The Hardest Thing in My Life

I have an unforgettable experience when I tried to enroll to the university. I felt that it was the hardest struggle in my life. Firstly, I got an information about PMDK at State University of Malang. My Parents asked me to join that chance. So I followed it and I decided to choose English education and Mathematics education. I did not have a test for the Mathematics education. But I had to follow the test for English education a week after I got the information. In the examination, I had to do 100 items in the form of reading comprehension. I just did well for the 50 items. I got some difficulties for the other 50 items. I did not understand every single word. I was extremely sure that I could not pass this test. I had to wait three hours for the announcement. What I predicted was true. I could not find my name in the announcement put in the large boards. I felt so sad but I tried to be sincere because I still had a chance in the second choice:  Mathematics education. Soon I got an announcement about it. I was admitted in the Mathematics education. I was so happy and my family were proud of me. But suddenly, I felt uncomfortable with this major. I still wanted to reach my dream as a doctor, English lecturer, or Mathematics lecturer from the pure one. But I was admitted in the education one. So it made me confused whether I would study in Mathematics education or pure one. Because of this confussion, I still tried another chance in SMPS 1 at State University of Malang. I chose English education and English literature. But I failed again. I felt so sad and disappointed. Finally, I had to chose either Mathematics education or the other test: SNMPTN. Because the date of SNMPTN test concided with the date of PMDK’s registration, I decided to cancel the Mathematics education. It meant that I had to study hard for the SNMPTN test. I also joined a course in Neutron for two months to get more excercise in SNMPTN test. I had three choices: Medical education and pure Mathematics at Brawijaya University and English education at State University of Malang. I had to do 200 items but I could answer only 80 items. That was why, I was not sure to pass it. A month later, I could not find my name printed on the newspaper or web. I felt depressed. I just wanted to cry and do nothing. Soon my parents said that there was SMPS II at State University of Malang. I tried to get up from my sadness and took the last chance, SMPS II. I studied harder, harder and harder. I also never forgot to perform tahajjud prayers. I tried to do my best in the test. A week later, surprisingly I found my name on web. I felt happy because I could study at State University of Malang in English literature. I thanked God for the gift. From this experience, I got an value. If you want to reach your dream, never give up until your last breathe.

Rara Zukhrufy

Facebook Vs. Twitter

Facebook and twitter are free service sites of social networking, facebook has been used by the public since september 2006, while twitter since October 2006. The different services between them in my opinion are as follows. First, the interface or twitter is simpler that is not too interesting for some people. While facebook, there are many kinds of applications that make facebook more interesting and attractive such as games, post card, survey, etc. Another thing is that twitter is focused on the microblogging ( a blog is a type of website, usually it is made by an individual with reguler entries comentary, description of events such as graphics or videos). The blog is limited only for 140 caracter. Second, for facebook besides it could be for microblogging, it is also an interesting social networking to comunicate each other. With facebook we can use the chating tab to make communications with our friends which are online at the some time. The last is an “ a symmetric “ model which is about how twitter currenly works. With twitter, if you want to make a friend we just send a friend request and automatically he/she becomes our friends without a need to ask for a permission from them. So we could “ follow “ some artists in twitter easily. While facebook has always used a “symetric “ model in which each time we add someone as a friend he/she has to add us as a friend as well. Although both services are basically the same, but they have advantages and disadvantages. So it depends on our needs.

Shinta Diah Wulandari

Jupe and Depe

The similarities of Julia Peres (Jupe) and Dewi Persik (Depe) are both are Dangdut singers, Film actrees, Sinetron actress, and edvertisement stars. Jupe is beautiful and has a sexy body and Depe does too. Both of them are quite popular and phenomenal actresses because of their stage actions. When they perform, they always wear sensational and seductive style clothes to expose their body, such as, sack dress, tube top, hot pant, mini skirt, etc. Both of them are often forbidden by MUI, for example to show in South Sumatra. Jupe and Depe have ever been in a controversial gossip because of their seductive style. Jupe got a controversial gossip, her album Kamasutra which has a single titled “ Belah Duren” got a prohibition from MUI because this album got condoms bonus. This news makes Jupe cannot show in same places, such as NTB and Balik Papan. The Minister of Woman’s Empowerment Meulita Hatta said that what Jupe’s did are supporting the free sex. For Depe, because of their her seductive style, she got a sexual abuse from her fanatic fans after her show. Depe then hit the man who grabbed on her body. Another similarity between Jupe and Depe is that they often play in horror movies. Jupe plays in some films, such as Beranak Dalam Kubur, Susahnya Jadi Perawan, Hantu Jamu Gendong, Sumpah Ini Pocong, Kuntilanak Kamar Mayat, etc. Depe’s films are Tali Pocong Perawan, Mati Kemaren(TIREN), Setan Budeg, Susuk Pocong, Paku Kuntilanak, etc. The most interesting thing is that they play together in a film Arwah Goyang Karawang. The last similarity between them is about their lives. Jupe is a widow and so is Depe. Although Jupe and Depe often make sensational and controversial gossips. I think they are multitalented artists.

Shinta Diah Wulandari

Jatim Park and BNS

We all know that the most exciting amusement park in Malang are Jatim Park and BNS (Batu Night Spectacular). But, although both are located in the same city, they have some differences. Firstly, Jatim Park only opens in the daylight. It opens drom 8.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. While BNS opens in the afternoon, from 3.00 p.m. to midnight. So, if you go to both amusement parks, you will get the different experiences. In Jatim Park you will feel the sunlight and the warm breeze when you are playing there. But, in BNS you will see lampions everywhere. They looks so romantic. Another difference is the payment system. If you do not want to get confused with the payment system, I personally suggest you to go to Jatim Park. Because it is simpler. In Jatim Park you will only pay once at the entrance gate about Rp. 50.000,- then you can enjoy all of the facilities. But, not in BNS, you need to pay one by one if you want to enjoy the facilities. Aside from those differences, both amusement parks will not make you regret if you visit there.

Juan Sebastian

Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan

Who does not know Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan? Both of them are great badminton players. But, I am not quite sure that you know some similarities between them. First of all, both are badminton players with a lot of achievements. They have ever been in the first rank of badminton players, according to BWF (Badminton World federation). Not only that they have already won some bona fide tournament, such as, All England, Olympic, and World Cup. Probably they are the most brilliant badminton players in this decade. Next, both of them are left-handed. They like to play badminton with their left hand in every tournament rather than with their right hand. They said that their left hand is more powerful to do jumping smash than with their right hand. Therefore, they are well-known with their jumping smash, which is very deadly to their enemies. The last similarity is both of them are down to earth. They donate some money to the Tsunami victims in Japan. Also, recently Lee Chong Wei has donated his money to the autism clinic in Malaysia. He really takes care of children, because he thinks that children are the next generation to lead the world. So, the value that we can learn from both figures are their hard working and big heart which are inspiring many people all over the world.

Juan Sebastian

The Bad Effects of Television for Children

Children always imitate the things that they hear and they see. Ironically, children in this modern era prefer watching TV to playing outside with their friends. So they will imitate everything on TV regardless of whether it is right or wrong. But the problem is that there are so many uneducative TV programs nowadays. Let’s start from the soap opera. It is just a trash. Generally, its story is too dramatic, for example, the villain really means to his enemy. Even sometimes the villain tried to kill his enemy. It is really not good at all. The TV company must not show that kind of TV program. Second, all children love to watch cartoon. But, nowadays cartoons contain harm and photography, for instance, “Naruto” and “One Piece”. They contain a lot of fight and pornography scenes. Children are obsessed with the characters in those cartoons. In Indonesia there are some children fighting just because they want to act like what they see in cartoon. Next, adult programs must be shown in the night hours when the children have slept. It contains a lot of adult scenes like, kissing, making out, and other pornography scenes. It is not good for children mental development. So, in case of unwanted things, parents must accompany their children when they watch TV. It will make their children see the TV programs that are suitable for their age.

Juan Sebastian

My Exciting Holiday

My unforgottable holiday was when I visited Jogjakarta. It was about a year ago we had a school holiday. Firstly, my best friends and I did not know where to spend our holiday. So, we tried to discuss to go some places that made us have some fun. Then, after a long discussion about the place, we all agreed to visit Jogjakarta. So, we prepared all the things that we needed for it, such as; checking our motorcycle and buying some snacks. The following day, in the sunny Sunday morning we started our trip to go to Jogjakarta. It just took about two hours from my hometown, Ngawi, by motorcycle. After two hours long driving, finally we arrived at the first destination, Borobudur temple. We were amazed with this tremendous temple. Also we wondered how come the ancient people could build this gigantic temple without any modern tools. Then we climbed this temple up to the top. It was really exhausting. But when we reached the top, the scenery was incredibly magnificent. We could see Prambanan temple near Borobudur and other beautiful sceneries. Beside that, we were amazed with its carvings on the wall. My friend said that it represented the wealth of Mataram kingdom, but we could not understand it. Then we took many lovely pictures there. Next, we went to our next destination, that was Parangtritis beach. But on the way, we were lost. We did not arrive at Parangtritis beach but at another beach. We all did not know the name of this beach. We did not know either how come we arrived at this beach. We thought we were in the right direction. After exploring this beach we knew the name was Depok beach, near Parangtritis beach. Then we decided to spend our holiday there. This beach was so quiet. There were only few tourists that we met. They were all from Australia. So, we agreed to practice our English ability with them. Although we stuttered and stumbled in the conversation, we could still understand the points. They said they loved this beach. This beach was still natural and less pollution. After that, we were playing on the seashore till we were tired. Then in the evening we went home. At 8.00 p.m. we arrived at home safely. I got so many beautiful experiences there.

Juan Sebastian