November 7

The desire to help

 


Visual Reflection: Creative

It’s been a year since my last exposition with UNICEF;my last experience with this group was amazing making such a large impact for such a small village in Syria. That mission was prioritized on the reconstruction of a school after recent attacks in that area. I was delighted to be able to help the families and children by bringing education back in to their lives. The basis to help people in need has been a goal of mine since the beginning. With that mission done I headed to the Philippines where I was able to face the problem first hand.  

 

The emphasis that the work being done by UNICEF can not be ignored. The impact that theses types of organization have on others can not be underestimated. With other individuals trying to correct another society’s ways and make it possible for their citizens to get an equal chance at a similar lifestyle close to these so called privileged countries. It should be pursued despite any circumstances for equality.

 

 The life that I have was not given to me; there were rough times that my family had to endure. With my trips all over the world I have seen the difficulties that these people face, I hear about individuals not receiving the small privileges that we take for granted, I haven’t seen first hand of the parallel of the difficulties between these countries is crisis. While I was in Syria I had only seen the remains of where the school was after the attacks not during. It was said it was a different atmosphere when faced with the issue and experience the horror that these people face. 

 

With the trip to the Philippines I had experienced that atmosphere first hand. I was told the objective of our work was said to build a bridge. I was one of the first to be sent there and assess the problem. With the team that was there we had begun our journey. We were directed to a river at the edge of two villages. As we arrived there had been a sight that I can not get out of mind. On the river there was an inflatable with three children on it trying to cross the river from the village to get to school. The atmosphere had changed at that moment for me, I was shocked by the predicament they faced. The problem of getting to school. As they reached the shore I was relieved to see that the children were safe. It was said that this has been an issue for a long period of time. The constant risk that these children take to get to school in clean clothes despite their lives only being held by an inflatable raft. This is a hardship that they face on a daily basis. I can’t compare because of how lucky I am to be able to grow up privileged and only having to take the bus to school, where they have to walk a tightrope. The drive that they possess so that can have a chance at a better life empowers me to ensure their safety and that they are able to get to school with a healthy mind and no worry of crossing a river. This made me think of the horror that my parents had faced when they decided to head to Canada. They had sacrificed their homes and their lives in India to try and give a better chance for their children in a better life. 

 

With this one experience I understood how these kids were able to cross the river, they had a goal that they desired and there was an obstacle that stopped them, but their will to succeed is greater than the threat, which motivates them to continue. The experience of this journey has motivated me to improve the lives of those who are in need so that they can reach their goal.

Category: Amrit, Sept 2019 | 2 Comments on The desire to help
October 31

“Why is it that the people who need the most help refuse to take it” -Jessie Burns ” A River Runs Through It”

There are times that a person faces obstacles in their life, they can ask for help but choose not to because of high ego’s or even the restrictions they have on themselves. The problem can be serious but they will not ask for help even though it might result them in failing or not even getting through that obstacle.

Since our childhood our society has thought us that you need to be strong, independent and not to take help unless you are in a position where you are stuck and have no other option but to ask. This causes people to get a fear built up inside of them due to them not wanting to look weak, to lack being independent. If we develop such beliefs that we cannot look weak or our pride takes over, this will cause more damage to in the future because its like a sickness if its not treated on time it will slowly affect the individual more. But one of the biggest reason of why people don’t seek help is because of the belief that we can solve all our problem ourselves or we are scared of people judging us and criticizing us.

Growing up and becoming more independent is how life is supposed to be. I’ve felt that I’ve connected to this topic due to the fact that I wasn’t the most independent person until grade 7. I used to get my mom to help me with homework and projects and she constantly told me that I needed to start being more independent because she couldn’t help me when I got to high school. I started doing better in school when I became more independent and it made me feel good and I was always thinking that I was a smart kid. In grade 11 I started to struggle in Chemistry and I wasn’t asking for help and it affected my marks. I was to scared to ask for help and tried to solve my problem myself but it wasn’t working, and I finally realized that I would need to change my attitude if I wanted to succeed in my goal of doing good in chemistry. I decided to ask more questions in class and stayed after school a couple of days and got extra help and that showed a positive impact on my marks and it helped me succeed in my goal.

 

“Fear Kills More Dreams Than Failure Will Ever” -Unknown

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-10-team-brain-region-suppresses.html

 

Category: Razal, Uncategorized | 5 Comments on “Why is it that the people who need the most help refuse to take it” -Jessie Burns ” A River Runs Through It”
October 31

I Got You – Brothers Keeper

Teens nowadays seem to look at their siblings as an inconvenience to their lives because they have to be their guardian. In the film, A River Runs Through It, this kind of relationship of brother’s keeper is seen through Neal and Jessie. The younger sister, Jessie, wants to protect her older brother, Neal, however, Neal resists her assistance. I acknowledge the fact that I too have the same trouble with my brother, Ethan, who is unwilling to accept any help. Sometimes no matter how hard one sibling tries to help another, assistance is refused by fear of being perceived as weak.

The relationship the film creates between Neal and Jessie is a bond created from their past. Their closeness is not negatively affected by physical distance but by Neals desire to distance his emotions away from his sister. Though Neal intends for Jessie to not be concerned about him, it does the exact opposite and makes her want to understand and support him in through what he is struggling with. Jessie tries to get Norman to figure out and help Neal but it goes poorly as Neal arrives late and hungover with Old Rawhide to morning fishing with Paul and Norman. Jessie states after the failed attempt to help Neal, “Why do people who need the most help won’t take it.”  This quote shows how help is not always accepted by the people we think need to help. Without out the person with the problem realizing themselves that they need help, there is nothing a family member or friend can do to actually change that person problem.

I have never had a good recollection of my childhood but what I do remember, it involves my brother. I decided he was my best friend before he could even say my name. Since then I have continuously used him as a safety net in my stressful life. He was always there for me to not always talk but to even just sit and make sure I was not alone. I wanted to do this same thing for him as he grew up with the pressures of hockey teammates and academics but he seemed to just push me away as if I were one of the problems. I could tell he wanted to be seen as the strong one in the family who could face trials and easily brush them off but I knew that he really had been bottling up all the emotions to save me and my parents from having to worry. Without my brother realizing my constant persistence is to only try to ease some of his pain I can never truly help him. His ignorance of my help is frustrating to deal with but I do not think I could ever think of my brother as an trouble in my life because of everything he has done for me so no matter his defiance I know I will always be his favourite sister. 

Category: Adelle | 2 Comments on I Got You – Brothers Keeper
October 29

Pride Can Kill

Prompt: “Why is it the people who need the most help won’t take it.”

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj95rHxvKzeAhXaHDQIHX-7AUgQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsciencebasedmedicine.org%2Funfalsifiable-beliefs%2F&psig=AOvVaw2AqDSJWBNlKJIXIkPqq6P6&ust=1540930828506304

Pride. Pride blinds an individuals ability to see the situation they currently are in. An individuals may feel like they have to prove themselves to others and show that they are strong and capable enough to handle it on their own, when clearly others can see the struggle. Letting pride and ones ego blind them will their ability to make the choices that will actually benefit them in the future. Sometimes asking for help with pushing the rock up the mountain is better then letting it back down even though it shows help was needed it is better then letting others see that pride will block the ability to succeed.

In my life, I have experienced countless situations when an individual refuses to ask for help because they believe pride and ego is more important then the outcome of the situation. When I was in Disneyland, my family was walking back, it was about 12 pm and we saw someone crawling in the bushes. Lying there was a man so drunk he couldn’t locate his own shoes. Seeing this my dad went over to him and offered to help him back to his room in the hotel. Considering his options the man refused the help my dad offered but his words were slurred and his head was barely staying up. Thus seeing this my dad saw the situation he was in and asked for his room number in case the man passed out, which later he did. This action demonstrated that the man was slowly starting to realize the danger his actions could cause and even though he refused to ask for help, he would take it if he couldn’t make the choice for himself. Helping the man to the room was not his choice, and he was passed out before he arrived at the room. Pride. The pride that this man possessed blocked his mental state from making the choice he needed most and him passing out and losing the ability to fight his pride ended up saving his life. This man was letting his pride blind him of the help he needed and could have potentially lost his life that night. Experiencing this made me understand the power asking for help had on an individual. It also taught me that if I want to overcome a challenge I may need to sacrifice something that I have worked hard to develop. Having had that experience and the effects the outcome could have had it showed me that my pride can always be rebuilt but it is hard to rebuild yourself after physical harm is done.

http://municipalmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Mentor.png

Pride is a powerful trait that can be used in beneficial way, but has the potential to been the bane of some individuals. Individuals refuse help because they believe it will make them appear weak but only a strong individual will sacrifice their pride in order to get past a challenge they are currently facing. Once an individual realizes that pride can always be rebuilt and reclaimed, they will make a smarter choice and see the potential danger in their situation.

“It’s okay to lose your pride over someone you love. Don’t lose someone you love over your pride.”

Unknown

Category: Brayden, Sept 2018 | 1 Comment on Pride Can Kill
October 29

Why Is It That The People Who need the Most Help Won’t Take It

Image result for helping hand animationIndividuals are often afraid or stubborn when comes down to asking for help. They refuse to accept the hand that others are extending to them as possess no the desire to change within themselves. They often don’t see a problem in their way of life and they don’t want others to point out their flaws for them.

 

An example of this in the film “A River Runs Through It” as Paul often refuses to accept the help that Norman and his parents provide for him. We often see him shaking off his troubles while acting like nothing happened afterwords. Although he does not accept help of others, their actions still influence him as he does not become the worst he can possibly be. He sees the worst of what he could have become through Neal who is the extreme version of Paul as he is a fame seeker, braggart, liquor lover, and flirt. He is still thankful of the effort that his family puts in for him to help him in comparison to Noel’s family.

 

I can sometimes relate to this as I can be resistant to asking for help depending on the situation. If the situation is bad I would ask for help but if it isn’t,  I would try to handle it on my own. An example of this would be when if I’m studying for tests. If I don’t get the concept of what I’m learning I would ask my teacher, but if I am just having problems with some minor issues such as missing having gaps in my knowledge I would deal with it myself.

 

I believe that individuals more often than not choose not to get help as they believe that they would fare better without others interfering in there matters. I believe that we sometimes fail to recognize that we need help or that someone is extending their hand because we look like we need help.

 

 

 

 

Category: Talha | LEAVE A COMMENT
January 14

I still wonder….. (Free Choice)

Dear Diary,

It was a dark sunny day today. I was trying to cross a double road on a highway. Yeah, I know what you are thinking, it has been just been a few weeks since I came back to India and I’m already breaking all the rules but I was in a hurry to help the man with a young child across the road, who was about one year younger than Sparsh I believe, who just turned 5 in October. It took me approximately ten minutes to reach the opposite side because it was a highway and rush hour, so everyone was trying to get home to their families.I guess it was then that it hit me what a cruel world we live in. About a 100 cars should have passed from the time I noticed those two people and no one even tried to help them. Who knows how many hours, days or weeks, they had been sitting there. I had some snacks in one hand and water bottles in the other hand.

I gave it to that man as soon as I got through the traffic I will never forget the smile on that man’s face. He thanked me and told me I would live a beautiful life. There was only one question in my mind all the way back home, Why didn’t anyone just stop and help that man? Why is everyone so wound up in their own worlds and are so selfish that they couldn’t even spend 30 rupees on some snacks and water bottles. If nothing, they would have made them smile and gained well-wishes of an innocent man and his child. It broke my heart when I saw that young boy, he didn’t deserve that life.

When I finally reached home my grandma could see I was in despair and agony, I went straight to my room and laid down on my back just thinking. She came in with my lunch and asked me everything was okay, I told asked her the same question that was on my mind. Why didn’t anyone stop to help that man? She had no answer for that either. She said, “My father always used to tell me a story that his mom told him.” “Do you remember everytime we go to our village and I see people outside the temple and I offer them everything I have in my hand and in my purse.” I said, “yeah, you did that when I was young, even though we didn’t have enough to eat back home, you would never say no to those in need.” She then told me the reason behind it, “If that man in the uniform who was fighting against us, protecting his country had not given my granddad the water bottle I can’t image how he would have survived in that hell hole.”

At that time my dad was only 2 or 3 years old, I can’t remember now but my grandfather told me when we got the water bottle from the man in that uniform, my granddad respected him more than he ever respected anyone. Because that man in that uniform was the only one who saw my dad as a human in need and not as the enemy. Many men walked by without acknowledging them but he stopped and offered them the bottle of water. It wasn´t a lot but it was more than enough. My dad also told me that the water wasn’t for himself or for mom it was for the children that were with him. “Genes I guess.” They weren’t his own but he saw that they were in need and didn’t think twice about it and offered it to those children.

Everytime I heard this story from my dad it would compel me to help more and more people. I had never seen my grandma in tears in a long time. That was first when she was talking about her granddad. As she looked up at me, she could see I had tears running down both my eyes, I still remember those soft fragile hands that wiped my tears and said “Look Chinni, (my nickname) we can’t control how other people handle things and how they react to it, maybe there are helping in other ways, ways we are not aware of. Only thing is that we can’t control anything. It is how we react when we see someone in need that’s what really matters. “Are you gonna be the soldier who offered my granddad water bottle or are you going to be those who didn’t acknowledge they were there.”

She looked up at me and as she wiped her own tears and said to me “I am proud of you Suhaani for helping that man and his child out in ways you could. Now come on eat something.” As my grandma was feeding me, I thought about how absolutely lucky I was to have a meal 3 times a day and have water whenever I needed and that man and his child- no one cared how long it had been since they had their last meal or even seen a meal in days.

I went back again after eating my lunch to take them to a decent place and buy them a meal. But by the time I reached, they were gone… That young child had done nothing wrong to be living that way. I may never seem them again but all I hope is that the young boy gets everything in this world everything he deserves and wants.

Category: Sept 2017, Suhaani, Uncategorized | 1 Comment on I still wonder….. (Free Choice)
September 27

Dear Diary,

Visual Link.

Jan 2014 Visual Diagnostic (1)-p81j0l

Dear Diary,

Today was like any other day. I got back from school, finished my work, spent some quality time with my family, and took Marshall out for a walk, and, my god, did he enjoy that. By the time I reached home, my stomach started growling, I was famished, finished my dinner and then I went to my room upstairs. I could hear my mom yelling at my younger brother to just sit down in one place and finish his dinner. I understand that she must be tired of working, well, it is hard to get adjusted to a new environment. She started working again, just a couple of weeks ago. I bet she really misses her vacation now, considering how much she was complaining about how much she misses work. I finished all my school work. I lay on my bed, as I go through my Facebook feed I saw this absolutely heartbreaking story that moved me and changed my mindset about the world we live in. I wonder what has happened to the humanity in this world. I had no idea people could be so cruel.

This is not how I expected it to end. The world must be in a state of shock after hearing about this event in South Korea. We are all well aware about North Korea’s recent experiment with their missile “testing”, more like proposing World War III. For many, it may come across as a shock to hear a missile launching on South Korea this afternoon. I skipped the video because this dreadful picture caught my attention.

In this picture, there are two young boys who don’t look more than eight years old. They look terrified and confused about the current situation. It seems like one of them is running towards this man leaning towards the wall. It seems like the man is holding a gun, maybe for protection. There are no adults present, which indicates they have decease due to the missile launch. It could also mean that parents or guardians were not present during the time of the attack. Looking at the condition of this place it seems like the survivors have had nothing to drink or eat in days. They have been left to starve without any support or help from anyone. I have a five-year-old brother, and he starts crying if he wakes up in the morning and doesn’t find my mom beside him. I patiently let him know it’s okay, and that mom had just gone downstairs. And now these children in South Korea have no idea what is happening to their country and they don’t have anyone to give them the courage and tell them that it is going to be alright. I cannot even begin to imagine how they must be feeling not have any guidance or support from elders.

The surprising factor I read on the same page was that North Korea is claiming that they had nothing to do with the loss or suffering of South Korea and their citizens. They have also offered to help South Korea with anything they need at this devastating time. Now the real concern is who is responsible for the state South Korea is in right now. All my prayers are with the families and children who lost their loved ones.

Good night, Diary

 

Category: Sept 2017, Suhaani | 2 Comments on Dear Diary,
September 16

Muskaan- Powerful Philosophies

Live each second

 We all have one life. One chance to do whatever we desire. To strive for our goals and achieve success. Every moment should be captured. You never know when you might die. You might die in one second from now. Live every moment like it is your last. When one moment is gone, it is not going to come back. Ever. Life is a journey with failures and successes. Although life may not give you the opportunities you are looking for at times, there is always a way to pass that hardship and still be happy with life. Live every moment and shine your individual personality every moment that you get.

Trust is important in every relationship

I believe trust is the basis of every relationship. Trust is what makes every relationship unique. Trust is what is the initial step that has to be taken in order for anything to occur before that. If there is no trust in a relationship, the relationship is either never going to begin or is coming to a stop. In my opinion, trust is a symbol of love, reliability, honesty, and teamwork.

Love is a strong word that emphasizes the word trust in every letter. Love is an essential element in every relationship and it ties hand in hand with trust. The ability to feel comfortable around someone and always show your true self is an element of trust.Two people need to be working together in order for trust to be there.

 Seek help when needed

Always ask for help when you need it. Although you may feel strong and independent it is always important to ask for help at times when you need it.

When I was in grade 6, I got bullied in school because I was the new kid that everyone wanted to pick on. I got pushed around, called names, and get small things like my rubber band stolen. It was a rough time for me since I was not comfortable with the new school environment. I asked for help from my parents and teachers. The help had led me to where I am today. It has made me strong, bold, and independent.

From that experience I learned that the people surrounding you are always there to help whenever you need it. you can always reach out and grab their hand in any circumstance that arises. Have the power to stand up for yourself.

Everything is possible

A belief is all it takes. A belief that everything that you encounter in life can be accomplished through hard work and dedication. During times of stress, some situations may appear harder than they actually are. You have the power to overpower the obstacles. There is always a solution to every problem. If there is no solution, there probably was not problem in the first place. Working hard through the situations that may seem impossible has the best results at the end.

The ladder to success may be a hard path

Success is a journey that takes its own route. It brings many bumps along the way that teach you things about yourself. The definition of success is different for everyone. It may be working your dream job or making your parents happy. I believe that whatever you wish to achieve can be obtained. Putting in the work and effort to gain success will certainly lead to success as the end result.

 

Images:

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E3mYPxQHe1A/hqdefault.jpg

http://theunboundedspirit.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/04/enjoying-life.jpg

https://danielehenkel.com/wpcontent/uploads/2016/05/confiance1.jpg

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2014-10-23shutterstock_2214752412-thumb.jpg

http://globaltraining.edu.au/global_training_institute/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Success-Ladder.jpg

 

Category: Muskaan, Sept 2017 | 14 Comments on Muskaan- Powerful Philosophies
October 19

Keys to success

As I reminisce about the various times that I have been in need of help, but have not taken it one particular story comes to mind for me. It was the beginning of grade 11 that I faced one of the biggest academic challenges of my life to date. I began Math 20-1, class not expecting too much from the class, as I sat there waiting for class to begin. It hit me like a ton of bricks. From the first day in that class I was lost, later that day at home I sat there questioning myself. Am I ready for this year? Will I be able to succeed with my work ethic? Turns out this would be one of the many times where I needed help, but decided not to take it.

Although I did not ask for help in math, a lot of circumstances came into effect that ultimately led to not passing math 20-1. Unlike some people in my class I chose to take notes during class, and pay attention because I knew it would help better my learning. There would be classes though where my eyes would just be hooked on the clock, as it went tick-tock. I would dread the thought of doing math at home; I just could not convince myself to do it. In time I would see how much of a regret it would turn out to be.

On the other hand, to some degree I got myself together and pushed for a passing grade. Near the end of the semester I managed to get my mark to a 48, 2 percent off from passing. The final exam was looming over my head the thought of studying for such a class made me despondent to the goal of passing the class. Again I never asked for help when I really needed it. I got my report card; I had failed the class, now I knew the task was to be completed in summer school.

By the nearing of summer I knew I had to take math 20-1 again in order to gain the 5 credits needed, and to go on in math 30. Although my hate for the class had never been greater, I had a new focused attitude towards it. I knew I had to pass, so in class I paid a great amount of attention as usual taking notes. The real change came outside of the class, as I began being more proactive towards the class. I had now hired a tutor for the class, so I could get the help I needed when I was not in class. As the final exam was approaching in summer I felt more confident. My work ethic had changed, I was asking more questions. The final exam day came, I finished very quick and was eager to hand in my exam. I got my results back, and I had pulled off a 77% and passed math 20-1 quite easily. This example just shows how asking for a bit of help can benefit you greatly in the long run.

Category: Garry, Uncategorized | 1 Comment on Keys to success