How A Character Has Changed Due to Certain Events That Have Taken Place In His/Her Life (Literature)

     Based on the novel, Step by Wicked Step, by Anne Fine, the character that I feel has changed due to certain events that have taken place in his life is Colin. The changes happen gradually after  his mother decides to leave her boyfriend secretly and quietly. Colin adores his mother's boyfriend - who is stepfather - 'Dad' and gets along very well with him. His mother's decision of leaving Colin's stepdad leaves Colin longing after him. Colin used to love life with his stepfather. He remembered every little detail about his stepfather, from him rolling his own cigarettes out of tobacco in a tin, down to the silver patches of hair over his ears. After Colin's mother brought Colin with her to a completely foreign neighbourhood, Colin's character changed drastically.

     Firstly of all, this made Colin changed into a very  lonely and never happy boy after moving away from his stepfather. He had to join a new school when his mother moved out of their home with him but he didn't adjust well to his new surroundings He had to go through an unpleasant experience in his new school, he got ignored by the students in school. Nobody bothered with me, except to snigger when I didn't understand all the stuff they'd been doing. (page 52, line 27,28). His mother, however, found a new job and was constantly busy with her daily routine that she did not bother about Colin. This made Colin miss his stepfather all the more, because he used to be able to confide in Jack about his troubles. It wasn't how it used to be with Dad. It is evident that Colin had transformed from a loving boy to a very lonely boy after the move.

     Secondly, Colin becomes a dreamy boy. This causes him to have less focus in class and consequently doing badly in school. The reason for this was due to him missing his stepfather very much. Every night, he would take the tobacco tin out of the toe of his boot and put it under his pillow. Colin would then pretend that Jack was still by his side, ready to listen to his rant of the day. He would hum his and Jack's favorite song and stay awake for hours talking to his dad,whom he pretended was there. He pretended that his dad was there with him. 'I pretended.' (page 56, line 17)

     Next, Colin became resourceful. He was determined to search for his stepfather. His first effort was to write a letter to his stepfather, addressed to his old house. He did not receive a reply but he did not give up. Colin saved practically every penny that comes his way. He even does three paper rounds and always prefers cash for Christmas instead of gifts from his mother. Colin keeps an exact account on how long he was apart from his stepfather, which was 5 years, 8 months and 7 days.

     On the whole, we can see many changes from the character Colin after his mother decided to leave his dad. Colin responded negatively to the changes in his life. He became sad, dreamy and moody.His love and longing for his dad motivated him to become optimistic, resourceful and patient in his mission of finding his dad. 

Comparison between two Characters (Literature)

    Based on the novel, 'Step by Wicked Step', by Anne Fine, can made a comparison between the characters of Richard and Colin. Richard and Colin are two characters who share the same fate of having a dysfunctional family. They both have to learn how to live without their father and remain strong there are two characters that have several differences as well as similarities. 

   Firstly, I would like to talk about Richard and Colin's love for their dads. They both missed their fathers dearly. However, in Richard's case, he had lost his father forever as his father had already died and moved on to a better place, in the heavens. Colin merely lost contact with his father after he moved away with his mother without leaving any clues for his father to search for them. While Richard had no way to get in touch with his father again, Colin was still searching for his stepfather. Colin saves up all his money in a safe space for the time when he will embark on the search for his stepfather. I keep practically every penny that comes my way. Colin is determined to look for his beloved stepfather when he is old enough. As soon as I'm tall enough, I'm off.  Clearly, Richard and Colin are unable to let go of their love for their dads.

 Secondly, both Colin and Richard were ignored by their mothers. They both did not get any attention from their mothers. '... sometimes I (Colin) get the feeling that Mum thinks things that are happening to both of us are only really happening to her. As if how I feel doesn't matter quite so much.' (page 58, line 20-23) We see the contrast by the way their mothers ignores them. In Richard's case, his mother did not defend him when Reverand Coldstone treated him badly. 'All that my mother did was lower her eyes...' (page 20, line 1,2) However, Colin's mother was not aware of how much Colin misses his dad as she was too busy working at the canteen and doing household chores. 'I think Mum thinks I've forgotten him (dad).' (page 60, line 28) Yet similarly, they both did not feet their mother's love.
   Thirdly, Richard and Colin wanted to run away to make things work. They could only think of running away as the best option to solve all their problems. Richard ran away from home with the hope that he could make life more pleasant for everyone. Without me, the three of them would get on well enough. Colin however, was planning to run away to find his stepfather. Both of them have their differences as Richard realized that running away does not solve any problems. This is apparent when he had to face the damage he had done by piling one wrong on another. Colin, on the other hand, was still bent on the idea to search for his stepfather. He even does three paper rounds in an effort to accumulate more money for the search.
   In a nutshell, the two characters had suffered much pain and sorrow. We see how no one really cares about them by asking about their feelings or simply sitting down to listen to them. They both loved their father, were ignored by their mothers and finally decided to run away. From their actions, we can see that running away does not solve any problems, in fact it affects the people around. It is crucial for us to think carefully before making a decision in life, however small it make seem.

'Step By Wicked Step' - one has to struggle to improve one’s life.

Based on the novel ‘Step By Wicked Step’ ,by Anne Fine, it is very true indeed that one has to struggle to improve one’s life.

Richard’s story clearly exhibits the struggle of a young boy who has lost his father, whom he loved so much, in exchange for a stepfather, whom he despised. When his father passed away, his mother, Lilith remarries and his stepfather is Reverend Coldstone. Richard never got along with Mr Coldstone and neither did Mr Coldstone get along with Richard. “I’ll be no son of his! Not ever!” When Richard is found to be uncontrollable, he is whisked away to Mordanger School, where he suffers in silence. “I have learned nothing except how to freeze, how to starve, how to be bullied, and beaten.” So, he decides to leave home, thinking that that is the way to improve his lifestyle, thinking that that is the best solution for everyone, but it only brought tremendous anguish to his family.

Claudia finds that she has to tread carefully after her parents’ divorce. She tries not to hurt her mother by sounding less keen to be with her father. “I’d try not to sound too keen, so as not to upset mom.” She initially resents her father when he has a girlfriend. As a result of her father’s new relationship, Claudia feels treated as second-best and unimportant. “It made me sort of second-best, and not important.” Her relationship with her father’s girlfriend, Stella, is also unpleasant until she realises that Stella should not be blamed for what happens between her parents. Claudia decides to openly acknowledge and appreciate Stella in front of her father’s friends, an act which earns Stella’s gratitude and her friendship. This clearly shows that Claudia had initial setbacks with Stella, and decides to improve on their relationship, resulting in a better relationship with Stella and her father.

Pixie, whose parents are divorced, thinks her father is more concerned with his new family0020and does not side with her anymore. She tolerates her stepmother, Lucy, whom she thinks she can ignore but does not like her stepsisters, Sophie and Hetty, who drive her up the wall. “I can’t stand Hetty Payne.” Pixie is unable to consider them as her family, and she voices this out in her confrontation with Lucy over Hetty. After a heated argument, both of them soon realise that Pixie’s father is irresponsible and does not help in any way to improve relationships. They decide to let bygones be bygones and allow their relationship some time to grow. In the other end, Pixie and her stepmother understood each other better. Pixie also managed to make a better bond with Hetty and improve her Maths skills.

The struggle between a stepchild and a stepfather is also seen in the case of Robbo’s sister, Callie. Unlike Robbo, Callie hates their stepfather, Roy and insists that she will never get used to him. “I don’t think he’s too bad, but Callie really hates him.” As a result, Callie made life difficult for everyone. Robbo realises that in order to keep their family intact and happy, they must have a different strategy and even have ‘fresh teams’. “I want to start over again. New season. Fresh game. Fresh teams.” He encourages his mother to let Callie go and live with their father as Callie wishes, and for he and his mother to start afresh with Roy and his half-brother, Dumpa. He had to struggle a lot so that his sister could finally improve her life. And with her at their father’s place, there were less fights, resulting in everybody’s life improving.

In conclusion, it can be seen clearly that to improve your life, one has to overcome many problems. On the other hand, one should think wisely before acting or it could ruin other people’s life, as seen in Richard’s story. The other characters meanwhile not only improved their lives but their families lives as well in many aspects. Therefore, by pushing through life and making the right decisions, everyone will learn their lesson and benefit from it.

Cell Phones Misued

Cell phones have lost their meaning over the years. These small devices were once developed to get in contact with someone else in case of emergencies, and now talking on the phone while driving has turned out to be a way of life for millions of American drivers. More than 85 percent of the 100 million cell-phone subscribers frequently talk on the phone during driving. Talking on the cell phone while driving should be illegal, because of the dangers they cause. Driving while using the cell phone is one of the major problems here in the US. Cell phones should not be used while driving. This matter is too dangerous to let it go unnoticed.

According to the essay, Yes, Prohibit Their Use, which appeared on the congressional quarterly’s web site on March 16, 2001, the Harvard Center for risk analysis printed a study in 1999. They appointed a crash risk factor to using cell phones. In the summer of 2000 it came out to 450 to 1,000 fatalities each year. The NHTSH says that for every fatality, there are 666 property-damage and injury-producing crashes. There are about 300,000 and 650,000 different crashes due to cell phones! This same essay states that Japan is one of the 14 countries banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving. The accidents caused by the use of cell phones dropped by 75 percent the next month, proving cell phones are not necessary parts of the driving nature.

There are major dangers connected with driving and cell phone use. Drivers have to take their eyes off the road while dialing. Also, drivers can get so deep into their conversations that their ability to concentrate may be dangerously limited. This jeopardizes the safety of the people inside the vehicle, and the pedestrians outside. In order to drive safely, the driver should be able to put 100% of his or her focus on the road. Cell phones are simply a huge distraction while driving.

It is understandable that there are some cases where the use of a cell phone is needed. In these cases, I agree with the author of Yes, Prohibit Their Use, the driver should pull-over somewhere safe to use the phone. If someone receives an incoming call, he should wait until the car has come to a complete stop. Then he should proceed to use the phone. If he feels that the emergency is urgent enough to take action right away, then the person should use the hands free headset. Only in emergencies should cell phones be used.

Some people argue that there are other distractions other than cell phones. While using a cell phone when driving may not be the most unsafe distraction, studies prove that it is the most common cause of car crash accident, and common cause of death here in the US.

The use of cell phones while driving should be banned in Philadelphia, because many people die due to distraction of cell phones. Cell phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year. (www.livescience.com/technology). Another reason to not use the cell phone while driving is devastating the many lives of the victims and their families in the case of an accident.

When driving, cell phones should not be allowed. Help the statistics decrease not increase.

Haze

  The haze is a constant phenomenon faced by Malaysia and her neighbouring countries. The haze is basically pollution of atmosphere, which is clogged with pollutants and other substances from forest fires.

            The haze is a direct effect of forest fire in Kalimantan and other parts of Indonesia due to slash and burn method of farming. The Indonesian authorities appear to have no power to control farmers from practising such methods. The haze is further worsened by open burning practised by most Malaysians. Open-field burning of rice straw by the rice planters and open burning of dried leaves and garbage done by the public are a few examples that done by Malaysian. Many are ignorant of the health effects of open burning.

            During the haze, hospitals and clinic often report a dramatic increase in respiratory problems, lung infections and asthma attack. The Air Pollution Index (API) usually indicates the hazardous and dangerous levels of pollution during this period. The haze has long-term side effects. Prolonged inhalation of polluted air will result in serious lung infection which particularly affects the elderly.

            The government must play its role to reduce the haze treat. It has to cooperate with the Indonesian authorities to stamp out forest fires. The culprits must be brought to justice, either through healthy fine or prison sentence. Constant vigilance would ensure the perpetrators do not repeat their offence.

The government should also raise the public awareness of the dangers of forest fire. Continuous campaign of the cause, solutions and steps-need-to-be-taken to reduce the haze need to be promoted through all types of social media like television, radio, newspaper and even via internet. The authorities should also provide assistance to farmers and introduce more sophisticated forest clearing methods.

            In Malaysia, strict laws must be imposed to penalise those who practise open burning. On-going campaigns on the dangers of open burning should be intensified. Individuals too have a role to play. They must participate in every campaign and stop burning. Students can advise their parents not to practice open burning.

            Every individual has to remember that we do not own the world, but instead we lent it from our future generations. We must protect our world so that our grandchildren woulh have a healthy earth to live.

Pollution

Pollution is an issue of concern in the modern world that we live in today. There are many types of pollution, namely air, water and noise. Pollution in our environment will undoubtedly affect our quality of life. Our naturally beautiful world becoming ugly because it is suffering from the effects of environmental pollution. Pollution can also cause various health problems and other negative effects.

Air pollution is caused by the emission of toxic gases from vehicles, factories and open burning. Nowadays, there are more and more vehicles on the road as society gets more affluent. More and more people strive to have a better quality of life by having the convenience of driving to their destinations instead of taking public transportation. Automobiles provides transport to millions people around the world to enable them to travel to their workplace, school and other places, therefore, the air around us is getting more polluted by the carbon dioxide that is emitted. Carbon monoxide is another type of gas which harmful to the environment as it can cause the reduction of oxygen in the bloodstream.

Another example of contributor to the air pollution is the manufacturing factories. The manufacturing of products in factories to meet the growing demand of society is also causing air pollution. Factories release toxic gases to the environment. Some factories also use coal to generate heat and energy. As a result from the burning of coal, carbon dioxide is released into the environment.

            Besides factories, many people are still practising open burning as a way of disposing their household wastes. Although burning our household wastes is a convenient way of getting rid of our rubbish, it is harmful to the environment as it contributes to the worsening of the air quality. As a result, air pollution causes people to suffer from health problems such as chest pain and asthma. In extreme cases, people can contract lung cancer.

            Water pollution is also a problem that we are currently facing. The marine life is the first to suffer from water pollution as they depend on the nutrients in the water to survive. As a result, we are robbed of beautiful sea corals and unique species of fishes. Besides ruining our marine heritage, the disappearance of marine life will affect the livelihood of fishermen, not to mention our source of food. Water pollution is caused by harmful waster from industries, farms and sewerage systems which are dumped into our sources of water such as rivers and lakes. This irresponsible act contaminates our drinking water and can cause serious health problems and can even culminate in death.

            Noise pollution is another form of pollution. Noise from heavy machinery and vehicles can cause hearing problems and in extreme cases, deafness. As there is growing number of vehicles on the road, we are exposed to noise pollution every day. The government in advanced countries encourage their citizens to take the public buses and trains by providing an affordable and efficient transportation system. This effort discourages people from driving their private vehicles and consequently reduces the number of vehicles on the road.

            We must work together to reduce pollution so that the future generations can live in a healthy, unpolluted environment. As the saying goes, precaution is better than cure. Lets hands on hands together by recycle and conserve the world for the better future.

A holiday I would never forget

Holidays, a time everyone gets hyped up over, parents planning activities for the family to spend quality time with and school children ( as well as teachers) jumping for joy. Hello, waking up late, celebrating, goin for tuition and best of all, vacations! In myy case, a holiday I would never forget is a fruitful one I expereinced five years ago, where my family I spent six days in the land of K-Pop and ' kimchi '- Korea.

        Finally, after ages of waiting, our family arrived in beautiful Korea. Stepping out of the plane, we could feel the chilly weather to our bones. Never experiencing that kind of weather, my siblings and I were totally excited. Passing through immigration and baggage claim, we were talking animatedly about our new surroundings. Since we went with tour group, we knew we were in good hands.

        Incident number one. We were supposed to take a bus to check in at the hotel, as instructed. I guessed I was overeager and without thinking. I ran to a random bus and knocked on the door. The young bus driver opened the door and looked at me with a puzzled expression. He started asking me something in Korean, which of course I did not understand. I tried to reply in English, but before I could make the attempt, my father quickly apologized to the driver and walked me back to the tour group who was watching from afar, shaking with laughter. It turned out that the bus I was running to was not the bus we were supposed to take. I dismissed my burning cheeks. I was glad I could be the butt of everyone's jokes on my first day in a foreign country.

        It was a bit past lunch time when we were done checking in our hotel. Not doubt, everybody's stomachs were grumbling. Thank God after checking in, we were going to have our lunch and do a bit of sightseeing. While waiting for the others outside the hotel, we walked around nearby. There was a row of vending machines that sold various snacks and beverages, including Haagen Dazs ice-cream , and instant noodles. My mother had a craving for Nescafe, so she spent her first Korrean money on that.

        At the restaurant, a delicious meal was already spread out for us. That was the first time we all tried kimchi, a spicy  and sour vegetable side dish.I did not think it was horrible,  buut I preferred the fish kimchi much better. We all ate using chopsticks, so that was kind or awkward for me  and  my siblings, as we were not skilled at using them yet. Being Malaysians, we were used to rice, so it was a good thing that the Korean meal included rice and a few other side dish, eaten from a Bento box. It was weird though, the rice was stickier compared to the rice  we eat at home, mainly to make it easier to eat using chopsticks. There was also hot and scumptious miso soup together with the meal. Since my sister and my brother did not like it much, I finshed up theirs. I gulped the warm soup down my throat- a nice connntrast from the shivering weather outside.

        One of the highlights of our activities that we did in Korea was skiling. Everybody from the tour group was looking forward to that, even the 52-year old couple traveling with us. Since it was'nt fully snownig yet, the hill was coverred with artificial snow. After grobbing our ski gear, we listen to a briefing by the instructor. He was very help ful, especially with us kids annd the elderly couple.

        Feeling jumpy and hyperactive, me and my sister made our way to the cable car and successfully skied down a slope. I thought, " We're natural at this," and my sister could not agree more. When we came to see how our parents and brother were doing, my brother started to throw a snowball towards me and my sister. It hit me, and we started having a small snowball fight of our own, just like in the movies! I guessed we got a bit out of hand and my sister accidentally hit a woman's back. when she turned around, she had this angry look on her face and started to walk towards us.I hurried my siblings to continue skiing with our parents,and we ran away before she cold catch us. Breathless, we giggled innaivety as we recapped the moment.

        In a way, skiing is like swimming. Why do I say so? Well, when swimming ,you do not feel tired , but you would see the effect when you get ravenous and eat more after a session or when you aintend to tke a nap, but it is extended to long hours. The same goes to skiing. When we arrived at the hotel after skiing, we were drained out and starving. Instant noodles saved the day! We all ate curry-flavoured Maggi together, savouring the memontary pleasure. We also dozed off quite early that night , right after going for a walk to enjoy the amazing night view of th mountains, and breathing the cool, fresh winter air.

        Shopping in Korea was also different compared to Malaysia. Its malls were packed with small shops or stalla on every floor. Big boutiques were not seen as much as the quaint kiosks. Nevertheless, I found shopping at their markets more enjoyable, especially because you could haggle the price. Their specialities   were crystals, fabrics and outerwear. Apart form that, I also liked their wet markets , mainly because they were very clean and they did not have that fishy smell. I remembered a shocking incident when walking through the stalls of the wet market. A large fish jumped  out its aquarium  and onto the floor. I stared at it and suddenly, I saw a huge cutting knife slicing through the fish's neck! It was the owner of the stall's doing. Then, the owner left the fish flapping around lifelessly without a head.

        There was also a treasure trove among the stalls of the wet market- a tiny shoop which served grilled seafood. My family stepped into the shop and ordered some grilled fish and cockles.

        After saying our prayers, we devoured our mouth-watering find of the day. Dripped in a type of souce, the seafood was the best I had ever eaten, as you could taste the freshness. Or maybe I was just hungry after  a full day of activities.

        If it was up to me, there were so many things to write on my memorabe trip to Korean. Not onli we got to spend quality time together as a family, but we also learnt countless new things and even discovered hidden talents. My father always said we should travel with an open mind and an open  heart. This is when you get to see your capability to adapt to changes. Just enjoy the simple things in life and be thankful of what you have. So, do just that. Who knows you might discover a part of yourself you never know existed?   

Malaysia

Malaysia is a multiracial country. Malaysia has a population of 23.27 million consisting of 61 percent Malays, 30 percent Chinese, 8 percent Indians and 1 percent of other ethnic groups. Malaysia is unique because of its diversity of races, religions and cultures, the stability of the country and many places of interests. Besides, there are many international achievements which are the pride of our nation.

Diversity of races, religions and cultures is a significant characteristic of our nation. Malaysia is a multiracial country with a rich cultural heritage. Unique to Malaysia is the 'Open House' concept where during the various cultural and religious festival like Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Gawai Day and others, friends and families and even strangers would visit the homes of those who are celebrating the festival, to wish them well and enjoy the feast prepared by the hosts. Although the visitors may be from different races, they still can tolerate with each other and live under the same roof where they celebrate the festival together. This will help to strengthen the ties among themselves.

Moreover, the stability and peacefulness of Malaysia is also a uniqueness of us. We live harmoniously in a country where there are no wars and conflicts among Malaysians. War is dreadful and it may deteriorate humans' lives. We are fortunate that our country is safe and runs off the war. So, people can live safely here. Somehow, Malaysia is a paradise for those Iraqis or Pakistanis. Besides, our country is freed from natural disasters such as earthquakes. Earthquakes may bring death and destroy many buildings. Therefore, Malaysia is unique because of the stability and peaceful environment.

On top of that, there are many places of interests in country such as beaches, islands and rain forest. Malaysia's rain forest is considered as the oldest in the world. The diverse species of animals and plant life continue to excite a great deal of scientific research. Many believe that some undiscovered plant may hold cures to many currently incurable human diseases. There are many islands in our country such as Pulau Langkawi, Pulau Redang, Pulau Ketam and many others. Pulau Langkawi has a lot of historitical informations. Those who are in favour of history can go there to explore the history of that place. All the beaches in those islands are beautiful. The sand is soft and white. The accommodation is well-established and that makes those islands ideal places to visit.

Following this, there are also international achievements of our country. Those achievements include the existence of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Formula One (F1) racing circuit and the Petronas Twin Towers. KLIA is unique because it has all that is needed for business, entertainment and relaxation within its boundaries. The airport is part and parcel of the Multimedia Super Corridor where high technology industries are being actively developed. Nevertheless, there is a Formula One Race Track near the airport, so foreign car racing enthusiasts from all over the world can come for a visit to gather here. Besides that, Petronas Twin Towers which is a building that soars 452 metres into the sky is once upon a time, the tallest building in the world and yet it is a national pride to the people of Malaysia.

In short, Malaysia is unique that it has diversity of races, religions and cultures, a stable and peaceful environment, places of interest and some internal achievements. Those are important characteristic of our nation. It is rich of cultural heritage; it would be worth to play a visit here.

Horror Story

I opened the door, to my horror, a few skeletons lay there, chained on the wall.

Okay, time to recap. I and my friends, Jack and Peter, were playing around an old, abandoned mansion. We were told that no one was allowed to enter. However, curiosity overcame us and we picked the lock, granting us entrance into the sacred lair of the unknown.

At the sight of the skeletons, the three of us were completely stunned. Our jaw hung wide open for a few minutes before we came back to our senses. My sixth sense told me that something was about to go wrong, so I urged the other two to back out of the mansion.

“Don’t be such a chicken,” said Jack, with a shaky voice.

“Aren’t you scared too?” I challenged him.

“Yes, but we might never get the chance to explore here again if we leave now.”

“…All right, but we leave as soon as the first sign of danger shows.”

We ventured deeper into the mansion. The design looked like some sort of torture room, or a prison. Even though I was afraid, I was eager to discover more. Throughout the lair, we did not lose sight of skeletons or spider webs. These were at every corner, at every turn. The occasional howls from a distance made the hair on our backs stand up straight. We finally arrived at a long hallway. Jack picked up a piece of wood and lighted it up with his lighter. The flame seared at first, but after it simmered down, I was able to see the walls clearly. There were ancient writings, the kind we usually see in an Egyptian grave robber movie. As the expert in history, Jack tried his best to decipher the carvings. Meanwhile, Peter leaned towards the wall to catch his breath. At that very moment, a cold chill went down my spine.

“Watch out!” I shouted.

Before he could react, that portion of the wall he was leaning against flipped, trapping him on the other side. All he could let out was a loud shriek and he vanished behind the walls. I pounded against the wall, shouting his name. Only then did I know what real terror felt like. However, the chance of rescuing him was bleak. I sank to the ground, desolated and hopeless.

“Let’s get out of here, we have to inform the adults!” suggested Jack.

I got to my feet swiftly and both of us sped through the building. My heart was racing. I knew that danger may be waiting at the next corner. I could hear blood pounding in my ears. Wait, was that a creak I heard? “Uh-oh,” I thought to myself. The ceiling began to crumble. My sub-consciousness took over. I sprang forward and tackled Jack. Both of us fell to the ground. Just as I thought that trouble was out of the way, the burning piece of wood slipped out of his hand and landed in a pile of grease. Fire started spreading like mad. I struggled to get up.

“Come on, there’s not much time left!” I screamed as I turned towards the exit.

“Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

In a split second, my head turned 180 degrees. A gigantic marble pillar fell on Jack. I mustered all the strength from every single cell in my body, trying to lift it up, to no avail. My eyes were watery. I was completely out of ideas.

“Save yourself, leave me, please,” muttered Jack, with a weak tone.

This was certainly a tough decision for me. All the moments we had spent together flashed through my mind. How could I leave him now? As the fire was close to sealing my only exit, I knew that I had to be rational. I dived for my escape route.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as the mansion erupted into flames behind me.

Friend

This friend I have is special, whilst young, intelligent and righteous. He lives with me since he was born, a pleasure to have all these years.The strength to face each day can sometimes be drawn from knowing him.

When I watch him dribble around with the ball at the street soccer court then knocking it into the goal leaving the opponent frustrated there is unspeakable pride and joy emitting from the core of my heart. How this fine young man has grown from a novice soccer player just three years ago to a forwarder that instill fear to defenders who have to mark him. A elusive player. This friend I have is special, whilst young, intelligent and righteous. He lives with me since he was born, a pleasure to have all these years.The strength to face each day can sometimes be drawn from knowing him.

When I watch him dribble around with the ball at the street soccer court then knocking it into the goal leaving the opponent frustrated there is unspeakable pride and joy emitting from the core of my heart. How this fine young man has grown from a novice soccer player just three years ago to a forwarder that instill fear to defenders who have to mark him. A elusive player who pass his opponent with ease and elegant he can match the highest standard of the land.

The fond memories of the time we spend together still lingers in my mind. Bringing him to the movies, watching him fight with his sisters still sits in my mind. When he is younger, he never kept still and even climb out of the cradle that is meant to restrain him. That is when he is only two years old and that time nearly got a spanking from his grand mother.

The coolest transformation is his hair. It uses to be always gelled and groomed into the "curry puff" look that is the trademark look that signifies his childhood days. Curry puff is a local snacks that has ultra ordinary puff when fried. Youth has robbed away that and reinstall a new image to befit the modern time. The "anime" type spike hairstyle is now the replacement. Skinny jeans with a smart tee shirts is the order of the day when he needs to go for a outing. While I would prefer him to be in long sleeved shirt and a business pant, his peer may feel out of place with this sort of strange outfit.

Our favorite chat always centered on his favorite Barclay Premier League Club Chelsea and my Manchester United Football Club. Our exchange on the matter can turn into a feisty with each not giving way to the other. Glorified Manchester United has done it once again but the arrival of Ancelloti this season and the departure of Christano Ronaldo has up the challenge for the rivals.

Every weekend is spent at the soccer field where we conduct soccer lessons for children under ten. He is my coach while I am his manager and together we managed to keep soccer alive for these kids who showed up every weekend. Our effort has rewarded us with two championship through the years and the greatest pride is the one that Chris has played in.Chris is more of a friend than a son, we spend our time together like most friends do. I am proud of him both as a friend and a son.r who pass his opponent with ease and elegant he can match the highest standard of the land.

The fond memories of the time we spend together still lingers in my mind. Bringing him to the movies, watching him fight with his sisters still sits in my mind. When he is younger, he never kept still and even climb out of the cradle that is meant to restrain him. That is when he is only two years old and that time nearly got a spanking from his grand mother.

The coolest transformation is his hair. It uses to be always gelled and groomed into the "curry puff" look that is the trademark look that signifies his childhood days. Curry puff is a local snacks that has ultra ordinary puff when fried. Youth has robbed away that and reinstall a new image to befit the modern time. The "anime" type spike hairstyle is now the replacement. Skinny jeans with a smart tee shirts is the order of the day when he needs to go for a outing. While I would prefer him to be in long sleeved shirt and a business pant, his peer may feel out of place with this sort of strange outfit.

Our favorite chat always centered on his favorite Barclay Premier League Club Chelsea and my Manchester United Football Club. Our exchange on the matter can turn into a feisty with each not giving way to the other. Glorified Manchester United has done it once again but the arrival of Ancelloti this season and the departure of Christano Ronaldo has up the challenge for the rivals.

Every weekend is spent at the soccer field where we conduct soccer lessons for children under ten. He is my coach while I am his manager and together we managed to keep soccer alive for these kids who showed up every weekend. Our effort has rewarded us with two championship through the years and the greatest pride is the one that Chris has played in.

Chris is more of a friend than a son, we spend our time together like most friends do. I am proud of him both as a friend and a son.

A Scene During Recess

     The school bell goes off to signal the start of the twenty minute recess period. All the pupils get up from their seats, and with the permission of the teacher make their way to the school canteen.

     The school canteen has many stall offering a variety of foods. One can choose Malay, Chinese, Indian or even western food. The stall holders are friendly folk and the food is inexpensive.

     I quickly walk to the school canteen and head for my favorite nasi lemak stall. The stall is run by an elderly Malay woman whom we affectionately call Mak Haji. She is assisted by her son and daughter. Mak Haji also sells fried chicken, friend prawns, fried fish and anchovies, hard-boiled eggs and baked potatoes to go with her delicious nasi lemak.

     After buying my meal,  i walk over to the drinks stall and buy a tall glass of mixed fruits juice. The drinks stall belongs to Mr. Chan, a thin Chinese in his mid-thirties. He runs the shop alone but he is a very fast worker. His hands seem to move at lightning speed as he serves his customers.

     Then, I scan the dining area for an empty seat and having found one, i rush to be seated. I finish the sumptuous meal in a matter of minutes and gulp down the refreshing juice. Having thus filled my stomach, i rise with the empty plate and glass in my hands. There are others waiting to have their meal and i have to make space for them.

     All too soon, the school bell rings again to mark the end of recess time. All the pupils head back to the classroom for the continuation of the day's lessons.

Things To Prepare For A Job Interview

          The job interview is a crucial part of your job search because it’s an opportunity for the employer to figure out if you’re right for the job. Everyone has at least attended or will attend one interview in his life. Interview is a important step in the course of job finding. If you do well in the interview, you will get the job; otherwise you may lose the job. Therefore the question is how to prepare for a job interview.

          One of the ways to prepare for a job interview is to be well informed. You must get some knowledge about the position you are applying for, because interviewers will ask you questions relative to it, you can answer them fluently and confidently. You should also find out what the products the company produces and read some books relative to these, because you will probably be asked some questions about the products of the company. You should know the latest news in the world too, because if the interviewers ask your opinions about one piece of the latest news such as a football match, you won’t be in the dark and can give them your opinions. If possible, you should also get some information about the likes and dislikes of the president and the interviewers in order to avoid offending them in the interview. 

          Next, good preparations are helpful. There are several preparations that you must to do in order to have a good interview. First, You must have a good sleep in the night before the interview day so that you will be in good condition. Second, you must be dressed properly, which will give the interviewers a good first image. Next, you must be sure to take a pen and notebook with you so that you could take down the main questions of the interviewers and the other important information. Another big factor is your arrival to the interview. Always be on time, try to be there fifteen minutes early. Never be late to job interview. You must leave your home with adequate time and arrive the interview before the scheduled time so that you won’t be late. 

          Finally, good behaviors in the interview are the most important things. There are several things that you must notice. Your speech is an important factor. Always be polite to your interviewer. For example you should address them by their last name unless they tell you other wise. Never use slang in front of your interviewer. It does not look right and it shows them you cannot hold a professional conversation. For example, never use word “ya” always say yes.

          In conclusion, we must be well-prepared for any job interview. Job interview plays an important part in our life as it can determine our future. Nothing will be easy for the unprepared ones. Thus, we must treat our job interviews seriously and be well prepared, a strong preparation for a job interview is needed beforehand. All in all, with good preparation, we can walk into job interviews without getting caught off guard.  Lastly, you must also be be confident yourself and don’t let your nerves overpower your job interview. Anxiety is a waste of time.

How To Overcome Barriers of Tourism In Malaysia

          Malaysia is a country, which is rich and abundant with culture as well as a well-diversified community. With its exotic and unique traditional customs existing in perfect harmony with first world infra-structure, it certainly is an alluring place to spend your holidays for those who yearn to experience an interesting blend of flavours. Malaysia is also ranked as the 9th most visited place in the world and in order to improve out country's rating even better, we should all put in effort to overcome the barriers of tourism in our country.

          One of the ways to overcome the barriers of tourism in our country is that all the people of Malaysia have very important roles in promoting tourism in the country. They have to t be friendly and ever ready to welcome tourism with open arm to the country. All Malaysian must be helpful and polite because it give a good impression to tourist when they set their foot for a holiday here.

          Next, it is an open secret that many tourist enjoy shopping during their holiday everywhere. Unfortunately, many businessman in Malaysia take advantage of this and charge exorbitant rate when tourist go shopping. This will make the tourist feel cheated and never want to return to our country again. This can tarnish the reputation of Malaysia as a holiday destinations. Tourists must be charged the same price as local for product that they buy. Additionally, quality of the product being sold must be a top priority for business in this countries.This can attract tourism to make Malaysia as the favourite spot.

         
          Beside that, the cleanliness is sorely lacking in our country. There are many place that are full of rubbish. By and large,  most Malaysian have many bad habits that must come to an end in order to improve cleanliness in the country. Many public toilets are smelling, dirty and without running water. It is without a doubt that the authorities must improves cleanliness at all cost, before it is too late. If the country is clean, tourist would come in drove to enjoy their holiday here.
         
          Last but not least, we as responsible Malaysian, we should help to promote our country, Malaysia because it can increase the income of our country and help to build economy of our country. Tourism is a significant global industry with a huge impact to our economy. You can make a difference.

Ways To Solve Discipline Problems

          School discipline with a closer look into our educational system, it is clear that students are causing more trouble in schools today because of the lack of discipline. Therefore, the school should put in effort to provide discipline and solve all the discipline problems.

          There are many ways to provide discipline, but one of the most productive is motivating students because they care about what they are learning. Enthusiastic teachers who present their material in stimulating, meaningful ways motivate students. When students are actively learning content that has personal meaning for them, they have neither the time nor the energy to create discipline problems. Conversely, when students feel that 
they are passive receptacles for knowledge, they become bored, turned off, and find satisfaction in acting out.



          Discipline during the lessons mostly depends on the teachers. In the relationship  between effective teaching and discipline, significant attention must be given too the notion of student hope. As long as students believe that there is real hope for them to be successful, discipline can be achieved. When students accept negative labels, when they believe that the material is impossible to learn, no discipline can be achieved. 
   
          The school should also have strict rules. When there are rules for the students to follow, automatically, there will be discipline. However, there might be a few bad students, a few rotten apples who refuse to obey the school rules. This is where the teachers come in, teachers should help by educating and advising the students to obey the school rules. Additionally, if the students still refuse to obey the school rules, they should be punished severely.


          In conclusion, school is the battleground for too many participants. For most teachers and students, a main battlefield revolves around discipline. Maintaining good discipline is a necessary condition for establishing a classroom climate that is conducive to learning.

Who Can Motivate A Person To Study?

          The ability to get motivated to study can have a very positive effect on a student’s study levels and grades. A motivated student will find it easier to go the extra mile and do all the necessary tasks that need to be done to assure success. The right motivation will allow students to study a lot more focused and with more concentration. Motivating yourself to study is especially helpful when you feel a lack of motivation or face procrastination during your studies.


          One of the people that are responsible to motivate a person to study are the person's parents. Parents should keep a relationship with your kids that is open, respectful and positive. Be kind but firm. This will allow parents to be most influential with their kids, which is your most important parenting tool. Furthermore, parents can motivate their kids to study by sending them to tuition classes. Once children are studying parents should provide their necessities for studying. For example, parents should get some reference books for their kids to study and revise. This is one way of motivating their children to have interest to study. 

         Teachers are also responsible to motivate a person to study. Teachers are educators and as educators, they should always do their best to motivate a person to learn. A teachers' role is an important role for a student to progress in his or her study. For example, teachers  should give ideas and motivation to the students which can bring a lot of improvement in their study. In addition, teachers must also be lazy. It is vital for a teacher to be hardworking, teachers should always give it their all when attempting to help or educate a person to study.
          Teachers' role is an important role for a student to progress in his or her study.Teachers are responsible for motivating students to learn. However,students themselves also need to be interested in learning. Students should truly love to learn from their hearts, instead of having motivated or being pushed by their teachers. Students should and are advised to always finish their homework on time and revise on what they have learned when they have any free time.


          In conclusion, it is not only the parents' and teachers' responsibilities to motivate person to learn, but also that person himself. Learning is a task of the students. Real loving of learning and consistent of learning can create a life time success and happiness for that person.

Appropriate Form of Punishment For Road Bullies

          Road bullies has become an increasingly dangerous conflict between drivers on our streets. I do not think anyone who abuses the right to drive by creating chaos with other drivers should get away with that kind of aggressive behavior. Drivers should treat others with respect while driving on the roads. Therefore, there should be appropriate forms of punishments for road bullies, drivers who do not obey the law will be punished.

          A first form of punishment that would be given to a driver for causing havoc on the roads would be a written warning. This warning can be issued to anyone who is putting other drivers in danger while driving. If someone witnesses someone recklessly driving they should contact authorities to report a description of the driver, the car’s license plate number, and what they were doing wrong. Once this report has been made the reckless driver will receive the written warning in the mail explaining to them what they did wrong and warning them of what will happen if they do it again.

          The second form of punishment would be giving the wrongful driver a ticket costing anywhere from RM 50 to RM 100, depending on the degree of the chaos caused. For instance, if the driver were to vengefully intend to cut off a fellow driver because they had gotten to a parking spot before the driver had, this driver could be cited with a first offence and ticketed RM 50 for victimising his fellow driver. On the other hand, if the driver had harassingly targeted his fellow driver and made harmful threats directed to them he would be served with a ticket for RM 100, due to how dangerous he is to other drivers.

          The third form of punishment would be an appearance in court before the judge. If one person repeatedly commits acts of road bullying, the courts will now take legal action into making sure it will not happen again. This includes deciding whether they should serve time in jail or have their license suspended.  

          In conclusion, punishment should be made according to how serious the crime is. For example, road bullies that have caused death intentionally must be sentenced to life in jail. In my opinion, the number of road bullies have increased tremendously due to the lack of responsibility from people on the road. The government and the authorities should stop hosting any campaigns to educate the road users. Instead, they should just punish whoever who fails to obey the law.

Major Cause of Stress To Teenagers

          Being a teenager is, perhaps, one of the most interesting, intense, and at the same time complicated and stressful periods in the life of almost any person. In our teen years, our experiences are especially acute and exiting. This age is connected with one’s search of their place in the world, of their self-identification and belonging. Teenagers face real world problems more and more often, as well as encounter their first serious challenges and problems at home, at school, in their relationships. The need to develop new behavioral models and adapt to social norms and look for one’s place in society can be stressful for a teenager.

          Teenagers are often burdened with many different types of stress. Issues in the home, for instance parental problems or annoying siblings, can contribute to teenage stress. Another taxing matter for teens is relationships, such as friendships or that significant other. The most obvious cause of stress in teens is the constant pressure from school, specifically grades, exams, etc. Of all the reasons for kids to stress, the most general are family problems, relationships, and school.

          One of the most recognised stressors amongst teenagers is a problem within the home. For instance, the divorce of one’s parents can trigger tension. When a family is broken apart and there are children caught in the middle, there tends to be a great amount of strain on the kids. Not only are problems within the home a stressor, but also not having a stable home can cause fretfulness. The teenager that moves around from home to home due to instability in his or her own household is often weighed down by stress and or depression. Constant fighting between kids and their parents are also an attribute to the stressful teen.

          Along with family problems, relationships can cause constant worry for adolescents. When a youngster has a fight with his or her best friend, boyfriend or girlfriend, he or she is apt to worry about the issue until it is resolved. Grades could suffer, attitudes could change, and there could even be shifts in personality, all due to stress over a relationship. Not only is fighting with friends painful, but leaving friends behind is also very trying. For example, going to a new school and having to adapt to a whole new set of people can be an element of teenage stress. Any sort of changes within relationships can trigger anxiety.

          Last but not least, family problems and relationships are hard on teens, but the most stressful factor for teenagers is school. Test taking is a major stress factor. For example, a student has an exam coming up in three weeks. Between the present and the time that he or she has to take the test, there is also homework, class work and other quizzes that he or she has to study for. So collectively, the student is studying for the exam as well as everything in between. Getting descent grades and passing classes can be awfully demanding on young people.

Donation For Flood Victims

Hi Friends! As we all know, floods are frequently occurring in our beloved country, Malaysia. The floods in the east coast regions have become an increasingly worrying issue for everyone. Many lives were lost and homes destroyed due to the occurring of floods. 


After doing some research, I've found out that floods continue to affect the Malaysian states of Sabah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang after further heavy rainfall. As much as 255 mm of rain fell in 24 hours between 21 and 22 December in Kuantan, state of Pahang. Since 16 December 2014, four people have died in Kelantan and one person is still missing in Pahang state after being swept away by flood water whilst attempting to cross a river in Sungai Lembing.Currently 20,468 people have evacuated their homes in Kelantan. Over 6,000 people remain in relief centres in Terengganu.In Pahang over 3,000 have been displaced. Kuantan is by far the worst hit district, with 1,623 people being housed at 20 relief centres. Malan district has also been badly hit and over 1,000 people have been displaced there.

I am deeply concerned by the floods. I feel for the people who have lost their homes, and the families who have lost loved ones. I really feel sad for these people as they have lost almost everything in life. 

To Conclude, we should really consider lending a helping hand by donating any items needed such as clothes and food and even money to really help the citizens in these flood. These flash floods has caused thousands of residents to evacuate from their houses into flood shelters.To make matters worse, residents of these areas have been cut short of food supplies due to the floods. Therefore, these helpless residents, rich and poor, had to live off food rations provided by sympathetic people from around the world who were kind enough to offer a helping hand.

So.... if there is any kind soul who would like to make a donation to help the flood victims, please pass your "donation" to me. You can come find me during recess or my class, 5 Batai. 

PS: any amount will do, it will mean a lot of the poor flood victims