A Waste of Time 

Video Games

“If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality.” Benjamin Franklin

Wasting time is never beneficial, but we all have done it before. Time goes by so quickly when I’m sitting in front of the Xbox. Playing video games can either be beneficial or a huge waste of time. It is wasteful because there’s  nothing other than fun and joy that we are going to get out of video games, my mom used to always say, “video games aren’t going to pay the bills!”  That’s not entirely true, but I do tend to agree with her most of the time. I could sit in front of the tv for hours and hours, and  not only is that hurting my body, also my grades. There was not going to be one moment that I would even care the slightest for my homework when I’m gaming. When I leave the tv and walk around, I would feel sick, noxious and disgusted; when I go outside after staying in the house for 3 days, my legs would be sour, painful and weak and when I look at my homework, I feel stressed, overwhelmed and tired. Experiencing those were never fun but I still manage to play so many video games. I guess for some people, they have a lot of time to waste, and who said that wasting time isn’t fun?

No Giving Without Thanks

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

– Oprah Winfrey

It is important to always be thankful. There is a day that really allows us to be thankful and it is Thursday, December 22. I am almost definitely certain that, I am thankful for this very day. This is a day where I can sit down, eat some delicious food and be appreciative. School started in September, not one moment was I relaxed and not anxious. There were so many things that I had to do: SSAT, applications and I had to worry about grades. The whole situation really stressed me out, even video games won’t save me from my anxieties. People told me to just relax, but my parents were pressuring me quite a lot. They kept telling me that if I don’t get in a good high school, I won’t be able to get in a good college, then I won’t be able to get a good job and etc. I was like a balloon, and people were all pumping air inside me; I could pop at any moment. When I was on the edge of blowing up into pieces, I heard something truly inspirational, something that released all the air inside of me; I heard there was a Thanksgiving break. Like Fitz said, since it is called a break, we should have no homework and relax. Relaxation was the only thing I needed and Thanksgiving was the best time to relax. I could always sit in front of the huge turkey on the dining table and be thankful. It’s always necessary to take a moment and thank everyone around us, take a moment and appreciate what they are doing for us, and clear our minds. When I’m eating all the turkey and potatoes, I will always stay thankful and relaxed.

Devastating Pain

“The marks humans leave are too often scars.”

John Green

Physical pain can always be overcome, and I always manage to do that. The more pain one endure, the tougher they become. I had experienced many sufferings, but I would never submit to the pain; . However, there was a day like no others; the pain was so devastating I have not yet recovered. Me facing the torture was as hard as wrestling Fitz on a slippery rock. I would not let any torturing crack me, and would never be afraid of death. It was a cool February day two years ago, the wind was blowing like a frozen river flow, I got braces for the first time. Many people already told me my teeth were going to be sore, but I didn’t really care that much. On the second night, I was waken by the nightmares, the horror and the pain. I could not fall asleep even if I tried to, because braces kept waking me up. The pain was so agonizing it caused my heart to ache, but I shall never be beaten by the pain. I clenched my teeth and realized that it was to painful, so I clenched my fists instead. It was two in the morning, I looked like a mess. I went to the bathroom and splashed my face with cold water, wet as penguin I looked into the mirror. Water was dripping from my face and my hair was all messy; the site was truly heartbreaking, what pain could do to a mans life. I slapped myself in the face as hard as I could, overcome pain with more pain. A whole week went through and each day was the exact same, waking up, splashing water on my face and slapping myself. Looking in the mirror once again, I could see a red hand print on my face. The pain had stopped, and instead I was left with beautiful straight teeth.

Power of Place

My Fenn Experience

“When you leave a beautiful place, you carry it with you wherever you go.”

Alexandra Stoddard

The power of a place is the power that it gives. The Fenn School emits so much positive energy that sometimes I feel overwhelmed. Whenever I am present in The Fenn School, it’s glorious buildings of white would always remind me of the four core values, honest, respect, empathy and something else. What fill this place with a indescribable amount of positivity are the people there. Friends would help each other share with each other. When I’m depressed, my friends would comfort me, and when I’m hungry people will give their food to me. They would always show empathy and be respectful. Once in 8th grade, I felt really depressed because my parents are giving away my dog Mac. When I went to school my friends saw how sad I was, and they were very supportive. Everyone in the grade was very sympathetic and they told me the pain will go away eventually and comforted me. My friends gave me food and candy to ease my pain, and so much positivity was shown it really made me more positive. I began to feel better; I was really thankful of how supportive my friends were. Without them, I had no idea what was going to happen. Fenn’s truly a powerful place..

Power of Family  

Sacrifice 

“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”

—George Santayana 

Families are the ones who are willing go sacrifice. There was not a single other person out there that are moving willing to sacrifice them for me. They would always spend spend all of their hard earn hard earn on me without any hesitation. My parents always wanted me to be better, better than them. They gave up all they had for me, just so I could receive a better education. One day my parents asked me if I wanted to go to the United States and I was all like sure, but when I got there, I truly loved it. My parents saw my love for the country and they knew wanted a better education for me. Later they told me that i am going to America to go to school. I was very surprised and my family knew that it would cost them a fortune, but little did they care as long as I get the best. We also faced another problem, I didn’t want to apply to a boarding school so there was no one to take of me. My brave mother without hesitation, went with me to the United States. She was separated from my dad, the one that she truly loved, but little did she care as long as I get the best. Years and years past by, my family always stayed by me, no matter how many things are going on, they would always gave me the best. They wanted me to be better and more successful, than they would ever be.

Power of passion

Inside the ring

“You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear.”

Sammy Davis, Jr.

Passions are very important. I am passionate for boxing, especially the boxing ring. It is my passion and I will be happy to die for it. Boxing added that tiny bit of color, life and fun in my life that’s absolutely necessary to have. The ring was not only a place to beat people up or get beaten by someone, it was a classroom. It taught me valuable lessons that cannot be learned from anywhere else. When I was in the ring for the first time; death and terror could be smelled from a mile away. It was me trying to fight a tough cookie who’s almost double my size. The bell rang and we started to exchange blows. I tried the best to cover myself but a few hits still managed to sneak in, and with each blow it delivered an agonizing pain. I backed into the corner, my coach screamed in frustration. While covering my head, I tried to come up with a plan. I was surprised how clear my mind was. I told myself that nothing will ever beat me, and facing the pain was a part of overcoming the pain. Stumbling out of the corner I managed to push my opponent away with a few kicks. I screamed in rage and started to beat my opponent into submission with heavy blows. It was then that came clear; I was victorious. It didn’t matter how tough he was, how big he was, the only thing that mattered was to either submit or fight for freedom. This is why I love boxing, love the ring; it’s unpredictable, but my fate will always be in my hands. The ring taught me to face my worst fears; no matter what life throws at me I should punch it right in the nose.

Lukas Zhang

The Call of The Wild essay

Freshman English

11/2/2018

Born In The Wild

The Call of The Wild analysis on suffering and devolution  

“To live is to suffer, to survive is to find the meaning in the suffering.” 

—Friedrach Nietzsche

      He was driven crazy by both his rage and his thirst for blood. Buck launched himself towards the Yeehats, ripping open their throats until fountains and fountains of blood were pouring out of their necks. He had killed, not just anything, but men. Covered in hot blood, he broke out a agonizing long howl. Buck suffered a tremendous amount of physical pain throughout his journey, but this was never the same, it was emotional. Buck was no longer the domestic pet he was before, but a man slaughtering beast. There was no place for him in this civilized world, he belonged to the wild. In the novella, The Call of The Wild, by Jack London, Buck went from a innocent domicile pet to a killing machine. He suffered extreme pain during the transition, but without the all the suffering, the call of the wild would’ve never been answered.

     In the late 19th century, Buck lived happily at the Santa Clara valley and he had everything he would ever want in his life. The change of his life happened right after the first pain he suffered; he was choked by the rope of the kidnapper. He then suffered from lack of water and food and got beaten badly by a man in red sweater. All these were physical pain that Buck had to endure, he couldn’t whine to anyone. “Dazed, suffering intolerable pain from throat and tongue, with the life half throttled out of him, Buck attempted to face his tormentors.”(London, 4) The wild was nothing like his home, and there was no other choices than to just endure the pain. When Buck got to Alaska, the suffering was like none other. Not one moment was buck not shivering and frozen in the cold Alaska mountains. Buck thought he had seen all of the pain and suffering Alaska had to offer, but he was wrong. The suffering had only begun once he was sold to Charles. 

“when he could no longer pull, he fell down and remained down till blows from whip or club drove him to his feet again. All the stiffness and gloss had gone out of his beautiful furry coat. The hair hung down, limp and draggled, or matted with dried blood where Hal's club had bruised him. His muscles had wasted away to knotty strings, and the flesh pads had disappeared, so that each rib and every bone in his frame were outlined cleanly through the loose hide that was wrinkled in folds of emptiness”(London, 106)

All the dogs were treated badly, often overworked. Those poor souls were beaten and overworked until their very death. Buck had been through a lot, but he was never treated like this; he had never experienced such agonizing physical pain. Buck saw his friends dying one by one because of the harsh conditions that were provided, however he knew deeply that the torture were not without a purpose. They helped buck to become who he truly was, an animal of the wild. Not only did Buck experience physical pain he also suffered mentally, when he was drawn from his home he was nostalgic, when the only person whom truly loved him died, the pain was not to be forgotten. The emotional pain were never easy to overcome, “he knew, and he knew John Thornton was dead. It left a great void in him, somewhat akin to hunger, but a void which ached and ached, and which food could not fill,” (London, 165) Buck never had a choice, he was only to face all the pain bravely. If not, then death shall descend upon him. 

    Buck was never a primordial beast from the start; he was a well mannered pet. Throughout his journey he endured devastating pain both mentally and physically and he overcame challenges, and every time Buck gets a little tougher, the primordial side gets him a little more. Buck always kept his pride no meter where he was and what kind of suffering he experienced. “He was beaten (he knew that); but he was not broken” (London, 20). In fact Buck was never broken, no pain or obstacle was to great, and Buck was to learn from his experience and endure pain to become the primordial beast. It was his pride that helped him over come his opponents and difficulties, he wanted to fight because of his sense of pride. He would not have anyone have any kind of defiance because he would fight for it, even when his opponents bigger and stronger. Bucks inner turning into a dog eating monster was also caused by the lack of love and care; he had no other choice other than to become tough and strong, “Kill or be killed, eat or be eaten, was the law.”( London, 121) John Thornton on the other hand, truly tamed Buck. He showed him love and empathy and Buck’s primordial side was restricted. There was no such place for hate and anger when there was a man that truly loved him. “Buck would follow at his heels. His transient masters since he had come into the Northland had bred in him a fear that no master could be permanent”(London, 119). He was afraid to lose a master once again, but this time one who actually loved him. The good days didn’t last very long, Thornton was killed by Indians. Buck lost his loving family once again; he could only rage, rage and become the beast he once was.

     Buck could choose not to do anything in this book, and none of it would’ve happened. The only reason and  why he did all this was because of his sense of pride. Everyone have that sense of pride within them, and they would all fight for their pride just like buck in one way or another. In the process, we will face challenges and we should face them bravely just like Buck. This is definitely one of the most touching books I’ve ever read. The author makes every scene vivid and lively with powerful descriptions, and I would highly recommend other people to red it . The vocabularies in this book are very interesting, a bit hard to understand sometimes, however I faced these challenges bravely like Buck and it’s an very good book overall. The scenes are however a bit too descriptive, using a lot of big words that’s very hard to understand. The book also encourages violence, which might not be very family friendly. The book was very challenging to read, but as I read it, it taught me how to face the challenges bravely just like Buck. 

     Buck suffered lots, but with pain it comes strength, and with strength, no challenge’s impossible to face. Then, shall we realize, the Call had already been answered