A Decision

Posted on August 17, 2007 at 6:43 pm | 19 Comments
Filed under School Sabotage

I’ve decided not to run after something anymore. I’m already tired. Besides, I don’t really like what I am doing. I’ve already had enough. My plate is already full and I don’t need an extra serving. But then, if I caught up — by accident — with the thing that I’m supposed to be running for… why not? That would be great and I would really appreciate that.

What the hell am I talking about? Oh, I’m talking about grades.

I’ve decided not to push my efforts to their maximum level. I’m no longer interested on getting enlisted as a Dean’s Lister. I don’t care anymore if there will be others who would surpass me when I know I can reach hinger mountains than them. I’m tired of memorizing dates, names, and other key terms. Surely, this is not the way you can measure a person’s intelligence, right? I’m not motivated to study hard. It’s goodbye high grades.

But is it? My blockmates told me that my grades are still satisfactory — Wow! Ang tataas naman ng mga grades mo! (Wow! Your grades are high!) — but then, they are not as satisfactory as when I had started going to college back last year. I know to how much extent I can do, and I’m only using 80% of my ability. And this is how I want to be now. Besides, my grades are not the things that make me; they’re just numbers. And as what Talamasca have commented, grades are not everything.

I want to thank all of those who have commented in an entry I posted back in June 28, LetÂ’s Talk About Grades, for their insightful comments. For those who have read that post, you might have thought that I’m still a grade conscious student, eh? Well, I’m not one of those kind of students anymore. I’ve relinquished my membership in that group. Yeah, I know, that my grades had gradually increased back in high school, and now, boom! There has been major changes in my grades. But as what I have written, I don’t really care.

But of course, I’ll still cherish those days when I got these…

My Awards
My Awards. Those certificated have my real name printed, so I covered them.

That’s when the time when I really felt the tension building up against this certain person because of, ah, I’m not supposed to talk about that. And of course, I felt how to be on the stage to get my academic awards. That’s the first and I hope that it’s not the last (I hope that someday, I may get motivated to study hard again).

And those would remain as remembrances. Those would remind me that once, I was a very grade conscious student who was inspired by a best friend to perceive hard in school and that I have the ability to conquer foreign lands where other students haven’t set foot before.

Yes, this is the second half of LetÂ’s Talk About Grades. But I decided not to include this in that post, because as you have read, there’s no chance for my readers to get “inspired” with this post, unlike the previous one.

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Let’s Talk About Grades

Posted on July 28, 2007 at 8:47 pm | 22 Comments
Filed under School Sabotage

When I was in first grade, I was a no one, I don’t get into the list of the brightest pupils. I hated my subjects especially Math. My grades were between 80 to 88, sometimes they even go lower than that.

And then, in grade two, I had two friends, unlike me, they always got in the top ten, but I was not never treated as an outcast. They accepted me like a real friend. Actually, we didn’t talk about our grades much. We just discuss them during the first time we see them, having me with the lowest average. But that did not really matter.

It was only during my fifth grade when signs had started to came out that I have an aptitude in Math. I can still clearly remember that our lesson back then was about prime and composite numbers. I was the only one who was able to identify that a very high number was in fact divisible by seven, thus, making it a composite number.

During the gap from second to fifth grade, I really struggled very hard with my subjects especially in Wika and Pagbasa, where I always get a grade of line of seven in my report cards. I also had a hard time with English, History, and even — believe it or not — in Computer. Sometimes, the thought of having to go to school during summer haunted me. Fortunately, I didn’t fail in any of my subject. Throughout the years, my best friends were always there for me. I did not feel that I was alone no matter how low my grades were at that time.

And then, I graduated from grade school satisfactorily. Having Math and MAPE as the subjects where I really excelled at. But my persistence in studying was not enough to earn an academic award. What I only got was a Loyalty Award.

That wasn’t really enough, what I want was an award that is related with academics. But at least, that was a good start, isn’t it? I had the feeling on how to go up the stage and receive my award. Unconsciously, I had set my mind to aim for high grades… be conscious with my grades. I think I was inspired by my best friend to aim for an academic award. And I didn’t know about it until I was in Fourth Year High School.

When I was in third year High School, I noticed that there were significant changes in my grades. No more line of sevens, lesser grades of line of eights, and more of line of nines. At the end of junior year, I think I was the top 11 of the batch. It was really good.

And then, in my fourth year, suddenly, everything has changed. From the first quarter of that school year, I was already the top three of my batch. I was acing most of my subjects. And that continued until I graduated. And all of these had resulted to a sweet and delicious fruit… I graduated with honors, I was the First Honorable Mention of my batch. But that was not all, I even got the Best in Math and Physics, another Loyalty Award, and other certificates. On the day I graduated, I was smiling all the time, stretching my muscles wide as I can. It was a splendid day.

I’m sharing this not because I want to brag, I wanted to — I don’t know the word — shall I say, inspire you with my story. I was able to prove to my self that you can reach what you like if you really want it. Every hurdle would just be chocolates in our eyes, ready to be munched and devoured. All we need is an inspiration. There’s no harm in trying, there’s nothing wrong in dreaming, because you don’t know that someday, that dream that you have tried to achieve will become a reality. But most of all, we have to remember that God is always there, He is just a prayer away, ready to help us.

PS: Yes, I know, this is not timely. I don’t know what made me think to write this and as I will lose my interest in writing this if I would wait even just for a day, I chose to share this to you now.

LSS: The Postal Service - Suddenly Everything Has Changed

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PA - E01: A Pair of Pear

Posted on July 7, 2007 at 10:21 pm | 9 Comments
Filed under Bulky Books • Daily Dose • Featured Flicks • Podcasteeg • Potter Phenomenon • School Sabotage


Download mp3

Oh! Look! This is the first episode of Podcasteeg. Well, I still haven’t achieved my preferred accent and my voice really sucks, but I have decided to do this because I want to try it. I had fun doing it.

I used Audacity to and my built-in microphones on my notebook to record this episode. I haven’t used any music because I don’t want to breach any copyright law. Anybody knows where I can download GPL music? And if you have a suggestion on mind, please tell me about it.

Forgive me for the wrong grammars that I have commited, and my awful and horrible voice.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to the first ever episode of Podcasteeg. This is Christian Evangelista of Asteeg.Net, that’s A-S-T-E-E-G-dot-N-E-T. So, uh, today’s 07.07.07 or July 07, 2007. Lucky day? Uh… no, I don’t think so. Uh, though seven is favorite number, I still don’t think that this is a lucky day. Neither numbers nor dates dictate our luckiness. I still think that it’s still up to you if you would want this day to be lucky or not.

Okay, moving on, uh, well, school is crazier nowadays. Everything is different. As what one of my ex-blockmate had said, if in our first year, it is us who make our selves stressed, now, the sight of our school is enough to make you feel stressed. What’s more is that in two weeks time, ya, two weeks time or 14 days, we will already have our prelims. and that spells B-U-S-Y, and that’s busy! Well, at least, I’m enjoying my English class right now. Uh, currently, we’re on phonetic transcription or whatever you call it. Our professor told us that it is easy, ya, I think it is. But sometimes, it can be a bit confusing, especially if you don’t know how to pronounce words correctly. For example, the words S-T-A-I-R and S-T-A-R-E are supposed to be pronounced the same. That’s stair and stare. Why are you staring at the stair? Likewise, with the words P-E-A-R and P-A-I-R. So that’s pair and pear. She ate a pair of pear. Yes, I know it’s crazy. Our instructor also told us that the word C-O-M-P-I-L-A-T-I-O-N is supposed to be pronounced as compilation and not compilation, again, that’s compilation. Uh, the word T-U-I-T-I-O-N on the other hand, is supposed to be pronounced as tuition.

And now, let’s talk about the Harry Potter fever. On July the 11th, that’s a Wednesday, yes, a Wednesday, the fifth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be released in the country. I don’t know if I would be able to watch the movie on the 11th because I’m supposed to be in school until 5pm on that day and my class on the following day will start at 7am. So, there’s only a little possibility that I’ll be able to watch it on that day. Nevertheless, I’m planning to watch it two times on the big screen. Uh, the first time I’ll watch it, I suppose, I’ll be alone, yes, alone because I don’t want to be interrupted with tremendous amount of questions while watching it. And on the last time, I’ll be watching it with my friends or with my family. And on the 21st, the last Harry Potter book entitled harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released. I can’t wait to have it on my hands. I’m getting excited! The problem is that I still haven’t reserved a copy and the book costs around PHP 1500. I guess, I’ll pay for it in cash on the release date. Well, seriously, I don’t have any theory on who will die and who will survive, but I hope Harry would still be alive at the end of the book. This is going to be good July to remember!

Well, I suppose, that’s all for the first episode of Podcasteeg. See you next time if there is a next time. Again, this is Christian Evangelista and don’t forget to leave your comments.

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The day when I got so lucky

Posted on October 22, 2006 at 10:22 pm | 15 Comments
Filed under School Sabotage

Here’s the story on how I got PHP 50.00 worth of prepaid load and PHP 125.00 in school last Friday.

My original plan last Friday was that I would only watch the quiz bee so as to support my blockmates and after it, I would go back home. You see, it was our college day two days ago (actually, it started last Thursday and it yesterday). If it was not for the attendance, I did not go to school!

During the latter part of the contest proper I had this SMS conversation with one of my HS friends.

Christian: Woot! Nakakuha ako ng 50 na load!
Perfect: Sige, makakarma ka rin niyan!
Christian: Hindi kaya! Nakasagot ako kanina dun sa mga tanong para sa mga audience, nanonood kasi ako ng quiz bee
Perfect: Basta, makakarma ka pa rin niyan, sinusumpa ko!
Christian: Whatever!

Sorry for those poeple who can’t understand Filipino/Tagalog, I don’t have time to translate it. Just before the championship round, the quiz master announced that there were questions for the audience to answer and whoever would answer the question correctly would get load! Pakapalan na ng mukha… I was able to answer the question “What city would host the Olympics in 2012?”, why wouldn’t I know the answer? It’s the place I want to go someday… London!

And just before the quiz bee had ended, the karma that my friend was telling me came. I thought at first it was a bad karma and in the end, I realized that it was a good one. Talking about blessing in disguise…

One of the members of the faculty was calling me and my two blockmates who were with me (one of them was a contestant in the quiz bee but alas, he was eliminated). We were asked to enter a room packed with other students. Another blockmate of mine also entered the room (also a contestant of the quiz bee who was eliminated), she thought that we were already going so she went with us.

And after some more seconds we were surprised that we were the contestants in a reality based show oriented competition, no it’s not PBB, it’s more like the program of the other channel which was now removed from the face of the television!

Yeah, we were proclaimed as the contestants, on the spot! What’s this? “Impromptu Challenge”? Lol. There were six teams, composed of four students (one contestant from each level) and a member of the faculty. My team was the white also known as transparent team (hey, when did white become transparent?). Obviously, my other three blockmates were in the other teams. During that time, I can’t help but laugh, you see, I thought “on the spot” was only applicable in HS, but now I knew that there is also “on the spot” in college and the faculty members were so funny! You won’t even think that they were instructors!

It was really like playing in a TV show, but this time, no cameras, no interviews and lower amount of prizes. In the first phase (there were three phases), there were six challenges. The main objective was to gain the most little amount of time. We had three minutes to finish every single task, failure to finish a task will mean time penalty.

The first challenge was intradermal (I’m not sure if it’s called like that or how it’s done) where somebody from the group had to inject distilled water on our skins. It was really painful! It was like ten bees puncturing a certain part of your skin! It was the only challenge that we were able to finish. The second one was Pinoy henyo where a piece of paper will be pasted/tapped on your forehead (something like that) and you had to guess the word/s in that paper correctly with the help of another person who can only answer by yes, no or maybe so as to limit your ideas and in the end, arrive with the correct answer. The third was something like “kissing card game” … the game that I hate most. The first person had to suck a piece of plastic and pass it to the next person by blowing it, and in return that next person would suck it and the process goes on until the last person gets it. In the fourth challenge, three of us had to hold folders to guide a ball to a paper bag, one had to drop the ball and that ball had a question in it which another contestant has to answer. The fifth one was called “Fear Factor”, there were five pieces of styrofoam on a table, every member of the group had to choose one and eat whatever inside it. The choices: earthworms, rats, lizards, flies, and black beetles… all alive and kicking! Joke! The real choices were donut, lemon, tomato, one day old egg, and an uncooked egg. The one that I get was the donut! Haha! I think it was from Go Nuts Donuts because it was so sweet! Lol! The last task was to do a puzzle! There were five puzzles, one for each member and it was only the fourth year student who was able to finish her puzzle.

After the times were tabulated, we were surprised that we were still on the game! Whoa! Two teams were eliminated. Phase two was easier, all we had to do was to listen to a clue and form the answer out of the letters of our college. Alas we lost (there was also another team that was eliminated). The good part was that our team ended with 3rd place and we received PHP 500.00! We had to divide it into five as we were five in the group. The faculty member we had in the group decided to give to us his prize so all in all, I got PHP 125.00 from joining that challenge!

The next time that we will have our college days, I’ll make sure that I will watch the quiz bee and that I will be a contestant of the challenge! Lol!

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