How does Pop Music affect Teens

In this modern world, music has become an essential part of people’s life. We listen to music almost every day, whether we are happy, sad or tired. People listen to different types of music depending on their mood. For example, people listen to songs with faster tempo when they are happy and listen to slow songs when they are relaxed.

Personally, pop music is my favourite. I listen to pop music almost every day and even sing along with the melody. Like many teens, I do think that listening to pop music can help me to pass time. It allows me to enjoy myself whenever I have nothing to do or feeling bored. It can also calm me down whenever I am feeling angry and console me when I am feeling sad.

Pop music has not only accompanied me throughout my teenage years, some of the lyrics of songs have also been etched on my mind. Those motivational words used in the making of the music have inspired me to stand up when I fall and work hard to achieve my goals. But it is not always that positive. Some pop music has negative effect as these music made people believe in living in hedonism, or resort to violent.

Pop music has a huge influence on teenagers. As teenagers are looking for a sense of identity, they are easily influence by their pop idol. For instance, teens imitate their idols’ actions. They also dress like their idol as they feel that it is cool.

Pop music also brings teens together. Youths who listen to the same music have a common topic to talk about. As such, they will forge better friendship with one another. However, pop music can also bring about disagreement among friends. As different people may have different opinion about a particular song.

Music, being a regular companion for teenagers and people of all ages, pop music can affect an individual positively as well as negatively. It has the power to connect, calm and motivate people. However, it can be detrimental if a teen spends too much time listening to pop music and following his idol and neglect his studies.

Recent Natural Disaster

The earthquake in Haiti, the floods in Pakistan and China, and the forest fires in Russia contributed to making 2010 an exceptional year for natural disasters. More than 300,000 people lost their lives and damages of up to $13 billion dollars were incurred. In fact, in the year 2010, the world witnessed a total of 950 natural disasters, making it the second worst year in history, after 1980.

To many of us that are fortunate enough not to be caught in a natural disaster, we will never be able to comprehend how devastated people were when they survived one. More often than not, we will only be able to calculate the number of lives that were cruelly taken away and how much economic damages have been inflicted by the disaster. We will never be able to relate with those who might have lost their loved ones in a natural disaster or survived one, only to know that everything that was once his was gone.

One good example is the earthquake in Haiti. An estimated 230,000 people had died, 300,000 had been injured and 1,000,000 made homeless. These numbers may be just numbers to us. But to the Haitians, these numbers means that they have to see dead bodies lying all around, witness buildings collapsed and having to endure the pain and agony, alone.

Another example is China. China is facing its worst flooding in more than a decade. Weeks of heavy rain have swollen rivers and caused damage, landslides and bridge to collapse across a swathe of the country. According to state media, 928 people have died because of the seasonal bad weather and another 477 are missing.

The high number of weather-related natural catastrophes and record temperatures both globally and in different regions of the world provide indications of advancing climate change. Have we done our best to alleviate the pain and sufferings of people who survived the cruelty of fate?

We have a part to play. Helping to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases could reduce the ferocity of these natural disasters. Instead of doing nothing or trying to sympathize with those who unfortunately got caught in a natural disaster, the most practical way is to help them by doing everything that we can to reduce the severity of the natural disaster and help them by providing them with basic necessities.

Bullying In Schools

In Singapore, we could often hear complaints of children being bullied in schools.  And like in many parts of the world, bullying is considered a significant problem. Despite the presence of teachers and discipline masters in schools, bullying still occurs. Albeit bullying in school tends to be relatively minor, this is no laughing matter.

Bullying could lead to a vicious cycle. As the bullied grows up, they have a higher tendency to bully people too. As such, bullying cases will only increase exponentially. And the impact of it could be disastrous.

Children who are bullied may be constantly keeping a lookout for the bullies and this is detrimental for his mind. He will have to be careful so as not to be caught off guard and being cornered when he is alone. Therefore, he will be restricted to the places where he go and feel the need to compel to the demands of the bullies. This will have an extremely negative impact on his views of school and he will not have a sense of security in school.

In some extreme cases, some students might be so afraid of being bullied that they skipped school and keep it from their parents. This could lead to an even more undesired outcome. Besides not doing well in their studies, these people could even mix with bad company and do things that they will regret later on in life.

Therefore, keeping the school safe from bullies should be the cornerstone of the disciplinary board. Schools and parents should work together closely to ensure that children are not being bullied in school. This way, not only will we be able to protect our young ones, we could also deter potential bullies.

Education System In Singapore

The education system in Singapore is perfect. I am unable to find any flaws in the education system.

Firstly, teenagers as young as 16 are forced to make a decision on which diploma they want to study in polytechnics. Usually, if one is studying the diploma, one will stay in that industry. In this way, the education system ensures that there are enough workers in most industry to support the economy in Singapore. There will not be shortage of workers in any of the sectors. Students with lower grades go to the less demanded industry and students with higher grades go to the sunrise industry.

Secondly, the A-levels are marked in Cambridge. This ensures that students who have taken the A-levels are able to enter overseas universities and having their certificates recognized. In this way, a student with weak communication skills but good examinations technique will also be able to do well in A-levels and have a very nice certificate, increasing their chances of entering a good University. Many Junior College also provide students with long answer keys to memorize before the examination. The perfect education system have ensured that many top students are produced and the Singapore brand is well-known in the world.

Thirdly, the cornerstone of education is to inculcate in student values and knowledge that will aid them in their life. As the society progress, there are more and more cases of divorce, underage pregnancy and disowning of parents. I guess this is the ideal result of the perfect education system in Singapore. By spending minimal time on Civics and Morale Education, students are not enforced with the correct values. This is perfect because student will have the working knowledge required and will do better than their parents or spouse. If everybody tries to out do one another, the competition will result in a good Singapore economy.

Education system in Singapore is perfect and should not be changed anymore. Looking forward, many countries will adopt our education system, and have their own education system replaced.

Changing Face of Singapore's Society

Singapore became independent on 9 August 1965. It has been 45 years since the day we call this small island, my country. Through these 45 years, the Singapore society has changed from a third-world country to a first-world country under the good governance of PAP.

Previously, it was difficult for parents to put food on the table and chicken and fish could only be eaten on special occasions. Nowadays, food is no longer a problem for most Singaporeans. The aim in life for most Singaporeans has changed. It has changed from survival to one of luxury. Our parents worked in the manufacturing industry, sweating it out and putting in hard work for money. However, with education, it is no longer physically demanding for the current generation to earn money. The hospitality industry, banking and finance and business industry do not require much physical work.

Racial riots were quite common then. When there was an argument, big or small, lines will be drawn and racial discrimination will be the root of the problem. However, thankfully, it has been a long time since the last racial riot happened. School and national service has made Singaporeans united as one. We might not be the same color but we help one another when help is needed. We are not separated by colors. We are one Singapore society. Together, we work to a prosperous and bright Singapore future.

Looking forward, I think the Singapore society will progress into one with many different nationalities. There will be more foreigners in Singapore. Singapore started with many people coming in. This culture will continue. With out workers, there will be no one working in the construction industry. With out maid, who will be the domestic helper?

In conclusion, unity is the key. As long as the government continues to bond with the residents, the Singapore society will only improve. Challenges like SARS or terrorism that tried to throw the Singapore society into mayhem will be overcome easily.

This is home truly, where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me, where that river always flows
This is home surely, as my senses tell me
This is where I won't be alone, for this is where I know it's home

Animal Abuse

As we flip through the newspaper every day, we are bound to see some reports concerning animal abuse. Why is this so? In a civilized country like Singapore, we are supposed to be more humane, compassionate towards animals and more considerate to the feelings of these little animals.

So what was the reason that led to people abusing animals as though these animals had no feelings? Is it the lack of education? Or is it simply the fact that these people thought that owning animals gave them the rights to abuse them?

Each time a new animal abuse case surface, I cannot resist the urge to give these people a piece of my mind. What if one day, you were being abuse by people? How will you feel?

There are indeed many answers that have to be unearthed before we can understand why these abusers do what they did. But does that mean that we can do nothing about them?

There are in fact many things that can be done to change their attitudes. We have to be more proactive via education. Schools should teach children to respect the sanctity of all life forms, possibly even setting up mini-zoos where interaction with animals is fostered from a young age. This way, we will be able to teach future generations the need to respect animals and spare a thought for their feelings.

Pet shop owners can also play a part by refusing to sell pets to people whom they believe will not be able to take good care of their animals. We have to take a break from clawing up the economic ladder to focus on society's common good or else our efforts will have more bark than bite.

We cannot be selective though. On the one hand, we are protesting the ill-treatment of beloved animals like cats and dogs, and on the other, we are turning our backs on other species. The inflictment of pain is cruel. Do you think that animals do not feel pain when they are killed?

Therefore, unless we abandon the use of all animal products, I believe that the complete eradication of animal maltreatment is simply impossible - just feel the leather belt on your waist.