The new generation

Today's teenagers do not read as many books as a teenager even 10 or 20 years back used to. Why is it so? Is it because other forms of communication, learning and entertainment have taken over the ever popular "book" or is there some other reason? What do you think?

Other sources such as computer, cell-phone and television has replaced reading. Teenagers now spend a lot of time on the computer, chatting with friends online or going on the internet. Time is also spent on watching television shows, as well as text messaging. In Singapore context, teenagers nowadays prioritize studying, being "in" and getting the latest news and gossip instead of reading which most think of as a waste of time. Also, students' daily timetable are usually packed with activities such as school, tuition, other lessons, enrichment and co-curricular activities, so teenagers nowadays rarely find time to relax and do things they want to, like reading, hanging out and things like that. Even when they have the time off from school, numerous projects, assignments and homework have to be done during their so-called "leisure time", and teenagers would rather spend their time on the computer, television or cell-phone when they have the extra time off, because to them, those are their "leisure activities", to get in touch with their friends.

As technology is advancing at a rapid speed, reading is often replaced with similar activities such as listening to the radio and watching the news  broadcast on television instead of reading from the newspapers. But by hearing, or looking, we might not learn as we will by reading. As we read, we pick up unfamiliar words along the way. And knowing how to spell the unfamiliar words, we can check for it's meaning on the dictionary. But by hearing or watching, sometimes, pronunciations of the reporters or dee-jays might not be correct and when we hear an unknown word, it might not be convenient to check the meaning on the dictionary as well. Therefore, I think that reading is important and more effective for learning.

In my opinion, reading is still important to teenagers, even in today's context, and good reading habit should be emphasised. While many might think that reading is useless and a waste of time, reading is actually a meaningful activity that can expand our creativity and also, let us get in touch with not only our friends, but the world as well. Reading does not have to be the boring activity which many students dislike, but instead, reading can be fun too. By first choosing the books or reading materials you are interested in reading, we can then slowly learn to gain interest from reading all sorts of books, essays, and articles. Reading can also be fun when done in a group, or after reading the same article or book, friends can get together to discuss about the happenings and their feelings. Interesting activities can also be organised by the school to promote reading.

A Quote

I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. What do you get at the end of it? A Death. What's that, a bonus? I think the life cycle should be backwards. You should die first, get it out of the way. Then you live in an old age home. You get kicked out when you're too young, you get a gold watch and you go to work. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You do drugs, alcohol, you party, you get ready for high school. You go to primary school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities. You become a little baby, you go back into the womb, spend your last nine months floating... and you finish off as an orgasm. 
- George Carlin

The common mistake

All my life i have referred to myself as average, compared myself to the rest of the world, thought of myself as minor and have missed a lot of opportunities because of the fact that I kept on telling myself  'it's not possible'. Until recent, i discovered that as i was busy comparing myself to the rest was shunning the awesomeness in me. All of this time i have settled for less than I deserve, allowed judgement to rule my life. Now it's time I reclaimed the power invested in me. I am doing all of what i thought I could not do, chasing the negativity out of my life and opening room for positive things!|

Taking risks

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it but it is too low and we reach it"
Michelangelo

We need to take risks to achieve greater heights, sometimes being too careful is what hinders us to accomplish all that we need to. Being safe and cautious sometimes can be dangerous, by taking risks you might achieve even greater than anticipated.Safe is always a better option yet sometimes as an individual you have to break out of your shell. Safe is comfortable and being too comfortable for a person is never a good thing. Comfortable is for people who believe they have achieved all they could and they need nothing more. But, for someone who still needs that beautiful house and a car, a family and a good salary... Contentment is a no go area for you.

Take risks, explore, throw yourself under the bus, do all you can to help you become a better you.

Quote

‎"Artists are some of the most driven and courageous people on the face of the earth. They deal with more day to day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime. Every day, artists face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get ‘real’ jobs, and their own fear that they’ll never work again. 

Every day they have to ignore the possibility that the vision to which they have dedicated their lives is a pipedream. With every passing year, many of them watch as other people their age; achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - the car, the family, the house, the nest egg. But they stay true to their dream, in spite of the sacrifices. Why? Because artists are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - to that line, that laugh, that gesture, or that interpretation that will stir the audience’s soul. 

Artists are beings who have tasted life’s nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another’s heart. In that instant, they were as close to magic, God and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes.” - David Acker

Never give up!!!

We live in a world where inequality is a big issue... Inequality in status being the main factor. The clear distinction between the poor and the rich, race issue. Not all of us are blessed to have cars, live in mansions and all .. yet, if you can start appreciating your life with everyone and everything in it, that will do you good. If we were all the same then life would not be as interesting as it is. Appreciate your life with the little you have and you will never go wrong!!