My destructive habits

          These days, teenagers have variously destructive habits which affect their everyday lives negatively. The widespread development of technology and innovation yield these habits which had been not existed before. For example, the invention of smart phone turned a myriad of teenagers into addiction. The habits of procrastination or spending time not wisely still exist today.

My destructive habit that hinders in my progress is caring about my lovely I-touch. I cannot say that I am really addicted to it but I can say that I hold it with me everywhere I go and always care about it. It is like my other self. I did not have any smart phone or I-touch when I went to school in Korea. I came to Saipan and since then, I need a thing that allows me to contact with people in Korea or get connections with a big world. I am not using a smart phone here because I see no reasons for getting a phone here. I go to school, go to Hyatt and go home. That is my everyday schedule. I do not really need to contact people in Saipan but in Korea. Through chatting programs such as Kakao-talk and facebook messages, I can keep in touch with my friends or teachers. I hope my teacher would not read my journal that I am writing now because I am confessing that I check my I-touch regularly at school. Of course, this causes me some problems such as teacher’s taking it away from me. I do not know why I keep checking my I-touch but I guess I am somewhat expecting some messages to pop up. You can say that I am addictive. But, I think my conditions could not satisfy the definition of addiction. If I do not have my I-touch, I will be sad, of course but I will not shake my hands or keep going crazy.  I am not that into it. But I can say that I cannot live without it. I guess I am thinking that way because I am in Saipan right now by myself. I miss my mom, dad, brother, my boyfriend, and my friends. Every time I look at newsfeed in facebook, I literally wish I would be in Korea and spend time with my fantastic people. Therefore, a red I-touch means a lot to me. It is all about my connections. Last winter, specifically on Christmas’ eve, I dropped my white 4-th generation I-touch into a toilet while I was relieving myself. I was shocked, panic, and at awe. I lay down and could not think of my future without I-touch. Taek looked at me and ordered a red brand new 5-th generation I-touch for me without letting know me. For a week when I-touch was not delivered yet and did not know he ordered it for me, I actually went to apple store twice and think about getting a new one. He deterred me from an action and I got my new lovely I-touch in a week. I was surprised, happy and felt that my life was back. Okay, this story reflects me as an addictive teenage to a device but this is true. But the little device does not affect my life negatively. It affects more positively than negatively. It is like a small laptop so whenever I am lazy to get my laptop out of my bag, I use my I-touch to search, listen to music, watch something, chat with my friends, and use apps wisely. I am thinking it as useful rather destructive. 

My favorite spring break plan

Spring break means a lot to me. It literally allows me to take some rest from all school stuff and get the things out of my mind. Even though spring break is less than 2 weeks, I can spend that time as worthy as more than 2 weeks.

My favorite plan for spring break would be of course, no wonder, going to Korea. The ticket from Saipan to Korea seems the perfect present but since my graduation is coming, I decide not to go to Korea. Some of my friends are planning to go to Korea, which makes me jealous of them. Since I did not go to Korea for last winter break, I miss Korea as hell. All my friends in Korea already graduated from high schools and are enjoying their college lives. Therefore, if I go to Korea 1 week later, I can have so much fun with them, which can fill up a 4-year gap between my friends and me. I am so excited thinking about it but this would not happen though.

Instead of going to Korea, I am planning to go to Tinian with my Saipan friends. There is low probability or chances to meet all of seniors next few years or more than that. Since it is an international school, the students are on their own ways internationally. I will go to Korea the rest of them will go to China, Japan and U.S. We have some memories shared together but not the memory of a trip. At the first time, we were thinking of a trip to Guam but some problems faced us. As the visa problems or money problems are concerned, we ended up not going to Guam but going to Tinian instead. A trip to Tinian would not require any of us to have visa or money problem. I have never been to Tinian but often heard of Tinian, especially its hotel. As a student in Saipan, I think experience in Tinian seems reasonable and essential. I am somewhat sad that I missed the chance to go to Guam because I heard that Guam is different from Saipan and is way better. But what can I do? Maybe I will go there with my friends before I graduate.

To go to Tinian requires us to take a small-sized flight which can hold only 3 or 4 people. Two months ago, people who were on their ways to Tinian got a flight accident and dropped into water. That sounds miserable and really scary. But I believe that a god can protect us and lead our ways. We will reserve hotel rooms before we go and find out whether we should bring some food or not. We can cook, rent a car, bring a camping tools or some fun stuff and look around. I am not sure whether I can shop there but I heard that they have huge casinos. Even though I am not allowed to go to casino at my age, I just want to see whether it is bigger than the one that I went in Macao. Anyways, planning out is always fun if it is related to have fun. As I relate my plan to the meaning of life, I value friendships and want to make some memories with them before we scatter in all different directions.

Educational system

I feel that the best educational system is not implemented yet in anywhere. Personally, I want to create a society where students could have opportunities to try new things or learn some skills and study without keen competition.

I have experienced educational system of both America and Korea. At the moment when I was in elementary school, the environment of school was somewhat cozy and easy to be friendly with teachers and students. When I was a middle school student, I had so much fun that I did not want to leave the school or have a break. However, I did not like the educational system of high school in Korea. Students go to school early in the morning and stay there until 10 p.m. Also as high school students, they have to get ready for colleges. I am not saying that preparations for college are not requisites. Since Korea is a small country compared to China or America, the number of universities, particularly top schools, is limited in Korea. The keen competition is inevitable. One of the reasons I decided to study abroad is that I do not like that educational system. I feel that people who are not in academically 10% of their schools are just make sacrifices of themselves. They know that their levels and grades cannot lead them to top schools or bright futures. I am not saying that the key to success is good grade but what they are doing is just waste of time.

We need systems to encourage them to do something else such as learning skills. Each individual has its own trait and merits. Some are good at studying or some are good at engineering or technologies. Being a successful person really depends on how well a person finds himself. Schools should encourage them to do something they are good at but not force them to study. For example, I build a school. First floor is for students who have athletic temperament, second for students who have artistic temperament, third for students who want to learn skills or techs to earn money right after, fourth for students who want to develop careers, and the top for study. This kind of school is what I will build. Some might not agree with my idea but this is it. I believe that an individual is born differently. Each has to develop what they have especially since he or she is young.

However, there are some requirements for everyone. Students at least have to learn language (Korean and English) and math. Reading a lot of books is necessary as well. People at least have to have common sense and basic training to live in this society. Of course, we learn the same subjects as we do now in elementary school. Today’s elementary educational system seems to be reasonable. We need this individual development system from middle school. I am not sure whether my own way of education would work or not but my idea should be considered. 

Best saying of Mr.Lee

“NO HOMEWORK!”

My response? “You made my day!”

When Mr. Lee does not give us homework, the rest of my day is the best. When I hear that, I feel happy, free, grateful, and enthusiastic. Being enthusiastic without homework seems to be ironic but it is definitely true. When I have his assignment, I am somewhat under the pressure. I am not saying that I hate any homework. It is usual for teachers to give assignment to their students. However, Mr. Lee gives us homework that requires my whole body and brain to move and work. I have to be fully into his homework especially Theme analysis. I, a non-native speaker, have to spend a lot of time working on it and to create the perfect essay with full potential.

I asked Mr. Lee why he gave us an assignment. His answer was “To reinforce your learning. You learn and you will forget!” Yeah. I understand. But the thing is too much. Too short due date. Whenever I have a lot of homework for him, I first get bored or tired before I even start it. I do not like English Literature or thematic responses. I have no problem with having Stat homework. I can do stat homework with what I learn from today’s lecture. However English homework is different. I require me to think and think and think and critically think! Not just from the lecture. I know we need that training for being creative and surviving in today’s society. But not from English essay. Like this journal, I am okay with writing down my ideas or thoughts. However, to analyze the contexts with literary devices gives me hard time. I guess people who are not native English speakers would understand how I feel. Even it is hard for native English speakers. I understand that he needs to give us homework to make sure we are learning, on the right track and working. That is what teachers are supposed do and that is what students are supposed to do. I understand. But I just want him to be more generous and be reasonable. Perhaps, He can try to expand the due date or reduce the word limits.

Personally, Mr. Lee is a nice advisor who gives me some life lessons and makes me think seriously and deeply. To me, he looks like he is living his life in good faith and conceptual thinking. Even though he uses English all the time, I feel some national homogeneity as a Korean. I feel safe and more comfortable to him more than I do to other teachers even though he seems not to help me. But I know he loves me as a student as I love him as a teacher!