Friday, August 27, 2010

What is Happiness?

Surfing the Internet on the same week I have broken up... I came across this article. The writer and I share the same of view of happiness. As he preferred, I want to share this to you too. I hope that you can find the true meaning of LOVE and HAPPINESS and would start to find ways to save falling relationships. 

Link to original site: 






Thursday, August 5, 2010

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. 

Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. 

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? 

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her! 

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. 

She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now. 

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. 

When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again. 



In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage. 

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. 

She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request. 

I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. 

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside 
the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office. 

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her. 

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. 



On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. 

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. 

Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. 

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day. 

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy. 

I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore. 

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. 

Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. 

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart. 


That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead. 
My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband.... 

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage! 

If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you. 

If you do, you just might save a marriage. 
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. 

A CHRIST-CENTERED MARRIAGE IS A MARRIAGE THAT IS SURE TO LAST A LIFETIME. 

So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. Matthew 19:6

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Tonight when the silence.....


Tonight when the silence is deafening, and the darkness overwhelming, I found myself hopelessly thinking of you. As the rain pours, I can’t help but wonder what you are up to. We’ve been apart for such a time that sometimes I think I don’t need you in my life any longer, but I was wrong. Just the other night when we had the rare chance to talk, I am so sure that even if it has slackened, the feeling is still there. At least a tick of it at that moment. The distance between us and the silence you uphold have made every conversation divine. It was then when I realized that I’m up for another trouble. I have never really wanted to think about it, but the possibility is so big, it’s so damn difficult to deny.

All through this time, you know how much I have looked up to you. You are at far, one of the most adorable persons I have ever met in my life, and you know that. No questions asked. Beyond this, however, I firmly believe we also deserve our own happiness. The past two years of silence and waiting have been too far to bear anymore. It is beyond my standard doing the things I have done for you. I have swallowed my pride, sometimes maybe even got ridiculed, but I never did care. Who are they anyway to judge me? There have been some supporting people around, and I always thank them for keeping the faith in the possibilities that we can work it out. I guessed I have done my part, countless times, now it’s about time to do your’s.


Every single moment I have the chance to look back to the quite colorful, unofficial past, I figured out that the freedom I have given, thinking you deserve to live your dreams is the very thing that took us apart. Not just by miles or oceans, but by hearts. If only you felt the pain I had that night we saw each other last, maybe you’ll realize it isn’t just as simple as you thought it was. It was you who started this in my life. When you expressed your feelings for me in front of our friends and colleagues, I never thought I would be much happier. It was you who introduce the colorful days filled with love and attention. It was you who taught me how painful goodbyes are, and how difficult are the “moving-ons”.

The changes you have made in my life are enormous. If given the chance to relive that period, I’ll still choose to have the moments we had together. I have never regretted meeting you, knowing you, getting closed to you, above all, loving you. You taught me the meaning of love other than the one I have been enjoying in my lifetime. You know how much I do.


Though it’s quite impossible for both of us to regain the emotions we once have shared, I always want you to be happy, to love, and be loved in return. Thanks for the sincerity you show in any given chance we have to talk. God knows how thankful I am having you on the other line- sounding unchanged.


Thanks for the love you had had for me. It will always be here in my heart- treasured and remembered. Yes, I have told you I love you, but that doesn’t mean I will spend this entire lifetime waiting for the uncertain feeling you may never have for me anymore. If this love is for us to share, then it will find its way back in time. For now, let’s explore the freedom we have, trying to find our own happiness. I love you ,be happy~~~^^ 

i’m still into you???!


It is perfectly fine if you should assume I’m still into you! That would never change anything in me, anyway. I just can’t help but wonder what made you think that way.
Oh yes, I care about the friendship for as much as I used to care about you, but it has ended there. That was history. When you get to talk with me as if nothing really happened was at first flattering but ultimately ended up a frustrating one. Now I think I have figured out the reason, and I felt sorry for making you think that way. I’m still concerned about you, but let’s not give another color to that. If I’m doing you small favors, don’t ever think it’s my way of saying I need you back coz it won’t happen. 
At times of hurting, I believe that wasn’t just the mistake of a single person. It was our mutual decision. I have hurt your feelings, but that is just as much as the pain you caused. You started something you can’t even stand firm for coz you’re afraid to take the risks and fight for it when needed. We both have suffered and we deserved it. Quite painful, yet there is nothing left to do but to be objective enough to know possibilities from impossible ones.

Who else would disagree with your claim you are quite good looking? Every single friend would likely give two thumbs up. But it isn’t what you think it is. Things never revolve around there. It is never the measurement of how I should have my choices; rather, it can be marked as bonus. It is never fair for you to think you can always comeback because you have the confidence I can’t get over you.. LOL! Again, it has long been over!


I know you are workaholic, but that doesn’t mean I would at all times understand that. I had been lenient about that flaw, but you have reached the limits of my patience. If you think women would surely be happy with all the material things men bring in exchange for their long absence, then take me differently. The things you can buy will never ever replace the time you could have devoted to me. Money can do the tricks of life, but I just can’t live like this. Your silence has been so long I didn’t realize you still exist.

shhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I just wish you’ll never say that again. That’s what exactly is going through my mind everytime we talk. I want to say it, but no such statements can be uttered. I have never been afraid to make decisions. I always value my views and weigh things up before doing something further just because I hate to have regrets. But with this, I don’t think I would go much senseless. I know it is wrong, but how can it feel so damn right?!

Depicting sturdiness is quite a justification for people to say things that will hurt me. I didn’t want to think of myself as a narrow minded individual but I always feel offended each time I hear disapproving things about you. How can they be so cruel to judge you? Or me? Us? I uphold peace of mind by paying no heed, but the rumors can hardly be taken that easy. My friends are frank with their concerns, but I know I can’t leave you behind. Why do you have to deserve the benefit of the doubt? Why am I so hooked up with you? Why is it so difficult to live every single day without thinking of you? I’m falling… I’m getting crazy…and I am aware but can’t help myself!

With all the fellows I have messed up and the feelings I have hurt, I guess this is karma. The harshest form there is. I have by no means thought of feeling this way to you… but how can you be so cruel being on my mind the first thing at daybreak and the last one as I doze off to dreamland. It would be hypocrisy to say you are not important. When I loved (and lost it), I wanted to be stupid to have the ultimate excuse doing the obviously nonsense things. That I can be understood just because I didn’t have the intellectual capacity to think. That I don’t know what’s wrong from right. That I am incapable of telling which can be done, and which remains impossible no matter how hard I try. I have always yearned to deny this, but now I realize I may mislead others, but I can never lie to myself.

The wall I was trying to maintain between us has blundered. I am in no way seeking for affection from others; I was always showered with it all my life. Despite this, you are the very person who made me feel absolutely loved. I can’t point the exact reason, but I’m certain it is your fault. You made me fall into you all at once, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to rescue myself. I am almost always satisfied with what I have, but I can never be contented without you being a part of my day.

Thank you for making me feel important. For being thoughtful and caring… for believing in me, sharing your dreams and ideals, above all, for the TIME.

I believe I am a pessimist but how can I be so upbeat when it comes to you? It’s quite a long, awful journey, and now I know what the real meaning of loving is- it is the ability to accept the most negative thing about someone. It doesn’t really matter what they say, after all, it will be us who will define our future together. Who are they to judge us when they don’t even know what true love is?

101: Photographs of the photo lovers

The photographers' turn.




Photograph:  a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.  ~Ambrose Bierce




It's weird that photographers spend years or even a whole lifetime, trying to capture moments that added together, don't even amount to a couple of hours.  ~James Lalropui Keivom




While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see.  ~Dorothea Lange


Perishability in a photograph is important in a picture.  If a photograph looks perishable we say, "Gee, I'm glad I have that moment."  ~John Loengard, "Pictures Under Discussion"



The world just does not fit conveniently into the format of a 35mm camera.  ~W. Eugene Smith
















Business Letter: starting up


A business letter has five main parts:

1. the heading
2. the date
3. the opening
4. the body
5. the closing.

Heading of a Business Letter

This is your name and address.
You can use your fancy letterhead or just type up your business name and address.
The letterhead address can be positioned anywhere on the top of the page: centred, left side or right side.
However, if you're typing the business address, it should be located in the top right-hand corner.

Date in a Business Letter
The date is very important, since it can be useful in determining priorities, for filing and it also can have legal ramifications.
In a typed address letter, the date goes immediately under your address.
In a letterhead letter, the date can go on the left-hand side, or the right-hand side, immediately under the letterhead.
Write101.com
32 MacDonnell Road
MARGATE BEACH 4019


1 January 2009
Note that the suburb name is in capitals and that there is NO punctuation in the address.
The method of writing the date shown here is the easiest and least likely to lead to confusion. It looks neat and is clear and concise.
Always write the name of the month; if you are dealing with overseas clients or markets, or even with people who were born overseas, you can run into all sorts of problems if you only use numbers:
11-3-09 could be 11 March 2009 OR 3 November 2009, depending on where you come from!

Opening of a Business Letter

This is the:
  • Name
  • title (if any Manager, Principal etc)
  • address of the person to whom you are writing and the greeting or salutation.
This information always goes on the left-hand side of the page, starting one line lower than your business name and address and the date.


1 January 2009

Mr Arthur Carp
General Manager
Country Publications Inc.
PO Box 123
SYDNEY 2003

Dear Mr. Carp:






Body of the Business Letter



This is like the message in your memo and it follows the same rules in that it should be:
  • clear
  • concise
  • courteous.
I know I've said that before (a couple of times) - it bears repeating.
The way you organise the body of your letter will depend on the reason for writing it 

Closing of a Business Letter

This includes the final words to your reader - the bit that tells him or her what action will follow or thanks him or her for any help given. It also includes the 'signing off' and name of the writer.
It is customary to sign off, 'Yours faithfully' if it is a formal business letter or if you don't know the name of the person; you sign 'Yours sincerely' when you do know the name of the person.
It is acceptable to use less formal closings - 'Kind regards', 'Regards'- if the whole tone of your letter has been the same, but don't end a very formal letter in this way.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample

Friday, August 20, 2010

Global Warming: Effects and what you can do

There has been news of global warming anywhere; ice caps melting, sea levels rising, islands slowly sinking, yet nobody seems to care exactly. When you look around, it is impossible not to spot piles of garbage. At the nearby river, plastic materials float from all directions. If ever these wastes get collected and brought to the dumping site, it will have a tormented fate- burnt.


It was only two years ago when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published the report on human contribution to climatic changes, but the predictions are gaining momentum, becoming a big, dreadful reality. If you live in Southeast Asia, then you probably agree you are having this kind of experience; the sun has never been this hot, for as much as storms weren’t exactly as strong as they are these days. As tragedies come one after the other, we get to ask ourselves, “Why do I need to experience the scourges of civilization?” We, on the other hand, may never have asked or even thought what our contributions were.


For the past decades, the weather pattern has been changing, becoming more unpredictable. You bring a jacket to work on a quite cloudy morning and eventually find yourself suffer from the scourging heat of the sun. The next day, you started the day with the mighty sun greeting you in the east, but found your way home totally drenched in the rain. These past few weeks, the Philippines have been hit by countless typhoons with strengths we never really imagined. In a matter of two weeks, three super storms pounded the islands, pouring more than a month’s average rainwater in three days. There have been massive floods in the north, destroying infrastructure, agriculture and other forms of livelihood. With much damage to account for, many had been left homeless and worst, bereaved. Those who are lucky enough to evacuate found themselves packed inside small school buildings or public gymnasiums where the risks of catching communicable diseases and other infectious illnesses are soaring high.


With the great Pacific Ocean, home of the world’s strongest storms, being affected by climate change, we can’t help but wonder what’s next. For countries in Southeast Asia, gifted with great landscapes and rich natural resources, changes in weather patterns mean having their minerals from soil rapidly being washed off to the seas. People from all walks of life feared the consequences. With major rice fields destroyed, we are facing the threat of food shortage, and thus, possible periods of hunger for those who can’t afford the high costs of produce.


Many believe using cars or having factories are just some of the main reasons for the earth’s fate. We build, innovate and use things for our absolute conveniences. People do have the power to make a change, and somehow for the better. There is no silver bullet to stop the earth from warming. One international research once said that even if we stop our C02 emissions, it would take about thirty years to reduce it from the atmosphere. The best things we did these days? In major department stores, it is encourage that we take our recycled plastic bags on a certain day of the week. Communities are also in the move toward proper garbage disposal through segregation. Universities had “car free” days, and students are out for the campaign against burning of garbage at home. Little steps, but it does help. What about you, what have you done so far?

Monday, August 16, 2010

Out to Chase a Dream: Out of the comfort zone

People are almost always scared of getting out of their comfort zone. Who would ever choose something they’re unfamiliar with? According to an article, “Escaping Your Comfort Zone”, it’s a basic psychology that we feel scared because when we venture out, we feel anxious. Staying in our comfort zone, however, may prevent us from pursuing our dreams or living the life we want when it doesn’t have to. For me, the simple process of knowing what I want, writing down the things I want to achieve, and having the courage to stick with it makes a difference.


I know what I want. On my first day as a teacher of English as a Second Language, I had a plan in mind: learn everything I can. The time limit? Five years. It did give me great experiences; meeting people of different personalities, getting along with foreign students, even having the opportunity to learn a little of Hangul. It also paved way to more leadership roles and of course, high payment. I was on the peak of my teaching stint when I heard the deadline clock. It was not easy, but taking a step towards my life plan is something I couldn’t ignore.


I recorded what I want to do in a week, in a month, in a year, and even in five years. I was having a dilemma. When I checked my list of to-dos, I had the confirmation of having accomplished my five-year plan. Perhaps it was time to leave. For me, the concept of having a job for life is outdated. Shifting careers is not just a way of taking chances, it also means broadening experiences. It was strengthened when I read an article that says, “Changing jobs gives you a broader base of experience: After about three years, you've learned most of what you're going to know about how to do your job. Therefore, over a ten year period, you gain more experience from "three times 90 percent" than "one times 100 percent." 


Sticking with my plan of becoming a professor, I left the job I was comfortable with. I started to contact some old colleagues for flex-time schedules that will enable me to job hunt for day jobs. Luckily, I got what I wanted. Now, I don’t have to compromise a responsibility for my personal preferences. I never did regret doing it. I may not have much income I used to enjoy, but I am deeply satisfied that I was on my way to realizing my dreams. “You should always be sure your new job offers you the means to satisfy your values. While there's no denying the strategic virtues of selective job changing for the purpose of career leverage, you want to make sure the path you take will lead you where you really want to go.” 


Now, I get to keep my list and am very eager to follow it. Job security is such a good thing, but being constantly afraid to take new steps is a lot more risky. When you refuse to get out of the comfort zone, you can never realize your capability. This may sound easy but I have learned that taking things down on paper can be of great help when you are in doubt or indecisive. We need to choose which path to take as there are countless of them in our lifetime. When caught in the middle of making big decisions, having a plan might just help you out. If you already have a list, then all you need is the courage to work it out.

Slippers for a Dream: Is poverty a dead end?

“What are you looking at? Give me some money", he demanded. This is perhaps one of the most unforgettable statements I have ever heard. It would never make sense unless you realize it was from someone you would view as an innocent, pathetic child living on the streets downtown. He had dirt on his face, his clothes stinks as it was soaked in an unidentifiable combination of wastes, his entire palm covered with grime, and wearing not even the simplest form of slippers possible. When I looked at his face, all I can see were his fierce eyes that never seem to know fear. I was so terrified for when I looked around, there are a dozen more approaching. As every eye nailed to us, all I did was fish my pocket for some coins, and without thinking much, handed him the money.


It happened nine years ago. We were on a hunt for street children photos for our freshman class in journalism. Heading home for a quite unsuccessful day, we saw a child sitting against the concrete pillar of a mall. I was awakened with great enthusiasm that I quickly snapped the camera from a teammate and had a perfect angle of him. It was past nine in the evening when the dim area saw sudden flickers from the automatic flash. The next seconds, we were surrounded by a group of teens looking so delighted to have a late catch. I was having dreadful imaginations at that moment. These are junior criminals; future snatchers, robbers, kidnappers, all sorts of people I could think of. Some delinquents would resort to violence trying to cash in for some valuables. Fortunately, few loose changes from the five of us made a deal. Few seconds of silence had passed, and I finally gathered courage to ask the child, “Where are your slippers?” Hearing this, one of them said, sarcastically, “He doesn’t have any, will you buy for him?”


The museum ground was peaceful that Sunday. We waited for “Eddie” (the name we gave him) to surface as to the other night’s agreement. He arrived some time later with two others who we eventually discovered to be his younger siblings. We gave him the slippers and felt happy seeing the smile on his face. He didn’t look as grim as he was last night, and his appearance gave a hint- this boy has a home, but why was he on the street asking for money?


As the talk prospered, we discovered that they were abandoned by their mother. Their father was imprisoned for drug cases, and they had never heard of him for years. Eddie was eleven, but had only been to the second grade. The only thing he can read and write with confidence was his name and some words in our dialect. Worse, with no one to oversee them, the younger siblings never saw the walls of a formal classroom. Living with other families under the bridge, they were lucky to have a serving of rice a day to share among themselves. At most times, he has to beg at the nearby mall with other children to help his aging grandmother who seldom comes home with enough money from scavenging. The day ended with my heart feeling heavy.


Eddie’s story was a hit in class. After the presentation, I was approached by my professor if I should be willing to volunteer for the university community program. I didn’t have second thoughts. The next weekends of the entire academic year was spent teaching poor children in the neighboring island. Doing this, I was thinking I had helped lessen the possibility of having more Eddies. What can a poor college freshman do, anyway? It was such a rewarding experience, but my desire to make a name for myself in the media had seized me. Towards the end of that year, I volunteered for a local radio station, and eventually lost the time for my school volunteer program.


Radio had opened more doors for me, and I eventually grabbed every great opportunity that came along. It was more than I expected. I had had a taste of the limelight, and I had in some moments thought never to cease being in it. The story of the boy, however, never kept me astray. One day, while on the way to an interview appointment for my newspaper article, I happened to pass by the museum and spotted a familiar face. It was almost two years, but how can I ever forget Eddie? He was sitting on the bench checking the area, probably getting ready for the entire day to beg. There was a flashback; a story of painful childhood that pleased the entire class. His tale put the group on the top of the presentation. I was sleepless that night.


I didn’t let my little glories bar my intention, so I decided to be in a juggling challenge. I returned to my school volunteer program, and in my senior year landed an assignment in the city. Our group was tasked to provide weekly lectures on children’s rights and responsibilities to both community teens and their parents. The year was spent on community education and thus helping the establishment of two children’s groups in both communities I worked with. The days with the media, on the other hand, was spent in voter’s education program.


After I graduated from my mass communication degree, I realized that I was unhappy with the life in the press. That limelight isn’t exactly where I want my life to be. I had done a couple of documentaries about street children, and I was deeply inspired by the stories of those who chose to keep their lives on track despite their experiences. Unfortunately, since I didn’t have the finances, I couldn’t devote time to volunteer. Working with groups outside educational institutions could mean spending my own money. I decided to work in a language school, and struggled to earn my units in education. Now as a licensed teacher, it breaks my heart to realize I am teaching foreigners, but can’t even do that favor to the youth in my city. This feeling was made even stronger when our school had a community outreach program at an orphanage lately. When I saw the children’s happy faces, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Eddie’s words, his face, gestures, and his source of happiness. All through the program, I had constant thoughts; did he survive the challenges of his life? Is he still on the streets? How could I ever forget the boy who taught me what love-for-the-job means?


In a society where education is viewed as a privilege rather than a right, and a prospective commercial activity rather than service to the young, I would love to be an educator for the less privileged. Poverty, negligence, and other social ills can keep them out of schools, but bringing education to them has always been my dream. Learning doesn’t always have to be in an air-conditioned room. At some point, having the heart to educate is well enough to make a difference. I would never want my children to meet just another Eddie; neglected, hopeless, but never had a helping hand.