End of unit Blog: SST

 We were assigned to plan the sort of lifestyle we would want to have, we have to select a job/career that we would like to have later on in life. Based on our income from that chosen job we would have to calculate our monthly/weekly expenses for food, clothes, eating out, holidays, etc. We initially had to create a potential life we could live in the future. What I think this assessment was formulated for, was to give us youngsters an idea of what life is like as someone who works and lives away from their parents, someone who is responsible for potentially looking after their own family. This assessment has helped gain a better understanding of how young adults, adults, and elders make things work out for themselves and their family, in relation to money and their well being.

What is a career? A career is an affair that is undertaken by someone for a large amount of time in their lives. These careers give the person opportunities to progress through their undertaken career. A career is a learning experience, a journey through life, work and other forms of life. All people that undergo some sort of work experience are in a particular career within the work industry, whether it is professional, or not. Whether it requires a lot of training or a minimal amount of training. A career is often mixed up with a job. The difference is that a job is more short term and thought of for earning money instead of fulfilling one’s happiness in terms of a career. A career is a particular segment of the work industry that contains similar employment opportunities that provide you with plenty of experience for your future. Your career choice helps you acquire a better salary and “living status.” An example of a career is: Lucy wanted to pursue a career in business, so she took Social Sciences, Statistics, Accounting, Business Management and Marketing.

What is an enterprise? An enterprise is a large project, one that takes up a significant amount of time and effort. Enterprises are often big and bold, even complex. An enterprise is also commonly known as a business. An enterprise is a new start up business, someone is taking the initiative to start a business like a company, business, organization or other resolute venture. How you build up your own enterprise is to create a clear purpose for your business/company/organization, then start building on what you already have and know. Start launching different opportunities, develop your supportive troupe, then maximise all of your available resources. For example Ayla buys a twelve pack of eggs for $6.90. She then sells each egg for 80c, therefore she makes $9.60 ($2.70 profit). She then buys the exact same packet of eggs from the store, and does the same thing. She pays $6.90 for the eggs and once again sells each egg for 80c gaining $2.70. $5.40 profit from buying and selling two packets of eggs.

What is an Entrepreneur? An entrepreneur is someone who makes the effort to set up a business/company/organization with high financial risks in the hopes of gaining a large amount of profit. An entrepreneur is someone who puts enterprises into action; as one can see from the word resemblance. Walt Disney for example; he turned his passion/hobby into a business, in this case drawing and producing films. This was a big risk back in those days as TV’s were very expensive, TV entertainment was not a big factor within past society.

These concepts relate to jobs in particular as you can turn almost any job, passion or hobby into a business. The job I chose was a Photographer and many people who earn money this way are self-employed. They find a way to create a small business where they work for people in surrounding areas. This topic was all about planning our future. Typically when future planning we select a job suitable for our preferences and needs. Enterprising relates to the fact that you can create a business out of a hobby, job or passion. Enterprising while growing up could result in you earning more and more money. The concept career can relate the research we made on careers and the job we selected for our future planning. We had to select a job and the sort of topics we had to take in school in order to get the job we wanted.

We can link this topic to factors outside of this topic’s concept by thinking about my future decisions; like what options we are choosing for year eleven and what career we want to pursue. The difference is, is that I do not know what sort of career pathway I want to pursue which makes the concept a bit unrelatable.

This topic really challenged me in terms of being able to create a lifestyle that could support me for a whole lifetime (maybe other people included). This topic actually gave me a peek into what living away from your parents is like; having to be fully responsible for paying for your rent/mortgage, for your clothes and food, even for your hobbies. More importantly having a job that you enjoy and gives you enough money to be able to live at ease. This topic made me think really hard about my future and how hard it is really important to know what exactly you know you are capable of doing, achieving and working for. This topic also made me realise that life isn’t always as simple as you think it is; you have to take care of your taxes and your expenses, you have to take care of yourself and make sure you are comfortable and well fed, you can’t exactly rely on your parents/caregivers anymore. The thoughts I have listed all challenged my thinking a lot, especially since I do not live alone in my own house with my own car and money and food and clothes, but that is precisely what I am currently preparing for; I have chosen my options for year eleven. That is a big step into my future, my future lifestyle.

My research project becomes an action plan for change because it makes me realise that I have to start making choices that could potentially make life take a deep curve in regards to my career, money and wellbeing. This project became an action plan for change, because not only do I now have an idea of what I could do in the future, but it also changes my view on financial aspects of my life. Giving students a research project that requires them to vaguely plan their future, gives them a deeper understanding of living life away from their childhood homes. It mentaly prepares students for the things they will have to face in a few years to come.

Overall, this topic made me understand the things that I will soon have to approach in the future, such as preparing financially, academically and mentally. This topic taught me a lot in terms of saving and depositing money.  It gave me an overview of the life that adults live, their job lives and their lifestyle.

Social Studies: Careers, Enterprises and Entrepreneurs.

 What is a career? A career is an affair that is undertaken by someone for a large amount of time in their lives. These careers give the person opportunities to progress through their undertaken career. A career is a learning experience, a journey through life, work and other forms of life. All people that undergo some sort of work experience are in a particular career within the work industry, whether it is professional, or not. Whether it requires a lot of training or a minimal amount of training. A career is often mixed up with a job. The difference is that a job is more short term and thought of for earning money instead of fulfilling one’s happiness in terms of a career. A career is a particular segment of the work industry that contains similar employment opportunities that provide you with plenty of experience for your future. Your career choice helps you acquire a better salary and “living status.” An example of a career is: Lucy wanted to pursue a career in business, so she took Social Sciences, Statistics, Accounting, Business Management and Marketing.

What is an Enterprise? An enterprise is a large project, one that takes up a significant amount of time and effort. Enterprises are often big and bold, even complex. An enterprise is also commonly known as a business. An enterprise is a new start up business, someone is taking the initiative to start a business like a company, business, organization or other resolute venture. How you build up your own enterprise is to create a clear purpose for your business/company/organization, then start building on what you already have and know. Start launching different opportunities, develop your supportive troupe, then maximise all of your available resources. For example Ayla buys a twelve pack of eggs for $6.90. She then sells each egg for 80c, therefore she makes $9.60 ($2.70 profit). She then buys the exact same packet of eggs from the store, and does the same thing. She pays $6.90 for the eggs and once again sells each egg for 80c gaining $2.70. $5.40 profit from buying and selling two packets of eggs.

What is an Entrepreneur? An entrepreneur is someone who makes the effort to set up a business/company/organization with high financial risks in the hopes of gaining a large amount of profit. An entrepreneur is someone who puts enterprises into action; as one can see from the word resemblance. Walt Disney for example; he turned his passion/hobby into a business, in this case drawing and producing films. This was a big risk back in those days as TV’s were very expensive, TV entertainment was not a big factor within past society.

Robotics: apps

 We have been introduced to programming apps (before Lockdown) and were assigned to make an app, containing a picture of a cat that meows when pressed. Below is a screen shot of my AI companion and my programme. On the far left the AI companion is visible, the AI companion is an app that is able to have your programmes downloaded onto it, making it seem like a real mobile phone is using the app you made (you can also download the AI companion app onto your own phone, where it would be able to be used properly). As you can see, my meowing cat programme is visible on the AI companion, fully functional when pressed (just take my word for it). On the left side of my screen is the programme/preview where I was able to create a working app within the workspace. This was my very first app that I created, yes - its very simple - but its a start to many fun hours of creating apps.

Lockdown Creative Writing

 An activity we were given during Lock down was to pick a sentence starter and create a short story relating to the sentence starter. Once we had written two hundred or more words, we were given a partner. Ourselves and the partner would exchange our stories and carry on the others'. This created a fun experience for both the writers and the readers. Here are my partners and my stories:

This one my partner started and I finished:

The rickety old fishing boat drifted aimlessly out in the open sea, sending ripples dancing across the

otherwise opalescent surface. The boat carried two people, one as old as the boat itself, the other as

young as new fishing rods they both held outstretched over the water. The two were startlingly similar

in appearance, with dark skin the colour of crushed coffee beans, and molten honey coloured eyes.

The old man's eyes displayed childish mischief and cunning, their honey golden depths twinkling with

unspoken humour. The young girl's eyes seemed to display an outward wisdom her grandfathers

lacked, and looking into their amber expanse was like trying to find the bottom of the sea. 

They sat there gazing at the ocean, the old man with the young eyes and the young girl with the old

eyes, neither speaking to the other, both content to be drifting out to nowhere. A breeze ruffled their hair

and the young girl glanced worriedly into the wind, her gaze flying around in search of… something.

The old man had fallen asleep so she shook him awake, pointing at the dark cloud that had begun to

gather on the horizon. The breeze had transformed into a full blown gale, wind howling over the small

boat, galloping over the two shaking passengers who clutched each other in an effort to stay afloat.

They were in the heart of the raging storm, only able to watch as a mammoth wave rose over them,

yawning towards them like the jaws of a howling beast. It tore their boat apart, plunging the old man and

the girl into the heart of Davy Jones Locker. Sinking was like flying, the girl thought for the last time

before she fell into the all consuming embrace of darkness. 

to be continued…

*

Waves crashed over her head as she struggled to keep her head over the water. White foam clouded

her vision as she went under anew. She grappled on for a good while until she began to feel the merciless

wrath of exhaustion. Is this really how I die? she thought, is this really the end? She tried everything within

her power to keep fighting, to fight the endless yawning jaws of the dark beast that was feeding tirelessly

on her strength. So she gave up. She had come to the conclusion that this was the best way to bring an

end to it all. So she let the darkness take her. So she thought…

She was like a sponge full of water. Her organs and tissues were damp and soggy from being in the

water for such a long duration of time. She was brushing death, the dark, engrossing and exhausting

edges of what she very well knew to be the end. Everything she was able to see - whether she had her

eyes open or not - was either black, grey or some other shade in between. She felt as if her body as a

whole was paralysed; she was unable to move, detect where exactly she was, much less what state

she was in. Her mind floated endlessly along the brinks of death, neither conscious, nor unconscious.

As she floated in her head space, she became aware of two things; one, she was exceedingly cold; two,

she was alone. How she was aware of these things without being completely conscious, she did not know.

Intuition, perhaps. Her mind was elsewhere, in a different world full of the bleak colour grey. Endless,

endless abyss. Nothing. Nowhere. 

A strong hand latched onto her arm, a second one seizing her other arm, hauling her out of the hole

she dug herself into. Her corpse was dragged over the edge of something hard and rugged, pieces of brittle

wood piercing into her water weathered skin. She was gently laid onto the floor of something hard and

uncomfortable. She heard a gruff, but kind voice;

  “It’ll be OK, don’t you worry.”

THE END

This one I started and my partner finished:

I admit I was jealous, but what happened at the talent show was not entirely my fault….

Let me explain...It all started two weeks ago when an abundance of school students tried out for the

annual school talent show, one of those students being my nemesis. I happened to be really grumpy that

day as I spilt my cereal all over my laptop. I stumbled across Lilith (yes that’s her dreadfully ugly name)

while waiting in line. I was holding my props tightly in my hands, knuckles turning white. She sashayed

over to where I was standing, looked me up and down as if saying ‘what are you doing here?.”

  “What do you want, you snide beast?,” I sneered at her.

  “I could ask you the same thing, fainting goat,” she quickly snapped back at me.

I know, the typical rivalry converse between two that despise each other. I just can’t help myself. Really.

I turned my back to the atrocious beast, minimising her existence within my consciousness to a

nominal, giving her the wonderful cold hand.

Later, when I filed onto the stage to give the judges my entry performance, something horrible happened.

As I was implementing a magic performance, I had many props tucked away here and there. As I was

going about my magical performance everything seemed just fine, to start with. As I pulled my

magician's wand out to start performing an additional trick, the stage speakers crackled, then blasted a

voice recording of myself - I recognised it immediately. The voice recording was of a younger me talking

about a crush I had on this boy earlier on in my life, I turned the colour of my Grandma’s lipstick in a

matter of seconds. My brain was already hectically putting together a list of possible suspects of this

vicious violation of my privacy. But only one person could be the prime suspect, yes you guessed it,

Lilith. I saw her laughing hysterically out of the corner of my eye. Reality came crashing back down on

me in no time. I was standing in the literal middle of the stage stark red in the face. One of the judges

was politely asking me to leave the stage.

  “Can I try again please?,” I stuttered.

Someone laughed.

  “I’m not sure that this voice recording illustrates what exactly talent is, darling,” said another judge.

  “Y-You don’t understand,” I pleaded. “I didn-”

  “I am very sure we understand; please take your leave,” said the same judge.

I stood there for a second utterly gobsmacked at what had just occurred. I floated off the stage, as if

I weren’t alive.

Lilith, was all I thought as I walked home at the end of the day, I will get her back.

Two weeks later: the night of the talent show.

* 

The air was tinged with anticipation as people milled around backstage waiting for their calls. People

were doing the final checks on their props, eradicating even the tiniest mistakes that could cause horrific

damage to their acts. I stood there clutching the microphone in my hand, repeatedly going over my cue

cards. 

  “Too bad we never got to see your entry audition,” came the voice of the dreaded creature from behind

me, “I would have loved to see your immeasurable talent put on show.” 

I turned around, bracing my eyes against her hellish appearance. Summoning as much sarcasm into

my voice as physically possible, I said,

“Lilith, thank you so much for contributing your unique point of view, and I feel so much better knowing

I have your support.” 

I followed this statement up with a theatrical hair flip, practically sending my glasses flying off my face,

and marched further into the throng of people roaming around backstage. My face was flaming by the

time I reached the changing rooms, and barely contained tears of humiliation stung my eyes, begging to

be released. I wrenched open the door of one cubicle and stumbled in, slamming it shut behind me.

Why, oh why must this woe befall me? I wondered to myself. I don't quite know what possessed me

then, it was as if I was detached from my body, conscious of what was occurring but no longer in

control. I saw myself ascending the steps up to the stage, Lilith's horror struck face as she saw me

come onto the raised platform, right in front of where she was performing. I heard her pause mid

rendition of the song “Firework”, her voice screeching to a stop as she shouted at me to get off the

stage. I saw myself floating over to her and wrenching the microphone from her grasp. I started to

stomp my feet, clap my hands, and like the wild things, I gnashed my terrible teeth, and roared my

terrible roar. What happened next was very unexpected. I started to sing, a loud pure song bursting

forth from my chest, like a tidal wave of anger directed at the person standing in front of me. This song

was the result of hours spent sobbing in toilets, of late nights spent worrying what tortures the next day

would bring- this song was from the darkest depths of my heart. I opened my mouth and let the words

flow from me:

Bullies are people you cannot forget,

Bullies are people who do not regret.

Bullies are people who thrive on your fear, 

Well I have a question for you bullie dear. 

Why, why do you treat us this way? 

Does it make you feel better, does it make you feel sane? 

I wonder, does it take away your pain?

To see me stranded here this way? 

On and on, stomping my feet, clapping my hands, letting these words flow through me. Then suddenly

I was back in my body and everything became too much- the lights, beat, music, shouting. And then I

was brought back to reality with a sharp smack. My hand flew to my cheek and I looked at Lilith with murder in my eyes. I started towards her but was

wrenched back by a security guard and hauled off stage. 

Like I said, it wasn’t entirely my fault that the talent show was cancelled. 

THE END

Social Studies: Recent Assessments

Over the past few weeks 10M has been working on two assigned assessments. The first one we were meant to have completed by the end of term two, however, the due date was moved over to the end of week one of term three. The second assessment was due at the end of the second week of term three. The first assessment was differentiating fact from fiction after having read an article of our own choosing. After reading through the information that was on our chosen article we would have to decide whether the article is fact or fiction, based on certain questions that were shown on the instructions for the assessment itself. We analysed the article by asking ourselves questions regarding whether the article was factual or fictional. My understanding as to why this assessment was assigned to us was to give us an idea of how to tell what is true or not; how to tell if what people post around the internet can be trusted or not. I think that this is a useful skill that could be used on any piece of writing. I chose an article about gender equality. 

The second assessment was to vaguely plan our future. We were assigned to plan the sort of lifestyle we would want to have, we have to select a job/career that we would like to have later on in life. Based on our income from that chosen job we would have to calculate our monthly/weekly expenses for food, clothes, eating out, holidays, etc. We initially had to create a potential life we could live in the future. What I think this assessment was formulated for, was to give us youngsters an idea of what life is like as someone who works and lives away from their parents, someone who is responsible for potentially looking after their own family. This assessment has helped gain a better understanding of how young adults, adults, and elders make things work out for themselves and their family, in relation of money and their well being.

SNA's

We have been thoroughly researching what is called an SNA in our Social Studies classes. The Far North District Council has debating on whether to carry out this new proposition and make it apply to the Far North or not. SNA stands for Significant Natural Areas, which we have a lot of here in the Far North. What the Council is trying to do is protect all of the Significant Natural Areas that are found around the Far North. Apparently, the council will use the SNA land to earn money, while the SNA owners won't get a single cent. 

My opinion:

Many people have different opinions of this as land owners. Recently people have been organising marches and meetings about this matter that compliment their feelings about SNA's. My opinion: the idea and principal is a great one; it will protect a lot of the native bush that covers that land around the Far North. But I also think that they are taking things a bit too far; they are taking people's land without their consent leaving them with a little bit of their land or nothing at all. Sometimes I wonder if everything that people want these days is money and power. The whole SNA scenario seems like something that could cover the fact that the FNDC really wants the money that they get from uncooperative land owners. I could be wrong; they might just want to protect our unique landscape and the biodiversity that lives on it, but are over doing it a little bit. I reckon that what they are doing is a little extreme, as they are taking people's land that is rightfully theirs. Once again their motive is a great one, but they are agitating people who have to pay money for what they already own; something that is rightfully theirs and can't be taken away from them.

Some of the specific rules:

The rules of having a SNA on your land is that when you want to clear a piece of your land you have to set up a resource consent for you to be able to construct anything. You are not allowed to plant shelterbelts, forestry plantations, making woodlots and the plating of exotic vegetation. The FNDC would however allow you to plant things that are suitable for the specific SNA. If an SNA owner were to carry out their plans for erecting a structure they would be fined by the FNDC and what they had already built would be taken down and the cut down vegetation would be replanted. 

What is the FNDC trying to develop?

Since we live in a very unique landscape, with unique species, plants and landscapes, the FNDC are responsible for identifying and protecting these special things with a new district plan which they have named SNA. Although we already have rules regulating the fact that you have to look after these areas, SNA owners now have to identify these areas and take more care of them within the district. Some pieces of land that are available for buying have particular sections on them that are what is called covenanted. This means that anything that is on that land cannot be cut down or destroyed, but you are allowed to cut paths and tracks which do not harm any of the vegetation.

What Is a Leader?

To be a leader one doesn’t have to lead a big number of people; one must have mastered how to lead themselves. Leaders and their followers often have the same sort of motive and attitude towards the world unless of course the followers follow the leaders unwillingly. Leaders take pride in their job to lead others to complete certain tasks. Leaders don't have to be employed by the Government or the people of the country; they can be people who take charge during daily tasks that involve other people. Many people might think that all leaders are confident speaking in front of masses of other people. I think otherwise; not all leaders started out confident, many of them would still be fighting worries and fears about their job to lead others. Leaders encourage and provide advice to their followers and to those who need it. What we must remember is that NO leader is perfect; everyone has their flaws.

An example of a great New Zealand leader is Dame Whina Cooper. Whina Cooper was born in northern Hokianga, 1895.  Whina became a great leader within the Northern Hokianga district and its people by participating in various local affairs.  Dame Whina Cooper was most famous for the march ending at Parliament in Wellington and starting in Te Hāpua (which is in the far North). However; what inspired the New Zealanders that watched the march the most was the fact that an eighty year-old woman was indeed leading the march. Subsequent to the arrival of the 5,000 marchers that arrived at Parliament in Wellington, Whina conferred a petition which 60,000 people endorsed. Whina Cooper was one of the many great people who abetted setting up Maori development schemes within the northern Hokianga area. 40,000 hectares of land had been allocated to Maori development schemes thanks to the hard work and dedication of Dame Whina Cooper and many others. Whina supervised a couple of these many schemes. But when further loss of Maori land occurred Whina decided to march. After her second husband died, Whina conveyed her life to Auckland. Whina became part of Maori Women’s Welfare League in which she was authority president. By the mid 1950’s; a couple years after her husband’s death, the organisation had bygone 300 branches and 4,000 partakers. Maori’s who had newly moved to the Auckland area were facing daily bigotry against being hired and their housing and what the Maori Women’s Welfare League had bettered the lives of many Maori’s.

Dame Whina Cooper delegated a lot of her time and effort to correct the issues of Maori land loss. What Dame Whina Cooper did left us forever in her dept especially those who got to keep their heritage because of her.