BY STEVEN TL

SEC 3

WORDS

Content

Acknowledgement

Dedicated to

Young Age, Big Dreams

Principal, guests, teachers and fellow students, we all know that someone is invited to stand on this stage and share his words. It is then, my honor to introduce this admirable guest, Babur Ali, today.

To begin with, let me start with the beginning of this currently 16-year-old student’s “career”. Since Babur Ali was 11, he had been teaching in his own school, in a small village in West Bengal. He voluntarily passes on knowledge which he obtained from his fee-paying school to children and families prisoned in poverty. By now, he is recognized by education officials as headmaster with ten voluntary teachers to enable 650 desperate pupils to learn.

Since then, Babur Ali’s school which began with outdoor lessons transformed into a learning site of two bamboo, brick and tile huts, with children running back and forth to different classes. He is a well-organized person, by starting his day at 5 a.m. with morning prayers and household chores; he then studies from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and teaches from 5 p.m.

Moreover, what I admire most about him is his passion and hard work. Babur Ali wants to become a teacher so that he can develop his school and educate more poor children. His secret to success, he said, is no more than commitment. He quoted, “You have to be dedicated and determined. You need to create a learning environment. And there has to be goodwill between the teachers and the students.”

Finally, Babur Ali’s impressive achievement has shown the world that he is not merely an ordinary young man. His courage, his compassion, his commitment, together with a strong heart, has made everyone believe that his credibility is not a coincidence. All his motivation and inspiration have enabled him to change the world, and by opening our minds to his words today, I have no doubt that we can also be successful people like Babur Ali in the future.

Floating Garbage

My many trips to the beach have always left me wondering why anyone would want to transform it clear waters into a wasteland. The sight of just a few tiny bits of plastic drifting away from shore might not seem to be a problem, for it is a speck of dust compared to the open sea. However, it might grow into a garbage patch, which is, a fatal problem.

A garbage patch is a collection of marine debris. It lies in the middle of an ocean gyre, a circular ocean current formed by the wind and tidal patterns caused by the rotation of the Earth. The mass of debris, usually made up of a majority of microplastics, will eventually reach the centre of the gyre and gradually build up as much of it is non-biodegradable. This may disturb the ocean’s ecosystem. For instance, plastics may be mistaken as food or trap birds in its way.

In order to prevent this problem from growing any further, there have been solutions being developed. The United States have arranged container deposit laws. “The Ocean Cleanup” concept proposed by Boyan Slat used the idea that natural ocean currents and winds could be used to move debris towards a collection platform.

The question that challenges us is what must we as individuals contribute to solve this problem? The answer is really simple, and yet it affects the whole environment. By not littering alongside of the beach, plastic will not be able to reach the ocean in the first place. Therefore, it is very significant for us, both high governments and low individuals, to be responsible for the future of our world.

Enrich and Empower the Environment of Youths

In the hopes of evolving the students' service skills, Bina Bangsa School launched a backyard gardening activity as a special environmental project. This six months project involving the Secondary 3 will contribute to their social interactions within the community.

This project will start in January. The students will first plant their own vegetables, in the form of seeds or seedlings. They will monitor the project regularly, keeping the plants under suitable conditions. When the crops are ready for harvest, six months of hardwork is revealed, the students may donate the vegetables as part of their charity for communities who are in need.

This gardening project is essential for the development of the students' awareness and care for the marginalized or materially poor. "Many students are able to reach extraordinary achievements in academics. However, with the development of technology and gaming systems, students tend to be inactive. They need to be exposed to more outdoor activities," remarked Mr. Jason, the principal of Bina Bangsa School.

Furthermore, this project will instill in students' minds the importance of protecting and conserving the natural environment. "Although it took heaps of perspiration just to accomplish a simple step, I believe that this project makes me stronger physically and mentally. I became more aware of the society and the environment," commented Kevin, one of the participants of this project.

It is the school's hope that students will realize the importance of this enrollment. As Martin Luther King Jr once said," Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."

An Underworld Paradise

The fundamental goal of this cave expedition was to explore the depths and riches of the underground world. By participating in a group of professional photographers entering the Goa Cerme on 11 November 2014, secrets of the mysterious cave unfold before their eyes.

Professional photographer Kusmatiya Sharakya said, “People often imagine that the world beneath the Earth is scary and dark, but this is not always true.” A proof of this is when he descended into the cave; he admitted that he could view its interior full of various incredible forms and shapes. The group recalled that they could hear the soft sound of running rivers, the echo of water droplets and the gusts of wind.

The group walked through the shallow water of a small river at the bottom of the cave, admiring new sights. Under the guidance of the Department of Geology at the local university, the photographers ventured for four and a half hours into the cave, capturing every attractive sight in pictures. However, there were some obstacles that kept them cautious such as sharp stone formations hanging low from the ceiling. Also, it takes 7.5 hours to finish the trip.

The 3 km long Cerme cave was originally intended to be a tranquil place where local people can seek divine guidance. However, it had become a tourist attraction and food stalls with commercial buildings have started to appear. The quiet atmosphere has disappeared. Constructions, such as concrete walkways have destroyed the natural appearance of the place.

Furthermore, the great number of visitors has damaged the interior of the cave. Black soot from oil lamps have covered much of the cave walls and ceiling. Undisciplined tourists littered among the pathway and removed stones from the walls of the cave as souvenirs. “I hope that these bad habits will disappear soon so that we can enjoy the rare beauty of this natural wonder for many years,” reported Kusmatiya.

Travel around the Globe

For most people, travelling to different places is just a dream. The world is just too large, too vast that it is impossible for us to conquer every land across the globe. History recorded that even Magellan did not stay on this Earth long enough to witness his only ship left succeed in encircling the planet. But now we have someone, who did not just travel across the world. He landed on every city, every nation found on the globe, and turned dream into reality.

Chris Guillebeau was born in 1978 and studied at Athens State University and the University of Washington. With his passion of travelling, he managed to visit 193 countries around the world before he was 35. Taking Portland, Oregon as his home, Chris travelled at least 100 days a year. He commented that although there are many places which he would like to revisit, he believes that the journeys he took and the moments he experienced are his main inspirations of travelling, not the destinations or places he aimed for.

Chris thinks that travelling is an important part of his life and that it has changed him thoroughly. “Travelling is disruptive and forces you to think differently. I live a fairly routine life, and I like the element of adventure – even ‘soft adventure’ – that travelling brings. When I’m on the road I feel like a different person,” noted Chris.

Form his years of experience, Chris has some unforgettable moments and thoughts. He takes Sydney, Australia, as one of his favourite cities in the world. He likes to return to places he visited in Hong Kong, and is one of the places where he feels at home. He experienced spectacular generosity in Comoros, an island in East Africa, when he ran out of money and a stranger unconditionally gave him some money.

Chris said that he used ‘travel hacking’ tactics or round-the-world tickets to keep the fare low. He also wrote guides for travel in the website, and wrote book about his life.

Chris had hosted the World Domination summit in Portland several times. He is planning for more trips, more places to visit, which is exactly why he loves travelling.

The Path of a Leader

The Leadership Camp was conducted on 3 December 2014, with its objective to broaden young leaders’ minds with various skills in life. While the camp lasted for hours of training, Satya, a student leader, delivered an inspiring speech about taking risks as the summit of the camp.

The main idea of Satya’s speech was to enlighten the students’ minds, with desirability of taking risks. He suggested not repeating the history of one’s habit, instead be occupied in new things as a challenge.

Satya’s argument is reasonable and has been proven correct by many successful people around the world. Taking risks will build the courage to venture, the bravery to fight, the strength to fight. It encourages inventions shaped out of creativity and various experiences. This is the road to productive success. There may be large walls which hinder our path, but they carve the future of lives.

Taking risks provide us with knowledge and wisdom beyond those which are marked on paper. It is a part of education that is vital in becoming a leader. Aristotle once said, “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”

The Lord has provided us a gigantic world to explore. He has given us arms and legs, as well as minds and souls to do it. Let us not cower in fear but live our lives to the fullest!

Popchestra Concert Receives Roaring Applause

The orchestra Ensemble staged its annual concert entitled “Popchestra” during the world’s Valentine’s Day celebration on the 14th of February. Besides showcasing the God – given acumens among the 50 very talented members of the BBS Ensemble, the evening concert celebrates the great influence of pop music to the lives of many people.

The Popchestra concert was made possible through the rigid and stern supervision of the music teachers, epecially with Mr. Agung and Mr. Fadli organizing the whole show. The Ensemble presented a diffrent atmosphere compared to the two concerts in the previous years, as it played various pop and rock songs by famous artists and bands such as Michael Jackson, Coldplay, Adele and Linkin Park.

The success of the show can be accorded to the discipline and dedication of every participant. Hours of practice paved way to a well – coordinated production. “Although the Ensemble required hardwork and a lot of effort, I can see that it made me better in music . I did not regret my choice in joining the Ensemble and I am looking forward for the next concert,” said Vinanta, one of the new members of the Ensemble.

Of Humility!

A renowned professor had to travel from a town to another to give his famous lectures. One day, he took a boat driven by a middle aged fisherman to get to one of his destinations.

“You know who I am?” asked the professor, being proud of his reputable identity. “No, sir,” answered the fisherman. The professor, being irritated by the response, boasted another word. “I am the famous professor everyone is talking about! Don’t you know me?” he demanded. The fisherman answered in a calm voice, “No, sir, no matter how many times I look at you, I can only recognize a stranger. Even if I’ve heard of you, it won’t matter to me, I’m just a fisherman.”

The professor got frustrated. He started asking irrelevant questions to the fisherman. “Do you know about physics, or biology, or chemistry?” he asked. “No,” the fisherman said. “Then you’ll be useless in this continent! Everyone knows at least a bit about science, why don’t you know anything?” teased the professor.

As the fisherman started to get annoyed with the professor, he raised his voice, “I am a fisherman, and I do not know any of the stuff you are talking about! I just know how to fish and swim!”

The professor just sneered at the fisherman. “Swim? Of all things in the world, you know how to swim? Why would you need to know how to swim?” the professor asked the fisherman.

As they approach their destination, a huge storm rose in front of their path. The boat turned upside down and both men fell into the water. The fisherman quickly swam and scrambled to the nearest shore. As for the professor who cannot swim, he struggled to stay afloat in the midst of the harsh waves.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

- (Proverbs 11:2)

Doing Ordinary Things Extraordinarily

Allow me to begin with this phrase: ‘you only live once’ or its short acronym YOLO. This, I think is widely known to everyone here in our school. It might be heard not just once, but more often than the bell rings each day along our hallways. To some students, it has become a trend for motivation, while to others it may just be an expression for fun or joke.

However, when you look at it closely – this simple phrase, once it becomes part of our daily system of living, giving our best each day knowing that we shall never pass life again – could usher us to realizing our dreams or lead us to our future success!

Moreover, many people think that since they only live once, they must ‘take the risk’, they tend to be in a hurry as if there is no more future or tomorrow for them while others may start to panic and impulsively grab any opportunity that they face in with little planning or perhaps, none at all. Through YOLO, they will have an excuse to have the time of their lives by purchasing the exclusively limited iPhone 5S, have a sleepover with friends while you stuff your mouth with chips or stay up to 24 hours to watch the World Cup.

If you have much enthusiasm for these things, why not work hard on your CA’s? Why not spend time browsing your Bible? You might think I am totally out of my mind, nut I am definitely not! I strongly believe that once we get used to doing all of these, it will benefit us greatly.

Think about it. This is far better off than the YOLO stuff you do each day. Soon, you can buy things you need or want without any doubt. You can get a VIP seat for the World Cup, rather than staring at that lifeless screen or more significantly, besides your friends, you get the time to meet your Creator or God.

Finally, don’t just daydream the things you desire but learn to live each of them! Bottom line is, “The past is only a memory and the future is only a vision, so today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and tomorrow a vision of hope.” So learn how to live well the present!

Eternal Death

I could no longer see the sun. It was crossed with many paths that all lead to mysterious shadows. No wonder the pyramid was gigantic, I thought with awe. It was so lonely, so dry, and so silent. I could hear the scraping of my leather shoes against the dusty stone blocks. I could feel the hot air pressing against my face and the beads of perspiration rolling down my back.

I flipped the map back and forth, upside down, since it does not make any sense. All the corridors looked the same to me, the turns, the stairs, as well as the walls. I could feel my hands turning cold as steel bars, despite the heat. I could imagine all those creepy consequences that could happen to me but tried to push them away, but I have used up every ounce of luck.

After hours from running from my fears, it seems that luck had shown pity on me. I burst into a room, panting and struggling for air, yet still, I could hardly breathe.

It was rising to unreasonable heights, its sturdy walls like brand new. Its floor shone like polished gold and my eyes were fixed to the middle of the room, but it is not the coffin of the Pharaoh.

It was an orb, and unlike many ornaments in this room, it was dull and dark. Nevertheless, it sat on a throne itself like a showcase, surrounded by fine glass. As I crawled towards it, all of a sudden, the glass shattered to a million pieces.

It is within my reach. I stretched out my shaking hands. In this moment, curiosity overwhelmed me. It was hard… cold… smooth…as I took a better look, it shone!

The orb was radiating with dazzling, bright, blue light. Then the room vibrated, and all the dust, the sand, materialized to form into the bones. And one of them stood up.

I could feel my heart beating against my chest, my bones turning into jelly. My fingers went numb and stiff like steel, my feet rooted to the ground. My eyes, horrified, froze at the spot. I heard bones rattling, producing its mysterious sound like the steadiness of a drumbeat. They began to group together, rising on one another, until they were as tall as me, with arms and legs. Skeletons.

Boom! The antique cover banged against the wall. With astonishment, I stared at the mummy. The fully covered corpse hovered in the air, and settled in front of me. There was silence, eerie silence. With the mighty mummy which had his eyes glowing gold.

The orb was glowing warmer. The skeletons now had resemblance to human beings. They had the same old eyes. Those cold, steely stares scorched at me. They are angry. Without looking back, I ran away.

The tomb did not seem as large at all. Soon, I was trapped in a corner. The army of the dead ran wildly, the clicking of bones against solid stone was deafening in my ears.

I fought through them like fighting against the ocean. Wave by wave crashed towards me. I felt like drowning in a quicksand, struggling to stay alive. A hand clamped against my shoulder. My leg. My back. Unconsciously, I dropped the orb, its hard shell cracking and splitting into a thousand pieces.

And the skeletons, the mummy, the bones – all crumpled to the ground.

The Shadows of the Grave

It was late. People disappeared from the street as the sky darkened. I need to get home. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, but I stopped on my tracks. The horrible figures that flashed on the screen of the theatre still hung on my head with horror, but what I need to do next might be worse.

The coarse gate gave way with a metallic screech. The soil was damp under my shoes as I paced cautiously. My heart was pounding against my chest as the moonlight reflected cravings and cracks on the tombstones. I could feel the pungent scent of rotten bark or the earthy mud that cracked under the aged rocks at the tip of my tongue. There was not a single hoot of the owl, or a single breeze of the wind, but my mind was loud with thoughts.

I could imagine sinking through the ground as its underground secrets pulled me down, or a skeletal hand dragging me into the depths of darkness. I could sense the ghostly spirits floating in mid-air, moaning and whining and whispering in my head. I believe that there is a walking corpse struggling with his rotten body behind me and cracked, hollow bones wriggling their way out from under my feet.

My hands were shaking and cold as ice, while my legs forced myself forward though stiff as steel. I was drenched with perspiration as beads of sweat rolled down my neck.

Then the trees backed away and the moonlight once again reflected into my eyes. My legs acted faster than my mind, as I rushed for the borders of this cemetery. And I did not look back.

The StormThe rain was hard on my shoulders as I hurried home. Trees were bent over

me, their soaked leaves flying with the harsh wind. I rushed through the door, dripping wet, as I held today's newspaper. The weather forecast displayed with the words "Toronto – clear". I flung the newspaper on the floor, confused and annoyed by the big, bold letters, as a loud bang of thunder shook my heart.

Water from heaven hurled towards the city. They worked hard, overflowing the ground beneath the earth, leaking through the little gap beneath the old wooden door. I shivered as they spread under the luminous ray of lightning, working its way through the tiles beneath my feet, through the planks above my head. Concealed under the leaking protection of the roof, I could feel my heartbeat increasing rapidly.

Then I saw it from the window. A dark tower emerged, creeping slowly towards me from a distance. Chunks of rocks flew around it, pulled towards its enlarging center. It drilled into the rough cracks of the road, ripping metal sheets from nearby cars. I swam out of the house, struggling to stay afloat, as the brick slabs detached from the roof, into the mouth of the giant twister. Waves crashed against my body, burying my body under the heavy gallons of water. I shook myself free from its mighty grip, only to be sucked upwards by the strong winds.

I couldn't breathe as my vision blurred, the roaring noise deafening in my head. My body went limp, my nerves frozen and stiff. My body flew uncontrollably, my bones aching, cracking, and breaking. I felt like drowning, deep into my darkest fears, as I embrace my death. And as I began to lose consciousness, the tornado faded away, plunging my body into the cold waters. I stayed above, my body paralyzed, as I gazed at the horizon.

I will not die today.

The Claws of the ForestI stood on the ground, my claws sunken deep beneath the earth, watching

the spears glinting under the broad daylight. The stench of venom hung in the air, as we watched each other silently under the emptiness of the forest. I imagined myself, waiting long before I leaped; jaws wide open to embrace the sharp end of my deadly fate.

Father had always told me stories of his past. He reminded me that we are meant to be strong, so that we can defend our home, home which extended over the hills and rises over the valley, home which reached above the sky and dug below the soil.

He told me of man, who would shrink the plains and flatten the trees, who would knock birds out of the sky and hurl us tigers over the fire. He taught me that we should fight back, that we should tear their menacing hearts and rip their sinful minds so that they will never set foot on this land.

I would never forget the day those stories ended. It was great sorrow, as I watch my father's endless breath fade away; his bright stare sinking into the darkness, as man's evil mark pierced over his shoulder like a flag of war, its metal tip sinking deeply, mercilessly.

Then I met them. They were silent as the wind above the air, invisible as the shadow under the sun. But their eyes shone like gems, their gaze following my every move. I blazed with anger as I spotted their spears held firm and strong, pointed at me.

It was a dream. It was a dream that I would jump and spill blood over their bodies breaking their spears into splinters. It was a dream that I would destroy every last one of their race, like my father would have done. But I sensed something else about man while we glanced at each other, spears aimed and claws extended. I sensed their trembling fingers, their weak legs. I sensed their nervous perspiration, their quick heartbeat. They are afraid.

So I lowered my claws. They lowered their spears. This is the fight my father did not win, a fight he did not escape. I have won it for him; I have won the trust of man.

That day was the longest day of my life. Man and I walked separate ways, and I know that I have won a fight without a fight.

Hands of Time

The story of my life started as a fat man with old spectacles turned the gears on the back of my spine. I could feel the whirring and turning of a machine in the back of my mind and the tickle that crept towards my arms. For the first time in my life, my arms moved in an orderly manner, rhythmically and dramatically. The gears never stop spinning, shoving my arms to complete circles, with my right the quick one and my left the slower. Once in a while a resounding gong rang inside me; I realized that it rings as my left arm completed a revolution.

I was hung on a wall with my head inches from the ceiling. My rounds soon become automatic, and the ring inside me does not surprise me anymore. The people who had set me up regularly stare at me, which I found rather uncomfortable, as if their focusing pupils are reading the thoughts off my mind.

I soon realized that I am different from them. I could go on for months, but they need rest every few hours. After some time, I found out that I too, need energy. They exchanged the small cylinder on my back with a new one occasionally. I thought that life was long, and time was a useless artifact.

One day, the man brought an elegant case. He opened it, and to my horror, I looked at a smaller version of…me. It had the same arms, the same gears, except that it was outlined with metallic pieces that reflect brightly into my eyes. Since that day he wore the replica of mine on his wrist. He never looked at me again; instead he kept staring on its hands and tinkering on its gears. In a while, every person I recognize wore the same bracelet. I was forgotten and abandoned, left to hang on the same wall.

On one instance, the man I knew lifted me off the wall one more time. I was overwhelmed with joy, thinking that he really cares for me, and that he would exchange my draining cylinder with a new one. I was carried to a dark, damp room, and was rested on the corner, together with other things that seemed much older than me.

The smile on my face evaporated, as the person I knew since I was born shut the door, leaving me in cold loneliness and dark, deep silence. That was when I learned the true meaning of grief and sorrow, as I waited for my last bursts of energy to flow away and drift back to deep slumber…