Big School or Small School?

I have never had the experience of attending a big school. The private schools on this island are not that large in campus size, and I've only been to relatively small private schools. My last school – Marianas Baptist Academy – was pretty much one to two acres, including the basketball/volleyball court! It would've taken less than a minute to get to my next class. I am a student of small schools. 

However, SIS is a medium sized school actually – definitely not small, but long in length to make you semi-tired of walking on the sidewalk to the next building. Its size makes a big difference to my schedule; you have to strategically plan out when and where to walk because you can easily waste time in taking the long way. Need to go the restroom? You have to consider which one is closer to use. Need to go to your locker, which is in the back of the high school building, and you are in the second floor of the middle school building for chemistry and only have about two minutes before the teacher locks you out of class? You pray before you sprint or pray that you don't need to use your chem book in class. I honestly like SIS's size. Walking is good for you; you wake up a bit before going to class, and we have the opportunity of walking outside in the fresh air, which I highly admire; you lose a handful of calories also – bonus!

I believe small schools are better, for they result in closer relationships between the teachers and students and the headmaster/principal.  Also the students will be more acquainted with other students. Just like in a small town is as a small school, you know everyone. In a bigger school, however, there are a lot more faces to memorize and acquaint and watch out for. In a bigger school, there are larger halls that cram in hurrying students who would not care about you or your belongs. Bigger schools have a greater responsibility on their students and might possibly have stricter rules than a smaller school.Your relations with people is also lower. The following picture holds statistic about smaller schools versus big schools. 

Having been to small schools for a majority of my educative years, I am a fan of small schools. When I go to college, I will be highly overwhelmed than when I was shopping at a Ross or WallMart. I mean, I'll be living at college; there will be people that do no and might never know me, or even Saipan for that matter; I will have a hard time walking to all my classes and then finally my dorm - but more calories burned! I will have a variety of friends of different race and personality - another bonus. There are some disadvantages to both school sizes, and I'm excited to experience a big school. I imagine feeling more "grown up" and responsible than at a small school. 

What are things that I would teach and not teach my children? How would my children do differently?

Like any other proud child, I believe my mom is the best example of a parent. Her ways of raising her three beautifully luscious black haired children – my brother, sister, and I – have resulted in beautiful hearted people, growing to be respectable Saipan and American citizens. Okay, we are not perfect results of my mother's parenting, but my mom did do a pretty darn good job raising us! I pray so hard that I'd be able to raise my future child/children in the same manner as my mom had. I would also fix the flaws of my mother's parenting; I will, oh so, hopefully improve her process, because my mom did have a few imperfections.

(Dad is out of the picture. He's off where he actually wants to be.)

First and foremost, I'd raise my child through a Christian perspective. I'd teach him really young about certain stories in the Bible, verses to memorize by heart, and prayers to repeat before you sleep and eat. I would not express any profanity in front of my child, neither should my husband. I'll teach them proper table etiquette. I will want them to learn how to either dance, play an instrument or sport, sing, draw, paint, etc. because a skill like that is necessary. I want them to also develop a love for reading books! Reading is most important!

I want them to talk to me or their father bout anything: their school problems, relationship problems, spiritual problems, etc. I want to create a friendship type relationship of insulting (okay, not like super insulting but like “oh, you butthead” kind of joke) and inside jokes, but I will turn on “mother mode” and be loving and caring when the time is needed. I will allow my son to have a girlfriend, but he must introduce her to me and his father after the second date! Yeah, second date!  I will refrain from raising my voice against them, for it had resulted in a limited relationship with my mom. I will only raise my voice when needed (over loud noise or being intentionally ignored). I am not going to be a overly strict nun-like mother, but, hey, I'll be stern to an extent. By showing this type of attitude, I hope my children will learn to create a friendship-like parenthood for my grandchildren!

I will not teach my child about general immoral things until he's like 11. Somewhere around that age. I do hope that he would not know what they are until he is that age. I do hope he would ask me questions about anything he did not understand. If I ever say, "I'll tell you when you're older," I'd better right down that question and get back to him when he is appropriately older!

This is a preview of my parenting style. I'll hope to become a parent someday. I love love love children. Having a child of my own will be a dream come true. I do hope that my child will be raised in the same loving and maturing style as I was too! I better learn from my mother quick!

Should SIS have uniforms or not?

I am against the thought of SIS having uniforms - I do hope you agree - for understandable reasons. This school is not religious at all, and the uniform will not match the "style" and philosophy of this school. I have been to two religious school that required a strict uniform and dress code, and through my experience I am positive that this school will not match with a uniform.

The purpose of uniforms in religious schools, in my opinion, are to unite the students and appear organized and professional, to teach students to wear appropriate attire, and to keep students from comparing each other's appearances with their clothes. (There are other reasons; I do wished I'd be informed.) The uniforms I have worn had been knee to shin-length skirts, collared blouses, and even a vest. No cleavage was to ever be shown. Arms were to be covered at a certain length. If any skirt came above the knee (mostly if you got caught with a high skirt), you'll need to pull it down to the length it should be if you rolled it at the waist or you must get a new skirt. The clothing you wore to PE had to have no words, and your shorts must come to the knee. Outrageous, right! Now, I've been following those rules for 11 years (k-5 until sophomore year), and it has become my habit to dress conservatively. I have nothing against it, although I become terribly irritable when the sun shone too bright. 

I admit it; I was afraid to coming to a private school without uniforms. What would I wear everyday?! Would I have enough clothes?? What do normal people wear on the first day of school?? But after a while, I'm used to this school's lack of uniforms. I also noticed that this school shouldn't have uniforms. Honestly, the people here are to unique to have uniforms. So, yeah, what makes them so unique? I don't know exactly, but imagining these people wearing uniforms everyday will be depressing. Yes, depressing! The students here do not like the idea of uniforms, and enforcing such a decree will bring much sadness, despair, and a lot of pouting.

Also, uniforms are expensive! This school's tuition is high enough already, but including another fee on uniforms will be another burden on parents who pay twice the amount for two children. Unhappiness will be wrought throughout the student body, and unhappiness will be formed by the parents because their children are unhappy and because their wallets will be lighter. It is a lose-lose situation.

I have nothing against uniforms, but I'm actually glad I don't have to wear uniforms to school everyday. I'm ever so comfortable by wearing jeans and an over-sized jacket to school on A days and casual PE clothes on B days. I do love skirts, but I can wear skirts that are my preferred length and desired color on any desired day. No uniforms is a luxury!

I do wish this school had a limited dress code. Some things are not to be worn to school. I do not care what you wear, but there are things to be worn to different locations.

SIS should not have uniforms, but a stricter dress code. :) 

If I could bring back one person from the dead, who would he/she be and what would I serve him/her for dinner?

Having mulled over this question for a few minutes, I’ve considered Job, a historical and Biblical figure who has a story of life-changing and struggling experiences make us complainers look pathetic. Although I would look like the most dreadful female alive because of his completely different cultural perspective of women, I hope he would put aside his point of views and share his past experiences and thoughts of how he survived those experiences.

I believe the first question I’d like to ask him is how he enjoys their afterlife. I understand he is in Heaven. Well, at least something like that. If he is told beforehand (before being resuscitated back to life to converse with yours truly) to be discreet about the details of God’s Home, then I’d understand his caution. However, I still want to know! I want to know if he really went to Abraham’s bosom just like Lazarus. I want to know if he saw the golden roads and received his rewarding crowns. I want to hear his description of God and Jesus. I want to know how it felt after taking that last breathe and closing your eyes forever.

I’d like to hear his side of the story of when all his wealth and family were taken away from him. I want to ask why he truly continued trusting God. For those who do not know Job’s story, it can be plainly put that Job suffered. Yes, this man suffered in every way possible. This wealthy, pious, and innocent man lost his wealth of livestock and property was taken away by bandits or destroyed by natural disasters. His children were killed. He was plagued with excruciatingly painful sores that covered his entire body. This was purposely to prove how much faith he had in God. Yes, it is an unusual way to prove such an emotion, but that is what Satan does. Satan wanted to disprove God’s servant because he likes to be naughty. Sorry, Satan. You lost that challenge. Throughout all those struggles, Job’s faith did not falter. He did mourn and suffer every day, but his love for God grew even more. He knew God will provide his wealth and health to its utmost normalcy. I really want to know Job’s secret in that.

I do have my temptations and stressful moments, but they are not as severe as Job’s struggles. I’d want to talk to Job personally. Get some advice from this wise and experienced man. It’ll be great to walk with him down a park and show him the earth and its people had changed. He’d be shocked for sure! We could compare the past and present, his culture and my culture, and his life and my life to be. I'd ask him about God again. I'm very curious about Him. 

And for dinner, I’d ask him what his favorite dish. I’ll have it specially and perfectly prepared in his honor. Even if it would be something I would not want to eat, I’ll pretend I enjoy it and continue to listen to all the knowledge he would willingly share. It’ll be a fascinating experience to dine with his hero! I do hope it is not something raw… I won’t have fun eating that!

Computer Games: Good or Bad?

Playing computer games is a waste of time and should not be allowed. Do you agree or disagree?

Well, computer games are not necessarily a waste of time. If you are playing dota instead of working on your research paper, then you are wasting your time doing something that you are not supposed to be doing. However, I believe computer games are educative and informative. "Oh, but there's blood and violence when you play video games." Okay, you are right, but there are some computer games that educate you about the types of guns to use at the right time and strategies to play to defeat your opponent. I've also noticed that computer games give you the sense of escape from your problems. (Am I right or just blabbering nonsense, guys?) Playing makes you concentrate on the game and relieve you of your stress by focusing on something else. Your decision making skills are improved, says one site about video games. Computer games are global also. You can converse with other players around the world and share your experience and play along with them. You can make friends with a player in the UK or in Japan. Isn't that cool??? Computer games are not only educative and emotionally relieving but social and interactive with personalities around the world.

I have nothing against computer games. My brother and his wife and my boyfriend are avid computer video gamers. They encourage playing too! Just recently, my brother and his wife invited me, my sister, and cousin to a game night/sleepover. We had homemade burritos for dinner and ate chips by the jumbo bag while we played multiplayer games on the Wii and PS3. The living room table was littered with juice boxes and varieties of chips and brownie crumbs. If encouraged, video games can be a family activity. Depending on the game, of course. You don’t want to play LoL with your mom. (Or do you?) My boyfriend is very considerate about his computer game hours also, so I’m blessed (<3). He must really like me if he replies to my KIK messages less than 30 seconds after it is sent while he is playing grand theft auto. He plays when he’s bored and pauses when I talk. (Isn’t that even nicer!?)

Computer games shouldn’t be banned. There are multiple benefits to video games! (click this ) Now I’m not saying there aren’t bad things about video games. There are some games that are violent and too mature for some gamers. Also, too much of anything is bad for you. So take a break from your COD and get a drink or use the restroom or walk for a couple minutes. Your performance could possibly improve after refreshing yourself! If you are an elder or are too stubborn to realize that there can be psychological benefits to video games, then you need to do your research and accept the fact that technology is gradually taking over every nation’s culture. There are too many people who enjoy video games, so not allowing video games could affect a majority of people around the world who use video games as habitual stress reliever.

Definition of Beauty

There is no absolute definition of beauty. Every human being has a distinct view of what beauty is –whether it be the curves of someone’s body, the color and shape of their eyes, the tone of their skin, the style of hair, the smallness of their feet, or the scars decorated on their skin. Yes, every nation has its distinctive perspective of beauty. In certain tribes of Africa, being corpulent is very beautiful. Thickness and curves is sought after while being thin is thought disgusting. Not the norm, right? While all our friends and girl classmates are trying to lose weight and perm their hair, girls in Thailand are stretching their necks with gold rings (the more the rings, the more gorgeous), and girls in China are binding their feet in the name of beauty and tradition. The concept of beauty is the concept of life. Okay, it’s not that complicated, but beauty can be infinitely defined. Ask a girl what beauty means and she might say it is what makes the guys’ heads turn. Ask a guy what beauty means and he might say it is one’s personality. (Find a guy like that and marry him, honey.) Some stereotype the word “beautiful” for girls, but a guy can be beautiful too. (In some places, it is the guys who are trying to impress the girls with makeup and dance in a so called beauty pageant.)

Enough about everyone’s opinion. Let us talk about my exclusive definition of beauty. I honestly believe that beauty is from within. Beauty starts with your personality or heart and works its way into your blood vessels, your bone marrow, you cartilage and tendons, your skin, your smile, and lastly your physique. Absolutely everything must have an origin – whether it be a flake of dust or the oceans of the sea.  I believe beauty must start in one’s soul. As that beauty grows, it will spread throughout the entire span of your inner being and will seep through your pores; people will then see the beauty settle onto your skin and acknowledge the fact that you are beautiful. Beauty is your personality also. And that doesn’t mean you have to be consistently kind and courteous to be beautiful. Your courage, determination and passion for something can make you appear beautiful. Beauty, in my opinion, is what makes the people around you fall deep in love with you. Some people fall for the physical beauty. God and your one true love fall in love with your spiritual and mental beauty.

And as everyone has a soul, everyone is beautiful. And as I believe God is perfect and the Creator of everything, I believe God made you and your entirety perfect. I’m sitting in journalism class right now typing this page out. As I scan the room discreetly, I see the beauty in each in every one of my classmates. They may not know they are perfect or even believe in God for that matter, but they truly are beautiful (and I’m not talking physical beauty). Of course, some people are more physically beautiful than others. But that’s not the point. Everyone has a sense of beauty. Some show it more than others. Some show it in different intervals than others. Some show it all the time and it annoys and makes me jealous. So yes, everyone is beautiful. No one should ever think they are not beautiful, for beauty is not just your face or your body shape. Beauty is your character.

So when you help someone pick up their fallen books, remember you are showing them your beautiful side instead of passing by them without concern of their fallen inconvenience and showing your ugly side. 

"If I were to be stranded on an island, what are the three things I would take?"

This question is as old as it gets. The oldest question to ask on a date or in an interview. Or even to your friend when you are bored out of your mind. I will be honest; I loathe this question. The possibility of bringing such things will be utterly impossible. Unless you are being taken away by some ludicrous evil villain that would grant your wish to bring three things with you while you are exiled to a god-forsaken island, then this question will be valid to be asked. But the possibility of such an event could come up, so I will inform you the three items I would bring with me if I were to be stranded on an island.

1. A Speed Boat

               Yes, I am one of those supposed achievers or wanna-be survivors that will bring a flare gun and a five year supply of food tucked next to the engine of my versatile boat-house-type-vehicle. But my main object is to have a speed boat. A full tank of gas will be essential or ten too. I plan on getting a boat license. Yes, I can get a license for driving a boat because I am blessed to be the granddaughter of the owner and daughter of the president of a tourist boating company. And with that license I won’t be arrested if I am caught in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea after fleeing my place of exile.

2. A note pad with a pencil

               I don’t consider this cheating by bring two items because I see them as one. A notepad must have a pencil or any type of writing utensil. With this pair, I could write about my adventures. I will free write. I’ll draw what I can find. I’ll record my thoughts and past memories and my desire for future of my island. I’ll try to create words. Or make my own language. I will write. I have a passion for writing. Perhaps I can dig deep into my soul and find the words I want to write. I wonder who will read that notepad afterwards.

3. Some sort of knife

               I honestly believed that a weapon would be necessary for survival. I can craft, cut, and carve things with a knife. A knife does not need bullets and is not loud and does not need to be reloaded, unlike a gun or bow and arrow. I would’ve brought a bow and arrow and act all Katniss Everdeen on the island’s species but if I broke it and all my arrows I’d be useless. With a knife you can make a new bow and arrow. You can sharpen a knife with a rock, and boom, back to normal sharpness. It feels ridiculous talking about a weapon that I have no specialty at, but, you know, I could be lost in the middle of a forest and would only have a knife and a bottle or something and I’d have to survive on those two. I’ll get comfortable with a knife. So I believe a knife would help me survive on a deserted island.