Describe the first time you went on a camping trip.

You should write about the activities at the camp

and explain how you felt about the experience.

- by Wesly Kong

Curtin University

During the school holidays last year, I participated in a 3-day camp organised by the Boy Scouts
Association of my school. As it was the first I had ever taken part in, I was really excited about it
before the trip.

Apart from the scouts from my school, those from a school in a neighbouring town were also invited
to attend. There were about 100 campers altogether, of which approximately half were from the
other school.

The campsite was a clearing of a forest. There was a clear stream nearby. We arrived on the site
early in the morning of the first camp day. After that, we were divided into 10 patrols. Our first task
was to set up camp. Our patrol leaders taught us how to pitch the tents. After the tents had been
pitched, we prepared lunch. All of us helped to cut firewood, fetch water from the stream, make
fires with bow drills and cook a meal. Even though the food was not well prepared, we finished all of
it as each one of us was as hungry as a wolf.

In the afternoon, we learnt knot-tying, a skill that is extremely useful in our daily life. That evening
after dinner, we were free to mingle with one another. We had a good time chatting and playing
games. We also slept soundly that night as we were exhausted from the activities all day long.

The next morning, we proceeded with our next activity - an Iban longhouse visit. We had to hike
through the forest for about 2 hours before reaching the longhouse, where we were warmly
welcomed by the longhouse chief and its occupants. We were given a guided tour of the house.
After that, we were served with lunch and had an opportunity to savour the delicious traditional
delicacies. Then we were presented with a local dance and music performance. We were also invited
to join in. We had a lot of fun doing the ‘ngajat’ dance.

We were all back to our camp in the evening. After dinner, we gathered around a campfire. Each
patrol had to present either a sketch or a song. Some of the sketches were really hilarious and we
laughed till our stomach hurt.

On the last day of the camp, all of us participated in a cross-country race, in which we had to follow a
trail of small bits of white paper across fields, forests and hills. An award presentation ceremony was
held after the race. As I emerged as one of the top 10 runners-up, I was awarded a medal. Following
the ceremony was a session in which we had to memorise each of our fellow scouts’ names, failing
which press-up punishments were imposed. Of all the 100 or so campers, only 3 managed to
accomplish the task. I was proud to be one of the 3 as I had worked really hard in order to avoid
being punished.

The next morning, all of us prepared to go home. We broke camp and cleaned up the site before
leaving.
Overall, I felt extremely grateful and pleased to have taken part in the camp. It was a real eye-
opener for me. I had acquired new skills and increased my knowledge. I made quite a lot of new
friends as well and some of them were among my best. Moreover, the experience had also boosted
my self-confidence and sense of satisfaction. I definitely look forward to attending such beneficial
camp again.

What are the ways to cultivate reading habits among students?

- by Zachary Cassidy

Kuching, Sarawak

It is a fact that students today do not read much compared to those in the past. Since reading brings
forth a lot of benefits such as to expand one’s knowledge, improve one’s language skills and boost
one’s creativity, youngsters should be persuaded to develop a love of reading.

What are the ways to help students cultivate reading habits? In my opinion, there a quite a number
of ways and stated below are some of the best.

Firstly, reading facilities have to be set up by the government so that students can have easier access
to reading materials. For example, a public library can be built opposite a school compound. It can
also be constructed in housing areas, especially those with large populations. A wide selection of
books, magazines and newspapers should be made available. For visitors’ comfort, it is a good idea
for a library to be equipped with facilities like air conditioners and chairs and tables that are of high
quality. It is also important for a library to have an quiet environment which is conducive to reading
and learning. The adequate facilities and the appropriate environment will undoubtedly attract
students to spend their leisure time in the library. With a wide selection of reading materials,
students are able to further expand their knowledge about what is taught in class as well as to learn
something which is excluded from their school syllabus. This can help improve their academic
performance as most examination papers nowadays include HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)
questions. In order to answer such questions well, students need to have extra knowledge apart
from what is being taught in school.

Secondly, parents play a vital role in shaping their children’s attitude and interest. It is advisable for
parents to teach their children the advantages of reading. Parents can start off by reading stories to
their children in bed and buy books for them to read, besides bringing them to libraries. It is also
important that parents set a good example by reading frequently so as to let their children follow. It
is wise for parents to create a library or a study at home. Or, at least, help their children start a
collection of books, especially those that are about their interests. Gradually, children get a library of
books of their favourite topics and even authors. That can certainly help nurture a love of reading in
them.

Thirdly, students can also be encouraged to read when schools organise essay writing competitions.
Generous prizes that are up for grabs can be offered so as to attract more participants. Besides
attractive prizes, winners will also have the opportunities to represent their schools in interschool or
even interstate competitions. Participation certificates will also be presented to all participants, who
will also obtain bonus marks that are favourable to their applications for further studies in
universities or colleges later. Students who intend to take part will definitely read model essays to
improve their essay writing skills. There will also be a necessity for reading when they search for
information related to the topics, if they are provided in the contest notice.

In a nutshell, reading habits can be cultivated among students with the right methodology. With so
many attractions in this IT era, it may be a challenge persuading youngsters today to take up reading
as a pastime. Despite that being said, it is definitely possible, when adequate encouragement and
emphasis are given. I look forward to the day when reading will once again be a ubiquitous hobby
among students, who will most probably grow up to be intelligent, creative and wise citizens of our
country.

Describe an enjoyable weekend you have experienced.

One weekend during last year’s year-end holidays, three cousins of mine from Australia visited my
family. They were here from Friday to Sunday. Born and bred in the land of the kangaroo, they had
never been to Malaysia. We had a great time with them and took them sightseeing around Kuala
Lumpur.

On Friday morning, after their arrival, they rested at our home as they were a bit tired after the long
flight. We also had a lot of catching up to do as we had not seen them for quite a few years. When
they had recovered from their jet lag around noon, we took them out for lunch. After a 30-minute
drive, we arrived in Kajang, the city renowned for its ambrosial satay. My cousins remarked that the
satay, which is rare down under, looked appetising and tasted scrumptious. They also found it
palatable when taken with the peanut sauce. They did not find it surprising to learn that the savoury
food is one of the national dishes of Malaysians. After lunch, we returned to Kuala Lumpur and took
them to a few tourist attractions such as the KL Tower and the Petronas Twin Tower, among some
other skyscrapers. They were excited to see the breathtaking views of the city. After the tall-building
tour, we had dinner at a Nyonya restaurant. It was a long and tiring day. They had really enjoyed
themselves and looked forward to more fun.

The next day, all of us woke up early and had the standard Malaysian breakfast - nasi lemak. It was a
little spicy for them. Nevertheless, they enjoyed the food and was happy about the new experience.
After taking the most important meal of the day, we took them to places of interest like the National
Museum and the National Monument. We also visited the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park, which is the
largest free-flight walk-in aviary in the world. They had lots of fun learning about the different
varieties of bird species as well as new things about Malaysia.

On the last day, they were treated to an Indian breakfast, which consisted of dosai and chutney.
They loved the food very much and kept asking for more. They took so much that they were too full
for lunch. So we went to shopping centres - the Pavilion and the Berjaya Time Square, where they
bought some souvenirs for their relatives and friends. For dinner, we brought them to Chinatown,
where they savoured some of the famous and delicious dishes of the Chinese cuisine, like bak kut
teh, wonton noodles and claypot chicken rice. After having the delicacies which they had enjoyed
thoroughly, we took them for a walk at the nearby night market. We bought some dried barbecue
pork for them to bring home at the market.

The aeroplane they were catching was scheduled to depart at 10.30 that night. All of us arrived at
the airport with heavy hearts. We wished they could stay longer. Before they entered the departure
lounge, we hugged and bade them farewell. They thanked us for taking them around Kuala Lumpur
and also for our kind hospitality towards them.
This is one of the most enjoyable weekend that I have ever experienced. Through the experience, I
learnt that the best time is spent with family. As the saying goes, ‘blood is thicker then water’. As
such, I am thankful for my family members, whom I love and treasure. Hopefully, I am able to spend
more time with them so as to further strengthen family ties.

“The Internet is mostly a good thing.” Do you agree? Support your opinion.

The Internet is the electricity of the 21st century. Yes, we are so attached to it every day. Indeed, it is
one of the greatest inventions of all time. Since it upgrades our lifestyle, I must say that the Internet
is mostly a good thing.

Firstly, the biggest advantage of the Internet is its role as a search platform. For example, Google, a
popular online search engine, makes our life much easier. Everyone needs it. For example, with
internet access, a stockbroker will always have up-to-date information about the stock market. A
student finds relevant educational materials from the Internet to facilitate his or her studies. A
housewife follows online recipes to cook finger-licking food to feed the family. Yes, you may say that
sources from books and papers are more reliable. However, the traditional book-flipping method is
not as efficient as the Internet as it is time consuming. Moreover, the information contained is
limited.

The Internet shortens distance. But how? It keeps people in touch, no matter where they are. Social
networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have been blooming for a decade. They provide
various features such as real-time chatting and video calling, enabling us to communicate with our
relatives and friends easily. We can also know more about their life through their regular photo and
status updates. Now, parents can easily see their children, who are studying abroad, and have
conversations with them. Trading can be done online, without the need to be present at business or
commercial premises. Old friends can reunite. People all around the world no longer need to write
letters and post them to communicate with one another.

Buying and selling are also easier when carried out through the Internet. Online shopping is popular
in our modern world now. Sellers earn their living in sales through their online stores. They have
flexible working hours. Buyers get to buy products at lower prices because the online stores bear
lower overhead costs compared to bricks and mortar stores. Besides, customers’ reviews are posted
on the Internet and people get to compare and make better decisions before purchasing anything.
No more long queues, no more awkwardly-standing shop assistants and no more parking fees. What
you buy will be delivered right on your doorstep after a few clicks. Have you ever noticed how
convenient our life is with the help of the famous Mr Internet?

The Internet brightens up our life. We can find entertainments on the Internet. There are films and
dramas that we can watch online. There are plenty of video games on the Internet to satisfy your
interest too. All of them can relieve one’s stress and refresh one’s mind. Who would not enjoy a
moment of personal time watching films or playing games in their cozy rooms, away from tensions in
life? In addition, these entertainments can liven up a boring school or work day. After all, life is not
really all about school and work, is it?

Lastly, the Internet plays an important role in the education field too. People are getting busier and
busier every day. Not everyone has the chance to further their studies abroad. The good news is
they can enrol on online courses offered by the world’s top universities. Nine-to-fivers are equally
eligible to do so as they can study on a part-time basis! Do you not think that the Internet has helped
lots of people all around the world?

In a nutshell, the Internet is mostly a good thing. Although some may say that it causes many social
problems like cheating and propaganda spreading, its advantages outweigh its disadvantages.
Instead of misusing it, we should use it wisely to gain maximum benefits.

Describe what makes you happy and explain why.

It is human nature to long for a happy life. Carrying out activities that we enjoy bring us happiness
and joy. There are a lot of things that make me happy and the top three are hanging out with my
family and friends, reading and spending time with my pet cat Ginger.

I come from a medium-sized family that comprises five members. My elder brother and sister are
married and currently residing in Singapore and Australia respectively. My parents are real joys to
me as they are both loving and caring. When my older siblings come back home during the holidays,
all of us would go on a sightseeing tour of the tourist attractions in Malaysia. Since we have strong
family ties, we not only share our happy moments but assist one another to solve problems too.

I enjoy hanging out with my intimate friends or ‘BFFs’ - Zoe, Kate and Mia. On a typical Saturday or
holiday, we visit the library to borrow books. We then head for the swimming pool, where we have a
lot of fun playing and laughing. After that, we go to a shopping center to have lunch, shop, and
possibly watch the latest film. We usually hang out until evening as that makes us happy and
relaxed.

Reading is one of the hobbies that I enjoy the most. Through reading the newspaper, I not only know
what is happening all over my home country but also abroad. Apart from that, I am also able to
improve my language standards and perform better in examinations. Besides the papers, I also enjoy
reading storybooks with captivating plots. Mystery and detective novels with interesting and
unpredictable plots totally engross me. To me, reading is both entertaining and rewarding.

Due to the fact the I have a soft spot for animals, especially cats, spending time with my pet cat
Ginger gives me a lot of pleasure. I found him under my father’s car one morning about two years
ago. Mewing pitifully, he appeared skinny and hungry. I took pity on him and fed him some food.
After his meal, I bathed him. I was glad that my mother allowed me to keep Ginger, which turned
out to be an affectionate cat. Besides that, he is also a close companion and an excellent hunter.
I am glad to be blessed with my family, friends and cat. I consider myself fortunate and I enjoy every
quality moment that I spend with them. I will most probably continue to pursue the hobby of
reading as it is extremely beneficial. Since my life would be boring without them, I will always cherish
them.
‘A friend in need is a friend indeed.’

Describe how a friend helped you in difficult time.

The first of May last year is indeed a memorable day for me as it is the day Sarah, my best friend,
lent me a helping hand in a difficult time.

Since that day was a public holiday, Sarah came to my house so that we could do our geography
project together. As the saying goes, ‘two heads are better than one’. My parents had gone out to
attend to some urgent business then. While we were busy doing our project, my younger brother
Liam was playing outside our house. All of a sudden, Sarah and I heard Liam screaming in pain.
Astonished to hear the scream, we ran out of the house to check on him. To our horror, Liam had
fallen into the drain outside our house. As the drain was quite deep, he was having trouble getting
out of it.

Panick-stricken, I did not know what to do and felt like crying. Just when I was about to cry, Sarah
calmed me down. She suggested that she would call the ambulance and I would call my parents. I
nodded in agreement. As promised, she called an ambulance at once while I called my parents. Upon
knowing what had transpired, my parents were extremely anxious about Liam. They decided to
come home immediately.

While we were waiting for the arrival of the ambulance, Sarah and I talked to Liam and comforted
him. Seated on the bottom of the drain, Liam’s legs seemed to be in great pain. He begged us to take
him out. As much as I wanted to help him, Sarah advised me against it. She said it was better to let
the paramedics lift him out as he might be suffering from broken bone injuries and we might
deteriorate the condition. I believed Sarah was right and felt really sorry for Liam, who was crying
bitterly. Sarah ensured him that help would arrive soon. To distract him and alleviate his sufferings,
she told him humorous stories.

Not long after, an ambulance arrived and so did my parents. The paramedics did their job in a
professional manner and lifted Liam out of the drain without injuring him any further. He was then
rushed to hospital. After my father had driven the rest of us to hospital, the doctor informed us that
both of Liam’s legs were broken and he had to be hospitalised for treatment. But since he was
young, his legs should recover quickly with no permanent damage. Our tension were assuaged by
the doctor’s report and we heaved a sigh of relief.

I conveyed my gratitude to Sarah for her help. She said that was what friends were for - both good
times and bad times. Her assistance strengthened our friendship ties and we hope to remain as best
friends forever.
SPM - My Emotions and Advice

The time has come - 2016. This is the year I am going to sit for the national examination, SPM. It is
time to be serious, to face the reality and to take the challenge.

Let me tell you my feelings as the SPM examination date gets nearer and nearer. I have been
suffering from loads of stress and most recently, being annoyed by my parents as they have been
nagging me to study hard. This is indescribable as I have already started to panic. What if I fall short
of their expectations? This question has haunted me for months and I am still unable to get rid of it. I
know they care about me and hope that I will move towards a better career path after completing
my secondary school education. But they will never comprehend that the way they care actually
exerts more pressure on me. I believe that there are many friends or SPM candidates out there who
are in the same boat. To handle this, we should try to express our feelings to our parents. Ask for
their understanding and most importantly, use a slightly gentle voice while communicating with
them, to avoid misunderstanding and confrontations.

The inability to concentrate while studying is one of the major problems that we face. Apparently, it
is hard to focus when there are electrical gadgets, such as smartphones, around us. My advice is to
get rid of your phones and dissipate all thoughts of using them. We can request our parents to keep
them for us until the examination is over. This may be quite challenging to many students, especially
those of us who are online and surfing social networking websites almost twenty-four seven. We
also tend to reply our friends' messages at lightning speed after the notices appear. Some of us may
deny the fact, claiming that those gadgets will not catch our attention while we are studying.
Anyway, in my opinion, it is not advisable to stick to our phones all day long regardless of whether
examinations are approaching. Similarly, we should also refrain from watching drama serials as they
can be addicting. We tend to spend a lot of time watching them until we have finished all the
episodes.

When we feel bored or tired studying day in day out, it is wise for us to take a break and engage
ourselves in healthy activities like taking a stroll on our favourite streets and spending time with our
friends in a recreation park. We can also take up a new hobby such as swimming, playing badminton
and jogging to boost our physical and mental well-being. We feel refreshed and energised after
taking exercise and thus are able to study more effectively. Furthermore, it keeps us calm during
examinations. Since good health is an essential prerequisite for good academic performance, we
should make an effort to maintain our health. If necessary, we can ask doctors for advice and take
dietary supplements.
Ask ourselves if we are satisfied with our performance in the previous examination. Whether the
answer is a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’, we should work harder to achieve the goals we have set. And since it is
vital that we build our self-confidence before an examination, we can seek advice from friends,
teachers and school counsellors. Participating in study groups help us study better and build our
confidence as well. Remember, sharing is caring. When we share our knowledge generously, our
friends will do the same.

I notice that many students face problems writing good essays. Here is a little tip: watch the news or
read newspapers so that we know about what is the trend or what is happening worldwide. Apart
from that, we can also read more model essays. This will give us more ideas on how to write our
essays well. It is also important for us to learn and familiarise ourselves with the grammar rules so as
to minimise grammar mistakes when writing essays.

To sum it up, be well prepared for SPM but do not stress ourselves out. Even though passing SPM
with flying colours is an important gateway to better tertiary education, it does not mean that our
whole life depends on this sheet of certificate. Just think of SPM as a dessert before the main dishes.
There is no limit to what a person can achieve. As the saying goes, ‘make hay when the sun shines’.
Good luck to all SPM candidates and also to myself.

Describe the biggest challenge in your life.

I had a pampered and protected childhood. As the youngest daughter, I was the princess and prima
donna of our family. I usually got what I wanted, much to the envy of my two brothers and a sister.

When I was ten years of age, I had an illness with strange symptoms such as giddiness, tiredness and
nausea. Apart from that, I also had unusual bruising and a cut on my finger that would not stop
bleeding. Extremely apprehensive of my condition, my parents brought me to hospital, where I
underwent tests. A few days later, I was diagnosed with leukaemia.

When the doctor broke the bad news to me and my parents, we were flabbergasted. My parents
had never expected me to have blood cancer. I could not even accept the news.

"How could this be?" I exclaimed in disbelief. "What have I done to deserve this?"

When the doctor said that I had only fifty chance of survival, I started to breakdown and cry.

That day when we went home, I felt like the end of the world was coming. I began throwing
tantrums. Locking myself in my bedroom, I wept and refused to see anyone. I did not want to eat
anything too. My parents, siblings, relatives and friends talked to me outside my bedroom door.
After some time, they managed to cajole me into opening the door. In my room, they comforted me
and emphasised that they cared for me and loved me very much. They also assured me that I was
not alone in the battle against the disease and they would always support me and be with me all
through the fight for survival. Their assurance and encouragement touched me deeply and I finally
accepted the facts. With teary eyes, I thanked them for standing by my side and for giving me the
strength to carry on.
The next day, I was admitted to hospital, where I was being treated almost immediately. Tubes were
being inserted all over my body. I had to undergo eight operations and five bouts of chemotherapy. I
experienced quite a number of side effects, including the lack of appetite, fatigue, diarrhea,
constipation and hair loss. My skin was itchy, dry and red while my nails became yellow and cracked.
My aunt almost fainted when she came to visit me and saw me pulling out my hair!

During my treatment period at hospital, a religious friend of mine came to see me. She introduced
me to her religion. I was glad to be able to turn to God for spiritual comfort.

I was hospitalised for six months. Now I am aged seventeen. I am thankful that I have been cured of
the sickness and it has never relapsed since the completion of my treatment. I have to go for regular
checkups, though. I owe those around me a great debt of gratitude. Without their love,
encouragement and moral support, I doubt if I would be able to make it. Through the biggest
challenge of my life, I have learnt to become stronger in many ways. I have also learnt the
importance of living life to the full.

How to keep oneself healthy

There is a saying, 'health is better than wealth'. The saying is extremely true - a man may be
immensely rich, but without health, he can hardly enjoy his wealth. Since health is so important,
how does one keep oneself healthy?

One of the most effective ways to keep fit is through exercising. Doing exercise helps to reduce the
risk of contracting heart diseases and getting stroke. Other than that, it also helps to decrease the
risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and colon cancer. People who exercise regularly are
able to maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints. Therefore, it is advisable to do exercise such as
walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, doing push-ups, skipping, playing sports, et cetera three to four
times a week for about half an hour per session to maintain good health.

Having a balanced diet is another key factor in ensuring a healthy life. It is important to eat food that
is rich in nutrients. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich sources of vitamins and minerals that are
essential in order to keep fit. For strong bones and teeth, drink more yogurt and milk and eat more
cheese. Other food that contributes to a balanced diet includes fish, poultry, eggs, beef, beans, nuts
and tofu. It is advisable to avoid food that contains too much sugar as it causes bad health. The same
goes for junk food and also food made from refined flour as a lot of nutrients are destroyed during
the refining process. Unfortunately, most bread is made from refined flour nowadays. It is best to
increase the intake of natural foods as they contain plenty of natural goodness which we cannot do
without to possess good health.

It is wise to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, since they damage our lungs and livers respectively,
besides bringing forth other harmful effects to our bodies. Taking drugs can be a serious problem as
it usually causes addictions, diseases and cancers. In serious cases, it may even cause deaths. Thus, it
is advisable to stay away from drugs.

Having sufficient sleep is also a vital factor. Every day, school children, teenagers and adults should
get 10 to 11 hours, 8 to 9 hours and 7 to 9 hours of sleep respectively. The insufficiency of sleep can
lead to serious heart problems, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and obesity. To improve the
quality of our sleep, it is important to sleep in complete darkness, since artificial light interferes with
the production of hormones or chemicals that tells our body to rest. If we are unable to eliminate
the light in our room, then wear an eye mask.

Over-eating and under-eating can give rise to health problems as well. Therefore we should eat the
right amount of food each meal.About 70 percent of our body is made of water. Since our body is
constantly using it up, we need to drink about 8 glasses of water daily to replenish it. Water is
needed to flush toxins out of our vital organs, carry nutrients to our cells and provide a moist
environment for our ear, nose and throat tissues. It also cools our body through the process of
perspiration. When sweat evaporates from our skin, it takes heat with it and lowers our body
temperature. In conclusion, it is extremely vital for us to do everything in moderation. As long as one
cultivates good habits and leads a healthy lifestyle, it is not difficult to keep oneself healthy.

Teachers' Day

One day every year, we celebrate Teachers' Day in honour of the teachers who spend so much time
teaching us so many things.
This year, Teachers' Day began with a school assembly in the hall where the headmaster delivered a
speech. After that we adjourned to our classes, not to have lessons, but to enjoy ourselves.

My classmates gave a small party for the teachers who taught us. Each of us contributed a small sum
of money to buy cakes, drinks and other titbits. On that day we arranged the chairs and desks so that
they surrounded an empty space in the middle of the classroom.

So began a round of eating, drinking and playing games with the teachers. Most of the teachers
were very sporting and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was so different from having lessons.

The other classes gave parties too. So the teachers had to move from class to class and participate in
the fun. I would think that this was quite tiring on the part of the teachers but they managed it. After
all it was their day to enjoy and have fun.

One class even gave a short play for their teachers. I did not get to watch it as I was busy tidying up
the classroom after the party.

All in all it was a great day. The whole school was immersed in an atmosphere of gaiety. So when the
school bell rang for dismissal I felt a little sad that it should end, but end it must. The day was over
and we went home tired but happy.