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Thriving at DSC

 

The Art of saying ‘NO’ 

By Dhwani Anand

November 10, 2014
 

Are you one of those people who always find it difficult to disagree with people due to the fear of losing or hurting them? Being a teenager, you and your friends with whom you interact the most, might have had several moments of disputes and disagreements on certain issues. The hardest part would have been to ‘DISAGREE’ in a way that doesn’t hurt them. At times it may happen that the fact that you don’t want to hurt them makes you forcefully agree to their point of view so that you do not get rejected by your friends or even family members. No one wants to face rejection or isolation. The thought of facing one itself might have been really disturbing to you. Here’s a few ways for you to get out of this conflict of maintaining the relationship and disagreement.

 

Firstly, you must keep in mind that you must not take the topic personally before stating any point or idea. It’s the issue, idea or concept that you are arguing against and not the person. Henceforth, you should avoid putting down or disrespecting the other person’s ideas and beliefs. Resist the temptation to yell or use sarcasm to make your point, as that will bring in much more negativity into the conversation. Make a calm approach towards it instead. Listen to the other person’s ideas carefully and then restate it before making your point. For example: "Correct me if I’m wrong, but what you are saying is…”This makes the other person feel that you understand their perspective of the issue and value their ideas and beliefs except the fact that you have a different point of view and opinion to the topic. Furthermore, use ‘I’ statements more than using ‘you’, as that makes the conversation sound less argumentative and furious. Also, while working in groups, always share your knowledge and expertise into the discussion because that is why you are a part of the group. You have been put into the group or team to collaborate on other group mates ideas, as well as bring up your own, which is why you shouldn’t hesitate to state your opinion to other group members. Moving on, providing a solution and reasoning on as to why your idea is better than others will give a better insight to the audience and colleagues on your perspective to the issue. Last but not the least, it is important that you watch out the tone of your voice and emotions while conveying your contradictory argument. It is very likely for you to react extremely violently and bluntly on the issue since you oppose the idea and have the compassion and feel towards it. As a result, you wouldn’t tolerate any oppositions towards your point of view on the topic. The best way to sort this out would be to take a deep breath and take some time before giving an immediate response on the topic or issue of concern. You must take your time to think over the issue in a rational manner to have a more calm approach towards it rather than giving an immediate blunt, rude, and loud response generating a negative vibe around the conversation. In fact with open minded discussions you & your colleagues may come out with a solution which is even better than what each one of you initially thought to be the best. If you are working in a group then utilizing each member’s potential will enable the team to gain much more miles than if each individual walking on a different path.

 

All in all, taking out the time to think before you speak anything and treating people the way you would want them to treat you, is what will lead you to a calm and less argumentative conversation. Never hesitate to speak up your ideas but at the same time learn to respect other’s ideas, opinions, and beliefs as well. If you have a valid reason to prove why your idea is better than others, then people will definitely consider it and incorporate it into their ideas and this will further help them expand on their ideas as well. So, let’s learn to respect others and do justice to ourselves by sharing our knowledge and expertise. When the team members are contradicting each other, they pull the team down & 1 plus 1 will not even amount to 2, however when working synergistically with others 1 plus 1 not only equates to 2 but much more!

 

The Rain During Summer

By Tracy Liu

November 10, 2014

The early summer morning of January was actually warm, surprisingly for once. The yellow sun, like an egg yolk sizzling on a fry pan, shone brightly down at the small town of Barcaldine, its light rays gleamed through the Eucalyptus trees and its reflection sparkled upon the surface of the Billabong just like diamonds dazzling in a dark room. However, the damp and humid air from last night’s rain still filled the atmosphere, and caused a sticky and unpleasant sensation. Despite the hot season, there had been many heavy showers during the past few weeks. But the sudden appearance of the bright sun and warm weather made it seemed like the rainfall never happened at all.

Houses were scattered loosely throughout the residential part of the town; among one of them was a wooden bungalow, which sat gloomily on the very far end of the town. The house itself looked average compared to the other ones nearby; it was not the smallest and most decayed, but it wasn’t the biggest and most elegant either. Its timbered walls and roof were weathered and mold began to form on inner part of the wood due to the damp and humid atmosphere from the constant rainy days. A chimney was perched on top of the unevenly constructed roof, as the woods were layered on top of each other uncoordinatedly. The house was surrounded by patchy grasses, clumps of trees and untrimmed bushes. On the verandah were a small rounded table and two wooden stools, the floor would creak every time someone walks over them.

A tall and masculine man stomped angrily into the dining room carrying the rolled-up daily newspaper in his hands. He threw the newspaper violently onto the table, causing the mugs, plates and cutlery to shake and rattle. He then took a seat at the front of the table and drank from his mug before slamming it down onto the table again. A woman that was standing at the stove turned around, holding a pan in one hand and a spatula on the other. She was tall and slim, and had a bony structured face with droopy eyes and thin lips. She was dressed in a long gown and her light auburn hair was tied into a tight, high bun.

“What is the matter, Robert?” she asked with concern as she placed a slice of bacon and egg onto each of plates on the table with the spatula.

Robert did not speak at first; he took of his brown Stetson hat and ran his fingers through his balding hair. Deep wrinkles were scattered across his forehead and the outer corner of his deep, tired eyes. His short, untidy hair was dark brown, but was graying at the temples and sideburns; he had a dark, bushy beard that hanged down to his neck. He was dressed in a beige shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a washed out jean with rips over the knees which was supported by a suspender, and some old, dirty ankle boots. When he was finally about to open his mouth, he was interrupted by two young children walking into the room clumsily, both of them looked half asleep still. With an idle greet of “Good Morning”, the boy and the girl made their way to the dining table and took a seat down, before quietly nibbling on the bacon and eggs on their plates. Robert decided to close his mouth again as he did not want his children to find out what was going on.

The family spent the next fifteen minutes eating breakfast in silence. Robert studied his children while they lowered their heads, concentrating on their food. His son, Jamie, was big for a twelve year old; he had thick, dark untidy hair, big chocolate brown eyes, and a freckly face. He worked in a factory that involved lifting and carrying heavy boxes of materials, and dealing with dangerous tools. Cassidy, on the other hand, was just like her mother appearance-wise; she was an eight year old with a small and bony figure, her hair too was tied into a high bun. She started working in the textile mill ever since she turned six; she never complained nor expressed her feelings about working there. She was a shy, quiet and naïve girl, which made Robert’s wife constantly worried that she could be bullied or tricked at her workplace. It was when the two children cleared everything off their plates and stood up when Robert looked away.

“Oh the time passes so quickly, it’s time for work now isn’t it?” Robert’s wife, Jenny said sadly. Jamie and Cassidy nodded slightly and turned to their father.

“Off to work you two go then.” Robert nodded and gave them both a soft pat on the shoulder before continuing his breakfast.

Jenny walked over to her children and gave both of her children a tight hug and peck on the forehead before watching them set off to work. It was always the most heartbreaking part of the day, having to see her children leave the doors and walk off to menacing workplaces. Sometimes, she just felt like holding onto her children forever and not letting go, so that they can’t go anywhere but safe in mother’s arms. But she knew that they had no choice but to work otherwise they would have been in a worse condition.

Robert stood up and walked across the kitchen to the window on the other side of the wall; he peered out over their front yard at the identical but slightly smaller wooden house opposite of the road. He glared at it for a while before lighting up the pipe and inhaled the smoke in. The warm and bitter taste of tobacco filled his mouth, and his throat began to burn, as if somebody had set fire in his mouth. He puffed out the smoke and continued to do this for another few minutes before something happened.

The wooden door of the opposite house swung opened, and a large figure came walking out to his mailbox. There was something about his expression that made Robert swore under his breath and clenched his fist tightly, as if he is ready to take a hard swing at him any second now. “That filthy rascal, I bet his over the moon right now at the news. I’ll show you that I’m still the better shearer here. Damn you non-union worker.” He muttered incoherently and kept glaring at the figure until he disappeared out of sight again into his house.

“Are you going to tell me what the bloody heck is going on around here?” Jenny asked impatiently as she sat down on the table again, arms folded across her chest and her legs crossed together tightly.

Robert suddenly dropped his shoulders in defeat and sighed heavily, before explaining what happened the day before at work. “The manager of Logan Downs Station, Charles Fairbain had asked all of us union shearers to sign a contract. This contract is absolutely ridiculous, I swear. He wants to reduce the power of our union - reduce our wages, reduce our rights and privileges, and a whole bunch of other ridiculous new rules. But I am not going to let this happen, Jenny, I don’t want us to be like the non-union workers; they are nothing but dirty rascals.”

Once he had finished, Jenny’s eyes was wide, her whole body was frozen and she had clasped her hand over her mouth in shock. “Well, what are you going to do?” she finally asked, her voice shaking a bit.

“I don’t know yet, but I know for sure that I ain’t signing no contract” said Robert bitterly and scrunched up his lips.

“But if you don’t, then where will you get money? We’ll be starved. The combination of the kid’s wages can’t even buy us one meal!” Jenny cried anxiously.

“No Jenny, I cannot just let this happen. I won’t sign the contract.”

As Robert looked out the window again, he noticed that gray clouds had filled the sky, covering the sun that was now almost completely hidden, its remaining thin line of ray glazed bitterly down at the small town below. The sky was fully dark and gloomy now; it was as if the clear and bright blue sky before had never existed. Small drops of rain fell from the sky, dripping down onto the concrete floor and grass. The rain became heavier by the second; the holes on the beaten road were now filled up by the rain, and rain drops were dripping into the Billabong, creating water rings on the surface. The town was now more silent than ever, not a single sound was heard apart from the heavy drops of rain falling onto surfaces like firecrackers exploding everywhere.

Robert turned his attention away from the rain and took off the bronze locket that had been resting around his neck and placed it on his palms. He examined the locket closely; a merino was engraved on the cover and he caressed it with his thumbs. He swallowed and opened the locket; there on the black and white photograph was a picture of his father and the young version of him, both holding a shear in their hand and kneeling next to a hairless sheep with wool scattered all over the floor. Robert closed the locket and clutched onto it tightly. My father’s ambition was for me to follow his footsteps, to become a great sheep shearer and working for a union with high wages and privileges so that I am able to support my family and give them the best there is. I promise myself that I will never sign this contract, I will fight for it if need to be.

He turned around to face his wife, and said clearly, “I will not sign the contract.”

“Well, what are you going to do about it? Just go up at Logan Downs Station and tear the contract to pieces in front your boss’ face?” Jenny remarked sarcastically and when he didn’t reply, she stopped and stared at him in awe. It was as if she knew what he was thinking, her mouth was hanging open and worriedness washed over her face. She started, “you’re not planning to…”

At that moment, Robert’s face was serious; he was mad and determined. The wrinkles on his face seemed to have disappeared suddenly and so were his graying hair. He looked like a young warrior, standing with his back straight, head held high and both fists clenched tightly. Then, the corner of his lips curled upwards into a fierce grin as he gave a slight nod before declaring, “Yes Jenny, I want to join the strike.”

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