Justin Garcellano(former Paulinian Doge)

Whiplash, a word so short but has made a man’s dream into reality. This is how Andrew Neiman achieved his dream. He’s just a normal person like everybody else, the only thing that differs him from the rest of us is his way of achieving his aims.

One day, while playing drums in the practice room, Terence Fletcher, a famous conductor of Shaffer, saw him and asked him to play, as he plays the drums, he realized that Fletcher already left. That is when he wanted to become the core drummer of Fletcher’s orchestra.

The next day, Andrew, together with other musicians, plays the instruments when out of the blue, Terence welcomed himself and invited Andrew to be the alternate drummer in his group. He accepted it and was asked to be in their practice room at 6 A.M.

To his surprise, no one was there but himself, so he waited for 3 hours until all the members went in. He sat curiously beside the core drummer as he watches how Fletcher conducts and manages the group. Shocked to see Fletcher suddenly shout, he remained quiet. He was confused and amazed how his mentor detected the tune that was ruining the melody.

Days passed and with his passion on drumming, he practiced hard and well until he was promoted to be the core drummer.

When he had a dinner with his family, each child stated their achievements, Andrew’s brothers were applauded by their parents but when he told them his achievement, they barely listened and didn’t even congratulate him. After that, he stood up and went out. Knowing that his parents aren’t even proud of him, he worked harder and practiced better, pushing himself to the limit.

When the orchestra met again, he was shocked that he was only given the title TEMPORARY core drummer, and so he worked harder than before, his passion for drums led himself a thousand feet over his capability. And so he finally reached the fruit. He became the core drummer.

One day, the group had to attend a competition. Andrew rode a bus and unfortunately, it had a flat tire. So he rented a temporary car, without noticing, he forgot his drum sticks on a chair. When he reached his destination, he met the other members and Fletcher. When Terence supervised him, he noticed that he didn’t have the drum sticks, Andrew said he could just use the sticks of the alternate drummers but he opposed him and forced him to get his own sticks. Without telling the truth, he drove back to the place where he rented the car, took his sticks and drove back to the theatre. On his way back, he met a car crash, but because he wanted to prove to Fletcher that he is a worthy core drummer, he went out of the wrecked car and ran to the place. With bleeding and wounded hands, he played the part but his hands failed him. Fletcher told him that he must stop and that he failed to earn the roll. Wrath overwhelmed Andrew and he fought Fletcher.

With his boring life now, he did nothing. While walking on the street, he saw a poster of a jazz band and Fletcher’s name. He went inside and saw him, they made eye contact and Terence invited him to have a drink. He accepted and they had a short chat. Fletcher invited him to be the drummer of the group and then again, he accepts it. When the band performed, Andrew was shocked. The piece that the group was playing was not on his note, so just to cover himself, he made his own tune. Due to the out of tune sound Andrew made, all eyes were on him, he was filled with humiliation. He stood and tried to walk away but he thought that this is the chance to prove to Terence that he deserved that part. So he went back, started playing and led the orchestra, as a wonderful product, they made harmony.

Guide Questions:

1.)    What life lessons can be learned from the movie?

It starts with “Never give up your dreams”. Andrew Neiman, a drummer whose been pushing himself over his limits just to achieve his aim- to become the core drummer, showed that a strong and a tough person can make his own dream into reality. He never gave up despite the excruciating experience he went through with his instructor. Another one is “Don’t mind what others tell you, just do what you love to do”. Like what Andrew showed, when he had supper with his family. His parents applaud the success of his brothers, but when he told them his achievement (becoming the core drummer), they barely listened and didn’t even congratulate him. But he took that moment not to get revenge or be haughty, he took it as a source for him to work harder and better. Finally, the early bird gets the worm. A scene of which this was shown is when he tried to court the cashier girl in the theatre. Since he focused more on drumming, he told the girl that they can’t be together and they will never be. But when he failed to take the part and earn the roll, he called the girl if she can give him a chance, unfortunately the girl already had a partner.

 2.)    What part of the story told by the movie was the most powerful? why?

The most powerful scene in the movie is when Neiman didn’t stop even after meeting an accident, he went out of the wrecked car and ran his fastest pace with a bleeding head and a wounded hand.  Though weak and losing pints of blood, he still played the drum set. He did what he can do, he did his best, he put himself over his capability. Unfortunately, his hand failed, yes, his hand failed, his mind still on playing the roll but his bloody wound didn’t make it. This part of the movie is the most powerful because he never gave up his dream, his aim, his chance, Neiman didn’t even mind the accident as if nothing had happened, his mind still on playing the part. He never gave up, he never stopped, he did his best. And that’s all that matters.

 3.)    Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?

For this movie, my favorite character is Andrew Neiman. Why? Because he is the best example of NOT GIVING UP. He is a role model to me. As a student, I intend to give up easily because of the endless requirements, but I was motivated and inspired after watching this. That my hardships will one day be fruitful as Neiman’s.

 4.)    Did anything that happened in the movie remind you of something that has occurred in your own life or that you have seen occur to others?

Yes, my old classmates who played baseball. They didn’t really care about their health or the weather, even if they get sick from the pouring rain, they just continue on practicing or playing. Like Andrew, he continued even after an incident.

 5.)    If you had a chance to ask a character in this movie a question, what would that be?

It starts with a conversation between a group of employees in an organization named “Short Term 12”- a stronghold of and for troubled children. Nate, a newly hired employee of the said company, together with his co-workers, were having a nice chat when an alarm suddenly rang, unknowingly, the alarm turned on because a child named Sammy rebelliously wanted to get out of that place. So they ran after him and bolted him down.

The employees, caretaker to be precise, are equipped with gallons of patience. Every day, they manage these children who are troubled physically, emotionally and mentally. They endure the kids’ troublesome actions calmly and patiently, and when one goes foolish, they do everything to calm down that child.

One day, a new kid came. Her name was Jayden, she was sent there and will be picked up by her father on her birthday which will be in a week. Since she was new, she was totally alone and weird. She looks like an innocent girl that acts like a mature woman.

One peaceful night, Grace, a caretaker of the organization, admitted to her husband- Mason, who is also a caretaker of the same company, that she was pregnant. Shocked by what he heard, he went out for a minute and shouted all he wanted to say, he returned and said they will make a happy family together.

The day came when it was time for Jayden to be picked up, she waited for minutes and realized that his dad wasn’t coming. Upset, she went back to her room and locked herself up, Grace and the others tried to calm her down but she went all out, Nate and Mason held her down and for a while she calmed and stayed in the quiet room. When Jayden totally calmed down, Grace let her out of the room and the kids celebrated her birthday.

Everyone was having fun when Jayden planned on going back home. She ran outside, Grace followed her and tried to talk it out, Grace had nothing to do but to follow her and monitor her safety. Jayden end up in her own home, finding no one. They both went back to Short Term 12 and before Grace left, Jayden read her a story she made titled “The octopus and the shark”. When she finished reading it, she broke up in tears, Grace then analytically comprehended that she needed help, that she was being abused by his father.

After that, Grace went to Mason’s family gathering where he proposed to Grace and accepted it whole-heartedly.

The next morning, Grace found out that Jayden’s been picked up by his father, she tried to convince Jack, who has a higher position than her, to bring Jayden back. But he said that’s it. Filled with rage, Grace took his lamp, went outside and threw the lamp. When she went back inside, she saw Marcus committing suicide using a shard of glass, they immediately brought him to the hospital.

That night Grace told Mason that she can’t do it, that she already made an appointment for abortion. Silence filled the air, Mason then told her “Then do what you want, I don’t care anymore”. Then Mason left.

Grace immediately jumped on her bike and went to Jayden’s place. Finding out that Jayden’s father was asleep, Grace planned on killing him but Jayden suddenly showed up and she stopped. Both went outside and had a chit chat. Grace then told her story when she was young, when she was abused by her father, and that she wasn’t afraid to tell the truth. Jayden, after hearing Grace’s story, for some reason grinned. She realized that she should have told everyone the truth.

The next day, Jayden reported the truth and was put into custody by the organization.

Grace then went to Mason, she apologized and cancelled the abortion. Both went to the doctor to see their baby and they were filled with happiness to see the life they made.

A day after that, it ended with Sammy running out again.

Guide Questions:

1.)    What life lessons can be learned from the movie?

Patience is the key to every problem, Grace, a protagonist in the movie along with other protagonists, filled themselves with patience. No matter the severity of the troublesome actions of the kids, they remained calm and patient. Another is “A mere word can change everything”, this is somewhat related to patience, because the kids they are taking care of are troubled teenagers, and a mere word would change their perspective. So the caretakers must be patient, meticulous and they must endure the teasing of the kids or they might turn the children’s world upside down. And lastly, experience is the best teacher. As what Grace did to lead Jayden and show her the right path. Grace made herself as an example and narrated her experience when she was a troubled teen. Whilst interpreting Grace’s story, Jayden slowly found herself, making a shift of tracks and walk the right route.

 2.)    What part of the story told by the movie was the most powerful? why?

In my own perception, the most powerful scene is when Jayden told her story of the octopus and the shark. After hearing her story, I felt sorry for her. She was asking for help in a peculiar way that only Grace understood. It’s the most powerful scene because it’s about the youth, the children, our future generation. Teenagers taking their own lives because of their own parent/s? It’s not right. Children are afraid to tell what really is happening because they are intimidated by their own parents, that one wrong word or move will lead to a violent ending. A parent’s most vital role is to love their children. It’s the simplest thing they could do.

 3.)    Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?

In this film, my favorite character is Grace. As a caretaker of a household with a lot of troubled kids, she patiently manages them. She’s my favorite character because she has something that her co-workers didn’t have, her experience. She also became a troubled child, that’s why she felt what the children are also feeling. She can build a bridge between her and the children because she knows how, she has that ability that the others don’t have.

 4.)    Did anything that happened in the movie remind you of something that has occurred in your own life or that you have seen occur to others?

Yes, it reminds me of some of my classmates. They kept their situation a secret. They didn’t want adults to know that they are being abused by their parents. That if it was known by others, their parents would be angrier and they’d end up with bruises physically and emotionally.

 5.)    If you had a chance to ask a character in this movie a question, what would that be?

A lone graduating student named George has a peculiar way of philosophy on the world. He said that “We live alone, we die alone, everything is just an illusion”, that made him reflect that what’s the purpose of working hard and sweat all day if everything is just an illusion. So he skipped classes and he never passes his school requirements, then he was called by the principal. After the talk, he heads to the rooftop of the school and witnessed a girl named Sally who was smoking. After seeing her, a teacher barged in between their sight and sensed cigarette smoke. George then pulled out a cigarette and took blame of the smoking, covering Sally’s violation. By then they started to be together frequently. One day, while taking a walk with Sally, both saw George’s step father, just sitting on a bench and reading a newspaper. After the lovely walk and talk, George walks in their home noticing the power shortage, his mom reasons that she forgot to pay the bills.

One day after, George was heading to his classroom when the Principal-Bill, waited for him at the stairs and they had a talk about George’s smoking problem. Bill told him that smoking on campus means automatic suspension, but he gave George a chance to choose between an alternative of the suspension or suspension. George jokes on picking suspension but immediately took it back and told Bill for the alternative which is- he has to attend a Career Fair where he will be touring visitors. On the day, he met Dustin, an artist whose logic is the same as his. By then, they became buddies and Dustin invited him at his place. George accepted it and he brought Sally with him. Dustin had a look on Sally as if planning on doing something. After visiting Dustin, both went back home.

The next day, Sally invited George to a party where he became drunk, went out of the place, sat on the street, vomited and then fell asleep. Sally then found him and brought him to her place. After waking up, George received an invitation to an art exhibit by Dustin. When he had gone off the exhibit, George and Sally had a Valentines’ date and that time, Sally went too far and asked him to have sex with her, which she immediately joked. Hearing those words from Sally, George’s mind spun, it’s like his world changed. They went out and George reasons out that he’s feeling sick and he has to go home, but in reality, he’s just trying to evade Sally. Time went on and George is still avoiding any contact with Sally.

Dustin, together with Sally, had a rendezvous, while George faces his mentors and had a long conversation. The talk was all about George, whether he chooses to graduate or expulsion. He chose to graduate, so now he has to pass a year worth of assignments and papers within three weeks, and that the results of his decision will be his future. So he had nothing to do but accept reality. After the long dialogue, he went home and witnesses his parents waiting for him.  They had a violent chat and George backfires that his step father has been lying all along. They quarreled and his step father’s back snapped as if it was broken. George then ran out and went to Sally’s place and saw her with Dustin, his heart shattered and he walked away. His whole time, all he did was walking, from night till dawn, then he saw his mother alone on a bench. Both talked over each other’s problems and they started to sight a resolution to all of it. Seeing her mother cry, George’s heart lit up, he obtained motivation and saw light. He allocated his time both for his studies and assignments.

Weeks have passed and the day has come, George with his finished requirements rushes to his school and passed everything. The same day was his graduation and Sally’s departure to another country with Dustin. She hesitated in going with him and took some time to think over it.

On the other side, George’s Graduation day was commencing. He sat there for minutes, nervous that his name might not be called. Then the moment came and his name was called, his mother filled with joy, and George received his diploma. He was the last student to be called. After the graduation, George heads back to the art room and looks at his painting of Sally, whilst starring at it, Sally enters the room and congratulates him.

Guide Questions:

1.)    What life lessons can be learned from the movie?

First is, it is never too late to correct everything. Like what George did, he finished all his school papers and requirements in a span of time that seemed impossible to do. He never gave up, he motivated himself and he found light again. Despite his situation, he allocated his time properly for both his studies and requirements, and he didn’t waste any second on doing it. Second is follow where your heart beats. As seen in the movie, George started to evade Sally after she went too far by asking him to have sex with her. He did everything and every way he could to avoid contact with Sally, but for some time, his feelings for her started to arise again. This time he did what his heart wants and didn’t waste that chance again. Lastly is “when life gives you lemons, you’ve got to make some lemonade”. Metaphorically said, when everything seems impossible to do because of the infinite barriers and walls that life give us, we must never stop, we have to squish those lemons and make something good out of it.

2.)    What part of the story told by the movie was the most powerful? why?

For me, the most powerful part of the movie is the scene where George comforted his lone mother. After seeing his mother alone on a bench, George immediately went to her and comforted her. A parent’s love is incomparable to other people’s love. And to me, seeing my parents cry is heart-breaking. If this will ever happen, of course my initial action is to hastily comfort them and make them happy. This scene is the most powerful to me because it hits me so much, love of a parent is unconditional. They are always there when everyone else turned their back on you.

 3.)    Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?

My favorite character is George because he is, in anyway, peculiar. His perspective of the world, of life, is a lot different to other people’s typical perception. I applaud him for his calm reactions despite the severity of the situation. May it be shouting or fighting, he remained clam, quiet and philosophizes more the world. He is much more different than other students. His peculiarity took my attention, that’s why he’s my favorite character.

4.)    Did anything that happened in the movie remind you of something that has occurred in your own life or that you have seen occur to others?

Yes, that is when I saw my mom crying. She cried because of us (me and my siblings). We went too far, we reached our limits, but we didn’t know. That happened when I was a kid (about 8-10 years old). We were young, we didn’t know what we were doing. Our hearts shattered into pieces like a fish lost in an abyss, just seeing her cry because of us.

5.)    If you had a chance to ask a character in this movie a question, what would that be?

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As long as you have a cell phone, you are never alone by Stanley Victor Paskavich. This simply implies that all the wonders of a phone can turn your atmosphere into a virtual world beyond your comprehension.

So much to say, phones are currently my favorite technology invented

Through the years, phones have been continuously innovative. It’s always in the state of flux, never stopping in improving and developing. From the single purpose telephone to the multi-purpose phone we contemporary have. Its evolution is astonishing if you come to think of it. Its potentiality and impact to the world is mesmerizing.

Why would such technology be my favorite? Well, despite its brand, all phones to me are the same, they function equally and that count most in comparison to its durability. Anyways, it is convenient, helpful, entertaining and it is a necessity in our present millennium.

First, it is convenient, how? – It is a pocket size technology we could carry anywhere we go. A mere push of buttons and screens and it immediately does what we intend to do.

Second, it is helpful, in a way that it is the fastest mean of communication compared to writing letters in the past decades. Just a click and a press will do and the message you want to relay to anyone around the globe will immediately be sent and received. It can also be a medium to ask aid from hospitals or clinics whenever medical help is needed. It’s the usual thing we could use whenever emergency occurs.

Then it is entertaining. Well of course it contains fields of applications, just pick which one may entertain you and there you have it. It is another mean of satisfaction and entertainment other than physical interaction with other people.

Lastly, it is a must and a necessity. Since we live in a modernized world, such technology is needed. It may be for school- so students can search and use it as a dictionary, it may be also for communication- functions as a mean whenever there are an emergencies, transactions or even just chit chats, it could also be a storage for memories via pictures.Calls, conversations, or storage are just of SOME of the wonders of a phone, there are things yet to be discovered and invented.

 A phones’ totality is beyond our understanding. Its potential has brought a big impact to our societies. Of course nothing is perfect, everything has flaws. Phones can’t be used as a communication without the scaffold of the internet or to what they call “load”. Still, my perspective wouldn’t change. Its aid has been always beside me, so whatever flaw anyone can find in a phone, I don’t care, it’s still my favorite technology.

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 Bonjour \(◕ . ◕)/, I am Justin Garcellano. I am 17 years old and am currently a senior high school student of St. Paul University Philippines located at Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Valley. I’m new here so there’s not much I could say (≧◡≦). I was struggling in making this blog. Since its my first time in this website, I didn’t know how to make a blog, so I asked some of my classmates how but then they said to search it, and I did, and I didn’t find any ways how until I realized that the account itself is the FIRST BLOG, and that you could make tons of blogs in one account. So yeah, it took me a while to realize that I already made a blog ✖_✖

Anyways, my hobby includes making cards, room decorations and recycled objects, sometimes I make poems when I feel like making one and I am also fund in playing computer games, specifically fps games which include Assault Fire, Special Force 2 and Left 4 dead 1 and 2 ∩(︶▽︶)∩, but then of course I play pixel games like Minecraft, Plant vs. Zombies and Habbo    ( 。 ・_・。). I nearly forgot, watching anime has become a part of my routine ♥ . Also, I’m trying to learn French and its quite hard, just saying  ✖‿✖

As a student, I’m trying to develop my linguistic and academic skills via reading books, but sometimes when my “lazy aura” arises (─‿‿─), I end up playing computer games. In my student life, I struggle in every way but I find things that motivate myself to finish it despite my laziness (◠‿◠). When I’m motivated, I immediately do the requirement until its done but when I turn into a sloth, I’d finish it the next morning, rushing everything and putting aside other things even if we’re having a lesson (=゜ω゜). Despite the hardships and enduring all the pain, its fun to be a student (^▽^). It’s a life-long memory I would cherish when I grow old. All the moments I’ve made with my friends, teachers, enemies (◣_◢) and even the cute little ones I’ve met while walking, will all be incused in the deepest corners of my mind, awaited to be told to my children when I will have a family.

Moreover, I love animals especially dogs ♡ ‿ ♡ . I like to cuddle with them (~￣▽￣)~, pet them  ∩(︶▽︶)∩  and even feed them (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ . When the time comes, I would have a corgi , a golden retriever and a Siberian husky ☆. ☆   My favorite subject is math ✧ ▽ ✧ . Since I was a kid, I love math, I would join any mathematics competitions no matter the venue is ( ^▽^) . I would just join and solve problems and it was fun, I already miss those moments ╥╭╮╥ . Now that I’m in the verge of life, I want to become an accountant. Before, I was ignorant about courses and I didn’t even care about them (￣□￣) . When I was a sophomore, I’d ask my classmates which course is related to math, all they said was accountancy, and so I chose to take that one. I adore blue, whatever shade of blue it is, I’d pick it ♡ . I’m a seemingly quiet guy, but when one gets to know me, they’d go all weird and wouldn’t expect me to be of such (⊙ヮ⊙)(◑‿◐). I treasure simple quotes and sayings that hit me most from whoever I heard it from or read it. Here are some of which I always put into mind ಥ‿ಥ               (・∀・ )

Experience is the best teacher ｡◕ ‿ ◕｡

The best competitor is yourself  o(≧o≦)o

Don’t be afraid to do good  (・∀・ )

Life is too short to be afraid of trying something new   ✧ ︿ ✧

God is Love  ♡ ‿ ♡

Sometimes you have to break the rules  (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ

Think outside the box and beyond the borders (~￣▽￣)~

I also made this poem, a poem when a person with just a single word said, changed my perspective to life ಠ_ಠ (✖╭╮✖) . But thank God, we have friends who’ll always be beside us no matter what, ready to comfort us and show us the light again (・∀・ ) ಥ‿ಥ . So here’s the poem.

Things I’ve gone through

And words you all said

Since then I’ve been blue

And I feel like I’m dead

 Words you murmur when I turn

Jokes about me that you’ve spread

All my feelings started to burn

The words left a mark in my head

 I don’t know what to do

Have I become colorless?

Should I continue and push through?

Or quit and think that I’m useless

 I don’t know what I’m thinking

What they’ve done made me emotionless

Sometimes I stop blinking

And think of who I am, But I realize that I’m clueless

 Moving on, ten years from now, I see myself as a Certified Public Accountant, a Lawyer and an official employee in a bank at Paris France (•⊙ω⊙•). I would also have a partner and a family ♥ . We would then have a home, a car and pets - a corgi, a golden retriever and a Siberian husky    (｡♥‿♥｡) . By that time, I would also have my own business running in the Philippines, America and in France. Yet everything is in flux, we never know what might happen (︶ω︶).But then of course before I would make my dreams into reality, I have to go through a process, and studying at SPUP may be the step to my success. Before, I didn’t really choose SPUP as my way to success, it was my aunt’s choice since she’s the one sending me to school. Now that I am knowledgeable about college and stuff, it has also become my choice to graduate in SPUP. I learned that one factor that could affect the chance of a person getting hired in a certain company is the school graduated from, so I tried to mention that to my Aunt and she agreed to it. Then I would be a college student of SPUP.

Choosing ABM is the perfect choice for me. Why? Because this is the route that leads to where I want to go- to become an accountant. I am never reluctant with my choice and I would never think of turning back and choose another path.

Accountant, a word I want to turn into reality, a fruit I want to reach, a pace I want to cope. It’s always been my dream to become an accountant. That’s what I’ve dreamt of since I was a kid. And soon, that I will achieve.

Coming out of the blue (⊙ヮ⊙) , in our subject Empowerment Technologies, I would love to learn how to edit images and also how to edit videos or make one, like the movies I’ve watched (✪ ヮ ✪)

And finally ( ^▽^) to our subject adviser, sir, would our exam be a photoshop or written ones like the typical style of exams? ( ^▽^)