#catholic girls school Sydney

[loretonormanhurst]

Careers | Job Opportunites | Loreto Normanhurst

Be part of a staff dedicated to creating an inclusive, faith-filled community for the young women learning here. Loreto Normanhurst is a leading Catholic girls school in Sydney that offers teaching for primary, secondary and boarding students. Learn more about the career opportunities here.

#loreto normanhurst #catholic girls school Sydney

[psalm22-6]

Source: Sydney's The Freeman's Journal 28 March 1918

There is no phase of Church discipline that the pseudo-litterateur hates more than that which is summed up in the word 'Index.' The high school girl who thinks she has an expansive soul, the amateur teacher who regards his outlook upon life as the sanest ever, the young professional man who views his own acquirements through magnifying lenses, all join in a chorus of denunciation of a Church that refuses to art and literature the independence they claim. That the number of forbidden books is infinitesimally small does not alter the situation. The Church's crime consists in refusing free and independent minds the right to dip into anything that pleases them, and in denying to such enlightened people as they believe themselves the right of judging for themselves. Accordingly they hasten to upset ecclesiastical authority by seizing some forbidden work, which usually will be, by preference, Victor Hugo's 'Les Miserables." The thousands of sane and wholesome books that lie about them are neglected in the mad drive for a work whose chief merit is that it is forbidden. 

When you see pseudo-litterateur high school girls with expansive souls and amateur teachers reading Les Miserables and developing a mistrust of the Catholic Church:

#les miserables #victor hugo #lm pour rire

[nirvanaxrhodes]

"Said, I'd get sick of you, I kinda always wanted to" Let me die this little death

whoa! nirvana rhodes just stole my cab! not cool, but maybe they needed it more. they have lived in the city for three years, working as a/an occult researcher/therapist. that can’t be easy, especially at only 31 years old. some people say they can be a little bit intangible and sarcastic, but I know them to be adroit and dauntless. whatever. I guess I’ll catch the next cab. hope they like the ride back to the bronx ! 

►GENERAL INFORMATION

FULL NAME: Nirvana Christine Rhodes NICKNAME(S): Vana, Ana, Rhodes LABEL: The Mystic AGE: 31 DATE OF BIRTH: October 30, 1992 ZODIAC: Scorpio Sun, Capricorn Rising, Leo Moon GENDER & PRONOUNS: Female; She/Her HERITAGE: English, Maltese SPOKEN LANGUAGE(S): English OCCUPATION: Occult Researcher/Therapist SEXUALITY & ROMANCE: Bisexual; Biromantic

► APPEARANCE

FACE CLAIM: Samara Weaving HEIGHT: 5'5" WEIGHT: 114 lbs. DOMINANT HAND: Right HAIR COLOR: Blonde (dyed from dark brown) EYE COLOR: Blue SCARS: None notable. TATTOOS: Black cat (right wrist), 'made of stardust' written in script (back of neck)

►PERSONALITY

POSITIVE TRAITS: Adroit, Dauntless, Beguiling, Open-Minded, Ambitious, Prophetic. NEGATIVE TRAITS: Sarcastic, Intangible, Arrogant, Sycophantic, Self-Sabotaging. LIKES: Stargazing, burning candles/incense, thunder storms, music on vinyl, horror movie marathons, deep conversations with strangers, solving a problem before everyone else, eureka moments, curling up with a book, conducting tarot card readings, making intention jars/journaling, baking. DISLIKES: Dogeared book pages, when people wave you off in the middle of passion-dumping, when people ask for advice but don't take it then complain.

►MENTALITY

PHOBIAS: None. DISORDERS: Not diagnosed. ALLERGIES: Seasonal (Pollen), Mold

►BACKGROUND

HOMETOWN: Sydney, AUS CURRENT RESIDENCE: Bronx, NYC, NY EDUCATION LEVEL: MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling; is in a PhD program with an independent specialization/research in Parapsychology at NYU FAMILIAL CONNECTIONS: - Shayna Rhodes - 55, Mother, Not In Contact - Alexander Rhodes - 51, Father, Not In Contact

►FAVORITES

FOOD: Lavender shortbread cookies DRINK: English Breakfast Tea MOVIE: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Practical Magic, Scream TV SHOW: Bridgerton, Criminal Minds, Rick & Morty BAND/ARTIST: The Killers, Lana Del Rey, Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac SONG: Fall Out of Love - Salem

► EXTRA INFORMATION

JUNG TYPE: INTP ENNEAGRAM: The Troubleshooter (5w6) TEMPERAMENT: Melancholic MORAL ALIGNMENT: Chaotic Neutral SIN: Ego VIRTUE: Wisdom ELEMENT: Air CHARACTER PLAYLIST

Well, there's a black hole inside of me, apathetic vacancy Even just a touch is war

► BIOGRAPHY

TW; Religion mention

Nirvana was born with a gift to appreciate the unusual. At least, that's how her aunt would explain her all-black attire and obscurely-colored hair phase at family events. She was always a square peg in a round hole. This was something she grew used to and actually favored her individuality. There was a part of her that pitied the other girls who attempted to fit in when she grew up being shamelessly herself. Though she was labeled as an outcast, she still had something about her that drew people in. She had a great group of friends, and her fair share of experimental relationships. In short: she didn't miss anything, but she wouldn't have cared if she did. Her aunt was the one who taught her about spirituality after Nirvana had a paranormal experience at the age of 5. Whilst being in a Catholic household, Nirvana and her aunt would often sneak in order to practice their own eclectic belief. Magic, tarot cards, seances, you name it - Nirvana has dabbled in it. What no one was expecting was for her to make a career move out of it. It started in high school, she helped assist her teacher in their paranormal investigation group. It was through this teacher that she learned about anomalies and the role of the paranormal in anthropology. Her job as an investigator was just the groundwork for her BA in Anthropology with a specialization in Women and Minority Studies where she learned more about the occult across various religions and cultures as well as witchcraft and the impact and power women have within interaction, at the University of Exeter. She then went on to gain a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Stockon University in NJ. Currently, Nirvana is working on her PhD at NYU with an individualized specialization/research concentration in Parapsychology. At this point in her career, she can be seen as an expert in the occult. She actually works to help victims/survivors of cults, is still a researcher for a paranormal investigation team, and is also hosts a podcast about horror movies, the paranormal and the occult.

► PERSONALITY (DEEP DIVE)

Nirvana is one of those people who can attract and attract and attract, but still feel alone underneath the surface. She loves knowledge and the pursuit of knowledge; If she could be a student her whole life, she would. This combination of coming across as approachable but also seeming highly intelligent, is very intimidating to most. Though, if one were to sit and speak with Nirvana, they would see she has a heart big enough to match her mind and is just an obscure nerd in her own right. She can be sarcastic and condescending if someone asks a question she deems as 'stupid'. She's known to bully as her type of flirting. She's actually not online, and prefers it that way. She's clever and witty and goes on passion-dump sprees pretty often about a new book she's reading, or about her research or podcast. She loves people who have a sense of humor. Nirvana is more introverted than extroverted and also has a busy schedule, so it may be hard to reach her at times and she's well aware of this. If she values someone, she makes sure she sets time aside for them. She's really a big mushy nerd guys, but she has so many phases and you never know what you're gonna get when you meet her. She's moon-coded, okay?

#boroughs.intro #tw religion

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

well I've had an interesting first week of the year back at work. I managed to get through to my usual doctor this week, which is a bit of a miracle, considering she's always back late jan/early feb each year. she's recommended 3 places for me to ring to follow up on a probable ADHD diagnosis. the best one is one in Sydney, in Bondi.

but to do all of their tests would mean I'd try to jam them into a week, if I could (probs not let's be real), or each time I do one I spend on a hotel room to stay up there, since I just wouldn't feel bothered to the 2 hour drive home after 8 hours of tests. but the Sydney one gives you a brain scan which would be super cool. but also if you managed to get bulk billed, it's $1,200. also they don't focus on meds, they focus on "brain based" and behaviour change stuff.

the other 2 places are local to my area, but you have to ring to find out their prices. but on the other hand, my doc said to leave all this stiff until after I have my colonoscopy that's booked for a couple weeks from now, on the 16th.

work is better since I'm not at a tired low point like I was at the end of last year. my boss is a bit happier that I'm turning up at the office at around 8:50 roughly and set up by 9. but yeah I hate having to cut my pre work bed relax after my bath each morning to 7:15 to get out the door by 8;20. but rn 8:20 is only working bc it's the school holidays so I'm not locked into the mronjng school run traffic and school zones right next to my house (basically). so it means I will have to bother to leave at 8:15 or whatever when school starts back up again on jan 31st.

but yeah. I still haven't handed in any of my unfinished (or unstarted) cadestship assessments; bc I forgot right before we left of chrissy/NY break to ask our outsourced IT guys to set up our VPN access app (it just gives you a code to type in) on my phone to access the work hard drive at home lmao. so I've meant to start this week, but I just haven't.

aside from work, the other interesting thing is that someone from the catholic school I went to for years 7-10 from 2008 til 2011, decided to invite me to a 10 year reunion that someone else from our year group from that school set up on Tuesday on fb for October this year. and I was just so surprised that someone bothered to remember me and invite me.... and I feel kinda touched tbh lol. bc i didn't even graduate with them properly, in a way, in 2013, bc I obvs graduated at the public school that I transferred to. it's so random that someone thought to invite me all these years later.

and I'm also stressing over the event a little. mostly on the level of what to wear to it, obvs lmao. but also, most of these people are successful working in good jobs. or they run their own successful local businesses/take over their parentd businesses.

while, on the other hand. I finish my cadetship in march, and I have no idea whether i'll be kept on where I am or whether I'll be somewhere else or jobless lmao. but anyway. it's going to be so weird seeing anyone from that school again, when half of them have kids and are married now or some have even divorced or split from their partners that they married in our early 20s (or at least that's what I've deduced from their name changes on fb back to their original last name I knew them by in school).

also im bitterly jealous of a few of them because they've bought their first house or have a second house and are using their first as an investment property. like bruh. am I the only one who still hasn't moved out of home yet??? and obvs there are obvs other people renting but still. am i the only one still at home??? I don't want questions about that tbh.

like is it even worth catching up with these people, when I still remember the derision I got from one of the girls from my group from that school, when I ran into her at uni back in 2016??? how she told me that everyone was actually SO GLAD that I'd left bc apparently they were all secretly harbouring embarrassment for my behaviour and my "attention seeking" or whatever the fuck she said to me???? but also part of me hopes that rich boy goes and is happy to see me and I'll get to congratulate him in person on his engagement or perhaps being married by the time this event happens (if it even does lmao). and that's my other thing. could just be an elaborate joke where they do this, and I turn up, but NO ONE is there???? like hello trust issues, aren't you looking very sexy this week.

#life #about me #shut up ilona #ilona's work thoughts

[dark-side-blog3]

I play degrees of lewdity! day 2 warning for canon typical violence, noncon, and spoilers

++++

I went into the woods to see if something could interest me. Wenta little far in and heard a wolf howl. FUCK 0x0

++++

I managed to avoid the wolves so now I'm thinking that's only gonna be a problem if you've got beastiality toggled on. Also picked up some arrow heads that I can apparently sell at the museum! And I've got school the next ingame day so now I'm worried how I'm gonna be able to grind and get the cash i need for Bailey while also going to school... There's got to be consequences if you don't go to school, right? Even though this game is focused on fantasy rape? I feel like there are consequences if you don't go to school... Surely...

On the plus side I got hired at the docks for weekends so maybe that'll be good and help me earn some cash!

++++

ROBIN SOLD HER CONSOLE! Is there a way to spot her a bit of cash? :( I took her for a picnic so we had a little bit of fun and didn't end up staying out at night (can you get raped while walking with someone else in this game? Like irl yes but in game? The logic ain't really logic-ing because its a videogame so maybe it cancels out?)

also i found mickey and im trying to get him to purge my records of constant rape from the files and he's kinda weird?

++++

I forgot to save my game file before working at the brothel and I just didn't like it :/

Sooooo I'm going back to my last save which was before school started. I've got to redo all my efforts for classes but whatever :p

++++

Got raped while leaving school. its the cigerette event. Meh :/

++++

ey i am not a catholic but Sydney is amazing. Actually the best character in this game. I hope nothing bad ever happens to him and I will fight for this :) <3 What a wholesome guy.

AH sydney just asked what it means when people flirt with him. I know he's a grown man and can technically engage if he wants but he's so innocent I can't tell him the truth... I comforted him :')

++++

Loft discovered and exams passed eyyyyyy very good

++++

I got raped and they stole my skirt and panties! I tried to walk to the store to buy more clothes but I got accosted on the beach! My character ended up passing out from the pain. When i woke up a different group has stolen the rest of my clothes and collared me, and hypnotised my character to strip instead of concealing any exposed skin, which has six different body-writing phrases!

Fuck!

++++

Robin has confessed that she feels like Bailey is unreasonable :( poor girl.

++++

ROBINS AT THE DOCKS?!?!?!?! SHE COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY!

Im gonna save here incase i change my mind.

attempted to fight: Lost. Badly. Afterwards, got tossed into the sea without my clothes, got exposure, passed out, woke up with the feat "Alluring" achieved. Robin is still on the boat. proceed to get raped as soon as i wake up again. This is going to be struck from my record.

attempt to take robins place: She's successfully back on shore, I got tossed overboard while stripped and passed out again. Dolphin merfolk played with me though so I stopped being stressed. Swam to shore, and somehow it made my character less stressed. Got swept out to sea. ended up getting picked up by a boat and getting raped, but not by the same people as before. Fuckers tossed me overboard afterwards. Got beat up immidietly afterwards too by another gang of rapists. Robin better be as loyal as a dog to my character after this.

Had just enough energy to go get shackles removed at museum. and woke up in the hospital with doctor harper again. I am now supposed to go to therapy every Friday at the hospital. And I've now been arrested by the police, and am preforming five days of community service.

I took Robin to the hospital. I swear, Robin better be worth all the torment I went through. And there better be a DAMN good reason I have to drag Robin to the hospital after I literally passed out from pain and had to be carried in on a stretcher.

+++++++

Robin has not infact helped at all and has been somewhat useless.

++++

had consensual sex with a guy and it was actually so sweet <3 Askd him to wear a condom for oral sex and he did and he gave praise the whole time, what a sweet guy <3

++++

SOMEONE BROKE INTO MY ROOM WHILE I WAS GONE AND NOW MY PANTIES ARE MISSING???? WHAT THE HELL-- its got to be someone bailey approved of because he's canonically thrown a pervert out when they don't have a reason to be perving in the orphanage, but also??? I've been paying bailey, I've never missed a payment, and I've never fought him. Why??? Is it Kylar?

++++

I am in therapy w/harper, and he wants to hypnotize me. This feels like its about to go horribly wrong. It doesn't tell me what it is exactly when i overwhelmed, so I'm going to have to try really hard to keep my stress down!

++++

Aight I am making another save file with robin cuz i actually really like this timeline even though robin is useless

Also the cream buns are so good that whats his name (sam?) is buying the store next to it, which is great... Except for the fact that this is how i grind out the most cash. And I decided to take on robins debt like a moron.

++++

Kylar is stalking me. Confirmed because something was watching me since i left the house, and I saw him do that horror movie trope with the bus at nightinggale street.

But also i might restart the save because despite taking robins debit robin isn't at school. I'm not paying extra if shes not even here :/

Ah but a quick look at the reddit says this is normal, robin is just getting the fuck beat out of them. Well... Aint nothing I can do about that now.

+++

Got raped while trying to break into houses, and got raped on my way to the hospital for after pills :/

+++

My character is getting raped by rando's so much I'm bored reading the chats and I'm bored documeting them. I'll add anything of note. Like whatever the fuck is up with the mommy kink ginger sewer woman. Did not enjoy that. I am into mommy/daddy stuff within reason, and this was far outside of it.

+++

GOT RAPED AND WE KNOW WHAT HARPER HYPNOITSED ME FOR!! My character now gets aroused with painal, and smacking other peoples asses.

+++

" You chat with Sydney. "No one else has made such an effort to get to know me like this. Not in a long time, at least. I appreciate it." He holds up his holy pendant, kisses it, and places it against your forehead. "Blessings." | - Trauma" UWAAAHHHHH uwahhahanannannmmamammhpmmmhmmmmmmmwuaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh I WOULD DIE FOR SYDNEY ;A; Like the cross thing is... a tiny bit uncomfy, but its known he is such a sweetheart and no one wants to talk to him??? uwahhhhh poor boooyyy..... (I've had some bad run ins with various religious students who were super religious so when I say this crucifix use is a nice one TRUST me its so sweet because I know what threating crucifix use is). SYDNEY I LOVE YOU SO MUCH SWEET DARLING (platonic)

+++

HARPER PUT ME IN THE ASYULM?!?!?!?!?! HE KIDNAPPED ME! AM I IN A SOFTLOCK?! WHAT ABOUT BAILEY?! I HAVEN'T PAID HIM! HARPER KIDNAPPED ME?!?!?!?!?

I'M GOING TO LOOSE MY FUCKING MIND OAOAOBQGOAFACEQWRAGW

#writer turns gamer

[sportofusalacrosse]

Top lacrosse video today: “JUST WAIT” Notre Dame Has Another 2-Sport Stud on The Way ?? #shorts

Top lacrosse news

„All-League: Friends Schools League girls’ team is announced” – phillylacrosse

„All-League: Friends Schools boys’ team is annonced” – phillylacrosse

„@BerwynClub boys’ recruit: Devon Prep 2024 attackman D’Alessandro commits to Hampden-Sydney” – phillylacrosse

„All-League: Athletic Association of Catholic Academies team is announced” – phillylacrosse

„Radnor overcomes early deficit, downs Conestoga, 9-7, for District 1 girls’ 3A championship” – phillylacrosse

Best tweets – 2024. 05. 30.

#MLL #Lacrosse #NLL #lax #sport #news #sportvideo

[qnewslgbtiqa]

'Trojan horse': Greens' warning on rebooted religion bill

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/trojan-horse-greens-warning-on-rebooted-religion-bill/

'Trojan horse': Greens' warning on rebooted religion bill

A long-awaited religious discrimination report will finally hit parliament this week but the Greens are worried the debate will get ugly as the Albanese government prepares to unveil its own Religious Discrimination Bill.

The federal government will table Australian Law Reform Commission’s review of anti-discrimination laws and religious exemptions for faith schools on Thursday.

The Greens and the Coalition also anticipate Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will introduce the Religious Discrimination Bill soon too.

Scott Morrison’s religious discrimination bill famously fell apart ahead of the 2022 election. Several Liberal MPs crossed the floor to vote it down.

Today, Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson Stephen Bates said his party will carefully consider the report and Labor’s promised new bill.

But Stephen’s worried the rebooted religious discrimination debate will be “a Trojan horse for anti-LGBTIQA+ hate” all over again.

“We’ve been through this already in 2018 when Scott Morrison’s bill unleashed a torrent of LGBTIQA+ hate in our political system, our media and our community,” he said.

“Anti-discrimination laws can’t be a Trojan horse for other kinds of discrimination.

“Right now, religious institutions running schools, aged care, disability services, social housing and hospitals [are denying] people of their rights to be themselves or access to services.

“Last time, Labor stopped short of extending protections to LGBTIQA+ staff. The LGBTIQA+ community should not have to wait their turn when it comes to anti-discrimination laws.

Stephen Bates said the debate can’t “act as cover for more hate and division in our community.”

“We want to work with Labor to get the laws right to make sure people are free to practise their faith without discrimination and that people who rely on religious institutions for employment, social services or community aren’t discriminated against either.”

Michaelia Cash argues for religious freedom for schools

At the weekend, shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash told Sky News she wants faith schools to “be able to conduct themselves in accordance with their values.”

“What they’re saying to me is, ‘Michaelia, we just want to educate. Under [Attorney-General] Mark Dreyfus and Anthony Albanese, we’re going to wind up litigating,’” the Liberal MP said.

“This affects tens of thousands of families. I would say to the government, be open and transparent in the way you deal with [the consultation].

“I just want religious schools to be able to operate in accordance with their values, their doctrines and beliefs.

“This is all about families and the choices they make to send their children to these schools.”

Greens education spokesperson Senator Penny Allman-Payne said private schools received billions in government funding.

“Why should private religious institutions subsidised from the public purse get exemptions from the rules that apply to public schools?” she asked.

“Our kids deserve an enriching school experience that exposes them to the full diversity of Australian life.

“Allowing some of the most privileged schools in the country to discriminate against staff on the grounds of their gender or sexual orientation perpetuates prejudice and division and must be consigned to the dustbin of history.”

Read more:

NSW school St Ursula’s backflips after lesbian couple banned from formal

Anglicare Sydney reject same-sex carers in ‘alarming’ case

Gay author invited to Catholic school told not to say gay

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

#religious freedom

[loretonormanhurst]

Loreto Normanhurst | Catholic Girls School in Sydney

Loreto Normanhurst is a leading independent Catholic girls’ school in Sydney; dedicated to educating young women in a caring & inclusive modern Christian environment. They offer both day and boarding schooling for Years 5-12. With an award-winning learning model, an extensive extra-curricular program and a strong sense of community, Loreto is where it starts for generations of young women. Contact them today for enrolment details. 

#loreto normanhurst #loreto school sydney #girls schools sydney #catholic girls school #boarding schools sydney

[wausaupilot]

Second-half surge pushes Wausau East girls basketball past Newman Catholic

Wausau Pilot & Review WESTON – Wausau East outscored Newman Catholic by 10 in the second half to pull out a 61-52 nonconference win on Saturday at the Tom Kislow Memorial Invitational at D.C. Everest High School. Newman led 27-26 before the Lumberjacks stormed back with a big second half to earn the victory and improve to 2-1 this season. Sydney Crawford scored 17 points and Ollie…

View On WordPress

[slumgirlqueen]

Chapter One: Fathers' daughters

Prologue

Dear Queen Elizabeth,

I’m writing to you, your majesty, for you to visit the people of Albania. I am a fourteen year old girl living in Skopje in sweet poverty but The LORD provides. He provides for me and my family. He provides a good work for my father who is a janitor at a Catholic Church fourteen minutes bike ride from our home. He provides for my mother a home and family that are her shelter in the stormy rain. And he provides for me with nice friends and teachers at my school at Loreto Abbey. I am a simple girl and the lack of wants does not bother me much. With my father’s allowance, I had saved up enough money for a brand new bicycle that is red from the local bicycle store in my hometown. Where I live is a small village in the northern suburb of Skopje. In the morning I would ride my red bicycle to school and along the way I would see schoolmates riding in a hurry. Sometimes it is in the rain and we would be in an even more hurry. But the divine wind always manages to dry us off in the good Sun by the time we reach school, even though a little damp. 

I am writing this because you are the great Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and I am just a sweet poor girl living in the suburb of Skopje. My parents’ modest mean means that I do not have the money to visit your country. You have visited Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and even America and all over Europe but you have never came to Albania. You are adored by your subjects all over the British Empire and even me, a little fourteen year old girl adores you. And my father and mother are great admirers of you. I have photograph cards of you that I purchased with the money my mother sometimes gives me. Now they are numbered twenty five. In many pictures you are standing beside kings and prime ministers. One of my favourite is one with you beside the Pope. It is my favourite because my family is Catholic and he is our Holy Father. I even have you in front of the Sydney Opera House at the Bay of Sydney, Australia.

My favourite activity is playing jump rope with my friends. My bestest friend is a girl in my class and her name is Maria. We have been friends since we were nine. She would also like you to visit Albania. And her father is an honourable man and her mother is gentle, much like the many people of Albania. And the children here are sweet and folly, much like children in your country. There is a bridge here in Albania called the British-Albanian Friendship Bridge. It was built there after the Second World War after a bombing that left my town ravaged. And people were stranded during the war. And even after the war, the people from my hometown had to swim across to reach the market. And when your father had heard about the story in the British newspaper, he asked the army to build one there. And this was when my father was young and before he even had me. My father told me this when I was still in junior school. And on the day of your father’s passing, my father was listening to the radio in the church’s kitchen and he ran home crying after he prayed for your father’s soul. I am my father’s daughter and even though you are a grownup and a queen, you are also your father’s daughter. So I am writing to you, pleading with your majesty to come and visit the beautiful people of Albania. And I and my father and mother would be there at every line in all of Albania to greet you with wild roses and welcoming hearts.

Sweet sincerely your truest,

Little Sera

-Letters in my shoebox

[loretoaus]

#catholic girls high school #loreto #primary school #secondary school #loreto normanhurst

[parramattasmsf]

All About Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Parramatta

Located in the heart of Parramatta, the Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral is a beautiful and historic church that has played a major role in the history of the city and region. From its beginnings to its present day development, the church has been a centre of faith, spirituality and community for many years. Whether you are looking to learn about the history of the church, visit the church for a service or just enjoy a coffee with friends, you will find that there is something for everyone at the Cathedral.

History

Located in Harris Park, Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral is one of the busiest parishes in Sydney. It is home to more than 30,000 parishioners, and is also the largest Maronite Catholic Parish in Australia. The church has undergone many internal refurbishments, and plans to add Sunday Masses in English, as well as daily Masses for the younger generation.

The church's foundation stone was laid by Cardinal Gilroy on 22 March 1970. It was one of the first Maronite churches in Australia. It served the local Maronites for 70 years. Its first pastor was Abdallah Assaf.

The community began to grow, and new churches were built. In the late '70s, local Maronites established a monastic order, and the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family set up their own school in Redfern. In 1988, the Maronite Sisters purchased the Carmelite Convent in Dulwich Hill.

In 2005, Our Lady of Lebanon in Wollongong opened a new church. It is the only Maronite Catholic Church in the state, and is currently serving an estimated 160,000 members. It has also added Sunday Masses, and will have extra priests to serve the community.

Maronites have a tight-knit community. They are committed to maintaining Lebanese culture and language. They also have a network of institutions that cater to the needs of the community. Some of these include schools, churches, and child care facilities. These institutions have been built by the community with simple resources, and have become a source of support and identity for the Maronite community in Sydney.

In 2000, Prime Minister John Howard visited Our Lady of Lebanon College. He was joined by NSW Parliamentary John Brogden. The Premier was given a tour of the site, and was able to attend mass with more than 100 staff.

Clergy

Located in the western part of Sydney, Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Australia. It was founded in 1820 by Father John Therry. It was attended by boys and girls from all parts of western Sydney.

Parramatta was also the site of the first purpose-built orphanage for Catholic children. The Roman Catholic Orphan School in Parramatta was opened in 1844 and was funded by the New South Wales Government. The school was operated by a committee and housed 320 children at a time. In 1859 the school became a Catholic industrial school for girls, known as the Parramatta Industrial School for Girls.

The Maroun Eparchy of Sydney has expanded beyond New South Wales and into New Zealand and Oceania. Pope 204/2019 announced the expansion of the Eparchy to include the countries of the Pacific. In addition, Pope John Paul II named Bishop Mansour as the third bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn. In 2004, he was installed as Bishop in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lebanon. His installation was followed by a Thanksgiving Mass on the eighth anniversary of his episcopal ordination. He presided over the Mass.

The aforementioned Wesleyan and Presbyterian schools in Parramatta were amongst thirteen private schools that were established in the area. The most famous of these schools was the Dr. William Woolls school, which was later relocated to the Newlands area of Sydney. The National School in Parramatta was conducted in a building that had been used as a church for the previous century.

The Roman Catholic Orphan School in Parramatta also boasted the largest number of sacraments. Its most important contribution was the first Confirmation in Australia.

Choirboys

Having a good choir is not an easy task. This is particularly true for young males who are not exactly a hive mind. But that's not to say that a choir is not an important part of the parish.

The cathedral has its own music department. This includes the aforementioned organist, a cantor and an assistant, and has a small team of musicians whose services are often contracted for weddings and other special occasions.

There are also numerous committees and subcommittees that make up the fabric of the parish. The most notable are the ones that are responsible for maintaining the church and enhancing its offerings to the community. And in keeping with the spirit of the Maronite Church, the community is encouraged to grow.

The choir has a number of scholarship schemes to reward the hardy souls who persevere. Those in the know know that the cathedral has a plethora of talented musicians.

The cathedral is home to a good-sized organ, which is the primary instrument for cathedral liturgies. The 1898 Norman & Beard is a work of art. The cathedral has a number of excellent organists. And it's one of the few places in Australia where you can get your sins washed.

Amongst the myriad of music gurus at the cathedral are Tim McLaughlin, who is an attorney and solicitor and organ scholar at St Patrick's Cathedral in Parramatta. He has played the church organ for most of his life and does the unmentionable in other roles in the cathedral. And the cathedral is no stranger to the burgeoning music scene in the western suburbs.

Impacts of development on historic district

Among the many impacts of development on the historic district of Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Parramatta is the construction of new residential towers. This is a massive redevelopment that is threatening to overshadow the Collingwood Cathedral. This plan is opposed by a number of local organisations and custodians of early-colonial historic sites.

One of the main concerns is the impact on the parish's worship community. The height of the residential towers will affect the light that enters the Church. Another concern is the noise from the apartments.

There is also opposition from the nearby aged care home. The Parramatta and District Historical Society also opposes the development. Its current building was built in the 1890s. The Roman Catholic Church also opposes the project.

The Church is the largest Maronite Catholic parish in Australia. The parish's population grew from 10,000 to 30,000 in 40 years. The church also helped encourage growth in the Maronite community.

The church's history is tied to Parramatta. It was here that Governor Phillip befriended a young Darug boy called Baludarri. He traded fish with the settlers and acted as a translator to Governor Phillip. He was buried in Phillip's garden in Sydney.

During the first decades of the colony, the British government tested the limits of administrative and moral governance. The convict settlement proved the economic viability of the colony. During the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the British government also built a range of institutions, from asylums to factories. Among the convicts were Afro-Americans, rebellious slaves from the West Indies, insurrectionists from Canada, trade unionists from Europe, and military prisoners from India.

Planning application

Whether or not you believe the proposed development of a new residential tower and aged care facility next to Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Parramatta is an "opportunity", there is a lot to consider. This development will bring noise, traffic and disruption to the area. It also has the potential to reduce the community of worshippers in the area.

The plan is being opposed by the Marramatta and District Historical Society, the National Trust and Sydney Living Museums. They say the apartment plans are excessive. They argue the height of the residential apartments will hinder activities in the parish and impact on the light entering the Church. Similarly, they worry the balconies and roof gardens will be a site for mass gatherings.

Other stakeholders include the Roman Catholic Church and the nearby Mercy Health Home for the Aged. The aged care facility will be built over four levels and have a rooftop patio. It will include a chapel, day-care and wellness centre for the elderly. It will be located just behind the co-cathedral and will be managed by Mercy Health. The home will offer 85 private rooms with ensuites. The house will also provide a fresh approach to residential aged care.

The project will also involve a state-of-the-art aquatic center in the Green Square urban renewal area. It will feature a striking architectural design. The center will have a rooftop patio that will allow the residents to enjoy views of the Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral and the Elizabeth Farm estate.

The project is also slated for a new primary school. This is part of a more significant proposal by School Infrastructure NSW, which will form part of the Sports and Education sub-precinct.

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#Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral #SMSF Accountant #SMSF Setup #parramatta

[iampikachuhearmeroar]

feels post 2522:

it was mainly a few of the popular kids that i NEVER spoke to in high school, and some other random people from my year group there, including my old group. the girl who i was closest with back in high school came.... ie the one who i ran into at uni back in 2016 who tried to tell me that i just HAD to go into teaching bc it's the only thing an english student can do...... but it turned out she HATED teaching after a few years and left (like i thought would happen from her horrible comment back then about "oh i was glad you left bc I didnt have put with your shit anymore!" and how that attitude would translate to teaching).

so i ended up going to the 10 year anniversary/reunion for the catholic school i went to for years 7 to 10, until the end of 2011; last friday at some hipster bar of the main city of my area.

i didnt bring up that uni meeting but she seemd a lot nicer, and maybe it was just the fact that we'd only been out of school for like 3 years at the time, so it was still raw. and lets be real.... i was pretty annoying with thinking i was hilarious refusing to do my work straight out in religion and sport and geography etc etc or just refusing to do it properly (eg if the assignment asked for like 800 words i'd turn in 200 words at the last minute for shits and giggles lmao)

i also talked to two boys that i'd known since kindy, and they asked why i ended up leaving and transferring to public school instead. i said it was obvs due to the uniform cost and the fees going up. one of the guys actually agreed with that, since the blazer was like $500 on top of the REST of the uniform.

then i told them about the batshit rude shit the teachers were saying to me at the time about "oh NONE of the REAL UPSTANDING CHRISTIAN MEN in your year group will EVER find you lovable and attractive unless you learn to be a good, quiet little catholic girl that never has an opinion" et al that i've reiterated over the years on here. they were HORRIFIED that the staff were telling me that shit for two years straight. their comments were like "WHAT THE FUCK??? that's some of the most fucked up shit to say to a kid!!!! a 15 to 16 YEAR OLD KID????!!!! what the actual fuck. im glad you got out." and "if i'd had that i would've left too. what the actual fuck." so it was super fucking validating after thinking for 10 years that the year group was just happy to be rid of me etc. but instead they're just as offended and hurt by those comments.

i talked to the guy that made the event on fb, and asked how it is to work in events. he said although it's good, it's a nightmare since he lives down here but he works in sydney. you leave at 6am and get home at midnight. "just get used to having no sleep lol". so that's turned me off working in events. also in general it was weird bc 10 years had passed but also it felt like they hadnt. of the bits of my group and the other people that i bounced between, it was nice seeing them. but i fell back into my role as the funny girl.... as one of the girls i used to sit with said "you're just as funny as the day that you left!" at some point i got to the dance floor with one of the guys i never talked to, and it was fun.

#life #about me #shut up ilona #ilona's catholic school memories

[auslan-resources]

Australian Deaf History No.5 - Catholic Deaf Schools

Transcription of Video

Stan Batson: I’ve told about Deaf schools in Australia. But I’ve got something, a very interesting book. I’m now telling you about Catholic schools. It’s very interesting. 

The Deaf schools were not religious in the early times. A Deaf girl named Catherine Sullivan. She’s from Bathurst. She came to a Deaf school in Sydney. She came from a strong Catholic family. Her parents became concerned about her daughter’s lack of religion. Her furious father paid his visit to the Archbishop to complain about her lack of religious instruction. 

After the arguments, the Archbishop realised that the complaint was justified. He moved the Deaf girl to the Australian nun convent for the time being. The Archbishop wrote a letter to the Church in Ireland to ask for the teachers to be trained to teach the Deaf, so they would be able to open a Deaf school in Australia. 

A Deaf nun named Sister Mary Gabriel Hogan from Cabra. They selected her. She arrived in Newcastle in August 1875 with four other Dominican nuns. 

In December 1875, the Deaf girl I told you about - Catherine Sullivan and the other girl, Elizabeth Rewalds, came to a first Deaf Catholic school. Later, the number of pupils increased and boys were admitted. It was time to open another school. In June 1923, the new school named St Gabriel’s Deaf Boy’s school opened under the Christian Brothers. 

In 1940, both schools converted to the Oral Method and dropped the sign language system. In December 1947, the Deaf Catholic school was first opened in Portsea with six nuns who were transferred from NSW. The nuns had tried to open a school in Adelaide in 1868 but it failed due to a lack of funds. The pupils had to go to the NSW school. It was a long way. 

I’m now telling you about the Deaf nun. The Deaf nun. It’s interesting. Her name is Ellen Hogan. She was born in Dublin in 1844. As a child, she learnt and read but became deaf after illness. She was excellent in writing English. Ellen went to a deaf school in Cabra. She was very good with writing English and French. She was clever. After her school days, she became a nun. She was named Mary Gabriel. She had a lot of talents being a nun. The Church was not sure about her and they asked the Pope. The Pope gave the go-ahead. She was now the nun with her talents. Gabriel arrived with four nuns in Australia in August 1875. This shows us that three Deaf teachers - Rose, Pattison and Gabriel - opened the Deaf schools in Australia. Three of them. It was before hearing people controlled schools. It’s interesting. 

See you later. Will tell you more.  

#deaf history #stan batson #deaftvaussie #deaf education #deaf in australia

[melbournenewsvine]

When the footpath is not a footpath

We’ve been told of pedestrians refusing to be careful when crossing roads (“Police Urge Pedestrians to Remain Alert After Death,” October 2). As a decent elderly person, always aware of my surroundings, I am stunned by the daily dangers that law-abiding pedestrians face from cars, bikes, and scooters. At my local intersection, cars often light up when pedestrians have the right to cross. Often on footpaths, cyclists fail to sound their horns when approaching pedestrians from behind. Also, cyclists and scooters (not just children) dash on footpaths and put pressure on those who walk. I’ve seen speeding cyclists crossing crowded roads almost onto footpaths and crashing into pedestrians. The term “pedestrian lane” has become a misnomer, and the idea of ​​a “common path” has become a joke. The lion’s share of space will always go to those who drive fast cars, and not to weak humans. The benefits of walking for the elderly are many. But if threats to their safety persist, many will forego this inexpensive health activity. Caroline Gresh, Dulwich Hill Your article referred to an important safety issue for pedestrians crossing Sydney’s main roads. We live on the corner of Parramatta Road and Glebe Point Street. We were given about 5 seconds to walk through the four lanes of the Broad Parramatta before the drivers made the turn from Glebe Point Road to get the green light to turn into Parramatta Road. We leave the pavement a second the light turns green, but believe me there is always a scramble to try to get out of the way of turning vehicles that are often (not always) driven by impatient drivers. Lots of pedestrians cross this intersection to go to Victoria Park, the University of Sydney or the public swimming pool. Please give us a reasonable amount of time to cross so that we can avoid a tragedy like the one at Sunflower Drive in Claremont Meadows (“Three pedestrians killed in 24 hours as police urge caution on long weekend,” October 1, where a grandfather was killed On his way home from visiting his grandchildren. Louis Katz, Gleb Parramatta no strength Not only does the new planned museum for Parramatta look like an event center masquerading as a museum (“More Event Center than a Museum: Report,” October 2), it has also adopted a pseudonym and in the process stole a distinct identity. It’s not the Powerhouse Museum. That institution, however weak it may be in the future, still stands proudly at Ultimo. Phil Rodwell, Redfern Dangerous sex on TV Applause to Daisy Turnbull for her thoughts on screen approval rating (“We should know what we agree to watch,” Oct. 2). The most recent example is House of the Dragon, where sexual encounters in sexual encounters transition from one-sided “exercises” to intimate, heart-warming heights. Whether the audience will pick up the director is not a very subtle difference in the various interrelationships, there is a question. It is no exaggeration to suggest that developing young minds who take in these cinematic pairs can leave them with a less than consensual sense of reality. Steve Dillon, Thyrol No need to classify consensual or non-consensual sex. Just make movies without sex scenes and let the viewer use their imagination. Jenny Greenwood, Hunters Hill Rules can’t be broken I also attended a Catholic girls’ school in Sydney (Letters, 2 October), in my case during the 1960s. The rules were ample. Athletic height rules and uniforms were also an advantage. Others included: not talking to boys in uniform, not talking in toilets, covering bleached or colored hair with a cloth shower cap (school colors), and not pulling out eyebrows. We never thought about wearing jewelry or makeup. At one point we were asked to carry bricks, yes bricks, from the lower campus up to the top in preparation for the new science block building. However, we knew the rules and no one forced us to go to school. We would not describe our experience in four letter words. Margaret Wright, Narembern Albu Tax Hero Source link Originally published at Melbourne News Vine

#Melbourne News Vine

[unholybinchicken]

coming to terms with my asd diagnosis

(aka, an open love letter to Quinni from heartbreak high)

I started school in 1999 at four and a half, thanks to my parents, who moved to Sydney from Queensland in 1993 (Queensland until recently had one less year of school than New South Wales so students typically graduated at 17; my cousin finished high school a year before my older brother despite only being a month and a half older than him) and didn't know most parents tried to make sure their kids weren't the youngest in their respective year levels. I tell others that this was why I didn't go to Schoolies after finishing year 12 ("if I can't drink there then what's the point in going"), although my social anxiety, mostly due to the autism I was so in denial about, was probably a bigger reason.

My mum occasionally tells a story of trying to organise a parent teacher interview with my kindergarten teacher (who I still hate, 23 years later, sorry not sorry) and my teacher saying "I'm going to let all the other parents get their preferred times first because 15 minutes isn't going to be long enough". I vaguely remember being taken out of school for various tests but I knew what most of them were for - speech therapy, occupational therapy, counselling for anxiety (that one happened a few years later) ... and then there were my mysterious appointments with Dr Wallace (a psychologist with over 30 years experience who is predominantly known for working with kids with ADHD). I wasn't quite sure what those ones were for.

At the start of kindergarten, I was diagnosed with "mild Aspergers" (a term that is horribly outdated and that I no longer use); however, I actually found out about my diagnosis at 13 (we were moving house at the time and I found the report from the psychiatrist in our family photos basket). Unfortunately by the time I discovered my autism diagnosis and had researched what it meant, I had already been and would continue to be exposed to a lot of media (including a short story written by a girl in my year ten English class that won the Whitlam Institute Writing Competition ... and one of my special interests was Gough Whitlam, so that one really stung) that made me feel ashamed and in denial about my *very obvious to everyone around me except me* autism.

(My own submission for the competition had been called "brilliant but too political" to represent my Catholic school ... seriously, imagine being considered too political for a competition in honour of a former Australian prime minister)

I often told people I'd been tested for autism but it was a very quick "oh I was tested for it but it's all good, I don't actually have it". The closest I actually came to telling a classmate that I was autistic was when I was trying to drop a year 11 subject I'd left too late to switch out of. A friend of mine who was very open about her ADHD had been allowed to change from chemistry into extension English. I said to another friend "I mean, I've got *borderline Aspergers* so Duggan might take that into consideration". My friend said "oh, I wouldn't have guessed, but that could work". It didn't. The fact that I'd never drawn attention to it up until then might have had something to do with it.

At school, I threw myself into my studies to overcompensate, was elected Music Captain, represented my school in sport (soccer and basketball were my favourites, but I was told I was a very skilled coxswain and could have taken rowing further if I'd committed to it), won public speaking and debating competitions, and killed my HSC exams (despite not wanting to have any "special treatment" and having absolutely zero study skills, thanks to a primary school career being considered "gifted and talented").

Additionally, I constantly advertised that I was completely adept at engaging in "normal" teenage behaviour of underaged drinking and partying. This was despite me having what I now recognise to be a meltdown on the night of my school's music festival in year 11, where all my duties as music captain had finally ended. I remember all my friends, including my vice-captain (who the following year would become our school captain) being very kind about it and saying, "We want you to celebrate with us but if you need to ring your dad and go home, that's also fine". I ended up going to other parties; in year 12, most of my friends turned 18, and it helped that they generally didn't hold parties right after huge events I'd had a hand in planning.

I graduated from school in 2011, having achieved a high ATAR, and then got to uni and failed all the science courses I was taking in my Science/Arts degree (while still getting a HD in my Italian class ... I wouldn't have expected anything less, considering I'd studied it since kindergarten and consistently earned A grades in it throughout high school). All while still convincing myself that my hyperfixation on Naya Rivera (may she rest in peace and power), who at the time starred on Glee as the iconic Santana Lopez, was just a sign of me being extremely queer (which I am), needing to engage in queer media (the love story between Santana and Brittany is one that I still have immense love for), and, of course, finding her really attractive (which she definitely was, let's be real) and was definitely not a sign of my *very obvious to everyone around me except me* autism (even though at my year 12 formal I launched into a full on passionate speech for the better part of an hour after a little underaged drinking about the Glee episode I'd just watched the night before in which Finn outed Santana and why that was totally messed up and should not have happened under any circumstances ... my friends and I can now have a good laugh about it but at the time it felt so significant).

The one place where I was "openly" autistic was in private conversations online. I engaged in deep written conversations on Tumblr and Fanfiction.net with fellow autistic people who shared my intense love of the beautiful relationship between Santana and Brittany (a character who is often headcanoned as neurodivergent) on Glee. Offline, I was still playing the role of a neurotypical whose poor academic performance at uni was due to laziness and not because they were genuinely struggling with the demands of adulthood.

Once I transferred to a small private music college, I started to meet other fellow autistic people who picked up on it with me right away. In 2015, I was in my last year at music school and was part of a Facebook group of Australian YouTubers. I had a very small channel which is still active today dedicated to posting music and (at the time) vlogs about my final semester at uni. I wasn't really that committed to uploading, as I was working full-time at Starbucks and finalising my graduation recital (which required biweekly rehearsals and arranging saxophone parts, something I was terrible at back then). I was also very disciplined about my recording setup; I needed my music videos to sound "perfect", so they took a lot of time and energy I often didn't have, and therefore, I didn't post as often as others in the group. Around this time, I noticed a post from someone who wanted to post videos about their interests as well as share their experiences as an autistic person. That person is, of course, Chloé Hayden, who plays the iconic Quinni on Heartbreak High, and was famously blocked by Sia for calling out the gross ableism in the movie Music (something I wish 15-year-old me had had the confidence to do in 2009 when my classmate proudly stood up and said her submission for the Whitlam comp was about a girl having to "deal with her autistic sister" ... seriously, how dare she disgrace Gough like that). Chloé is a couple years younger than me, but watching her videos and listening to the experiences of fellow autistic people has honestly taught me so much about myself. I also found out a couple years ago that singer-songwriter Alex the Astronaut, who was two grades below me at school, was in the same school choir as me, and used to perform at the same school events as I did, was also recently diagnosed with autism.

Although I probably should, I don't have any ill-will towards my parents for not telling me. I think if I'd have been ten years younger things might have been different. To their credit, my parents didn't put me in ABA or anything like that, but that may have also had something to do with my younger brother being born within 12 months of my initial diagnosis; understandably, a newborn takes up a lot of time, and by the time my brother was born, my first year of school was over and I got along with my year 1 teacher so much better than I did with my kindergarten teacher.

(I don't have a lot of stories about my kindergarten teacher because I blocked a lot of it out, but there's one that I still remember quite vividly ... the whole class was sitting on the floor and she was trying to get us to identify the title of the book ... I could already read before starting school ... she asked if anyone wanted to guess the name of the book ... I put my hand up and gave her the answer, and I was right ... she then spent what felt like an eternity yelling at me because I'd "spoiled" the activity for the rest of the class)

I actually had a conversation about my autism diagnosis with a friend of mine from school at our 10 year (or 11 year thanks to spicy cough) reunion who works in the mental health sector. She wanted to know how I went about navigating the NDIS, which I'd never really thought about, because I have no idea what the NDIS could possibly do for me. The only things I can think of is support with housing, because I currently live with my parents (yes, I'm 28) but can't live with housemates, and maybe a cleaner. Unfortunately, I'm university educated (undergrad and postgrad) and employed full-time so I can't see that happening any time soon.

Now that I'm finally "at peace" with being autistic, I do often feel a sense of impostor syndrome, like I "wasted" an early diagnosis. As an AFAB person just being seen as autistic, or potentially autistic, in 1999 was a pretty big deal. I know of people who only got diagnosed as late as 50, or who got diagnosed because their children also got diagnosed. When talking about it, people I know from uni are a lot less surprised than people I know from high school.

Because who would have thought that considering my ... lifelong trichotillimania, compulsive need to drink 10+ cups of tea every day, childhood fear of the vacuum cleaner, childhood fear of fans, adulthood fear of hair, still flinching at the sound of balloons being popped, not being able to watch the first 30 seconds of The Lion King because of the beginning part of the Circle of Life, affinity for learning musical instruments, natural athleticism but unrefined technique when it came to sport, social awkwardness, strong sense of justice, unconventional experiences with gender and gender expression, lack of experience with romantic relationships to the point where I'm still not sure if I'm aromantic or not, spending 8+ hours on The Sims, actually being really really bad at making eye contact despite years of drama, public speaking and debating, writing Glee fanfiction for the creative writing component of my HSC English exam (which I still got a band 6 for, thank you very much) ... and god knows what else.

(also once at my previous job when they were trying to get a social club going, I asked if I could be president of the antisocial club ... that one didn't really go down well)

Unfortunately, like many autistic people, I also experience a lot of burnout, especially since I work full-time and travel a long way to get to work. The reality is that our capitalist society is "designed" for neurotypicals, and it's only been recently that people have figured out that they can make workplaces more flexible and allow people to work from home. My current job is a lot better than my previous job; however, I often get migraines, and it's only been recently that I've connected my migraines with times of stress from work. I also have a tendency to stop talking (or only use profanity), and my trichotillimania gets worse.

If you can take away anything from my experiences, it's that representation matters. Autistic representation written by and centring neurotypical people as the "victims" in stories about autistic people stigmatise autism, and they aren't authentic. I'd love to be able to have a conversation with that girl from my English class and educate her - at the end of the day, it's not her fault, and at the time I was just as ignorant as she was. It's because of people like my former classmate (and myself) that we need characters like Quinni in Heartbreak High, or stories like B. R. Rhodes' Blue Rose Red, and people like Hannah Gadsby and Alex the Astronaut. The more disabled people we have sharing authentic experiences, the better.

And honestly, the sooner characters like neurotypical Luke Ford's portrayal of Charlie in The Black Balloon, Maddie Ziegler's woefully misguided Music in Sia's terrible film Music, and the autistic prop sibling Lily in my probably-well-meaning yet extremely ignorant classmate's short story become embarrassing and socially unacceptable, the better.

#actuallyautistic #actually autistic #heartbreak high #quinni gallagher jones #personal #essay #autistic millennial