Freedom of expression doesn't always mean that you can say what you want, wear what you want, and do what you want. Freedom of expression is saying what people NEED to hear and see so as to promote individual growth, peaceful communication, and advancement of knowledge.

Labels: advice, freedom, quote, speech, thoughts

Students go to school every day to learn new things but what is the importance of grades to a student’s life? Grades should summarize a student’s academic achievement. Unfortunately, grades do not summarize but instead, it defines a student. If grades can define a student, then no student would ever want to a have bad record. Because of this, some students become obsessed with their grades; grades are not just a number but are a need. They think that if they work hard for it they can achieve perfection through grades. Who are these students who are obsessed over grades? They are the perfectionists who are trying to achieve perfection. They are the students who put pressure upon themselves and work under pressure because they want to be labeled as perfect. They think that grades are a way to have the perfect lifestyle.

“I want my report card brimming with A’s.” Generally, that is what every student want. But for the perfectionists, they do not only want high grades but need them. Why? It is because they desire success. People nowadays focus more on academic standard because grades are seen to “summarize” the students’ academic standard. If student A got a perfect score while student B failed then student A almost automatically is the smartest kid and student B is dumb. Grades can have judgmental effects on students. James D. Allen quoted Bailey & McTighe (1996), says that, “the primary purpose of secondary level grades and reports is to communicate student achievement.” But what happens is that it does not communicate student achievement, but characterizes a student instead. It may be a good thing but the bad thing is that it defines a student for an entire semester. Student B seems doomed to be the dumbest kid in class. The student’s reputation is affected because the grades defined the student. It should not; it should reflect mastery of content taught and reflect completion of tasks (McConnell 2012). As I stated from my previous example, grades automatically give titles to students and it can affect their self-esteem. Even more so for the perfectionists; it affects them mentally and physically. ‘I need my report card to be filled with lots of A’s.’ That is now the statement of every student to avoid humiliation by getting bad grades or to gain plus points from the people around them.

Perfectionists or what I call “the perfect students” have a very strong desire to achieve success. There is nothing wrong with being a perfectionist but what makes it wrong is that people take it too seriously. They become unrealistic and insecure. They become destructive and highly competitive. They do not notice that whenever they try to achieve a goal, they pay too much for it with effort and pride. They have clean and organized records and big goals. They impose exceptionally high standards upon themselves. Their goals are like a utopian dream; unrealistic and unachievable. The perfectionists may sound strong but they are actually the weakest. They have a lot of fear and they fear failure because it means that they do not have a chance to correct a mistake. For a perfectionist, it is all-or-nothing so they must avoid mistakes at all cost. Because of this all-or-nothing attitude, they have a higher risk of missing out opportunities. They always take the safe road to avoid failure. Another fear they have is the fear of disapproval. Perfectionists are scared of rejections in any form: jobs, people or love. They conceal their flaws in order to protect their precious dignity. In their view, their grades reflect them. When it comes to projects, they make sure that their work is clean and perfect because they know that cleanliness equates to perfection. They also act nice to their teachers and they always jump at the chance to do extra work to gain extra points. Peg Tyre (2010) once quoted in his article, A’s for Good Behavior, that the students “were not the ones gaining the most knowledge but the ones who had learned to do school.” In relation to the perfectionists, they tend to do work instead of school. This kind of habit can harm them physically, because they overwork themselves causing them illness, and mentally, because it can lead them to depression or worse mental illness.

The journey to the perfect road is like searching for Utopia, just like the perfectionist trying to achieve perfection. Perfectionists are abusing their health by either staying up late or skipping meals to finish work. Some become depressed whenever they make a tiny mistake. Worse is when some commit suicide when they cannot accept an F. Back in high school, I always had to pass all my subjects because I attended a school where my mother worked. I was under constant pressure. During my junior year, I slowly became grade obsessed. I did not only pass my subjects but joined a lot of extracurricular activities to gain extra points. I would stay up late to study or eat little to have more time to study. By the end of my high school, the effort I exerted was worth it because I graduated with honors; unfortunately, I ended up having health problems as a consequence. You see, perfectionists feel great whenever they receive high grades then later on they would ask for more high grades. Grades are the opium of perfect students because they feel happy and contented and also they become addicted to it.

Grades are nothing but numbers trying to define a student. Being a perfectionist is also something that should not be taken to a higher level. Having a perfectionist personality cannot be avoided but there are few things to consider. First of all, be realistic with your goals. Make them achievable and light in a sense that you do not have to shove yourself into things you cannot do. Another is accepting your weaknesses and limitations. And lastly, forget about the goal of becoming perfect because no one but God is perfection. It is okay to make mistakes because a person who never made a mistake has nothing new to try. When it comes to achieving goals, keep in mind that striving for excellence, instead of success, is much better.

Labels: advice, school, speech, story

Do you know how much we hate goodbyes? We hate it so much that we could fill a thousand pails of it. We lose people that we love. I lost some but I won’t enumerate them because that is something i do not have to point it out here. There are two types of goodbyes, one is leaving without a note and another one is leaving with a note. Leaving without any words or note left hurts. You know that person was having fun with you then the next day he/she left with no reasons at all. That is like witnessing a falling star, no news of coming then no stopping for leaving. If that hurts, what’s worse is knowing that someone will leave. I witnessed this kind of moment, saying goodbye, hugging, then watching that person walk away with his/her back on me, daring not to look to avoid a tear from falling down. Seeing that person walkaway with his/her last words echoing in your head hurts the most. In fact, goodbye is a really painful word because you have to let things go even when you’re not yet ready. Let’s say, like you’re forced to give your favorite blanket to someone who needs it the most. No one can really handle goodbyes, not even the strongest one.

The first stage is becoming honest. Goodbyes are something that makes us honest with our feelings.That’s why we breakdown after losing something because we realized how much it actually means and this will lead to the second stage which is regretting. You regret that you didn’t stay longer; you regret that you didn’t do something to make him/her stay; you regret that you didn’t say your feelings; you regret, that’s it. Regretting will go on forever. We regret things we didn’t do more than things we did, most especially if it’s about a special person. While the scar of regretting is still there, the next stage, which is emptiness, will occur. There are days when you don’t want anything, you just want to sit in one corner and think of nothing else. There’s nothing much to say about emptiness because this is like the break time for moping around. After that comes longing, the fourth stage. You longs for that person’s touch, voice, face, smile, laugh, and every little things you noticed. You want no one else but him/her. After the longing state, comes the fifth stage, the illusional part. You start imagining moments with him/her that will never happen. There are days where you would talk to him/her when actually you are only talking to the empty space beside you. Then there are times when you would hear his/her voice when actually it is just in your head. This stage is really depressing because you cannot quite distinguish reality and fantasy. You made your own world to escape pain. Then after that depressing stage, I hope you now found yourself but if not yet, it’ll go back to the first stage. It will go on and on until time slows it down and fixes you. It’s a long process but if you try to help yourself, then it might be shorter.

I really hate goodbyes because it always haunt me. The images of the person kept on playing in my mind as if the replay button got jammed. Goodbyes are like multiplication table that you have to memorize over and over again until you can say spontaneously. It is as if it’s telling us something, like a lesson. To conclude this, I think what goodbye is trying to tell us is to be strong. Life is really messy but it want us to leave it with a wise mind and a brave heart. It wants us to close the door and choose the right one. Goodbye is telling us, “it was nice knowing you, now i have to leave,” but is actually whispering, “be brave.”

Labels: advice, quote, speech, thoughts

My first ever short entry! This will be short but I hope this is something else... I asked myself today, what scares me the most? It’s not the cockroaches or the F in my test paper or the monsters under my bed but the future. I, and also you, cannot help but, sometimes, fear for what will happen to the future. Will you get what you want? Will you end up with him/her? Will your friendship with him/her last forever? Will you still stay in this place? Will you survive? So many questions yet no answers. The future may be scary for we do not know what’s in store for us but whatever it may be it’s best that we prepare ourselves for it. Whatever life throws at you, catch it, don’t avoid it.

Labels: advice, future, quote, speech, story

Yes... The title is true, I've finally saw the perfect template although it is "a little dark", it still worked for me.

Well, same old same old. My family and I went to my grandma's house to celebrate Mother's Day and it was simple yet charming. We were eating together, laughing and discussing about politics.

Tomorrow is the biggest event of the year. An event that will change the lives of the dear Filipinos. So vote very very very carefully and wisely. This time it's automated! *wink* Vote for the country's sake, people!

I think I have to end this now so I won't get in trouble. It's almost midnight and I can't sleep. Charna's guts! I already drank a very HOT milk and its power still won't work. I want to go to dreamland so bad! So... Good night. Sweet dreams and decide-slash-dream who will be the next... President of our country.

Labels: events, speech, thoughts

"My tummy's turnin' and I'm feeling kinda homesick. Too much pressure and I'm nervous..." That's what I'm saying all day long...

In the morning, a Spelling and Literary Quiz Bee happened. Sophomores did not win in the Spelling Quiz Bee but in Literary, my classmate, Jessica Gavino's group, the Trojans, won! Yay for them! And for the sophies who joined in the Spelling Bee!

The afternoon was the worst. Okay, the truth is was not expecting. So I was part of the extemporaneous speech and completely humiliated myself! I stopped in the middle of my sentence. Thinking of what words would I say next. I stopped for like five to eleven seconds. Argh! After I went down the stage, my English teacher hugged me for I was about to cry which it really happened. I weep while she was reassuring me. Well, I gotten over it and I continuously watch the rest of the Speech fest...

I now have nothing to say so I would like to congratulate to those who won and good job to those who worked really hard and did their very best!

Labels: events, school, speech

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