The pre-chorus, chorus and Bridge: 

Every day, every night

I've been thinkin' back on you and I 

Every day, every night 

I worked my whole life 

Just to get right, just to be like "Look at me, I'm never coming down" 

I worked my whole life 

Just to get high, just to realize 

Everything I need is on the 

Everything I need is on the ground

I'm way up in the clouds 

And they say I've made it now 

But I figured it out 

Everything I need is on the ground (yeah, yeah) 

Just drove by your house (just drove by your house) 

So far from you now (so far from you now) 

But I figured it out 

Everything I need is on the 

Everything I need is on the ground

To build some context with the lyrics (Lyrics of this song are important), ROSÉ (born Roseanne Park) is an artist, who was born in Australia but to pursue her dreams as a singer, she dropped out of school and moved to Seoul, Korea alone, when she was only 15, to train under a big music company (She is now a member of girl group Blackpink). 

At first glance, this song may seem very normal, like a cliche song for a past lover, but it’s a simple message about life’s purpose.

The pre-chorus explains how she thought about her future and purpose every night, thinking that she had to be a celebrity, had to be rich to be happy as a singer. However in the chorus, she realises that her true meaning was there all along, and that becoming a big star and getting famous wasn’t what she really needed to feel successful. The bridge amplifies how she has achieved the level of fame and “high” that she wanted, but looking back at her past self, she wished she could tell herself that what truly mattered the most, was there all along.

Like ROSÉ said herself, "Basically the song is kind of about looking for answers in life, for a purpose in life, and I feel like people, especially these days, can relate to it. Sometimes when you’re always kind of on that roll, you kind of forget to take care of what actually matters to you most, and it’s just a song that says that everything we need is already within us. There’s no need to go out and look for it."

I feel like this song and the lyrics really touch me, and the message really influenced me to think like, “Oh, no it’s not your achievements that define how successful you are or who you are, it’s your passion and inner purpose”. In addition to that, the song is different from normal K-pop songs and the songs from her group, as it’s more synth pop and has a different music style. Both the melody, beat, and lyrics are very pleasing and enjoyable to listen to, so I would choose this as one of my favorite songs this year.

Friendship is like a ride in an amusement park. For some, at first glance, you fall in love, and just know that you want to go on it. In other times, a ride may make you hesitant. You might doubt the worthiness of trying that roller coaster, but try it and like it. After trying a ride you like once, you might feel comfortable to go again the next time you visit the park. For people who go to amusement parks often, they will have one, or multiple rides that they click with, and that they like the most. With that said, it takes you to go ahead and try a ride for you to know if you like it. 

  I find this similar to how friendships work. For some people, friend’s are easy to find, and you immediately click with them. But for others, it takes time, but eventually comfortableness is built through trust, support and similarities and differences. At the end of the day, you have to be the one to go ahead and reach out to people you want to be friends with. You can’t wait for people to approach you.

From my experiences, friends are people close to you that will listen to you. They listen and respect your opinions, even if they may not have the same thoughts and interests. Both you and your friend/friends should have respect to a point where you both have mutual understanding of how far arguments and disagreements should go. My friends don’t always agree with me, and sometimes may be hostile during different times; it is a natural part of trying to succeed individually, but we both understand that, and try to put our friendship over our competition. On the other hand, the competition and competitiveness in my friend group is the basis of the good peer influences we have. It drives all of us to be more focused in school, but also participate in other activities like sports. 

However, I’ve experienced times where people just aren’t as easy going, and mutual understanding is hard to reach. When a friend doesn’t like your opinion or doesn’t agree with you, they straightforwardly argue with you. That’s fine, because when you state an opinion, you should be ready to take someone else’s. But when it goes too far, where one person knows to back down, but the other person continues to argue, then mock or use the opinion to discredit the other, that is a toxic friendship. Because  even though everyone has their own opinion, friends listen and don’t use your own words and opinions to downgrade you. In that case, that would not be a healthy friendship. The only solution would be to talk it out, and reach an agreement, or if it continues, remove yourself from the friendship/ friend group.

To conclude, like choosing which ride you like, and feel safe in a park, you should choose good friends that fit your personality. If you choose the wrong ride, on that you might not be able to take, you might end up having a headache, throwing up, disliking it, or worse passing out. Your friends are humans too, and have their own personalities, so choose your friends wisely, be the friend you want to have, and always respect boundaries.

Imagine a world without computers, technology or space exploration. So many things would have been impossible to accomplish. Without engineers around the world, there would be no such thing as spacecraft, Mars rovers, automation, and the advantage of technology as a whole. They are the masterminds of programming and writing codes that make it function, and the people behind the famous spacecraft sent into space. Aerospace engineering would be a perfect job for me, as it incorporates many of my interests. It includes computers and software engineering, is helpful to the world and society, and is an important part of modern day technology. 

Space and technology has always been something I’ve been interested in. Aerospace engineers are the masterminds behind the technologies and designs NASA sends into space. The job not only requires physically building and constructing models, but also coding and programming software in the designs. That is a big reason why this sector of work is so competitive, and good programs are super rare. Only the most dedicated, experienced and precise engineers get to work somewhere as important as NASA, and additionally to that, school programs are hard to get in. The constricted job space and opportunities are because of the importance of the career. The products and machines that aerospace and astronautical engineers make are the first step to discovering more about our universe. I admire the work that engineers across the world have done, and the models that have been sent into outer space. The concepts and skills in this career are all topics I love and enjoy learning about.

Furthermore, I would like to work in a job that helps and benefits our society. Aerospace engineers do just that, creating machines and builds that help extend our knowledge of the universe. Space exploration helps us better understand the galaxy we live in, and the things that surround us. Exploring outer space is part of Earth’s history, and learning more about it will educate future generations. It also helps enhance automation, and other sectors of technology, which is a big part of our society. The machines and models in the future will all require automated features, our artificial intelligence. From that, many in the future will lose their jobs to robots and software, being replaced with more efficient machines. However, that is good in many ways, as former workers in manual sectors of work can change careers and work in sectors that include physically building robots, or managing technology. With both automated and manual fields of work, people’s skills can be put to use, and space travel could be potentially safer. Engineers working for NASA or other private space companies develop rovers, spaceships, satellites, or just smaller products that will help us explore outer space without being physically there. 

Another equally important reason for my interest in this career is the advance of technology and communication. Transportation, both in outer space and on Earth, requires aviation. Aerospace engineers not only help create vehicles to explore outer space, but also to travel, and improve electronic devices. That includes adding artificial intelligence, making it better for the environment, and safer. With more complicated manufacturing and production processes, the price of these trips, vehicles, or devices may become expensive. To avoid overpricing or unaffordable vehicles and aviation, engineers find efficient and renewable ways to make and produce advanced vehicles. Aerospace engineering helps keep up with the demand of the ever advancing technology used in all transportations as planes, space shuttles, and other devices or machines become enhanced.  

Ultimately, I find interest in aerospace engineering as it is one of the most important jobs in our society, designing, creating and physically building devices and products that aid our research about the universe and transportation. I like the career because of the use of science and computers, helping the world, and developing better technology. Without the hardworking aerospace engineers around the world, we might never have landed on the Moon, let alone view the surface of Mars. 

Works Cited:

Brian Dunbar’s article  “Careers in Aerospace Technology”, nasa.gov Aug 7, 2017

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/news/factsheets/FS-2001-09-68-LaRC.html

Brian Dunbar’s article “Engineering”, nasa.gov May 17, 2018

https://www.nasa.gov/careers/engineering

Cleaning my boots one last time, I sat down and opened my journal. It is finally the time of return, I wrote. There will be no more fighting, no more gunshots, no more bloodshed, but finally, peace. Over a year of war, with no communication. I made it, even if many didn’t, I wrote. But now, sitting on this plane, all that is felt is relief. 

But right now, I don’t regret anything. After all this time, going home would be the easiest thing to do. But it is not so simple. The final weeks in a war zone are often the most dangerous, as weary troops get overexcited or unfocused. The consequence of those mistakes have cost us too many lives. Even though I didn’t lose focus in the battle, other distracted soldiers were the reason my buddy Ryan died. I will never forget the courage in his eyes when he ran to save the child. A simple misunderstanding in the battlefield can cost someone’s life. His act of courage saved a child, medical supplies, and a potential raid. What was I going to tell his family? His children? That he sacrificed himself to save a child because of someone else’s mistake and misunderstanding? How was I going to let them live their lives with grief? Slowly, the sense of joy of returning home was fading away. 

After arriving home for some time, the relief starts to seep away. I was more actively joining my surviving buddies in their drinking addiction, and increasingly spending time out in bars and pubs. The images of dead bodies and blood continuously flashed in my head. Drinking was the only way to numb the pain. All my regrets were haunting me, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t forget. I couldn’t forget the piercing eyes of the dead.

Weeks later, the recovery and relief of being home begins to subside. The emotional damage and psychological problems that we were warned about begin to show. The regular insomnia, anxiety, and irritability begin to affect me, and I become someone I don’t know. The PTSD emerges and continues to bruise my already fragile mind. The once happy return home has now become painful and tragic. 

“Champions are not defined by their wins, but how they recover when they fall.” This motto has been the motivation to Serena Williams’s success, and is what made her so inspiring. Serena WIlliams has always been an idol and a hard working role model for many athletes. She has overcome numerous challenges and is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Her journey to success has had many obstacles, however her perseverance is what made her a role model and an inspiration. Off the court she is a pioneer to black female athletes, an activist who uses her fame to help others, and a philanthropist who gives back though different funds. Her life story is her fight to defy the difficulties that have pulled her down, and her persistence to push past those who continue to dislike her. 

Firstly, Serena’s perseverance was built in her at a very young age. Her life started in a very poor place. She grew up in Compton, an economically depressed area that is a rough, often violent neighborhood, and occasionally witnessed exchanges of gunfire. From early in her childhood, she learned to be tough and work hard for her goal, as if she gave up, she could be caught in the dangers of the streets. Though both she and her sister were very promising tennis stars, they were very poor and had no resources to go to professional coaches. She also experienced the intense racial hostility from players and coaches, as a black girl did not fit in with a predominantly white sport. However the mental stability that she built from a young age helped her battle though and achieve number one. 

However this was not the end of her battles. She suffered the wrath of more racial hostility.The biggest example is Indian Wells 2001. It was one of the biggest racist controversies in the history of tennis. After losing to Venus, a player stated that Richard Williams decided which daughter would win. She also stated that a white player would never do such a thing. Shortly after that, Venus pulled out of her semi-final match against Serena at the last minute, claiming tendinitis causing speculations and some fans even demanded their money back. As Venus and Richard took their seats during Serena's finals, the crowd of 15,940 people booed loudly. The boos continued for much of the match. At the tournament the following week, the crowd had yelled racist comments to Richard in the stands. However the tournament director refused to offer Williams an apology for how he was treated. As a result, neither sister played the tournament for the next 15 years, boycotting a mandatory tournament and putting their careers on the line to end racial hostility in sports. However, they continued to defy people’s hostility. 

Serena also used her platform to speak out for her beliefs, and support numerous causes. She created multiple funds to help charities, and gave a percentage of her fashion company to a global organization. Many politicians and other celebrities praised her for speaking out on her large platform and promoting different movements. 

Many careers don’t start like Serena’s. Many players start off with resources, however don’t become successful. Even though Serena’s story started out rough, she continued her career even if there was a large percentage of people who disliked her, as tennis players were predominately white. No matter, Williams is hailed by many coaches, players and sportscasters to be the best female tennis players of the Open Era and one of the best of all time. Her numerous records on court have been a huge positive influence on kids and adults who see Williams as a role model and an ambassador of tennis. 

People have been watching a tv show called Macgyver. It is a sci-fi, action and adventure television series. It is a reboot of the 1985-1992 series Macgyver. It focuses on Angus "Mac” Macgyver, an undercover government agent who prefers to fight crime with his mind and engineering rather than lethal force and fighting. Mac works at the Phoenix foundation, a secret U.S government organization that specializes in fighting indirect and intelligent terrorist or secret organizations that pose a threat to the country or the world. Mac uses his extraordinary talent of problem solving and extensive knowledge of science and engineering to save lives. He and his team of buddies, Riley, a skillful hacker and tech extraordinary, Desi, a lethal six trained martial art fighter and Bozer, a skilled film and illusion specialist that works on make up and prosthetics.

In the current Season(4), Mac and his team are fighting against multiple spontaneous nuclear and missile attacks, to which they come to dead ends with encrypted code names. After sacrificing the head of a large nuclear organization, the team finally unlocks the code, giving them the sign and name, Codex. As the Phoenix foundation continues to try to hunt down the terrorist group, Codex continues to fire attacks in the biggest cities in the world, preparing for their final goal, File 47. The goal is to set up a climate disaster to wipe out 80% of the world’s population so only 20% of people will be alive and the world wouldn't have to suffer the consequences of global warming. However, the plot twists as the group discovers that the living leader of Codex is Mac’s own aunt and the creator of File 47 was his dead mother.

Have you ever watched two of your idols battle and not know who to cheer for? Well that definitely happened as I watched Bianca Andreescu play against Serena Williams ,The Greatest of All Time.  Bianca had experienced a lot this year, even ignoring the fact she was 19 and from Mississauga. The hometown fans had given her an immense support even through an electronic screen. Watching matches live for me was extremely rare, not mentioning this was the championship match finals of the US Open, but of course, Bianca had a chance of being the first Canadian to win a grand slam. This long awaited match had finally come and the crowd sounded like rumbling thunder through every point. But as my heart raced like a race car about who would lift the trophy, the amount of applause for both the players never showed any weakness. If I cheered for the veteran, I would be against a player from my own hometown, but if I encouraged Bianca, I would be letting down my idol. The one time I watched my idol shoot her bullet forehends, I’d be watching my hometown player race a marathon around the court. As I watched Serena roar with power, inching closer to the 24th grand slam trophy to receive with history in her powerful hand, I felt something stir. Something told me the 19 year old would somehow flip the game. More than ever, my somewhat prophecy was right. The youngster had moved from captivity to liberation. She was now roaming the court as if she was a predator making sure no one takes her piece of land. Game, Set and Match, Andreescu wins 6-3, 7-5! I didn’t even need to glance at the score to realise Bianca had won. At the moment, there was no sadness, regret or disappointment in my new hometown idol. But it was still hard to believe that I had watched a bear powered legend play a lion strengthened newcomer.   

Have you ever dreamed of getting an autograph from an idol or a person you look up to? Well most likely you have. But have you actually got one in reality not in a dream? At any possibility, it would be an unforgettable moment and something that would change your aspect on it or affect your life. 

When I first arrived, it seemed boring and I felt quite miserable that all I saw in the Rogers Cup was a huge parking lot with a crowd of people. “But of course there is no way I can be disappointed in this” I thought. Going to the Rogers Cup was the only formal tennis match I could watch within the city. But tennis is my passion so this was an honor and something that meant a lot to me! This year, the ‘Family Fun Entree’ was free, so there was no way I could miss it. Rogers Cup is a Masters 1000 tennis competition that takes place in Toronto and Montreal each year in around August. Masters 1000 is a second level tennis competition after Grand Slams. If Rogers Cup men’s tennis is in Toronto, then womens’ would be in Montreal. It takes turns of each location which allows people of each city to have a chance to watch a variety of players and styles. This year, the men's games were taking place in Toronto. It was exciting because from the years before, many talented players, men and women, have played in the Rogers Cup. When hearing this, my dad was for surely going, as he was already hyper that he and I would finally watch a professional tennis match/practice. Just luckily, that Sunday for Family Fun was also the qualification games and the ongoing practice day for many great players. 

Not long after entering, I took notice on 4 big sided courts inside the event. Surprisingly, ATP Ranked 7th Marin Cilic was there. I hurried my parents and rushed to watch him practice. After a while of watching his speedy serves, I was like dripping wet of sweat, so I couldn’t resist begging my mom for an ice cream as we walked. Though we made a deal that I couldn’t ask for things, she surprisingly allowed me to have a cone of ice cream. As I grabbed my 2 scoop ice cream, we walked up to the balcony to watch others practice. With so much of my bad luck, it was soon someone toppled me over (because I was shorter and smaller and less visible) causing my delicious cookies n cream ice cream to fall. I survived the sadness because I got two scoops, but the sun would have melted it just before I finished it. Before the sun could completely burn me, I asked for shade and we decided to move to central court where there was some shade. Without hesitation, I dropped down on the soft, cushioned seats as I watched some random players play. But then I realised, it wasn’t random players, IT WAS CANADIAN STAR, MILOS RAONIC! 

As I rushed to watch him, my parents bought me a hotdog and the aroma woke me up. Ignoring my lousiness, I chomped my hotdog and ran from the top balcony to the VIP row, where usually you have to pay extra money because it is just a few meters away from the player and the court. First, this guy is my idol because he grew his game in the same place as me, Blackmore tennis club. So before he left the practice court I admired his super speedy and learned his tennis strokes. But super soon, he was signing autographs. Though I didn’t have a marker I just stuck out my hat and the most memorable moment happened, he signed my hat!

 Though the sun was rushing us to leave, I could never forget the moment or the time that I watched my idol and I got an autograph.

Platypuses are an endangered species that are a mixed breed. They are also one of the most remarkable animals on Earth. With body parts like a duck, a beaver and an otter, they also have big fat beaver tails and a flat duck-like bill. Their bodies are shaped and built very similar to an otter. These two animals have the same background because they’re built to swim swiftly in the currents/streams, freshwater lakes, rivers and lagoons. These awesome creatures live mostly in Australia and Tasmania. 

The species use their duck-like bill not just to eat, but it helps them hunt. Underwater, platypuses close their eyes and ears. That means they can’t see or hear actual noises in the water. Then what helps them hunt or eat food? Well, that's when the duck-like bill comes in. The bill is the only other thing that can sense food or things in the water. So if you’re a platypus, you’ll have to rely on this similar-to-duck thing. That’s the way to smell other animals! What does the beaver-like flopper do? Is it used to swim like beavers use it? Actually, it’s used to store fat. Since they don’t have a stomach, the tail keeps all the fat. 

Furthermore, as mentioned, being a mixed breed, platypuses are the only mammals that lay eggs. They’re specified as mammals because they feed milk to their young. But also, the puggles, also known as the baby platypuses, are born in an egg. Again, I think this species are special because it seems like they are harmless, but really the males have a rare venom gland. This spur is placed in the inner-hind ankle.

When they protect themselves, they would kick you and spray some venom. But don’t try to make a platypus do that, the venom is lethal to humans. Another interesting fact about platypuses is that,  rather than teeth, they have a special plate to grind food. This is easier for them because they’re diet is based on invertebrates, which do not require much chewing. If that fact wasn't interesting, well I think this one will be. Platypuses are very smart. And my proof?

These animals dig burrows and create plugs to fool and trap predators or bigger animals. I hope this species are safe from being extinct. My thought is that these animals have the actual so-called super-animal-power.