Marina's Blog

Photo By: tonynetone

Recently I read an article in my Humanities class regarding the issue with the danger of extinction of our World’s wildlife population. Here is a link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/28/science/zoos-bitter-choice-to-save-some-species-letting-others-die.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=science

While reading this article regarding the terrible truth that our World is facing, I was surprised by the drastic amount of wildlife and areas that these issues have been effecting. To me, the fact that we are struggling to keep the steady amounts of certain wildlife species is scary. Knowing that one day we may not have pandas, certain birds, and many other types of wildlife saddens me. Wouldn’t you be saddened to know that something that you grew up loving and caring about may one day not exist anymore?

One question that came to mind while reading this article was, “What can we do for the wildlife that is truly near certain extinction?”. After I had finished reading, there were even more wondrous questions that were trespassing into my brain. Even though I had gotten some of my answer’s from the article, I still did not understand how this issue has gotten so bad.

After the reading, I had learned that zoos had started trying to help save endangered species since the 1980′s. Unfortunately, since the 1980′s there have been many other species that have been enlisted in the “soon to be extinct” category. “It is like looking out the window of an airplane and seeing the rivets in the wing,” Mr. Merz. “You can probably lose a few, but you don’t know how many, and you really don’t want to find out” He said.  This quote shows how this tragic truth is actually effecting our lives. It was said that within the next three generations, that 1/4 of the wildlife population is expected to be extinct. Whether this happens or not, I believe that some number of our wildlife will become extinct if we do not do something about it.

In the article, it was said that the association under which zoos follow, is starting to consider making the purpose of zoos to rehabilitate and save these wildlife species from extinction instead of having many different varieties of wildlife the the pleasure of us humans. If this does in-fact happen, it does not necessarily mean that all wildlife will be safe from extinction from now on. There will still be that small amount of  a certain species that not even a breeding zoo can help. There was something that I found overwhelmingly interesting while reading this article, that was that there are certain species that zoos have been put onto a phaseout list, in which meaning that the zoos cannot really help their purebred species do to shortage of supplies and many other reasons. “If you can’t keep up, then you probably need to be dropped off the bottom.”was said by Dr. Monfort, director of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

I feel that if more people read about and chipped in to the issue of our world’s wildlife population extinction crisis, that we could truly make something happen on a good note. As the famous quote always said, “If we really put our minds to it, we will achieve!” So, what do you say? Shall we come together to put an end to something that could drastically change our lives as we have grown up to know them and know them as now?

In my Writing class we had to write a paragraph based on a prompt that we were given…

1. What in your opinion, is the best sport? Explain your reasons.

In my opinion, I think that volleyball is the best sport because, In most sports there is only one main goal but in volleyball you have the option to do all sorts of things that can get your team points. Also, I feel that volleyball is not a very demanding sport, while others like football are. If I were to dig deep and get the main reason why I think that volleyball is the best sport, I think that I would have to say that it is because, you do not really get judged by how good you spike or hit because, your team members understand that everyone on the team has their own special thing that they are good at and which they do to help the team win.

In my Writing class,  we had to write a persuasive essay to stop something that we are against. Here is mine! :

To whom it may concern,
Recently  I was thinking, and realised that I cannot cope with the amount of tests that we are given throughout our school days! I personally agree with this topic because each one of us knows the amount of pressure that one another is experiencing. This issue has definitely been present near the break times that we are given for holiday. While thinking, I realized that this topic is affecting our stress levels, making us forget our other assignments, and all of the tests’ are affecting our grades’. To me, I feel like I am just getting loaded and loaded over with work.

When I think about the word “TEST”, I want to cringe. I think the reason for this is because, whenever we are given a test, it adds a massive amount of material that we have to look at every day. With all of this material, I feel that we have to overlook other things that are important to know in our other classes. I also know that some people don’t want to spend all of their time that they have away from school, on school work. I also personally think that when students have to do that, it creates loads and loads of stress on themselves. “And young people do well in stuff that they’re interested in,”  U.S President Obama said. “They’re not going to do as well if it’s boring.” I think what Obama meant by this was that, children should be able to do things that are interesting to them and not be only focused on school. Also, that a child’s schedule should not only include school, school, and school!

In my personal experience, I feel like we become less confident in ourselves when we get overloaded with tests. I feel that when we are focusing on what we have to know for the tests, that we are also forgetting what we are learning aside from the things that will be present on the test and the most important thing of all, will be present in our lives. I know that if we forget about the other things that we are learning and ourselves, that we will get behind in our classes. I tend to notice that when I get overloaded with tests in school, that I tend to slack off on getting my homework and classwork done from my other classes due to making time to study.

While being overloaded with tests,  my estimate is that almost 60 percent of the time your grades tend to drop. I find that in the past year, my grades have gone down near the “preparation for testing” time, and my completed work percentage decreases by a concerning amount. Also, after asking some of my friends and fellow classmates, they have also mentioned the grade drop. Knowing this, it is actually very concerning to me because, by when having your grades drop, that lack of self confidence reappears. Even though tests may be helping you go over topics to make sure that you understand them, I feel that tests are somewhat taken a little too far. I feel that we should not be judged based on our learning skills and what we know in only one way. When I say that we should be able to learn in more than only one way, I mean that maybe we could do certain puzzles or writing that will let our teachers know what we are in-fact learning plus, I think it would be able to somewhat relax our minds more to where we could take in more information. Another thing that I have noticed is that, some teachers have their own ways of teaching and sometimes students don’t understand when learning in that certain kind of environment.

After all, I think that we could even create some other way to see what students know and what results come up after a test without raising stress levels, bringing you to a loss of memory, and maybe even create and absence of the dropping of grades. If we were able to create something similar to that, I feel that students and even teachers would be so much more relaxed do to the absence of all of the tests’ and grading. I mean, without all of the tests’ there is nothing to really worry about, you don’t have to make sure that you hear every single thing that the teacher is saying even if it does not make any sense to you because you can just write notes that can remind you of what you learned in each lesson at your own pace. Would it be so bad to make somewhat of a “safe haven” out of school with the slight decrease in the amount of tests’?

Sincerely,

Marina Baker

Photo By: jcoterhals

Recently in my humanities class we read an article regarding the logging that is happening in Cambodia.
Here is the link to the article: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/05/a-cause-and-questions-in-cambodia/?ref=world

After reading this article, well initially I was confused. I mean I got what the author, Matt Mccann, was trying to put through in this article, A Cause – In Cambodia – In Questions. But, I did not really understand the main reason that Mr. Chut Wutty was killed. In-fact, in order to really understand it, I had to read the article a few more times.

Once I actually understood the article, I instantly felt bad for the people that live on the land in which the intense logging is taking place and of course, I felt for the man who died trying to prevent something that may effect our lives as we know them. Understanding also made me wonder what the innocent people living on the land where the logging is taking place would do if their houses got destroyed, and where they would go. I feel that if I was in their situation, that I would not wait for it to happen, but that I would leave a head of time so I could get all of my belongings. Although others may not have that common feeling about this situation with me, there is in-fact one thing that I know we have in common. That is our thoughts of how this logging can effect our life and our land today.

As a matter of fact, in the article, it was said that the forest in which the logging has been taking place is known to be “one of the last vast old-growth forests”. Also, the people of this forest just happen to be indigenous. In my personal opinion I feel that taking away an indigenous person’s house where they were born and raised is wrong and even cruel.

I feel that the logging that is going on now, is just showing how close we are to losing some of our most precious materials and natural resources. After thinking about the reading, I started to wonder what it would be like if we had a very small amount of trees on Earth. While thinking, I remembered that if we did not have trees then the Oxygen that supplies us would have a vast shortage and the populations would go down in dramatic number’s. In the end, this logging that may seem like something small now, could possibly effect the human society as we know it today. Our lives could be changing in front of our eyes!

Did you think about that while reading?

Recently I read an article in my Humanitites class on the update of the 2010 BP oil spill.
Here is the link to the article: http://gizmodo.com/5903021/bp-oil-spill-aftermath-eyeless-shrimp-clawless-crabs-and-fish-with-oozing-sores

Just the start; Photo By: SkyTruth

After reading this article, I was quite surprised that the oil in the Gulf is still affecting people today. What surprised me the most was that, BP is not accepting the blame for the oil spill and the fact they they have ruined our ocean environment. I mean, if it was your rigger that leaked and all of a sudden wildlife and sea animals are dropping like flies, I would think that it would have something to do with the recent spill. I remember when the oil spill had occured and everyone was worried that it would seep throughout the whole entire  gulf. Some were even worried that if it got caught in the current that runs along Florida, that it would go throughout the whole ocean.

In the article, the writer mentions that while interviewing fishermen of the gulf, it was said that the catch rate has gone down as well as the catch that does come in is not usable due to damaged parts of the fish including, sores, loss of eyes, cuts, abrasions, etc. These things cause the seafood to be inedible. Also, in the many interviews, it was said that before the spill only 1/10 of the catch was not able to sell but since the spill that number has been raised to 1/2 in some places. In-fact, it is known that the United States actually depends on seafood consumption for most peoples’  businesses off of the coast. Saying that, if the fisherman who depend on the money from the selling of their catch have to split there selling’s in half, they may become broke or even homeless due to the huge amounts of money loss.

To make matters even worse, BP has taken upon the responsibility of cleaning up after the terrible incident. You may be asking yourself, “Why is that bad, it was their fault in the first place so they deserve it?”. But, BP has decided to clean it up it the fastest way that they could think of and that is with a special chemical. The chemical that they are using is deadly to humans and even some wildlife. So, while using this in the gulf, when it seeps into all of the seafood in which the fisherman catch and the citizens of America inhale everyday, we are actually inhaling toxins that can due great damage to our bodies. Some of the consequences of eating food that is contaminated by these chemicals are: headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pains, chest pains, respiratory system damage, skin sensitization, hypertension, central nervous system depression, neurotoxic effects, cardiac arrhythmia and cardiovascular damage. I would think that if anyone had to go through any of the symptoms that I stated before, that they would indeed not be happy campers.

In the end, my opinion is plain and simple, I feel that BP should definitely take all of the blame and make smarter choices when cleaning up something that they screwed up in the first place. Do you agree?

Recently I read an article in humanities class on the new Google glasses.
Here is the article link :   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/project-glass-google_n_1403174.html?ref=email_share#s842540

This summer, you may be seeing some wierd people wearing a funny contraption on their heads. And I am here to tell you the reason why.

Recently, Google has created an invention known and referred to as “Project Glass”. Project Glass is a small contraption that you wear on your head as if you were wearing glasses.  But with Project Glass, it is a small contraption that you wear upon your head just like wearing glasses. But, with Project Glass you are able to contact your peers with just the sound that comes out of your mouth. Some of the things that the Google glasses give are,being voice-controlled, less familiarly, view-controlled: A bar of small icons floats just above the wearer’s line of sight, and by looking upward, the wearer can interact with the icons to view the weather, send text messages, and do much of what a smartphone can do.

I feel that this invention is actually a good idea and that it may in-fact help us with some things in the future. Also, in my opinion I feel that this invention will give us many advantages in life. While reading the article, I read that the Google glasses will be using the same technology setup as the Google Android. I think that notifying people of this will create an advantage because, many people are so attracted to smartphone’s. In-fact any child that you meet would probably take a smart phone any-day if you offered them one. So, by telling the public that it has all of the capabilities of a smartphone and more, I think that many people will buy the glasses in order to have it all in a device that lightly laying on the customers head.

Although this device may be good for almost everything, I think that if we look at this, it can somewhat show us what our future will be like. In fact, this may effect our future by more than you think. Something that worries me is that, will this cause our society to be even lazier that we are now? For example, if you have ever seen the movie Wal-E, you know some ways of how technology can take over our lives. I mean, will this technology be the road to disaster?

Photo By: aerodesign.pl

Recently in my Humanities class, we had to write a short persuasive poem trying to persuade someone to do something.
I decided that I would try to change someone’s mind and get them to not retire.

Here is my poem:
For sure you do have the desire
But my dear father, you are not yet ready to retire

For I assure you that you have not finished the contest
And parsay everyone says that you are indeed the best

For you may think that you have to fulfil your destinies
But in my mind my dear father, your destinies are what you already possess

For you may want to give freedom to your spirit
But in god, I do ask, what I will inherit?

For I tell you that we already live in a humble world
But that does not mean that your mind cannot still be whirled

For this does not mean that you shall be disregarded
But that you will always be guarded

So please my dear father, keep a our nation pleased with a smile
And do not fulfil your destinies until I may walk down the aisle.

Would you retire.. yes or no?

“Give me liberty, or give me death!” As Patrick Henry said loud and proud at the end of his wonderful speech, I felt the power in which he said every word. Each word hit me with a punch and I feel that I would in-fact be on the same side and blame the British.

With this feeling, I thought that the British may attack at any second. Like they were just infuriated by this astounding speech. I felt that they may have even thought that their “acts” were in jeopardy. When Henry was explaining that the British have portrayed the right and were punishing us for their mistakes, I found that I was also feeling the same way.

“We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth,and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts.”

This quote stood out to me the most because, it is almost a small summary explaining what we had to do while the British were trying to take us over. It was almost as if he was saying that he had to hold his head down to them for a long while, but that he would do it for no longer. When I read that quote, it was almost as if I was applying it to things that have also happened throughout my life now.

So all for one and one for all, I am on the great Patrick Henry’s side through thick and thin to fight against the British for the wrong that they have done.

Photo By: Robert Reed Daly

Recently we were shown a video in Humanities class on the subject of “Kony 2012″.

After watching the video, I was in shock. Before the video, I had not really known about Kony 2012 other than what was on Facebook. There was one thing that definitely stood out when I was watching the video. That was the children that are being mistreated in other countries.

In the video, when they were showing the children in their tents, I immediately wanted to reach out and help them. There was a man that traveled there many years ago who felt the same way. That mans name was Jason. During the first few times that Jason visited the area, he met a young boy named Jacob, Jacob was one of the young boys being affected by the men he called ” the rebels”. Jacob explained the rebels as the men that came at night and abducted the children. One thing that Jacob said was, “I would rather die now, than live on the Earth worrying about being abducted.” When Jacob said this, I felt it in my heart. No one should want to die when they are young.Once Jason had heard this coming out of a young child’s mouth, he wanted to do something that would help not only Jacob, but all of the children being affected. Jason felt that the first step would be to find who was behind it all. After weeks of research something had come up. They had found a name that was recognized by the people. The name was Joseph Kony. Jason gathered people together to try and put this terrible thing to a stop. Jason called this “Kony 2012″. It was time for the next step. Jason decided to go to the Oval Office and preach to the representatives to help with this act.

I feel that this was the best next step. When the president decided to send troops over to help, I almost was happy even though it was only just a video. After watching the whole video, I wanted to notify anyone I could so that we could help try and stop Kony from the bad he was committing.

Throughout the video, Jason explained that by donating the money to give for the troops resources and training to find Kony in the rugged jungle, the American soldiers could train the others to help find Kony. There is also and amazing kit that you can buy to help fight this terrible man.

In my own opinion, I feel that this act that is happening and that Kony in committing is completely wrong because, me being a young person myself could not imagine how that would feel. I also think that if we were to be able stop Kony, that it would be one less thing that the people of Africa would have to worry about.

Who would think that something like this is right?…

Kony Poster

I remember the day as if it were just yesterday. Walking into the big doors of where life could potentially begin for me. I was walking into the doors of Saigon South International School.If there is anything that I truly do remember from that dreaded day, it would have to be the letters that soared across the building like paint on a canvas. These stars were known as the ESLR’s. The ESLR’s are education goals that we follow as a school. After following these ESLR’s for so long, I feel like they are actually a part of my life now.

These amazing life skills include, Academic Excellence, Sense of Self, Dedicated Service, Balance in Life, and Respect for All. To me, each one is important in itself. Of course, everyone thinks different about each ESLR, so I know that I may feel different about some of them than others do. What these ESLR’s mean to me personally is:
Academic Excellence- when you try your hardest and you don’t give up when you hit a slight bump in the road.
Sense of Self- when you have confidence in yourself and you don’t give up on yourself. For instance if someone tells you that you cannot do something, don’t think that you can not achieve that goal, stick with it.
Dedicated Service- when you help others and are also true to yourself while doing that.
Balance in Life- when you make sure that you span your learning throughout all of your classes and you make sure that you are not struggling in one because you are focused on another.
Respect for All- when you give full respect to everyone while also making sure that you treat people the way that you want to be treated.
Even though people may think that what I think these ESLR’s mean is wrong does not mean that I am. To me, it just means that I am unique in my own way, just like each one of the ESLR’s.

I feel that each one of these ESLR’s are important in their own way because, we use them in our everyday life. For me, I personally use Academic Excellence, Balance in Life, and Respect for All. The way that I use each of these in my personal life are in my own way. I think that having these ESLR’s makes everyone feel special for themselves. For example, the way that I use Academic Excellence is, when I am in school on 5/7 days of the week. When I am in my classes I am always trying to do my best and make sure that if I don’t understand something, that I ask a question about it in order to make sure that I do understand it. I use each ESLR in its own way. I think that I use Balance in Life when I am at school as well, like when I make sure that I am putting all of my effort that I have forth into the work that I am doing in each and every class. Even though each ESLR may be important, in my opinion I feel that Respect for All is the one ESLR that everyone should follow. For me, following Respect for All includes, making sure that I treat every person that I come in contact with equally and make sure that you are not mean to someone when they don’t deserve it. The main way that I feel everyone follows Respect for All and the way that I know that I follow this ESLR is when I, treat others the way that I would want to be treated and that I treat all of my elders with the dearest respect possible.

Even though I do not include each and every ESLR into my life, I do feel like I could include many more if I were to try. The two ESLR’s that I feel I could incorporate into my life are Sense of Self and Dedicated Service. The ways that I feel I could include Sense of Self into my life would mostly be at home and in public communities. I feel that I could be more open to other people’s ideas and feel comfortable with what other people want to and not do only what I feel that “we” should do. The way that I would incorporate Dedicated Service into my life is a whole different way than I would do for Sense of Self. The way that I would incorporate this ELSR into my life would be in my “working” environment. When I am focused in on my work, I can get a lot of things accomplished. But when I am not focused, I am off task and sadly do not accomplish much. This is where Dedicated Service would come in. I would be putting my all into what I was doing and be dedicated to getting my work done. I could also apply this ESLR to my personal life. When I am trying new things I don’t want to give up so I have to use Dedicated Service and think “this may help me or someone else”. Thinking that, will help me have a boost of confidence and make me feel that I can finish things if I am dedicated and believe in myself.

When reading my opinion, I know that some people may think different or think that I am weird for having expressed my opinion of how important these ESLR’s are to me whether I am at school or at home. Having all five of these wonderful concepts that we may apply to our lives everyday is actually like a blessing to some (including me). If you think about it, some people don’t even have anywhere to apply any of these things to in their lives. I mean “SO WHAT?” , you apply each and every one of these things in their own way, so I feel that we cannot be judged on how we use Academic Excellence, Sense of Self, Dedicated Service, Balance in Life, and Respect for All. Well, I guess that what I mean by that is that, everyone is different and they apply things to life in their own way and I feel like no one has the right to judge people on how they do that. These are my opinions on these ESLR’s and no one can change that.