Smoking Kills

Did you know, smoking causes more than 5 million deaths per year, and current trends show that tobacco use will cause more than 8 million deaths annually by 2030.

Smoking is bad for your health. We all know that. But smokers tend to forget the fact that whenever they smoke, their lives and the lives of people around them are shortened. On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers. On the other hand, secondhand smoke causes numerous health problems in infants and children, including more frequent and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Smoking needs to be stopped. It took enough lives already.

Bridge to Terabithia

Jesse Oliver Aarons Jr. is a very good artist whose greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait 'til classes come so his classmates could see how fast he was now. But on the first day of school, a new girl named Leslie Burke shows up and decides to race with the boys and outruns everyone, including Jesse. Jesse, of course, was upset. And that was a bad start to their friendship.

Jesse's favourite class was Music class because he has a crush on their Music teacher, Miss Edmunds. It was during music class that he discovered his fondness for Leslie, thus, leading to their friendship. While swinging over a creek near the forest, they decide to make an imaginary kingdom named Terabithia, where Jesse is king and Leslie is queen.

At school, they encounter a bully named Janice Avery. It is after she snatches the dessert from Jesse's younger sister, May Belle, that Jesse and Leslie sent a fake love letter to Janice from William Hughes, the guy she likes. But, after encountering Janice Avery full of tears, Leslie learns that she is a bully because she abused at home and develops sympathy and friendship for the misunderstood bully. In the meantime, her bond with Jesse grows stronger as they continue to indulge in the pleasures derived from Terabithia. They also adopted a dog and decided to name him Prince Terrien, or P.T. for short.


One day, Jesse is invited by Miss Edmunds to go with her to an art museum. Jesse didn't properly ask for permission from his parents and he didn't tell Leslie he was going somewhere so his parents were very worried by the time he got home. They told him of Leslie's accidental death. They said that as she was swinging to the other side of the creek, the rope snapped and she drowned. Shocked and unable to accept the impact of Leslie's death, Jesse went in a state of denial of any grief over his friend's death. He is saddened even further by the grief shown by her family, who have decided to go back to their previous home. Jesse decides to pay tribute to his friend with P.T. by crafting a memorial wreath, but soon afterward he finds May Belle by the creek, who tried to use a fallen tree as a bridge to Terabithia. After helping his sister, Jesse decided to make May Belle the new queen of Terabithia, letting her join in his sanctuary from then on.



Exposition: Jesse meets Leslie at the first day of school as Leslie crosses over to the boys' side of the playground to join the race.

Rising Action: Jesse was annoyed by Leslie's presence but, as the days went by, he learned that he is starting to be fond of Leslie. They become friends and decide to build an imaginary kingdom and make it their sanctuary.

Climax: Jesse is invited by Miss Edmunds to go with her to an art museum but, Jesse didn't properly notify anyone of his absence. When he got back, he learned that his best friend had died.

Falling Action: Jesse denies himself of the fact that his best friend is dead. He is unable to accept that Leslie is gone.

Denouement: He tries to build himself up and even decides to let his sister become the new queen of Terabithia.

Those Who Are Truly Great

Coping up with Challenges

Challenges are what makes life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. - Anonymous

       Everyone has challenges to cope up with. Every day, you experience at least one challenge that you have to cope up with and overcome. One challenge that is very popular among teenagers today is BULLYING. A lot of teenagers suffer bullying everyday. It's hard for them to cope up with this because It's dragging their spirit down. They lose the will to go on. Some may even attempt to commit suicide because they think it's the only way to escape their misery.




       A lot of people go through challenges everyday. But that doesn't make them stop living. It actually makes them continue living. Personally, I believe that when challenges stop coming, it means that you have fulfilled what you are supposed to do in this world. That you have no more business here and that you are just waiting for your time to come.

       As it says in the song Stronger by Kelly Clarkson, "What doesn't kill makes you stronger." That is my favorite part in the song. For me, it means that after overcoming a challenge, you become stronger than before. And that coping with challenges would be easier because of the experience you've had.



Included here are videos of songs that inspire me to go on. Hopeful by Bars and Melody and Stronger by Kelly Clarkson. :)

Remembered and not Forgotten.

"The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." ― William James

       I want to be remembered even after I die. Well, who wouldn't? I want people to remember me through all the good deeds I have done in my life. Even though I have done a lot of mistakes. And every time someone mentions my name, people would have smiles on their faces. It's fine if only a few people know me. All I want is those 'few people' to care.

       I haven't done anything worthwhile in my life yet. And when I do, I just wish it's enough to leave a legacy behind. Something that would instantly make people remember.

My Mom, My HERO.

          The person I admire and think of as a hero is my Mom. She is 48 years old turning 49 next month and she is a bit of a bookworm. She likes to cook and I love everything she cooks. Her favorite color is red and I think her favorite song is Brave by Sara Bareilles. She is very loving and caring. She taught me things they don't teach in school. Things like valuing what you have and being Ring-rich.
       
          There are a lot of reasons why I think of my mom as a hero. First, she is very kind and very sociable. She likes talking to people and helping them. She is also very generous. Second, she is like my savior. Everytime I get into a fight, she is always there to back me up or help me. Except the times where I'm at fault. She is always there to protect me. Lastly, she is very hardworking. Ever since she went to Canada, I've never seen her stop working. Even if there is feather's fall or winter's blade, she'll still go to work and work as hard as she can.
     
          There are times when she experienced a weather of wolves and felt under the weather so she had to take a sick leave. I worried a lot that time. I usually worry about her, but not as much as she worries about us. There are also times when we had misunderstandings and I get angry at her, but it doesn't last long. As time passes by, I start to understand her decisions. I know that what she decides is for the best.
       
          Without my mom, I wouldn't be where I am now. She is my teacher and my hero. She started teaching and protecting me ever since I was a baby. She is always there to do what is necessary and I love her for that. She never fails to protect me, teach me, lecture me about what is right and what is wrong. I just don't know what I would do without my mom.

3 Stages of high school

High school is but a phase,
And all the boys and girls are just students.
I forget not, the events not so long ago,
For these moments have been slowly,
Carefully altering me. I once was very timid.
Keeping to myself in one corner.
Listening to noise loud enough to call attention,
But not too loud to cause a fuss.
The first stage, as I recall it, is the 7th grade.
Chatting and laughing in and out of the room.
I can't clearly remember how I got to the speak out,
Yet, I don't feel the need to remember.
There are complaints heard over and over
About the hardships we've faced.
Yet now I realized, it was all worth it.
The second stage, I clearly recall,
Since it happened just a year ago.
So much fun, there was to be. But,
Of course there are also hardships.
I even thought it unbearable,
Even tried to give up once.
But I knew giving up is never an option.
Studied hard all day and slept at night.
Laughing with friends, doing silly stuff,
While budgeting all the free time.
Then, the third stage slowly approaches
With the fear and anxiety building up.
Not imagining what would happen,
As I step into the room.
New, but, familiar faces I see around me
A few mumbles and chit chats to be heard.
But, indeed, the time will come,
For I have yet to finish the third stage.
Now this ends here, for I have to go.
And so I bid farewell... for now.

Grade 9? Grade 9.

         So, our journey as a 9th grader begins as of June 2, 2014. When I was still an 8th grader, I wanted to be placed in 9 - Hydrogen. Aside from the fact that their room is conveniently placed on the first floor, I heard that their adviser, Ma’am Mildred Atendido, is very kind but strict when it comes to teaching. But, I was placed in 9 - Fluorine. I was in Fluorine in my 7th and 8th grade here so this year would be my third year in that section. 

         Our first week as a Junior just passed. I had a lot of first impressions on the first day. I thought all of the Grade 9 teachers were strict and unapproachable. But, day after day, I learned that most of the teachers weren’t like that. There are teachers that are very kind and there are teachers that are strict. There are teachers that have a good sense of humour, too.

         I can say that I wasn’t really ready to be a Junior yet. I guess I’m still remembering last year. But now that I’m here, I can say that being a 9th grader isn’t all that bad. I actually enjoyed the first few days of being a Junior. Most of my classmates, including myself, are still in the “getting to know you” level. I have already befriended a few of my classmates but there are still some people that I’m not very comfortable with yet. That’s probably because I think they’re unapproachable and that they’re a snob. But, I still have a whole school year to know them better. I would be friends with them sooner or later. Anyway, the lessons came in smoothly, since it’s just the first week. It would probably be hard by the middle of the year. Haha!

         So far, I think this year will be our best year in Cavite National Science High School. New teachers, a few new classmates, a new room, and all other things that are new. We are thinking and hoping that this year would be a good one. With more activities, occasions, and other things that we do in school. With the help of our teachers, classmates and ourselves, we will surely make this year a memorable one.