Reality Check

Our goals in life are usually influenced by a lot of factors. These would include our interests, the significant people around us, our environment, and even our exposure to the various communications media. Just like you, my earlier ambitions were mostly shaped by what I saw on television. I thought they were cool. saving the world was exactly what I wanted. As we grow older, our ambitions are tempered by reality. We begin to realize that we to take into consideration a lot of things such our financial capacity, our skills and capabilities and employment opportunities.

You are still young. You have very supportive parents. You can explore the world and find out where you are really suited. Go for it.

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On Failures

Don’t lose hope. One failure does not mean it’s the end. Rather it’s the beginning of another opportunity. Consider it as a learning experience. Failures are there to remind us that we are not almighty and powerful. It does not mean though that we wouldn’t do anything to overcome it. Sometimes failures are present in our lives to rattle us from complacency, to shake the core of our existence and tell us to take action. It provides us with the challenge to make ourselves better and to exceed our past performances.

Competition: Good or Bad

There would always be some sort of competition wherever we go. It can be between siblings, between friends, schools and even companies. Healthy competition can produce positive results but unhealthy ones can make an individual or institution rabid and fanatic. It can become detrimental to one's growth or relationship. A healthy one can make a person strive to become better and develop himself more. Competition is good unless it becomes destructive.

Living With Someone

Living with somebody entails a lot of adjustments. It is not very easy to share a place with somebody whom you are at odds with. Furthermore, things can be very uncomfortable if the people around you are the very ones that you also work with. I guess, I am blessed to have had room mates who were flexible and understanding enough. The dynamics was really interesting because our personalities were very different. Each of us had our quirks just like with me, it’s having books strewn all over my bed. We had somebody who was obsessive-compulsive and there’s one who was a slob. One doesn’t want to be disturbed and holds Saturday mornings sacred. Some would wake up so early in the morning while others tend to wake up at noon. Trivial matters were ignored in order to preserve good relationships. In the end, there should be a concerted effort to make it work.

Danger? Where?

Danger lurks everywhere. Seemingly harmless people and situations can go out of hand and prove to be very dangerous. Oftentimes terrorists are the ones considered as the culprits who cause havoc and terror in the society. But we overlook the fact that there are sometimes even more dangerous people around us. Perpetrators of heinous crimes are often people who don't look like they are capable of committing such horrible things. Investing in certain countries might be considered risky but then again who would ever think that the 9/11 crisis would happen in the US which is considered to be a bastion of freedom and is impenetrable.

Taboo?

What is considered pornographic or indecent is a very sensitive subject for what may be a work of art for others may be considered scandalous by others. Basic decency is a personal value. Just like what personal perception we may have will be dependent on our value system, culture and outlook. In the past it was considered taboo to talk about such matters but reality dictates that it should be tackled and explained to young people to avoid misinformations. Open communication begets a healthy attitude.

Communications

Mass media is a very powerful means of communication. It can reach far and wide. Television, radio, movies, magazines and newspapers reach millions of people. Internet is also equally powerful because all sorts of information and data can be posted or accessed. The different means of communications may have its advantages but it also carry some risks especially if the information will be used for the wrong purposes.