Fifth Week: A stressful and irritating week

This week, we had so many requirements to finish; we had two Laboratory Reports, two long assignments, and one project to be submitted almost at the same days (Thursday and Friday). John Ford Castro told me, “This is not normal…” I told him, “We are just first years, and we must adjust to the situations here in college.”

. . .

This week in Electro Technology, we are taught to determine resistances, currents, and voltages across loads in a circuit using the Ohm’s Law. We are also taught about the Voltage Divider and Current Divider formulas. I realized that these divider formulas are just derived formula from the Ohm’s Law, and that I don’t have to memorize them.

In Math, ma’am Bravo gave us another set of trigonometric identities. We also had some review on proving identities and equations. In one of our discussions, I totally disagreed that “sin32 + sin48 = sin90” and that “sin2x = 2sinx.”

Anyway, I did not win the argument that day, and how I hate Nueva’s side comments. It gives me the impression that, “He didn’t listen to his math teacher when he is taught about trigonometry in his high school. Shame, he is a Science student; he should be backing me up.”

The next day, ma’am Bravo told me about it and that she is convinced that you can’t simplify trigonometric functions that way. (Argument finished)

Also that day, we had our part one of our Preliminary Examination from her subject. We are scheduled to take it at 1430H, but we decided to take it at 1400H instead, with section Polaris.

What a bad luck! That test is way too easy and way too meaty to get a zero from it. Ma’am was so angry with us, sections Cylinder and Polaris, because we are too noisy. She made us leave the AVR, the place where we should have our examination.

Fourth week

Monday has another three hour session for machine shop. That day, we discussed about the vernier. I honestly don't know how to read a vernier caliper but when Sir. Bong told us about the "vernier scale", my mind went "eureka!” Vernier scale for the Metric system is a lot easier compared to the Engish system, inch. In metric, the nine divisions is equal to ten visions in its vernier scale but in inches, the vernier scale is divided to twenty-five divisions. Anyway, we also discussed kinds of these verniers and, to my surprise, one of this is the vernier micrometer; it is just like any kind of micrometer but it has its vernier scale. (Just thought, "They are really creative on combining and sophisticating tools.")

Then had our fifth meeting in our BST last Tuesday. We should have already met for the seventh time for this semester but because of some unfortunate timing of events -luck- we only managed to have few meetings for BST. BSN Gonzales is amazed how late we were and quickly tackled lessons we have missed. He taught us the parts of the SCBA, Self Contain Breathing Apparatus, the standards for fire hoses, the different nozzles and water manipulation for fire fighting, and the coiling and uncoiling of fire hoses.

We also had swimming last Monday and Wednesday and those meetings are tiring; we are asked to swim across and back the length of the pool twice using the front crawl (free style) and the breast stroke. I did not finish the whole lap on Monday's meeting but I noticed an improvement on our second meeting -though I did not finish all the laps. I learned how to control my breath and how to swim efficiently; also, I learned that when you get a cramp in the middle of the water, the first one who will help you is yourself, never panic.

Week three (belated)

I totally forgot to do last week's blog so here is my third Weekly Blog.

We had our machine shop for three straight hours that Monday, from 0800H-1100H, and tackled about precise measuring tools. First thing is about the micrometer. Sir. Bong taught us different kinds of micrometers; I thought there is only one kind of micrometer, the commonly seen (outside) micrometer caliper. I was amazed to know a variety of such micrometers that it led me to a conclusion that a "micrometer" is just a generic name for a measuring device that can read precise lateral measurements using a rotating thimble -up to the diameter of the human hair. He also taught us to read measurements from it. I was confused with its graduations at first but in the end I found its concept easy to understand and read.

Last subject of Monday is swimming, 1600H-1700H; tired from mental torture, its time for some physical test. Sir. Christian told us to practice the flip turn and the butterfly stroke. First I tried the flip turn. It looks easy but when I tried it for the first time, water started to enter my nose as I turn. I practiced it for a while then I learned to control the water going inside my nose. Unfortunately, as I do my last turn, I bumped my head on the floor; it really hurt so much and the sound of its impact to my skull keeps echoing through my head. Luckily, I only got a bump on my head. After resting, I tried the butterfly stroke but did not turn up well. Galicia told me that my legs are moving separately and it looks more of a flutter kick than that of a dolphin kick, the foot work needed in the butterfly stroke. Quickly, I realized I can not master this stroke given only our PE time; I must find some free time and practice it often in the pool.

Week two: Mixed fillings

My vacation is extended? First of all, we still haven’t had our NSTP since last week –and we are supposedly having it three times a week. Also, we did not have classes for a day and half for this week. Honestly, I enjoyed a lot of the free time we had! I had spent much of that time either sleeping or using the cybernook. But then, just as we are already enjoying the week, trouble arises.

Yesterday, we had a bad news from ma’am Bravo. Our Construction no. 2 was not accepted due to some careless decision of our section marcher. Our section marcher promised last Wednesday to pass that Construction we have made after our chow at 1700H but he forgot it and instead, gave it the next day. Ma’am Bravo didn’t accept our papers and we –all 30 cadets from Cylinder- totally got zero from that 50 point Construction. Lesson for that day: “Don’t rush going for your swimming class.”

Anyway, we can’t turn back time. What is done is done. Maybe we should try harder next time -for a better score- and hope nothing bad may ever turn up again.

We also had Electro Technology 1 last Tuesday. That morning, we discussed about atoms, molecules, elements, compounds, and electron orbitals.

Speaking of electron orbitals, we had this discussion about the “s-p-d-f”. As far as I can remember, “s” contains a maximum of two electrons and six for “p” (“d” is ten and “f” is fourteen) but our instructor told us that it is not. After I questioned this, he decided to give it as an assignment for us to research on.

. . . .researching about it. . .

I was correct, classmates.

First Week of the Semester

Last week, captain Rosal, our instructor in Basic Safety Subject, taught us the topics we should finish until the end of the semester. Also, he shared his experiences onboard as a cadet and as an officer. In addition, he also told us a story about the "Four Chances of Life". Its moral is to choose the best decision in life in order to survive. We have learned so much with him in our topic that day.
I can say that captain Rosal is a well rounded person and one of the best persons I have met.