“Live as if you were to die tomorrow,

Learn as if you were to live forever.”

We know that learning is a lifelong process, so learn as if you were to live forever. We knew as well that death is unavoidable, nobody can escape death. Possibly, you can delay it but you can’t run away from it, so live as if you were to die tomorrow.

          As a student, I always seek enjoyment in learning because it’s my other way of living life to the fullest – living my life productively by learning. It’s also true that you learn best when you enjoy the thing that is being imparted to you. Otherwise, if you don’t enjoy while doing it, then I’m sure that what you learn in it will be of no use because surely, you won’t apply it.

I live my life to the fullest. How? It is visible in my situation now. You know, having this hectic schedules – attending regular classes, as well as make-up classes every now and then, preparing the requirements or projects, - just to name a few. I always see to it that I am still enjoying every bit of it. I see to it that at the end of the day, I still manage to smile and have bonding with my friends that serve as my family as well for my biological family is away from me. I can say that having this daily routine now is living my life to the fullest. Why? Because I do both - learn and enjoy it.

It is worth to share then the principle that I got out of this thought for the day... enjoy while learning. We can’t predict the duration of our life here on earth so we have to maximize it. There must no second to be wasted. There must no opportunity to learn that will be wasted. Grab all the chances for we never know what will happen to us next. And foremost, always see to it that at the end you’ll find the happiness and satisfaction you are longing for and bring back all these to our almighty one. He is your strength, He is your power. So bring back the honour unto Him. 

Sons of the Earth

Sons of the Earth

Australian Aborigine

I am of the earth.

I am the son of the earth.

I am the trees, the rivers and the rocks.

I am the kin to earth’s nature.

I am kin to earth’s creations.

The earth is my mother.

The white man is also of the earth.

But he is mad.

For what man in his right mind

Would rape his own mother?

Analysis

Study

1.    Origin                                                                                                                                 

                Let us first discuss the title of the poem. “Sons of the Earth,” merely means that this poem is intended for all people to read. Sons of the earth refer to all black African people who make a living for his or her life. Though this poem was written by an Australian, he referred sons of the earth to all people around the world.                                                                                                                                                              Second, the author of the poem was an Australian aborigine. Australian aborigine means that the author   of the poem is a black Australian. Aborigines lack confidence as they enter a field previously monopolized by whites and are handicapped by limited education. Aboriginal poets face one other drawback which confronts the members of many other indigenous minority (and majority) groups writing in the world today. Simply, it is that of dealing with the English language and making it their own.

2.    Form and Structure

                 As what you can see, this poem is a free verse for it follows no rhyming and no specific number of syllables. The author used the first persona. Since he is an Australian aborigine, he speaks directly what he wants to say to the white Australians. It consists of two stanzas and even the stanzas have unequal number of lines; the first stanza consists of six lines while the second, four lines.

3.Theory                                                                                                                                              Marxism was applied in this poem. The Marxian analysis begins with an analysis of material conditions, taking at its starting point the necessary economic activities required by human society to provide for its material needs.

Analyze

Component                                                                                                                                  The author used the term “earth.” Earth in this poem does not literally mean the world, rather, the country Australia. The author expressed his respect to his country and though persons of his the same group do the same, the white Australians suppress them. The author also expresses the abuse being done by white Australians to their country.

            The author of the poem earns his living through the presence of his needs in nature. Food, shelter, and clothing can be found in nature. Take a look in this line;

“The earth is my mother”

            This line suggests that there are ways on how earth becomes our mother. As mentioned earlier, earth provides our needs in order for us to survive.

Interpret

           Worth of the material

                       This poem is of great value. Look at this lines:

The white man is also of the earth.

But he is mad.

For what man in his right mind.

Would rape his own mother?

           White man refers to the white Australians during that time. There was once a division between the black and white Australians known as Apartheid, classification of the higher and lower class. If we are going to relate it to the present time, white man refers to anyone who abuses what the earth has. People find their needs on earth yet they destroy it. They do not know on how to take care of the nature. They do things that will only be good for their own benefit.

           When will they realize their mistakes? When earth will already be void? It’s too late…

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely

      Perhaps the greatest single problem that people have today is “time poverty”. Working people have too much to do and too little time for their personal times. Most people feel overwhelmed with responsibilities and activities, and the harder they work, the further they feel behind. Instead of clearly deciding what I want to do, I continually react to what is happening around me. Pretty soon I’ll lose all sense of control. I feel that my life is running me, rather than I run my life.

Time is our most precious resource. It is the most valuable thing we have. It is perishable, it is irreplaceable, and it cannot be saved. It can only be reallocated from activities of lower value to activities of higher value. All work requires time and time is absolutely essential for the important relationships in our life.

As a student, I chose to focus and spend my time doing a few vital projects that will really make a difference, rather than spending all my doing many trivial things that don’t really matter all that much.

It is worth to say that nothing is waste of time if you use the experience wisely, with that, you’ll not only get a lot more things to be done in less time, but you’ll feel more relaxed, focused and in control of your life. In addition, you’ll be able to make time for the people and activities that you love. When you get to the end of a busy day, you’ll feel a strong sense of accomplishment from everything that you actually did. 

Actions of man is the best interpreter of their thoughts

      After knowing this thought for the day, I then, make myself conscious of my actions; especially that being a student who is always surrounded by unique individuals whom I get to socialize with. I can see some changes in me. I am, from being reckless one to a well-composed one. I practice to compose myself first by thinking twice or repeatedly a move over and over before doing it, not only to avoid failure but also because I want to  leave an upstanding impression to those people I am with. After all, this stage in one’s life evolves mostly on conforming to the norms among peers.

Before, I talk to my friends with what is in my mind, never minding of what they will think of me as long as I expressed wholly what is in my mind. Having this excuse “this is me”, telling them that this is who I am. So, when I had my reflection into this, I realized my mistake. I am so selfish. I have to make a change. After that, I practiced to learn to listen to them and lessen my self-cantered attitude. I am considering first other’s feelings and opinion before insisting mine if I have the reason to. I learned to limit my unnecessary action and build on advancing my thinking ability so that there will be no wrong moves again to happen.

As a future teacher, I would always be saying this to my future students; to be careful with what they are thinking. Think positive for it will be shown through your actions. Likewise, don’t think lecherousness things for it will be shown through your actions. “Actions speak louder than words,” that should always be borne in their minds. Your action, your behaviour, your conduct, your manner – whatever it is called, is the outcome of what you are thinking.