The Letdown

In the midst of the secluded yet bustling city, a poor, barefooted boy toddled lightly towards the morning local market. Step by step, he cautiously entered the crowded place. A gust of dusty, hot air blew in against the dirty site filled with goats, cows, and the occasional monkeys. The dust and humidity merged into a sickly paste on the little boy’s face. He wiped it with the back of his hand as he continued to head toward the stalls which sold an assortment of wheat and bread.

He halted. Gazing around his surroundings with a pair of empty and hollow eyes, he knew that he was invisible among what seemed to be hundreds of market visitors. They came to sell, to buy, or to trade various products ranging from food, live animals, to household goods. To the far left, exotic silks and beaded fabrics from abroad were hung vibrantly by merchants to attract potential customers. But the little boy was not interested in those. Instead, he faced the other direction, slipped quietly behind a cluster of storage barrels, leaving no trace behind.

As the little boy crouched in hiding, his bones conspicuously stood out from his ribs and spine like daggers longing to stab through his flesh and skin. His limbs were so frail and thin, that it may snap at any moment. Peering through the gaps of the storage barrels, he observed the stalls with great intensity. From his brief inspection, he mentally selected a specific stall, and waited for the best time to steal a few ounces of bread.

For you see – his poor family had perished due to a fatal disease he himself could not comprehend. All he knew was that his parents were burning feverishly along with painful coughing that spewed and splattered blood. The next thing he knew his parents had sprawled lifelessly across the straw mattresses, their bodies cold as though the burning fever had left and carried their lives away with it. The same fate had also fallen to the lives of his siblings. The only remaining kin was his sister, who was now bedridden and suffering from the tormenting symptoms. But at least she was alive. And all that matters now was to keep her alive.

He focused his view towards the bread stall again. A loud din can be heard as more and more customers are heading towards it, bringing along their donkeys and what not. He knew it was the right time. Steadily, he crept out from his hiding place and quietly began to carry out his plan. There he was, determining to go against the wave of death that might swallow his sister or himself. He was alone, but he was not afraid.

(What do you guys think about the little story I made up? I have not actually finished it yet. This is just the first part of the story. I obtained the inspiration from a piece of news I read a couple of years ago which I still recall. Even though I read this event a few years ago, it still haunted me to this very day. I would tell you what happened, but I plan to continue this story for next week, and it wouldn't be interesting if I spill to you all the plotline! I guess I was motivated to create this writing piece because I really felt moved by the news. I was then inspired to write a story that depicts a theme of desperation yet determination to overcome the struggles of life. Constructive comments and criticisms (though not bashful ones intended to trash talk) will be appreciated :) )

The Boundless Craze of Fear

Tuesdays with Jesse

The Boundless Craze of ‘Fear’

As one of humans’ compelled constituent since the beginning of time, fear has governed mankind throughout the globe; keeping our lives constraint under many circumstances. But what is fear? How does it initiate in one’s life? And could it be overcome? It has been one of life’s mysteries of how we became bound to fear and became somewhat a part of a lifestyle as life proceeds.

Fear is an emotional response of panic or distress to impending danger as well as expectation of pain. Acrophobia (fear of heights), claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces), arachnophobia (fear of spiders) and necrophobia (fear of death) are widespread types of fear with one of the highest rates among humans; though there are still some with uniquely peculiar fears. (The word “-phobia” comes from the Greek root word of ‘phobos’ which means fear).

Although fear is considered to be an instinctive response for each individual, objects of fear can be learned through one’s own judgment. Though there are many sources of how fear initiates in our own lives, one of the very most common one is that it is acquired through a traumatic accident. This will then leave consecutive instances of the accident in regards to sensing a similar situation.

According to Wikipedia, “In instances of fear, one may go through various emotional changes as well as its behavior. A good example would be a cornered rat, which will typically run away until it is finally cornered by its predator. Then will change its behavior becoming belligerent and fights back with heavy aggression until it either escapes or captured. Similar to animals, humans also can become very intimidated by fear, causing them to go along with another’s wishes without caring about their own input. This is followed by behavioral changes as to become equally violent, or might as well become deadly; it is an instinctive reaction caused by rising adrenaline levels rather than a consciously thought out decision.” This may result in the perception that it is being threatened. This technique is used by swimming coaches in Australia, to release crocodiles in spite of desiring his or her students to swim as swift as possible.

The effects of fear can be extreme up to the point where one could absolutely isolate them from society or from the objects itself. This traumatic situation would usually never be overcome and has become a lifestyle for them. Those who fear confined spaces might spend their lifetime never entering an elevator, and takes escalators or stairs as alternatives to achieve satisfaction in thinking they are safe.

Proverbs 1:7 writes: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. This is an act of submission and obedience that fearing a higher being is the basis of being wise. This is because a higher being such as God has power over you, just as the example of the rat being cornered by the predator; (in which case, this time the predator is known to be a compassionate being).

Uniquely, statistics show that there are more people who fear spiders than the do fear death (though both cases are common fears). From a personal point of view, one must fear death. Again to emphasize, one ought to fear death. Why you may ask? What if we have a mindset which consciously tells us that dying means coming before God without any more dilatory, or simply, just do not fear death because we know there would be everlasting life? As I think about it to myself, the fear of death means that we value the life given to us. Not fearing death means we are not valuing the life, the only life, the opportunity given to us by God.

Conclusively, the factor of fear is unique, broad and limitless. Fear is a common thing and would very much differ in each individual. There is nothing wrong in having a unique fear; there are cases where one ends up with hydrophobia (fear of water) or sesquipedalophobia (fear of long words) or even bibliophobia (fear of books). Nonetheless, it is possible to overcome fear, especially those that are childhood traumatic accidents (for it was a minor acceptance of judgment). The only thing required is to have the courage to overcome it. With the mindset “if others can do it, then why can’t I” is one of the most effective way of thinking towards overcoming something. This is because others are able to do it successfully without pain or panic that makes the one feared gain the knowledge that it is safe.

“Do not be afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.” – Henry James

“One should fear death. If one is not afraid of dying then it is not valuing being alive.” – Jesse Lybianto

The Beginning of the "Orgastic" week

This is it...the week that I have NOT been waiting for. It's 6 days before my birthday and yet, so many painful tests that I need to do before getting older *sigh*. Maybe this is like a warming up to prepare me with the judgment day later on in my afterlife. I think it's a trend within the grade 11 teachers to give their students relentless submission and test date during this week, particularly on the 13th of September! Why do I say this? because I got 2 science HL test on September 13!

Maybe you think that it's only me who is panicking, and maybe you think that I'm just exaggerating this double science dillema. But if you see the other 11th graders, you will always hear them gossiping or panicking about their tests as well. And when you ask them what date is it, most of them will answer: September 13...

The beginning of this painful week welcomed me with another depressing news: I'm going to have another math test on Friday (more like a re-test). Turns out that my class' math result was not so "above average" and the inner tantrum of the teacher have caused a re-test to be held this Friday. This test is actually okay for me, but to realize that it's going to be held this week as well makes me depraved.

To be honest, I'm actually okay with two science test in one week, but not in one day! What's worse is that the topics for both sciences is one of the longest and extensive topic ever! Just imagine, for the biology test I need to learn about cells, bacteria, virus and friends, while in chemistry I need to learn about stoichiometry - a topic filled with simple formulas yet countless sub-topics. I really wanted to have the chemistry test postponed because biology is not an easy thing to learn, especially about cells; tons of vocabularies and knowledge are need to be understood and MEMORIZED. Even I, who have started studying this test materials since 2 weeks ago have not fully memorized and grasp the concept thoroughly - I even haven't finished learning all the topics!!! This plus chemistry test? I think I will lose all of my mind and spirit by the time it is my birthday...

Anyways, aside from this unpleasant welcome from this vile week, it is also a happy day because me and Ina have been officially approved to be Personal Project Supervisor's assistants!! We are also told by our supervisor (Ibu Frida) that our job is to help the PP people with their difficulties. What makes it fun is that they are the one who will be chasing us !! hahaha Together, me and Ina shall torture them and make them feel the pain that we felt last year: super visible panda eyes, doing Personal Statement until 5 o'clock in the morning due to computer problems and go to school afterwards without sleeping, and sleeping in class unnoticeable. hahahah!! just kidding. (but maybe a little pain won't hurt them...hahaha).

Conclusively, it is only the 1st day of the week and it's already filled with treacherous news, extemporaneous tests, as well as devilish intentions as well. And this is it - the absurdity of my life...

-donny

Fridays with DaNte - 7th September 2007

Fridays with DaNte!

Well, more like Saturday EARLY EARLY morning...

Well, ok here goes Fridays with DaNte! *yawn* Guess what... this is 12:10 AM already and typing this blog feels like somnabulatory. However! Due to my faithful and indomitable commitment to my "What Would Jessica Do Blog", I refuse to indulge into the mollifying temptation of sleeping. What Would Jessica Do? She'll be savoring each moment in her dreamland now (I'm kidding!). Anyway, Lets get this over with so I can go to sleep!!!

Erratic Picture of the Day

Awww... this is so cute!

Auspicious Quotes

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

Abraham Lincoln

Word of The Day

Conflagration (noun) - A destructive fire

Yay! The Core Topic of the Day!

For now, I feel like doing something different. My innate male insticts have alerted me that I should help my fellow gender in their lives. I do hope that this blog could be lucrative for all you MAN! So, the topic for today is WHAT GUYS SHOULDN'T DO TO GIRLS!

F.Y.I.: I am not a feminist. I just want all you male with frantic hormones and urge to date girls to have a better relationship with the opposing gender.

Rule No. 1

Whatever you do, wherever you are, whoever you are, whoever you're talking to, and whatever position you're in, never NEVER NEVER EVER call a girl FAT and MEAN IT!!! For all you testosterone-producing creatures never break rule no. 1. As a male myself, I sometimes find this hilarious and amusing. However, the person whom I mock will not tolerate this and most female will take this seriously. You can see her a week after you state the debilitating word, and she will be anorexic or bullemic. I'm currently restraining myself from utilizing this killer word. I am being honest. Girls will despise you for the rest of your life for this small matter.

Rule No. 2

Never forget to call them. This simple mistake (for us testosteron-ers)is a fatal one. Their heart is a very enigmatic and unfathomable sensitive existence. It is tolerable if you infringe this rule once or twice, however it is a different problem if this occurs everyday. Girls will think you no longer care about them. Always spare 15 minutes or more everyday to call and give them a little "I love you and I missed you". It means a lot to them, even you're very preoccupied.

Rule No. 3

Never be possesive! I have seen girls who abhors possesive guys. What does possesive means? It means that when you have a feeling about them, you hamper them from doing something and feel like she is obligated to you. THIS IS A BIG MISTAKE!Some girls may like this, however that is if you are their other half, boyfriend or their crush! If you are just a friend (I do not mean to offend you) to them, you CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT NOT NOT NOT be POSSESSIVE. Girls find this very agitating and contemptuous.

Rule No. 4

Do not mention about your ex-girlfriends nor engage in any conversation about your ex-girlfriends in front of your girlfriend. Girls take this solemnly and it will worry the $#*(! out of them. After all, girls tend to be more sensitive and possessive than guys do. Girls will think you still have feelings or serruptuous relationship with your ex-couple.

Rule No. 5

Never ever show your unhygienic side to the females! In short, girls like clean and hygienic guys. Showers twice a day, brush teeth twice a day, clean their face, shave regularly, and etc. FARTING, BURPING, PICKING NOSE may not be so impressive to them. Learn this by heart.

Rule No. 6

Never hang up on your partner. I've tried this once. Only girls do this. Yes, you will assume that I am gay (I am actually). The result? An irate, furious, enraged, ferocious, enmity girl. Well I'm pretty sure you have the big picture now.

That is all to end today's Friday session with me. I'll probably continue this later on in the future. I hope this is educative and you all find this post entertaining! Let us improve ourselves and equip ourselves with gentleman-manners to prepare ourselves for our unity with our other half!

Joke of the Day!

Yo momma so fat even Bill Gates couldn't pay for her liposuction!

Well, see you all next time friends!

DaNte

Double Science War Starts NOW !!

Many 12th graders told me that to take double science is like living in hell, and to take double science HL is even worse. But since pre-IB have begun, my life as a double science HL student is considered fun and happy. What makes it better is that most of us are in the same double science class (Ibu Virna's Bio, and Mr Owen's Chem). A bond suddenly established among us as we always laugh as a class, and we always cooperate too; leading into the making of our customized lab coats (we attached numbers and names just like the ones in basketball jerseys')!! It was a pride to have them for these two years!!

But!!! The happiness starts to be overlapped with the reality of IB double science HL: Innumerable lab reports start to cover our youthful minds. It all began last Thursday when Mr Owen announce us the unfortunate news: "We are going to have a test about Stoichiometry next Thursday." Hearing this news, the whole class suddenly covered with black clouds. The reason is because we don't want to have test, but it's because we also have biology test on that day (the test material for bio is 3 or 5 topics, and it's like 20 or 30 pages or so). Nevertheless, some also have business and economic test on that day also, and we also have two lab reports from chemistry and another lab report from bio! The painfulness is starting to show its devilish behavior.

Guess what's the date of next Thursday ??? 13 !!! such a perfect date for this rancor.

Just like the Spartans said...

"My double science friends....next Thursday we will dine in hell!!" hahahahaha

-that is all folks =)

Itsy Bitsy Notice...

hmmm...sadly, both of our blog poster for Wednesday and Thursday (Agnes & Dita) are flying off to Bangkok for the Harvard Congress. Thus, they are unable to post any blog and the rest of us will try to fill something...(but we cannot promise anything haha). That's all~~

"The Wonderful World of God"

“The Wonderful World of God…”

In contradiction to the given title, one might refer back to reality that this contemporary world encloses innumerable injustices, substantial corruption, iniquitously towering poverty, perpetual racism and copious assortment of immorality. In accordance to the Holy Bible, it initiates with the fact that God created a perfect world with absolutely no sin until the fall of man under the temptation of the devil. The world is then filled with infinite sin by the exponentially growing populations of constrained sinners. But why would the world then be wonderful? All those immense amount of sin as well as the hardships encountered by the world, one would think that this is certainly an absurd topic. Yet this discussion will reveal the very basis of how much wonder there is in the world and would probably change the perception of how you view the world.

First, imagine if the world is perfect. Everything is justified (for there are no injustice), corruption does not exist, everyone is as rich as everyone else (thus, no poverty), the fact that everyone is exactly the same as everyone (basic concept of how racism commence is the thought that races are different) and no sin is present in the face of humanity. The world can be assumed to be boring.

In accordance to Taoism and the law of the infamous ‘Yin & Yang’, the world is balanced and that one cannot exist without the other. Examples would encircle around oppositions such as: tall and short, smart and unintelligent, health and sick, tall and short, strong and weak, rich and poor, right and wrong, good and bad as well as life and death. To elaborate, how can we distinguish tall from short if everyone is equally tall? Or is it equally short? To put it more simple, if everyone is tall (yes, a paradox because not everyone is tall, but assume everyone is) can that also mean everyone is short? In the past, people are shorter, but we could say that because we are taller now. We cannot distinguish one without the other. A more critical situation issue would be between good and bad? If only good exists in the world, it can be said that everyone is bad. Why? Because we would not know what is bad or what is good.

There is a significant effect of both coexistences in the world, so that one can be distinguished from the other. In detailed, because there is rich, there is poor. Because there is wrong, there is right. Because there is good, there is bad. Additionally, their coexistence in the world gives them the opportunity to have an affect on the other. The rich giving to the poor; and as we know ‘giving’ is a good thing. Referring back to a perfect world, say everything in life is going perfectly well: in academics one can achieve perfection with as well as without studying, true love or the term ‘soulmate’ can be achieved without hard work or the needs of whatever needs necessary, relationships can be perfect without arguments and differential thoughts, any sickness can be healed instantly and many other factors. If the world is as stated above, it is dull.

The beauty of the world lies in the fact that everyone strives and struggles to achieve the better. Finding love is not beautiful, but the struggles in achieving it causes love to be beautiful. Having a good relationship is not beautiful, but solving the problems in a relationship causes relationship to be beautiful. Scoring perfect on an exam is not beautiful, but knowing all the effort you put in obtaining the perfect score causes it to be beautiful. Thus, being rich is not wonderful, but seeing that the rich offers the poor, it is wonderful.

On the other hand, one could see that the ratio of pain to pleasure in the world is very much large. There is drastically more pain in the world as there is to pleasure. Due to this, we as humans value pleasure higher as it is scarcer. This is also economically proven that the less the supply, the higher demand and the higher the price as well. If we see that there are equal ratios of pain and pleasure, one, people will not value pleasure for it has been distributed in a 50-50 manner and that we would have the same amount of both happiness and sadness, and two, people will not seek pleasure or pursue happiness for they know one will or the other will appear in a systematic manner.

To end this topic, it is to be reminded that this topic does not have any means in seeking the so-called “silver-lining” or the optimistic side of life. But to value the life given in which we are able to strive and struggle, to know what is good and what is bad, and to pursue the better; and it is that act and effort that makes it beautiful. Thus, it can be concluded that an imperfect world is more beautiful than a dull, perfectly consistent world.

“Nothing's perfect, the world's not perfect, but it's there for us, trying the best it can. That's what makes it so damn beautiful.” – Roy Mustang, Full Metal Alchemist

Thus, Tuesdays with Jesse - What Would Jessica Do?

Positivities and Negativities: Just a matter of perspective

When seeing a filled glass, some people say that the glass is half empty, some people say that the glass is half full. But even though it's half filled or half empty the glass is actually filled !
Says who that pessimistic people cannot be optimistic ? and vice versa ?
Says who that negative events can only give negative effect? and vice versa too?

below I will give you a story that can prove my rhetorical question above. Maybe the story is quite strange and the grammar would be a shipwreck, but I hope you guys will understand the point that I want to tell you....

Here Goes NotHing !!~~~

A little bird is flying to the south during a cold winter. The sheer coldness of the winter have caused it to froze and fall to an open field. While the bird cannot move its wings and body, a cow is coming near it and poo on the bird. Under that cow dung, the bird started to feel the warmth of it and is rejuvenated from its freezing condition! The bird feels very happy and chirping joyfully. A passing cat heard that tweet and decided to check what it is. Following the harmonious sound, the cat found the bird under the cow dung, and agilely the cat flick the bird from the poo and eat it.

from this story we can actually see that even a sick thing like a dung can actually give a positive effect - even saving a life. Conversely, a happy and positive thing such as a joyfull tweet can lead us into unpleasant condition....

So there you go!! Behind every negativities lies positivities, vice versa !!

Depressive Students...

It is very palpable that when we see most students around us we can actually sense the amalgamating aura of various feelings. Some people have overflowing youth spirit within them, some have the thirst of knowledge, and some have the valor to stand up and participate in innumerable committees. These types of people are such clichés for many generations. But in this epoch of eccentricity, a new type of student arises out of nowhere and suddenly becomes the dominance in a global scale - a type that is well known as “Depressive students”.

Clearly indicated by its name, depressive students are students who are very solemn in nature. Basically, this type occurred when students’ excessive effort doesn’t reach their expected result – perfectionism. Hearing the word “perfectionism” we usually pictured that person as someone that is intellectual and omniscience, but the thing is that it is very infrequent for depressive students to feel contentment upon their achievement. When they get 80/100 in a test, they will say they should’ve got higher, and when they get 100/100 they just stay silent and expecting to be more scholarly in the next assignment. Their daily performances are applauding, yet selfish from another angle.

Having the ability to analyze and to foresight many cases, depressive students tend to use this capability to predict their lives’ possible worst scenarios and sometimes they become terrified to their own “hypothesized” futures which are mostly just the results of their melancholic imaginations. A goal that most depressive students have in common is to pursue their truest life’s intention. They wanted to be good at something, but before they searched it they are always thinking that they don’t have any; making them to give up before the actual sighting

Unlike other students who are enjoying every moment of their high school life with what we usually known as a “happy-go-lucky” characteristics, depressive students are acting similar with their own parents to themselves (but stricter and meaner, literally!). Developing into a purer depressive students each day, they are unceasingly diligent and always head to the sunshine with passion and eagerness but once they fall too much, their mental irreversibly shattered into pieces and blown by the pessimistic wind. When this happened, they become too hard to themselves; a looping sequence of self-mockery words revolves around their brain (making their broken mental even worse). Once they have reached the “truest” depressive students, they became super sensitive and very pessimistic in nature: they easily haunted with the littlest remarks from others because the take those comments skeptically with thoughts that they might be insults or sarcasms. Seeing these lugubrious personalities, depressive students are actually people who needs extra care; equivalent to the care that we gave to sick people.

Perfectionism is a wonderful habit and diligence is even more wonderful, but does it have to be sprinkled with negativities just like these? I’m sure that everyone of us possesses negativities within our hearts and it’s actually normal for us humans to have such emotion, but it is very unhealthy to let this pessimism floating to the surface of our consciousness and dominate our life. Furthermore, mental breakdown should be suppressed for it didn’t give us any benefit and only harmed us – making our life trembled with fear; disallowing us to explore our bright, youthful life. As for the critiques’ responses, to be mad about criticism is necessary ONLY if it is VERY VERY rude or is inappropriately delivered. However, we should accept all kinds of remarks – positive and negative – with open ears and hearts because they are actually one of the keys that can lead us to success. Through hearing and thinking about people’s advices to us, we can actually fixed our limitation and weakness; turning us into a better person.

All of you; look at the mirror and glance the life that you currently live in. Are you one of these so called “Depressive Students”? If yes, you should keep the perfectionism and diligence up and throw away the glumness for by it you can be a much better person. (I know I am one and I'm striving for a change =3 )

Yours Truly, Donny

P.S: What Would Jessica Do ? =)