How have I as a HCI student touched the lives of others?

The teachers have called us the top batch of student leaders; the future leaders of Singapore and the gentlemen of the younger generation. But what have we done as these people to touch the lives of people around us?

As students of Hwa Chong, we have to live up to our expectations. We encounter different people and people of different cultures too, but what have I done to make a difference? In my opinion, i have first and fore-mostly touched my friends. Although I am not a loud person with a commanding leadership tone, i show concern and care towards them and am always free to discuss things. My friends develop a trust in me, and I can help them by giving them support and assistance. Therefore, I think that I have touched my friends' lives.

Furthermore, I think i have touched my family's lives. I have learnt to respect them more, and to always speak to them without raising my voice. People look to Hwa Chong students as people who are leaders, no matter in what way. I believe i have helped my family in various way, being a strong older brother to my sister and also a obedient son to my parents.

Students in Hwa Chong are given many opportunities to interact with students outside of school, so through different exchange programs and seminars, i believe that Hwa Chong students can truly show everyone that HCI students can touch people's lives.

Rupert Murdoch Scandal

The recent Rupert Murdoch Scandal has caused a huge buzz in Britain, but some people may still be wondering, what is the whole scandal about? What is so new about phone-hacking? Who is Rupert Murdoch?

Rupert Murdoch's news empire was an all out search team to find the latest and hottest news, and bring it to the public. Celebrities and politicians's phones were constantly hacked in order to allow the public to enjoy entertainment. However, this has now backfired on the public themselves. Now even phones of dead soldiers and murder victims had been hacked, causing the British people to revolt against such things.

In the past, the civilians were only thought about the latest news and buzz the celebrities and politicians were doing, but ever since they found out the Rupert Murdoch's company had been secretly hacking civilian's phones, the public has been outraged with him and have lodged numerous protests. Why is it that only when their own privacy has been affected that the people start to retaliate? It is not true that politicians and celebrities have no right to privacy. The biggest problem with the public is that they only care for their well-being.

Rupert Murdoch is a very influential person. With his control of the media, almost everyone has to kowtow to him in order not to get into trouble one way or another. In the initial stage of the trial, he was confident that he would be safe throughout the trial. Only in the later stages did he realize his mistakes and the risk he was taking, and apologized to the public.

In conclusion, the scandal occured because of different people's faults: the public, rupert murdoch and maybe even politicians and celebrities. We should take this opportunity to learn from our mistakes and not be so self-scented.

Arranged Marriage vs True Love

Arranged marriages to many, have been a thing of the past, a tradition or culture that was carried out. However most people tend to think that these are all but a thing of the past, and that the modern world no longer carries out this practice. This is totally false. The truth is that arranged marriages are still very prevalent in some countries like India, Japan and China, the large majority being in India.

Arranged marriages are very different from true love, as arranged marriages are more of a exchange between two families for the family's benefit, and not for the two people getting married. These marriages are usually conducted without the two people even meeting together for the first time, while in true love marriages, a strong bond between the two people is formed before they get married. Some arranged marriages are also carried out because the parents do not believe that their child is not ready to make such a decision, and that the parents are the ones who know best. These parents think about the physical consequences, and not about the child's love, and thus arrange marriages to ensure that their son or daughter in-law is what they want them to be.

In my opinion, i would not want to go through an arranged marriage as i think that everyone has a right to choose who they want to spend their lives with for the rest of their lives. Although it is true that parents have much more experience than the younger generation, ultimately it is the youth that are gonna spend their lives with their partner, and if the children do not have a chance to be with the one they really love could cause a lot of conflict. Love is feeling shared by two intimate people, and it is impossible to force someone to love another. Parents may think they know best, but in some cases, children have to be given a choice to choose who is most suitable for them, whether or not it will work out in the end. The younger generations should follow what their heart tells them and not be afraid to speak out for their love. Therefore, i think that i would rather make my own choice on marriage than allow my parents to help me to choose.

Parents should believe in their children, and trust that they make the right decision, and not keep making the decision for them. Therefore, i believe true love should triumph over arranged marriages.

Shylock: Villain or Victim?

There has been much debate about whether Shylock i trying to be portrayed as a victim or as a villain. In the play, he is described as ruthless and bloodthirsty, but also as a victim of prejudice behavior and suppression.

As a villain, he is depicted as a money-hungry fool who does not care for his own daughter, but instead the money that she stole. Shylock's cruelty towards Antonio in blatantly shown in that he constantly wants the pound of Antonio's flesh, nothing else. Despite the judge's(Portia) offers to pardon Antonio, Shylock constantly persisted, and ended up losing everything. He was asked three times to give up wanting Antonio's flesh, but three times he refused. This showed his intent to kill Antonio to the most severe extent, and described Shylock as a cold, greedy and revengeful person.

However, Shylock was also a victim in the play. Throughout the course of the entire play, Shylock was constantly mocked and called a "cut-throat dog" and "misbeliever", and was looked down upon by the Christians like Antonio. Antonio strongly opposed Shylock's means of earning a living by lending money with interest, and despised him for it too. However, Antonio did not see that Shylock's only way of earning himself a living was through money-lending because Venice at the time was strongly prejudice against the Jews. Almost everyone in the play, from Antonio to the Duke, mocked him and spit on his religion, despising his beliefs over Christianity. To make matters worse, his own daughter eloped with one of those that hated him. How much more suffering could Shylock take? During the trial, Shylock was overcome by revenge for what the entire Christian community had done to him, and in the end lost everything he had. The judge(Portia) made it even so that all his possesions were to go to those he had been trying to persecute, the people who he had hated to the core. His religion was converted to that of the people he had hated his whole life, causing Shylock to become one of them.

In conclusion, Shylock despite being villainous in some ways, was portrayed as a victim of prejudism.

Great moments are born from great opportunity.

And that's what you have here tonight, boys.

That's what you've earned here, tonight.

One game.

If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with 'em.

Tonight, we stay with 'em, and we shut them down because we can!

Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world.

You were born to be hockey players -- every one of ya.

And you were meant to be here tonight.

This is your time.

Their time -- is done. It's over.

I'm sick and tired of hearin' about what a great hockey team the Soviets have.

This is your time!!

Screw 'em!

Now go out there and take it!