Lesson 1: Back to Basics

Haughty and naughty students who don't like to be reprimanded usually think that they can just treat teachers as people who only work in order to feed themselves and their family members. They think that the lives of their professors lie in their hands. What is worse is they make us, teachers, look stupid. These notions are a crap if not ridiculous. One thing students often forget is why they call their professors, instructors, and proctors 'teachers.'

Perhaps, some examples can enlighten their deprived minds.

We can inspire and motivate people who already have goals in their lives. We only need to nourish these goals, and help our students go to the right path. Flexible that we are, we can do this in our out of the academe. Teachers can go to different schools. As long as we have our license we can teach anywhere. And even without license, we can venture into other jobs. We can go to call centers, or even become event’s organizers. On the other hand, students, once kicked out, can never go to any. It will take a long time for them to get their act together and start anew. There are exemptions to this of course but they are scanty otherwise nobody will go to school anymore.

Second reason that students must be on their toes is there are many students in the world who deserve the instructors' best efforts. We don't like wasted effort-nobody likes it in the first place. I, for one, don't bother myself caring for those who do not want to help themselves. I rather be stuck with bookworms who forsake their lunches for good reads than teach those who make my blood boil. I rather comfort below-average students who still follow my instructions than those who think they are high and mighty. The point is, if some students don’t like listening and participating in our class discussions, the teachers only need to interact with those who show interest in learning. We will not forsake those who depend on us. We are neither caregivers nor nannies who follow their bosses around. We make Bosses.

Lastly, one of the reasons we are called teachers is we have gone through series of studies and tests which not all students can go through. Students can't even pass regular quizzes, how much more a nationally standardized examination. Giving us alibis for their violation of classroom regulation is an insult to our intellect. Trying to pit their pride against our pride is a mismatched challenge because we belong in a different level.

It is high time that these irresponsible students know who they fight against. We are not ordinary persons who wear stifling clothes to look formal, makeup to look older, high-heeled shoes to look respectable. We have already succeeded our trials in order for us to be where we are right now. A challenge coming from a stray batch of school sheep is but an ordinary case for us that we are willing to take any time of the day—except when we are at home, that is—knowing and believing that in a school, there are more students who are willing to learn than those who throw their lives and their parents’ toil away.

We are not only teachers. We are Professional Teachers and it takes more than just a bunch of rowdy kids to take this title away from us. 

ratio

A person's value is measured by the ratio of how he sees himself and how others give importance to him. Sometimes, one part is bigger than the other which in both ways, if perceived extremely, is negative. If he gives too much importance in himself while his peers don't give him the "right" amount of attention he desires, he might find himself disappointed and consider his friends falling short his expectations.

If he doesn’t have much confidence in himself, his friends will try to give him the support he needs. This promise doesn't last, unfortunately because like any other person, friends get tired too, especially when the person they are trying to help cannot help himself nor showing any plan of helping himself.

Being a victim of this measurement, I have witnessed this a lot of times and I know my place in the categories I have given. I may have experienced this but I think I have mastered the knack of putting myself on the more advantageous side or looking like it. I have long accepted that people come and go--I do come and go as I please. I have seen people return in my life. I have also returned to some. I have made friends, I have had enemies. Antis, stalkers...name it. I have made a lot of people feel unimportant, I have done damages but these don’t  mean that I am invulnerable.

Friends I hold dear can hurt me more than they know, more than they should.  However, learning this rule that subtly governs any relationship, I have got used to it and mastered that I know one strategy to keep the tides on my side. What that strategy is, I won't divulge of course. One thing is "fosho" as G-dragon says it, when it comes to this, be it friend or foe, I won't be at the bottom of the food chain. There will be blood in the water.

cheater

I believe that beautiful girls don't cheat. It takes craning of the neck, widening of eyes and dislocating a vertebrae to cheat and these three don't contribute in making a girl beautiful. Habitual doing of one thing makes it permanent or if not, almost close to it. If a girl has started cheating since first grade, it is almost impossible for her to remove cheating from her system, therefore impossible to stop herself from craning her neck, widening her eyes, and abusing  her spinal column to extend to the left, or right side. It will not be a wonder if she'll grow old disfigured. Pity.

pink?!

That my nails needed polishing had not come across my mind until yesterday. I was walking along the winding isle of the Novaliches Bagumbong Market when I saw a stall selling nail polishes of out-of-this-world colors (in the Philippines, that is, since the colors are I think common in Korea). I then looked at my nails and I saw my left thumb nail begging to be polished as it still had the remnants of the last nail color which was silver that I had put on two months ago. Yup. I definitely had to buy a new color.

I bought the color that I thought was good for my skin tone and my current profession (I still am not sure how the college will take it once a teacher uses black nail polish so I restrain myself until I am sure enough that I am not putting a toe--or finger nails--out of the line). First look, it was peach-pink, just exactly what I was looking for because it was bright  enough to be spunky yet not too loud to be distracting.

Upon applying it this morning I have realized that the color looks pretty in the bottle but it doesn't look that adorable on my nails. It looks like old-rose pink, not even a hint of peach that I have been looking for. It's cute, yep. That's it. I guess it is what to be expected from a cheap nail paint--yes, you've read that right, paint as it looks like a paint on my fingers and it smells like one too.

Conclusion? Since I have polished my nails again, I can't see the point of trying to remove the color anymore. I will just have to stick to it as long as it sticks to my finger tips. After that, I can buy another nail polish and have my vengeance. heheh. 

the clown

Time is too short for us. Sometimes everything is clear. Sometimes it's a puzzle.
And just because I don't like being confused...
I am taking a break...
and start being a half-masked clown again. peace. hahah

I've always loved to be in the spot light 

but it feels good being at the background and getting a bird's eye view of things.

it makes me learn things in a different more mature perspective.




i think i've grown up all of a sudden.

you need a lot of these letters to make a mat. but each letter functions on its own sweet way

just like this cotton candy...
one container, four different flavors 

people need to learn that no matter how close they are to a person, that person's business is not theirs. Most of the time, it is insulting to give unsolicited advice or help. Not meddling with a someone's problem doesn't mean being inconsiderate of that someone's feelings. On the contrary, it's the best expression of telling him/her that he/she is smart and strong enough to handle his/her situation.  

HOW YOU CAN MESS UP A MEETING

• 
  
•  
• 1.       say the same thing over and over again
• 2.       ask questions and don’t listen to answers
• 3.       point out non-existent mistakes because you think they are there
• 4.       compare workers right at their faces
• 5.       teach employees or co-workers what they already know
• 6.       shut up when you are expected to speak
• 7.       agree to whatever is being said
• 8.       ask for suggestions but not give any
• 9.       act as if you know what to do
• 10.   have a meeting without coming up with any agenda

As any of my lists, this can go as long as eternity permits it. Anybody who experiences the same thing, raise your hand and say “Aye!”

decisions: result

I wrote about my life changing decision here. It has been a year. I am still sitting in the same place, using the same computer. Nothing has changed except maybe for my haircut…and well, my clothes. However, mentally and socially, I think I have grown.

I have learned a different language. I can read and write Hangul now, can understand Korean dramas and correct some hastily made subs. In return, I have acquired a good amount of different culture and included it my daily life.

I have learned to criticize pieces of literature and art (mada mada dane: I still need to study though). I have read a good number of books, blogs, mangas, and yes, fanfictions. All these contribute to more writing styles for my part. I have learned to write more important things (yes, fanfiction IS important) than plain rants in my blog.

I have learned to criticize people under their very noses and get away unscathed. However, I also know now how to deal with different people.

I have learned how to be a better hypocrite. When before, I used to just be silent when I did not like something or somebody, right now, I can smile without giving any clue to what I really feel. How do I know this? Because people still keep coming, even if I don’t like some of them to. I have learned to adjust to what part of me they want to see, what reactions they want from me. I feel honored whenever my real friends point this out to me. At least, I still have that part of me that is human.

As I continue having a mask on, I have learned to be genuine. I have learned to show how happy, angry, and sad I am to people I choose. I speak openly when I am depressed. I clown around when I am happy. I destroy things, or mutter curses in the dark when I am angry.

I have learned to make, value, and keep not good, but great friends.

I have maintained a harmonious relationship with my family despite the randomness of my decisions.

You see, I have grown so much. I can’t say I regret making that decision a year ago. Far from it.

I am not disappointed… But I am also not satisfied…Those conditions are part of my standards of living after all.

For the meantime, I can say I am happy… I know however, that I can be happier.

This is the time that I know that I will make another decision.

lying and I

Niou Masaharu

I am not going to proclaim that I am a Holden Caulfield, the biggest liar that I can ever meet . The mere idea is too pretentious to me. I will be satisfied by labeling myself as Niou, the trickster. 


There is more to him in me than Kikumaru Eiji and Fuji Syuusuke put together, I have just figured out. The ability to mask who we really are is but a flick of our fingers.

Being the best, he can immediately sense sugarcoated sins, bedazzling bluffs and incoherent inconsistencies. Having these capabilities, he forms a different picture of who he wants people to see him as. He does not point out their stupidity. It gives him excitement seeing them make a fool of themselves trying to make him believe. How he savors the look on their faces when they think they have convinced him! What is more is he relishes the idea that people will soon entangle themselves to their self-images like the puppets he often uses. And he, Niou Masaharu, will be patiently waiting at the finish line to cut the strings and crush them.

 It's a part of the fic I have written about him that you can find in: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6754601/1/

20/09 my top ear candies

. i received a notification in my facebook account that my highschool classmates
are planning to have a reunion this december.\
. i don't know how concrete the plan was but im not yet sure of attending.The
three things i consider for my attendance are:


*schedule (december 26--yep immediately after christmas...but it's a sunday so
i guess...)
*money (it's always a factor)
*people (it really depends on the crowd...i don't want to waste my money 
and time meeting former classmates i don't like to be with... hey c'mon. i'm
sure most of us have our fair share of conflicts. and if there's an award i 
didn't receive and didn't work for in highschool, that is Ms. friendship)


. reminiscing my highschool days made me listen to these songs all day:


1. five for fighting- superman
2. brian mcknight- win
3. westlife- evergreen
4. nsync- this i promise  you
5. bsb- drowning
6. o'town- painter
7. the calling- stigmatized
8. westlife- world of our own
9. linkin park- numb
10.the corrs- breathless


.a number of boybands domited this list since those boybands themselves invaded
the philippines when i was in highschool.

there always is a price to pay

...even the simple joy of watching the play of lights--whether stars or lamp posts--means several minutes of in-productivity...which is totally not OK for a workaholic society.




> shot: 21 february 2010
> samsung star gs-5233

ways to deal with The Indifferent

People don’t have to tell you they don’t like you. You just know that they don’t. They don’t talk to you. They don’t want to spend time with you. They don’t give you a fraction of their time. To summarize, they do things you don’t want them to and they don’t do things you want them to. (Game: Please count the number of do’s and don’ts in this entry)

The funny thing is sometimes they treat you as an unimportant piece of their lives for no apparent reason. They just do. Most of the time, without even meaning to—they’re completely unaware or worse, indifferent.

So what’s your next action?

1) Approach them—this is a big NO NO! Whoever told you that approaching these gods actually lead to good results, he is completely mistaken or quite lucky to have found one who returned his greeting. If these cold people want to talk to you, they should have at least showed inkling that they are open. You wouldn’t be having problems in the first place! What about the ‘introverts’? Please forget the idea that they need help—that they need you to reach out to them. These loners are professionally called introverts because they have chosen it. Or they like it. Who are you anyway to try to change their minds to what they are used to? Nah. You are your own superhero—NOT THEIRS. Besides, where did you hear that you can make friends by saying, “Hey, I like you.”

2. Please them—Oh, Please! You’ll only make a fool of yourself. You don’t aim to be their entertainer or worse nanny in the first place, right? If you’ll keep pleasing them, you’ll eventually tire yourself and wonder why. Before you regret it, avoid it. And think about it: if you really can please them, there is no reason for them to blot you out of this world. Here’s the ugly truth (try imagining Gerard Butler saying this): the more you try to please them, the more they resent you.

Effort counts in friendship. But this doesn’t count. You’re not friends yet, Stop dreaming.

3. Ignore them—Who cares? You might think this is the best way but ask yourself: have you ever looked at something you really like to eat? Have you tried ignoring it? If you have experienced the same situation, you know what I mean. The more you try to pay no attention to those persons, the more you think about them, the more you want to talk to them.

Hey! If you want to make them feel they don’t matter, the more you prove that they do, otherwise, you won’t be making an effort.

What is the best way then to deal with the indifferent? LET THEM BE. Greet them if that’s how friendly you are but don’t dare to invade their space bubbles. Why do you like them to be your friends anyway?

What are you so afraid of? That because they aren’t your friends, they might be your enemies? There goes self-importance again! Why would they want to be your enemies? Are you important? You may think so, but they don’t. Believe me. People make enemies of those who they think are of their equal importance—most of the time, superior. Did they hurt you already? Did they show signs of opposing you? Nada. You wished they had, but they didn’t. They are plain indifferent—ok I’ll favor you this time—or ignorant of your existence.

Probably they just don’t have time. Or they have so many friends already they can’t accommodate you anymore. Which one will you favor: people who tell you they are your friends but you end up being the excess baggage or those people who directly show you signs that you can’t really be their friend—they just can’t see you as a potential-friend?

wallflower

If you are looking for a wallflower that you have for a date, you don’t need to look far and wide. I volunteer.

I have always considered myself as an assertive and competitive person but when it comes to gatherings, I am a perfect wallflower. I don’t want myself to be noticed by anyone. It’s enough for me to be a bystander and just look upon things. I won’t even dress up to catch attention. Most probably, I’ll just wear the clothes I usually wear depending on the occasion’s needs.

That’s why I can’t understand people who keep on dressing up to catch attention but don’t want to be looked at. Whenever I hear them complain, I only smile and try to tell them how obviously their dresses attract attention. Their situation is quite comic for me.

But I guess it goes the same way for me—it’s comical that I still manage to go to parties and remain a faceless nobody. I might as well not go to the party. Hehe. I don’t need anyone to notice me in some party in order to enjoy it, though.

I may not be the life of a party, but I am sure I’m safe… Wallflowers don’t get into trouble that much.

안녕samsung star

Everyone, my number 09236417450 officially signed off last August 7, 2010.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t get angry because my phone was lost. In fact, I did. It took me quite a long while before accepting it and realizing that nothing would happen even if I would cry a river of tears. Crying would of course relieve my pain but it would burden the other person concerned.

I didn’t want my friend to carry all the yoke of the world when I was to blame as well—I entrusted her my phone, giving her a duty that wasn’t her obligation in the first place. But what was hard to accept was the fact that it was the first phone I bought for myself and I took good care of it since December 5^th 2009 and it got lost in an outing that had promised to be a good venue for team building.

That was why I asked Him to enlighten me and give me the right attitude in facing this problem.

Although I will be able to buy the same phone or a better one, still some months from now, I won’t be able to buy a friend. If I would let my lost ruin our friendship, I would lose two things, my phone—well I already lost it—and her. Aside from that, she lost things too. So I swallowed the fact that my Samsung star is gone.

As for the culprit, whoever he or she is, I wish him luck.  I hope he or she is truly happy with what he or she has done. I hope to that the 749 songs I have in my phone can make whoever receives my phone happy. My 14 Bigbang videos can definitely lighten up someone’s mood any day. Oh… I wish though that he or she will have the common sense to erase my photos there. I think it will be better for that person to reformat the memory card. But that of course is according to his or her discretion. Sigh…free advertisement for Bigbang…haha.

I’m still missing my phone especially right now that my brother has bought the same unit. Just to give you a picture: I find it difficult to do things I used to do with my phone, for example, walking along the streets or doing the laundry. To compensate, I use an mp4 that’s nothing to compare with my phone but I have to be satisfied. Anyway, 4 months isn’t long for a person who’s will to work for her desire. Haha. December once again has its goal.

ironic

I wanted my blog to focus on specific topics relevant to everyday experiences rather than tell my autobiography which I doubt anyone is interested to read. So I changed the title from Worthless Being to the Wanderings and Wonderings of a Worthless Being..

I have wanted to start the change by creating a new tag inspired by Alanis Morisette. I have witnessed and experienced several ironies that were not mentioned nor given justice in “Ironic” (due to length issues probably). Minor ironies that can be shrugged off because (actually, the reason is already in my major clause) they are so little that we just laugh about them.

There are so many of them that I can’t pick one to start the tag right. Whew…

One thing is for sure though: without these ironies life wouldn’t be as interesting as it is.