Q4 blog reflection

I've been volunteering in a bakery for several weeks. I help prepare the ingredients for them, beat the eggs and do some basic decorations. Some of the work might look simple, however through this simple work it helps me know more about how the kitchen in a bakery works and knowing the differences between working at home's kitchen and bakery's kitchen. In a bakery's kitchen, I have to prepare a lot more ingredients than I do at home. I also have the chance to watch them make the cakes to sell. Since it is almost Mother's Day, they are busy baking cakes and packing the cupcakes.  I felt like I am achieving something in my life, and I am able to work in a real working place. It is my first time working at a job in a real business in my life! I feel so happy while working I will continue my internship until I leave Taiwan for college.

Senior year can be very busy and sometimes frustrating, college applications take up lots of time for many people. But, there are some ways to handle it. First, is to choose the country that you are going to, because different countries can have different application deadlines. Then choose a college major that you want to study. After this, choose schools that have the subjects you want to major in; it is a very important step in applying. Another important part is, see the entry requirements of the school and make sure you can meet their requirements. The second important part of choosing a university besides major is, student life and location; make sure you don't miss the tests that you are taking for their entry requirements. If you are writing essays, make sure you start ahead instead of waiting until the last minute. Recommendations from teachers might be required, so get your school's educational counselor to write them for you; if not, get one of your teachers to write one for you. Also, don't forget that you still have homework assignments from your teachers; it is also necessary to maintain good grades in school in order to graduate. Turn all of the assignments in on time and study for the tests and quizzes to maintain good grades for the rest of the high school!   Besides this, completing the application forms is also necessary; confirming the application deadline is very important: you don't want to miss it. After all of these, enjoy your last several months in your high school. Enjoying your senior trip is also very important; is a way of gathering and explore some other places.

This summer is going to be the last summer vacation in high school. My family is planning to go to Shanghai and some places around the city. In Shanghai, I want to explore the biggest city in China. I heard that some parts of the city are very international and some parts are also very local. It is also very convenient with lots of buses, trains, etc.  One of the places near Shanghai is called Suzhou, I heard that there is going to be lots of gardens that are beautifully made with history about them. The reasons why I would want to go there are because I already been to the capital Beijing, and I heard that Shanghai's convenience is similar to Taiwan, and I want to learn more about China. Of course, around the middle of August I will be going to Vancouver Island which is also exciting and a new experience for me!

New York Times essay

Molly Lin

Wishyut Pitawanik

Should Colleges Use Admission Criteria Other Than SAT Scores and Grades? 

March 9, 2015

In the US and some universities in Canada, they use SAT scores and school grades as a requirement to let students into their schools. Some people think is a good way to see how students do in academics. However, I disagree with this statement for the following two reasons.

The first reason is you can’t judge a person’s ability just on SAT scores and school grades. Even if they got good SAT scores or good grades in school, it does not mean that they are going to do well in their future school years. It can simply mean that they are good at testing, which does not mean they are really learning the materials; they can just memorize a lot of vocabulary and practice a lot of SAT math questions. On the other hand, some people are not so good at testing; they get nervous when they see long essays and lots of math questions. But that does not mean they are not good at English or Math, they might practice a lot but still not get good scores. Also, the SAT does not show every part of the students; it only partly reveals the academic part of them. How about the other parts, like social skills, sports, music, etc., other parts of the student where the SAT scores can’t judge? There are a lot of parts of people not only the academics, so this is the first reason why I think colleges or universities should use admission criteria other than SAT scores and school grades.

But some people might say, if we don’t use SAT scores, how are we going to know if the students are meeting the requirements? The SAT uses a lot of academic vocabulary that we don’t normally use in our daily lives. Some people are just better at taking tests than others, so it is unfair for some people who are simply not good at taking tests and getting high scores even when they put a lot of effort in it.  It does not mean that they are not good at reading or writing essays for class projects. It just means that they are not good at taking tests. They can do other things like collaboratively, using technology, or without time pressure. Another option is to set the admissions requirements so they are related to what they are going to study. For example, if they are going to study art, make them do an advanced art project or if they want to study music, let them play a very challenging music piece to go into music school instead of taking the SAT.  If they are international students, let them do an English test without using too many technical or advanced words to see if they are qualified to be in your school.

The second reason is that some schools don’t see the SAT as a good measure of the skills they require. Other schools recognize that the SAT limits their applicant pools and gives unfair advantages to students from families that can afford test prep courses. So this is the second reason why I support my statement in the first paragraph, which is you can’t judge a person’s ability just on SAT scores and school grades.

In the conclusion, I don’t seek SAT scores as a requirement to go to universities for the two reasons. First, you can’t judge a person’s ability through SAT, the second reason is some families are not able to afford SAT classes for their children, while other students are simply not good at taking tests and can’t perform well on them. It is an unfair requirement for some people, so this is why I disagree that we use SAT scores and school grades as a requirement to let students into college.

Bibliography:

Grove, Allen. "Low SAT or ACT Scores? Check Out These Test-Optional Colleges." Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

How much land does a man need?

   According to the story we read in class, "How much land does a man need?" . I am going to talk about does a person need to get a house or is it too much trouble to own a house? In my opinion, I would want to own a house because it is more convenient for me and my family to live, we don't have to worry about people coming over saying that you haven't pay us the rent, I am going to take over your house. But on the other hand, we have to pay for the renting, electricity...etc. Although that might be some troubles when you have to pay them, but it is still a good thing because you don't have to worry about people taking over your land and it is more convenient for me and my family to live.
   Places that I would recommend in Taiwan is Tai Lu Ge in Hua-Lian, I recommend it because there are fresh air, close to the ocean and beautiful mountains. Another place to visit in Taiwan is Yilan, because it is very close to Taipei, also it is surround by lakes and river. Also some museum if you prefer a cultural trip, and if you are hungry you can have dinner in Ludong Night Market.
  The story I like is "How much land does a man need"by Leo Tolstoy because the story teach us a lesson, which is not to be greedy and be satisfied in life. It shows good example in the story that Pahom always wanted more land but died at the end because of greediness.

  The thing I enjoy reading in class is "Death be not proud" by John Donne because I like the way how he sees death, he doesn't think death as the end of our life. It is the free from Earth and you won't died spiritually even when you died physically. Some people think is the end but he doesn't think so, he says sleeping is more pleasurable than dying.
  The meaning of success to me is being the best of what you like/ interests, for example Wu Pao-chun, he has a lot of bakery shops in Taiwan and the things he sold is very popular in Taiwan. There are a lot of people waiting in line to go to his shops throughout Taiwan.  "There is a success quotes it says: "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." by Winston Churchill. So this is what success mean to me, doing the best into your interests.
  I think the recording by Jim Rohn is you have to have a few simple disciplines to practice everyday so it will be one of your hobbit. It is pretty true for me too, because a good hobbit doesn't develop only for one day, it have to be practice everyday so then it will become your hobbit. He also mention that sometimes is your own mind that is causing you trouble is not the outside world. The outside world doesn't change unless you change your mind into a positive view, it is pretty true for me too. 

Story and the college I like

I like the story King Arthur because the ending is not clear whether or not did the king died which is very mysterious and there are only one survivor that we know at the end. The colleges I like are George Brown and Humber college, because these schools are in Toronto which is a big city, they get hotel management and the hands on training for students to practice in kitchen.

The part I like about Beowulf is "Then Wulfgar went to the door and addressed. The waiting seafares with soldier's word: " My lord, the great king of the Danes, commands me. To tell you that he knows of your noble birth. And that having come to him from over the open. Sea you have come bravely and are welcome. I like it because I think the hero was brave at that time, because he came back saying the things above.

My interests

Hello guys~
This is Molly, I like baking here is a link related to baking http://joythebaker.com/. My probable science fair topic might be about physics and baking http://physicsofbaking.com/2011/08/14/welcome-to-the-physics-of-baking-2/. This is a site that says how physics is related to baking, there is thermodynamics(heat)  when you are putting the cake into the oven, it creates heat. I am interested in baking and I am trying to relate this to physics.  The part I like from Beowulf is " A powerful monster, living down. In the darkness, glowed in pain, impatient. As day after day the music rang. Loud in the hall, the harp's rejoicing. I like it because I can