MAPS Expressions 2012

Preface We have immense pleasure bringing out the souvenir the Expressions 2012 on the occasion of MAPS Expressions 2012.

The issue is dedicated to Teenage which was the very theme for the week long programmes. Along with the bringing out the works of our students we have included some articles that are worth sharing. Along with molding the future of the students, we believe it is of prime importance to acknowledge the society the various issues that we should be aware while dealing with the growing generation.

It has been since more than a week our students are busy with the preparations. It is great to see their enthusiasm which is the very aim of the event. For the success of any great effort the most important is inspiration! We acknowledge our sincere thanks to our beloved Principal Mr. Adam Athif for the very inspiration and kind support. We are also grateful to Mr. Ali Areef, administrator, Ms. Lawsha Mohamed, our leading teacher, and Aminath Rasheedha for their complete involvement in the programme.

Along with wishing the readers a great experience of reading this, we earnestly wish if we could do justice for the community our students represent.

~On Teenage~ “I bet if you look at the average teenager and the average adult, the average teenager has read more

books in the last year than the average adult. Now of course the adult would be all like, 'I'm busy, I got a job, I got stuff to do.' WHATEVER! READ! I mean, you're watching CSI: Miami. Why would you be watching CSI: Miami, when you could be READING CSI: Miami, the novelization?”

― John Green

“I think being a teenager is such a compelling time period in your life--it gives you some of your worst scars and some of your most exhilarating moments. It's a fascinating place; old enough to feel truly adult, old enough to make decisions that affect the rest of your life, old enough to fall in love,

yet, at the same time too young (in most cases) to be free to make a lot of those decisions without someone else's approval.” Stephenie Meyer, The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide

“Too many adults wish to 'protect' teenagers when they should be stimulating them to read of life as it is lived.”

― Margaret A. Edwards “You know, small children take it as a matter of course that things will change every day and grown-ups understand that things change sooner or later and their job is to keep them from changing as long as possible. It’s only kids in high school who are convinced they’re never going to change. There’s always going to be a pep rally and there’s always going to be a spectator bus, somewhere out there in their future.” ― Stephen King

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When you turn the Pages…

Message from the Principal 4 Report of Expressions 2012 5 What is wrong with teenage mind?? Ms. Gopnik 8 The history of English Language Mishal Ahmed 13 When Love Beckons! Mariam Ameen 15 Mr. Unknown Mariyam Shifaza 17 LOL: Jokes Page 19 A Whole New Man Ibrahim Shamhan 20 Raising Children: Lessons on the Islamic way of raising children Tahera Kassamali 23 Mysterious Girl Mohamed Ameen 27 The Positives and Negatives of the Teenage Brain 29 Dr. Andrea Andie ELLY AND ALEX Fathmath Rifshan 31 How to improve your English skills 33 Families are bound by love, not things Aishath Ilma Ismail 37 Long Lost friends, Hassan Nawaaf 39 The Last Hope, Samha Ibrahim 41 Shattered Dreams, Ahmed Shareef 42 5 Teen Behavior Problems: A Troubleshooting Guide 44 Christina Frank The dark side of my life Hassan Zinaah 47 How to be a happy teen??? 49

….and more!

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Message from the Principal Assalaam alaikum

‘MAPS Expressions’ is one of the most important events in our school’s calendar. This is the event when we recognize and celebrate our students’ achievements in both academic and non- academic areas of English Language. Today is such a significant occasion, we have commissioned a new rostrum to be made for this purpose, and it is single-handedly designed and manufactured by our very creative and dedicated English Teacher Mr. Pratheesh Babu. Words cannot express my gratitude to the hard work he has rendered to the MAPS Expressions 2012.

Towards the end of our MAPS Expressions, it is not too late and it is never going to be late, in my opinion, to take an opportunity to share an advice with the students.

Learning is a tough job. And when it comes to learning a language, you need to double your effort and triple your time. But the satisfaction is beyond words when you find yourself mastering the language.

Globalisation is, in fact, bringing more people who speak different languages together and is turning English as the common language for communication. Therefore learning English language is particularly necessary. The English learners today should be less concerned about sounding exactly like a native speaker but rather more concerned about how to use English effectively for meaningful communication, as we hear more non-native speakers speaking English and a wider range of the 'New Englishes' around the world.

With joint efforts from teachers, parents, students and the community, creating an environment conducive to English learning is not difficult at all. I hope that the English Week offered you a great chance to experience learning English in a fun environment.

Adam Athif Principal

“Be the change you wish to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi

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When we successfully complete a week of celebrations, we have beautiful memories to recollect! The moments of our blessed students made Expressions 2012 memorable!

The expressions of the silent

It is great to hear from a scientist Albert Estienne, who changed the words with his inventions - “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to

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MAPS Expressions 2012 all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” It is important to inspire thinking creatively to ensure the holistic development of an individual and this was the very objective when MAPS High International designed a week long “MAPS Expression 2012” under English Literary Week programme dedicated to the theme ‘Teenvibes’.

Creative writing, the first day programme of MAPS High Expressions 2012 was held at the school campus on 9th September 2012.

The programme grabbed attention for the very active participation of the students. Among the prompts given which were carefully chosen considering the teen issues and their minute expressions, students were given chance to select any one and produce a writing regardless of the genre of the piece of work.

Myriad talents of the students reflected upon their works where the flows of thoughts were capable of touching one’s heart. The selected entries would appear in the Souvenir that will be released on the day of closing ceremony. Master Brain: Test your English

‘Master Brain: Test your English’- the name itself was sufficient to make students serious enough! But when the programme started the thoughtful faces turned smiling and there echoed laughter. The participants as well as the audience were unaware that they were learning through simple but thought provoking questions.

It was the day for English Literary Quiz for Expressions 2012, the ongoing English Literary Week programme at MAPS International High. While the first day of the programme was silent, the second day was quite noisy with the intellectual conversations. The participation of students under their houses namely Achievers, Entrepreneurs and Innovators made the competition more active.

‘‘Master Brain’ was conducted with a total five rounds in it. While the rounds Language, grammar and literature checked the depth of student’s knowledge, Riddles and Dumb Charade added colour to the programme. The total marks are being added to find the best individual award as well as for the best House championship.

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The moments that touched heart

Expressions 2012 witnessed dramatic moments when students gathered for the third day of the programmes. Impromptu Speech was the competition held where students expressed their talents on public speaking that tested various areas related to the skill such as response, language, expression etc. There were six selected students from each house who picked topics randomly from the given.

It was when describing ‘the most painful experience’ in the life, the student burst out into tears unable to complete the speech. There was pin-drop silence at the hall and some students accompanied while the contestant left the stage to make her controllable. This should be considered as an example of the depth of pain that the teenager carry within him or her, that is nothing but the reflection of our own society.

The event gave a mixed experience of profound thoughts and humour. As usual students actively participated in the programme.

The Wizard Spell Wizard 2012 was another attraction of MAPS expressions 2012. To motivate students for acquiring vocabulary for effective communication, the competition was planned to be conducted in three levels. But the competency of the students made the competition tough and demanded another round to find the “wizard”.

Ten students were allowed from each house who were carefully selected by the house captains to ensure better scores for their respective houses. First three rounds were conducted on 11th September, but due to limitations in time the next round was conducted on the following day.

When the competition checked students’ knowledge in pronunciation and spelling related area, for the audience it was a learning opportunity that added new words to their vocabulary.

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Posters of Expression It was when the librarian of Ibn Batuta Library reminded the time students of MAPS international High raised their head from the posters that they were busy preparing. It was late night when students dispersed from the library, some still worried about the completion of the posters by the next day.

Teenage issues, being the theme for the posters was an experience of looking at their own world! Group of students comprising of artists and writers joined hands to prepare the theme upon the posters. An exhibition of the posters by the students will be held on the closing day ceremony.

Apart from these competitions a photography competition was also conducted for the students as well as the staff of MAPS. The souvenir has a section highlighting the best entries.

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What's Wrong With the Teenage Mind? Children today reach puberty earlier and adulthood later. The result: A lot of teenage weirdness. Alison Gopnik on how we might readjust adolescence.

puberty is now kicking in at an earlier and earlier age. A leading theory points to changes in energy balance as children eat more and move less. " hat was he thinking?" It's the familiar W At the same time, first with the industrial cry of bewildered parents trying to revolution and then even more dramatically understand why their teenagers act the way with the information revolution, children they do. have come to take on adult roles later and later. Five hundred years ago, Shakespeare How does the boy who can thoughtfully knew that the emotionally intense explain the reasons never to drink and drive combination of teenage sexuality and peer- end up in a drunken crash? Why does the girl induced risk could be tragic—witness who knows all about birth control find herself "Romeo and Juliet." But, on the other hand, if pregnant by a boy she doesn't even like? not for fate, 13-year-old Juliet would have What happened to the gifted, imaginative become a wife and mother within a year or child who excelled through high school but two. then dropped out of college, drifted from job to job and now lives in his parents' basement? Our Juliets (as parents longing for grandchildren will recognize with a sigh) may Adolescence has always been troubled, but experience the tumult of love for 20 years for reasons that are somewhat mysterious, before they settle down into motherhood. 8

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And our Romeos may be poetic lunatics under psychologist Laurence Steinberg the influence of Queen Mab until they are well at Temple University, teenagers into graduate school. did a simulated high-risk driving task while they were lying in an fMRI brain-imaging What happens when children reach puberty machine. The reward system of their brains earlier and adulthood later? The answer is: a lighted up much more when they thought good deal of teenage weirdness. Fortunately, another teenager was watching what they developmental psychologists and did—and they took more risks. neuroscientists are starting to explain the foundations of that weirdness. From an evolutionary point of view, this all makes perfect sense. One of the most The crucial new idea is that there are two distinctive evolutionary features of human different neural and psychological systems beings is our unusually long, protected that interact to turn children into adults. Over childhood. Human children depend on adults the past two centuries, and even more over for much longer than those of any other the past generation, the developmental primate. That long protected period also timing of these two systems has changed. allows us to learn much more than any other That, in turn, has profoundly changed animal. But eventually, we have to leave the adolescence and produced new kinds of safe bubble of family life, take what we adolescent woe. The big question for anyone learned as children and apply it to the real who deals with young people today is how we adult world. can go about bringing these cogs of the teenage mind into sync once again. Becoming an adult means leaving the world of your parents and starting to make your The first of these systems has to do with way toward the future that you will share emotion and motivation. It is very closely with your peers. Puberty not only turns on linked to the biological and chemical changes the motivational and emotional system with of puberty and involves the areas of the brain new force, it also turns it away from the that respond to rewards. This is the system family and toward the world of equals. that turns placid 10-year-olds into restless, The second crucial system in our brains has exuberant, emotionally intense teenagers, to do with control; it channels and harnesses desperate to attain every goal, fulfill every all that seething energy. In particular, the desire and experience every sensation. Later, prefrontal cortex reaches out to guide other it turns them back into relatively placid parts of the brain, including the parts that adults. govern motivation and emotion. This is the Recent studies in the neuroscientist B.J. system that inhibits impulses and guides Casey's lab at Cornell University suggest that decision-making, that encourages long-term adolescents aren't reckless because they planning and delays gratification. underestimate risks, but because they overestimate rewards—or, rather, find This control system depends much more on rewards more rewarding than adults do. The learning. It becomes increasingly effective reward centers of the adolescent brain are throughout childhood and continues to much more active than those of either develop during adolescence and adulthood, as children or adults. Think about the we gain more experience. You come to make incomparable intensity of first love, the better decisions by making not-so-good never-to-be-recaptured glory of the high- decisions and then correcting them. You get school basketball championship. to be a good planner by making plans, implementing them and seeing the results What teenagers want most of all are social again and again. Expertise comes with rewards, especially the respect of their peers. experience. As the old joke has it, the answer In a recent study by the developmental to the tourist's question "How do you get to

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Carnegie Hall?" is "Practice, practice, The experience of trying to practice." achieve a real goal in real time in the real world is increasingly delayed, and the In the distant (and even the not-so-distant) growth of the control system depends on just historical past, these systems of motivation those experiences. The pediatrician and and control were largely in sync. In gatherer- developmental psychologist Ronald Dahl at hunter and farming societies, childhood the University of California, Berkeley, has a education involves formal and informal good metaphor for the result: Today's apprenticeship. Children have lots of chances adolescents develop an accelerator a long to practice the skills that they need to time before they can steer and brake. accomplish their goals as adults, and so to This doesn't mean that adolescents are become expert planners and actors. The stupider than they used to be. In many ways, cultural psychologist Barbara Rogoff studied they are much smarter. An ever longer this kind of informal education in a protected period of immaturity and Guatemalan Indian society, where she found dependence—a childhood that extends that apprenticeship allowed even young through college—means that young humans children to become adept at difficult and can learn more than ever before. There is dangerous tasks like using a machete. strong evidence that IQ has increased dramatically as more children spend more In the past, to become a good gatherer or time in school, and there is even some hunter, cook or caregiver, you would actually evidence that higher IQ is correlated with practice gathering, hunting, cooking and delayed frontal lobe development. taking care of children all through middle childhood and early adolescence—tuning up All that school means that children know just the prefrontal wiring you'd need as an more about more different subjects than they adult. But you'd do all that under expert adult ever did in the days of apprenticeships. supervision and in the protected world of Becoming a really expert cook doesn't tell you childhood, where the impact of your about the nature of heat or the chemical inevitable failures would be blunted. When composition of salt—the sorts of things you the motivational juice of puberty arrived, learn in school. you'd be ready to go after the real rewards, in the world outside, with new intensity and But there are different ways of being smart. exuberance, but you'd also have the skill and Knowing physics and chemistry is no help control to do it effectively and reasonably with a soufflé. Wide-ranging, flexible and safely. broad learning, the kind we encourage in high-school and college, may actually be in In contemporary life, the relationship tension with the ability to develop finely- between these two systems has changed honed, controlled, focused expertise in a dramatically. Puberty arrives earlier, and the particular skill, the kind of learning that once motivational system kicks in earlier too. routinely took place in human societies. For most of our history, children have started At the same time, contemporary children their internships when they were seven, not have very little experience with the kinds of 27. tasks that they'll have to perform as grown- ups. Children have increasingly little chance The old have always complained about the to practice even basic skills like cooking and young, of course. But this new explanation caregiving. Contemporary adolescents and based on developmental timing elegantly pre-adolescents often don't do much of accounts for the paradoxes of our particular anything except go to school. Even the paper crop of adolescents. route and the baby-sitting job have largely There do seem to be many young adults who disappeared. are enormously smart and knowledgeable but

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MAPS Expressions 2012 directionless, who are enthusiastic and Brain research is often taken to exuberant but unable to commit to a mean that adolescents are really particular kind of work or a particular love just defective adults—grown-ups with a until well into their 20s or 30s. And there is missing part. Public policy debates about the graver case of children who are faced teenagers thus often turn on the question of with the uncompromising reality of the drive when, exactly, certain areas of the brain for sex, power and respect, without the develop, and so at what age children should expertise and impulse control it takes to ward be allowed to drive or marry or vote—or be off unwanted pregnancy or violence. held fully responsible for crimes. But the new view of the adolescent brain isn't that the This new explanation also illustrates two prefrontal lobes just fail to show up; it's that really important and often overlooked facts they aren't properly instructed and exercised. about the mind and brain. First, experience shapes the brain. People often think that if Simply increasing the driving age by a year or some ability is located in a particular part of two doesn't have much influence on the the brain, that must mean that it's "hard- accident rate, for example. What does make a wired" and inflexible. But, in fact, the brain is difference is having a graduated system in so powerful precisely because it is so which teenagers slowly acquire both more sensitive to experience. It's as true to say that skill and more freedom—a driving our experience of controlling our impulses apprenticeship. make the prefrontal cortex develop as it is to say that prefrontal development makes us Instead of simply giving adolescents more better at controlling our impulses. Our social and more school experiences—those extra and cultural life shapes our biology. hours of after-school classes and homework—we could try to arrange more Second, development plays a crucial role in opportunities for apprenticeship. explaining human nature. The old AmeriCorps, the federal community-service "evolutionary psychology" picture was that program for youth, is an excellent example, genes were directly responsible for some since it provides both challenging real-life particular pattern of adult behavior—a experiences and a degree of protection and "module." In fact, there is more and more supervision. evidence that genes are just the first step in complex developmental sequences, cascades "Take your child to work" could become a of interactions between organism and routine practice rather than a single-day environment, and that those developmental annual event, and college students could processes shape the adult brain. Even small spend more time watching and helping changes in developmental timing can lead to scientists and scholars at work rather than big changes in who we become. just listening to their lectures. Summer enrichment activities like camp and travel, Fortunately, these characteristics of the brain now so common for children whose parents mean that dealing with modern adolescence have means, might be usefully alternated with is not as hopeless as it might sound. Though summer jobs, with real responsibilities. we aren't likely to return to an agricultural life or to stop feeding our children well and The good news, in short, is that we don't have sending them to school, the very flexibility of to just accept the developmental patterns of the developing brain points to solutions. adolescent brains. We can actually shape and change them. (Ms. Gopnik is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author, most recently, of "The Philosophical Baby: What Children's Minds Tell Us About Truth, Love and the Meaning of Life." Adapted from an essay that she wrote for www.edge.org, in response to the website's 2012 annual question: "What is your favorite deep, elegant or beautiful explanation?")

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The History of English Language

Mishal Ahmed MAPS International High

with ‘Woden’s day’, ‘Thor’s day’ and ‘Freya’s day’. The first English words that we speculate When Christianity came into that were said was something probably to the England, it became a big hit and lines of, “Go away”. At this time England was they accepted a lot of Latin words into the at war with a lot of different people. One of English language such as, ‘bishop’ and ‘font’ the invaders were the Anglo-Saxons, which is and other fancy words. Then we have to go a tribe of people from the Germanic region, back to the fighting where England spent who themselves slightly contributed to the some time fighting the Vikings who’s language, bringing in words such as ‘house’, language spread with English to create simple ‘dog’ and ‘woman’ into the English language words like, ‘drag’, ‘thrust’ and ‘die’ and all

kinds of horrible words like these. They also from their own native language. Four of the did give us the words, ‘give’ and ‘take’ within days of the week are named after the gods of 2000 more words that they introduced to us. these tribes. As an interesting fact, we’ll look While this might not have been the best time at how the days were named in further detail, for the people in England with all the fighting, ‘Tuesday’ was actually a reference to Tiu, the little did they know about the wonders they Germanic legend of war and sky, hence the were doing for their language. name ‘Tiu’s day.’ This tradition continued

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phrases we use today are based While there were countless other wars which on his writings, such as ‘good riddance’ or helped England, we’re going to look at just ‘fight fire with fire.’ Shakespeare made sure to one more before skipping a few centuries. show everyone that English is a rich language We’re going to look at the French influence of with emotional and expressive power like no the language. If any of you did not know, other. France actually invaded England in 1066 by a It has now evolved into something that is so fellow called William of Normandy. He huge that everybody knows it… even if it is established a fine rule and brought along new just a little. Americans took a hold of the concepts, foods and words such as ‘judge’, language and created words that are ‘jury’, ‘evidence’ and ‘justice’ . We can jump on business-related such as ‘mergers’, over to Shakespeare’s time now. The man ‘downsizing’ and ‘bottom-line’. Nowadays single handedly invent more than 2000 new English is evolving again due to the Internet words and phrases into the language. He where abbreviations are taking over regular started bringing English into a more literarily sentences. The English language has so little complex language by bringing in words like to do with England these days; we might as ‘dauntless’ and ‘lacklustre’. In fact, many of the well adopt it as a universal language!

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When Love beckons Mariam Ameen MAPS International High

Of which I made note. My disagreeing consience, I fought and fought. Every single heart beat, A step I took, Brought more pain. Everysingle breathe failed, A mistake I made. To break the tight chains. I lost myself, Tried to stop myself, The lights began to fade. Tried to break free. Dreams are shattered, But a slip of the tongue made me, Hopes are all sealed. Go back to where I should not be. No one to call upon, Life seemed so much longer, To express how I feel. People I called friends disappear. Love or torture, The feeling of isolation, I am unable to tell. Was a never ending fear. Where hav e I landed in? When I first saw your face, Heaven or hell? I could not make myself believe. My satisfaction became, The fact that you showed, A nightmare that came true. Was an utter and complete relief. My call-out for help, Day after day, Was ignored through and through.

Every taste I took, You showed me the way. Filled with love and magic, So as you say. You refused to give up, Your eyes so firm. You were my teacher, And I began to learn. The clouds crept away, The sun came out and shone. You have changed me completely, I was no longer alone.

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Blinding and filled with bliss, Is this what we called love? Your hands were to me, An angels golden touch. Together forever, We are meant to be. My fears were drowned, By the love you gave me. I began to smile more, You had turned me around. The light at the end of the tunnel, I had finally found. You never left me, Through thick and thin. You stood by my side, While I paid for my sins. You have helped me so much, In times of blue. So I think it’s fair to say, That I love you. It was not your smile, That blew me away. It was not your eyes, That led me astray. It was your words, That helped my new start. It was your generous, And warm, loving heart.

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Mr. Unknown Mariyam Shifaza, MAPS International High

Every day at the same time the bell which is me these anonymous attached outside our house door rings .That gifts. So my best friend and I decided to trace would be like for 3 or 4 times a day. These or maybe spy on the person who has been weird things have been happening for like a year. The first was on the New Years Eve when my whole family was gathered celebrating at our place all off a sudden the bell rang it was like 12 in the noon. My cousin sister opened the door and she called me out loud. When I went there there was a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates. We thought that it was from a friend on New Year’s Eve. sending these. While we were having tea the bell rang again. We thought it was pizza guy. But this time it I wasn’t very curious to know who that was a bunch of flowers n a teddy bear which would be because I have no interest about was adorable, and the next bell rang about 9 ‘o’ at night when we were having a barbeque knowing someone whom I don’t know. I at the back of our house . would rather spy on my neighbor because I Around 12 midnight when we were playing a have a huge crush on him. But since my best family game the bell rang. We thought that it friend is so curious to know who that is I was someone very important. But this time thought of giving it a try to find out who that also it was flowers we thought that these gifts is since I have never got these kinds of gifts in were from neighbors and friends. These my whole life. At first I thought these flowers things have been happening with me for like a were send to me just to play a prank but these year and yet I haven’t found out that the things have been happening for a year. mysterious person is who have been sending 17

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Most of the entire person who sends these I felt sad because I thought he was gifts describes him as the mystery person going to give it to someone else. who makes me laugh and the person writes Who knows, since he doesn’t talk and I didn’t poems and songs describing me. So to find feel much of it. I waited for the whole day to out whom that is I decided to ask for help hear the knock on the door or the bell to ring from my brother to film it while the but there was not a single one. mysterious person comes. But my little brother is a very irritating kid and he never The next day what happened was very does a favor to any of the family members surprising. While I was on my way back home until he is being paid. So we decided to pay from school I met the guy from next door him. He agreed that he would only do it for whom I had the crush and asked me if he $100. So I agreed because there was no other could join with me on the way back home. I option left. was pleased. All of a sudden he started talking to me about so many things and he shared so The next day after having breakfast me, my many memories of him, I really enjoyed best friend and my little brother went to our talking to him. While we were talking he front door. My little brother went out and hid asked me about the flowers and the gifts I in the bush which made me laugh a lot. M e have been getting I got shocked and so many and my best friend stayed inside a peeped things ran through my mind. It just blew my through the window. We waited and waited mind. When he told me that he was the but there was no sign of any mysterious person who has been sending me the flowers person. We waited for a long time an since no and gifts I was so happy and excited because one came while my brother was getting out all these day the person whom I had the crush the only person who appeared was the boy on and the person whom I adored the most from next door whom I had a huge crush on have been sending me the flowers. That getting out of his house with lots of flowers . moment was the most beautiful and the happiest moment of my life.

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Have you ever wondered why foreigners have trouble with the English Language?

Let's face it Park on driveways and English is a stupid language. Drive on parkways There is no egg in the eggplant No ham in the hamburger And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple. You have to marvel at the unique lunacy English muffins were not invented in England Of a language where a house can burn up as French fries were not invented in France. It burns down And in which you fill in a form By filling it out And a bell is only heard once it goes! We sometimes take English for granted

But if we examine its paradoxes we find that

Quicksand takes you down slowly

Boxing rings are square And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is English was invented by people, not it a pig. computers And it reflects the creativity of the human race (Which of course isn't a race at all) If writers write, how come fingers don't fing. If the plural of tooth is teeth Shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth That is why If the teacher taught, When the stars are out they are visible Why didn't the preacher praught. But when the lights are out they are invisible And why it is that when I wind up my watch It starts If a vegetarian eats vegetables But when I wind up this observation, What the heck does a humanitarian eat!? It ends. Why do people recite at a play Yet play at a recital?

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A Whole New

Man

By Ibrahim Shamhan

All I could ever think about was how I can get it? When will I ever get it? Sometimes I call him every 10 minutes to see if he got any new stock. But all this changed on the day I met her, the love of my life. It all started at the beginning of this year. Everyday at home, all I could ever hear is the arguments between my parents. Whether I’m in front of them or in my room, it’s all I can hear. It’s like as if I don’t exist in front of them. All this stress caught me and forced me to be the man I had become. In the face of the society I am known as a criminal, a castaway, a drug dealer. But the way she saw me was different. She saw me as a misunderstood person, a person who had a good reason to be in the situation he was now. Also that he can change and be a whole new different person if he tries.

Before I saw her that day, I was on the streets as usual, sometimes buying or selling drugs. On that day I had a new client, so I was on my way to see him when I bumped into her. I looked at her and was about to shout. But instead of getting angry at her, all I could do was look into those two beautiful eyes and that extraordinary fair face. And then all I heard was a soft whisper which carried the words “I’m sorry” to ears along the breeze of wind that was blowing.

That day, after meeting with my client, I went home and as I lay down on the bed all that ever came to mind was the ruby like eyes which was shining in the light and that soft whisper that was like music to my ears. After that day, I always waited for her. And everyday she would pass by me and look at me and smile at me as she goes. And after she goes pass me, she would look back and giggle which just makes my day.

After a week, I started talking to her. She was a really sweet girl. I told her everything about me and even asked her out a couple of times. But despite knowing what kind of man I was, she would say yes. We dated for about a month or two and one night I proposed her. To my surprise, she said yes.

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But before we could get married, she wanted me to do her a favour. I was willing to do anything for her cause I was head over heels in love with her. I told her that I would buy anything for her and even give my life for her. But all she said was “I don’t want any fancy clothes or anything like that. All I want is for you to change and become a better man”. I stood there speechless, but after a moment of silence, I finally said yes. She said that she will wait for me, until then as a proof we got engaged after a week. After getting engaged, I went to a school and resumed mu studies from where I left it.

After eight years of hard work and determination, I was a well educated, manager of a bank living a normal life with his two kids and wife. All this change, just for a girl I met whom I never knew.

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Raising Children Lessons on the Islamic way of raising children by Tahera Kassamali

Some parents believe that to love children means to do their work. They take excessive pity on the child and feel that as a parent it is their duty to do things for him. So at six years old a child is still be dressed by the parents. He is considered too young to tie his own shoes, or comb his hair. Such constant fussing over the child does not instill confidence and independence in the child. A ten year old who never cleans his room, and lets mum or dad do it, will learn to always depend on others. This may also foster laziness, sloppiness and a lack of initiative.

A wise parent knows that the best way to help a child is not do things for him, but to show him how to do them. Learning the skills of carrying out personal and household chores are an achievement often appreciated during Many parents have frustrated and angry the early years. A child who is not taught to relationships with their children. Even very do them when young, will be very unwilling young children sometimes become a source to do them when older. Parents should help of annoyance with their constant demands, their children learn to do their own work, whining, and disobedience. Family life is using the physical and mental powers the supposed to be joyous and fulfilling but Almighty has blessed them with. reality is often very different in many cases. However, a lot of the heartache and pain of 2. Quarreling in front of the children child rearing is quite unnecessary. If parents would take a little time and effort to improve It is natural for couples to have occasional their ways, realize their mistakes, and devise arguments, sometimes even heated and bitter new strategies and plans, the dividends ones. However it is very damaging to carry would be great. A small change in attitude these out in front of children. Children do not and/or behavior would make life much understand that this is not a cause of worry, happier for both parent and child. and may begin to imagine the worst. To them it could be a sign that the parents do not love Below are some common mistakes that each other, that they may even divorce and parents often make. destroy his world. This causes depression and loss of security among children. Worse, it 1. Making children dependent could have damaging effects as the child grows. He could look upon the conflicting relationship of his parents as a normal relationship for married couples and this

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could have a major effect on his own In Hadithe Mufazzal, our sixth relationships. Imam describes the wisdom behind the childish behavior which some adults dislike. Some parents even try to make the children He says: take sides. If a wife feels her husband is treating her unfairly, she may talk to the If a child had been born with mature children and make them see her side. She intellect, he would have been would like to turn them against the husband, astounded on opening his eyes and at least to a certain degree. What she fails to seeing such varied assortment, realize is that the husband is a father to her different kinds of forms and distinctive children. They would like to respect and love images of unity and disunity. For a long him. By poisoning them against him she is time he would not understand where doing them a great injustice. She could be he had come from and where he has damaging a relationship that has the potential arrived, and whether all that he was to bring the child great good. This also applies seeing was in a state of dreams or to those who try to turn children against their waking. grandparents, or other relatives. Because of a conflict with in-laws, children are told of how If he had been born with mature unfair and oppressive the family is. To intellect he would have felt disgusted deprive the children of love and respect for and degraded on finding himself being their extended family is also a great wrong. carried about in the lap, fed with milk, Parents should not let their own quarrels wrapped in bandages. keep their children away from enjoying the special love of grandparents and other There would not have been, if they had relatives. been born with mature intellect, that sweetness, nor that consideration for The best thing parents can do to a child is infants in the minds of the adults which present a loving and harmonious relationship comes from fondling the untutored among themselves. It boosts the child both children. Their artlessness creates a mentally and emotionally and helps him form particular attraction. As such he is loving relationships in his own life. It is true born into the world without an that arguments cannot always be dismissed. understanding for anything, quite But they must be done in private, away from unaware of the world and what lies the child who cannot understand or bear therein. He views all these things with fighting among his parents. his undeveloped brain and inadequate understanding, and so does not feel 3. Expecting too much of children perplexed.

His intellect and understanding Some parents would like their children to develop by degrees, slowly from time to behave totally like adults. They don’t want time, little by little. This introduces him them to run around, to play, to talk loudly, gradually to the things around him and even to touch things around the house. What accustoms his brain accordingly. they should understand is that all these activities are part of growing up. To be a The child lives in a world quite different from healthy adult, children need to have passed that of the parent. Parents sometimes view through various stages, each of which is a the life of the child from an adult perspective, building block in his character. and forget that to the child his little world is very important.

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Although they must be kept away from one in which children know that harmful and dangerous things, a child should they will be disciplined when necessary, but be allowed to explore things that arouse his do not have to fear a sharp tongue or harsh curiosity. Let him meddle with things that he words. is interested in, if the consequences are not very destructive. The house should not be a Some parents also have a very negative prison for him, with constant orders to sit attitude on life. They complain of their work, down and be quiet. and the people they work with. They blame the world for their troubles and are quick to Allow the child to have a little independence, talk negatively about others. All this is especially in things that are not greatly undoubtedly going to have an effect on the significant. The small mistakes that he may child. A child who has heard a lot about how make will teach him to do different next time. unfair and difficult life is may form a dim There is a difference between issues of grave view of life in this world. His enthusiasm for importance that cannot be compromised, and life decreases. A great deal of a child’s joy and issues in which some flexibility can be zest for living stems from what his parents allowed. Life should not be so serious that think and say about life. It is always necessary every small thing should be treated like a to avoid being too negative when talking in major issue. front of children.

Some parents also make the mistake of 5. Being two-faced expecting too many achievements from their children. A parent should know his child, and Many parents do not realize how observant his strengths and weaknesses. If a child is not and absorbing a child is. They will talk in too bright, it is enough to encourage him to front of him forgetting that he is present, work hard and achieve according to his almost as though he is a piece of furniture - potential. To expect that he must bring deaf and dumb. But a child listens and perfect marks, and then show disappointment absorbs, often ponders over and sometimes when he cannot, hurts the child and lowers repeats, what he hears. Thus when a parent his self-esteem. This is the same for all says something about a particular thing or expectations the parents has from the child. It person, and then says something different to must be proportionate to the age and ability someone else, the child is introduced to being of the child. two-faced. A parent may rant against someone, and say he dislikes him immensely. 4. Negativity Yet when he meets the same person, he is very nice to him and shows no sign of his Life is miserable for those children who have anger. Although to a certain degree this may to deal with parents who are constantly be necessary, for we cannot show our negative. Such parents do not forget mistakes, disagreements openly, it is not necessary to harp on small issues, and are always indulge in hypocritical behavior. A hypocrite predicting the worst. “You are not studying is one who will be very sweet to the face, but hard, you are bound to fail”, Your room is will stab from the back. Imam Muhammad al- such a mess, I wonder how sloppy your house Baqir (a) says: The worst of the servants (of will be when you grow up”, “Stop troubling Allah) is one who has two faces and two your younger sister, you have no love for her tongues. He praises his brother-in-faith when at all” are examples of negative and perhaps he is present, and eats him when he is absent. destructive comments. A parent may sometimes say such things in anger, but it is A child should not be exposed to such the constant repetition of negative comments behavior. He believes that his parent is that affect a child greatly. A happy home is always right, and to see such two faced

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behavior is a disillusionment and a wrong serious one should be done in message. private. Respect the child’s personality, and you will teach him to respect others. 6. Humiliating a child in front of others Parents are human beings and are bound to make mistakes. The aim is not to refrain from A child has his own personality and, just like ever making mistakes, but to learn from them an adult, wants that others should love and and gradually decrease them. Parents have respect him. It is thus very difficult for him been making the same mistakes over the when he is scolded and derogated in public. years, and it is time to learn and change. A Some parents announce to others when the slight change in attitude and methods of children are present, how well behaved one parenting will create vastly improved child is and how naughty the other. Or, if a relationships between parents and children. mistake is made, he is scolded even when This in turn produces stronger families, a there are other people around. A slight vital commodity in the struggle to create a reprimand may not matter too much, but a progressive Ummah. ~

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Mysterious Girl By: Mohamed Ameen, MAPS International High

It was the mid- day of a beautiful summer day in Los Angeles California, Jake was just about ready to go to his soccer practice. While going downstairs he suddenly had to go to the toilet but was forced to wait thanks to his sister Mary who was the Cheerleading Captain.

His sister finally came out of the toilet after many knocks and shouts from Jake and they both left for practice in Jake’s Lamborghini which everyone wanted. As soon as they arrived for practice everyone knew by the sound of Jake’s car it was them. Jake was the soccer team captain for Illyria while Mary his little sister was the cheerleading Captain. Jake being the soccer team captain has crazy proposals from girls from Illyria, but of all these beautiful girls his eyes were only for one, Jessica ‘the High school dream girl’, Jessica was also Mary’s best friend. Secretly what both Jessica and Jake didn’t know was that they liked each other, but they just couldn’t say it.

So one day Jessica decided to send a letter to Jake through Mary, The letters said, Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, I think I’m cute and so are you. Jake being a fan of investigating things decided to find out who has sent this letter to him. Days pass and the romantic poems and letters keep on coming but Jake’s trail has gone to a dead end. He egoistically said his best friend John “It’s difficult to a find the girl who sent this letter if you’re the most popular boy in school”, you go ask any one they’ll say I sent it or no It was me. Jake finally gave up and smashed his head thinking who could this girl be.

The answer to Jake’s question was in the letters all along. Jake just didn’t know it.

It was the rival game against Cornwall and Illyria and in the dying seconds of the game Jake scored a beautiful Free Kick from 30 yards out to win the game for Illyria and everyone was celebrating except Jake, His mysterious girl has become a ghost, there were no messages or poems or gifts from her for three days now. After he finished the game he went he went home to read to read the letters and the poems that the mysterious girl has sent. And after hours of reading the one little phrase bought back everything. He quickly had a shower and went to John’s house where there were having a victory party for beating Cornwall. Jake went to the party wearing a red longed sleeved T-shirt which said Illyria forever and a black jean and red and black sneakers. On the way to 26

MAPS Expressions 2012 the party he went to uncle Sam’s boutique and bought a bouquet of red roses. As soon as he went to the party he started searching for Jessica but when asked where she was Mary said Jessica is leaving to New York for the holidays tonight. Jake quickly got into his Lamborghini and drove to Jessica’s place and as soon as he got there he jumped out of the car and rang the bell. Jessica looked out the window and to see who it was and as soon Jake saw Jessica he said “Girl you are amazing just the way you are”, that’s the song I sang for you on your 18th birthday. Jessica quickly came downstairs and hugged Jake, tears were dripping down in Jessica’s eyes and said I’ve been in love with you for two years and now only you see me, Jake said in life when god wants to give you something he’ll wait till the end to give you the most precious gift. Jessica canceled all her plans and spent the summer holidays with Jake and Mary. She described it as the best summer vacation ever.

So in life when god doesn’t give you something now it means that he is waiting for the perfect time to give the perfect gift.

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The Positives and Negatives of the Teenage Brain

The question, “What were you thinking?” is An adolescent’s physical body may resemble commonly asked (sometimes daily) by many an adult but their brain development is quite parents who have teenagers. In fact, just this different. At age 15, thrill seeking and weekend, I asked the same thing to my impulsivity peaks, which explains why teens nineteen-year-old. seek dangerous experiences. The up side of It had to do with something she did, which this is this sensation seeking also creates the made no logical sense to me that ended up teen to spread their wings and inspire them causing her to lose a dearly beloved privilege. to meet new friends and try new experiences Her statement, best summed up her that help them become more independent. explanation of why she did what she did to Another difference between the teenage and lose my trust and this newly acquired adult brain is the way risk taking is handled. privilege was, “I really don’t know why I did Research has shown that even the biggest risk this. Now I understand the consequences but taker teenagers (14-to-17-year-olds) use the at the time, I just didn’t think.” Here’s my best same cognitive reasoning abilities through explanation—teenage brain! problems just as well as adults. The biggest

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MAPS Expressions 2012 difference is that they just value the reward First, parents can take comfort in knowing from their risk taking more than adults do. ~ that their teenage children search for new experiences is a normal aspect of growing up. Adolescence is a time of great adaptability in It’s Mother Nature’s way of getting them the brain. With the onslaught of different primed for adulthood. Also, studies show that neurotransmitters and hormones affecting when parents who are involved in their teen’s their brains, their decision-making and lives through balancing that sometimes- learning patterns are influx. Neuroscientists difficult tight rope between helping them now know that the prefrontal cortex parts of become more independent along with steady the teen brain responsible for those involvement, end up with their children being important operations are not fully developed more successful in life. The trick is finding until their mid-twenties. This means that it healthy sources of stimulation for them from might be unreasonable to expect teenagers to athletic endeavors to exposing them to have all the brainpower they need to make experiences that provide plenty of excitement good judgments. for their brains.

So what do hand wringing, worried parents of Most importantly, take comfort in the fact teens do now that they understand that they that the majority of teens actually get through no control over the physiological changes adolescence without too many permanent their children’s brains are going through? scars! And that gives all of us parents a huge sigh of relief!

(Dr. Andrea “Andie” Weiner’s research concentrates on children’s social and emotional skill development. As the founder of Emotionally Smart Beginnings, she produces educational products for children and parents that cover topics from making friends to how to read emotional cues. For more from Dr. Andie, visit her website).

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ELLY AND ALEX By Fathmath Rifshan MAPS International High

This was the sixth day in a row she got late. Her his is going too far” yelled the teacher “go T parents came by as she to the principles office walked into the right now.” The principles office; their poor heads were bowed down child in shame because of their daughter Elliot.

But what could they do. The kid was out of their reach and long gone. But no excuses were taken by the principle. This was the last draw. She ended up getting suspended for a whole week.

At home Elly got a whole ear full by their parents, but this did no good. Nothing they said or did would affect her. They finally gave up and went upstairs Elly did not care she called her boyfriend and went to his place.

Everyone knew that Andrew had a drug problem. It was inevitable he has no parents and no one to care for him. But now Elly and bowed Andrew are together Elly is slowly being down her pulled into Andrew’s world. She smokes now head and started and takes drugs though in very little doses. walking towards the door. Her friends really try to help her. But it’s no 30

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use it’s like as if Andrew had a spell on her Elly’s parents and Alex came to because absolutely nothing would work on know that Elly had a drug problem. No one her. blamed her, for they knew that Andrew was behind all of this. A few days after her suspension began, Andrew broke up with Elly. It broke her Elly’s parents were very supportive with the heart. But some were deep in her heart she whole thing. And so was alex. He was very new it would have happened sooner or later. worried about her and didn’t leave her sight Now she kept to herself in her room all the for a moments notice. Of course everyone time but this wasn’t good for her in any way. knew that Alex loved ely with all his heart. She had to get her hands on something to take But he would absolutely not let it out. He in. earlier her supplier was Andrew. But now thought I might ruin their friendship and he that he was gone there is no one to get her could absolutely not let that happen. what she wanted. Elly kept on getting better little by little day She lay in agony, shivering and crying in pain, by day. A few weeks later she was up as well cuddled in to a ball she laid on her bed. Her as any other normal person. best friend Alex came by that day. And he could not help seeing the sight of her friend in Now Alex would tae her for walks, drop her to pain. He couldn’t help but wanted to help her. school, take her home and all the other things Quickly he took his phone out of his pocket a guy would do who had a crush on his best and called for an ambulance which took Elly friend. They ended up together in the end and away not long after.it was at the hospital that like her parents had said “it was inevitable.”

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How to improve your English skills

along the way. Take your time to really enjoy My most important piece of advice is: the experience. "Do something (anything). If you don't do There are many ways to improve y our level anything, you won't get anywhere. Make it of English, but only you can find the right way your hobby, not a chore, but above all have for you. Here are a few tips that might help:- fun!" Improve your Learning Don't be in too much of a hurry. You're setting Skills off on a long journey and there'll be delays and frustrations along the way. Sometimes Learning is a skill and it can be improved. you'll be in the fast lane and other times you'll be stuck in traffic, but there will also be lots of Your path to learning effectively is through interesting things and interesting people knowing

 yourself

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Here are some goals you could set  your capacity to learn yourself:-  processes you have successfully used in the past Join an English course - a virtual one or a real  your interest, and knowledge of what one (and attend regularly). you wish to learn Do your homework.

Motivate yourself Read a book or a comic every month. Learn a new word every day. If you are not motivated to learn English you will become frustrated and give up. Ask Visit an English speaking forum every day. yourself the following questions, and be Read a news article on the net every day. honest:- Do 10 minutes listening practice every day.

 Why do you need to learn/improve Watch an English film at least once a month. English? Follow a soap, comedy or radio or TV drama.  Where will you need to use English?  What skills do you need to A good way to meet your goals is to establish a system of rewards and punishments. learn/improve? (Reading/Writing/Lis tening/Speaking) Decide on a reward you will give yourself for  How soon do you need to see results? fulfilling your goals for a month.

 How much time can you afford to A bottle of your favourite drink devote to learning English. A meal out / or a nice meal at home  How much money can you afford to devote to learning English. A new outfit  Do you have a plan or learning A manicure or massage strategy?

Understanding how you learn best may Set yourself achievable goals also help you. You know how much time you can dedicate to learning English, but a short time each day There are different ways to learn. Find out will produce better, longer-term results than what kind of learner you are in order to a full day on the weekend and then nothing better understand how to learn more for two weeks. effectively. Joining a short intensive course could produce better results than joining a course that takes place once a week for six months.

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The visual learner The Do you need to see your teacher during Tactile/Kinesthetic learner lessons in order to fully understand the Do you learn best through a hands-on content of a lesson? approach, actively exploring the physical world around you? Do you prefer to sit at the front of the classroom to avoid visual obstructions (e.g. Do you find it hard to sit still for long periods? people's heads)? Do you become distracted easily? Do you think in pictures and learn best from visual displays including: diagrams, illustrated text books, overhead !Learning Tip - you may benefit from transparencies, videos, flipcharts and hand- taking an active part in role plays or drama outs? activities. During a lecture or classroom discussion, do you prefer to take detailed notes to absorb Other English Learning the information? Tips Travel to an English speaking country:-

!Learning Tip - you may benefit from England, America, Australia, Canada, South taking part in traditional English lessons, Africa, one of them is only a few hours away from you. but maybe private lessons would be better. Specialist holidays are available to improve The auditory learner your English. Do you learn best through verbal lectures, discussions, talking things through and Take an English speaking tour or activity listening to what others have to say? holiday.

Do you interpret the underlying meanings of Spend your time on things that interest you. If speech through listening to tone of voice, you like cooking then buy an English- pitch, speed and other nuances? language cookbook or find recipes on the net and practise following the recipes. You'll soon Does written information have little meaning know if you have made a mistake! until you hear it? Keep something English on you (book, newspaper or magazine, cd or !Learning Tip - you may benefit from cassette, set of flashcards) all day and every listening to the radio or listening to text as day, you never know when you might have 5 spare minutes. you read it. You could try reading text aloud and using a tape recorder to play it If you are too tired to actively practice just back to yourself. relax and listen to an English pop song or talk radio station.

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Get onto Skype and Second Life. Start speakers / teachers (don't just networking with other learners / native restrict yourself to seeking out native speakers.

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Families are bound by love, not things

Aishath Ilma Ismail MAPS International High

A new day at a new school! It is the mid of brother who lives in the town. He was a first semester and after a tiring move from nuisance most of the times. Even matured as my old place to a totally new town, today was he is he can never stay out of trouble. It’s his my first showcasing myself to the society. middle name. I, on the other hand, am a clean, Truthfully, I felt like a total freak. While I was young and vibrant leader who is admired all walking down the hallway everyone was the time. And right now, my dream is to staring at me as if seeing a wild animal at a become –like every other 16 year old- the zoo parading in its cage. Anyways, I’m not prom queen. For many others it may be going to let this make me down. After all, this because of my popularity, but to be honest, I was my fresh new start. wanted it because my mom had been one at her age. I feel like it would connect me to her. A few weeks into school and I’m more confident and happy. It was mostly because of (A few months later) my high status and at school and all those who follow me like a puppy. A few days and I Everything is changing and I don’t know how have already had my objectives straight. to cope. My brother has lost his job and his Everyone at school adores me. After all, how custody on me and now I am supposedly to be often do you get a beauty with brains? Now, shipped off to the other side of the world, and walking down the hallway, I feel totally that too to Japan, to my aunt who was a different from the way I had on my first. nature photographer or somewhat. The Nothing’s changed other of you look from horror of it made me weep. But what would afar, except that I was accepted by everyone that do? But the most maddening part is that I and that now their stares of loathing rather am to leave my parents. There is no way I than curiosity. could visit them as often as I had promised. Hence, to block out the losing of everything, Everything was perfect. Well, except my even my dream, I am staying at my room in parents who have left me and joined the stars. silence, hoping that somehow everything will I loved them truly. Now, I stay with my older become alright.

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A day went by and I didn’t say a word to my hand. It was my mother’s brother or even ate a thing. The hunger was necklace. I started weeping hard. killing me, driving me crazy even more. As if by luck, my brother couldn’t take it anymore When I emerged and hour later, after feeding and came to confront me with a huge pile of and the necklace safely on my neck, I was a food. He said only three sentences. “It is not a new person, and I was ready to face any thing or an event that joins families. It is the obstacles because I had my parents love with love we feel in our heart. Mother wouldn’t me no matter what. have wanted you to behave like this”, and left the room after putting a silver necklace in my

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Long Lost friends Hassan Nawaaf MAPS International High since I double checked to see that it was properly locked. Even though the gift was wrapped beautifully I was starting to get t’s already I annoyed. Since we couldn’t see anyone past 8:00am. I around, we headed to the chemistry lab. After am late for my forty-five minutes of experiments with English class so I rushed to the classroom. chemicals the class was over. I had a free Our teacher had already started the class and period next but Amy didn’t so she left. I when he saw me entering the class fifteen started thinking about who the sender might minutes late he did not look happy from the be but had no luck. I stumbled upon an idea to lock I got from him. I excused myself and set follow my own stalker but I will have to skip a next to Amy, my best friend since childhood. class since this person is placing present when I am in a class. So I waited in the “Why are you late again? “ She whispered. hallway to see if they come back What Amy did not know was that I actually came to school on time but I got stuck getting The hallway was empty and quiet. Suddenly I rid of all the fresh red rose’s that fell out of started to hear footsteps so I quickly hid my locker. I just gave her a smile and decided behind a locker and waited for him to come. I to tell her after the class. When the bell rang I quickly took my bag and left the room and motioned Amy to do the same.

“What’s going on”? Amy asked. Judging by her expression I knew she was worried about me. Well, who can blame her? I am always punctual but today I was quarter of an hour late and also I couldn’t concentrate in class at all. I told her about the flowers in my locker and the present that I found in my bag yesterday when I forgot it and left in class. Since the sender did not mention his name in any of the gifts I got I did not know who was sending them. Amy found this interesting and decided to find out who it was by following their trail. So I when to show her my locker slowly peered to see who it was but and to my surprise another gift was in it. I accidentally stepped on a fallen can. I saw don’t know how they are accessing my locker that it was a boy. He got startled by the sound

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of me stepping on the can and started to run. I asked him. I couldn’t see his face knew this was my only chance and I ran after since he fell on his face. When he turned over him shouting at him to stop. I realized that I was shocked to see that it was Mark who there was a sign that says “Wet floor” but he lived next to our house since childhood but just kept on running. left for France a couple of years ago. “Mark”? I gasped. “Hey Amy” Mark replied with a grin. But he slipped and fell on the wet floor. I quickly ran up to him. “Are you alright”? I

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The Last Hope Samha Ibrahim MAPS International High

The first day of school was not exactly the way I planned it to be. But even so, it was better than the last time. Way better. At least nobody recognised me here. That was exactly what I needed right now. Total anonymity! “Ring, Ring”, there goes my alarm. It’s time For now at least! On the way home at the end of the day, I thought I saw something or for a new day. A new life, a fresh beginning, a maybe someone suspicious, but since I just different person! This time won’t be like the moved here and nobody recognized me, I last time, I wonder. Leaving that life and thought it was just my imagination. And so I starting another one brings joy to my face. It pushed that thought to the back of my head was like hell for me back then. But it’s time to and carried on. But still, I couldn’t help but let it go now. Let bygones be bygones. It’s all ignore this uneasy feeling settling in me. But in the past. I will never have to go back there then later on, decided to let it go, and I drove again. At least I hope so. So in that hope, I put home. on my clothes, male up and head out into the I didn’t even see the red coloured Le’ Sabre day, off to school. parked right in front of my house. Didn’t even know that the front door was unlocked! I went inside and there he was sitting comfortably in my small couch. He was

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waiting for me I guess. I stood there in shock me. Wherever I go. I even hate to for a moment and I slowly closed the door say that he is a part of my family. But sadly he behind me. This was the reason I moved out is. And he wasn’t going to stop until he got of my old town. This person sitting on my what he wanted. And it’s not like I could get couch was the reason why I quite school, left rid of him. He was my father after all. But I my family and moved out here. And now he’s refuse to call him that now. To believe it even. back here again. This cannot be happening. And so I just left him there and quietly went up to As I just stood there, he smiled at me. It was a my room. There was no doubt that he wouldn’t genuine smile, I guess but I just glared at him. leave until he got what he came for. And trust I didn’t want him smiling at me, not anymore. me, he won’t get it. Not this time. That’s why I ‘What are you doing here’, I asked him didn’t even bother to tell him to go away. He will sternly. The smile that was there before just follow me. I heard him call after me but I disappeared and was replaced with a frown. didn’t care. This was it. I can never get rid of him. He was furious, I could tell, but I didn’t care. It was just the same thing all over again. And Instead I asked him once again. This time he there is nothing I can do to stop it. got up from the couch and came straight at me. He always got angry when I questioned him. Luckily, I was prepared. I knew him well enough now and I was not going to fall back into the trap. I stepped away from him. He was so furious that his hands were trembling now.” Why else would I be here”, he finally spat out angrily. And I thought this was new even for him. Again, he said this, something inside me snapped and I thought, home? Who was he to tell me what home is? After all, he was the one who wrecked mine. But I kept my calm and told him that this was my home now and this is where I belonged.

But where else could I go even? I guess that even if I go anywhere, he would surely follow

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The shattered dreams

Ahmed Shareef MAPS International High

As Mika went down the stairs, all ready to go The soft and silent breeze entered Mika’s to her school, her mother was preparing her breakfast. Her mother could see the room from the window. As the breeze entered happiness and the excitement on her her room, the curtains gently moved like they daughter’s face. She always wanted her were dancing to the music of the soft breeze. daughter to have a smile like she was currently having.

Today, the first day of September is the first day for Mika’s high school. Yes! The Mystic Mika went to school with her mother, she said Falls High School. As the alarm started at goodbye to her and went to home. Mika’s first 7am, Mika woke up excitedly. She was very class was Mr. Freud’s history class. She much excited to go to her new school. She introduced herself to the others and she was wants to forget her past very much welcomed. It was much easier than she thought. She got a few friends from the history class and they were pretty nice. and start a fresh beginning in this new city and her new school. Her past is not a very As the days passed, Mika was completely enlightening place to visit, so she wants to settled to her school, the new home and the forget all about her past like they never new city. happened.

Everything was going so well. Mika always dreamed to have a life like this. She was finally about to make her dreams come true. While Mika was busy with her school works

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and her new friends, her mother Stella Now, it has been three months started dating someone. Mika’s father left since her mother and Mr. Robert married. them a year ago in a car accident. Everything was so cool and pretty, until that night. The night that Mika would never forget. That night she fought like a soldier fighting One night Stella brought him to her house for for his life. That terrible night her mother was a dinner with her and Mika, so that Mika working late and she was all alone at home would get to know him. Mika found that Mr. with Mr. Robert. She was in her room trying Robert was pretty cool and she liked him, and to finish some works for her school prom she was happy for her mother to have night, and suddenly Mr. Robert entered her someone like Mr. Robert. Mika was much room. She was scared when she saw his face. more enchanted enthralled when she heard His face was different from the other times. her mother saying that they both were getting He was breathing heavily and started walking married on the next Friday. Mika could not toward Mika. She knew something was wrong wait for Friday. She congratulated both of with Mr. Robert. So she tried to run and get them. The dinner went nicely. All of them had out from her room, but he grabbed her and a really great time. pushed her to her bed, and then that thing happened that she never ever thought of. The next Friday was a very big day for Mika’s That thing happened that ruined her entire little family. She decorated her home with life. She wept all night long. Her body was colorful flowers and light bulbs. She also hurt and she could feel the pain all over her invited a few friends from her school and her body. mother’s friends in the neighborhood. She was really enjoying all of these by not The next week she spent all her time outside. knowing that what would bring this to her She was not attending her school. She won’t life. What she would have to face after today. talk to her mother or even any of her friends. A big Storm? Or gladly living family? She was silent, silent like the wind. All her hopes and her dreams shattered. They were shattered into tiny little pieces that it was not able to mend them. Her whole life became miserable.

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5 Teen Behavior Problems: A Troubleshooting Guide Is your teenager rebelling, defying your curfew, or hanging out with questionable kids? Here's how to nip behavior problems in the bud.

WebMD Feature By Christina Frank Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD

Teenagers are basically hard-wired to butt To be fair, no one has ever pretended that heads with their parents, says Stuart parenting a teenager was going to be easy. Goldman, MD, director of psychiatric Still, until your own kids reach that stage, it's education at Children's Hospital in Boston. tempting to believe your family will be "Adolescence is a time of rapid change for immune to teen behavior problems. No, you kids both physically and cognitively," he tell yourself, your teenager will never talk explains. "It's the task of the teenager to fire back, stay out too late or pierce her eyebrow. their parents and then re-hire them years later, but as consultants rather than Dream on. managers."

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But that doesn't mean you have to take it would, a teenager simply rolls her lying down. With the right approach, you can eyes in disgust. troubleshoot the following teen behavior problems in a relatively civilized fashion. "It's so hard for parents when this happens," says Nadine Kaslow, PhD, a psychologist Teen Behavior Problem 1: specializing in kids and families at Emory University in Atlanta. "But part of adolescence Your Teen Seems To Hate You is about separating and individuating, and One minute your sweet child is begging you many kids need to reject their parents in to come on the class trip or to lie down with order to find their own identities." Teens focus on their friends more than on their families, which is normal too.

Your Solution Sometimes parents feel so hurt by their teens' treatment that they respond by returning the rejection -- which is a mistake. "Teenagers know that they still need their parents even if they can't admit it," says Goldman. "The roller-coaster they put you on is also the one they're feeling internally." As the parent, you need to stay calm and try to weather this teenage rebellion phase, which usually passes by the time a child is 16 or 17.

But no one's saying your teen should be allowed to be truly nasty or to curse at you; when this happens, you have to enforce basic behavior standards. One solution is the good, old-fashioned approach of: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." By letting your teenager know that you're here for him no matter what, you make it more likely that he'll let down his guard and confide in you once in a while, which is a rare treat. her while she falls asleep. Then, seemingly overnight, she starts treating you like dirt, Teen Behavior Problem 2: discounting everything you say and snickering at your suggestions. If you look Communication Devices Rule Their Lives closely, you'll see that you've been through It's ironic that teenage forms of this before, when she was a toddler -- only communication like instant messaging, instead of shouting "no!" like a two-year-old texting, and talking on cell phones make them less communicative, at least with the people

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they live with. In today's world, though, want limits, so parents need to forbidding all use of electronic devices is not keep setting them." only unrealistic, but unkind. "Being networked with their friends is critical to Your Solution most teens," says Goldman. Do some research before insisting that your child respect your curfew because it's Your Solution possible that yours is unreasonable. Call a few Look at the big picture, advises Susan Bartell, of your kids' friends' parents and find out PhD, an adolescent psychologist in New York. when they expect their kids home. Goldman If your child is functioning well in school, suggests giving kids a 10-minute grace doing his chores at home and not completely period, and if they defy that, to set retreating from family life, it's probably best consequences -- such as no going out at night to "lay off." It's also OK to set reasonable for a week. limits, such as no "texting" or cell phone calls during dinner. Some parents prefer not to let teens have computers in their rooms, since it makes it harder to supervise computer usage, and this is perfectly reasonable. Many experts also suggest establishing a rule that the computer has to be off at least one hour before bedtime, as a way to ensure that teens get more sleep.

One good way to limit how many minutes your teen spends talking on his cell and texting: Require him to pay his own cell phone bills. And do your best to monitor what your child does when he's online, particularly if he or she is using networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. You still own the home and computer -- so check into parental Internet controls and software to monitor use of any questionable web sites.

Teen Behavior Problem 3:

Staying Out Too Late It's 10:30 p.m. and you told your daughter to If it seems like your child is staying out late be home by 10 p.m. Why does she ignore your because she's up to no good, or doesn't feel curfew again and again? happy at home, then you need to talk with her and figure out what might be going on. "Part of what teens do is test limits," explains However, if your curfew is in line with what's Goldman. "But the fact is that they actually typical in your teen's crowd, then it's time to

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set consequences and then enforce them if dangerous behaviors in the bud. your teen continues to break your rules. Don't be afraid to ask for professional help When you make a rule, you have to mean it. about hanging out with a crowd engaged in You can't bluff teenagers -- they will always negative behavior. Counseling or family call you on it. therapy can help.

Teen Behavior Problem 4: Teen Behavior Problem 5:

Hanging Out with Kids You Don't Like Everything's a Drama You wince every time your son traipses Every little thing seems to set your daughter through the door with his greasy-haired, off lately, and the more you try to help, the noisy buddies. Should you suck it up, or say more she sobs or shouts or slams the door. something? Part of being a teenager is feeling things Your Solution intensely, so what may seem like no big deal to you is hugely important to her. Kids can wear weird clothes, pierce their lips, act rudely and still be decent kids, says Your Solution Bartell, who advises parents to hold off on criticizing something as superficial as fashion Parents tend to trivialize the importance of in their kids' friends. "Teenagers are so things in teenagers' lives, says Bartell: "What attached to their friends that it's like happens is that kids feel misunderstood, and criticizing them directly." eventually they will stop telling you anything. Right now it is the most important thing in On the other hand, if you know that your child the world that her best friend is flirting with has taken up with a group of troubled teens her boyfriend, and you need to take it who skip school and do drugs, a talk is in seriously." order. "Without putting him on the defensive, tell your child you're concerned about who Don't offer advice, disparage her friends or he's hanging out with and that you're worried try to minimize it by saying that one day she'll he's doing drugs," says Bartell. While you see how silly high school romances are. "Just can't forbid your child to hang around with listen and sympathize," says Bartell. And put certain kids, you can intervene and try to nip yourself in her position -- because, after all, you were once there yourself.

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Hassan Zinaah MAPS International High All that changed when When I first started to use drugs was at the I went out with my friends one night. age of sixteen while I was studying in a They offered me this secondary school. As usual I was living my life one thing which like a teenager, after the girls, flirting having released all the stresses fun and did not care much about life. At that in my mind. But the side effects I got from it time life for me was late night partying and were getting worse day by day. I got addicted going out to dates. to it. People started to hating me, I was And suddenly this one girl came into my life always drunk or on drugs. I was living my life and everything changed. She was so amazing in another world where there was no one that I fell for her. So I started talking to her except me and my fellow drugs. I tried a lot to and after two three months hard work I go away from it, but each and every day I had finally achieved my goal, which was that to use it, I was craving for that. I could not live awesome girl. The first two months with her in my life without it. It destroyed my whole was really good I was feeling like I was in life and turned me upside down. The feelings seventh heaven. Things started to change as I was getting worse. Body pains and always days passed away. She was going far away getting into trouble hiding from someone and from me and I felt it and I complained that to always worried. her as a very big issue. But she never Suddenly out of nowhere this one beautiful bothered about that issue. She never took it amazing girl appeared. She tried to help me. I seriously. After a few months of struggling started sharing my stories and feelings I was like that and running after her begging for her getting from her. She started helping me. love, she ditched me. Before that she betrayed Days passed and we were getting closer and on me even but I gave her a chance because I closer and she became my best friend. I was loved her. But, she just broke my heart into getting out drugs and I was feeling like I was pieces. Those days were the darkest days in part of this world again. After a while my best my life. I had no idea what to do about it. I friend became my wife who was the reason was weak, depressed and always sad. I did for my beautiful life. Please do not go to drugs not bother about this world. I felt like I was no matter what happens because I have felt all alone in the scary place. how it is, it is not cool either. “Dugs drag you deep down”. Think about health not drugs.

How to be a happy teen???

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Life is a battlefield and we must become fighters to have a chance in succeeding the battle. This manual will give you advice and guidance on how to enjoy your life despite whatever, and learn to be happy with yourself.

I. Appreciate all the things you have. Whether it is a loving family, friends or looks, learn to love what you've got. Take advantage of these things and be happy with what you have. II. Love yourself. Just remember if you don't love yourself then no one will- in the exception of relatives. Pamper yourself look after yourself... Be hygienic, look at yourself in the mirror and repeat to yourself that there is no one like you and everyone wants to be you. III. Then you shall respect yourself. Self-respect is an important skill that will guide you in life. Think to yourself i am a human being like everyone else, and if not better i am the same as everyone one else- why should i not love and respect and cherish what i have? A proverb- Be smart if you can, beautiful if you want to, but be respected now that is essential. IV. Busy yourself with things. For example, start music lessons individually if you want- e.g. school music room- piano..., read books believe me they are interesting. Take time to do things you want- like drawing, listening to music, making crafts- origami, put music on and start doing belly dancing or hip hop if you prefer?

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V. Spend time with your family if possible. Socialize with them. Play simple games such as snakes & ladders, chess, cards... Or just watch films together, discuss books with each other, all sorts of things VI. Never think you are lonely. There are many things for you to do. Just because you don't have that many friends does not mean you can't enjoy yourself! You will indeed create self-confidence and self-esteem by being an independent person. VII. Educate yourself. No matter what, education is an important factor in life- read as many books as possible, even if you don't like try you never know. Maths is important to learn it well- if you are not so interested in the academic subjects choose to learn a language- you can get many jobs by knowing a few different languages. All of this will make you a stronger and more confident person. VIII. Socialize with everyone in class- if in school. Don't just stick to one friend have many people you can socialize with and enjoy their company. Make then come to you by talking less but more interestingly. Talk about different things with different people- if someone is into sport- talk about sport, if someone else is into fashion and music then talk about these things to keep them interested and most importantly let them know you know about everything- this is when education helps- being clever. IX. Don't think about negative things too much. What happened, happened and that's that!! Forget it and enjoy yourself. Don't take things too seriously. X. Be happy. Just think that there are people who are desperate for the things that you may have and appreciate them and cherish them. Love and respect yourself and then everythi ng else will happen with a flow. With negative thoughts negative things will happen. Its karma. What you give you get back.

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