Summer Exam Prep: Never too early

Today’s a very hot day - a day wherein a good movie or book and an ice-cold drink while seating on a nice, comfy couch would certainly make everything perfect. It would be very nice to have such a day as if there’s nothing I need to worry about.

That’s my kind of a summer vacation.

Unfortunately…

What is the value of (3x +8y) – 2z if x = 12, y = 3 and z =6?

Like any normal student, I had looked forward to a two-month long vacation to just chill away for a while, from school, tedious home works, pop quizzes and all the academic stuff. Apparently, when you’re an incoming college freshman you feel like time is in your hands during the summer season. But for incoming high school seniors, summer season meant preparation for the series of entrance examinations plus the National Career Assessment Exams that will all be administered during the course of their senior year.

Of course, I’ve been there and done that. In turn, I want to help YOU (Yes, you) through the course of your preparation. This entry is not only for high school seniors but also for every high school student. International school students and those who are planning to study abroad have to prepare for their SAT Subject Exams and/or the International Baccalaureate exams. Even those graduates who are to take their licensure exams might also find this article useful.

Really, if you have money, just spend it on a quality review class package as they have the nearest idea on what might come up on the exams so no need for you to waste time on the hassle of what to study. But if you just want to self-study, I’m not stopping you.

The following article is first printed in the Sapientia et Virtus (Official Student Publication of SSA Upper School Department) Vol. 17, No. 2 , page 8 which was released last March 2008.

Hope it helps!
---
Strength in Numbers
By Ia Marie Donna B. Cruz

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

As the time swiftly flutters, only the rapid scratching and tapping of pencils can be heard amidst the silence during standardized testing sessions, may it be the emotional quotient examination or the National Career Assessment Exams.
Standardized test are used as a basis of measurement of an individual’s capability in a specific dimension of learning or skill. More often than not, students are very anxious towards standardized testing that such fear deprives them the capacity to perform their best during the said exams.
Enough of the sweaty palms and pencil-biting. Certainly, there are a number of ways to beat that test-taking panic and attain that 99+ percentile you are aiming!

Know thy enemy. To conquer a test, one should be prepared with what to expect in the exam. From the subject areas to the point-system employed, a well-informed test-taker should know the specifics of the said exam he is to take. This is a simple but a very effective step towards tests so that you won’t be surprised or sanctioned if, for example, you brought a calculator when it is not allowed during the testing administration.

Perfection cannot be rushed. It is NEVER too early to open your biology or algebra books and review the concepts you might have forgotten through the course of education. There are hundreds of thousands of possible questions which can be asked. If you “plan” to review your whole year equivalent of geometry lessons one week before your test day, there is a less chance that you retain what you have read. A month before your exam, take at least an hour daily to rehash your knowledge on the subject areas you are to deal with. Your brain absorbs information better when it is not stressed by the rush which is a key in avoiding information overload and mental block on the exam day.

Practice makes 99 plus. There are a lot of available written resources with practice tests patterned from the actual test. A pre-test experience gives you more of an insight of what to expect during the test day like how to pace your time, possible types of questions and the areas you need to improve.

The pencil is mightier than the sword. Most standardized tests only allow the use of pencil in coding of answers on the answer sheets. A day before the test, see to it that you have all the materials you are to need during your exam – sharpened pencils, working pencil sharpener, good eraser, test permit, calculator (if you are allowed to use it) and some snacks especially when the examination will take a number of hours.

An apple a day keeps panic away. Hours before your scheduled test, be sure to eat a filling meal. As much as possible, distractions are avoided to ensure that you are given the opportunity to perform your maximum. Testing with an empty stomach is equal to disruption. Worrying about the rumbles of your stomach while going through the tests will certainly affect your results negatively.

The early bird catches the worm. Arrive at the test center on time. There might be instructions to be given by the proctors regarding the exams before the start of the test administration. Being late does not only risk you to make mistakes in the course of the test but it also jeopardizes the outcome of your results. This principle also applies in submitting your test paper when the time is called.

It’s all in your head. Confidence (not overconfidence) is your best friend during testing. Being confident with what you have reviewed and practiced before the exam boosts your performance psychologically.

Don’t forget the “R”. Read. Before answering, read the directions, the restrictions and other pieces of information you may need to know in order to answer the questions. Students are often victims of their negligence of the instructions that costs them their scores.

Time is gold. While testing, remember to pace your self according to the time limit set. Though it seems impossible to finish a 25 item test in 10 minutes, it can be accomplished. Speed reading is a great skill to employ wherein you save time in understanding questions without losing accuracy. If such skill is not applicable to you, answer questions you are certain that you can answer correctly.

Aim then shoot. Guess intelligently. If you find your self stuck on a test item, read the answer choices. Eliminating half of the number of the choices increases your chance of getting the correct answer by 50 percent.

Breathe. Breathe – it helps calm the mind to perform better.

Look up. God, Allah, Yahweh, Buddha, Energy – whatever you call Him, don’t forget to ask for His guidance. Trust me, it works.

---
Sweetness,
Allyne

P.S. The answer for the equation above is 48. Check it. ;)

P.P.S.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Philippines License.

Manga Galore!

It's truly summer!

Can you feel the heat? Yeah, I can't wait to hit the beach! For the meantime, let's talk about my manga (Japanese comic books) collection. Yayness!

Starting today, I am planning of concentrating my manga collection. In short, I’m currently selling used copies of the following manga titles:
Land of the Blindfolded (Tsukuba Sakura) vol. 3 and 4 [English]
Gals! (Mihona Fujii) Vol. 1 [Japanese]
Inuyasha (Rumiko Takahashi) vol. 1 [Japanese]
Yu-Gi-Oh! (Kazuki Takahashi) vol. 7 [English]
Card Captor Sakura AniManga (Clamp) Vol. 1 [Japanese]
Rurouni Kenshin (Nobuhiro Watsuki) Vol. 1 [English]

Don’t worry, though all the items listed above are used, they're all well kept and are all in a good condition. Since it's summer season, the price is amenable. If you are interested, post a comment or email me for details on the price.

I hope to hear from you all soon!

First Evanescent Encounter

The year was 2003. A bubbly grade 5 student was walking her usual way from school, along the bustling suburban area near her home. As she passed by an electronics shop, the speakers resonated a symphony that made the fifth grader’s world stop. The scurrying people disappeared – only the electrifying vocals that sent currents throughout her body remained. It didn’t matter that she’s not a big rock fan for she’s a melodic soul.

Who cares if she got bumped repeatedly if she can savor the few minutes of musical bliss?

Reality woke her from the spur of the moment heavenly sensation. For days, she wondered who the owner of such powerful voice was, wanting to hear it once more. She would go on reminiscing for that moment of euphoria. Until one regular Saturday afternoon, while browsing through her HEKASI book, her ears pulsated sweetly. Immediately, she jumped off her seat and grabbed the radio from its place and savored the electric song once more. As the song finished, the DJ spoke the words the little fan girl longed to hear:

“And that was Bring Me to Life by Evanescence, the sound track from the movie Daredevil. Stay tuned for more music after the short commercial break.”

----

So I guess I’m born eMo…or maybe not.

I wasn’t exaggerating when I wrote that little memoir about my first evanescent encounter with Evanescence. I’ve never been so hooked with a band or singer before Evanescence though I love music so much. So hooked that I bought my first original CD which was the Daredevil: The Album because I though that the song Bring Me to Life was just a single. Eventually, I got my hands on Fallen – the first international album release of Evanescence. I love the album so much that in just three days after my purchase, I already know by heart the 13 song lyrics of the said album, from Going Under to Whisper.

I didn’t stop there.

Summer before sixth grade, I’m already adept to the use of the Internet. I’ve searched for news about Evanescence and their discography before they became an international hit. I really wanted one of that limited, 2500 copies-only demo album of the Evanescence -- Origin. It has the original arrangements of My Immortal, Bring Me to Life and Imaginary as well as other demo songs.

I really got crazy when I was able to buy the song Heart-Shaped Box off the ‘net for it was one of Evanescence’s first songs. Though it’s not as polished as the songs included in Fallen, the Evanescence identity is already there.

I really, really wanna see Amy Lee live on stage. News from Evanescence.com cheered me up though. They are releasing a DVD edition of the Anywhere but Home live album. I won’t see Amy and the band in the flesh, I get to see how they actually… jam. Unfortunately, third-world countries don’t enjoy all the entertainment resources that first-world countries have and because of that, I wasn’t able to get a copy of that Anywhere but Home DVD. But still, I regularly check record bars for that DVD. I still want it after all these years.

A lot happened within Evanescence when I became überly busy with high school. In late 2003, Ben Moody left the band after a falling out with Amy Lee. Bassist Will Boyd said his farewell to the band in 2006 and Tim McCord replaced him. John Lecrompt, the band’s guitarist, stated in 2007 that he was fired from the band while drummer Rocky Gray expressed his resignation in the same year. I maybe a self-professed Evanescence fan, I still wasn’t able to keep up with all the happenings within the band due to academic engagements I had to fulfill.

By the release of their second album, The Open Door, Evanescence’s line-up is composed of lead vocalist, keyboardist and songwriter Amy Lee-Hartzler, lead guitarist and co-songwriter Terry Balsamo, and bass guitarist, Tim McCord. Then again, I still don’t have this album with me and I’m dying to have one. Sigh. I need to have The Open Door. I’m not obsessed okay?

For five years and counting, I am still a proud Evanescence fan. Especially Amy Lee (I still can’t call her Amy Hartzler even though she’s already married.). I admire her not only as a singer and songwriter but also as a person. She says what she feels with no pretenses. She’s who she is. And that personality of hers really contributed a lot to the identity of Evanescence.

Until this day, whenever I hear Evanescence songs, I still feel as good as I have when I first had my evanescent encounter. Have you ever had yours?

The Open Door

Someday, I’ll grow old and somewhat forgetful.

If I am to forget my high school days, I want to at least remember two things – friends and graduation.

By this time, I’m already an official college student. As Nelly Furtado said ‘all good things come to an end’ and this means that I am to start a new and better sojourn.

I could care less of the graduation ceremony for it was just a rehearsed manifestation of our transition from high school to college. When I mean graduation, I am pertaining to the journey and growth I have gone through the course of four years in secondary education. I became happy, frustrated, hurt, experienced and mature during the process. I gained new friends, looked up to great educators, found people who share my interests, honed my skills while discovering new ones and now, I am treasuring all the experiences I had.

Thank you, God, my parents, classmates, teachers, friends, perhaps some foes and all the great souls who made my high school days meaningful. I appreciate all the help and assistance you’ve showered me especially during the times of struggle and triumph.

Now that I am to take on another road, I am still in need of all of you guys because I couldn’t have done it without you. This may be a goodbye but I still hope to see you along the lengthy path towards my professional life.

From being a lassie, I’ve become a girl. Now, I am a teen struggling to become a woman.

Be sure to be there during my transformation.

Sayonara, High School…

Changes

Like what you see?

A friend told me that my blog gives him (yeah, he’s a guy) the creeps. At first, I was really insulted big time because I thought he was talking about my entries which contain my thoughts and feelings. And considering that he’s my friend, he shouldn’t be judging me insensitively. But as these thoughts fill my coconut shell, I hear him continue with his opinion on my blog.

“Allyne, I can’t really read your entries with those girly-colored stars and flowers lingering on the background.”

Talk about flattened. How could I doubt you, Ji-kun?!?

*glomps Ji-kun*

Okay, enough of the glomping and all that jazz. Let me tell you about what you see.

The new Seeing Blind Spot banner is a picture from my Seniors’ promenade. [Yeah, it’s new if you haven’t noticed. Scroll up. ;-) ] Anyway, I’m not really sure of when during the event did I take the picture and not to mention that it was really blurred. But the instant that I look at the picture taken by my digital camera the day after the prom, I felt so good. Even though I can’t see their faces, I see the happiness – the warmth. It’s like the moment is perfect by itself that with the feeling, there’s no need for details.

I want to share it with you. The feeling.

Of course we all have our opinions and I’m not coercing you to see the way I see but feel free to express your views. We have the liberty to see everything we want but it is our responsibility to convey our thoughts on matters. We create a difference by determining what’s right or wrong. My views. You choose. Right?

At the moment, I really am in love with the color brown. It looks so classic and earthy plus, it’s really easy on the eyes. What do you think?

Anyway, I just hope that the guys who would drop by won’t get Goosebumps due to the colors and all.

Awww…I am really missing high school. Oh, did I tell you about our graduation already? Hmm…guess not. I’ll tell you about it next time!

Sweetness,

Allyne