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.
Saturday, 9 May 2015
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.
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.
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.
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.
Friday, 8 May 2015
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.
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.
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.
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