Journal 8 : Advices

Whenever I want to make a decision of a problem, I usually seek the advices from many people around me. It maybe from my friends, my instructors, and my family. They often give the way that they think it is the best. 

The best advice I was given is about choosing major in university. After I finished high school, I was so confused about my next step in my life. I could not make up my mind which school or major I would attend later. My relatives gave me a lot of advices. Someone consulted me about applying for a school near home to be convenient for going and coming back home. My father wanted me to choose his old school so that I could follow his work in the future. However, my mother's opinion was different. She talked to me that I could do it by myself because I would find a suitable school for  me. Any advice was only helpful for me to collect additional information. I must choose my own way and road in the future. After that, although I chose a difficult thing for me, I have never felt regret about my decision. It was also one of the biggest lessons in my life. Be courageous to decide our own road.

Journal 7: Optimistic Quote

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

This quote expresses two opposite attitudes of people whenever they face difficulties. When they have positive thought in brain, everything seems to attract them in their life. Simple things become the interesting things; difficulties will be the chances to solve and test themselves. They will find out the new things after overtaking the coming difficulties. Pessimists are in the contrast. They always feel worried and anxious when they see the difficulties coming. Two opposite behaviors also exist in people's thought when they need to solve a problem. The optimists will be vivacious to find any way to finish their work. In the contrast, the pessimists with negative thought will have the conservative solution.

I can give an obvious example of studying and passing exams. With every failing exam, we should consider it an opportunity to look back our mistake, review, and avoid the same faults. Don’t be panic and discouraged to let everything go. Choosing positive or negative attitude depends on everyone’s thought to face their own life. No one can help anyone except themselves.

Journal 6: Life's Soundtrack

Many people say that music is a part of their life. Others think that they cannot live without music. I agree with their opinions about the miraculousness and attraction of music. It begins when I heard the song name "Yesterday Once More".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwxsWIYJI2A

I heard this song first time when I was a child. At that time I didn't understand the lyrics and its meaning, but I was really interested in the melody of the song. When I came in high school, I had opportunity to listen to this song again and had a deep understanding after that. This song had a leisure and soft melody. The lyrics were not too complicated; it was easy to understand and feel. It sometimes freshens my feeling after worries and tiredness of the life. This song has a special and strange attraction. Whenever I hear this song, it reminds me about my childhood with lovely and sweet memories. Therefore, when you are tired or bored, save a little time to enjoy favorite songs and balance the daily busy life.

Journal 5

When I was in high school, I had a best friend who lived near my home. We were very close because we went to school and came back home together everyday. No one could not think that we became close friends because of our different characteristics.
My friend was an active girl while I was very quiet. She loved to go out and join the activities outside whenever she had free time. On the contrary, I only liked to stay at home to read books or do my favorite things. We hardly had a same activity on the weekend.
However, we had many same hobbies and strong beliefs. Both of us usually went shopping and had the same choices for clothes. In addition, we had the trust and the understanding each other. We often shared our feelings and thinking whenever we faced difficulties.
We have been friends together for a long time, but I believe that our friendship will exist forever in the future.

Journal 4: Weather

"Why do you choose California to study instead of finding another school in Texas or other states?". It is a regular question my relatives usually ask me whenever we gossip together. In fact, I chose CSUF because I like the weather in California. The weather in here is not different from in my country.
When I came Los Angeles the first time in autumn, the weather was really comfortable. Autumn is the season I love best in year. Many people say that the autumn is the most beautiful season of year. It is true. Whenever I walk in the morning, I can enjoy pure air and wonderful scenes. The weather is cool with wind blowing above the top of the trees. I can see colored leaves falling from the trees and making a lot of piles around the tree root. Moreover, autumn is the season when there are many holidays happened, such as Thanksgiving, Fall break. One reason I love the autumn best because it is not too hot like summer or too cold like winter.
However, I do not like autumn in my country. It is really really different from California. I live in Southern area, and it usually rains in autumn. I cannot go out or do anything outside with rain all day. Moreover, I haven't liked the autumn since I was young because it is the time I must go to school after summer break.
Therefore, I think many people will love Fall like me. It is the best season in a year.

I commented on the blogs : Se Jun, Tiffany and Jodie.

Journal 3: Your (Lunar) New Year Resolution

New Year Resolution

Ending old year to welcome the New Year is the important moment with everyone. Anyone also hopes to accomplish or a change which they want to overcome. My resolution is really simple; I wish that I will have a little change about self- confidence to adapt the life in campus.

When I was young, I usually felt shy whenever I contacted with strangers. I thought that I didn't have enough confidence to speak to them. This habit has still existed until now. Therefore, I desire that I will change it so that I can get in touch and make friends as much as possible. Confidence, brave and courage will lead me to have more success in life.

To sum up, I assume that changing this habit is not easy for me. However, I need to make efforts to accomplish my objective. It will help me obtain more opportunities in my life.

Journal 2: Job Skills

1.The thesis statement of this essay : " counselors today consider three major skill categories : interpersonal skills, mental skills, and physical skills."

2. The topic sentences for each paragraph :
 _ paragraph 1 :  Interpersonal skills help us establish and maintain personal relationship.
 _ paragraph 2 : mental skills are the skills of the mind.
 _ paragraph 3 : We rely on our physical skills when we use our bodies.

3. I believe that the most important skills are described in this essay because the writer wrote that most jobs need all of three major skills in the conclusion.

4. I think I can have a little bit mental skills because I sometime use my ideas for solving my difficult problems.

Journal 1: Introductions

Hello everyone in Composition class,
My name is Phuong Lam. I come from Vietnam, exactly South Vietnam. My native language is Vietnamese.The first thing I want to share with you that I love the weather in California because it is not different from my country. Therefore, I planned to go here a long time ago to study English.
 My dream is to be able to pass TOEFL and GMAT to enter CSUF. Besides, I would like to improve my English skills so that I can adapt with environment and life here. I hope I will find a lot of success in the future.

I commented on 3 blogs : Sejun, Billie, Gene.