Category: Literacy

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What the Classic Novel “Animal Farm” teaches humanity about UTOPIA

Have you ever dreamt of a perfect world without hunger, pain, inequalities, poverty, diseases, pollution, and all of the other critical problems? 

If yes, you are not alone. I always have been dreaming about that so-called “Utopia” where the greatest dreams of humanity are achieved. However, that perfect world turns out to be an evil illusion that lures revolutionaries and great political leaders to establish a society that enslaves their very own citizens in the set of beliefs and ideologies that they believe would create the ultimate perfect society. 

This is the reason why many people believe that Utopia is an ideal that is an inherent/ a natural contradiction. 

Every reward comes with a price. If you want to create that perfect world, what are you willing to sacrifice? And when you put the Utopia and its cost on a scale, which one is heavier? Then, would you still think Utopia is the best world possible? 

In Animal Farm, the classic political allegory written by the famous British author, George Orwell, this idea of political Utopia is being deliberated through a simple satire of an animal group. By using symbolism, George Orwell shows the thought-provoking consequences of political revolutions and totalitarianism.   

Animal Farm” & the Evolution of the Dust Jacket — Studiolo secondari

Animal Farm mainly represents the history of the Russian Revolution, but it also serves as a reminder of human nature’s tyranny and hypocrisy. Through his stories, Orwell condemned how revolutionaries usually turn out to be inferior to those they overthrew and turn out to be hypocrites who practice the very ideologies the revolutions oppose in the first place. 

Given its genre as a political allegory, a strong/an influential use of symbolism can be seen throughout this novel. 

Character Symbolism: 

First of all, the characters symbolize the leaders of the Russian Revolution including Joseph Stalin (represented by Napoleon), Leon Trotsky (represented by Snowball) and  the visionaries who inspire the ideologies of communism which promise to bring equality and justice to the people, Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin (represented by Old Major), and the working people of Russia (represented by other animals on the farm). 

Plot Symbolism: 

Many of the plots also represent the events that took place in the real revolution. For example, in Chapter 4, how the other neighboring farms, which are known to symbolize the European countries, are frightened of the Revolution of the Animal Farm. This is known to be the “Red Terror” that took place soon after the Russian Revolution. Other plots include the expulsion of Snowball, which resembles the Assassination of Leon Trotsky by Joseph Stalin, represented by Napoleon, in a ruthless machination to seize power. 

Other General Symbolism: 

All are equal, but some are more equal then others.

The revolution wanted to abolish any form of inequality and sought to modernize its society with a unifying force of the population. However, these symbols in the story criticize this very core ideology of most revolutionists. 

Take the windmill for example; its literal purpose is to bring a more modern power source that will modernize the farm. It promises a better life, with hot water, endless electricity, fewer work hours and more benefits to the animals.

red and gray windmill on green grass field during daytime
Photo by Kai Dahms on Unsplash

However, if we look into its symbolism, the windmill represents an impossible dream of utopia which is impossible to achieve and comes with a greater cost than the ultimate result. As the animals work so hard like slaves and their lives are getting more painful to build the windmill, it has repeatedly fallen, just like their dreams of a better world. Not only has it fallen, but eventually workers, like Boxer, who are too blind to see their sacrifices for such an impossible dream lost their lives working too hard. 

Morals of the Story: 

This tragic story of Animal Farm tells the dystopian history of many revolutions we have seen. It should guide us away from those dark paths we have chosen in the past and walk more towards what will take us to a compromised greater good of society. 

Beware of the choices you make, and educate yourself of the facts to avoid falling into traps. As seen in the story, the people who are most vulnerable to manipulation are those who are uneducated and forget their very own history. Distinguish what are facts and what is propaganda. 

Most important of all, humanity must value individuality, identity and encourage the freedom of speech from everyone. We must speak and listen. No one should be suppressed of their thoughts and no one should have their fundamental human rights taken away. 

If we want a utopia, it is only possible if we define that world by ourselves and if we value other people’s definitions as well. 

Resource: Somers, Jeffrey. “‘Animal Farm’ Overview.” ThoughtCo, Feb. 11, 2020, thoughtco.com/animal-farm-study-guide-4588320.

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Tragedies of the Vietnam Wars Through the Eye of a little Fighter

In the course of history, why has there been those brutal wars that caused millions and millions of casualties? Why were those citizens killed, had their families torn apart, had their thoughts suppressed and forced to become refugees? Why did these innocent people needed to starve to death, leave their homes and do not even have access to basic human rights? Why? 

I have been exploring pieces of answers to those lingering questions above and what I found out was excruciating. 

I studied the history of the Vietnam wars, focusing on Communism and Democratic war between dominating countries. When the United States strongly supported the Democracy system, there were countries who opposed this and fought for communism instead. One of those countries were Vietnam, and the different beliefs of political systems between leaders broke the country apart. There is when the wars between the Northern Communists led by Ho Chi Minh supported by the Soviet Union and Southern troops supported by the US begins. 

After relentless fights that causes countless casualties of armies, and innocent people, the Northern Communists took over Saigon on the 30th of April, 1975, and there is when the chaos grew in a blink of an eye.

Mobs of South Vietnamese civilians scale the 14-foot wall of the U.S. Embassy trying to reach evacuation helicopters as the last Americans departed from Vietnam.
South Vietnamese trying to reach the evacuation helicopters at the US embassy. Photo from Time.

Thousands of South Vietnamese escaped the took-over land, left behind their homes, risking their lives. These refugees did whatever it takes to leave. 

Image result for the fall of saigon
During the fall of Saigon, many US navies and air crafts were on humanitarian missions to evacuate hundred thousands of South Vietnamese.  This place is half a mile from the US Embassy according to Time.com. Photo from: Wikipedia

I followed the painful life of a ten-year-old Vietnamese girl, Ha, whose father was captured and had to fight for her fate. Ha’s diary was expressed in vividly-painted poems that describes the pain of each days she coped through during the South Vietnam war. She called the diary: “Inside Out and Back Again”. 

Image result for inside out and back again
The Book which Ha describes her life through poems. This is Ha and her Papaya tree at the back of her house in South Vietnam. She sees the tree as her hope, and it was cut down when her house was abandoned. 

The poems inside the diaries reveals Ha’s rebellious and wild character. She was born into a war-bound country with history of brutal colonization, slavery, but also a country with stories of brave and rebellious heroes. She was trying to become one of them. Ha was a girl who questions the world around her and always fights for a difference. 

Ha did not let her father’s absence, the fact that she is the youngest girl in the family, and especially the chaos the wars brought to her, affect her ambitions to fight for what she thinks is right. However, the tragic shapes her to be a strong and fierce girl who learns to see the beauty of the world and remain strong even in the darkest days of her refugee experience. 

Yes, her family decided to flee their homes just like hundreds of thousands of other people as well, leaving behind all of the treasured memories and her father. But these struggles are just the beginning of a much harder journey her family was about to take. Throughout her journey, Ha experienced extreme hunger, thirst, and for the first time, she learned what a refugees battle is like. 

After the days on the refugee camp island, lucky to be evacuated by the US navies, she arrived at Alabama, the home of an American host. There is when I cried, learning about the extreme discrimination this little girl was going through in the foreign land. However, she remains strong and stand against the wind. 

I learned so much from Ha’s life and her overwhelming strength against the chaos hit me. 

This is just a life out of over 120,000 refugees who escaped South Vietnam. 

There were many more stories of tragedies, loss, evacuate missions, bravery and strength, buried in the heart of these people, the victim of the war. 

These stories were the prove that the world deserves peace. The people deserve a life where they can freely express their thoughts, without being prosecuted for their identity, assumed identity. The people deserve freedom. They deserve protection for their basic human rights. They want and fully deserve well-lived lives.  

I hope we will learn from the past and avoid stepping on these dark paths of history again. 

 

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Responsibility of Independent Learning (Novel Study)

‘Make the most of your learning!’

From: Attackflow

As we grow up and have many responsibilities, education is still one of our top priority in life. Education is one of the biggest responsibility we have, not only about ours, but also others learning. Most of the times, education is being received when the teacher delivers a lesson to us and we do all of the works that they give us. However, I believe independent learning gives students freedom of learning, a practice of stewardship, integrity, ownership, and responsibility of their own learning. It teaches students that they have the ability to shape and teach themselves new materials; and therefore improving themselves as a learner and as a person, all without strict controlling from the teacher.

This round in Literacy class, I have received that independent education, and there are many positive results by the end of the round. I completed two academic essays, one about happiness and another one is about Discriminations, Stereotypes and How it can affect Development and Change Making.

From: Amazon UK

In addition, I completed my own Novel Study which I read an epic novel from Morgan Matson (Since You’ve been gone) that allows me to learn and understand more about novels and stories about teenagers life, friendship, love, overcoming fears and stepping out of our comfort zones, trying those wild things you never thought you would do. Despite the scariness of your fears, it is doors to whole new and different worlds, a new you that never existed before, a better you. New experiences bring yourselves new friends, new hobbies and creativity. Fear is a force pulling us from the beautiful perspectives of life, thrilling moments, unique feelings that can’t even be described and more wonderful memories. It is also what holds people back from doing things they are passionate about, chasing their dreams and reach for success.

Overall, independent learning can open new experiences to students and give them a chance to learn new materials that are suitable for them. It gives them a chance to explore things outside of their comfort zone and make the most of their own learning.

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Philosophies of Happiness (Literacy Theme)

Shutterstock

Life is all about happiness. Beautiful memories, wonderful people you have met, glorious days, delightful moments in nature. All of these is what makes our life bright and worth living. Some people might argue that life contains more dark moments than happiness, But I say, without that darkness, happiness can’t shine. Life would not be complete without some tough times.

In this round, the theme for literacy class is ‘Happiness’. To discover deeply about happiness, how can we achieve happiness,  and what does it mean to us and other people, We’ve read and study a lot of poems & writing pieces from famous authors and watched a lot of films related to the topic.

As we discussed and study deeper into the topic, we have found some interesting facts about happiness related to money, social bonds, nature, and enjoyment.

CNBC.com

Talking about Happiness, there are a lot of assumptions that most people tend to make about it, one of which is that money can buy happiness. According to a study titled:  Waiting for Merlot: Anticipatory Consumption of Experiential and Material Purchases which they surveyed a lot of random people and the result is surprising. People got excited about both product purchases and experiential purchases. But they tended to feel more positive about experiential purchases, and their feelings about material purchases were more likely to be tinged with feelings of impatience. Which means experiential purchases can have a more positive impact on the person’s feeling and social connections.

A 32-year-old mother of seven children during the great depression (Wikipedia)

There are many ways to achieve happiness according to the situation we are in. For instance, during the great depression, achieving happiness is unlikely and very hard due to the severe effects, it put on the citizens. In order to be happy, citizens can escape to another happy world through arts, culture, and music. They can watch movies that they can relate too or listen to entertaining kinds of music. All of these helped Americans to feel more positive besides the complex and frustrating situation in the country. This showcases that, even in the darkest of time, happiness can be found if only one remember how to turn on the light (1).

Many famous poets use poetry as a way to capture their happiness and to express their delightful moment. Many poems capture the emotional range of the poets and their philosophy of life. Some of the poems are: “Truth By Nikki Grimes”, ‘I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud By William Wordsworth’, ‘From Blossoms by Li-Young Lee’.

Goalcast

The philosophy I took out from ‘I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud’ and ‘From Blossoms’  is to spend more time with nature. We need to look deep to see the beauty, the meanings and the sensation that nature gives to us. We can just let ourselves enjoy the view, forget the darkness and welcome the beautiful feelings that nature offers to us. Be grateful for the moment that you have with nature and save it as a beautiful memory. Because life is short and one day, someone is going to take away these beautiful days from us, so make it meaningful and value every moment you know that makes you happy. Hold onto every beautiful memory as life goes on.  

(1): A quote from Albus Dumbledore, Character from Harry Potter Series written by J.K Rowling

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Identity Theme | Where I’m From

Have you ever wonder ‘What makes you who you are?’ and ‘What are the factors that help to define who you are?’  

Well, that is what we have been discussed and studied about. Each person in this world has different personalities, thoughts, ideas, stories, and Identity. But the interesting part is how did those personalities develop in each of us? Is it all comes from those genes that we inherit from our parents? Is it from the environment around us? Or Is it our choice to become who we want to be?

A big part of Identity is our names, the word that we live on with our entire life. I believe names can have an impact on people and their personality. To further dig into this topic, I have written a writing piece that explains how my name has left an impact and identity to my life. It is inspired by a beautiful writing piece from the book The House on Mango Street.  (If you want to see the explanation of my name, you can read it in About Me Category)

Besides Name, The Place and the Origin that each of us comes from plays a huge role in who we are and the person that we became. We have stories to tell, opinions to give and memories to treasure. Those are all from the place that we come from. So, Where are you from and Where am I from?

Here is a poem that I wrote about my Identity and where I am from. It is inspired by a poem by George Ella Lyon. (The structure is also from Lyon’s Writing)

Angely

Hannah

Literacy Essential

Where I’m From

 

I’m from screws and nails, from frying pans and sunflower oil.

I’m from the swings and toys that laid next to the sweet small house, the most vivid memory of my childhood.

I ’m from the green leaves that made those oily potions.

The river tamarind trees whose seeds I can still taste on my tongue.

I’m from the sticky rice cakes made during Phchum Ben and the white shirts and silk skirts in pagodas, from my mom and grandma.

I’m from the sweat that drops down my grandfather’s neck and the neighbor’s old bike that gave me that scar on my left ankle.

I’m from the quick-moving hands my mother has when she sews and gives the grade to her students.

I’m from write with your right hand! And Where’s your book? And those old songs my mother put…

I’m from the hard-working days and endless efforts in those farming fields

I’m from the dolphin province, and the warm, welcoming village

I’m from the sweet egg drink and dried, salty cucumbers

I’m from the brave people on the wall of my grandmother’s house, whose faces are identical to my mom.

I’m from the tale of my grandfather’s bravery whose name became part of mine and face I only remember from an old picture.

The legs my family run for their lives_

The wishes they  prayed for the chance to live

The big wooden house which their souls still linger on

The farm that my grandfather had always treasured

And all of the others buried memories

I’m from every moment of those people before me, the seed that falls from great history. This is me.

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Philosophical Chairs | The Practice of Giving Letter Grades

 

In order to write a good piece of an argumentative essay, we need to understand different fields of arguments and debates.

I have involved in an activity called Philosophical Chairs, which participants are required to get up and speak to defend their claims or position (against or for) of a particular topic. This activity is similar to debate, the only difference is that it has a different structure of the argument.

In my Literacy class, our topic for the Philosophical Chairs was “Schools Should Stop The Practice of Giving Letter Grades ”

I  was in the “in favor” team because I believe that letter grades do not fully reflect on the student’s progress, causes the student to have a huge amount of uncertainty of what particular or specific field to improve on, and it decreases the interest for many students who do not get good grades. Neattoday.org stated that “It seems that letter grades are no longer making the grade when it comes to measuring student progress.”   In addition, an education expert (Alfie Kohn) stated that letter grades are relics from a less enlightened age. To add on to this, I have also experienced two different scenarios when my teacher gives me a letter grade and feedbacks. I noticed that feedbacks help me to work on the specific things that need improvement and it tells me, personally, how I have completed the tasks or the tests while letter grades give me a vast comment on my work.

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Discrimination is a Virus Essay

Discrimination is everywhere and can be in many different forms. It can be either intentional or unintentional concepts that leads to inequality treatments mental damages and society problems. I believe it ought to be abolish completely in any forms in order to build a friendly and well-being societies. This is an essay I wrote about Discrimination including statistics and facts as well as some of my opinions of what we can do about it. 

Angely Rose
Teacher: Bunthan
2/13/2018
Writing Essential
Discrimination Against Differences of People
In modern society, discrimination against differences of people becomes a concern. “White Americans are among those who feel their group is discriminated against, with 55 percent saying discrimination exists against whites in the U.S. today.” cited an article. Many people all around the world who are living with discrimination need to be helped by the society around them. We all need to solve and change the attitude of discrimination against differences as soon as possible.
There are many differences that could be judged by people such as religion, ethnicity, colors of the skin, looks, etc. ”Fifty- seven percent of black men and forty- four percent of black women in America said that they have personally experienced discrimination when they interact with police.” cited a website. Here we can see that the color of those black people who are considered different leads to discrimination. Even police whose job is to take care of people, they still live in the stereotypes of the community they live in. Another area that those African-American people are trying to rent or buy housing. Fifty- four percent of black men and thirty- nine percent of black women faced discrimination in this area. The third area of the same kind of discrimination is when they are trying to vote or participate in politics. Twenty-four percent of black men and fourteen percent of black women said that they have faced discrimination when they are trying to vote or participate in politics.
We are in the world of discrimination and prejudices and we are not even realizing that. Many people who considered that they are different have faced serious struggles to live against discrimination. For instance, In American, people who considered different such as LGBT, African American, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, White people who are Non-Hispanic. Non-Hispanics are the people who follow the Spanish religion, speak Spanish especially in the United States of America.
Those discrimination can lead to serious conflicts and problems including lack of self-confidence, low self-esteem, suicide, bodily harm. A country can’t truly develop if there are a lot of discrimination in their country. It affects all aspects of our lives. We all as human beings should try to totally abolish discrimination. Next time when you see people discriminate, tell them the problems and conflicts they will cause. Discrimination is the virus that affects the developing of the country and could harm people with serious problems and conflicts.

 

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Environmental Injustice and Pollution

In our Literacy class, we have researched and study about the theme of Environmental Injustice and Pollution. Our teacher (Hannah) brought up an interesting discussion of environmental racism and how can environment relate to inequality in our society. She gave us a shocking map of a state in American which is called Connecticut. The map clearly showed the environmental injustice within the area by combining two pieces of information together. One is the area that the minority are mostly living in and the locations of the power plants that are built and causes pollution. 

Here is the map that shows how pollution are affected to the minorities: 

https://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/2017-08/teaching-tolerance-air-pollution-map.pdf

After the discussions and lessons, I wrote a reflection which describes the pollution situation in my community, and what are my opinions to help build an environment justice community. Here is the essay I wrote about the severe situation and what we all can help to CHANGE! 

Angely

Teacher: Hannah

10/19/2018

Literacy

Environmental Pollution & Effects in My Community

   In my opinion, almost everywhere on the globe is affected by some kind of environmental pollution that causes huge or small problems for the citizens who live in the areas. In my community, which is located in the edge of the Capital city in Cambodia, there are many kinds of pollutions that affected the area with both health problems and environmental problems. Although there are many sources where pollution are brought by, The main source of pollution in my community comes from the incredible amount of plastic waste.

   A person throws away three single-use plastics, Imagine how many plastics are thrown away by thousands of people in my community? Everywhere, the plastics are being used even when it is not necessary. The amount of plastics is rising up tremendously in markets, food-courts, small shops and being thrown carelessly. Not only the plastic wastes in my community but also consider the huge amount of plastics that are being used in the whole Capital city, Phnom Penh. Consequently, a huge new landfill was being created in the past years when I newly moved to my community. It was created in a cheap area that provides a convenient reason for the waste company.

During my first moments in the community, I could feel the slight smell of the wastes that were being dumped in the landfill that is kilometers away. I could not imagine how people who live near the area survive staying near those plastic and waste hills as well as factories and big roads with countless vehicles moving around every second. Most people who are near the landfill are living under poverty with lacking understanding and education. Most of them either work in the factories around the area or go to the market as vegetable sellers. Those people are highly affected by many different pollutants that are coming from the landfill, smokes from factories, and fumes from the vehicles along the highway. It is really similar to the Map in Connecticut because most people who live in poverty and can not afford the new place are greatly affected. Most of the times, they do not talk or discuss the injustice and pollutions since they seem to run out of ideas to solve. It is not a problem that worth a community solving, it should be discussed by many other people who also involved in the problem as waster and plastic users.

We could not even imagine the difficulties they are facing living in the highly polluted areas. Therefore; do we just stay where we are and not take a step toward helping and changing their lives? Well, it might sound like it is a thing for an organization or people in the related ministry to work on in order to change the manipulated situation. But all of us, as the citizens living in the same country, the same planet, we ought to start changing our habits and do what we can do now. There are many problems with plastic and environmental pollution that needs to be discussed and talked about. One small example is we can start changing by creating new innovative ideas to recycle those plastics into useful products. We all have the potential to change and have unique innovative ideas to help. It is not an individual problem, but a problem of the globe that deserves help from all of us as great citizens. Start helping the world by reducing plastic waste and environmental pollution!

 

 

 

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A Life Changing Audition, The door to become a Change Agent

       Everyone is unique and has different amazing personal stories that are worth sharing. All of the people who are living on this planet, each goes through different experiences which help construct beautiful or painful memories for that particular human-being. Those different experiences are the mold of who we become in life and shape our future self. It is not just about the experiences that we went through, what is even more important than that is How we React and What we do with the experiences we have gone through, whether it is pain or pleasure. Do we give up, not take a step forward and never taste the true life meaning? Do we make it a lesson and step for success? Do we believe in changing ourselves and be determined in any situations? Well, here is my little Memoir that describes the one moment that changed my life and who I am. It is a precious opportunity for me to become a change agent and find my true potentials to help people and make the world a better place.

A Life Changing Audition, The door to become a change agent

by Angely Rose

 

   “The one moment that you do not really value or realize the great importance of it might be the moment that can change your life forever.” Have you ever imagined a moment that can change your life forever? A simple moment? An unrecognized moment? Well, I had experienced a moment that made a huge impact on my life and made me who I am and who I will be.

 

The approaching audition

On a normal school day, something interesting had been announced by our

fifth-grade teacher named Sou Sovanna. She is an old woman that everyone recognizes as the elder teacher in the school. “On Monday, there will be a school coming to host an audition. The school’s principal requires three students from each class to join. I have chosen some students already.” She paused a while to catch her breath from the long speech of the announcement. Then, she continued with an unhappy face that shows the class that something wrong has been going on. “Angely, Nimol and Jolie, you are the three students that are going to represent our class.” I had no doubt why we were the students that got selected. During my usual Saturday, I spent my time going through math and Khmer textbooks to review some lessons and did some math exercises and word problems. My mom was the first person who was informed by me about the audition. She was so inspiring and encouraging. My mom taught me extra math lessons from grade six which I had no idea about before. The usual night before the audition approached and the rest of the world was sleeping except me.There was a combination of excitements, marvels, and worries that came into my mind about the audition.

 

The beautiful morning of the audition

Other people in my neighborhood were wide awake and so was my family. I got up earlier than ordinary days. I brushed my teeth, took a shower and dressed in the white shirt and blue skirt which was the official uniform of Cambodia. I tied my hair up tight and looked at another me in the mirror, a me that is going to face something soon. The pair of dark but clear eagle eyes, the snub nose that looked like a hill while everyone’s has mountains, the rosy pointy natural lips and the limp hair that made up me in the mirror. I was prepared for the audition that I knew nothing about. I got on the red moto with my mom and headed off to my primary school. It was a kilometer away from my house. When I got of the moto, my mom said “Just try your best. No matter what is the result, you and me both will be satisfied.”

After a normal goodbye to my mama, I was walking with my heavy legs to a bench instead of my class because it was locked. I had my breakfast there and I thought about the last thing my mom said. I whispered lightly to myself, just try your best, Angely. You won’t ever know what is it going to be. After having my breakfast, the class door was unlocked and I went inside. I saw Nimol and Jolie holding their modern iphones. I was surprised, though when seeing such unnecessary tools like those phones on such important days like the coronation day or something like that. They said, “Auditioning is nothing. We just need a paper with all of the notes hidden from the recruitment team and that is enough to pass”. My heart sank to the bottom of the deep wild ocean after those words reached my ear. I was rubbing my ear again to make sure that what I heard was not wrong. “The three students who were selected for the audition! Run as quick as possible to the two new sixth grade classrooms over there!,” my teacher announced with a strong voice with a pointing gesture towards the classroom.

 

The first round of audition, a step towards impact

 

Nimol, Jolie and I were walking towards the classroom that our teacher pointed to. I was sitting with a girl that I had never knew before. In that moment, I could hear student’s voices, “What is the purpose of the audition?” or “What is the prize if we win?” Besides those questions, I also heard some hope. “I am definitely going to pass this ordinary audition.” Those expressions from each student had transformed the classroom to a market on a Sunday morning. All of a sudden, there were two women who were walking into the noisy classroom, one with the school uniform and the other with a neat office suit. The shorter woman with the school uniform on started to introduce the audition with a strong and serious voice “Hello Students! We are the recruitment team from Liger Learning Center that is located in Takhmao. This audition is going to determine the students who are going to get a full scholarship as the second cohort of the school. This is the one and only chance for you all in your entire life. There won’t be another opportunity in the future so you all should try your best to pass this. If you pass this audition, you will get the corresponding of $16,000 as the prize.” Everybody gazed at the teacher with awe and enthusiasm to go through the audition. On the other hand, I could notice the two teachers who were looking at each other in the funny way. Another teacher laughed gently and looked back to the students with a serious look. “If you are selected to go to study at Liger, there will be a laptop that will be given to each of you and that is a rare opportunity for students your age!” the other teacher explained with great expressions at the end. “We have different sections of tests in this first round. If you finish the sections before the time runs out, you have to wait. Do not cheat to do the other sections unless the new time has been approved.” The two teachers passed out the printed paper of tests to each students. “One, two, three, Start your first section!” There were a lot of sections for us. I felt so satisfied with all of the tests, rules and the prize.The test was as hard as lifting an elephant. I could feel the pressure throughout the test. However, I was announced as one of the students that were going to continue to round two of the audition. The intense happiness and delight suddenly poured into my mind and soul. The thrill was so great like I’ve won a million dollar jackpot or get to travel in the time machine. “All of the students that need to go the next round needs to stay here for the second round. Please be prepared.” I ran to pick my equipment from the classroom and quickly continued running to the front gate. I told my mom that I was selected as one of the students to continue to the second round.

 

The Second round of the audition, another step upon the great dream

 

The second round was approaching and I was ready. During this second round of the audition, I was engaging in a lot of the activities that the recruitment team planned for us. In those activities, there was flipping the blanket with three other students, getting to know each other by gathering names and ages with timing, fixing the lamp’s electricity, etc. During the activity sections, each student was pulled out of the activity to do the two other types of tests. There was timed reading and answering some weird questions that I have never even imagined before. First, I was required to go and sit face to face with teacher Reaksmey who was the member of the recruitment team. She picked a pretty thick book for my reading and the name was “The Economy of Cambodia” She turned to some certain marked pages and handed the book to me. She started speaking without looking into my eyes, “You may start reading when I tell you to, do you understand? ” “Yes!” I replied readily.

I started reading as fast as I could because reading fast is also one of my natural aptitudes. After I finished reading, I was required to go into the similar situation with the new teacher. He looked just like an Indian man so my mom calls him Indian teacher until now. During his section, there were a lot of unusual questions that were asked to me. “If you had a chance to invite someone for dinner, who would that person be?” Teacher Bunthan asked with a curious look to express the desire to know my answer “poor people or orphans!” I quickly answered because my mind had been stuck with a poor classmate that I wanted to help desperately. The teacher continued to ask another question“If you have a chance to go to the space, will you go? ” “Yes, of course!” I replied. Science and astronomy have always been my favorite subject at school. Exploring and solving mysteries of astronomy and outer space is a desire to me. The most memorable question to me was “If you could invent something new, what will it be?” I felt like the ideas in my mind has popped out. I was speechless for a moment. Suddenly, an amazing idea from the scenario I was looking at gave me something to speak. One of the most busiest roads in Phnom Penh with a swirl of dust transforming the road into a dusty planet. “Vacuum cleaners on street to help absorb the dust!” I answered happily. After that, he continued asking me a lot more weird questions. After all of the thrills and complex sections of this round of the audition, parents of the students came to hear the results. One of the teacher from the recruitment started speaking “ Congrats to all of you who is still here on this second round. However, only a few students are chosen for the next round of the audition. Before I announce those students, I would like to say that all of the students has done a fabulous job in this round and don’t be upset if you are not going to the next round.” Teacher Reaksmey has called out a row of students to go up to the stage. Those moments, those seconds,my heart was bleeding. I clapped and cheered with a hopeless smile. Suddenly something fascinating reached my ear that could change my feeling like pouring frost on a hot burned heart “Angely!” my soul was suddenly filled with the intense delight.   

 

The third round of audition, the last step towards my bright future

 

The last round was doing a presentation for the Country Director, and two other staff from the school. I was required to interview villagers in my community to ask them about the problems that they are facing and prepare a presentation for the third round of audition at the school. My mom told me to respect the judges as much as I can. She even taught me the way to sit and speak with the judges.

Weeks passed and the time that I was given was over. The audition day came. I was in a closed room with three judges. I felt really different since my foot stepped into the room. I did not know any of them except a Cambodian teacher that I knew from the second round of Audition. The other two men were foreigners. I did not feel really comfortable talking to them but I tried my best to do the presentation. I carried my two posters that I had prepared from home to show the three judges. Teacher Bunthan which was the teacher that I knew from the second round of the audition helped me set up the poster. After I prepared the posters, the two men that I had never known before asked me some greeting questions. That made me feel less nervous about the audition. I started my presentation in Khmer and Teacher Bunthan translated it into English. After I finished my long presentation, the judges clapped and asked me to sit down to answer some more questions. I was comfortable talking with the judges as if they were my close friends. All of the things that my mom had told me like to sit real straight and to put your legs down (she means not crossed because it seems disrespectful to Cambodian culture). I behaved naturally and answered the questions that were translated from English to Khmer one by one. Each time that the judges heard my answer translated into English, they nodded and smiled which makes me so confident talking to them. At last, I was asked by a simple question in English which was: How many years have you been studying English? I understood what they wanted to ask me but my grammar was pretty bad. I was taught only the present and past tense at school and the question I got was another form of grammar that I have never heard before. I calculated the years and quickly answered, “I study English for three years.” I tried to answer the question the way they asked me in the similar ways my teacher has taught me. The judges told me to answer the question again in the correct form. With the help of Teacher Bunthan, I could be able to answer that tough English question by repeating his words. Finally, it was the end of the presentation time. I prepared all of the posters to leave. I waved goodbye to the foreign judges and said goodbye in Khmer for my Cambodian teacher. My parents said it was so long and they were worrying a lot. However, I felt the time was passing so fast. This was my first time being in a condition like this. After all of these complex tests, I was told as one of the students who will be given a full scholarship to study and the Liger Leadership Academy. That moment when I had been informed was so fabulous I can’t even put words to describe. 

The next door to my hopeful future

In the present, this fabulous memory of the audition has been recognized and valued. It is a turning point in my life because of many reasons. After I got selected, I came to study in Liger Leadership Academy which is a unique school compared to other schools all over the world. There are great opportunities to strengthen my learning including TEDx, MUN, volunteer hours with other organizations, etc. In addition, the learning program is so unique. What have been shaping me the most are what we called Core Values and Change Agent Characteristics. Those values and memories will fold my future self as I continue my journey of life.

 

Try your best and take different opportunities as they come because you will never know what the results are. 

 

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Mini Personal Narrative

A big part of literacy is writing; In our literacy class, we have read several personal narratives and discussed about it. Most personal narratives can be written or showed in many different forms including stories, poems and songs. Most of the narratives tend to describe a memorable moment, a meaningful part of our live or something that changes the way we become who we are. It is written about someone’s part of live specifically and not about a general idea.  I have written a mini personal narrative in a poem form which describes a memorable and meaningful memory I shared with my big family on my Grandma’s birthday.   

Angely
Teacher: Hannah
9/14/2018
Literacy

My Grandma’s Birthday

The moment of joy
The moment of true happiness
Beyond the heart can feel
Beyond the brain can know
The day of sunshine and delight
The day of which everyone in the family smiled
23rd of August, 2018
My most rejoicing memory
Which I will never forget.

When the sun has done its job
Rising up upon the roof
The long tent filled with crowded people
Joining my grandma’s ceremony

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