DIYANA RAHIM

After the independence referendum last night, I hope that this is not the end for all of the supporters. (I'm proud of you, Glasgow!) Getting a different result than what you chose doesn't mean that it is all over, because it isn't. There will still be plenty of changes happening, and we must all make sure that they are done in the support of Scotland.

Whether you voted for a YES or a NO, you voted for what you thought was best for Scotland. A YES or a NO, change is still necessary, and change will take place. I've seen the passion and enthusiasm from this campaign, and I'm proud of it. We must take what we can and make this country the greatest it can be. It is time to get your voices heard! Keep fighting.

First and mostly, I would like to make it clear that I am not Scottish, I won't be voting in the #Indyref this 18th, and I don't live in Scotland any more. But this is my opinion. If you agree or not, that is up to you.



I'm not gonna go all politics in this post, because well, I would just be spouting rubbish and I don't want that. I was born in Malaysia, schooled in Glasgow and now I am waiting for the opportunity to continue my studies back in Scotland. I want to let you see this independence referendum in an 18 year old's perspective, living halfway across the world.

My reasoning isn't something that I have taken upon lightly. It's not just me going "oh I would say yes because I felt like it". When asked by someone what I would vote for if I was able to - a month ago I would have said that I didn't have a clue. I might have even said no thanks. Actually, I was inclined towards Better Together previously, but now that has all changed. Now that I think about it, the only question that had kept me from saying yes was that:

What if we can't? But what if we can...and we do? Anyone can come up with what ifs. What if my phone ends up breaking in the next few weeks? What if I ended up partying it up in Bangkok in the next 2 days? But nobody, nobody would be able to answer that. This is the thing that will always come with change : fear. Fear of what will happen, of taking the next step. Fear of the unknown. No one can predict the future. It is up to us to change it, to make it the future we want. It is up to us to be independent, to make our own decisions. Take the risk. Take responsibility for your own country. This is what the referendum is all about.

Everyone wants the best for their own country, and I believe this independence could be it for Scotland. At the moment, Scotland is being controlled by a parliament based in London. They are making the decisions for us. So how, I ask all Scottish people, how will you get your voice heard? Do you not want the opportunity to be given the right to decide? Don't you want to make your own decisions or do you want to be babysat for the rest of your lives? Yes, some of the decisions are made by us, but most are still being made down in London.


After having lived in Scotland for around 8 years, and having seen some of the ways in which the communities live over there, I've seen some of the ways in which Scotland, and the UK can improve on. Do you believe that they have our best interests at heart? Are they really thinking of what is best for Scotland, or what is best for the UK? Do they really understand the needs of Scottish people?

Now living further away from Glasgow, when I see and hear my peers talking about the UK, most don't even realise where Scotland is. When we say the UK, they say London, they say England. Wales. Even Ireland. But where's Scotland? I've had enough of being asked where Scotland is, of having to open up Google map and show them where exactly Scotland is in the UK.

I know Scotland has it's own attraction, has it's own culture, it's own tradition, so why must Scotland sit back and hide behind others? Why can't they show the whole world how great Scotland is? Living there had shown me how great a country Scotland can be. The attitude of those living in Scotland, their system, their "everyone deserves a chance to be heard" - those are what had made me proud of even having the chance to live in Scotland, even if it was just for a little while. Being independent will allow Scottish people just that. Scotland won't have to be silenced, to be invisible. Scotland will have the chance to shine.

Everyone has their own reasons to go for or against independence. As an individual growing up, I want what is best for me, and for the future generation. I want to be able to live somewhere where I can provide the best for my family and later on, my own children. Scotland might be one of the richest countries in the world, but that won't matter to any of Scottish people, to any of the ones living in poverty in Scotland unless they can use the wealth to help everyone.

The future Scotland should have a say about its own economy, to continue to provide equal chances for everyone. We want equality, Scotland wants equality, Scotland wants their free education to continue, they want more job opportunities, they don't want their free health prescriptions from NHS to be taken away and threatened to be privatised.

In high school, I saw how some of my pals couldn't afford to buy their own lunch, much less bring one from their own homes. I've seen the state of some of their houses, living and breathing with rot and mould because they couldn't afford a better housing. They couldn't afford new clothes. They couldn't get jobs, couldn't get money, and couldn't basically get anything. And yet, I've seen the richer side of Scotland, living in big houses, never having to worry about being able to afford anything. They live side by side, a fine line of separation. There shouldn't be a separation, there shouldn't be a lower and a higher living classes. Poverty and unemployment. Those living in poverty can't afford to have the same level of education, and therefore can't afford to get a good job. Not having a job leads to unemployment, and this results in poverty. It's an endless cycle. I don't want us to be asked to choose between having a shelter above our heads or food in our hands. I don't want to have to choose between mould or meal.

With just over 2 weeks left before the referendum, I really hope that Scotland will decide the best for themselves. It's not just about picking up the pen and making a mark on the paper, it's about choosing to make your own decision and having others making it for you. For those who are voting no, and think that we are better together, surely these problems won't be there. Surely Scotland would have already been Better Together in this case. I want to see a Scotland heading in a clearer future, and in the direction it deserves. But that's my opinion. What would be your choice?