Happiness - internal or external?

Happiness, or lack of it, is perhaps the most crucial factor in determining our quality of life. Some of us feel happy when we are accepted by those around us. Others believe we can only really achieve happiness when we learn to accept ourselves. Personally, I believe that it is a ‘chicken and egg’ scenario. So which comes first?

There is no doubt that most people, even those with the toughest skins, are concerned about how others view them. Being viewed in a negative light can lead to feelings of depression. It can cause people to react in one of two ways; either they retreat from society or they change themselves so as to be accepted. This change can be good, particularly if a person improves; however, if a person changes just to be accepted by others, it may actually increase unhappiness levels. Therefore, to be truly happy, it is important that we also learn how to accept who we are. We must realise that nobody is perfect, but that we should also strive for improvement. This goal of self-improvement will lead to more self-happiness. Ultimately, improved self-happiness will lead to us being accepted by others, increasing the happiness and sense of wellness in both the individual and the group.

To summarise, no man is an island; our sense of happiness depends on how we treat each other. Learning to accept ourselves is the first stage in being accepted by others. Once we can can do this, the path to happiness is made smoother for everyone.

Non-verbal communication - IB Companion Pg 387

Good morning, classmates and teachers. While it may seem odd to say that non-verbal communication is louder than verbal communication, today I will argue that this is in fact the case in a great number of instances.

It is quite often said that ‘actions speak louder than words’. For example, ignoring someone, or giving them the cold shoulder, sends out a powerful message that you do not want to talk to them. In addition, when you have done something wrong, rather than just apologising to them, show them that you are really sorry by doing something that proves this such as buying some flowers or fixing the problem. Sometimes indicating displeasure by the way you act, like stomping your feet or tutting your tongue, gets the message across much more effectively than words.

Body language, such as facial expressions, hand gestures and body posture, can also send out stronger messages than words. For example, even though your words may be neutral, your facial expressions may give away how you’re really feeling. You may be trying to sound angry, but the little smile on your face reveals all. In addition, the animation of your hands during conversation demonstrates how emotional you are feeling about a topic. Furthermore, body posture can also give strong indications as to your mood. Turning you back on a person leaves no doubt that you’re not too inclined to talk to them. On the other hand, facing someone and opening your arms towards them indicates a strong welcome. Consider my speech today. If it wasn’t to use hand gestures, eye contact and certain body postures, I’m sure that you wouldn’t find my argument quite as convincing.

Technology can also demonstrate how the power of non-verbal communication. Nowadays, most of us use text messages to communicate with a friends. In the early days, text message were just text, or verbal communication. They lacked the non-verbal cues to ensure full communication. This led to the invention of emojis, which allow us make text messages more communicative. In fact, many text messages now contain no verbal, or textual, communication; the careful use of emojis can speak louder!

In conclusion, even though well-constructed words can be powerful, I believe that the use of non-verbal cues such as actions, body language and emojis can make communication more effective. Thank you for listening.

(390 words)

Think before you ink

There is talk that some of your classmates are going to get tattoos to commemorate their last year at school. To help them make an informed decision about this issue, write a letter to the editor of the school newspaper about why young people should not get tattoos. Write your letter here.

Dear Editor,

Getting inked is the latest fashion these days and there are a lot of people who are getting inked all over their bodies just to keep up to this trend. However, in my opinion there are a lot of disadvantages to getting inked permanently. Therefore, I am writing to perhaps help young people make an informed decision about getting a tattoo or not.

First of all, getting a tattoo can lead to negative impressions. Society still believes that most people who get tattoos are either outlaws or rebellious people. Those bound by tradition and culture do not want their kids to get inked. In professions where the physical appearance of a person is very important, tattoos are not considered decent. Getting a tattoo can ruin your career chances in many industries such as hospitality industry, marketing, media etc. This is because people working in these fields are considered to be those who are presentable, good looking and do not have any tattoos on their body.

Secondly, getting inked permanently has health risks unless you are getting it done by a skilled person. Some people are allergic to the ink, while others can get an infection like hepatitis because of infected needles or equipment being used at low-cost parlours. You also cannot donate your blood after getting a tattoo on your body.

Since tattoos adhere permanently to your body, are you sure that ten years later you will still like whatever you are getting inked on your body right now? For example, if you are getting your boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s name inked on your body, are you sure that person will still remain in your life years later. If not will you regret your decision? Even though, you can still remove tattoos by getting a laser, it is extremely expensive and not that effective.

Getting inked is in fashion these days. Therefore, more and more people are getting tattoos on their bodies. Getting a tattoo may appear attractive or cool but there are many drawbacks to getting inked permanently that should be considered carefully.

Yours sincerely,
Nanki Chularatnaphol

Guidelines - Healthy Diet - IB Comp Pg 297

Do you have a healthy diet? Research has shown that a great number of 15 and 16-year olds have a less than healthy diet. There are eating too much junk food and snacks and not enough fruit and vegetables, drinking too many fizzy drinks and not enough water and generally spending too much time on their computing devices and not enough time on not getting enough exercise. This unhealthy, inactive lifestyle can have some serious consequences; in the short-term, it can lead to problems concentrating on school work and, in the long-term, it can lead to obesity and problems with your heart. Therefore, it’s very important that you look after you diet when you are still young. The guidelines below will help you to do this.

1. Cut down on junk food and fizzy drinks

While they may taste better and give you a quick rush of energy, junk food and fizzy drinks don’t have much nutritional value. Instead, it is better to have a balanced diet, making sure you have enough of all the food groups: carbohydrates, protein, milk and dairy products, fruit and vegetables, and fats and sugars. And try to replace those fizzy drinks with fruit juice and water.

2. Eat regularly and try not to snack

Having regularly meals is also very important. It’s a good idea to start off the day with a good, healthy breakfast. Too many teenagers prefer to get a bit more sleeping time than to eat breakfast, with the result that their energy levels are very low in the morning. Have lunch and dinner at regular times as well. By doing this, you will be less inclined to snack on less healthy food such as chocolate, crisps and bottles of Coke. If you do feel like a snack, munch on something like fruit, vegetables or whole-grain biscuits, and don’t forget to drink water regularly. Finally, it’s not a good idea to have a big meal just before you go to bed. This will interrupt you sleeps patterns which will affect how you study the following day. If you must have something, try milk and a banana.

3. Get away from the computer and do more exercise

Using your computer and mobile devices too much can also lead to an unhealthy diet as you may snack more and not get enough exercise. Try to restrict the time you spend online or watching TV. Instead, get outside and do some exercise. Even if you are not a sporty type, you could still go for walks or bicycle rides.

4. Talk to people if you are feeling stressed

Finally, stress or depression can lead to negative eating patterns. If you’re feeling like this, don’t bottle up your feelings up. Try to talk to supportive people such as good friends, your parents, teachers or the school counsellor.

Having an unhealthy diet is not something that is synonymous with being a teenager. Instead, be proactive, think about the short and long-term effects of bad eating patterns and lack of exercise before it is too late. Hopefully, the guidelines above will help you to do this.

Are leisure activities a waste of time?

3 Feb, 2017

Dear sir/ms,

I am writing in regard to a recent article in your magazine in which it was written that leisure activities are a waste of both time and money. While it can be argued that too much leisure may be detrimental to society, I strongly believe that it’s important to achieve a balance between work and pleasure. This balance can only be achieved by spending time, but not necessarily money, on a range of leisure activities. Doing this will not only ensure more satisfied and healthier individuals but also ensure that our communities as a whole are stronger.

There are a number of ways in which leisure activities are beneficial. First of all, they can help us develop on a personal level. By participating in any of a wide range of activities offered by local sports clubs, schools, churches and government offices, we can grow in many different areas such as physically, mentally and spiritually. As part of this process of growth, we will be exposed to new ideas from teachers and people outside our families and work colleagues. This interaction with new people will be stimulating, adding more spice to our lives and ultimately making us more satisfied with our lives.

This increase in individuals doing more leisure activities will have a knock-on effect on the wider community. For example, having a population of healthier people will ensure less visits to doctors and hospitals and less time spent off work. The savings from this could be used to fund more worthwhile projects such as support of the elderly and poor and schools development. In addition, local communities would benefit from the extra income being generated by the companies and individuals that are supporting a vibrant and growing leisure industry.

In conclusion, encouraging individuals to engage in leisure activities can only be beneficial for everyone. In creates happier, healthier individuals as well as communities that will prosper financially from the expanding leisure business sector.

Yours faithfully,

Mary Smith

Teenage Cliques (May 2016) - Nanki

Jan 26, 2017

Dear sir/ms,

I am writing about the article in your newspaper in which the author claimed that teen cliques affect teenagers negatively. While there may be some negative effects from teenage cliques, such as teenagers always feeling isolated or cliques having an adverse effect on classroom learning, I believe the opposite - these cliques, in fact, affect teenagers positively. There are three main reasons why I believe this.

Firstly, teenagers can share their problems or secrets with their friends. This is important as some teenagers do not have siblings to share their happiness or sadness or they do not get along with their parents. You can also count on your clique friends because they are there for you no matter what. They help you through your toughest times and are there to share your best times.

Secondly, having a clique can make you feel like you belong to a group. Being part of a group can make teenager’s day easier to deal with as well as learning some great life skills like being a good listener, sharing experiences and respecting people. The people in these groups feel they have a place where they are welcome, supported and where they can be themselves.

Finally, friend groups are usually made up of people who “click” with each other because they have things in common. Some groups stick together for a long time. Others drift apart after a while as people develop new interests or make different friends. People can move in and out of different groups and can even be part of several at the same time. Even within a group, people often have one or two friends they feel closest to and enjoy the most.

In conclusion, being in a clique makes high school much easier to get through, even though, it can cause a lot of unnecessary drama. Cliques should be acceptable as long as it is not limiting teenagers from other opportunities in their daily life such as making new friends or trying new things.

Yours faithfully,

Nanki Chularatnaphol (IB 2)