Reflection

        

    We can never bring back the time that had passed and undo the things we've done. But we can still cut the wrong doings we have and continue to strive more until the very last.

            Third grading period is about to end again. Comparing this grading period and the previous one, I can say that I really improved. I put an effort and I sacrificed a lot. I attended my classes regularly and made it a point not to be absent. I also passed my requirements on time. I really learned a lot from my mistakes during the previous grading and I’m glad that it served as a lesson which I have employed diligently during the third grading period. Even if I was quite hard up to apply some of our lessons, I still tried to explore it on my own. Fortunately, I was able to know it. It just needs a period of time and of course, a little patience.

            To sum it all, 3^rd  grading period was a lot better than the previous one. But, its time to say goodbye and welcome the very last grading of our high school life. Let us continue what we have started. It’s the last! Remember? Let’s make the most out of it because we can never bring back time. So, while the clock is still tick-tick-ticking, do everything you can. Be good, be better, be the best!

NEW YEAR, NEW ME

THE START OF SOMETHING NEW

            Since childhood, or should I say since I started schooling, I have been asked to write about my New Year’s resolution. For school compliance, I would then start enumerating things that I would want to change about myself, most especially concerning my attitudes. But as I grew older, I honestly would admit that my New Year’s resolutions were only good for a few days, or weeks, perhaps. What then is the importance of having to list down things for change when I could not even fulfil even half of the list?

Now that I am sixteen, about to enter my college life, now that I  am older, I have grown more mature as with regards to my whole being as a person. I guess it is time to bid goodbye to my childish manners and see things realistically. I have to be honest, I did not make any list this New Year. I guess change has to come from within, not basing change to the list we make. I admit am not a perfect person, as anybody else is. But for now, I guess I have to exert more effort so that I would become a better person.

For now, instead of making list about my New Year’s resolution, I have made a list of what I would want to become someday. I have made a list of  how I can attain my goals in life. Young as I am, sweet sixteen as they say, I can say I have achieved so much than any other teenager has my age. So many opportunities have come my way, so much achievements have been made. But I do not want to stop there. It is not that I have never content myself with my achievements, but I would want some achievements of mine as my stepping-stones in achieving my goals in life.

This year, I really would say, “Hey, it’s New Year! You will see a new me!”. Still there were times when I get a little bit irritable at home or sometimes I go back to my childish ways at home, but perhaps, those manners are because of the pressures I get…rushing up projects and other school requirements. But things would again change when I started preparing myself for sleep. Although my mind and body was tired for the day’s activities, I would just smile and say to myself, “What a day! It’s another day that passed, and tomorrow would be new one. I would then rest for tonight in preparation for a new day tomorrow.”

Yes, I have become a new person. I have grown more mature. I have bidden goodbye to most of my childish manners, I have started seeing things positively, I have become a stronger person. Well I guess I needed those attitudes so that I can say that I am truly prepared for my college life. I wanted to become a pediatrician someday. If I continue the things that I have mentioned earlier, then I am confident that I will succeed someday.

TRUE ESSENCE OF CHRISTMAS 

          When the month of September comes, people would say, “Hey, -ber months have arrived, it’s Christmas!” People start decorating their houses with Christmas trees and Christmas lanterns. They would spend much of their money buying different kinds of Christmas decorations, from Christmas trees to Christmas lanterns to Christmas lights and many other more. Others would start buying new dresses that they would use on Christmas day. Others start buying gifts for their loved ones. Still others would start buying groceries for their “Noche Buena”. Well I guess the true spirit of Christmas could not be felt from those activities mentioned above. Where does the true essence of Christmas lie?

          “People making list, buying special gifts, taking time to be kind to one and all. It’s the time of year when good friends are dear and you wish you could give more than just presents from the store…”  Are you familiar with those lines? Yes, those are the lines from the first verse of the song “Give Love on Christmas Day.”  For me, the song gives the perfect description on the true and real essence of Christmas…give love on Christmas day. But where did this love started and where did it come from?

         

Let us analyze the word Christmas. We see from the word the name of Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus Christ was born on December 25, Christmas day. Christ was born out of love and because of love. He was born out of love and because of love…”For God so loved the world that He gave His only son…” Yes, God loves humankind, although man was already drowning with sin. He gave us His only son Jesus Christ so that humankind will be saved from sin.

Let us reminisce once more how Jesus Christ was born. Mother Mary gave birth on the desert. Jesus was born in a lowly manger. No comfortable bed, no air-conditioned room. Jesus had nothing when He came out into this world. What does this imply? It shows humility…it shows simplicity. I do not say it’s bad to decorate our house with expensive decorations during Christmas season, but there are more important things that we should think about other than buying those expensive ornaments. Let us be humble and simple, just like JESUS when He was born.

Where does this tradition of gift giving during Christmas started? Remember the visitors of Jesus when He was born…the three kings? They brought their gifts to a newborn whom they believed to be the King of all kings. They have showed the very first example of gift giving on Christmas Day.

What I am trying to say is that the true essence of Christmas does not lie on how extravagant we spend on our clothes, how expensive the ornaments and decorations we buy, how big or small our gifts are…it is on thinking about Jesus and taking Him as our example not only during Christmas Day but also everyday. Just like what the song say, “Give love on Christmas Day.” But please, let us not stop giving love on Christmas. Let us give love everyday of our life so that we may find peace, joy, and happiness in our life.

EQUAL RIGHTS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

When I saw the title of this piece, what comes to my mind is equality among and between men and women, among the rich and the poor, among those belonging to the third sex, equality among humanity. Yes, there were times in the past when the men enjoyed more opportunities than women. There was also a time when those who belong to the third sex were not allowed certain opportunities most especially in work.

Men and women, including those belonging to the third sex, were born equal. All of us were born the same, no matter how rich or how poor we are, either boy or girl, we were born the same. Not anyone was born wearing a dress, not anyone was born with a golden spoon in the mouth. Even the gays and the lesbians, they were also born like anyone of us, just like Jesus when He was born in the manger, bare and naked.

I am happy that now a days we no longer experience what people centuries and even decades ago have experienced. Before, women’s right were very limited. Women were not allowed any political position. Before women were only allowed to stay home. They were not allowed to find a job and work. But now, we see women politicians, we even see lady lawyers, lady engineers and architects, lady soldiers and policewomen. This is a clear indication that the societies we live have opened their doors in giving equal rights and opportunities to both men and women, even those belonging to the third sex.

If equal rights are given to both men and women, including the gays and the lesbians, we are assured of equal opportunities in this world. It would be unfair if certain rights were given only to certain people. If a man or a lesbian can do it, there are also women and gays who can do the same. There are even instances wherein a woman can do better than a man is. If all in this world gives equal opportunities to every human being, then equal rights would be given to them. If this is so, then we can be assured of a peaceful world to live in, with no insecurities to destroy the minds of people. 

CLIMATE CHANGE

         

 Have anyone heard the Tagalog song “Kapaligiran’ by the group Asin? The song clearly describes the environment now…the dirty air we breathe, the poisoned rivers and seas. Where are the lush forests, the rich mountains? The song even says that birds no longer have trees where they build their nests. Yes, our environment now is very much different from what our ancestors have centuries ago.

          They say God created the world as a paradise where humankind would live harmoniously and in abundance. God created trees to give us shelter and food. God created the seas to give water to drink and where aquatic animals could live and grow so that they, too, can provide us food to eat. But where are these precious gifts that god gave us? We can see bareheaded mountains, no green and tall trees covering it. We see dark and oily waters rather than clear blue waters from our rivers and seas. We see floating garbage and dead fishes rather than abundant swimming aquatic animals. We can no longer smell the sweet fragrance of the early morning mist, but the polluted air from the factories and smoke-belching vehicles.

          It is true, the world has changed a lot. Man has become wiser. He has invented so many things that give him a more comfortable living. But is it worth it? Despite the comfort that we now feel, what do we notice in our atmosphere? We now experience rainfall and even typhoons even during the months of December, which is very unusual for us since rainy seasons do not reach the month December. Have we not also noticed how scorchingly it goes? So many types of skin diseases have come out because of the climate change.

          Yes, climate change is now occurring because of the thinning of the ozone layer. What is the ozone layer? The ozone layer is the protective layer in the atmosphere that covers the earth from the dangerous air beyond it. The ozone layer is now so thin and that we can now feel the bed effects of it. But how come the ozone layer has thinned so rapidly.

          Because man has become so wise, he has invented almost everything to provide comfortable living to mankind. Yes, comfortable living, but not safe enough to feel comfortable in the end. Man never thought of the ill effects of such progress. Man has only thought of it now that it is felt.

          Let us do our share in protecting the ozone layer. Let us all do our share in protecting the world we live in. Let us save Mother Earth. Let us save humankind.

Reflection..........Reflection..........Reflection..........

As the first semester draws to a closure, I have only yet to be worried on how the outcome is going to be. For this second grading period a lot has happened but not in the four walls of the school. I got engaged to more extracurricular activities this grading period with speech choirs, investigatory science projects defense and also, beauty pageant.

As they say, real knowledge is attained by experience. I was quite fatigued and drained by how hectic my activities where but it was overwhelming due to the positive results. Still there was that notion in which I was worried about how to cope in class. 

Academics are still what are important in the composition of my grade. I was quite hard up, tears were shed, and a feeling of giving up was there. Luckily, I had friends to help and I am that person who struggles first and does everything first except to give up. I have passed some requirements marked late but at least there is the effort. I was not content with the composition of some of my projects because some were rushed and hastily made. 

There are more aspects to be improved in me. In this grading period, the activities taught me to be more persevering and more time efficient. Even though I did not attend some classes, I should have done advanced research and not always relying on my teachers.

Upholding English Proficiency for Communicative Competence

More than six billion people compose the planet Earth up to this date, with individuals coming from different regions and countries. How can they connect? Through what is called as LANGUAGE. 

It is said the language is the most used medium in communicating with fellow individuals today. According to my research, there are about 7000 more or so distinct languages that keep people connected to one another. Due to the vastness of the Earth and more than one language established all around the world, how can we understand others from foreign countries? Simple, establish a language to be learned by all, the most famous linguistics that is famous all over the globe, ENGLISH. 

To learn a new language is quite hard for some and alien to many, especially those from different mother tongues and with different literacy rates. The Philippines for example is comprised of so many regional dialects aside from “Filipino” the national language. To learn yet another language could be quite difficult. I am a Pilipino in which I am a firsthand witness on hard it is to establish and teach English especially to those more fluent in “Filipino” or “Ilokano” here in Ilocos Sur. It is quite difficult for some because some are not quite interested to learn the language especially teenagers like me. 

This brings us the dilemma that we have to solve now. Evidently, if there is no communication prior to the understanding of many, there wouldn’t be any unison that may lead to other hostilities among nations. 
Solution? Proper education and practiced. Language can be learned in school but it must be continued also at home. Activities like this blog should be established so that we’ll know the importance to learn English so that someday we’ll be nationally or better yet globally competitive in speaking the language. 

Once these skills are acquired, we are now safe to say that we are one-step closer to global unity and competitive. United through linguistics, through the people engaged in the learning of English, this vision of global competence may be achieved.