Week Nine: Fire Fighting

Last week in BST, we had a practical exam on extinguishing a fire using the water fire extinguisher. At first, it looked easy, but while each of the other cadets are finishing before me, I was beginning to be nervous and scared. I could literally hear and fill my heart beating so hard on my chest, especially when Cadet Itturalde took his turn on the fire extinguisher. He rushed in to the fire and sprayed the water with deadly accuracy, but after emptying the bottle the small unextiguished fire (what is left of it) continued again to grow.
Anyway, when it is my turn on the scene, I rushed as fast as I can to the fire. I pressed the handle release and swiftly sprayed it at the base of the fire. My heart is still beating so hard that moment; I even bit my lips with fury while spraying the fire with pressurized water!
I was really relieved when I was done. I really missed that filling; I felt an adrenaline rush that I also felt during my high school days during competitions.
I realized that, using the fire extinguisher with out the fire is very different when dealing with a real fire.

Week Eight: ...Must Study Harder!

January 14, Monday
It is another three hour session with our Machine Shop instructor. We discussed and reviewed about some of the measuring tools Sir Bong taught us last year. Also, our instructor taught us how to read the tolerance of a round work-piece using the dial gauge.
Listening to my instructor in Machine Shop, I learned how to actually measure the deflection of the gauge. I was surprised to found out that the dial gauge is so sensitive that it could actually measure up to .01mm deflection on the work piece’ surface.
I remember last December 2005, I encountered a similar gauge connected to an arrow straightener—my favorite “armoring” equipment in archery. It is the equipment used to reduce the bends, if not to straighten up, the arrow shaft. I was the club armorer during my 4th year in our school when the coach of Brent, Sir Bambao, lent me this brand new staightener. He taught me how the dial gauge operates while applying my knowledge with the old straightener we are used to. No wonder this arrow straightener is very accurate.
In physics, we moved on to our next topic—free falling body. This part of physics, as I can remember, is the part I missed during my high school. I literally slept, if not listening or not in class, the whole quarter; this is the reason I didn’t understand the concept of projectile motions and uniformly accelerating circular motion that is part of the whole 3rd quarter in our Physics in the 3rd year. I’m not missing any topic for my physics today—I’ll be attentive this time.

Week seven: Another's Gone

This week, I’m so depressed. During our swimming last Tuesday, I realized that my trunks are missing. I was so careless to leave it on my bunk’s towel hanger, and not noticing that it had been missing there since last week. I was forced to use my shorts on our swimming class. Until now, I can’t help but to keep on thinking about it.
I asked Cadet Librodo that afternoon about it and he told me that when he fixed the table inside our room, he found an adidas trunks inside the drawer and placed it somewhere he can’t remember. At that point, my fear that sir Serna might have seen it and thrown it was gone, but it only worsens because I know somebody else have it –maybe took it for themselves or to make fun of me.
I kept looking at every room and every trash bin, incase my first idea about the incident is true, but found nothing.
I already lost many things inside here since the first semester; I remember my scientific calculator and two cellphone chargers. (arrrgggh!)
Anyway, I can’t keep those things stuck in my mind and hoping they magically appear to me again. Like all other things I lost, I’ll forget them anyway and move on –trying my best next time not to loose anything again.
Now, it is time to apply what we have learned about the video that sir Christian showed to us the previous week. Sidestroke is quite easy to follow; I got its breathing almost perfectly on the water. Although my body is still a bit uncoordinated and uncomfortable swimming sideways, I know I can do it better next time if I would practice it more.
We also had our practical test in BST that Tuesday. Our section is divided into three groups with ten members each. Eight cadets will be onboard the lifeboat, and the other two cadets are for the bitts ashore. Luckily, I was chosen for the painter, one of the two cadets ashore. It was actually my first time to secure a vessel, in this case is a lifeboat; making that “Figure of Eight” on the bitts is actually challenging and exciting for me maybe because, I already experienced rowing a boat.
The main objective of that practical test is to develop our knowledge as future seamen and to develop the sense of cooperation on a group.
(I’m still thinking about my trunks.)

Week six: New Year, New Changes

It is 2008 and I expect changes within me.

For the past years, I have been literally taking my education for granted. Since I was in the elementary, I just had hanging grades on my cards, grades that are just passing -sometimes with grades I think I don’t even deserve. I often just study for the sake of “following” my parents wishes.

I liked math and science a lot though -but, comparing it to my other subjects, I think I’m concentrating too much on them to the point of forgetting my other academic subjects. I was poor in Filipino, History and English subjects; I just pass them because of my friends.

Then, sports came along on my high school years; my time on my critical subjects of mine went shorter. I often skip my Economics class just to train with my coach; I don’t even know how I passed her subject! I had also been fond of playing games on my computer, playing for more than 12 hours during week ends, –name it, I play it- since we had our personal computer at home.

Honestly, I think it is not the math and science, sports, or even my games on my personal computer that makes me poor in class then. I think it is the lack of time management I never realized in the past that made me “distracted”. (I just realized this idea while my sponsor shared me her expectations to me.)

It’s a new year for me and I think I must change! I now know that setting my priorities and giving adequate time dealing with them is what I need. I have started this change as I entered in this academy and I must implant it within me forever.

I remember what my coach told me, “Your actions become your habits… your habits became your character… and in the end, you are going to have a hard time changing it in the future as you continue to do it.”