Journal 3: An Educational Setback-

Apart from being embarrassing failure can be a great teacher. I once found out that a mark I got was way lower than the one I had anticipated mainly due to the fact that I was not well-prepared. I felt I had it all figured out which is why I didn’t devote much time to revision. Later when I sat down for the exam, I had a big surprise because it turned out that just knowing something is different from really getting it. Initially, I was tempted to think it was all the exam’s fault. At some point, however, I had to admit that my preparation was the main reason for the low grade. I came to see that a high level of self-confidence without effort is just a nice illusion. While it is quite straightforward to say “I know something” a real proof is that someone is capable of doing so and explaining without others’ help. I have been studying more frequently since the incident and asking questions when unsure about a topic. Still, there are times when I don’t get all the points right. Nevertheless, I can tell now I am more equipped. It is true that failure was a bitter pill to swallow but in the end it pointed me to the areas that needed to change. There are moments when the results one is unhappy with might be used as stepping-stones for improvement.

Journal 4: the Influence of Technology-

On the one hand technology has made things easier, on the other hand the world now has a whole new set of issues. I depend on my tech gadgets for schoolwork, communication, entertainment and information access daily. It’s quite inconvenient to carry out schoolwork or get in touch with someone without them. Also, you will not know the different interpretations for the work without the use of internet and you will not be able to make your presentation until the very moment of the work. On the downside technology has become a distraction. I would open my phone once to check a message, get carried away scrolling through different videos, and not realize the amount of time gone. In addition to the fact that it is a big time waster it is also very easy to fall victim to comparison if one is on social media constantly because you get to “see the lives of other people as filtered highlights and you are the only one suffering”. In my view, technology has its good and bad sides depending on one’s choice of usage. I personally use technology to study and keep in touch which is great and on this note we need limits though. If I am able to resist phone calls I study more effectively and save time on activities which do not require me to use technology. That way technology stays an important tool and the only thing my eyes are on is the piece of equipment that will help the most. My phone gets in my way when I am trying to study. My mind is constantly being drawn away to things that don’t really matter. I am not saying technology has no place as a study tool it helps one to learn and connect but we also have to be careful on how we limit ourselves so that there is a balance in our lives. In addition to being aware of myself in the right way, the habit of turning my phone off during times when I am trying to concentrate and decreasing unnecessary screen time could help to change my behavior. I would like my devices to be something which makes me happier and I do not want to become addicted to them like some others. I would much prefer to keep my hands off my phone whilst working, thus avoiding any disturbance from unnecessary notifications. Technology should never rule a person’s attention it should be used responsibly like any other tool. This is a common view shared by many people these days. Therefore, I would suggest people find ways of using their phones in a balanced way rather than turning it into an addiction.

Journal 5: My Definition of Friendship-

To me, friendship is grounded in trust, honesty, and support. A truthful and sincere friend is one who is willing to challenge the beliefs of a friend and not necessarily have to agree with every opinion he/she is presented with. Sometimes, one’s greatest friend is the person who is brave enough to be candid, even if it is painful when hearing. A friend is supposed not only to be able to exchange jokes, but also, know the right level of formality. It is quite important for friends to know each other enough that they can switch to seriousness as and when required. Of all the times friendship reveals itself, the darkest moments are really when it shows its strength as the presence of a real friend in one’s life, when the person is at his lowest and perhaps even the one to give him a little push and make him come out of hiding, is the one to whom he will owe a lot. Just a simple message like “how are you?” can make the difference between feeling down and feeling cared about. A great friendship can even last for the years of growing apart. Friendship needs an active role from both sides of course, a single party cannot do everything nor always be the initiating side of a conversation. A good friend would never take for granted his/her friend’s time and would respect the feeling of his/her partner. People will change, and hence, friendships, but the teachings will not be forgotten. I feel that friendship can help us enjoy the beauty of life to the maximum, but also it gives the strength one needs to go through all sorts of difficulties. In essence, friendships not only bring great joy and the sharing of good memories, they are also the times when someone is reminded that they have not got to go alone on any of the paths that life is. School Stress

Journal 6-

School can get very stressful because of the students’ obligation to the teachers which is to handle more than one task at the same time. As if a student is only required to pass the exams and submit the classwork and homework he is also required to participate, take part in school projects, do their extracurricular activities, and manage their domestic matters. Moreover, when more than one teacher gives big assignments at the same week, it may not be easy to spend an equal amount of time on each subject. To reduce school stress, some students try to make a list of their duties and cross them at the moment the tasks are done. This way, the students will not be overwhelmed by the amount of work that is left and will only think of the next duty that is to be done without being disturbed by having all the tasks in their minds at once. That is a method that was taught to me by a wise friend of mine. However, my own way of dealing with a very stressful situation is to sit down and work my problems out one after another instead of looking at everything that I have to do first. One thing is for sure; stress in school is inevitable but, it is all about a matter of how students deal with it as long as that does not hurt their performance in any way. As students have a lot going on during their school life and also have personal responsibilities on the side, balancing these factors can definitely cause stress and burn out. The way I see it, when a student is so worried about an exam, or an assignment, or a test or a competition that it has taken over their everyday life, they should be encouraged to get help. The school or the family can play roles here. Saving their life does not require that they be a student in the first place. If we look at a normal student life cycle, school stress can be a factor in students dropping out which should be prevented if a society wants its young generation to be healthy and productive. One major area of school stress is academic stress that could be due to pressure from exams or the students getting to know about low grades. The solution is to help students manage these stressors and give them a chance to grow. The other way school creates stress is through the students themselves getting into conflicts. I think a good solution here would be to create awareness about conflict resolution in students and teach them peace building skills. Making sure students go to school is important but they should come out better and be prepared for a peaceful life. Of course, one needs a teacher at school so that the students are properly taught the knowledge to work with others. It is also very important to rest. Although staying up until very late provides more time to work, generally speaking, getting up with a tired and heavy mind is hard. I am still figuring out how to get the right balance between doing school work and spending time on personal activities. Probably, stress will be there one way or another. But I am able to decide how to behave when I encounter it. If you come up with a study timetable and also make time for small rests, you will find the pressure of school less.

Journal 7: My Future-

Thinking ahead to my future gives me the mix of excitement and nerves that comes hand in hand with dreams and challenges. I am drawn towards college and studying something in the line of engineering or technology. Reason: I enjoy understanding how systems work and use that knowledge to find solutions to real problems. However, it won’t be all fun as college entails a certain level of independence, discipline, and hard work. Happiness: One of my big desires is to build a job that is a real career. I would like it to be a work that will be so challenging that I won’t feel like being a couch potato. At the same time, it has got to be time enough to enjoy life. Money is one of the driving forces, no doubt, because it is a security. But I want my career choice not to be based only on that. Well, there are no set plans. The career picture that I have today will differ to a great extent, or, maybe, my decision will entirely change the picture. But that shouldn’t make planning irrelevant. Setting a certain direction gives me a way to head even a changed path. In this case, improving of scores, gaining practical skills, and further exploration of my interests are my priorities. Life is unpredictable. However, my daily decisions can help it.

Journal 8: A Childhood Memory-

I love one of my baby memories that consists of a lovely time with my parents and no burden at all over my shoulders. For example, I never had any worries related to school and future responsibilities. School was a huge part of my life, especially as I got older, and with that came other things like assignments, deadlines, expectations, etc. I get nostalgic and miss the time when I had so few responsibilities on my plate. On the other hand, I know that being a mature person grants me freedom of choice and responsibility. Precisely those reasons are why childhood memories make me nostalgic and feel proud of myself as a person who has changed. Moreover, such times prove to me that happiness may not always come in the form of something costly or unusual. The most unforgettable moments are the ones spent just being simple with the people one loves and cares for. I may not go back in time and experience those days but still try to appreciate little things instead of always waiting for big events.

Journal 9: What Makes Me Happy-

Being happy does not necessarily mean doing one big thing. Mostly for me, being happy just means getting to a bunch of tiny things that do not even seem all that. For instance, a hard assignment that one successfully finishes, a hearty meal, a fun game, or some music to the ears can turn a grumpy day into a bright one. These things may not sound like the main source of happiness for others. But they really make me enjoy the everyday! I experience joy as I get close to a goal in a progressive manner. Marks on the board do not have to be perfect ones. A new idea or the mastery of a skill could still be the reason for me being the happiest of all. Still, happiness isn’t something that last forever. Everyone experiences at least a little bit of a down day. I feel that it is unnecessary for people to constantly put themselves in positive mindsets. After all, being in a negative state of mind is also a facet of our life. It’s important to figure out and choose suitable means of dealing with those feelings. It seems to me that happy feelings get even more joyful if I do not think over others and instead, look more closely at what’s good already.

Journal 10: Standing against fear-

Fear can act as a major deterrent to people getting involved with something new. The fear of failure is one of the things I tend to fear most. So, I am thinking about what could happen if I start with a difficult task. For instance, a lot of things could go wrong, and that might make me hesitate, even though the opportunity is very helpful for me. From my experience, I think that by fleeing from a thing, the fear will not always be gotten rid of; for instance, one may even end up being more terrified than before because they never have that proof that they are indeed capable of handling it. The way to becoming more comfortable is to action the thing even when one is feeling scared. Bravery is not about eliminating fear. It is all in the fact that one continues going even though the feelings of fear still exist. I might still commit errors or feel awkward, but in the end, such situations usually get over with pretty easily. One of the things I want to stress is that, in case there is an unfortunate consequence after trying something out, failure is not necessarily the worst that could happen. The result of being too passive and not trying anything is a greater regret than the consequence of making a mistake.

Journal 11: The Importance of Kindness

A simple kindness can significantly change a person’s mood throughout a long day. A smile, a thank you, a helping hand, and maybe even a listening ear these are just some of the small gestures that could brighten someone’s day.

Sometimes people might perceive kindness as a sign of weakness or a means to get other people to do your bidding.

One of the things I really respect about kindness is that it is so easily passed on. When someone gives me an unexpected act of kindness, it usually doesn’t take long for me to do the same kind of thing for someone else.

Of course, it’s possible for this sort of negativity chain to keep going when someone takes out their bad mood on another person, and so on but we can stop these kinds of spirals by choosing what our own emotional responses are to be.

Though being kind isn’t always the solution to every problem, it definitely helps schools, workplaces, and communities be safe, feeling places. In any case, if people around me weren’t kind to me, it would still inspire me to become the kind, understanding, generous kind of a person that I want to be.

Journal 12: Social Media

Being online helps us to get the message over, share something, or look out for something very fast. It gives people a tool so that their friends do not have to get lost in the details, and they do not need to go out and actually be there.

But what is presented online doesn’t tell the whole story. We generally share things that make us look good or we are proud of. We do not write about ourselves that we are disappointed, sad, or that a moment in our lives is dull. Therefore, it is possible that the viewers forget such things, leading them to think that other people always get more interesting or successful lives.

In the same vein, social media platforms have become a place for sharing wrong information with ease.

I don’t mind social media very much; still, it’s better not to get carried away with it. I have realized that virtual world popularity is not the personal value of the individual.

Journal 13: A Person Who Influenced Me

Members of the family are those who have inspired most of my goals and decisions. In life, there is a saying that opportunity knocks. They have always shown me that getting opportunity means effort. They understand the fact that the majority of my classes, activities and assignments may not be of interest. Nonetheless, they do not stop supporting me in my education at every stage of learning.

Moreover, my relatives’ experience teaches me that a lot of the people out there do not get their dreams automatically, just because that is the way things work. Some of them may have to go through hardship, change their plans or continue working when things don’t seem like they’re progressing at all.

Seeing those persons around me cope with their life responsibilities makes me aware of the fact that being on your own is not what people imagine it to be.

At times I get very much stressed out about the expectations of the family. I am very much aware of the fact that most of their expectations have their foundation in the desire for a good future. Although maybe not in all cases, but, I still take their views as good counsel that broadens my understanding about my future, work, and responsibilities.

Undoubtedly, their effect has guided me in my quest for thinking deeply about college, employment, and accountability. I hope that I am able to make good use of the opportunities I get and eventually be able to make them proud.

Journal 14: A difficult decision

Choosing is never easy when both options have their ups and downs. I have found myself thinking too much on some matters simply because I really want the perfect answer. But actually, there might be no such thing as a perfect answer!

One of the tough calls might be picking up classes, participating in school activities, or getting admitted to a university; a major decision may even include a career path selection. Each option will probably lead a totally different direction from the present one. While facing life-changing situations, I always recall what I really want to achieve, the things that interest my heart, the time I can spare, and the responsibilities that I have towards people. Hearing the opinion of others is a good idea, but ultimately it is I who will take the final call on my own matters.

I’ve found out that not making a choice is still a type of decision. Delaying too much can lead to the loss of valuable opportunities. I am unlikely to ever be 100% sure about the decision I eventually make so I just use the facts that are presented to me and then accept that in life, whatever we choose will have to deal with some sort of risk. I’ve learned that whenever a decision doesn’t result in the outcome I had expected, I can use it as a point of view. Life simply isn’t about doing everything right all the time. What we do is change the way we act when new conditions arise.

Journal 15: The Meaning of Success

Success does not have the same meaning to all of mankind. While one individual will link success to the amount of money, prizes, or the reputation that one is popular among friends, others will measure success against different scales. Of course, these things can be quite significant to a person, but personally, I’m not of the view that they are the only things that we use to be the yardsticks of our success.

I consider success to mean the ability to make strides towards your objectives, as well as becoming the best version of yourself that you could be at that point in time. The student who has been able to raise her marks from fail to pass after working hard may have been the one who has labored the most. It is quite the case that results have some sort of importance. However, what is most important is how the results are achieved and the personal development of the people involved.

Besides, success also requires balance. If you have a highly remunerative job but are constantly under pressure and are not enjoying your life, then the case is different from one where a friend is making a small amount of money with which he still maintains meaningful relationships, has fun with his job, and is content with himself. There is no better version of life because people prioritize differently.

Perhaps, my idea of what counts as being successful will get transformed as I mature further. For the moment, I would call it a success if I graduate, build a knowledge base, and get a secure way of living. The most important thing is that I should be able to carry out my activities so that I know their importance, and they bring out happiness to others as well.

Journal 16: Freedom

Freely is an expression of liberty in deciding what you will do in life. But freedom does not mean you are free to do whatever you like; you are still accountable for the consequences. One person’s freedom is often another person’s responsibility, as our choices will impact others, so freedom is not only our own business but also a shared responsibility in society.

Students become free as they grow by being allowed to drive, work, socialize with peers, and decide on their college. While the feeling of freedom is quite intoxicating, it still introduces a level of accountability. For instance, when someone gets a driving license and becomes free of the constraints, they are expected to follow the driving rules and ensure not to put fellow road users in danger.

To some extent, freedom appeals to me as a concept, and I want to be independent, but I still know that I have to earn the freedom by being trustworthy. In other words, the level of trust that others will have in us is going to determine how much freedom we get from them. It is freedom of choice that makes people different. At the same time, responsible persons protect their choice by making the right choices. When responsibilities are not a part of one’s behavior, freedom leads to the worst scenarios very easily.

Journal 17: Change

People typically feel safer with old routines and so change can be really uncomfortable. Even changes in positive things can still generate stress. For example, starting a new school, moving, meeting new people or getting a new job may seem like a great chance, but they also include the element of uncertainty and the unknown aspect of a change.

There are times when I really wish that things could stay just the same as they are; I like to feel comfortable most of the time. But, in addition to being resistant to change, I will also be preventing myself from growing. Many of the significant life events that have made an impact happened precisely because something changed. New situations demand that human beings learn skills that they previously did not know they possessed.

Whether I am ready or not, life will carry on changing. There is a lot of learning, adaptation, and growth I would like to get from all these experiences, but I want to do it in such a way that I don’t forget about what’s important to me: my values and the kind of goals I want to achieve in life.

Journal 18: Learning From Mistakes

Everyone commits mistakes, but what matters is what we do afterwards. There are times I become conscious when a mistake is noticed, which makes me embarrassed. My first impulse is to pretend as if it did not happen or cover up, excuse myself. However, if I shirk from taking responsibility, I will not learn and will not better myself.

Errors reveal areas where I need to focus more effort. Let’s say, for instance, that I scored poorly because I did not prepare enough. In that case, I can learn a lesson and begin studying for the upcoming test earlier. Or if, through my remarks, someone gets hurt, I can apologize and be careful of the words I will use the next time. Mistakes can be helpful when there is a lesson learned from them.

My focus is to gradually release the pressure of expecting myself to be faultless. No one makes all the shots right from the start. Progress commonly is the fruit of mistakes, corrections, and repetitions. Even if I don’t like making mistakes, I accept them as a necessary part of evolving and a sign of increasing responsibility.

Journal 19: The Value of Hard Work

Hard work is essential, as almost all objectives are not attained without working. Sometimes people look great because of talent or luck, but we hardly ever see how much time they practiced, improved, and developed skills.

That someone is able to display a tough skill flawlessly is due to the amount of work the person put forth on it.

A difficult skill or something to which they are not naturally gifted takes much work. It is very simple not to stop when I am good at something, but it is a genuine challenge to not throw in the towel when I feel lost, tired or discouraged. There is a high chance that I may not achieve much, but I am aware that without mistakes, it is impossible to learn and change. Hence, mistakes and failures are essential parts of my life journey. They have also led me to a better way for instance, mistakes made at childhood are part of learning to live by your own choice but later at adulthood it is necessary to make decisions on your own since the mistakes you make as an adult will be yours to face, this is why mistakes have become part of our journey to life, mistakes and failures are also important things that will make one change or lead him to another lifestyle, for example, a mistake done as a child which has been a lesson for life is the child now grown to a man who knows the value of freedom and the choice of life since as adults one has to make choices for one self and the mistakes made as Adults will be the personal responsibility.

It’s actually very challenging when a person can’t get a break, feels like they’ve been let down, and is even tempted to get away altogether. Such instances are when they should go back to the reason they set off.

Dedicating time and energy does not guarantee getting the desired result right away. I could be working really hard for a test, but the teacher’s report card could still show a disappointing lower grade than expected. Nevertheless, the effort can lead to me comprehending the subject and being a better test-taker.

Giving the best will not assure a successful result every time, whereas giving up ensures that there is no advancement. The best chance for success is through steady work.

Journal 20: Becoming More Independent

Since getting used to the change to becoming more responsible is one of the hallmarks of a maturing person, there is an increase in the responsibility that comes with it in order to be able to do things on their own.

Independence is the situation of making decisions oneself and handling tasks, including problem-solving, and relying little on another person else. Such a situation might sound exhilarating but also can leave one anxious.

Freedom is not the sole determinant for independence. Being my own person involves such aspects as scheduling, studying, looking after my things, and planning the future. When I make the wrong call, I have no one else to put the blame on.

I realize I still have a long way to travel. There’ll certainly arise moments when I’ll require direction or assistance. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. Real independence is about one knowing situations where he will be capable of facing things alone and where he will need to rely on someone else. My plan is to turn myself into an individual others will come to rely on, one who will make sound decisions. It’s going to be a gradual process to get the degree of self-reliance one is talking about; but completing every assignment will be yet another milestone on the path of adulthood.