WEEK 14 :
 SCENTS AND SMELL

“Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across thousands of miles and all the years we have

lived,” wrote Helen Keller in her autobiography. “The odors of fruits waft me to my southern home, to

my childhood frolics in the peach orchard. Other odors, instantaneous and fleeting, cause my heart to

dilate joyously or contract with remembered grief. Even as I think of smells, my nose is full of scents

that awaken sweet memories of summers gone and ripening field far away.”

Though Helen Keller’s words are made more poignant by the fact that she was blind and deaf,

we all have this innate connection to smell. It seems to travel to our brains directly, without logical or

intellectual interference. Physiologically, we do apprehend smells more quickly than other sensations,

and the images aroused by smell act as beacons leading to our richest memories, our most private

selves. Because smell is so intimately tied up with breath, after all, a function of our bodies that works continually, day and night, keeping us alive, it keys us into the memories that evoke the continual   and flow of experience. The richest smells can be the most innocent: the smell of a BarbieDoll, the

smell of Play-Doh, the smell of the house right after your mother cleaned (the hot dust inside the

vacuum, the tart scent of Lemon Pledge), the shoes in your father’s closet that smell of old polish. Or

smells can be more complex: the aftershave your father wore the day he lost his job, or the scent of a

baby’s head. Smells can be pleasant or unpleasant: The perfume of a soft ocean breeze or the stench of

rotting garbage or burning rubber; the odor of Grandma’s sumptuous apple pie or the scent of a burnt

and ruined meal; the smell of flowers blooming on a warm spring day or the smell of something that

made you feel ill.

What are the smells that you remember, the ones that, even in your memory, make you stop a

moment and breathe deeply, that make your heart beat faster, or make your palms sweat? Write about a

sense of smell that for you is a powerful memory trigger. Do you remember the smell of your

grandparents’ House, the smell of freshly cut grass, the sweet smell of cotton candy at a carnival, or

the smell of a dentist’s office? 

WEEK 13:
 A PAINFUL LESSON

During fall break of 2004 I was ten years old and in fifth grade. Looking back I realize how young and immature I was. I never would have expected one of my greatest life lessons to be taught to me then. But it happened.

At the time I was living with my aunt, uncle, grandma, sister, and two cousins. One night my aunt, sister, cousin, and I went to town for groceries. Afterward, leaving the store parking lot, it was my turn to sit up front but I gave it up to my sister. I sat behind the driver. The next thing I recall I was sitting in the road at an intersection across town. My aunt, cousin, and sister were standing next to the car. My sister was holding the side of her head, my cousin was crying and my aunt was screaming on the phone. My face was throbbing and blood was pouring from my mouth. It all felt like a dream. I heard an ambulance and blacked out again.

I was at the hospital when I came to, on a stretcher with an IV in my arm. My uncle came in the room and explained to me that a drunk driver had hit the rear end of our car. My aunt had a cut leg, my sister needed stitches in her head, and my cousin escaped with only a bruised knee. As for me, my aunt’s chair had broke during impact and smashed into my face. I was to be flown out by helicopter to a larger hospital.

I barely remember the helicopter ride. I got to the other hospital and waited in the ER for six hours to get a room. My family arrived right before I was moved. The doctor explained to my uncle, who relayed to me, that my nose was broken along with the bones in my mouth. I had lost five teeth, three temporary and two permanent. I would need extensive dental surgery to fix it all.

During my four day stay in the hospital the doctor told me something that’s always stuck with me. He said that I was lucky my face was still okay, that I was lucky I was still alive. I learned then, at that young age, that you should live everyday like it’s your last, because it just might be.

Since this time, I have become more outgoing. Joining different activities, talking to new people, and just generally trying new things are a few of the ways I have done this. I have traveled more and saw new things, so I would feel like I haven’t missed out on anything. The most important thing I have done, though, is to be true to myself. If I am no longer here tomorrow, I want to be remembered.

WEEK 12 :
MAN TO LEAD, WOMAN TO FOLLOW

Man to Lead Woman to Follow

 This is a very ticklish question. Eyebrows will look down upon the very question. The question aims at equality between man and woman. It cannot be blind equality. Nature has endowed man with certain capabilities and capacities, which are not found in woman. Man also cannot claim some capacities peculiar to woman. Thus we speak of manly strength and feminine grace.

 Now late in the twentieth century to say that man sound lead may should absurd. But in what he should lead lies the answer. Then there won’t be any controversy. Man by his nature is given to hard work involving physical strength and also to be great extent, physical endurance. Woman, as a rule are denied his physical strength. So, man has been a fighter all along and these fighting qualities have always been in demand. So many came to be a leader. Exploring, pioneering, climbing, fighting and such of these require many courage, bravery and hardihood. Then society needed them badly. Man became the leader.

Woman as a rule, are the best homemakers. Their sense of duty, humility and patience make them really the authority in the house. Their feminine touch has a lot to go in bringing up children. If a country needs good youngsters, it is to the mothers it has to look to. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. Man and woman are thus complimentary and supplementary to each other and it will be useless to decide who leads whom.

WEEK 11 :
DANGER IN THE HOME

Danger  at  home

Our home is usually our favorite place to spend time in. However many accidents occur at home. There are dangerous things in the house and we should be aware of them. Thus we can avoid unnecessary pain or injury.

Electricity runs many of our home appliances. It is a very useful thing. It is also a very dangerous thing if used carelessly, for it can kill. Electrical sockets and power points are to be handled with utmost care. Young children should never be allowed to go near them. Unless we are very sure of what we are doing, repairs should only be done by a competent electrician. It is only too easy to get electrocuted. Old or faulty appliances should be discarded. If used, they are likely to start a fire somewhere or kill someone who touches it.

The kitchen has many dangerous things. Sharp knives can draw blood, mishandled gas-cylinders can explode, hot water can scald and stoves can cause nasty burns. Flies and rats can contaminate food. Thus the kitchen is not a place to be careless in. If we are careful and know how to handle things there, then the chance of an accident occurring is lessened.

The biggest danger in a bathroom is when the floor is slippery with water or soap. I have heard of many incidents of people, especially old folks, falling in the bathroom. Sometimes the fall is fatal. Often it leaves the victim bedridden. Utmost care is needed here.

Finally the medicine cabinet should be inaccessible to young children. Dangerous drugs and pills can look like sweets to these young ones. If taken, the consequences can be disastrous.

Other dangers do exist. It is up to us to watch out for them.

WEEK 10:
BEAUTY WITH THE BRAIN 

Beauty or Brains?

Have you ever wondered why guys only choose to date the girls that are either brainless, or have a completely fake personality? Well, I think that the answer remains questioned. Most guys go after the “hot blondes,” not really caring about their personality, and only their looks. I think that this issue causes three main problems. For one, it makes some girls feel insecure, or not “pretty” enough. Two, it gives girls a label on what they should and should not look like. And lastly, it tells girls that we need to reach a high expectation to be good enough.  

As we know, the world is not perfect. However, we also live in a very judgmental world. Today, girls are constantly judged on their facial features, they eye and hair color, their body, and more. When guys choose the girls with not only no brain, but a horrible personality, it shows what kind of guy that person really is. Not only is it a shallow act on the guy’s part, but it also offends the girls. When girls see that guys are not going to be interested unless you meet certain expectations, they tend to change their features to meet others expectations. Things such as dying hair and acting dumb are two things that girls do just to get guy’s attention, knowing that they will not even notice them unless they act that way. Because of all these horrendous acts, girls are influenced to change themselves to the way others would rather them look like.

All throughout magazine’s, girls are shown what they should and should not look like. For instance, have you ever seen an overweight person on the cover of a magazine? This example is why so many girls are self conscious, because they are not only constantly judged by everyone around them, but also by guys. I think that guys play a major part in why girls sometimes do not feel pretty enough. For one, most guys do not talk to the girls that they do not feel are up to their “standards.” In most cases, personality is the last thing that even matters. Most guys only care about the outside appearance. Even though they say that they look for sweet, beautiful girls, they tend to go for the brainless fake girls instead. Even though guys might say that they want sophisticated girls that are intelligent and sweet, they usually don’t keep their word. Unfortunately, girls cannot control the looks they are born with, but it is also up to them weather to change themselves just for the benefit of guys.

Having high expectations is not only rude, but it is also making girls be something they are not. If a guy truly liked a girl, he would accept the way she was and not ask her to change. Even though magazines show that we are supposed to look thin, with perfect hair and a perfect body, girls cannot be perfect no matter how hard we try. Even though on the surface, a girl may act like they are comfortable with being someone who they aren’t, they would much rather be accepted the way they are without someone asking them to change just to be accepted. Even though they will not admit it, they would much rather have boys ask them to stay exactly who they are. Sometimes it is difficult for a guy to admit that they would rather have a clueless attractive girl than an average intelligent one. However, if the world only depended on outer appearances, how would problems such as racism or discrimination ever be solved?

I believe that judging girls from their outer appearance is wrong as well as insulting. The next time a guy thinks about rejecting an intelligent girl, I think that they should think about what will end up happening in the long run. If judging continues, it think that not only will girl’s self esteem continue to drop, but that they will never feel good enough, even though they cannot change what they were given. I also think that guys should be able to step up and know that judging girls is wrong, and it will only continue to affect girls in a negative way in the long run.

WEEK 9: 
FASHION

Fashion. When you hear that word you may very well think of ditsy supermodels that strut around in thousand dollar name brand pieces of fabric. Or you could think of movies like Confessions of a Shopaholic, The September Issue, Coco Before Chanel, or The Devil Wears Prada. But what you most likely don't think of is an art, a career, a passion, or a lifestyle. Fashion can promote creativity, that it is very important in culture, society, and religion, and it can make you look and feel more professional.

So, I know that you may think that fashion is not important. That people should find other ways to be creative, like joining an art class, or getting into photography. Maybe you think that nowadays the clothing choices are just not all that great, and I agree with you in part. Or you could think that if people want to be religious then they can practice their religion just as long as they are in their own home, or a place of worship. You might think that kids shouldn’t be exposed to other cultures besides theirs. Maybe you think that you can look professional without making a big deal about it. And trust me all of these reasons are completely valid and you have the right to think this way. But in this case the pros outnumber the cons.


First off, fashion can make you more creative in your everyday life. Of course you’re wondering how fashion could possibly improve someone’s creativity. But if you really think about it, when you are getting dressed in the morning what goes through your mind? No matter what it is it's probably pretty creative and you most likely put some thought into it. No matter if you are trying to look like the most popular kids in your school or if you are trying to look like your favorite celebrity. Now if we we were more creative with everything that we do including the way that we dress it could makes us more creative in school/work. What I have found is that people feel extremely happy when they create something that they like and ends up a success. For example if someone was getting dressed and they decided to wear an outfit that they had never worn before and people complimented them on it they would be happy and self confident. Once people understand that it is okay that your clothes look different from other people's and they start to enjoy looking different and/or having a "signature" style they will become a lot less stressed about how they look and won't feel as much pressure to look like everyone else. Of course it will also really give people a lot of self confidence, which is always a good thing. For all of these reasons fashion can promote creativity in everyday life.

In addition, fashion is important in culture and religions. When I say that fashion is important to culture and religion you may ask how? How is something so superficial as fashion important to any religion or culture? But when you take the time to look, fashion is everywhere in religions and cultures. For example, Muslim women cover their faces with head scarves. That could definitely be classified as a “fashion statement,” because it is taking the way that you dress and using it for a purpose. If people were to dress in clothes from their religion more often it could possibly create stronger faith in religion and less people feeling like it is odd to wear things like that. It would create stronger faiths because if people were to dress according to their religion it would be a daily reminder of their faith. And as you have probably noticed people tend to do what they see others doing. So this could catch on quite easily. It would show kids that it is okay to be different from everyone else. If a bunch of their friends has some sort of religious clothing item and wore it then the kid would most likely think that if it were okay for his friend to be different than it is okay for him to be different as well. It could quite possibly make people more interested in other cultures. If someone saw an article of clothing that one person was wearing and thought that it was interesting than that person might want to do a bit of research on that culture and find out what it was for. When I say that it is important in culture I don’t just mean a culture from another country, but I also meant how society develops in the United States. Before women worked there weren’t many women’s dress suits. Most of the clothing for women has changed drastically because of the professions that some women choose nowadays. Most women’s clothing way back when was just fit for house work, grocery shopping, or taking care of kids. Now that some women work more clothes have changed to make them more professional looking and to make it easier for them to work in.


Last but not least fashion can make you look and feel more professional.If you are wearing something that makes you look more professional to a job interview they are more likely to take you seriously and consider you for the job. If people see you and think that you are professional, well kept, and put together than they are more likely to be nice to you. When someone thinks highly of you than someone who thinks that you’re not that great of a person. You will also feel better about yourself and feel like you are professional; therefore you will do better in your work.

In finality, fashion is important because it can make you more creative, it is important in culture and religion, and it makes you look and feel more professional. There are many reasons why this is a completely valid point. I have shown you many facts, and explain it all. Let's face it, regardless of your doubts fashion is important.

WEEK 8 :
 HEALTH IS WEALTH 

Health is wealth

If a person is not healthy, then he or she will find it very difficult to enjoy life. Balanced food, fresh air, exercise, good posture, plenty of rest, pure water, cleanliness, regular check-ups at the docture and dentist “ all helps keep our body machines running as they should.

A fit person is also more resistant to illnesses. The simplest way of keeping fit is by exercising regularly. But the exercises must be vigorous. Secondly we have to watch what we are eating. There should be enough fibre, protein, fruit, vegetables and vitamins. And of course our bodies need water. Water allows our blood to flow through the blood vessels thus supplying the body with vital nutrients. We must drink about six glasses a day.

We have to get enough sleep. All of us know how cranky we can get if we do not have enough sleep. And what's more “ avoid stress, worry and tension, think positive! A bath or a shower every day is a good habit. It makes us clean but it also helps us to fall asleep better. Brushing our teeth is part of keeping clean.

The paramount problem right now are drugs, smoking and alcohol. These activities wtake a terrible toll on our bodies. A smoker has a perpetual cough that may lead to lung diseases or cancer. A drug-addicts body degenerates as his addiction grows. If he does not kick the habit, his fate is almost certainly to be a death.

Thus, if we do all that, we should be able to keep ourselves fit. Nobody likes to be weak and ill, for life is much more pleasurable when we are healthy.

WEEK 7 : BLACK SHEEP IN THE FAMILY

The black sheep of the family

He was different from his brothers. He was not a smart boy with a genious' mind. He was not a sportsman too. He was just a normal kid, but his parents did not want him to be one. They expected him to be as good as his brothers.

"Jack!" he turned around as he heard his name being called. His friend, Chris ran to him. "Did you see the notice board? Your brother is the top scorer in our school again and I heard that your second brother won first place in the All Penang 100 Meters Race, right?" Jack's face darkened. " Yeah, Yeah" was all that he said.

Such a conversation was one that he heard all the time and he knew where it would lead to. His parents always compared him to his brothers and he was fed up with this. All the people around him always told him to his brothers. He tried but failed. He could not run fast and he was not a top scorer at school academic work either. However, he dearly loved music. He could write and produce songs in his early age of ten, but his parents would not accept it. They thought that music was not a money-spinner and he would not be able to make a living from it.

On the day the SPM results were announced, his father was mad at him because he did not score straight A's like his brothers. To make matters worse, he ignored his father, played his guitar as cool as a cucumber as though it was nothing a she knew that he had tried his best and he was satisfied with his results unlike his father. "Jack, what do you think you are doing? Can't you just concentrate on your studies? Look at these results, and you are calm enough to play your guitar. You are so easily satisfied. I tell you Music will get you NOWHERE!"

Jack was very angry but he kept silent. "I've had enough! Give me your guitar."said his father as he seized Jack’s guitar and smashed it into hundreds pieces. As the guitar broke, so did Jack's heart. "Dad" his voice trembling. "Why can't you face the truth? I'm not my brothers. I can't do what they do. I love my music. It means the world to me. Why can't you let me do what I like. I'm leaving."

After the incident, his life changed. His new friends introduced him to liquor such as whisky and even drugs like Marijuana, Shabu-shabu and Ecstacy. All these made him forgot about his sorrow and kept him happy. After months of addition he became thin like a skeleton. Sometimes, he even had to steal to pay for his expensive habit.

One day, he was found on a street lying unconscious after being beaten up. He had been caught red-handed, stealing goods at a mini market. He was rushed to the hospital. When he woke up, he saw his parents' worried faces and thought that he had to be dreaming, but he was not! His family advised him to go to the rehabilitation centre. At first, he rejected their suggestion, but after he noticed his father's usually-strict face change to a worried one, he relented.

Life in the center was very hard. He nearly suicide as he could not stand the aftereffect when he did not use the drugs. However, his family always supported him and with it, he made through the nightmare. He turned over a new leaf and furthered his study taking a course in music. His parents were not as strict as before. He started to relax and have fun with the family. At the end of his course, he surprised his family as he received top grades at the University.

Ten years later, as he stood on the platform with a Grammy Best Music Producer Award in his hands, he said " First of all, I would like to thank my parents who have been giving me support and advice. To my brothers whom have been helping me along the way, thank you for everything. Lately, I want to advice everyone not to give up your dreams. Face the ups and downs of your life bravely and remember, everyone came to this world with their own talents. So, trust and be confident in yourselves. Succeed then is in your hand."

WEEK 6:
MODERN INVESTION'S MAKING US LAZY ?

Are modern inventions making us lazy?

In more ways than not, I say yes to the above question.

The motorcar was invented some while back. Since then we have enjoyed an ease of traveling unequalled in history. We have also become immeasurably lazier. We drive the car everywhere, to work, to play, for a hundred miles, for a hundred metres. My brother who has a pot-belly does not in walking at all. It is always the car even to the corner grocery shop a stone’s throw away.

Many ‘modern’ people are like my brother, four wheels take over the job of two legs. Consequently, their whole physical condition suffer. They become overweight, under-exercised and prone to a multitude of ailments. The convenience of the motorcar has caused laziness which in turn caused physical deterioration.

Besides physical laziness, mental laziness can occur too. This happened to a friend of mine who works as a clerk in a school. Before the invention of electronic calculator, he had to do his accounts by making use of his brains alone. He could add, subtract, multiply, divide by simply using a pencil and a piece of paper. Then one day the headmaster gave him a calculator. He was delighted that he could perform all the calculating by simply pressing some keys. He did not even have to think. Thus his mental ability atrophied. He did not realized this until one day the calculator broke down. To his horror he discovered he has forgotten how to perform simple mathematical tasks. He was completely helpless and could not do his accounts until the headmaster got him another calculator. Such is the consequences of mental laziness. It took him only weeks with the calculator to almost forget it all.

To further worsen this physical and mental laziness is the television. Many people nowadays simply sit themselves right in front of their TV set for long hours every evening. These people inevitably become victims of the “idiot box”. Their bodies suffer from lack of exercise and their are too very busy to do work. Even if, the thing's is the really easy work to do.. 

         


              WEEK 5 : WHAT MAKES HAPPY LIFES 

WHAT MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY?

 In the life, many people live to find the answer for the question “what is the happiness?”. A lot of people believe that it comes from the poverty, the fame, power or influence. We can be certain that they are true or false, but in my opinion, the happiness can be created simply from a good health, feeling of love and the faith in life.

 A good health plays an important role of a happy life. There is an idiom “having a good health is having all”. A healthy person works more effectively than a weak one. Moreover, with strong body, people can enjoy their lives by doing what they want. Is a millionaire happy to spend his money on entertainment if he always gets poor health? No, I think he isn’t. Without health, it’s difficult to do anything.

 The next one brings joy to life that is the feeling of being fully loved. The power of love can help people more happy and less upset. That means when we are sharing, the joy becomes double and sorrow becomes half. Problems can be solved if we exchange together. Thanks to human love, people feel safer, more confident than ones living lonely. Of course, they are more happy as well.

 The last one, a key to open the happiness that is the faith to life. Whenever being sorrow or unlucky, just smile and think positively. The writter Lev Tonstoy said that “ The faith is the force of life”. He means that, however the difficulty is, we should believe that we can overcome and try our best. In fact, there were many patients getting over their serious disease and have a happy life after a long time they keep faith and fight to be survive. If we are faithful, we will easily feel the happiness in the life.

 In conclusion, the meaning of happiness is unsimilar to many different people. While a lot of them are finding in illusion ways from money, wealthy or power, why don’t we create our happy life from having good health, loving each other and keeping our hopefulness?...