep to music. Is everyone else as addicted to music as I seem to be?

I can’t explain how I got here, to being me today, without explaining the amazing things God does in my life. I am who I am because God has shaped me and taught me many lessons I needed to learn. He continues to do this daily. He has picked me up every time I have fallen, has loved me despite all my faults and the stupid things I do. Knowing, trusting, believing in God is part of who I am and I pray I never lose that. I always loved that Sunday School song ‘Jesus loves me, this I know’ because I know, in my heart and mind, that it is entirely true.

I can’t believe how long it has been since I last updated properly. I spent much of my summer organising Orientation for United Future and spent the last month seeing my plans actually happen. On 22nd Feb, we launched most of UF’s student support policy at Vic Uni. Having organised meetings with VUWSA (Vic Uni Students Association), I left our MPs in Vaughan’s capable hands while some TVNZ people filmed them. I then attended my first Honours Politics meeting. That night went to Dunedin and did it all again the next day at Otago Uni. Came back for bookstall and then headed up to Auckland for their clubs day on Tuesday 1st March, then to Canterbury for two days before flying back to Welly for 6 hours of lectures on last Friday. Finally at the weekend I went and saw Chicago with Palmy friends, which was oustandingly fantastic!!

Now as you’ve heard by now, I am the Wellington Central candidate for this years General Election for United Future. I have started a blog for this, so I don’t spend all my time here ranting about the campaign, so click on the link at the side of this page to see what’s happening in my campaign and what I have been up to recently. At this stage, election must happen by September 17 so 6-7 months from now. Very very exciting and a very new experience but one that will be incredibly beneficial and hopefully a lot of fun!!

Classes have started and I’m have lectures for two hours on Mondays and six hours on Fridays. I spend Thursdays in Parliament as an intern for the Honourable Peter Dunne. I’m observing the Constitutional Arrangements Select Committee and Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Select Committee, and then doing bits of research and UF Youth stuff in the arvos.

And finally, when I’m not trying to do everything else, I continue to work for the Wellington Convention Centre. Over the next few days I’m working 7 events including Sarah McLaughlan and Silver Ferns Netball. Should be fantastic!!

If you have emailed me and I haven’t replied, I promise I will try to in the next few days and thanks for all your support! Its going to be an incredible year!