Honesty

   Honesty is one of the treasured values of human being. Living life honestly means opening oneself freely and exposing one's true self to others. Honesty is essential because it acts as the glue holding people together. Moreover, honesty helps a person to conquer problems and excel in his life. However, is this always right to tell truth? 


   First of all, honesty is the foundation upon which a person builds any relationship with his loved ones such as family or friends. By being honest to his loved ones, he will make them feel that they are trustworthy and closed enough for him to totally expose his true self. Thus, they are more assured that he values them and their relationship. The sweetness in the relationship, therefore, is more likely to remain.

   In addition, honesty helps a person to conquer problems and excel in life. It is essential for a person to be honest with himself. Only when a person plucks up the courage to face his inner values and emotion, can he get rid of the negative feelings which hold him back and as a result, find the confidence within. The confidence is what he needs in order to handle problems and perform well. Moreover, trust is produced by honesty. Without trust, a person has no credibility which is at the core of being able to influence others and provide strong leadership. It is equally hard for him to seek help from others when needed because others may not believe in whatever he says.

   However, being brutally honest all of the time can also backfire on a person. There are situations when he inflicts a lot of pain and stress on somebody else by telling the truth. It is comprehensive that a person needs not to be honest all the time. Sometimes, he needs to justify what is the best resolution because not telling the truth, in certain cases, is the best way to protect his loved ones from being hurt. 

   In conclusion, by living honestly and freely, a person will find that his life is more enriched and meaningful. Honesty helps a person to strengthen his relationship, conquer problems and excel in life. However, a person can choose to not telling the truth in order to protect his loved ones.

How important is our mother tongue?

   In today's fast-paced society, our traditional cultural values and identity are at risk. We have to make a conscious effort to ensure that we do not lose touch with our cultural heritage.One of the important features of a cultural identity is the ability to speak one's mother tongue. For example, among the Chinesde there are several dialects spoken such as Cantonese, Teochew and Hokkien. Well, I would say that I can speak a dialect, Hokkien which is used in Penang. I mean, my parents are from Penang and anyone, I mean everyone who is from Penang can speak Hokkien because nearly the whole Penang population speak to each other in that particular language. At home, my family usually converse in Hokkien, something i never realised until now. And now, I'm trying to learn Hainamese because that is the dialect my mother and grandmother used when they gossip about other people and being the busy body that I am, I want to know what they are talking about. And besides, I can scold or insult someone right in front of them and they wouldn't know what I am talking about. Isn't that awesome? (Don't worry! I never tried that before. Well actually, I did) Anyways that is not the main point. If we don't preserve this culture or mother tongue, it will be gone forever. Wouldn't it be such a waste and humiliating that our ancestors have passed it from generation to generation and  we are the ones who lost it? Hence, i think that we should not neglect our mother tongue.

Is being alone good?

   I'm sure everyone who knows me would say that I'm an introvert, doesn't speak much to anyone but her friends. I mean sure sometimes I feel a little lonely but i got used to it after a while. One couldn't rely on a friend to keep them company all the time now can they? And anyways, being alone is actually a good thing because it can boost your creativity. Clearing out distractions and allowing time for reflective thoughts is a great way to tap into your creativity. Being alone with your thoughts is often a time where out-of-the-box ideas comes up.
   

   Also, it is a chance to slow down and recharge. When you're away from technology and people and work, you can finally have time to breathe. It is an opportunity to just get back in touch with yourself. Besides, ypu can also have a little fun by yourself. Once you become more comfortable with the idea of being alone, doing activities like shopping, seeing a movie, or hiking by yourself can actually be enjoyable. You can do whatever you want without having to adhere to anyone's preferences, schedule or expectations. You might discover that spending at least one afternoon or evening per week on your own doing something you love can be totally relaxing and liberating. It too can boost your self-esteem. Learning to enjoy the time you spend alone can help you to build a better relationship with yourself. Voluntary solitude is a great way to get back in touch with your feelings and remember all the things that make you awesome. If you want to feel more confident and self-sufficient, first tackle your fear of being alone. Lastly, it can improve memory & focus. Time spent in solitary reflection has been linked to improved concentration, as well as higher levels of academic performance. In their book "Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses," authors and sociology professors Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa find that students who study alone are more apt to succeed and retain knowledge than those who study in groups.

  

Importance of healthy eating

   A nutritious, well-balanced diet – along with physical activity and refraining from smoking – is the foundation of good health. Healthy eating includes consuming high-quality proteins, carbohydrates, heart-healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and water in the foods you take in while minimizing processed foods, saturated fats and alcohol. Eating in this manner helps you maintain your body’s everyday functions, promotes optimal body weight and can assist in disease prevention.

   The nutrients in the foods you eat support the activities of day-to-day living, protect your cells from environmental damage and repair any cellular damage that might occur. Protein rebuilds injured tissue and promotes a healthy immune system. Both carbohydrates and fats fuel your body, while vitamins and minerals function throughout your body in support of your body’s processes. Vitamins A, C and E, for example, act as antioxidants to protect your cells against toxins, and B vitamins help you extract energy from the foods you eat. Calcium and phosphorus keep your bones strong, while sodium and potassium help to transmit nerve signals. Without a healthy diet, you might compromise any of these essential functions.

   In addition to the quality of the foods you consume, the quantity matters when considering good eating habits. Taking in the same number of calories as you burn ensures your weight remains steady over time. Consuming more than you burn, on the other hand, results in weight gain as your body converts extra calories to fat tissue. When you accumulate fat tissue, you increase your risk of developing one or more health problems, including heart disease, hypertension, respiratory issues, diabetes and cancer. A healthy meal plan without excess calories helps you not only feel better but can prolong your life.

Traveling

   I believe that almost everyone, if not all, loves travelling. However, unlike migratory birds which fly south during winter for survival, the main reason for our love for travel lies in welcoming novel experiences of seeing new things, meeting new people and gaining new knowledge.   
   When we travel, we experience the glorious beauty of nature. Nature is truly breathtaking and it provides us an appreciation for geography. Traveling increases our knowledge and widens our perspective. To view new customs, different ways of living is fantastic for the mind. It gives us a new perspective about life and especially our life, it can help us change some of our habits or even create new ones. When I travel I usually make it a point to try new food, some cultures don’t have fries in their diet and they are all skinny, others use spices to give taste and not oils or fats. Discovering different values and ways to get by in life is really interesting. You also need to visit exotic new places and discover what this wonderful world has to offer.   
   Another great benefit is the relaxation you get to do. It’s nice to live life to its fullest and enjoy a stress free time with yourself. Going on vacation lets us recharge our “batteries” by disconnecting us from our regular life. When we come back we feel invigorated and we are happy to be back in our day to day routine. It’s a very good stress remover that has a lot more to give than most people are willing to accept.

   When i grow up, I hope that I have the opportunity to travel to many places so that I can experience the wonders of the world.

A strange encounter

   In the wee hours of a winter morning, I was walking home from work. The streets were deserted mow that it was already three in the morning. My eyelids were drooping from lack of sleep as I had to burn the midnight oil to meets the deadline of an assignment. Cautiously, I surveyed my surroundings but was only greeted by an eerie silence. Instinctively, my mind replayed the scenes from those crime investigation shows where criminals lurked around the corner, waiting to attack unsuspecting victims and a shiver ran down my spine. Hurriedly, I dismissed my thoughts as paranoia and continued my journey.

   It was so cold that night. It was so intense that even with multiple layers of winter clothing, the chill still managed to seep through it, freezing my limbs. Rubbing my palms together, i began a slow jog to keep warm. Halfway down a street, spotting a 24-hour convenient store, I sighed in relief and entered. I stood at the entrance, grateful, as warm air rushed at me, unclenching my stiff muscles. A few minutes later, with a cup of steaming coffee in my hands, i exited the store and into the freezing winter night.

   With the coffee pumping in my system, each step became quicker as my yearning for home grew. I was just turning around the corner when a reflection on the display window of a shop caught my eye. Instantly, I turned around, only to find an empty street staring back at me. That was odd, I was certain that I saw someone a few steps behind me. Someone who was wearing a long black cloak which was obscuring his or her face. Looking at the display window again, I found nothing that suggested what I saw was real. So, i calmed down, blaming my imagination on fatigue. Despite so, deeply bothered, I made a mental note not to walk home alone late at night.

   After what felt like eternity, I finally reached home and was relieved but relief soon turned to horror as i laid eyes on the same cloaked figure, standing at my doorsteps. A wave of dizziness threatened to overcome me as  I was paralysed with fear. My mind screamed, unable to comprehend what was happening. Snapping out of my confused thoughts, I swallowed my fear and opened my eyes and found that the mysterious yet terrifying figure disappeared. Less than a minute ago, he was there but now, it was as if he vanished into thin air. I looked around but there was no sign of the person.

   Later on, I lunged at the door, unlocking in panic. Then i made sure all doors were locked, double-checked the house for signs of break in but there were none. Still shaken, i sank into bed after hastily changing out of my working clothes and kept the lights on. I did not get a wink of sleep that night as my mind was in a turmoil. I never told anyone about it. How could I when I did not even believe what I saw. Until this day, I have no logical explanation for the incident that night. It was truly a strange encounter.

Reading...

   I love reading. Though it has been two years since I read storybooks on a daily basis, whenever I want to,  when i walk past bookshops, I still feel this invisible magnetic force attracting me into its world. My mother sort of banned me from reading because i tend to forget time whenever I read. Funny thing is, none of my family members like reading except me and it's a really really bad thing because none of them understand my passion for reading. They think that reading does not bring any benefits but I say it does. 

   It helps us gain knowledge. Everything you read fills your head with new bits of information, and you never know when it might come in handy. The more knowledge you have, the better-equipped you are to tackle any challenge you’ll ever face. Additionally, here’s a bit of food for thought: should you ever find yourself in dire circumstances, remember that although you might lose everything else—your job, your possessions, your money, even your health—knowledge can never be taken from you.

  

   Reading too helps us to learn new vocabulary and expressions. This goes with the above topic: the more you read, the more words you gain exposure to, and they’ll inevitably make their way into your everyday vocabulary. Being articulate and well-spoken is of great help in any profession, and knowing that you can speak to higher-ups with self-confidence can be an enormous boost to your self-esteem. It could even aid in your career, as those who are well-read, well-spoken, and knowledgeable on a variety of topics tend to get promotions more quickly (and more often) than those with smaller vocabularies and lack of awareness of literature, scientific breakthroughs, and global events.

   There are many other benefits for reading but I will stop here. I can’t wait to start reading again. 

Literature: the most memorable event

                 Based on the novel Step by Wicked Step that I have read, I think the most memorable event is when the students from Stagfire School discovered the dusty green album.

               First of all, I found this event memorable because I felt sympathy for Richard’s condition after his father died. Richard had to bear the pain of losing his father at such a young age. Things get worse when Reverend Coldstone, which is his stepfather exists in his life. Mr. Coldstone treated Richard badly because Richard is not his biological son and he will become a threat to him as Richard is going to inherit his family’s fortune one day. Even though Mr. Coldstone treated Richard badly, Richard’s mother, Lilith did not stand up for her only son. ‘And what did my mother say?’  This causes Richard to become upset because the only person that he can rely on does not stand by his side. Life became even more miserable for Richard when his stepfather sent him to Mordanger School.  Thus, Richard decided to run away from his home.

               In addition, I was deeply touched by Richard’s story as Charlotte is willing to sacrifice her happiness to marry Charles Devere, a rich man whom she did not love to keep the search for Richard. “I do not love him as i know I should…” And so, Charlotte died in fever of early childbirth. “But if I die in fever of childbirth, as so many do, then Charles will send this letter to our old home…” Charlotte made a big sacrifice due to her love towards her brother. Despite Richard’s cruel departure, Charlotte still loved her brother very much. “For you are dearest to me, though you have been so cruel.” Besides, Richard’s mother also loved his son very much even though she was thoughtless about the problems faced by Richard due to her lack of sensitivity. Richard’ mother had to suffer Mr Coldstone’s wrath as money slowly slipped away to finance the search for him. “First mother spent a fortune seeking you and all of us suffered Mr. Coldstone’s anger as money slipped steadily away.” In the end she died of heartache. “Last year she died (of him too close, and you too far.)” This shows that family love is unconditional as family is the only thing that we have since we are born. As the saying goes, blood is thicker than water. Albeit Richard’s thoughtless decision to run way and left both his mother and sister behind, they still love him very much as they are willing to sacrifice for him due to their endless love towards him.

               Lastly, I found that making a decision in life is crucial from Richard’s story. Making decision is crucial as we have to pay a price for it if we made a wrong decision. Richard’s thoughtless decision to run away caused the death of those who he loved. In search of Richard, Lilith spent a fortune and suffered Mr. Coldstone’s wrath. At last, she died of heartbreak. After that, Charlotte entered a loveless marriage to finance the search for him and died in fever of childbirth. I found this event memorable as Richard thoughtless decision had left a huge impact on his family (all his family members died). Richard thought that he had made a right decision at first because he thought that life will become easier for his mother and sister without his existence in the family. He had not thought that the enormous damage that he had brought by losing all his loves ones and left nothing in the end. Thus, we must think twice before making a decision as it will not only affect ourselves but also the people around us.

               In conclusion, I found that the most memorable event is when the students discovered Richard’s diary.  Life was though for Richard after his father died. The way Richard solves his problem by running away from his problem arouse my interest to continue reading it. Even though this story does not have a good ending, the whole story is very interesting and it will always imprint in my mind.

How to reduce pollution?

   Pollution was once thought to be the inevitable price of modernization and industrialization. Today, efforts to reduce environmental pollution are slowly gaining momentum.

   First of all, existing laws and regulations aimed at reducing pollution should be strictly enforced. Toxic waste and fumes from industries are among the major causes of pollution. Instead of dumping of waste and unchecked emission of toxic fumes, industries should be equipped with proper waste-treatment systems. The move towards installing catalytic converters and using lead-free petrol is also commendable, as exhaust fumes from vehicles contribute greatly to air pollution. 

   Another important step to curb pollution is to educate the public on the effects of pollution and how they can help protect the environment. Many people are still ignorant of the effects on the environment due to the use of materials such as aerosol sprays with cholorofluorocarbons, which destroy the ozone layer, or disposable plastic products, which are virtually indestructible. Many people also do not know that plastic, glass and paper can be recycled and thus prevent pollution by reducing waste. when the public is better informed, efforts to reduce pollution will be more effective.

   

   In conclusion, we must all play our role in reducing pollution before it is too late.

Career Day

   Friday, was Career Day. On this day, colleges and universities came to school and set up a booth where they can promote their respective universities.I attended this event three out of my five years in SMKDJ but this year it was a little different compared to the previous years because this was my last year here and after this, I would have to make a decision on which course I would pursue. It could be Cambridge A-levels, Foundation and many others.

   I have always been a very indecisive person and so it is only normal that I have no clear idea regarding which course i would take. And I thought maybe, this Career Day would point me in a right direction but I was so wrong. On the contrary, it made me even more confused. I didn't know what i wanted before that and now, this event had given me even more things to consider. I just walk around, looking for any pamphlets that was stacked on the table which sparked my interest.

   I  remember years ago when my sister was at my age, my whole family went to the Education Fair held in Mid Valley where I nearly dozed off because i couldn't understand what my mother and sister were talking about. Well now, though i have more knowledge about this, i still feel as confused.

   However, now i will put this matter aside and focus on SPM because bad results can't take me far whereas excellant results allows me to choose any colleges and universities i want.

Literature: how a character has changed due to certain events that have taken place

   The novel that I have learned is “Step By Wicked Step” by Anne Fine. In this story, five curious children who was on a trip stumbled upon Richard Harwick’s diary. His sad story prompted them to share their own. And  from there, they not only know each other better, but also discovered that they have many similarities.

   

   Based on the novel, Colin is a character who had changed due to certain events that have taken place in his life. After both him and his mother moved away, left his father, Colin changed into a very unhappy and lonely boy. He had to join a new school when they moved out of their home. “I had to start at another school, where everyone had friends already.” In school, he had to go through unpleasant experiences, got ignored as the students there already had their own friends. “nobody bothered with me, except to snigger when I didn’t understand all the stuff they’d been doing.” To make matters worse, he had no one to confide to his mother who was always busy with her job at the canteen  and with her household chores and had no time to listen to his problems. “Then mum found this job at the canteen and when she comes home she is always too busy doing things to listen to anything I said.” Thus, as a result of not being able to talk to anyone about his unhappiness, he grew unhappy and lonely.

  

   Besides, Colin became a dreamy boy which caused him to have less focus in class and did badly in school. “I started getting trouble at school for being half asleep.” This was because, he missed his dad very much. “I think of him every single day.” Every night, he would take his father’s tobacco tin out of the toe of his boat and put it under his pillow. “Each night, I took the tobacco tin out of the toe of my boot and put it under my pillow. He did this to remind himself of his father. Also, he would hum their favourite song and stay awake talking for hours to his dad. “Then very softly, so Mum wouldn’t hear, I’d hum our favourite song. I’d stay awake for hours, talking to him, although he wasn’t there.” Not seeing his father had caused much heartache to him as such he lose focus in his studies.

   

   Not only that, after moving away from his father, Colin became resourceful. Colin remembered exactly how long was it since he last saw his dad. “Five years, eight months and seven days” He too secretely writes his dad’s name and his old address on school forms. “I always secretely sneak his name and our old address on all forms that Mum’s filled in for the school, to show he still matter and he’s still my dad” To search for his dad, he saved money and even did paper rounds to earn more money. “I keep practically every penny that comes my way. I even do three paper rounds. As soon as I’m tall enough, I’m off.” His meticulous planning shows that he is indeed resourceful and determined to find his father.

   

   In conclusion, his encounter had caused much changes in his life. At first, Colin responded negatively to it and he was often depressed. Then, he managed to channel his energy to do something worthy and that is to search for his father. His newfound goal and longing for his father motivated him to become optimistic, resourceful and patient in his  mission. 

Literature: Compare 2 Characters

   The novel that I have learnt is "Step By Wicked Step" written by Anne Fine. In this story, five children on a trip stumbled upon the diary of Richard Harwick. His sad story prompted the five of them to share their own. From there, they realised that though they did not know each other well, they actually had many similarities.

   Based on the novel, both characters Richard and Colin are quite similar in terms of their actions and experiences. In the story, Richard and Colin's love for their fathers was unquestionable. Also, they missed their father very much since their absence in their lives. The only difference was, Richard's father was dead but Colin's was not. "Sometimes, i sit beside my father's grave...". Whereas in Colin's case, his mother moved them away without his father's knowledge."we moved away". Colin still had a chance to see his father and was searching for him. "I can believe that he is still out there somewhere". Meanwhile, Richard would never see his father again.

   Besides, they were also ignored by their mothers. Both Richard and Colin did not get much attention form their mothers after their fathers disappeared from their lives. In Richard's case, his mother never defended him even when Reverend Coldstone mistreated him. "Is this how my mother defended us? No it was not." Whereas Colin's mother was not aware and did not bother to know how much he missed his dad because she was too busy working at the canteen and doing household chores. "She was always too busy to listen to anything I said" As a result, neither one of them could feel their mothers' love.

   Not only that, as they faced much difficulties in their lives, which affected them emotionally, both Richard and Colin decided to run away to make things work. Richard resorted to run away from home in hopes that his absence would make life more pleasant for everyone. "Perhaps you would all live out your fairy tale more happily without the black clouds I bring!" On the other hand, Colin planned to run away to find his father. "As soon as I'm tall enough, I'm off." In the end, Richard realised that running away did not solve anything but made everything worse. Colin did three paper rounds to save money to search for his father. "You see, I'm saving up now. I even do three paper rounds."

   In conclusion, the two characters suffered much pain and sorrow when their fathers disappeared from their lives. What made matters even worse was that they felt nobody cared for them. There was no one they can turn to for comfort and advice, thus, prompting their decision to run away. Evidently, Richard's story taught us that running away does not solve everything in fact, it can affect the people around us. Therefore, we need to think twice before making a serious decision.

In what ways has National Service benefitted the participants?

     National Service is a common name for compulsory government service. Most dreaded being selected to participate in National Service but those who went for National Service gained much experience too. In many ways, it has changed them and brought them many benefits. 

     One of the benefits of National Service is that it makes a person more independent. At the warmth of home, everything has been thought out thoroughly by our parents, our clothes washed by employed maids, food prepared on the table, beds kept tidy by employed maids or our mothers. We never really experience being truly independent, not relying on others at all. When an individual is dumped into the campsite, they have to do everything themselves from that second. Forced into a situation like that, they are left with no choice but to do everything themselves.

     Besides, it too helps to train participants to be stronger and tougher both physically and mentally. Marching every day under the hot sun sure is a way to train someone to be stronger. Besides, with the tight rules and regulations and the schedules, participants are trained to be more discipline. If they do something wrong they will be punished. 

     Therefore, people should scrap off their misunderstanding that National Service is unbeneficial because it is so not. 

If I was given the opportunity to learn one skill free of charge... What skill would i choose?

     If  I was given an opportunity to learn a skill free of charge, i would choose to learn a foreign language. I do not know the real reason behind that choice but i find that learning a new language is so exciting and appealing. Maybe it's because that meant I can rattle of in French or Spanish or Japanese or Italian and nobody would know what i'm talking about here in Malaysia that is so funny. I know it sounds ridiculous but that is how i see it ever since I'm young. Anyway, learning a foreign language does have its benefits too.

     Learning a foreign language boosts brain power and improves multi-tasking. A foreign language is a whole new system with distinct rules, etymology, and meaning, which are just a few of the complexities of a language. Learning a new one puts the brain to task by recognizing this new language structure. As the brain works out meaning and makes full use of this new arsenal to express ideas, it sharpens skills on reading, negotiating, and problem-solving. As for multi-tasking, it is not easy for those who are not skilled at it.People who are multilingual are proficient at slipping from one tongue to another, one language system to another totally different language mechanics. This is a very distracting and demanding work, not only for the tongue and language faculties, but especially for the brain. People who have developed this are highly proficient multi-taskers and commit very minimal error when juggling various activities. 

     Besides, it also makes a person to be more open to other cultures. Since a language is a doorway to a particular culture, learning a new language enables a person to have a broader understanding of that race or culture. Opening up to a culture allows you to be more flexible and appreciative of other ways of doing and looking at things. As a result, if you are multilingual, you have the advantage of seeing the world from different vantage points. In today’s interconnectedness, this is a valuable tool.

     Not only that, it too builds confidence. Self-confidence is a natural consequence after summing all benefits of learning a new language. By simply mastering one skill, the other faculties are developed. People tend to gravitate around multilingual people because of their skills; others simply find the polyglots’ openness and quick-mindedness naturally attractive.

What are the preparations for a first job interview?

     Nowadays, the highest qualifications can't land you a job. University graduates are often called in for sessions of interview before it is decided whether you are chosen or not. Well, i know many often say do not judge a book by its cover but i believe that is not possible. This is because it is in human nature that we judge a person when we first meet them, whether we like it or not, because we do it subconsciously.  Hence, it is important to make a good impression on the interviewer at your job interview.

     One of a few tips in excelling in your interview is to dress professionally, of course. Dressing professionally shows that you want this job, that you are willing to try your hardest to make it work. I mean you would be crazy to go to a job interview in your casual clothes, right? the interviewer will think that you just couldn't be bothered and immediately cross your name out of the list of potential candidates.

     Besides that, we should be polite and enthusiastic. Who would want to have a disrespectful worker in their company? Well as for enthusiastic, a candidate who shows enthusiasm and passion in something will appeal more to anyone rather than a candidate who has a cool unwelcoming demeanor and only nods and answer one's question in yes or no.

     Also, a trick i learnt from a teacher is, when they ask you something and you don't know the answer to it, you should say something related to the question though you are not answering the question instead of saying the three word i don't know. Some would say that being honest is good but being able to save yourself from a difficult situation is all the more impressive than being honest.

How can disciplinary problems in schools be solved?

     Discipline is of utmost importance in schools. Without it, a school will be in an utter mess. Therefore it is crucial that we find ways to solve disciplinary problems in schools to create a conducive environment for students to study and learn.

     One of the many ways of improving discipline are schools is to counsel problematic students. Counselling plays an important role as it enables counsellors to understand their feelings and hardships, making solving a problem a lot easier and more effective. Through counselling, the counsellors can lend an ear while students would think that they are not alone, that someone understands them. By doing so, problematic students may turn over a new leaf.

     Besides that, the school should encourage students to participate in extra curricular activities. Students especially adolescences are a bundle full of energy and if they channel it on useful things such as extra curricular activities, they would have less free time in their hands and will not be looking for trouble out of boredom. Also, these activities are  educational. From these activities, students will learn numerous values such as discipline, responsibility.

     In conclusion, if all steps are implemented, disciplinary problems can be solved.
   

What is a major cause of stress to teenagers?

     Stress is such a common thing in a life of such a competitive society nowadays. So much so that it is almost impossible to not feel stress in our lives. Society has changed significantly from the olden days and it is right in front of us for all to see. As a teenager, I too feel the stress of a fast paced city life. There are many aspects that causes stress to teenagers and I believe that it is usually academic related.

     Nowadays, news about university graduates failure to get a job even though equipped with inpressive achievements has everyone on edge. Teenagers fight hard to obtain good results so they can enter college and university and then have a job. I 'm sure you can see the mundane cycle right? And so, we have to work crazy hard, some goes to so many tuition that we don't even have sufficient time to rest or sleep. Thus, all our hobbies and sports are neglected in our goal to excel in our academics. And of course, for us pure science students, we juggle with so many subjects that it is difficult to keep track of everything. Especially nearing the exams,  we feel even more stressed out.

     I remember a few years ago, when my sister took a-levels in Taylors College, she was constantly in a bad mood. She was like a ticking time bomb, one wrong move she would lash out. Her routine everyday was just come back from college, sleep until dinner. After dinner, sit in the studyroom and study until God knows how late during the night. Her past year question papers are nearly the thickness of the Oxford dictionary and that is only for one semester. Of course she never finished it. Seeing her like this, I am afraid to go to college.I don't think I have the ability to study like her. But in the end, she got  a pretty good results (as usual).

     I guess that sometimes we just have to be smart and overcome our stress. I mean, people always say the bad days won't last and eventually the sun will shine again. So I guess we will just have to hold on to that hope and hope for the best.

The Freedom Writers Diary

     A few weeks ago, we were brought to the theater room in the library to watch a movie called " The Freedom Writers Diary ". At the beginning of the movie, i felt the movie was familiar due to the plot and then it hit me, I watched this movie when i was really young. Too young to comprehend the true hidden meaning in the movie. Much to my dismay, i forgot most of the plot and could only remember snippets of it.

     Now older, i realised that peace among the people of a nation is hard to get and is as rare as diamond. Hence, it should be treasured. Our differences whether in our culture or whatever it is drives a wall between us, separating us. Erin, a new teacher, faced a dilemma when she was given a class of students who hate each others guts. All attempts to teach the class was fruitless because there was a bitter seed planted in the core of their very being. They felt that nobody can understand their hardships and nobody could care less about them. Because of that, they hated the sight of each other and lost interest in studying.

     However, Erin or i should say Ms Gruwell was relentless. Again she tried to show the students that they are not so different. By  showing them their similarities through a game she invented called " The Line Game", their outer shell slowly cracked open and they were willing to give their teacher and themselves a chance. Slowly, Ms Gruwell slowly gained their trust and they too learnt to trust each other as new and unexpected friendships were borned.

     The movie showed that a peaceful nation is not an impossible task. Just that it requires immense effort from everyone. With determination and passion, i believe nothing is unachievable.

Have Mercy.....

   Yesterday night, I stumbled upon a something both disturbing and saddening while watching the news. Hundreds of thousands of seals were killed by the Canadians for their fur and blubbers. Pictures of seal hunters swinging their weapons, whether it was a knife or harps whatever, ready to kill those poor defenceless seals were plastered all over the news. What was even more outrage was the Canadian government actually allows such inhumane actions. They actually gave a green light for almost half a million seals to be killed for their fur, pelts and blubber. The pictures that were shown was heartbreaking. The ice was dotted bloody red as a result of the mass killing of the seals at the end of the day. Those seal hunters showed no mercy at all as they brought their weapons down upon the poor creatures as if they were non-living things, nothing but a waste of space.(I actually thought of showing some pictures but decided that it is far too inconsiderate of me if i do so)

    I was angry. I could not believe what i saw at first. Nowadays, people are talking about saving the endangered species of animals and now they are killing seals as if there are many of them left. Due to climate change, baby seals drown because of the melting of the icebergs, the loss of their habitat, making it harder for them to survive. Now whenever i think of animal rights and how we should protect them, I see the gruesome image of seals lying in a sea of blood on ice. Is this really how we should treat animals? NO! It is selfish and downright cruel for us to kill other creatures just to earn more money. How can they shove the money into their pockets without feeling the weight of guilt and consciences tearing them apart? I do not know. What i know is yes, there may be reasons behind their actions but i do not see how any reason can justify what they did. I hope that this cruel actions of killing and hunting down animals stops once and for all.

19 hours of non-stop computer games... Really?.

     I happened to stumble upon a news about how a man died from 19 hours of non-stop computer games yesterday while my father was watching his daily news at 10.30pm. News like this does not shock or surprise me anymore as it was frequently reported in the news. I cannot understand what so fascinating about computer games. Maybe it is because I have never been introduced to the world of computer games but really? 19 whole hours of non-stop video games? Its really too much. And the worst part is some manage to exceed the 19 hour duration. 

     If I am being honest, i would say it scares me, to know that the misuse of technology has brought us so much harm despite its benefits. It also made me realize how much the world has changed. My parents are not too fond of all this technology stuff especially smart phones. They always thought that dinner time is a special time where we could all talk and chit chat and stuff. Therefore, my dad does not allow my sister and I to use our phones during meal time even while waiting for the food to arrive. If we use our phone a little bit too long, he would ask us to keep our phones away. They too always comment on how parents often use their smart phones and i-pad to entertain their toddler causing them to be dependant to it since young age. I often wonder when I grow up, how will the world change and i hope it is for the better.

Mood

     Description of mood and emotions are crucial while writing an essay for it adds live and clarity to your writing. Without it, one's essay would be dry and detached, causing the readers' lack of understanding to the content of your essay and also lose interest to it. To write a good essay, one must not only have good language, no grammatical mistakes, but also mood to give examiners or readers further comprehension to the vibe you wish to create in your essay. 

      I still remember what my tuition teacher said when she taught us of the ways that will earn us the grade A+ in our paper. She encourages us to read because that is the only way we can learn how to write. We are not writers, she said, so we cannot create our own phrases to describe mood or emotions because it will turn out awkward and sometimes people might not understand it. And so i read and gradually my writing improved. To describe mood, I put myself in the shoe of the character based on the situation i am writing about. Then, I ransacked my brain for any useful and appropriate phrases I learnt from the storybooks and put it in, all the while keeping in mind that I must maintain a certain maturity in my writing. And that is how i create mood in my essays. 

What I dislike about Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day

    Both Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day are joyful and an occasion to remember for it bring us much happiness. As for the Chinese New Year, it is the time for families to come together, to enjoy each other's companies, and for the children, to collect the much treasured ang paos. Meanwhile, for Valentine's Day, it is the time for lovers to express their gratitude and love to each other. Friends may also seize the opportunity to thank each other for their support. 

     Where there are likes, there are dislikes. What I dislike about Chinese New Year is, when everyone starts bickering or someone is in a bad mood. I'm pretty sure everyone experiences this. When people gets edgy or frustrated while doing something, which is often during festive season, it causes a tense atmosphere where someone might snap and start raising their voices. I really hate it when this happens because it is a festive season and nobody should be unhappy and it ruins the festive mood. As for Valentine's Day, I hate  it where people is too materialistic to realise the true meaning of this special day. Sure a bouquet of roses or a dinner at a fancy restaurant is fine but what is the meaning of it if you do not comprehend the real meaning for Valentine's Day?

Historical Events

On my birthday, 3rd of October, many historical events happened:

     During the year 1863, the 16th president of the United States of America, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November Thanksgiving Day which  is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. 

     Besides, in 1952, Great Britain tests its first atomic bomb on the Monte Bello Islands, off the Northwest coast of Australia. Britain developed its own atom bomb to remain a great power and avoid complete dependence on the United States, which was refusing to share atomic information.

    Meanwhile, in 1990, Germany is reunited as a single country, ending 45 years of division following World War II and Cold War. The end of the unification process is officially referred to as German unity (German: Deutsche Einheit), celebrated on 3 October.

      In 1993, Boris Yeltsin declares state of emergency in Moscow. On October 3, 1993, the feud between the Parliament and the President of Russia in Moscow turned into an armed clash. President Boris Yeltsin imposed a state of emergency. To fight the opposition, tanks entered the capital and the shelling of the White House began the following day.

        Lastly, in the year 2013, 325 people are killed after a migrant ship catches fire and shipwrecks of the coast of Lampedusa, Italy. On 3 October 2013, a boat carrying migrants from Libya to Italy sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa. It was reported that the boat had sailed from Misrata, Libya, but that many of the migrants were originally from Eritrea, Somalia and Ghana. An emergency response involving the Italian Coast Guard resulted in the rescue of 155 survivors.

How do i feel?

     Starting of the year 2015, to much of the students' horror, schooling hours have been extended. It is , without a doubt, an absolute nightmare for all students. Never before have we have class until nearly 3 p.m. in all our life and it caused much dissatisfaction among students of SMK Damansara Jaya. Many of my friends, including me of course are obviously whining and ranting about it during the first week of school, being it the first week of school.

     Why do we hate this? Well obviously, who likes staying back in school? No one, of course. And the weather is so hot during the afternoon that sitting in class is literally like sitting in the oven. Not only that, the new schooling hours caused disruptions to our meal time. That is because, we have to skip lunch as class ends at 2.40 p.m. for some days and some have to wait until dinner, enduring empty stomachs. Besides, longer school hours means more homework and less time at home to complete it and so, our homework from Monday to Friday began to pile up as we are unable to complete all of it. When the weekends finally arrived, instead of being overjoyed. we have to complete our enormous, mountain-like amount of homework.



   

INTI Science Quest 2015

     Yesterday, along with some close friends, I attended a workshop called Science Quest 2015 organised by INTI college. The Suubang Jaya campus, refurbished just a few years ago, was new and modern, their facilities up to date. The student helpers took us on a tour around the school and we were stunned by their facilities such as their gigantic auditorium, multi-purpose hall and their organised, equipment-filled labaratories. We were all excited to be able to see and observe the surroundings where we might be to further our education after secondary school.

     Though it was very fun and ecstatic to spend time with my friends outside the school compound and also to meet new students from other schools and to form new friendships, the workshop somehow did not quite live up to my expectations. Perhaps my expectations are too high. I thought they would be filling our minds with information and facts that we never knew but that was noot what happened. We just did chemistry experiments like the ones we would have done in school. Of course, they did organised a activity where we had to look for clues on a crossword puzzle which led to us finding the culprit who presumably stole school property. Other than that, i felt like we did not accomplish much during our workshop. It was definately fun, trying our best to solve the puzzle as quickly as possible in order to be the first group to solve the mystery but i felt there was something missing.

     Nonetheless, i did not regret attending the workshop as it gave me a chance to be more sociable and break out of my shell. Even though i did not enjoy it as much as i thought, i am grateful that INTI college organised this workshop.

     December last year, a devastating flood hit the east coast of Malaysia. Its was said to be one of the most catastrophic floods in Malaysian history. Many lost their home, belongings, everything as their homes were destroyed by the vicious waters that evaded their village. In their desperate attempts to head to higher grounds, to save themselves from the flood, they left behind all their belongings. According to the victims there, it happened in the blink of an eye. The water level rose so quickly that if they did not immediately leave, they would be swept away by the merciless waves. 

     In order to aid the flood victims during the aftermath of the flood, those who are kind-hearted offered their help by generously giving donations like money, clothes or food but some, just seize the opportunity to get rid of their unwanted, ruined belongings like torn clothes and expired food. Their actions are obviously inappropriate and immoral. Knowing that some of us who did this at the time of hardship is demotivating not only to me but also to the victims to the flood. Therefore, we should not add salt to wounds.

     I hope that the victims would recover from this tragedy soon. My prayers and thoughts are with them.