Dear Supporters of Rail Transit,
It is true that the roads of Hawaii will be more congested in the future, and that our traffic jams have been ranked one of the worst in the country. If a rail transit is built, it would be able to hold 300 passengers and take about 25,000 vehicles off the road each day. The H-1 Freeway may eventually be inadequate for the projected population growth of Hawaii.
But is a rail transit really the right answer? Just building it will cost 3.7 billion dollars. The profit the transit makes may eventually reach that much money to equal out the cost of making it, but when? Our economy is already in a recession. How do you know people are even going to ride the transit? Most of the island already have cars, so why would they not ride in something they've paid a lot of money for, just to ride in a rail transit that will save half an hour of their time?
How will the rail be convenient as well? There is no way you can stuff a rail transit in crowded neighborhoods and streets. It would be a considerable walking distance from most homes just to get to the transit. People now-a-days still use their cars to drive to places that are very nearby. The rail transit may be a creative idea, but certainly not the best solution.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Peer Pressure Rough Draft
Teenagers can control whether peer pressure has a positive or negative influence on them by choosing who we want to listen to. Whenever we think of the word peer pressure, we usually think of it in a negative way. However, there are also ways you can use peer pressure to help yourself.
It all depends on the crowd you choose to hang out with. For example, your friends can influence you to drink, smoke, etc. But on the other hand, they could also give you advice and help you to disagree with making the wrong choices. They can keep you from drinking and driving, doing drugs, and doing things that the wrong crowd can cause us to do.
Your friends aren’t the only ones that can give you positive peer pressure. Your parents can as well. For example, they can remind you to study and eat healthy. They can guide you away from falling into the negative peer pressure you may face by frequently discussing with you about making the right decisions. They can also enforce the consequences of poor choices, such as disappointing them and getting grounded.
However, we set our own values and morals. Letting others conflict and influence them by following peer pressure is up to us and us alone. No matter how many things are parents or friends can say to us, we choose whom we want to follow. But ask yourself, would you rather become like the crowd that makes the wrong decisions, or like the parents that care for you each and every day?
It all depends on the crowd you choose to hang out with. For example, your friends can influence you to drink, smoke, etc. But on the other hand, they could also give you advice and help you to disagree with making the wrong choices. They can keep you from drinking and driving, doing drugs, and doing things that the wrong crowd can cause us to do.
Your friends aren’t the only ones that can give you positive peer pressure. Your parents can as well. For example, they can remind you to study and eat healthy. They can guide you away from falling into the negative peer pressure you may face by frequently discussing with you about making the right decisions. They can also enforce the consequences of poor choices, such as disappointing them and getting grounded.
However, we set our own values and morals. Letting others conflict and influence them by following peer pressure is up to us and us alone. No matter how many things are parents or friends can say to us, we choose whom we want to follow. But ask yourself, would you rather become like the crowd that makes the wrong decisions, or like the parents that care for you each and every day?
Friday, October 3, 2008
Portfolio
I still felt like a freshman for the first couple weeks of school, but other than that, my first quarter as a sophomore has gone by somewhat smoothly, and it's time for the first portfolio of the school year.
My goals for this school year are to:
- be on task with each assignment.
- pay more attention in class.
- absorb and learn everything being taught in school.
- balance my time with family, school, friends, and football.
- trust myself with the decisions I make.
- keep the stress to a minimum.
I've surprisingly been on task with almost every assignment in school this quarter. I've been able to learn and understand everything each teacher has taught to me so far. Making school a higher priority in my life has helped me defeat procrastination. I struggled in math but after trial-and-error, I now understand each standard in math. Hopefully I learned it soon enough to raise up my grade.
I have learned a lot of new things in MeneMAC so far this year, such as the many forces on earth and how they affect us everyday, how to use sentence fluency to make a more effective essay, and the corruption of the Gilded Age.
The four traits I will be talking about are: Ideas, Organization, Voice, and Word Choice.
My goals for this school year are to:
- be on task with each assignment.
- pay more attention in class.
- absorb and learn everything being taught in school.
- balance my time with family, school, friends, and football.
- trust myself with the decisions I make.
- keep the stress to a minimum.
I've surprisingly been on task with almost every assignment in school this quarter. I've been able to learn and understand everything each teacher has taught to me so far. Making school a higher priority in my life has helped me defeat procrastination. I struggled in math but after trial-and-error, I now understand each standard in math. Hopefully I learned it soon enough to raise up my grade.
I have learned a lot of new things in MeneMAC so far this year, such as the many forces on earth and how they affect us everyday, how to use sentence fluency to make a more effective essay, and the corruption of the Gilded Age.
The four traits I will be talking about are: Ideas, Organization, Voice, and Word Choice.
Ideas
Ideas are the content of your story. They should be specific and detailed enough to the point where you can picture what the writer is saying in your mind. If your ideas are broad or general, your writing won't be as fun to read or as effective.
My evidence for ideas are my college application and coming of age essay.
Organization
Organization is the way you put your ideas together. Using an introduction, conclusion, transitional words in between paragraphs, and putting your ideas in chronological order keeps your writing "flowing". This makes it easy for the reader to read understand your ideas.
My evidence for organization are my college application and coming of age essay.
Voice
Voice is your opinion and the feeling you put inside your writing. This makes the difference between you talking to readers and just listing and saying things to them. This keeps your ideas from being boring and helps the reader to relate to them.
My evidence for voice are my college application and coming of age essay.
Word Choice
Word choice is using the best words possible to describe your ideas. Instead of just using plain words to describe your ideas, you should try to find synonyms of them. This will give your writing more effect and make it more fun to read.
My evidence for word choice are my college application and coming of age essay.
This past quarter, I am proud that I was able to not procrastinate as much as I did last year. My only challenge this quarter was balancing my time between friends, school, family, and football. I dealt with it by going on the computer and playing video games less to make room for practice and homework. Next quarter, I hope to keep doing what I'm doing now: staying on task, keeping my priorities straight, balancing my time well, and paying attention in class. If I am able to them this quarter, then I should be able to do them the entire year.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
College Application Essay - "Rough Draft"
“Where am I going for college? What am I looking for in a college? What career are you planning to pursue?” - Just some of the questions that are in the back of my mind. Why? Simply because I’m unsure about the answers to them. I know that I have to be answering it soon, or else time’s gonna tick until the clock runs out.
Pressure, pressure, pressure. I know I have two general ideas for my career: helping people, or working with computers. I enjoy making others feel better, but I also like working with computer programs. I like giving people advice when they have a bad family or friend situation, but I also have a curiosity of how computers and computer programs work. However, I wouldn’t want to sit down in the office, typing and configuring stuff for 8 hours. But then again, I don’t think I can stand dealing with people’s sicknesses and problems for that long either. I get As and Bs in all my subjects, but I can’t even choose what kind of education I want until I know what I want to do in the future!
But wait, calm down, relax, and think. I don’t have to be sure about which career I want to pursue right after high school. There’s no set deadline on when I have to choose a career. I know that one of the careers is more intriguing to me than the other. I just need help finding out which. Being able to take more than one course at this university will help me decide during college. I can take a course specializing in computer programming, and another one specializing in nursing or psychology.
So that clock won’t stop ticking. It’s just going to keep revolving and revolving, allowing me to wait for that precious moment when I finally decide what kind of future I will possess.
Pressure, pressure, pressure. I know I have two general ideas for my career: helping people, or working with computers. I enjoy making others feel better, but I also like working with computer programs. I like giving people advice when they have a bad family or friend situation, but I also have a curiosity of how computers and computer programs work. However, I wouldn’t want to sit down in the office, typing and configuring stuff for 8 hours. But then again, I don’t think I can stand dealing with people’s sicknesses and problems for that long either. I get As and Bs in all my subjects, but I can’t even choose what kind of education I want until I know what I want to do in the future!
But wait, calm down, relax, and think. I don’t have to be sure about which career I want to pursue right after high school. There’s no set deadline on when I have to choose a career. I know that one of the careers is more intriguing to me than the other. I just need help finding out which. Being able to take more than one course at this university will help me decide during college. I can take a course specializing in computer programming, and another one specializing in nursing or psychology.
So that clock won’t stop ticking. It’s just going to keep revolving and revolving, allowing me to wait for that precious moment when I finally decide what kind of future I will possess.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
College
I would like to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Hawaii is my home and always will be. It is almost like I have a bond with the island. However, if for some reason I have to go to the mainland for college, I would go to the University of Washington Tacoma. I have visited the college before and it really had a nice environment.
I cannot find the prompt for UH Manoa, so the one for UW Tacoma is to discuss your educational and career goals and how study at the University of Washington Tacoma will help you achieve your goals.
Link: http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/enrollmentservices/admissions/transfer/essay.cfm
I cannot find the prompt for UH Manoa, so the one for UW Tacoma is to discuss your educational and career goals and how study at the University of Washington Tacoma will help you achieve your goals.
Link: http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/enrollmentservices/admissions/transfer/essay.cfm
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Coming of Age
A loud bang came from the official’s gun, and I, along with about 25 others, began the long race ahead. Even though it was only a preseason track meet at Mililani High School, it was my first official race against other schools. However, I wasn’t really prepared, because I was lazy and slacked during practice in the last couple weeks. But at the end of this first race, my attitude towards track changed.
It was the 1500-meter race (3 and ¾ laps around the track), and I came in at 21st place. I felt ashamed of myself, because I knew I should’ve better than how I did in that race. I hated the fact that I got burned by 20 other people. I stopped taking track as just fun and games. I wanted to be faster. In order to do so, I knew I had to commit to it – something that I’m not used to doing.
During the next month, I started running 100% during practices. I don’t think I ever walked anymore when we ran out of campus around Moanalua Valley or along Likini Street. I felt myself getting better each day, and it showed every Saturday track meet. My times got better after each week, and I had reached a point I never thought I’d reach. I started running my mile in under 6 minutes and running long distances was no longer a pain, it was more like fun.
During my last track meet (I didn’t know it was my last track meet at the time), I was more nervous about a race than ever before. I had to give it my all or else I wouldn’t be able to advance and my track season would be over. When the official’s gun fired, all of my nervous thoughts were gone. The only thing in my head was, “Beat the guy in front of you…”
I ended up 11th place, not the best place to finish, but pretty good considering I was racing with the best in the island. I also missed the next qualifying time by 2 seconds, ending my track season. I was very disappointed, but I knew I gave it my all, and the improvement I made was enough to make me glad I committed to getting better. That track season showed me that I could handle what it takes to commit to something, learn from my mistakes, and improve, no matter how hard it may be. Now I view life from a different perspective. The easy way out isn’t the right way. I have to take life one step at a time.
It was the 1500-meter race (3 and ¾ laps around the track), and I came in at 21st place. I felt ashamed of myself, because I knew I should’ve better than how I did in that race. I hated the fact that I got burned by 20 other people. I stopped taking track as just fun and games. I wanted to be faster. In order to do so, I knew I had to commit to it – something that I’m not used to doing.
During the next month, I started running 100% during practices. I don’t think I ever walked anymore when we ran out of campus around Moanalua Valley or along Likini Street. I felt myself getting better each day, and it showed every Saturday track meet. My times got better after each week, and I had reached a point I never thought I’d reach. I started running my mile in under 6 minutes and running long distances was no longer a pain, it was more like fun.
During my last track meet (I didn’t know it was my last track meet at the time), I was more nervous about a race than ever before. I had to give it my all or else I wouldn’t be able to advance and my track season would be over. When the official’s gun fired, all of my nervous thoughts were gone. The only thing in my head was, “Beat the guy in front of you…”
I ended up 11th place, not the best place to finish, but pretty good considering I was racing with the best in the island. I also missed the next qualifying time by 2 seconds, ending my track season. I was very disappointed, but I knew I gave it my all, and the improvement I made was enough to make me glad I committed to getting better. That track season showed me that I could handle what it takes to commit to something, learn from my mistakes, and improve, no matter how hard it may be. Now I view life from a different perspective. The easy way out isn’t the right way. I have to take life one step at a time.
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