Isn't it so weird finding people from your past who have changed in the present? Now people who you knew look different, or are starting families of their own. It's incredible and strange at the same time because who they were in the past is what you'll always remember and really know. But who they are in the present is a (almost) completely different person.
It really does make me reflect on my past and who I am today. There is definitely a reason why I'm not in the same circumstances as another person I knew, and I am happy with where I am. I am going into my last year of university. I have fantastic friends that I can really open up to. And I have the most supportive family that have always been there for me.
Now is the perfect time to really live out my goals for the now, not the goals of my past. I mean people at any age can change where their life is heading, but when you want something, it's better to get it done while you're young and unattached. That's what I am and for the first time, I really appreciate it. I appreciate the freedom I have.
To accomplish something you not only need that passion, but also that perseverance. You can control your effort. We all move at our own pace, and I'm glad. I take everything one step at a time.
Wednesday 28 August 2013
Wednesday 21 August 2013
Being Pro-Life
I've been wanting to write on being pro-life for some time now, and I think now is the time. I take political issues seriously, but the issue of abortion has never been an area of contention for me.
People who are pro-choice have the mind frame that a woman's body is her business, she can do whatever she wants with it. They can also make their argument that a fetus isn't a child until it is this many months in the womb.
It is scary for any woman to picture themselves young, pregnant, and unmarried. There is a stigma to it. Young mothers can be ostracized or branded many cruel names. The reason why abortion is so monopolizing is because of the ill-treatment that unwed mothers go through. They don't want to keep the baby of a person they don't love. There are also mothers who fear raising a disabled child and don't want to deal with it.
At the same time, the reality is the baby may be in their body, but they do not own the baby. The baby is his/her own person. That child did not choose to be conceived.
That being said, abortion should never be an option. There are always other options - adoption and raising the child on your own. Women who consider abortion should be counseled about the decision to give up the child or keep her.
Lastly, my father made an interesting remark to my pro-life maternal aunt about parents stopping having children after their second child is born. My aunt quickly replied:
"What about your brothers and sisters that were born after you? Would you have preferred they not been born?" Which immediately shut up my dad. Because it's so easy to think of a concept when it doesn't apply to you but when there is the reality - of breathing life, of being born, it's a different story.
People who are pro-choice have the mind frame that a woman's body is her business, she can do whatever she wants with it. They can also make their argument that a fetus isn't a child until it is this many months in the womb.
It is scary for any woman to picture themselves young, pregnant, and unmarried. There is a stigma to it. Young mothers can be ostracized or branded many cruel names. The reason why abortion is so monopolizing is because of the ill-treatment that unwed mothers go through. They don't want to keep the baby of a person they don't love. There are also mothers who fear raising a disabled child and don't want to deal with it.
At the same time, the reality is the baby may be in their body, but they do not own the baby. The baby is his/her own person. That child did not choose to be conceived.
That being said, abortion should never be an option. There are always other options - adoption and raising the child on your own. Women who consider abortion should be counseled about the decision to give up the child or keep her.
Lastly, my father made an interesting remark to my pro-life maternal aunt about parents stopping having children after their second child is born. My aunt quickly replied:
"What about your brothers and sisters that were born after you? Would you have preferred they not been born?" Which immediately shut up my dad. Because it's so easy to think of a concept when it doesn't apply to you but when there is the reality - of breathing life, of being born, it's a different story.
Rebecca Kiessling
Tuesday 20 August 2013
Mottos
~ Stand up for what you truly believe in, but be sensitive to the feelings of others.
~ There will be days when nothing feels quite right, accept those feelings and move on.
~ Don't take rejection personally, it has nothing to do with who you are as a person.
~ Help others; it is better to do favors for others than ask for favors from others.
~ Never let go of your inner child. There is wonder in exploration, imagination, and adventure.
~ There will be days when nothing feels quite right, accept those feelings and move on.
~ Don't take rejection personally, it has nothing to do with who you are as a person.
~ Help others; it is better to do favors for others than ask for favors from others.
~ Never let go of your inner child. There is wonder in exploration, imagination, and adventure.
Friday 16 August 2013
The Idea Of "Model Minority"
Something very interesting happened to me yesterday at Wonderland. While there with a fellow Asian friend we encountered, for the first time, two children who line jumped us. I was absolutely shocked and for five minutes my friend and eye looked at the girl and her younger brother, while she murmured an explanation of "leaving the line and coming back". My friend and I were passive for a minute in shock, but then I got built up the courage and told the girl that we were waiting in the line here first and it was disrespectful of her and her brother to bud in front of us. You can stand in front of the ones behind us, I said, but you can't get in front of us.
Then, I confidently said to my friend, "Come on **Lily." Lily was hesitant at first and for a brief second the young girl took advantage of that and said, "Lily's a 'good' girl" but Lily still went in front with me. The little boy however would not budge, even with me telling him that I would inform the worker that he lined jumped. He arrogantly replied, "I don't care!" When we finally reached the front of the line, I promptly informed the worker and he told the boy to leave. Shock registered in the little boy's face as he stumbled backward to where his sister was standing.
Later on, Lily and I discussed what occurred. We were both so disappointed that the children could be so disrespectful to their elders. We were two 21-year-olds in an amusement park trying to have fun, and these two kids thought they could pull a fast one on my friend and I because we were Asian and looked young, innocent, and easy to take advantage of. These children were rude and it was as if they had never heard "no," especially the little boy. He had many chances to accept that he was in the wrong and leave, but he stubbornly held his ground and acted impertinently.
What I found most interesting was how the girl called Lily a "good girl" for not speaking up. This little girl unknowingly used the stereotype of model minority against Lily. The girl tried to set up the standard of goodness based on "passive behavior." Lily was therefore set up as good for not speaking up and letting the kids bud the line, while I was set up as the contrary for speaking up and not accepting injustice.
I had never experienced the negative implications of being a "model minority" until now, and all I can say is it doesn't feel good. Speaking afterward with my friend, she told me she didn't speak up because she didn't want there to be a fight or confrontation, but she would have told the workers once we reached the end that they line jumped. I told her that I had to tell the children outright, because they had to realize that what they did wasn't right. For the record, the two children were not Asian.
**Name changed due to privacy of identity.
Then, I confidently said to my friend, "Come on **Lily." Lily was hesitant at first and for a brief second the young girl took advantage of that and said, "Lily's a 'good' girl" but Lily still went in front with me. The little boy however would not budge, even with me telling him that I would inform the worker that he lined jumped. He arrogantly replied, "I don't care!" When we finally reached the front of the line, I promptly informed the worker and he told the boy to leave. Shock registered in the little boy's face as he stumbled backward to where his sister was standing.
Later on, Lily and I discussed what occurred. We were both so disappointed that the children could be so disrespectful to their elders. We were two 21-year-olds in an amusement park trying to have fun, and these two kids thought they could pull a fast one on my friend and I because we were Asian and looked young, innocent, and easy to take advantage of. These children were rude and it was as if they had never heard "no," especially the little boy. He had many chances to accept that he was in the wrong and leave, but he stubbornly held his ground and acted impertinently.
What I found most interesting was how the girl called Lily a "good girl" for not speaking up. This little girl unknowingly used the stereotype of model minority against Lily. The girl tried to set up the standard of goodness based on "passive behavior." Lily was therefore set up as good for not speaking up and letting the kids bud the line, while I was set up as the contrary for speaking up and not accepting injustice.
I had never experienced the negative implications of being a "model minority" until now, and all I can say is it doesn't feel good. Speaking afterward with my friend, she told me she didn't speak up because she didn't want there to be a fight or confrontation, but she would have told the workers once we reached the end that they line jumped. I told her that I had to tell the children outright, because they had to realize that what they did wasn't right. For the record, the two children were not Asian.
**Name changed due to privacy of identity.
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