"THE PERFECT HOLIDAYS"

During my holidays, my aunt persuaded me to work as a volunteer at an Old Folks' Home. This was a private home with quite a number of facilities such as single rooms, a private garden, a library an audio-visual room. It was staffed with nurses. Still, my aunt, the supervisor, wanted someone who would just chat or play board games with the residents. The home was quite a distance from my house so my aunt arranged for me to stay in. I had a tiny room and bathroom to myself.

My jobs were to help at meal times and keep the folks company. On the first day, I felt Quite apprehensive. There was about a dozen old men and woman living there. One or two were confined to wheelchairs. To my seventeen-year-old eyes, they all looked ancient.

After breakfast, I played chess with an old man with twinkling eyes. His name was Uncle Raman. I planned to make him win so that he would feel good. To my surprise, he won easily. Later, I found out that he used to be a champion in his younger days. In the days that followed I played regularly with him. He taught me many new moves.

In the same way, I discovered that Madam Bibi had worked a dancer sixty years old after the Second World War. She was still very graceful. Another resident, Auntie Sal had lost her entire family many years ago. Some kind distant relatives had sold her house and given the home the money so that she would always have a roof over her head and people to take care of her. Aunt Sal would often tell me stories of her life. They were always interesting. If Madam Bibi passed by during one of the sessions, she would sniff and say, "Huh" I could tell you stories that would make your hair stand on end!"

There were many stories that these people shared with me. Often, these men and women came from comfortable backgrounds. Unfortunately, their families could not take care of them and so they ended up here. Very few suffered from serious illnesses. They were all relatively healthy. The only thing they lacked was loved and company. I tried to provide them will as much of these as I could.

One night, my aunt organised a dance. She put on music from about fifty years ago. Madam Bibi's eyes lit up. She floated to the dance to the dance floor and moved ever so gently. For the first time in my life, I realised what a beautiful woman she must have been in her youth.

When my holidays ended, I felt incredibly sad. My new friends had given me so much. They had taught me chess and dancing. They had shared stories about themselves. About all, they had shown me how incredibly lonely old age can be. Yet, none of them ever complained or felt self-pity.

They were good people. They helped me to grow up.

WHY DO STUDENT SKIP CLASS?

In many school today, skip class has become a major problem. Skip class problems range from minor problems to major problems. Minor problems include coming late to class or school, not wearing the school badge or tie and not doing homework and so on. Major problems include smoking, stealing or fighting in school.

In my opinion, these problems are caused by the school authorities, students themselves and by parents. Let me explain,

School are simply too big. Some schools have an environment of more than one thousand students. This means that most students are just 'names' on the register or 'faceless' people to school authorities. The head is usually occupied with administration and will hardly known any of the students personally. He is either away for meetings or stuck in his office. The teacher s have to grapple with large classes or floating classes and naturally will not have time to deal with students on a personal basis. Such a situation make it ideal for student skip class.

Therefore, I feel that school should be small. Classes should be small so as to foster personal interaction between teachers and student.

Let me relate a story here about discipline in the old days. When my father was a student, the headmaster was the first person to arrive in school and the last to leave. He would stand at the school gates, every single morning. Naturally, no one was ever late, including teachers! No one ever forgot their tie or badge or dressed sloppily. The headmaster led by example. All staff meetings were short so that teachers did not miss their classes. The headmaster taught Physics and English so that he got to know the student. The students respected him immensely. He was a role model for both teachers and students.

When both teachers and headmaster become role models, the morale of the school improves. In the school, the entire staff would be there to cheer for the school team during sports events or matches. You can just imagine how the students performed with the whole school cheering them.

In such situations, students learn to be proud of their school. They care about the school. They would never want create discipline problems in skip the class.

Where students are concerned, many cause skip the class because they want to show off or act 'macho'. Some feel bored. Others genuinely have a problem. However, if the teachers and school authorities are strong and consistent, most students think twice about creating problems. If teachers caring but strict, student, even the weakest ones or the naughtiest ones,respond. They learn to respect authority. So, if there are skip class, we should take a long and hard to look at the school authorities and the school set-up.

Another cause for student indiscipline is the home. Parents are the culprits. There are too busy to teach their children values and courtesy. They pamper their children and feel furious when the school discipline them.

Therefore, in conclusion, if we want to reduce the rate of student skip class, we should look at how to improve the school system. We should inculcate values in heads, teachers and students to create a sense of responsibility for the school. Finally, we should work with parents so that they know their responsibilities where their children concerned.

IF I WERE A MILLIONARE

If i were a millionare, there are a lots of things I would do. Firstly, i would give the charity. It does not mean that I am a generous or saintly person. It simply means that when we get good luck, we must thank God by giving some money to charity. I would share the money among orphanages, home for disadvantaged children, old folks homes and hospitals.

Next, I would buy a house for my parents and give them some money. They are not rich people. A house of their own would give them security. It would make them happy. It also show how much I love and respect them. I honour my parents because they work very hard to look after us.

After that, I would deposit in the bank for my future. I plan to run my own business one day. I am not very good in my studies. However, I love to work with my hands and I love be accountant. I plan to open firm company.

Once I settle my future, I would go overseas. This is always been my ambition. I love travelling. I have always wanted to visit other countries and experience different cultures. I would travel to England, Spain, France and Greece. I would travel to United State of America. I would hike in Thailand and then over to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. When I have visited as many country I want.

All these plan would take a few years. By then, my money almost finished. I would be millionare experience, understanding and maturity. I would come back and open my own firm. I would work hard. Slowly but surely, my business would grow. I would able to open more firm, give jobs to more people and give more money to my family as well as to charity. Ah, if only I were a millionare now!