Friday Field Trip, Caring Citizen?

             Last Friday, 8^th grade student had been traveling to Pattaya for a community service. They are divided into the total of three groups according to their choice such as ‘the school for the blinds, Children Daycare Center, and Father Rays children’s village’. I, myself, was chosen to go to the blinds with other students. At the school of blinds, we had the introductory video about the foundation and listen to Thai music that’s been played by the student there. I was amused by how well they played the instrument as if they were not blind, and I wonder how they’re able to play that fluently. After that, we did many activities to bond us together, as a human being. Luckily, I got a chance to play one of the games that you have to be blindfolded.  The task of the game is that you have to throw a very heavy ball to the other side of the room and pass through the opponent’s goal. It sounds easy, but the hard part is that you’re not allowed to see anything; you have to depend on your ear. The only thing that went through my mind was that what am I supposed to do? I can’t see and I can barely hear as the ball passes by. At the moment, I knew the feelings at what those people are going through. I felt so lucky that I got a chance to meet them and play with them; I just noticed that we are just one and the same. We are human beings and we should treat people as if we wanted them to treat us, no matter if they’re handicapped or deaf.

            Even though, this is one of the shortest advisement field trip I ever had, I think I’ve gained something. I learned to be one of those caring citizen and felt at what other people outside our ‘walls’ are facing.  According to the planner, it said that we should demonstrate a sincere and unconditional sense of compassion toward others.  Being able to visit the blind gave me a chance to feel passionate about others not just especially to the ones who are disabled. I should be able to respect others in the same age and gender as well. In my opinion, everyone should be treated the same not just special to the ones who are.

Patriots Or Terrorists?

             In our social studies class, we’ve been studying about the American Revolution. In one class, all of the desks are lined up in circles and we started a Socratic seminar about Boston Tea Party. We discussed about the who what where when why and basically share out our opinions and questions we are curious off. The conversation went on and on until one meaningful question pop up, “Are patriots terrorists?” Some people started sharing their own ideas while others think critically about the question. In my opinion patriots are just ones or normal citizens who are loyal to their country. Sometimes, they might be too harsh into government because they really dislike it. For instance, the incidence of red shirts and yellow shirts. The red shirts of the yellow shirts are just normal citizen that are claiming for their own rights. But, the government didn’t listen to their requests and just ignore like it’s nothing. So, sometimes they might become violent. Or even the seminar discussion topic itself, Bloody Massacre. The colonists are claiming for their rights from unfair taxes and laws. It was the cause of the rebellion because the government just ignore, they didn’t meant to do this act. The colonists were having a spontaneous action that was really unexpected. So, I think that patriots are not terrorists apart from being too violent and harmful sometimes. But, I’m on their sides because they’re claiming for their rights!