One person struggles, we all struggle. One person triumphs, we all triumph.

                     Coach Carter is a 2005 American biographical sports drama film. It is based on the true story of Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter. In the movie they exhibited different ideals, beliefs and values that challenged the character of Ken Carter in instilling the proper values and ideals not only of the school but also of the team of students he’s coaching to. With persistence and determination to fulfil his duties, he transcend to his players and actively foster growth and maturity. Observing the movie, a common stereotype against athletes is what was presented in the story where the players does not possess the dedication and willingness to study. However, with the entry of Ken Carter into the story, improvement started to happen and changed the way his team view education and their future. Somehow, I was able to create conclusions favouring the action committed by Ken Carter to discipline his players.

                  In the team, education wasn’t important to them because they were believed by themselves and by the system they grew up on that they wouldn’t graduate. Addition to that, it is only understandable that they wouldn’t care about the future with the situation they’re into, it might be in their past or their attitude problem. With this, Carter knew he has to do something. So as a condition, he made a contract stating some simple rules where they are required to where suites and to be seated on the front row of the class, maintaining a 2.3 average and using the term ‘Sir’ as a sign of respect. To me, this is establishing respect and gradual improvement because with this they’ve learned to see the importance of being respected and being able to maintain achievement in both aspect, education and passion.

                  I see the motive of Coach Carter of the lockdown, it is only reasonable that playing is a privilege to a student who excel in school since this is to be earned. What is it to others if you’re good at basketball or any other sports if you’re prideful and you think highly of oneself yet you cannot show any commitment to your studies?

                There is one quote that really caught my attention and it is Timo Cruz’s speech later in the movie which the answer to Ken Carter’s repeated question, “What is your deepest fear young man?” where no one has a clue as to why Coach Carter keeps asking Cruz this question.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Sir I just wanna say thank you…you saved my life.

                Cruz’s speech was affirming, positive, and uplifting, in as much as they both suggest that everybody is capable of being the captain of one’s own ship—that everybody is capable of taking control of one’s own destiny. And Coach Carter was able top stir them up to a better future. It is such a relief that after the movie, I found out that 6 of them went to college and 5 has guaranteed scholarship. I, who was only watching their life, was really amazed by the impact Coach Carter had to the them. I couldn’t imagine the smile on Ken’s face when he found out the news, seeing your inspiration manifesting to your students and knowing that they did well is so much joy. It pays off all criticism, all judgement you received along the way.

                 After watching the film and really reflecting on it afterwards, I saw the importance of providing inspiration towards others. This serves as a wake up call to me to sort out what’s important to what’s not to me. Grades may not be the definition of who you are but being educated is a good thing to be remembered about you. Studies do come first. It is the reason why we are here in the first place. Engaging in extra-curricular activities is only secondary.

                   I feel that the value of discipline and hard work served as the middle ground in creating a general agreement between the teacher and students. The ideas and sermons of Ken Carter uplifted and taught his students no other educator in the film can do. He believed that they can excel and go beyond their capabilities and become better. At the same time, Ken Carter lived his teachings by properly manifesting the ideals he promoted in his own life. He taught his life to them, he gave every piece of his experience to them which is I think the best way to teach is by imparting them your experience. And with that, they connected, they gradually saw what Coach Cater was trying to do in their life.

                 With this I conclude that, everything and everyone around you is trying to teach you a lesson. Everyone has something to show you, you just need to listen and see what is happening around you. Sort what’s important and necessary to your life because you might not know what happens next, you’ll never know when will you shoot your last ball.

           Upon researching between the stories of Homer, the Trojan War in Iliad, about Odysseus’ tricked journey and Virgil’s Aeneid took the sail to find a knew home for the surviving Troys. I saw that they have plenty of things to be discussed all together but they are distinctively different from each other. The way the story was told, the difference between how the protagonist acted through the situation and how the antagonist having a big role in the story. All stories were connected to each other, The history and the characters. Comparing the three stories was quiet difficult for me as the third one was new to me but amazingly, It was the one who stood out to me the most.

                As amazing as the three stories or poems is, I would have to say that I liked the story of Aeneas’s, Aeneid, better or I understood it more at least. The way the story was told that started with his journey and the fact that they were survivors from Troy after the Trojan War. It gives so much hope from the very beginning and when I started reading the summary of it mid-way, I honestly anticipated to know how it ended. I would say that it was told in a way that it wasn’t hard for me to understand. Unlike the other story, Iliad, I had difficulties of understanding because of the spontaneous adding of characters and their connection of each confused me. But I must say the connection between Iliad and Aeneid impressed me the most, I wasn’t shocked as I know that it was seminal. I saw more interaction of humans and the gods and goddesses in this two stories compared to Odyssey and I would really want to know more about the topic because as I read the story about Aeneas’ father and mother interested me. Aside from Odyssey, which has a character that wasn’t given much spotlight either from Iliad, Aeneid was the story that I understood most. Second was Odyssey.

                   I am not saying I did not get what Iliad was all about, it is just that the characters was thrown all at once so it might have been hard for me to keep up. Going back, Odyssey compared to Aeneid was a little bit more amusing to read because of all the ‘misadventure’ he encountered along the way to his destination. Odysseus in the story showed courage in the story for me. Despite all of the trickery Zeus sent to Odysseus’ way, he may or may not be aware of such action but he still showed determination to continue sailing even if it took him 10 years to do so. The different destination they went through was entertaining when it was told to us. Odysseus may not have much role in Iliad which might have sparked Zeus playing tricks on him. And with Iliad, actually the first of the story was very familiar to me but I can’t quiet grasp where I heard the story before. I was sure that I know the introduction all about but as the story went on, I got kind of lost on the way but I would focus on what I understood. The story was told that mortal and immortal have a extremely complex connection to each other. I would like to point out how the gods and goddesses was a treat or a threat to another. The way they interacted with each other is showing that a high-being can be involved or at least have a bias in one side not mattering if they are right or wrong. Their witty actions was one thing I saw in Iliad (ei. Athena to Zeus giving a fooled distraction during the war) and the other thing was their constant arguing or disagreement on things. It always has to have an exchange of one thing for another. And they actually like the way some characters fooled  each other in to the extent that it makes things worse.

              This books was written to be remembered and for them to be acknowledge by how great they wrote it. It was all amusing, especially the connection of characters to each other. Each story has a lesson for us to learn and a part of history for us to know. For me, each characters showed determination and fearlessness despite of all the ‘mishap’ and mayhems that occurred. The mortal and immortal connection was the thing that stood out for me, not only does it has mythology in it but I wanted to learn more about that topic because of the story behind each god and goddesses that was mentioned. It sparked an interest in me that I would love to understand such intriguing stories more despite of my incapability to comprehend with this topic. I am getting my hopes up for the next lesson that it would still include themes or having the thought like this.

              Over the last decade the popularity of social networking sites has exaggeratedly rose. As we all know that, this generation, we could say that there is not one person that is not involved in having a social media account. I would say that I’m guilty to it and do benefit with engaging with this kind of innovation. But as said, “Every medal has its own reverse.”(Dorjee, 2015) As quoted by Albert Einstein, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” As time pass by, the technology we made is slowly surpassing us. I wouldn’t be doubting that if one day, the technology we, humans, created and enhanced for our own benefit would keep us as slaves. Children now prefer playing games on online sites instead of playing outside, having the experience of the sun’s heat. While teenagers prefer posting pictures online and becoming friends with strangers in a jiffy, then having a face to face conversation.

            Facebook is one of the largest social networking company that almost  1.49 billion people are active and it still increasing every year! For me, it helps me communicate to my schoolmates to discuss matters and to keep in touch with my relatives but for others, it’s a platform to be noticed and sometimes it gets out of hand. Giving ‘Facebook Live’ as an example. It is said that Facebook Live is to connect to people who care the most for you and to express yourself your way to make it ‘more fun’ but if you search it on Google, most unexpected things would show up. And it’s horrifying to see something that is made to connect went wrong.

             Many, especially students, became more prone to frequent fluctuations of moods and self-control. Most of us are easily influenced by others.

            Speaking of Google, it helped many of us especially students with their studies since it was generated. But we know that it is not only used for searching about school-related works. Some take advantage of what they can reach with Google and some of them are mind-corrupting sites that shouldn’t be visited. Youtube could be categorise here since it helped us with all of the tutorials we could get from strangers but as said, “Not everything you see is worth seeing.”

               Sites could be harmful if you aren’t careful enough, it could locate where you are and could hack your accounts and pretend to be you. We couldn’t be so sure that we privatise everything about you because everything we type on our account will never be erased in the internet. And “it is no theory but a fact to say that our smartphone knows more about us than we do.”(Cha, 2015)

                Many of us spend more time on the virtual world than with our family. We lessen our time with them just to improve ourselves to others. It is bad for our health too. Physically, mentally and emotionally. Being to busy to take a look at yourself is very unhealthy. And not only that, a study revealed that the more time you spend on you phone, assuming that you’re browsing through social media sites, more likely for you to be depressed.(Oaklander, 2015)   One found that Social Media could be bane for them if one doesn’t control social media well.

             But enough with the Disadvantages, social media keeps us company while communicating to other people around us. It connects us together, we gather much information in a short span of time. I would say that it is neither of the two, It is not a boon nor a bane because it really depends with the person spending time in it. We can’t just blame the social media for being ‘too tempting’ that made hard for us to resist it. But we should be aware that the social media do have more Disadvantages than advantages but that doesn’t completely makes it a bane.

            Social Media helped us survived all throughout the years when we needed immediate information about something and as for schools, it gave us the chance to discuss matters with each other without overtiming ourselves at school and we don’t need to soak ourselves on books just to find something. I wouldn’t say that we should depend on it completely because we shouldn’t let ourselves dissolve in the virtual world knowing that all information would be spoon-feed to us from now on. Social Media is just here to help us live our lives easier, let’s not abuse it.

             We are now able to express ourselves to many people. Distance is no longer a boundaries to us. Knowledge is flowing through us with the help of social media. It helps us socialise without hindrances.

               In conclusion, Social Media could be a curse or a blessing to us. It gives us an easier life because as of today time is very important to us. But we should never be dependent to it and we shouldn’t abuse it.

Control social media and don’t let social media control you.

http://zeenews.india.com/news/net-news/social-networking-a-boon-or-bane-for-youth_1636289.html

http://knowledgeblob.com/social/social-media-a-boon-or-bane/

https://prezi.com/-n9vhox03jbf/social-networking-sites-bane-or-boon/https://live.fb.com/about/

http://time.com/3958128/smartphone-depression/

             Many years ago at some part of Europe has totally left their beliefs and turned to the faith of Christianity, only in the north held on to their ancestor’s beliefs. The most powerful of these gods was said to be Odin based on the epic. He ruled among the stars in Valhalla and his ravens gave him wisdom and memory. But despite the fire of the ancient powers faded, a wondrous tale arose that captured the hearts of the people.

            The story involves heroism, romanticism, courtly manners(or how a character would react on what other thinks of them), deception, and revenge that would be further discussed. It has been truly enjoyed by many readers for its adventure-like qualities and complex characters as well. But at some time before the end of the 16th century, The Nibelungenlied fell into the state of being unknown and remained forgotten until 1755, when a 13th-century manuscript was found in the Royal Library of Hohenems in Voralberg, Austria. Written at approximately 800 years ago, some 35 (mostly partial) manuscript versions still survived, proves as an evidence to its broad effect. In 2009, the three main manuscript of The Nibelungenlied, A; now at Munich, B; at St. Gall, and C; at Donaueschingen and are now inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register in recognition of their historical importance.

             In the centuries during The Nibelungenlied was lost, a new tradition of poetic theory developed in Germany. The epic poem in Middle High German is translated as The Song of the Nibelungs; “Nibelungen” is the plural of “Nibelung,” which refers to a dynasty which is conquered by the protagonist of the epic, the dragon-slayer; Siegfried. The word “lied” means “lay,” which is a Germanic word for a song, poem, or lyric. It is based on pre-christian germanic heroic motifs which is the Nibelungensaga, consisting of the Old Norse. It is told of a blacksmith that killed a mighty dragon and won a enormous amount of treasure; the dragon’s gold. Revolving to the story of the The Nibelungenlied, the discussion of the Literary Analysis will consist of the patters on how it was written where we could see the cause and effect it might have pointed out throughout the epic, its themes on where we may find the concept, thought, opinion or belief that the author is trying to express, and the literary movement; usually over the same time period where pieces of shared force of writing by the authors can be witnessed.

                  This analysis is based on everything that was read and watched. The theme as stated above, one was Heroism. As you may have known that the protagonist, Siegfried, slew a dragon thus earning the title ‘the dragon-slayer’ as would be seen or heard depends if you read it or watched it. Heroism is one of the themes that revolves around here despite of it may consist betrayal, the protagonist still tries to prove that he could be counted on or he could ‘save-their-day’ from what might happen. For example are the helps that Siegfried have been giving King Gunther throughout the epic. He may have convicted betrayal to the others that are involved but he is still trying to prove that he has that hero image, that he could be counted on. Moving on to next one, Chivalry. It is a common code behaviour in the Middle Ages, mostly associated with the tradition of knights, the terms lords and ladies, jousts, feasts, and war games. In fact, Knights came from the development of new military techniques. Their behaviour on the battlefield and in a everyday basis are expected to follow a rule; a moral, social, and religious code of conduct. Chivalry consists of the virtue of courage, honour and service as seen on The Nibelungenlied or on the Ring of the Nibelungs.

                       Betrayal would always be seen perhaps at every pages/scenes you may observe, starting from fooling Siegfried into thinking that he loves Kriemhild, making a fool out of Brunhild(the Queen of Iceland) up to breaking a ‘brother-blood’ vow. It is something commonly present in the epic thus becoming one of its nature next with greed and pride which are also a visible characters in the story where Siegfried showed it after he slew the dragon and may have proceed by him knowing that he is king, continued with the persuasion of King Gunther and Hagen that created the worst case scenario; ending up with the two main characters dead. Romanticism is also present because of all the love quest they are all involved to that created chaos because of some factors stated above. After all of this seeking revenge is common at the scenario because of the commotion and betrayal that are happening around the characters on the epic.

            The Nibelungenlied is important in modern times because of its parallels with the idea of a hero. It explains how the actions of Siegfried can be understood in a different way so that his heroism is lessen and having contradictory ideas develops in his character. The most famous modern parallel is that of the suicide bombers in Palestine; while many groups in the Arab world would consider their actions heroic and brave, most Israelis and many people in the West consider them to be terrorists. One should question whether the end justifies the means and analyze the person’s responsibilities and faults. In this way, we  may become more sensitive to the individual’s being made as a hero just to hide his destructive actions and their consequences for human life.

               In addition, Valiance covers Violence; the story of how Siegfried created the sword and names it Balmunc and the Nibelung treasure is an example of how a violent act is shown to be heroic. In the traditional understanding of the epic, where Siegfried is without doubt a hero, the story shows his physical power and his ability in this impressive accomplishments. Another view of this epic is that Siegfried unnecessarily kills to usurp the treasure and sword. Quoted by Classen: “Saying that Siegfried is a violent warrior who grabs what he can by his physical power, with no regard for justice or fairness”. If the reader interprets this tale as a show of Siegfried’s physical prowess, it is easy to ignore the openly murders within this. In the same way, modern audiences can be blinded to the obvious disregard for human life by the presentation of valiant actions.

              Discovering another type of epic kept me interested into digging deeper to background of on how it affected the way writers create literature in present time, how other countries were influenced by this, and the connection and the moral it could have thought to modern days.

                    This story has been part of the history of man, not until the late 16th century, because of its qualities that greatly portrays the themes that we may encounter as of today. The story was just not their to be written for mere entertainment but also to create impact despite of it having a season that it was diminished from the people; it still found its way to create another part of history that moulded beliefs and helped emerge ideas and thoughts that broadens our knowledge of what may be the inspiration and the message the author is trying to say to us, what it may be letting us experience, and what it might have to offer to us.

                 The importance of this story has not diminished over the years and still remains relevant in modern times. A part of history will always be a part of what we are now.

          The idea of having the ability to manipulate what would the next generation would look like sounds amazing and it is very unbelievable for us as of now but with the persistence of our scientist, this would be present in the next 10 to 20 years. And now, our scientists are making their way to the perfect, blemish less, pain-free future that all of us dreamt of through genome editing tool or most likely known as CRISPR/Cas9 or Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. It is actually a naturally-occurring, ancient defense mechanism found in a wide range of bacteria. Scientists can manipulate by attaching desired features in the code. With this, genetic mutation by pure chance is intensified rather than by letting natural selection occur. This would be a door that can’t be closed once it is completed, we would be able to create cures for any untreatable disease and could manipulate the next generation to create what we called ‘designer babies’.

            To me this would be a great start to find a cure or to eliminate such diseases that could eventually wipe out the whole human race but to tamper with the code God gave us and to change it with our own? I would have to disagree with that since I know that everything that God made has a purpose and there are no mistakes. So if God made me this way, No one neither I have the reason to change it whatsoever because I know that God made me in His own image and I am His masterpiece.

      This is very alarming for me, despite the fact that they have good intentions especially when it comes to the possible Immunity, but this would give enough information and encouragement on manipulating or tampering once code to be perfect or to be the ‘designer baby’. It is something I want to give focus to. Imagine that we have kids that can’t get sick, has an recorder IQ higher than Einstein and has no imperfection whatsoever, this might sound wonderful but imagine the things that could have took place. The child could end up worst after he/she was tested on, this could go wrong in so many ways that if it got out of hand, not only the subject would be affected but also those who are next in line.

       As what Dr David King said, “It is critical that we avoid a eugenic future in which the rich can buy themselves a baby with built-in genetic advantages. It is entirely unnecessary since there are many ethical ways to avoid such things. This research is a classic example of scientific careerism – assuring one’s place in the history books even though the research is unnecessary and unethical.”

       I can see the intentions but the things that could go wrong is far much worst than what could go right, we don’t know what could happen in the next 10 years so why do you want to stay in this world if you could enjoy Heaven? Why wish you could be Immune, if you could experience God’s miracle? It is amazing how people could find easier ways to cure diseases and especially eliminate those who hasn’t but tampering what God made, what made me ‘me’ and what made you ‘you’ is just trying to show that you are not content on what God gave you and to what God could give you. There are many things to figure out, we’re just at the tip of the iceberg, the first page of the book and there are still many things to consider and to think about. And of that is how God created you and me with a smile. Appreciate what you have before asking for more.