Values and Principles I live by – Life is what you make it

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/prompt-walk-the-line/

Daily Prompt 

Have you got a code you live by? What are the principles or set of values you actively apply in your life?

In the past year, I’ve learned that having a set of principles and values that we constantly live by allows us to step out of our comfort zone and making the most out of every single day.

1. Carpe Diem – Seize the Day

We’re never really sure if we will have a tomorrow.  Anything can happen in the blink of the eye. This is a fact that I remind myself whenever I’m too scared to do something or too scared to approach someone. This is what I tell myself when I’m feeling lazy or when I don’t feel like doing anything at all. This is what I tell myself when I doubt whether or not an idea will work. Simply put, this motto is what allows me to make the most out of each day.

2. You never know until you try

Whenever we encounter something new, our subconscious tells us to stop and go the other way. We immediately think of the possible repercussions. We are scared by the fact that we might fail or waste our time. We research and ask the opinion of others whether or not it’s worth a shot. Yet I’ve come to realize that you’ll never really know what something is like unless you experience it yourself. You won’t know whether you like something or not unless you try it out.

How a City of Bones and a Dystopian World Can Teach Us The Value of Choices and Trust!

Just this past week, I delved into the realm of Young Adult (YA) fiction works. I got to watch the movie adaption of the Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Claire and I was also able to finish reading one of the hottest books in the Young Adult fiction section, “Divergent” by Veronica Roth.

Divergent – One Choice Can Transform You

These two works of art have gained a strong fan base  and for good reason. From mind boggling plot twists to unbelievable settings, both stories are able to bring you to a world like no other while still keeping the peculiar characters grounded to the limits of reality.

The limits and weaknesses of the characters allows readers to relate to their situations and fully immerse themselves in the story. This is what makes these YA fiction works such a hit among teenagers and young adults.

The tagline of Divergent, “One choice can transform you,” says it all. In life, there will come a point where we will have to make difficult choices. There will come a point where just like the protagonist in Divergent, Beatrice, we will have to make a decision that may not always be in line with that of our loved ones. At the end of the day, it’s about living up to that choice.

My Last Second Day – Maximizing All The Resources in Xavier

Today was my last second day in Xavier (hehehe are the “last” everything getting annoying?). Similar to yesterday, we had a few different orientations again. This time, we were oriented and given talks by our principal, assistant principals and student activity programs head about the different issues and things that we should keep in mind in our final year in Xavier.

They stressed the importance of making the most out of our last year and not wasting it by doing stupid things. They encouraged us to all be more involved in the different clubs and committees. As seniors, it is our responsibility to lead and be role models to the younger batches. Being a “senior” in Xavier hasn’t really sinked in yet. It seemed just like yesterday when I was a freshman looking up to the seniors and thinking that they were so amazing and that I wanted to be just like them.

A few quick years and here I am, a senior myself. This year, I will definitely try my best to step up, inspire my fellow Xaverians and simply leave a mark. Today was another chance to do just that. Just like yesterday, a few of my batch mates and I gave talks again to the lower batches and really tried to empower them to try out new things, take every opportunity, make the most out of high school and create lasting memories.

Something I really learned today is that we students pay so much to study here in Xavier that we should really maximize what the school has to offer and all its resources. We should take our studies seriously. We shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions and debate with our teachers. We should try out new things and join the different clubs and committees. We should use the different resources like the gym and library. SImply put, we should make the most out of our stay in Xavier.

The power of the internet has definitely changed the way we live but how has it also affected the way we think?

All these things are things that I wished I did earlier. I guess it’s never too late to change. I still have one more year and I really will maximize this last year. Aside from joining a few comms already, today, I actually visited the library and borrowed two books. Imagine that? Who actually still visits the library to actually read and borrow books in this day and age where everybody is so addicted and engulfed in their gadgets and in the internet?

It was only really last year that I discovered a love for reading books. Knowledge is power and instead of buying books, why not save money and borrow from the library? So this is what I’m trying to do this year. I’m going to try my best to read as much as I can and maximize the resources in our library.

The first book that I borrowed is titled, “Is the internet changing the way you think?” and the second book is titled, “In search of history.” From the titles themselves, these two books seem like very interesting books and from reading the first few pages, I’ll definitely be learning a lot more.

Excited to learn more about the transcending events in history!

Reading books about different topics helps you learn about things that you don’t learn inside the classroom. There are thousands and thousands of books in the library and I’m sure you’ll find one that will interest you. Knowledge is power and learning never stops, so the library is one of the best places you can go to in school!

To end this blog post, I want to share with you a quote that our assistant principal shared with us from the “Man of Steel” movie, “One day, you’re going to have to make a choice. You have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be.”

Senior year will definitely be about making choices and will play a vital role in helping all of us decide what kind of men we want to grow up to be as we enter college year from now!

Tomorrow will finally be the start of regular classes and I just can’t wait to meet my teachers for the school year!

-DOitChoco

One Decision, Two Choices

Every day, we are faced with a profuse number of decisions to make. These decision range from minuscule and peripheral decisions to decisions that can shape your future and change your life for the rest of the way. When faced with inconsequential decisions, one can decided impulsively in an instant without any hesitation, but the same cannot be said when faced with decisions that have so much in stake.

These types of decisions are made even harder and more crucifying when one has to choose between two choices that are equally right and consequential. It becomes a really dreadful and exasperating process choosing between two things that can both possibly shape your life. Even when weighing the pros and cons of both options, a deadlock still emerges for they both offer the same amount of benefits and drawbacks.

When this happens, one starts to look at the possible outcomes and what it can do for his/her future. Like they say, we only live once, and there are some choices that we have to make that will forever impact our life and once made, there will be no looking back.

This is the dilemma I face right now, having to choose between two things that are so different but at the same time so alike. Two things that mean so much to me yet there can only be one. Two things that have so much mystery and uncertainty clouding them. Two things that if I commit to will definitely shape who I am and all my experiences in the near future.

Aside from your inner demons constantly arguing for the different choices and options regularly, added to the equation are your friends, family and other outsiders who try to help you but end up confusing you even more. I’ve realized that you should ask for the opinion of others for they might have a different perspective, but at the same time, it’s just as vital to follow your heart and know what you want for it’s still your life and you should be ultimately be able to live up to your decision and have no regrets.

Situations like these can be a daunting, mind-blowing, heart wrenching process that can drive people crazy but that’s life for you. There’s no use in stressing yourself, over thinking and worrying about the future for there are a myriad of possibilities that can happen that you truly cannot tell what will unfold in the next day, month or week.

I guess it’s time to listen to my own advice, follow my heart, make a final decision, commit myself, and pray for the best!

-DOitChoco