Haru Wee (not her real name) sometimes slits her wrist to cope with sadness. Pain to relieve pain.
“Nagiging ok ako kapag nasasaktan ang sarili ko. Doon ko kasi nalalabas ang galit at hinanakit ko. Yun yung coping mechanism ko ‘pag depressed ako.” Haru is a 17-year old college student of Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
She looks just like hundreds of other ADZU coed. She is fashionable, a bit emo, a bit rocker. Only her eyes and the hunch of her shoulder reveals a little of how she feels. She feels alone. She had been through heartbreaks. She wants to scream and forget about how depressed she is. But she just cannot. What she can do is hurt herself. She slits her wrists. She bangs her head into walls. She also punches the wall until her knuckles bleed. In these ways she feels good.
That is Haru.
It is not easy when you feel overwhelmed by painful emotions and situations. You feel pressured. You think negatively over things.
Inflicting pain to yourself may be one of those solutions that right away pop in your mind when you want to relieve pain. This mentality may be common to some depressed people such as Haru. Painful acts become physically dangerous means of coping with depression.
Depression is a clinical state where you become physiologically inactive. It basically leads you to suppress your own worth. It also affects your thoughts. You become grounded on emotional pain.
Why do some depressed people think that pain can relieve pain?
“We do not know. It is on their perception,” Psychology professor Jayson Sabdilon said.
They may be disturbed and confused. A lot of things are swirling in their heads that they do not know what is right to do. They may think that pain is needed to equate pain.
It may also be because of their curiosity. When depressed, they explore and later on realize that in inflicting pain to themselves they can express their emotions, making it a coping mechanism just like in the case of Haru.
Does it need to be prevented?
Yes. Any harmful or painful act must be prevented. It is healthy neither to yourself nor to the people around you.
Sabdilon said that talking it out with friends, trusted elders, teachers, and counselors would help. You have to ask questions: What is painful? Why is it painful? What will I do? “Express” yourself. He added that misunderstanding with people around you could happen if you don’t express. This would be useful for them to know what to do to help you. If you are that sick, seek medication right away. Consult those experts in the field.
Find someone or something that can motivate you to stop hurting yourself whenever problems arise. Don’t give yourself the additional burden of trying to deal with it alone. Talking things through can give you opportunity to consider other solutions to problems. It may help you feel less alone, more cared, and understood.
Life is a series of ups and downs. Your attitude towards it matters.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Malpractices - Hongco - Absenteeism
BEING ABSENT: WILL? WON'T? WHY?
If a good student is someone who is never absent from class, can you call yourself a good student?
Being absent or ditching from class due to reasons unacceptable to the school is generally not considered cool by students. However, it is exactly what most students do. A few honest students readily admit that laziness is the root cause of most, if not all, of their absences. They are also quick to point fingers: “If teachers also get absent from class once in a while because they just don’t feel like teaching, why can’t we?”.
Criselle Puno, a 2nd year BSMC student of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, said that she is guilty of being absent from class due to laziness. She is not alone. A 3rd year BSN student who refused to give his name, also confessed that the reason he always misses his classes is because he just “doesn’t feel like sitting in a boring six-hour class”.
Francis Jay Llenado, Director of Student Affairs, has observed these tendencies. He points out that even though the College Student Handbook clearly outlines the consequences of being absent too often, the sad truth is that most students do not even bother reading it. In the handbook, the allowed number of hours for absences is five for a two-unit subject, seven for a
three-unit subject and 12 for a five-unit subject within a given semester.
A student who has exceeded the allowed number of hours for absences, unless excused, is dropped from the class. Llenado also explained that dropping a student is a teacher’s decision. When asked what he thinks is the reason why students commit unnecessary absences, he simply said that it is possible that these students are just using the allowed number of hours for absences as an opportunity to skip class and engage in other recreational activities.
Teachers also express their concerns regarding the students’ performance in class. Some of them are even good enough to still reconsider students to pass the course despite having multiple absences. A Religious Studies teacher said that as long as the student presents a letter signed by the parents, he will still reconsider the student to stay in his class. It is not anymore his job to question or doubt the letter’s authenticity which will just lead to the student’s embarrassment. He admitted that he had no idea why students love skipping classes.
Most of the times, parents are the last to know about absenteeism in their children. Roland
Dolotina, a father of a college student, shared how he kept on giving his son baon and expecting him to do well in school, only to find out later that his son was dropped from one of his major subjects because of excessive absences. He said he had no idea that his son absented himself so much from class. Dolotina concluded that whether the reason is valid or not, all students commit absences, and that ditching is “part of a student’s life”.
If a good student is someone who is never absent from class, can you call yourself a good student?
Being absent or ditching from class due to reasons unacceptable to the school is generally not considered cool by students. However, it is exactly what most students do. A few honest students readily admit that laziness is the root cause of most, if not all, of their absences. They are also quick to point fingers: “If teachers also get absent from class once in a while because they just don’t feel like teaching, why can’t we?”.
Criselle Puno, a 2nd year BSMC student of Ateneo de Zamboanga University, said that she is guilty of being absent from class due to laziness. She is not alone. A 3rd year BSN student who refused to give his name, also confessed that the reason he always misses his classes is because he just “doesn’t feel like sitting in a boring six-hour class”.
Francis Jay Llenado, Director of Student Affairs, has observed these tendencies. He points out that even though the College Student Handbook clearly outlines the consequences of being absent too often, the sad truth is that most students do not even bother reading it. In the handbook, the allowed number of hours for absences is five for a two-unit subject, seven for a
three-unit subject and 12 for a five-unit subject within a given semester.
A student who has exceeded the allowed number of hours for absences, unless excused, is dropped from the class. Llenado also explained that dropping a student is a teacher’s decision. When asked what he thinks is the reason why students commit unnecessary absences, he simply said that it is possible that these students are just using the allowed number of hours for absences as an opportunity to skip class and engage in other recreational activities.
Teachers also express their concerns regarding the students’ performance in class. Some of them are even good enough to still reconsider students to pass the course despite having multiple absences. A Religious Studies teacher said that as long as the student presents a letter signed by the parents, he will still reconsider the student to stay in his class. It is not anymore his job to question or doubt the letter’s authenticity which will just lead to the student’s embarrassment. He admitted that he had no idea why students love skipping classes.
Most of the times, parents are the last to know about absenteeism in their children. Roland
Dolotina, a father of a college student, shared how he kept on giving his son baon and expecting him to do well in school, only to find out later that his son was dropped from one of his major subjects because of excessive absences. He said he had no idea that his son absented himself so much from class. Dolotina concluded that whether the reason is valid or not, all students commit absences, and that ditching is “part of a student’s life”.
Malpractices - Bunda - Noise in the Library
SHH! THIS IS THE LIBRARY!
Miss Bookish took a deep breath to calm her nerves. There she was, seated at a far corner of the library, desperately trying to cram all sorts of information into her cranium when a group of giggling, gossiping and gamboling girls sat beside her at the table. Miss Bookish ignored them and tried her best to remain focused on her notes. The girls, however, continued to annoy her with their silly topics of boys, make-up, more boys, clothes, boys yet again, etc., etc. Miss Bookish finally lost it when one of the girls banged her fist on the table and shook with uncontrollable laughter, causing Miss Bookish to jump out of her seat. Miss Bookish then glared at the girls, hissed at them, and signaled that they keep quiet.
She hoped they would get the message. She hoped they would move out to gossip someplace else. She hoped they would leave her in peace.
The girls twittered away, however, and acted as though Miss Bookish were air. She was thinking of horrifying punishments for the errant library users when the bell rang and they noisily gathered their things. She, too, hurriedly gathered her things, and glaring at the girls’ backs, fell into step behind them, then afterwards sighed and shook her head.
Miss Bookish’s dilemma is not uncommon. Many regular “library geeks” in Ateneo de Zamboanga University know that noise inside the library has become a tradition, of sorts.
One such library geek, Heras Capitanea, a sophomore taking up BSMA, says “nakakainis minsan” (Sometimes it’s irritating) when other students make noise. “Library is library diba; it’s supposed to be a place for studying”. He later adds: “Pero minsan din nag-iingay kami, minsan lang naman” (But sometimes we make noise, too).
“Hindi talaga maiwasan ang pag-usap” (Talking can’t be helped inside the library) shares freshman Trazacil Jimenez, a BSMA student. “Kasi kung may assignment, kailangan ng sharing of ideas, kaya hindi na nasusunod yung observe silence rule” (The observe silence rule is ignored because we need to share ideas while doing our assignments).
While Capitanea and Jimenez admit that noise is unavoidable in the library, a 3rd year BS Psychology student, however, has this to say: “Yeesh. Mga buang jud sila. Maingay kasi. ‘Di ako makaconcentrate kasi ang ingay nila (People are nuts. They’re too noisy. I can’t study because of the noise).
Some students use the library for its intended purposes. Many students, though, seek the library for more colorful reasons.
Amilbahar Mawallil, a 4th year student at BSMC confesses that he goes to the library simply to sleep. “Pumupunta ako don kasi malamig ‘yung aircon, masarap matulog. Sa clinic sana, kasi may kama, kaso wala naman akong sakit, kaya sa library na lang” (I go to the library because it’s a perfect place for sleeping. I thought of going to the clinic because they have a bed there, but I wasn’t sick, so I’d go to the library). He also admitted that “kaso, minsan hindi ako makatulog kasi maingay, kaya pagdating ng mga friends ko, mag-iingay na lang rin ako” (Sometimes I can’t sleep because of the noise so when my friends come I just chat with them).
Some, like senior Nursing student Gem Dayrit, shares her sentiments with Mawallil: “Maganda mag-ingay don! Gustung-gusto ko don. ‘Di naman kami napapagalitan, nagtiting-ting (referring to the bell-ringer) lang man sila sa ‘min” (I like it there! Even if we make noise, they just ring the bell and that’s it.)
Senior BSMC student Almera Sulan also admits that she makes noise in the library whenever the library staff is out of sight. “Kapag masarap yung usapan minsan ‘di ko na napapansin na lumalakas na pala yung boses ko (I get really loud when a story is so interesting).”
Noise in the library had not only earned the ire of students, but also the ire of the librarians. Nikko Ballovar, usually found on the ground floor at the Periodical section, expresses her frustration with the noisemakers. “I’m very frustrated with those people because of the noise they make. Although there are other places where they could go to talk, they insist on coming here and make noise. It’s supposed to be a library, a place for reading and studying, and yet they are doing just the opposite.”
Emiline Tuazon, the Reference Staff, says she feels sorry for the students who read and study there. “They get distracted by the noise, and they can’t concentrate” she says.
To combat the noise caused by students, the library staff installed aluminum glass frames to the tables, effectively separating the groups of students. This has generated mixed feedback from both the library staff and students. For Tuazon, the glass frames have helped reduce the noise inside the libray. “Since there’s a wall between them, they can concentrate more on their work instead of talking to their friends. Besides, the frames were designed so each student can have their own personal work space so they can work solo.”
Students like Felomena Baal, a 4th year from BSMC, think that the frames are ineffective. “May naririnig pa rin akong bulung-bulongan, nakakairita. Sumikip lang tuloy ang library” (I can still hear people whispering, it’s irritating. The library feels more cramped than before).
The 3rd year Psychology student who insists to remain unnamed said that “parang nasa loob ako ng aquarium. I know it’s supposed to reduce noise pero maingay pa rin. Yeesh. (I feel like I’m in an aquarium. It’s supposed to reduce noise but people are still noisy).
Asked whether the frames have clammed up noisemakers, Mawallil said that he has doubts. “Hindi man. ‘yung iba sige pa rin sa pagkukuwentuhan. ‘Dun nila mina-maximize yung pagkuwentuhan nila sa mga tables na wala pang frames” (Not really. I still see people talking at tables where there are no frames).
Whether students frequent the library for the right reasons or not, it is no doubt one of the most popular places to stay in. For Miss Bookish, her kindred souls, and the librarians, time will tell when students will eventually find the heart to regard that simple yet venerable sign: OBSERVE SILENCE IN THE LIBRARY.
…Ssh!
Miss Bookish took a deep breath to calm her nerves. There she was, seated at a far corner of the library, desperately trying to cram all sorts of information into her cranium when a group of giggling, gossiping and gamboling girls sat beside her at the table. Miss Bookish ignored them and tried her best to remain focused on her notes. The girls, however, continued to annoy her with their silly topics of boys, make-up, more boys, clothes, boys yet again, etc., etc. Miss Bookish finally lost it when one of the girls banged her fist on the table and shook with uncontrollable laughter, causing Miss Bookish to jump out of her seat. Miss Bookish then glared at the girls, hissed at them, and signaled that they keep quiet.
She hoped they would get the message. She hoped they would move out to gossip someplace else. She hoped they would leave her in peace.
The girls twittered away, however, and acted as though Miss Bookish were air. She was thinking of horrifying punishments for the errant library users when the bell rang and they noisily gathered their things. She, too, hurriedly gathered her things, and glaring at the girls’ backs, fell into step behind them, then afterwards sighed and shook her head.
Miss Bookish’s dilemma is not uncommon. Many regular “library geeks” in Ateneo de Zamboanga University know that noise inside the library has become a tradition, of sorts.
One such library geek, Heras Capitanea, a sophomore taking up BSMA, says “nakakainis minsan” (Sometimes it’s irritating) when other students make noise. “Library is library diba; it’s supposed to be a place for studying”. He later adds: “Pero minsan din nag-iingay kami, minsan lang naman” (But sometimes we make noise, too).
“Hindi talaga maiwasan ang pag-usap” (Talking can’t be helped inside the library) shares freshman Trazacil Jimenez, a BSMA student. “Kasi kung may assignment, kailangan ng sharing of ideas, kaya hindi na nasusunod yung observe silence rule” (The observe silence rule is ignored because we need to share ideas while doing our assignments).
While Capitanea and Jimenez admit that noise is unavoidable in the library, a 3rd year BS Psychology student, however, has this to say: “Yeesh. Mga buang jud sila. Maingay kasi. ‘Di ako makaconcentrate kasi ang ingay nila (People are nuts. They’re too noisy. I can’t study because of the noise).
Some students use the library for its intended purposes. Many students, though, seek the library for more colorful reasons.
Amilbahar Mawallil, a 4th year student at BSMC confesses that he goes to the library simply to sleep. “Pumupunta ako don kasi malamig ‘yung aircon, masarap matulog. Sa clinic sana, kasi may kama, kaso wala naman akong sakit, kaya sa library na lang” (I go to the library because it’s a perfect place for sleeping. I thought of going to the clinic because they have a bed there, but I wasn’t sick, so I’d go to the library). He also admitted that “kaso, minsan hindi ako makatulog kasi maingay, kaya pagdating ng mga friends ko, mag-iingay na lang rin ako” (Sometimes I can’t sleep because of the noise so when my friends come I just chat with them).
Some, like senior Nursing student Gem Dayrit, shares her sentiments with Mawallil: “Maganda mag-ingay don! Gustung-gusto ko don. ‘Di naman kami napapagalitan, nagtiting-ting (referring to the bell-ringer) lang man sila sa ‘min” (I like it there! Even if we make noise, they just ring the bell and that’s it.)
Senior BSMC student Almera Sulan also admits that she makes noise in the library whenever the library staff is out of sight. “Kapag masarap yung usapan minsan ‘di ko na napapansin na lumalakas na pala yung boses ko (I get really loud when a story is so interesting).”
Noise in the library had not only earned the ire of students, but also the ire of the librarians. Nikko Ballovar, usually found on the ground floor at the Periodical section, expresses her frustration with the noisemakers. “I’m very frustrated with those people because of the noise they make. Although there are other places where they could go to talk, they insist on coming here and make noise. It’s supposed to be a library, a place for reading and studying, and yet they are doing just the opposite.”
Emiline Tuazon, the Reference Staff, says she feels sorry for the students who read and study there. “They get distracted by the noise, and they can’t concentrate” she says.
To combat the noise caused by students, the library staff installed aluminum glass frames to the tables, effectively separating the groups of students. This has generated mixed feedback from both the library staff and students. For Tuazon, the glass frames have helped reduce the noise inside the libray. “Since there’s a wall between them, they can concentrate more on their work instead of talking to their friends. Besides, the frames were designed so each student can have their own personal work space so they can work solo.”
Students like Felomena Baal, a 4th year from BSMC, think that the frames are ineffective. “May naririnig pa rin akong bulung-bulongan, nakakairita. Sumikip lang tuloy ang library” (I can still hear people whispering, it’s irritating. The library feels more cramped than before).
The 3rd year Psychology student who insists to remain unnamed said that “parang nasa loob ako ng aquarium. I know it’s supposed to reduce noise pero maingay pa rin. Yeesh. (I feel like I’m in an aquarium. It’s supposed to reduce noise but people are still noisy).
Asked whether the frames have clammed up noisemakers, Mawallil said that he has doubts. “Hindi man. ‘yung iba sige pa rin sa pagkukuwentuhan. ‘Dun nila mina-maximize yung pagkuwentuhan nila sa mga tables na wala pang frames” (Not really. I still see people talking at tables where there are no frames).
Whether students frequent the library for the right reasons or not, it is no doubt one of the most popular places to stay in. For Miss Bookish, her kindred souls, and the librarians, time will tell when students will eventually find the heart to regard that simple yet venerable sign: OBSERVE SILENCE IN THE LIBRARY.
…Ssh!
Malpractices - Jawali - Nightlife
I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE
Joey (not his real name) may look like a “boy-next-door” type of guy but actually, aside from being a generally good Ateneo college student on weekdays, he is also a “party hard” type of guy on Saturdays. You will find him almost every weekend nights in bars.
A 20-year old Business Management student, Joey is hoping to graduate this school year. For more than three years now in college, he had been going to bars with friends on weekend nights, mostly on Saturdays, to disco at Halo, Latitude or Ground Zero, or to just hang-out at the bars in the Catribo complex. It has been quite his routine but no schedule is actually made. He simply goes along with friends who invite him. Residing in Tetuan, it is not much of a bother for him to go to places, especially because he has his own motorcycle.
A way to relax and release stress caused by school stuff—this is how he defines his nightlife. However, it is not much of a stress reliever when some of his night-out buddies unexpectedly get into trouble.
Joey claims his academic performance is “okay” so far and he thinks that nightlife has nothing to do with his grades. Financially, he does not do allotment and budgeting. He spends available cash enough for himself because he goes out with friends in KKB(Kanya-kanyang bayad) basis. His parents also do not mind at all.
Though many go to the disco to meet new people, Joey is already contented with the groups of friends he has. He may hang out with different groups but he got some consistent night-out buddies.
As for his lovelife, Joey’s got a girlfriend. They have been together for more than three years now but his girlfriend does not exactly know his whereabouts all the time. There are problems that may arise because of this but again, Joey claims he knows how to handle the situation.
Joey values his spiritual life. With the retreat he recently attended, he realized that some aspects of his nightlife contradicts with some Jesuit concepts of a spiritual life. However, he still considers himself a devout Catholic.
For Joey, there’s really nothing wrong with nightlife. He does not necessarily recommend it to other students but he believes that while still young, teenagers should also try to socialize and give time to enjoy life because “age is something that goes up and never goes down” and time can never be turned back.
Joey (not his real name) may look like a “boy-next-door” type of guy but actually, aside from being a generally good Ateneo college student on weekdays, he is also a “party hard” type of guy on Saturdays. You will find him almost every weekend nights in bars.
A 20-year old Business Management student, Joey is hoping to graduate this school year. For more than three years now in college, he had been going to bars with friends on weekend nights, mostly on Saturdays, to disco at Halo, Latitude or Ground Zero, or to just hang-out at the bars in the Catribo complex. It has been quite his routine but no schedule is actually made. He simply goes along with friends who invite him. Residing in Tetuan, it is not much of a bother for him to go to places, especially because he has his own motorcycle.
A way to relax and release stress caused by school stuff—this is how he defines his nightlife. However, it is not much of a stress reliever when some of his night-out buddies unexpectedly get into trouble.
Joey claims his academic performance is “okay” so far and he thinks that nightlife has nothing to do with his grades. Financially, he does not do allotment and budgeting. He spends available cash enough for himself because he goes out with friends in KKB(Kanya-kanyang bayad) basis. His parents also do not mind at all.
Though many go to the disco to meet new people, Joey is already contented with the groups of friends he has. He may hang out with different groups but he got some consistent night-out buddies.
As for his lovelife, Joey’s got a girlfriend. They have been together for more than three years now but his girlfriend does not exactly know his whereabouts all the time. There are problems that may arise because of this but again, Joey claims he knows how to handle the situation.
Joey values his spiritual life. With the retreat he recently attended, he realized that some aspects of his nightlife contradicts with some Jesuit concepts of a spiritual life. However, he still considers himself a devout Catholic.
For Joey, there’s really nothing wrong with nightlife. He does not necessarily recommend it to other students but he believes that while still young, teenagers should also try to socialize and give time to enjoy life because “age is something that goes up and never goes down” and time can never be turned back.
Malpractices - Ariel - Cramming and Procrastination
STUDENT AS CRAMMER AND PROCRASTINATOR
Matt is 8 minutes late. His Philosophy class’ long quiz has already started when he arrived panting at the classroom door. He quickly sat down and begged for paper from his seatmate who gave Matt what he wanted with a deep frown. The teacher was already reading question number 7. Matt cursed to himself for missing six questions: If only he woke up early that day. He overslept because he went to bed at 3 o’clock in the morning doing his English class project which was due today. He is not ready for this announced quiz. He had tried to review his notes when he was on his way to school. While taking the quiz, Matt could not concentrate. He could already guess what his score will be.
This scene is common among students. Every student has committed, at least once in his college career, the crime of cramming and procrastination.
Cramming is working intensively to absorb large volumes of informational material in short amounts of time while procrastination is a behavior characterized by the deferment of tasks to a later time. Students usually cram to prepare for an exam while procrastinating is used as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety of starting a task or decision.
The effects of procrastination are stress, a sense of guilt, the loss of personal productivity, the creation of crisis and disapproval from others for not fulfilling one’s responsibilities.
It is caused by psychological issues of anxiety, low sense of self worth and a self- defeating mentality. Further procrastination leads to cramming which results to poor long- term retention of the material studied.
Cramming however is considered to be advantageous to others. According to W. G. Sommer, students in a university system often adapt to the time- constraints that are placed upon them in college, and use cramming to perform well on tests. “Many students outwardly adapt to this system, however, engage in an intense and private ritual that comprises five aspects: calculated procrastination, preparatory anxiety, climactic cramming, nick- of- time deadline- making, and a secret, if often uncelebrated, victory,” Sommer stated in one if his article.
Consider the situation of Jon (not his real name), a 2nd year masscom student who finds cramming and procrastination advantageous and does them because of 3 reasons. First, he said that he can do everything he wants to do like sleeping, playing computer games or going out with his friends during those times that he has to do his assignments or study his lessons. Second, he said that if he makes his homework during those times, the output will usually be ugly because he does not have the mood and he is not interested in doing them. His mind will be usually empty. Third, his mind functions greatly when the deadline for an assignment or the exam is near. “The times when I am motivated to do a requirement is when the deadline is just hours away because my mind will work already,” Jon stated. Thus, cramming or procrastination becomes an advantage and for him they are already part of his system when it comes to his studies.
Sheila V. Lim, a part time teacher from the School of Liberal Arts and a guidance counselor says that students cram and procrastinate because they have a lot to do, so many distractions, they get easily bored, and try to do a number of things at once and they lack focus. On the issue of whose fault it is why students cram and procrastinate, she said that no one’s to blame because as humans, students always have the freedom to choose and to make options. She believes in taking responsibility of one’s actions and knowing one’s priorities in life or even for the week. According to her, if a student knows this, then most likely he or she would not cram because he or she will work for which of significance in his or her life.
But what can a student do to help himself or herself when procrastinating and cramming do not help his or her school performance?
According to Lim, some say that they think well when the deadline right is in front of their noses just like Jon’s case but she believes otherwise. “If you make the most of the allotted time given to you for a project for instance, like a week, then you can slowly plan for it and work for the accomplishment of the project. In that situation, you not only budget time but you can budget your allowance too and will have fun in the process. The leaser stress you will experience and a quality project would most likely be the end product”, she said. “I’ve seen students do their projects a day before the deadline and the end result is glued pages which cannot be read and ends in the wastebasket. Hence, a day has gone to waste not to forget the effort and money spent,” she further explained.
To sum it all, cramming and procrastination can still be removed as bad habits by just
simply changing one’s ways in dealing with responsibilities as a student before they totally destroy one’s ego. But as long as procrastination and cramming are helpful and they have no negative effects on a student’s performance unlike most of the cases, there is nothing to worry.
Inside the Philosophy classroom once again just as the bell rang, Matt sat on his seat with just a pen and a sheet of paper on his desk waiting for the questions from the teacher. A contented smile played on his lips. He had passed his requirements in his Economic class early this morning and he had been prepared for another long quiz since yesterday. He does not have to worry...
Matt is 8 minutes late. His Philosophy class’ long quiz has already started when he arrived panting at the classroom door. He quickly sat down and begged for paper from his seatmate who gave Matt what he wanted with a deep frown. The teacher was already reading question number 7. Matt cursed to himself for missing six questions: If only he woke up early that day. He overslept because he went to bed at 3 o’clock in the morning doing his English class project which was due today. He is not ready for this announced quiz. He had tried to review his notes when he was on his way to school. While taking the quiz, Matt could not concentrate. He could already guess what his score will be.
This scene is common among students. Every student has committed, at least once in his college career, the crime of cramming and procrastination.
Cramming is working intensively to absorb large volumes of informational material in short amounts of time while procrastination is a behavior characterized by the deferment of tasks to a later time. Students usually cram to prepare for an exam while procrastinating is used as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety of starting a task or decision.
The effects of procrastination are stress, a sense of guilt, the loss of personal productivity, the creation of crisis and disapproval from others for not fulfilling one’s responsibilities.
It is caused by psychological issues of anxiety, low sense of self worth and a self- defeating mentality. Further procrastination leads to cramming which results to poor long- term retention of the material studied.
Cramming however is considered to be advantageous to others. According to W. G. Sommer, students in a university system often adapt to the time- constraints that are placed upon them in college, and use cramming to perform well on tests. “Many students outwardly adapt to this system, however, engage in an intense and private ritual that comprises five aspects: calculated procrastination, preparatory anxiety, climactic cramming, nick- of- time deadline- making, and a secret, if often uncelebrated, victory,” Sommer stated in one if his article.
Consider the situation of Jon (not his real name), a 2nd year masscom student who finds cramming and procrastination advantageous and does them because of 3 reasons. First, he said that he can do everything he wants to do like sleeping, playing computer games or going out with his friends during those times that he has to do his assignments or study his lessons. Second, he said that if he makes his homework during those times, the output will usually be ugly because he does not have the mood and he is not interested in doing them. His mind will be usually empty. Third, his mind functions greatly when the deadline for an assignment or the exam is near. “The times when I am motivated to do a requirement is when the deadline is just hours away because my mind will work already,” Jon stated. Thus, cramming or procrastination becomes an advantage and for him they are already part of his system when it comes to his studies.
Sheila V. Lim, a part time teacher from the School of Liberal Arts and a guidance counselor says that students cram and procrastinate because they have a lot to do, so many distractions, they get easily bored, and try to do a number of things at once and they lack focus. On the issue of whose fault it is why students cram and procrastinate, she said that no one’s to blame because as humans, students always have the freedom to choose and to make options. She believes in taking responsibility of one’s actions and knowing one’s priorities in life or even for the week. According to her, if a student knows this, then most likely he or she would not cram because he or she will work for which of significance in his or her life.
But what can a student do to help himself or herself when procrastinating and cramming do not help his or her school performance?
According to Lim, some say that they think well when the deadline right is in front of their noses just like Jon’s case but she believes otherwise. “If you make the most of the allotted time given to you for a project for instance, like a week, then you can slowly plan for it and work for the accomplishment of the project. In that situation, you not only budget time but you can budget your allowance too and will have fun in the process. The leaser stress you will experience and a quality project would most likely be the end product”, she said. “I’ve seen students do their projects a day before the deadline and the end result is glued pages which cannot be read and ends in the wastebasket. Hence, a day has gone to waste not to forget the effort and money spent,” she further explained.
To sum it all, cramming and procrastination can still be removed as bad habits by just
simply changing one’s ways in dealing with responsibilities as a student before they totally destroy one’s ego. But as long as procrastination and cramming are helpful and they have no negative effects on a student’s performance unlike most of the cases, there is nothing to worry.
Inside the Philosophy classroom once again just as the bell rang, Matt sat on his seat with just a pen and a sheet of paper on his desk waiting for the questions from the teacher. A contented smile played on his lips. He had passed his requirements in his Economic class early this morning and he had been prepared for another long quiz since yesterday. He does not have to worry...
Addiction - Sorioso - Pornography
WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT
“I can’t believe it happened!” exclaimed Martin (not his real name). He was left home alone on a Saturday afternoon. His parents were at work and he had no idea where his siblings were. He was searching for his portfolio when he came across this old wooden box inside the house’ spare bedroom. He opened it hoping he could find his portfolio. What he saw was not something he expected to find. He had never seen the like of it before, a stranger to his eyes. It was a pornographic CD.
Pornography is any material intended primarily to arouse sexual desire. It may take the form of printed literature, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, internet, sound recording, film, video or video game. As technology advances and the proliferation of mass media, access to pornography becomes easier. With the increasing number of pornographic websites, these materials are practically one click away.
The word pornography comes from the Greek porne which means whore or prostitutes and graphien which means to write. Early Greeks did frescos or wall paintings on prostitution houses to advertise the services available inside.
Although the CD was unfamiliar, Martin knew that it was porn. How could he not know it? His classmates talk about it all the time and even encouraged him watch one.
“I was curious. I played it on the VCD player. I was nervous. I was uneasy. I was shocked.”
Martin is a 3rd year student of Ateneo de Zambianga University. He is active in his church’s youth group. He attends church service every Sunday and the youth fellowships every afternoon. He reads the Bible a lot, including those readings that warn about the dangers of lust. He chose not to expose his real name for fear of his reputation as a youth leader.
“I felt filthy and impure for doing that (watching the CD). How I hate the owner of that CD!”
He remembered how he scolds his classmates for watching porn. He remembered the simultaneous disgust and pity that he felt for them. Every night, he prayed that his classmates would realize that they were doing something not pleasing to God. “But now, I don’t know if I could do that still.”
To his frustration and shame, he found the temptation much stronger than he was. Eventually, every time he was left home alone, he would find himself getting the CD from the old wooden box and watching its content.
Teens by nature are sexually curious and sexually aggressive. Pornography often serves as an alternative tool for the real sexual act. Instead of really having sex, pornography helps them to be sexually satisfied.
In an informal survey conducted for this article, 10 out of 10 students said curiosity is one of the top reasons for accessing pornographic material. The same students named sexual pleasure as the main reason for accessing it a second time.
All students have seen pornographic materials. The video CD and the internet are the top sources.
Another student, Paul, said, “habang tumatagal, nakakasawa ng panoorin ang porn. It is like watching the same basketball game with just different players—the same thrill, the same plot.”
Opinions vary on the effects of pornography. One student said that pornography can easily lead to students engaging in premarital sex. Half of the students interviewed said that for porn by itself cannot trigger engaging in premarital sex, that other factors are required.
Most religions stand firmly against pornography. Most governments outlaw it. But pornography continues to thrive, with the youth forming a large part of their market.
“I can’t believe it happened!” exclaimed Martin (not his real name). He was left home alone on a Saturday afternoon. His parents were at work and he had no idea where his siblings were. He was searching for his portfolio when he came across this old wooden box inside the house’ spare bedroom. He opened it hoping he could find his portfolio. What he saw was not something he expected to find. He had never seen the like of it before, a stranger to his eyes. It was a pornographic CD.
Pornography is any material intended primarily to arouse sexual desire. It may take the form of printed literature, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, internet, sound recording, film, video or video game. As technology advances and the proliferation of mass media, access to pornography becomes easier. With the increasing number of pornographic websites, these materials are practically one click away.
The word pornography comes from the Greek porne which means whore or prostitutes and graphien which means to write. Early Greeks did frescos or wall paintings on prostitution houses to advertise the services available inside.
Although the CD was unfamiliar, Martin knew that it was porn. How could he not know it? His classmates talk about it all the time and even encouraged him watch one.
“I was curious. I played it on the VCD player. I was nervous. I was uneasy. I was shocked.”
Martin is a 3rd year student of Ateneo de Zambianga University. He is active in his church’s youth group. He attends church service every Sunday and the youth fellowships every afternoon. He reads the Bible a lot, including those readings that warn about the dangers of lust. He chose not to expose his real name for fear of his reputation as a youth leader.
“I felt filthy and impure for doing that (watching the CD). How I hate the owner of that CD!”
He remembered how he scolds his classmates for watching porn. He remembered the simultaneous disgust and pity that he felt for them. Every night, he prayed that his classmates would realize that they were doing something not pleasing to God. “But now, I don’t know if I could do that still.”
To his frustration and shame, he found the temptation much stronger than he was. Eventually, every time he was left home alone, he would find himself getting the CD from the old wooden box and watching its content.
Teens by nature are sexually curious and sexually aggressive. Pornography often serves as an alternative tool for the real sexual act. Instead of really having sex, pornography helps them to be sexually satisfied.
In an informal survey conducted for this article, 10 out of 10 students said curiosity is one of the top reasons for accessing pornographic material. The same students named sexual pleasure as the main reason for accessing it a second time.
All students have seen pornographic materials. The video CD and the internet are the top sources.
Another student, Paul, said, “habang tumatagal, nakakasawa ng panoorin ang porn. It is like watching the same basketball game with just different players—the same thrill, the same plot.”
Opinions vary on the effects of pornography. One student said that pornography can easily lead to students engaging in premarital sex. Half of the students interviewed said that for porn by itself cannot trigger engaging in premarital sex, that other factors are required.
Most religions stand firmly against pornography. Most governments outlaw it. But pornography continues to thrive, with the youth forming a large part of their market.
Addiction - Sumpo - Fashion
MALAKAS IS NOW MAGANDA TOO
Stereotyping in fashion is gone, at least in the sense that it is now socially acceptable for men to be fashion-conscious. There is even a term for such men: metrosexual.
Before, the only men who put on makeup were the gays or performance actors. But today heterosexual males wearing makeup is considered ordinary. Students, professionals, and even macho sports icons use makeup everywhere and every time.
A Japanese website posts an ad about make-overs for men. Other products and services in the website are about spas, jewelry, and beauty salons for men. The existence of these websites, these products and services show that men are now less shy about using cosmetics, curling or straightening their hair, plucking their eyebrows, and smoothing their complexions with facials.
Aside from facial care and cosmetics, dressing up by men is changing. Filipino males are traditionally conservative in their choice of clothes. The Filipino male’s ideal outfit used to be something that was clean and neat, never trendy, never something that will make them stand out. But walking through the Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus on a Friday, the day students do not have to wear their uniform, you will see just how much the typical Ateneo male student have changed in their attitudes to dressing up. Many wear such trendy items as colored pants, very skinny pants, multi-colored shirts, cardigans and jackets. They also now accessorize with large and multiple necklaces and large and multiple bracelets. Definitely, the look is more stylish than conservative.
The time when only women were allowed to beauty conscious, of becoming “shopaholics” and fashion addicts is gone.
Ronald (not his real name) is a fashion addict. He said that primary influence of his addiction to fashion was his mother. He grew up with his mother constantly telling him to look good and presentable. Ronald frequently shops for new clothes and accessories, go to spas for facials, and visit the salon for his hair.
“Today men and women are equal. Women usually are said to be fashionable. But now a lot of men are also fashionable. I myself am very inclined to fashion. I usually shop for good clothes which are the newest trend, even if my closet has overflowed due to my excessive purchase of my desired items” he added.
He also said that another reason for his being an addict to fashion is because he wants to be recognized and respected by his friends and especially by other girls. He said that many of his friends are “de alto sociedad” who do not tolerate inappropriate self-presentation. He continued, “Being fashionista is about style and looks. If you look ugly then you are not a fashionista, and you’ll be rejected by your friends or by the person you like.”
A new study conducted by scientists at the University of Buffalo and the University of Kent in the United States revealed that it is fear of rejection that makes people self-conscious about their looks.
The researches said that the results "suggest that physically attractive people are less stigmatized by others in this society, and have significant advantages in many areas of life than those who are viewed as physically unattractive."
The research further noted that people who put a great pressure on themselves to look attractive putting themselves at the risk of for experiencing negative outcomes that may limit their development and enjoyment of life in many ways.
Kevin Tampol’s style is punk and Goth. For him fashion builds character. “Everyone has to know that when people see the image that you portray, they will consider your personality (based) on the way you look.” As an example, he said that if you dress up like a gangster then people would treat you as a gangster.
For Tampol, pressure from peers is a great factor in the increase of fashion consciousness among young Filipino males. “When you dress inappropriately people might not entertain you. So for me it is really important for me to have a fashion sense, though I really love to look as Goths and punks but still you can’t wear them during Christmas party or birthday party.”
Ronald added that “some people won’t allow you to be with them if you don’t act like them. So being fashionista is really necessary. It can boost your self esteem.”
Some men are fashion-conscious because they wanted to be recognized. Some tend to look appropriately because they don’t want to be rejected. The mentality of recognition and fear of rejection have brought these changes to the image ‘of Malakas.
The icon of Filipino masculinity is Malakas and of Filipino femininity, Maganda. Malakas means fearless and strong and Maganda means beautiful. If Malakas acts like Maganda, should he also be called beautiful?
And if Malakas fears something, such as rejection, should he still be called Malakas?
Stereotyping in fashion is gone, at least in the sense that it is now socially acceptable for men to be fashion-conscious. There is even a term for such men: metrosexual.
Before, the only men who put on makeup were the gays or performance actors. But today heterosexual males wearing makeup is considered ordinary. Students, professionals, and even macho sports icons use makeup everywhere and every time.
A Japanese website posts an ad about make-overs for men. Other products and services in the website are about spas, jewelry, and beauty salons for men. The existence of these websites, these products and services show that men are now less shy about using cosmetics, curling or straightening their hair, plucking their eyebrows, and smoothing their complexions with facials.
Aside from facial care and cosmetics, dressing up by men is changing. Filipino males are traditionally conservative in their choice of clothes. The Filipino male’s ideal outfit used to be something that was clean and neat, never trendy, never something that will make them stand out. But walking through the Ateneo de Zamboanga University campus on a Friday, the day students do not have to wear their uniform, you will see just how much the typical Ateneo male student have changed in their attitudes to dressing up. Many wear such trendy items as colored pants, very skinny pants, multi-colored shirts, cardigans and jackets. They also now accessorize with large and multiple necklaces and large and multiple bracelets. Definitely, the look is more stylish than conservative.
The time when only women were allowed to beauty conscious, of becoming “shopaholics” and fashion addicts is gone.
Ronald (not his real name) is a fashion addict. He said that primary influence of his addiction to fashion was his mother. He grew up with his mother constantly telling him to look good and presentable. Ronald frequently shops for new clothes and accessories, go to spas for facials, and visit the salon for his hair.
“Today men and women are equal. Women usually are said to be fashionable. But now a lot of men are also fashionable. I myself am very inclined to fashion. I usually shop for good clothes which are the newest trend, even if my closet has overflowed due to my excessive purchase of my desired items” he added.
He also said that another reason for his being an addict to fashion is because he wants to be recognized and respected by his friends and especially by other girls. He said that many of his friends are “de alto sociedad” who do not tolerate inappropriate self-presentation. He continued, “Being fashionista is about style and looks. If you look ugly then you are not a fashionista, and you’ll be rejected by your friends or by the person you like.”
A new study conducted by scientists at the University of Buffalo and the University of Kent in the United States revealed that it is fear of rejection that makes people self-conscious about their looks.
The researches said that the results "suggest that physically attractive people are less stigmatized by others in this society, and have significant advantages in many areas of life than those who are viewed as physically unattractive."
The research further noted that people who put a great pressure on themselves to look attractive putting themselves at the risk of for experiencing negative outcomes that may limit their development and enjoyment of life in many ways.
Kevin Tampol’s style is punk and Goth. For him fashion builds character. “Everyone has to know that when people see the image that you portray, they will consider your personality (based) on the way you look.” As an example, he said that if you dress up like a gangster then people would treat you as a gangster.
For Tampol, pressure from peers is a great factor in the increase of fashion consciousness among young Filipino males. “When you dress inappropriately people might not entertain you. So for me it is really important for me to have a fashion sense, though I really love to look as Goths and punks but still you can’t wear them during Christmas party or birthday party.”
Ronald added that “some people won’t allow you to be with them if you don’t act like them. So being fashionista is really necessary. It can boost your self esteem.”
Some men are fashion-conscious because they wanted to be recognized. Some tend to look appropriately because they don’t want to be rejected. The mentality of recognition and fear of rejection have brought these changes to the image ‘of Malakas.
The icon of Filipino masculinity is Malakas and of Filipino femininity, Maganda. Malakas means fearless and strong and Maganda means beautiful. If Malakas acts like Maganda, should he also be called beautiful?
And if Malakas fears something, such as rejection, should he still be called Malakas?
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