Greek Creation Trailer

In class, we were asked to make a trailer about a creation myth. I chose a Greek creation myth. So, without further ado, here it is:

Grade 6 Reflection of Epicossity

This past year has been amazing! It's been my first Malaysia Week, I've made many new friends, learnt new things, gone on several field trips and have had fun at the same time. Now, as the end of the year approaches, it is time to reflect:

1. What piece of work and learning are you most proud? Explain.

In my opinion, I would think that my best project would be my paleolithic to neolithic comic done in the second trimester. It involved me doing a small 8 to 10 panel comic that required me to explain the changes from paleo to neo time periods. While some others used Comic Life or Rooster Teeth comic design websites, I used bitstrips as I was more familiar with the overall system. I made my own characters and designed them to look similar to early man. I took me two full days and nights to complete it but it was well-worth the hard work to see the results.

2. What were your greatest challenges? Explain.

Definitely the stress factor over the few months. Its not easy when you have to Tic-Tac-Toe Projects while working on your E-Portfolio. Then, there's also homework from other classes. Juggling Math, Humanities, Science, Drama and IT assignments in a few days won't exactly help you sleep soundly at night. That's why you NEVER leave your homework to the last minute. Always plan and strategize which piece of homework you are going to complete first.

3. Reflecting on your growth this year, what did you learn about yourself as a learner?

I learnt that I am more of a kinesthetic learner rather than being visual or auditory. I prefer if the instructions are shown to me. Also, thanks to the learning profiles, I now know that I am an A learner. An A learner is someone who prefers directions given to them in organized, structured manners. And I know that definitely true, as I learn better with a graph or a chart rather than seeing a diagram or listening to the assignment.

a) Behavior

Could be improved.

Explanation:I think that I tend to daydream or talk to my friends when my teacher is talking so, I really need to stop this habit. Maybe I could try sitting on front of the class and train myself to be alert and attentive when the teachers are talking.

b) Participation

Satisfactory

Explanation: I try my best to participate in class as often I can. Whether it's answering questions or volunteering to get the cart, most of the time, my hand is up. Besides that, participation also applies during homework and I usually turn in my assignments so I'm not too worried about this.

c) Organization

Needs serious help

Explanation: I am as organized as a rat's den. My books are messy, pages are torn, P.E attire are everywhere and my stationery are just scattered around like debris after a storm. If you want proof, check my locker, but I warn you, it's not a pretty sight.

d) Effort

Satisfactory

Explanation: I do my best and am proud of it. " Every piece of work deserves effort. " That's my motto. I complete the assignment, re-check it and go above and beyond the expectations. In the end, the hard work always pays off.

5. Based upon your reflections, write two personal learning goals for Grade 7 next year.

Goal 1 - In Grade 7, I plan to work harder and live up to my and my parents' expectations. I want them to be proud of me. To achieve this, I need to work harder and more effectively. I must use technique that can help me improve as a learner, academically, socially and physically.
Get my GPA higher, lose some weight and make new friends.

Goal 2 - In Grade 7, I plan to get myself more organized. Try cleaning out my locker once every 3 days or maybe install some pockets in my locker where I can store my stationery in. Organization is key in school. It's much easier to do your homework when you actually know where it is.

6.Is there any more information about yourself that you would like the teachers to know?

Actually, I think that nothing's left to know. This year has been my first and it's been the greatest. The teachers have already known everything there is to know about me. I'm happy and prepared. What else is there to know about?

7. Finally, cast your minds back to the first few months of middle school (when you arrived in Grade 6 ) what "Words of Wisdom" or "Advice" could you pass on to the Class of 2018?

Don't worry. The year's gonna be great. Your going to have fun, meet new people, see new things and experience new things. Cherish every second. Focus on your studies but have fun at the same time.

It's been a fun year, but everything has to end. This is Alex, the master of disaster, signing out...

Letter to the Mom and Dad... No, it's not blackmail...

Dear Mom and Dad,

This letter is the hardest thing for me to write. I want you to know that above anything else, I respect and honor you and as I have lately discovered, even love you and Lily. Before you become upset at my choice of words, or rather the lack of precision, permit me to state exactly how I feel. This letter comes from my heart and not from some regulation or code that has been expected of me.

You see, Mom and Dad, I've changed quite a bit over the past year. You may have noticed that I keep more to myself and contribute little to our nightly conversations. You may even have heard my footsteps sneaking over to Gabriel's bed at night to comfort him. The thing is, I have had experiences and feelings in the course of my training of becoming a Giver which opened up new worlds of pleasure and pain. It is hard for you to understand exactly how the training could have changed me so much, but it did and I am now about to make a move that may cause you grief and sadness, perhaps even, dishonor. For this, I apologize and beg for your forgiveness.

Tomorrow, I intend to remove myself away from this Community. I have also decided to bring Gabriel along with me. I think deep down, you know why that Gabe has to follow me. I know what the Community has decided to do with him and I just simply can't let that happen. I have come to the stage where I believe strongly that only the individual can decide his own fate and that he alone should bear the consequences of his actions. This may sound very strange and disturbing to you, but given what I now know, I believe that this is the only cause of action available to me. Again, I wish for your kind understanding.

We shall be long gone by the time you read this letter. I am not at liberty to say where we are going, but I hope that you might find it in your hearts to give me some kind of head start before notifying the authorities. I realize that eventually, they send search parties for us. Knowing what I do know now, I can tell you that their mission is not to rescue us but to " release " both Gabriel and I. The elders are aware that I know too much and may imprison me for a long time before finally releasing me once they've selected an new Receiver-in-training. This fate to me, is worse than death itself. So, now, you know why I have to leave and don't wish to be found. I cannot return to this place anymore.

Yes, this place I once called home to me now, is nothing more than a prison. A prison for my body in which I have no say over anything at all. Worse, a prison for my mind in which nothing is real and all emotions are withheld. Do you know Mom and Dad, that without emotions, we are no longer able to perceive colors? Colors!! The world used to be a colorful place, full of reds, yellows and the brightest greens. Without emotions, we lack the need for freedom and options. Through the Giver, I have experienced the memories of the greatest joys and deepest sorrows. By my going, these memories will revert to the Community and it is then up to everyone to decide what to do with them. For the first time, each and everyone of us will be given a choice to do what is right for him or her. I sincerely believe that all of us are able to choose to do what is right. And by doing so, experience life to the fullest.

I have to go now. Know that I will be forever grateful to both of you for raising me up to be what I am today. You once said that you were ' proud ' of me and ' enjoyed ' me, but, here let me say that on my part, I love you both very much. I hope that one day, you will understand that this is something that I have to do. Maybe on that someday, we will meet again. And I hope that you will be just as proud of me as you once were.

Lastly, no matter what the future brings, do remember that my thoughts are always with you and Lily and that you have my undying gratitude. Goodbye..

Your son,

Jonas

What the freedom?!

In Chapter 16, Jonas was torn between his need for security and order in his life and his desire to experience the new world of memories, emotions and personal choice. " He returned each day to the Annex room." The Giver presented his favorite memory to Jonas, the one where love and the affection of the family during Christmas became the overriding emotions. These two concepts, love and family, were foreign to Jonas before he met the Giver as were the ideas of choice and personal freedom. Even when overwhelmed by the good feelings, Jonas through his years of training in leading the so-called perfect life, could find fault as in the case of the risks associated with the glowing hearth. ( page 122 ) He became aware that he was taught to view love in a negative way, " A dangerous way to live. " ( page 126 ) For members of his strict society, families are provided for and there is no freedom for expression or choice. Upon realizing this, Jonas wanted his adopted brother, Gabriel, to experience feelings and see colors, " Each night, he gave memories to Gabriel. " ( page 128 ) These memories were once of happiness and Jonas attempted to connect these memories to the emotions of love for Jonas believed that the two are inseparable.

The second point concerns Jonas's decision not to take his pill. It is presumed that the pills are meant to keep his emotions and drive in check. Because he had experienced the memories of love, friendship and attraction, he decided to throw the pills away and to allow his body to develop freely in order for it to reach its fullest potential. Here, it can be seen that Jonas has taken the first step in removing himself from the rigid regulations imposed by his society. He has consciously made a decision to be different and by doing so, has become an outsider. After this moment, his view of his entire world had changed and he came to realize how trapped the others were through their own making. At this stage, I would say that Jonas's mind had tasted freedom and craved for more.

I'm just gonna LIE down...

Well, I believe that the reason why Jonas finds the instruction about lying so disturbing is because he has not done it before. Jonas and everyone else in the community, are too used to obeying the rules, following them to the letter. Of course, there are little white lies, like the underaged children learning how to ride a bicycle before their Ceremony of Nine. But, overall, nothing majorly serious.

In Jonas's daily life, from the moment he wakes up till the time he retires to bed, he is constantly reminded that he needs to speak the truth at all times. This has been an overriding principle ever since he was born and Jonas believes that lying goes against the very institution of living in such a structured community. It is not surprising that Jonas's reaction at being permitted to lie was one of being incredulous because the analogy would be for someone in the modern world to be given the license to kill. Deep in his heart, Jonas hopes that it would never have to come to this.

But as the story progresses, he finds that lying has become a necessary evil. He needed to maintain a calm exterior for his parents' sake while his heart and mind underwent tremendous changes. He reasons that the most convenient way to resolve his inner conflicts is to by way of lying which was difficult initially, but became almost natural later in the book.

"He killed it! My father killed it! Jonas said to himself, stunned at what he was realizing." (page 150 ) Ultimately, he rationalizes that adults around him lie to maintain society's order and that he being the receiver, has every right to become the greatest lier of them all.

I'm giving the Giver some givings. Wait, wha--

Prompt 1

Recently, I have read the Giver, an excellent book concerning a boy named Jonas, who is chosen as a receiver, someone who receives memories from the Giver. He lives in a society where there is no pain, no famine, no disease and no freedom or choice. Everything is controlled. Food supply, reproduction, even spouses are chosen. So, the question I have chosen is ' Would you want your future to be decided by others ? Why or Why not? '.

I think I would prefer not having a controlled future, even though it may seem ' perfect '. I do not like the idea of me not being in control of my own future. I would never, ever trade my freedom for such a life. As perfect as it may be, it would never be able to compensate for the price paid. Feelings and freedom of choice are the attributes that define humanity itself and without these, we might as well all be robots. The right to choose and to be an individual form the basis of human conduct and achievement. Like Jonas, for example, became disillusioned when he realized that there was more to life than just being sheltered and fed. Eventually, he found that he was missing out, not experiencing the real world, where there is pain, anger, happiness, love.

Furthermore, having choices made for you is downright unfair. For example, birth-mothers give birth to THEIR offspring an the Nurturers just give the babies away to another random family. All the pain and suffering of giving birth only to have our son or daughter adopted, never to know the real mother. Even Jonas and Lily aren't the biological children of their mother. In my opinion, I wouldn't want this to happen to me.

In conclusion, my response to the question is ' No, I would absolutely hate it. ' To me, life would not be worth living without being able to express myself freely. No freedom = No happiness.

This is Alex, the master of disaster, signing out!

Cleopatra? Yeah, she's that guy who invented tooth picks, right?

Ancient Egyptians wanted to consolidate their position in society to maintain the status quo. Those highest on the social pyramid, namely the pharaohs, built monuments either of themselves or of their gods in order to intimidate their subjects or to pacify them. Such monuments also serve as icons of unity or landmarks. The pyramids of Giza were basically large mausoleums which signified to one and all the passing of a powerful king and his place of rest.

The parallel in society currently in Malaysia would be the KL Petronas Twin Towers which signified Malaysia's coming of age into the modern world. It is also a tribute to the then leader of Malaysia, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad who envisioned putting Kuala Lumpur on the world's map by linking it to the twin towers. These towers were the tallest towers for five years. When we think of Egypt, the image of the pyramids come to mind. So does this relationship exist between Malaysia and the twin towers. Both are symbols of power, wealth and a leader's obsessions. These are the similarities.

Various sites on Google were my source of information like the Encyclopedia.com, Wikipedia and many, many more. I made sure the information was solid by re-checking other sites to prove the theories. As I was working alone, as a last resort, I tried to exchange information about Queen Cleopatra with other groups ( Sol and Natalie ). Researching on Cleopatra, in my opinion, was rather difficult in several aspects but the hard work paid off in the end. I found relevant, appropriate facts and used them in my iMovie project. Also, I made sure I cited my sources to avoid accidental plagiarism.

I learnt many new interesting details, mainly about Cleopatra. For example, I never knew that she formed alliances by intimate relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony. Besides that, apparently Queen Cleopatra did build several monuments like the Caesarium, Temple of Dendera and Cleopatra's Needle. Apart from that, my friend, Gerald, showed me his iMovie and honestly, I was impressed with all the new facts I had learnt about Khufu.

What I found challenging was researching on my assigned pharaoh. Many of the sites that were recommended to me by my colleagues were unhelpful and contained irrelevant information. I was frustrated at the fact that all the known information on Cleopatra was very little and appeared to be very repetitive. But, as I said before, the information I received at the end was worth the stress.

I felt that I learned enthusiastically during the filming of the video as I thought it was rather enjoyable and fun. As I was working independently, I did not collaborate or communicate with any members of my group, seeing that I don't have any. Making the script and the video itself promoted my creative thinking, thus, causing me to think creatively.

Uhhhh.... MORE presentations??

1. I felt that I did rather well in the aspect of articulating my words correctly. I prevented myself from stammering or mumbling. It was very nerve-wrecking presenting my work in front of the whole class so I felt quite proud of myself for doing so. Furthermore, I did enjoy how my slides were organized, neatly and efficiently. It enabled me to remember what I needed to say much easier. But what I enjoyed most about my project was the statistical data section. I put a lot of work into it, researching for Kuala Lumpur's median age group and population as most sites do not state it and others are simply unreliable.

2. A part of my presentation of which I felt that could be improved was my inability to stop myself from swaying. In front of my colleagues, I danced left and right continuously. It is not the first time this has happened but I know for sure that it can be very distracting to my audience.I could have also brought in reader's notes as I had bits and pieces of information jumbled up sometimes.

3. Honestly, I never knew much about Kuala Lumpur but when I started my research, my mind was blown away by all the information I had just learnt. For example, Kuala Lumpur is apparently one of the biggest importers of tin in Malaysia. Besides that, I found out that a large structure of mountains actually act as natural barriers, shielding Kuala Lumpur from harsh winds coming from the South China Sea. Also, I by listening to my friends' presentations, I have learnt so much more about their own countries. My friend, Gerald, stated that Houston, Texas has one of the most distinguished education systems in the world. I never knew that!!

4. I'd say that my presentation was okay in that I wouldn't say it was absolutely brilliant or extremely bad and boring but instead, would be somewhat in the middle. I put sufficient information into my slides and varied my word choice, allowing the reader to understand the information with greater ease. I think my presentation deserves and A or A minus, at least.

Still wondering what the presentation looks like, here's the link: https://docs.google.com/a/iskl.edu.my/present/edit?id=0AeC7sJOrmTxOZGcya2o3anBfNzQ3dG14dmYzMw&hl=en

H-O-L-I-D-A-Y-S

I never expected my Christmas vacation this year to be so exciting! Actually, I only went with the whole idea to please my parents. They had suggested we spend some quality time together in Europe. Assuming the worst, I reluctantly packed my bags and hoped that I would not catch my death from hypothermia!

The highlight of my winter break was the European tour my family and I went on. We had an thrilling time traveling across Europe, seeing new sights and exploring new places. My favorite country was Lucern, Switzerland as we took a train up Riggy's mountain above the clouds. There, the scenery was just breath-taking. I felt exhilarated, gulping in the fresh mountain air and seeing vapors as I exhaled. My newfound friend, Dylan, and I made snowmen and had snowball fights. Experiencing the cool alpine environment was simply magical.

Another highlight of my trip was spending New Year's Eve in Paris at Champs Elysee. During that night, thousands of people thronging the busy square in front of the Arc De Triumpe. We waited for the fireworks, unfortunately, there was a security alert and the grand sparkles had been canceled. The crowd became aggressive and rowdy and started pushing. The SWAT team came in very smart attire to control the situation. My family and I were stuck in the jostling crowd but, luckily, we managed to find our way to a nearby subway station and departed for the hotel.

That was one year-end vacation that will live in my memories for many years to come. Even now, as I reminisce on the highlights, I can't help but feel a warm glow and the memories of my winter wonderland brings a smile to my face.

What will I conquer on 2011?

Ahhhh, finally. The year 2010 has passed. Now, a whole new year is in front of us. What plans do I have for this year? Maybe to learn how to be a bit more sociable? To achieve better grades? Here are a few resolutions I made for 2011:

1. To learn Arabic...

This is somewhat regular to the very famous new year resolution of               " learning a new skill ". Well, my aim is to be able to speak a whole new language, Arabic. Why do I want to learn Arabic? Firstly, learning another language never hurts. Secondly, Arabic is quite an interesting language. It's complicated and very difficult to master and writing it is even worse. The symbols are incredibly complex. Still, I love a good challenge.

Another reason for me to take up Arabic is to get to read the Qur'an in its original form. I've read translations of it before but I think reading it and understanding the Qur'an with ll its nuances can only be done if I learned Arabic. Moreover, the language offers an insight into Arab culture. This is all very fascinating. I hope to be able to read and speak the language fluently by the end of this year.



2. To get a lot more organized...

Last week at home, I found myself lost in a heap of unclean clothes, drowning in dirty socks and stained   t-shirts in a feeble attempt to pick out what to wear for the day. Untidy much? It's the same situation in my locker. Pieces of scrap paper stuck in the corners, broken pencils strewn all over and smelly P.E attire curled into a big, round ball. So imagine the look on teachers' faces when they see it during locker check.

Those are my new year's resolutions. I hope it'll go according to plan. That's all, folks! Keep in touch with my posts!

2010 Epicness!!!

Me Like To Learn With Brain....

I feel I learn best when information is passed to me in an orderly fashion within a sequential and logical framework. I am able to quickly understand new languages and appreciate the nuances of  a particular article. Details of information are fascinating to me and I am able to process by analysis an verbalization any auditory and visual information with ease. However, this very attention to detail can prove a hurdle to my learning process because at times the overall picture is not clear to me as I am too focused on the details. I also find it difficult occasionally to connect and empathize on an emotional basis to a character or the theme of what I read. I understand that learning is best achieved by utilizing all sensory-motor modalities and both hemispheres of the brain. Therefore, it is my intention to learn by stimulating the left hemisphere through sequential processing while simultaneously engaging the right lobe by listening to classical music. I am hopeful that through this, my learning process and focus will increase exponentially.

I need to develop my gestalt aspect of my brain whereby I can utilize the unlimited potential of the human mind to the utmost, realizing that most of us only use 5 percent of our brain during our waking hours. I wish to double my learning process by outsourcing another ten or fifteen percent and to complement the left and right side of the brain in order to achieve maximum learning capacity.

In order to achieve the above, discipline is essential. It is crucial that I try to curb the exclusivity of the usage of the left brain by including the right lobe in any learning procedure. In other words, while engaged in solving logical-mathematical problem, the right hemisphere of my brain should also be occupied through exposure to auditory stimulus. Secondly, realizing that, under duress, I tend to be distracted by details, I need to develop the habit of seeing the bigger picture at all times. Lastly, I need to loosen up and be more spontaneous, and put greater trust in my instincts.

I would like my teachers to know that I appreciate all the hard-work they have put in to assist me in becoming a better student. To me, studying is fun and I enjoy the challenges and intellectual stimulation provided by the school environment. Knowing  my weaknesses will help me to identify and overcome them, knowing my limitations enables me to work within my comfort zone but allows me the occasional indulgence of venturing out. As I evolve physically and mentally, I would like my teachers to know that their contribution and influence will add polish the final product.

Lit. Circles for Dinner, Again, Mom?

Working together with a classmate helps to put many things in perspective and develops within us a sense of friendship and collaboration towards achieving a common goal. Frequently during our discussions, I catch myself surprised by Dhabitah's point of view, perhaps even more so because she can relate better to the heroine, Charlotte Doyle as they are both female and in the same age group. For instance, I found it difficult to understand her decisions which, to me, are based purely on her emotions. Dhabitah pointed out that sometimes we have to rely our intuition rather than base our actions on logic alone. I finally realized this to be true as the story unfolded because Charlotte quickly realized who she decided to side with, which turned out to be the correct decision. Moreover, having a friend to discuss with helps my train of thought and pushes me to try harder as I feel compelled to contribute my share of the project. Dhabitah's answers allowed me to gauge my own understanding and input, helping to let me see where I stand in this project. Finally, in my own small way, I believe that by working together, we managed to achieve more and in shorter time, than by working independently.

There were many challenges along the way before we finally managed to collaborate constructively. Firstly, we have not ever worked together and there was that initial awkwardness that comes about before trust can be established. In a way, this connected us to the story, where Charlotte Doyle had to develop the trust and vice versa. Once we got going, I learned to put aside some of my prejudices concerning girls as Dhabitah proved to be a worthwhile partner. Again, upon reflection, there is a similarity and connection in the story whereby Charlotte abandoned many of her ideas concerning the working class. My partner's cheery attitude and warmth assisted greatly in helping create a conducive and friendly working environment in which we worked together as a team. Lastly, I had to forsake my natural competitiveness and share my knowledge and insight to a fellow classmate because we were to be graded together as a unit. In oversoming these challenges, I have learned a little bit about Dhabitah and a bit more about myself.

To me, this novel is more complex and has more twists and turns than the previous book, " Call It Courage ". Initially, I found the narrative, from a spoilt girl's point of view and written in old-fashioned English, to be a chore to read, much less gain any insight. However, as the plot thickens in Chapters 10 to 14, I begin to find myself getting more immersed in Charlotte Doyle's unfortunate situation. I can see now, that she became what she is because of the circumstances and because of her upbringing. It must have been a challenge being a young girl, alone, in a man's world, more so, amongst "brawny, rough-hewn sailors". Caught in between the two opposing forces, Captain Jaggery on one side and the crew on the other, Charlotte must have been feeling extremely isolated with no one to turn to for advice. Her writings provide me with the understanding that she is resourceful, principled and resilient because in the face of danger she is able to outthink everyone else. As the novel unfolds, I find myself developing a reluctant admiration for the main character.

Lit. Circles Make The World Go Round.....

1. How did your group's discussion help your understanding of the novel?

The novel centered on the adventure of a thirteen- year old girl who in overcoming her difficulties, found strength within herself. In a way, it was a voyage of self-discovery. The group managed to relate to her feelings and fears as most of the members fall within the same age range. Moreover, over discussions, some members voiced out their opinions that the plot was a little weak and haphazard in certain areas, especially the circumstances that led to Charlotte boarding the Seahawk without a chaperon. This helped me to understand that not everything that author wrote should be taken completely at face value. The writing of the narrative was deliberately old-fashioned which the group found difficult to follow, which reassured me because I felt the same way too. These discussions helped me understand that there are many points of views and that different people may see different things even though it is the same book that is being discussed.

2. Connections that you made during your discussion?

Based on the above, I found it  difficult to relate and connect with the heroine because she presented herself at the beginning of the book as being spoilt, over-protected and pampered.

She was also very proud of her social standing and looked down on the lower classes. Even though some of the girls in my group readily embraced her character, I, for one, did not. In a way, I was in the minority, who believed that she could have saved herself a lot of trouble by being truer and more honest. However,  it was only in Chapter 2 when she was facing difficulties that I felt some sympathy for her. I felt connected in her feelings of hopelessness in a new strange and dangerous place. I can also sense the fear that Charlotte felt as did the rest of the group when we discussed Chapter 2. 

3. Predictions

We all agreed that by Chapter 2, the story's setting and drama was becoming very absorbing!

The group felt that the author threw in plenty of warning signs indicating danger, for example, when the porters left on hearing the captain's name. Based on her own admittance right at the beginning that she has become a changed person, I too predict that Charlotte is going to confront her worst fears in the following chapters. We felt that the author is building up suspense in  the story by making Charlotte feel completely alone and miserable. From here, I believe that the heroine will be tested to the utmost and that she will overcome unimaginable crises.

 

Geographical Location is Good, Ya!

Malaysia is a country of 28 million people located just north of the equator at 2° 30' North and 112° 30' East. It is situated in Southeast Asia and is politically part of the ASEAN community. Independent since 1957, Malaysia is currently a newly developing nation with its economy centered around light industries, mining, agriculture and tourism.Malaysian's rapid growth has indeed been fueled by its fortunate geographic location and many natural resources.

Regarding Malaysia's geographic location, the country is placed within the Equatorial belt with high humidity, hot temperatures and basically two seasons, the dry and wet seasons. Rainfall is plentiful and the soil is fertile. Malaysia is also fortunate as it is also protected from natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes or volcano eruptions. This environment has allowed for Malaysians to develop their skills in the manufacturing and agricultural sector.

The development of both the above sectors historically has been fueled because the country is situated at the mid-point of the trade routes. Trade, both domestic and international, has and is still playing a major role in the economy and allowing for a better standard of living for all Malaysians. Because of its diverse ethnic population, the country is able to garner talents from all over Asia to work in varying fields. In the past, the Chinese community was involved in mining, the Indians in the rubber industry while the native Malays were active in farming and fishing. Presently, more Malaysians are opting for professional jobs and there is a rapidly growing middle-class.

One of the areas in which Malaysia is prominent is in the field of software engineering and information technology. Most Malaysians are quite adept at making handicrafts and this tradition has been transferred into the making of computer chips, light manufacturing and the hospitality industry. Likewise, the oil palm and rubber plantations owe a debt to the diligence and vision of the nation's forefathers, the fertile soil and suitable climate. Another major contributor to the economy is the oil and gas industry. Malaysia is fortunate in that there are vast reserves of oil and natural gas trapped within the bedrock of its surrounding shores.

In conclusion, the geographical location of Malaysia places it in an ideal position to tap into its human, natural and agricultural resources. Coupled with climatic and cultural stability, it is poised to join the ranks of developing nations in the near future.

My Awesome Comic of Paleo to Neo times

Humans are back! Mudskip for your lives!

I have never been so shocked in all my life. I quickly pushed my fins into the mud leaving just my eyes above the water level. My whole body trembled with trepidation. The ground shook and all my friends panicked. Yes, right in front of me was a horde of schoolchildren from ISKL.The dreaded and feared monsters of the animal world. They had arrived presumably to plunder like the others before. I shuddered at the thought of what they may do next.

My fear was mixed with feelings of anger and indignation at how brazen they were to simply tresspass.One-by-one they form a line, each of them with a ravenous look on their face. A little boy went first accompanied by two more other boys. They all started screaming and laughing. " They're coming this way! Everyone, run for your lives!" cries a fiddler crab. STOMP! STOMP! STOMP! The sound of their footsteps shook the ground and was deafening but the humans don't notice that as they were too preoccupied with their evil intentions. As I carefully made my way back the hole, I said to myself " Please just let this be over...".

Suddenly, the footsteps stopped. It seemed that my wish has, for once, been granted.  I crawled out of my hole to see what had happened. Hah! They were all struggling to get their feet out of the mud. One of them falls down. We all scoffed. No doubt, they wanted to destroy this beautiful habitat in which so many of us live. My friends and I have seen their kind cutting down trees and littering. I could only pray that this would soon be over. In our, state of anxiety I noticed some peculiar happening. These students were not here to capture us or to cause damage but instead, I saw them planting saplings.

Planting trees!? It was when when I realized that they came as friends to learn more about the place we live in and how to help us maintain our ecosystem. They wanted to repair the damage done by planting trees and learning how to make this corner of our world a better place. All this time, we were wrong. Humans were never evil. They've just been wanting to make this world, our world, a better place for all of us, human and mud-skippers alike to live in harmonious environment. And so ends, the most exciting day of my life. I made the discovery that there are good and kind humans just as there are cruel and evil ones. These students came to help re-balance all the damage that has been done and in doing so, learn a little bit more about each other. Perhaps one day, we all can learn to live together in.

B.U.L.L.Y.I.N.G.

I've only been in ISKL for a couple of months, but I remember last year, in my old school, I observed several cases of bullying. There was this particular incident in which a close friend of mine was seen by me bullying a smaller boy in the school corridors. All this while, I had never suspected him of being capable of such a cowardly act. But, I suppose he never showed this dark side of him to me. I remember it was a Monday morning, just after the school assembly, when I was on my way to class that I saw the incident which left me with feeling of disgust. I saw my friend ( let's call him Jimmy ), twisting the arm of a first grader and demanding his lunch money. The little boy was seen sobbing away while grimacing in pain. I hid behind a pillar and watched the whole episode unfold. I didn't intervene because I suppose I was too surprised and remained rooted to the spot. I saw the little boy hand over some money to Jimmy. I heard Jimmy laugh and then roughly push the boy away. Within seconds, he swaggered away leaving the boy crying uncontrollably. I was in two minds in whether to comfort the boy ,but I, still believed that Jimmy was incapable of committing such a violent act.

Later that day, I confronted Jimmy about what had happened earlier and he sheepishly replied that it was all a joke. Despite this explanation as I had seen everything with my own eyes, I only wished that I had been brave enough and had the presence of mind to do something when the first-grader was being bullied. Somehow, I felt that it was my fault. I learnt never to trust Jimmy again after that day and hope that should I ever be involved in a similar situation, I would find the courage to speak out and stand up for what is right. The very least I could have done was to have reported the case to the school authorities. I believe that bullies are just cowards turned inside out and need to be educated and understood in order for them to change.


In my opinion, everybody is entitled to certain rights, especially the right to be educated in a safe and conducive environment. In order to ensure this, I have set up 2 goals for this year namely, to report any episodes of suspected bullying that I come across or has been related to me. I will then leave it to the relevant authorities to handle the problem as they would be in a better position to do so. Secondly, I have decided that , as a student of ISKL, I am duty-bound to look after the welfare of my fellow students and will , in future, speak out against all cases of bullying and school violence. To this end, I am committed to any campaign against bullying that the school may undertake and will do my utmost to ensure its success.

Courage...

          I have always been afraid of being at the center of attention. I don't mind so much, talking on a conversation level with others but the idea of speaking in public or performing in front of an audience just scares me, leaving me   dry - mouthed and a stomach full of butterflies. I have always tried to avoid being caught in such a situation and sometimes went out of the way just to excuse myself from being caught by surprise. I don't really know how this started but, I suppose there must have been an incident in the past which may have left me looking foolish or embarrassed.

         This fear reached new heights when I first entered ISKL this year when I signed up for theater as one of my courses at my parents insistence. I was asked to read out a short speech in front of my new found friends as part of a learning project. I began to worry as soon as I was given the assignment even though my speech was only a paragraph long and was three days away. I tried practicing in front of my parents and alone in front of a mirror but I still could not get through a single sentence without feeling faint. Stuttering through my lines, I could barely speak much less remember what I had to say. The night before my speech I could barely sleep and tossed and turned in bed all night long.

         The next morning, I confided in my father and voiced out my fear of the stage. It took a lot from me to say it out loud but I did it anyway because I was hoping that he would let me stay home from school. I was in for a surprise when he simply laughed out loud and said that he was once like me but overcame his discomfort of being in the public eye by imagining every member in the audience were just in their underwear and that he was the only one fully clothed. He said that the trick is to be sincere and to be myself and if I manage to accept the way I am, then others would surely accept me. For those that didn't, it wouldn't matter anyway. I took his advice and even though it was nerve - wrecking for the first few minutes, I suddenly saw my friends and teachers in their underwear and laughed out loud on stage. This laughing feat lasted for a few minutes and some of my friends in the audience laughed with me even though they did not know why. It broke the tension in the room and I felt my body relax and went on with my speech without  problem. At the end of it, I realized that all that was needed, was to be myself regardless of how others see me and to be confident of my own abilities. I left the stage feeling a sense of achievement and awareness that I can overcome my fears, real or imagined if I face up to them and have the support of those who care for me. Nowadays, I feel less nervous going up on stage as I did before. I hope that one day, this fear will completely disappear.

       


Graphic source:http://www.google.com.my/imgres?imgurl=http://waterwordsthatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/environmental-communication-03202009.jpg&imgrefurl=http://waterwordsthatwork.com/2009/03/20/environmental-writing-tip-2/&usg=__MSYA-BTiSlldjdRSVIokxrPmOpE=&h=422&w=425&sz=66&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=9-IatRbrlU1v8M:&tbnh=140&tbnw=141&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstage%2Bfright%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D617%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=592&vpy=260&dur=8113&hovh=224&hovw=225&tx=108&ty=70&ei=24yHTIWhOM_tcKjKoPAK&oei=24yHTIWhOM_tcKjKoPAK&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0

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