I think I speak for everyone when I say that fifth graders are overly dramatic and ignorant. This was especially true for me as a child. Relationships for me were hard to maintain as a child, and since then, I have learned to not let petty misunderstandings cause ruin to an important friendship of mine. Just as the characters Hero, Claudio, Beatrice, and Benedick have showcased in the movie Much Ado About Nothing, trying to uphold a good reputation in society can sometimes lead us to turn insignificant disagreements into bigger issues that can negatively harm a relationship. Just like the characters in the movie, I made a similar mistake with a good friend of mine, Raquel. By listening to shady rumors and further acting upon them, I foolishly caused bumps in our friendship so that I could gain attention from my peers as well as hide my true feelings towards Raquel.

In the movie, Hero and Claudio suffer a mishap in their relationship when Claudio is falsely led to believe that Hero violated chastity. He then makes a rash decision to leave her at the altar, and accuses Hero of being infidel to the public to protect his name and save face. Similarly, when I heard a nasty rumor about Raquel bad mouthing me, I was enraged and hurt. Instead of first consulting my friend for the truth, I decided to seek revenge and publicly humiliate her by making fun of her in front of the class. In turn, Raquel was also deeply hurt and lashed out as well. In the film, Beatrice and Benedick act like they are always at each other’s throats to hide their underlying romantic attraction towards one another. In the same way, Raquel and I also pretended not to like one another, but deep down, really cared for one another. After a period of time when we actually sat down to have an honest conversation, we realized that those rumors were fake. We would then make up and be all buddy buddy in front of all of our peers to make sure everyone knew we were once again on good terms – just like how Claudio had to publicly restore Hero’s name.

To sum up, don’t allow your emotions to cloud your judgement. Not acting upon your audacious emotions can save you heartache and a lot of time. Don’t be irrational like the characters in Much Ado About Nothing as well as Raquel and I, just so you can impress and maintain a socially acceptable reputation. After learning from our careless mistakes, Raquel and I are now incredibly close friends who value honesty and trust more than social standards or anything else.

Writing Process and Rough Draft

Reflection: I honestly don’t really like watching or reading Shakespeare, not because I don’t think he can write, but because the language is so hard to understand. I thought that though this story was brilliantly crafted, it was a bit extensive and the ending doesn’t make much sense to me. I saw many parallels between the events of the movie and the events of my own life. I realized that I too, had made many stupid mistakes, but thankfully, I was able to learn important lessons from them.

Genki Sushi is a chain of Japanese sushi conveyor belt restaurants that is headquartered in Japan, and extends to the United States, Hong Kong, Philippines, Australia, and many other countries. Hong Kong had the liberty of opening over 15 stores in Hong Kong, with most of them being in the New Territories. Genki Sushi has always had a reputation of being packed with people, with queues that last at least an hour no matter what time of day it is. The sushi, sashimi, and various japanese foods are always known to be deliciously fresh. 

Upon entering the restaurant on a weekday, I was shocked to see that it was mainly empty, despite it being the peak lunch hour. However, I was able to quickly deduce that this was due to the current Covid-19 situation as well as political conflicts which has caused Genki-lovers to boycott the restaurant.

My parents and I were quickly ushered by a polite waitress to the nearest four-seater table. The restaurant atmosphere was quite loud, even though there were few customers. Anime Japanese music was playing in the background to compliment the dim, yellow lighting. I was relieved to find the table prepared with condiments such as soy sauce and wasabi.  I immediately started preparing for my meal – concocting my sauce with wasabi and making all you can drink, steaming hot green tea. The good thing about self service is that you can control the amount of ingredients you add into your meal. Though the green tea was hot, it was surprisingly refreshingly effective in relinquishing my thirst. 

Genki’s service is extremely efficient. To order, you use your phone to scan a QR code that brings you to a menu offering a variety of sushi, rice, dons, udon/ramen, drinks, and desserts. I was in the process of selecting my usual order, a few plates of sushi, but stumbled upon a lunch set menu that I have never seen before. It seemed to be of good value, and so with my starving tummy grumbling to hurry me, I selected the Salmon and Salmon Roe with Wasabi Sauce Don Lunch Set ($62 HKD), as well as a Steamed Egg Custard with Seafood ($20 HKD). Within minutes of ordering, our food came in a speeding train. After taking the plates off the train, it retreated to the kitchen with a press of a button. 

The steamed egg custard was the first to arrive. I quickly removed the cover, and was delighted at the presentation. There were tasty mushrooms and a small abalone upon the surface of the custard. The egg custard itself was just the right temperature to not burn my tongue, but still be satisfying. It was smooth and richly infused with egg flavor which wasn’t overpowering. I quickly finished that up, drinking every last bit of the soup that came out of the custard as my lunch set arrived. 

My lunch set consisted of a bowl of salmon don, two mini fried prawn balls, a miso soup, and a drink of choice. The aesthetically pleasing salmon don was disappointingly a smaller portion than I had imagined. As per usual, the salmon and salmon roe was cool and fresh, and the wasabi sauce was an excellent complement to the two. The japanese pearl rice was cooked just right, not too dry or wet. Although the portion was a bit small, I still had two fried prawn balls and a miso soup to try. The deep fried prawn balls were hot and crunchy on the outside, and there were mashed prawns inside. There was a salad sauce to dip the balls in, and it tasted of mayonnaise and ranch dressing combined. I would not recommend the prawn balls if you are not a fan of shrimp, which I definitely wasn’t. The prawn flavor was overwhelming and the dressing did not make it better. Lastly, the miso soup. It was warm to taste and was bursting with miso flavor. There was jiggly tofu, slices of seaweed, as well as tiny mushrooms inside the soup. I was satisfied. 

The bill (of my food) totaled to $90.2 HKD, with 10% service charge. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend this restaurant, and give it a score 8.5/10. I really enjoyed my meal, and had a great time sitting in the comfortable seats. I’ve been here countless times, and it’s safe to guarantee that the seafood will always be freshly cut and served. The service is competent, and they do not have a eating time limit. However, I do think that it can be a bit pricey, so accept this fair warning! I will definitely be back to have a taste at the other treats!

Writing Process and Rough Draft

Reflection: I really enjoyed the whole process of this writing piece. I was able to go to one of my favorite restaurants, Genki Sushi, to give it a review. Obviously, I have had it many many times, but I was able to try something I haven’t had before and give that a review. Being able to use literature to describe all the aspects of having lunch was an interesting way to take in my food, but it was really fun and enjoyable. My friends even told me that I could become a restaurant critique (and I just might :).

The pro-death or pro-death penalty movement has been around for a whopping century. Debates about whether or not the death penalty should be legalized have been at the center of attention of passionately heated discussions. After going through thorough research, all evidence has pointed towards one conclusion. Capital punishment should be abolished because it is ineffective, is ethically wrong as it falsely accuses the innocent, and goes against the teachings of Christianity.

The main justification for the death penalty is the fact that it successfully deters crime rates. Contrary to this, there are many cross-sectional studies that show that there is actually no reduction in homicide rates due to the death penalty, states Paul Rubin in the academic journal Does Capital Punishment Have a Deterrent Effect? One of the studies done by Brumm and Clonginger in Does Capital Punishment Have a Deterrent Effect? showed that the death penalty negatively correlated with the rates of homicide, according to data taken from 58 different American cities in 1985. Take the state of New York for example. David Von Drehle also says in the magazine article, “Capital Punishment: The End of the Death Penalty” that there are some 1900 fewer murders per year in New York City now than when capital punishment was legal. Other statistics taken by John Lamperti in Does Capital Punishment Deter Murder shows that when compared to U.S states with the death penalty, the states without the death penalty had homicide rates that averaged 63% lower. American defense attorney David J Burge said in Capital Punishment: The End of the Death Penalty, “Capital punishment is nothing more than an expensive, wasteful and risky government program.”

Not only is the death penalty ethically wrong, it also goes against the morals of many. There have been many cases of innocents wrongfully sentenced to death. Statistics taken by Pilkington in the newspaper article, US death row study: 4% of defendants sentenced to die are innocent show that 4.1% of death row inmates are actually wrongfully convicted. Though it may seem like a small number, each and every life should have equal value. There are now more than 8,000 men and women since 1970 that are falsely convicted, solemnly awaiting their death (Pilkington). A particular case that Dorsey writes in his book, Execution of the Innocent: Justification for the Abolition of Capital Punishment, happened to Patrick Croy, an innocent man who was sentenced to death but was aquitted 11 years later. Dorsey also references another case in 1990, where convicted murderer Jesse Tafero was sentenced to death and was executed shortly after. A few years later, Sonia Jacobs, his co-defendant who was also sentenced to death row, was able to be exonerated completely. It turned out that the prosecution’s crucial witness was in fact the actual murderer. If only the state didn’t carry his execution out so early, Tafero could’ve been freed and given his life back. In light of the situation the state, judge, and prosecutor did not even bother to apologize to the victim’s family. Dorsey even went on to say that having an innocent on death row can go as far as negatively impacting the victim’s family. They are helpless and can only mournfully anticipate their beloved’s death.

Religion should be considered as an important factor when contemplating the death penalty, especially when Christianity comprises an overwhelming 70.6% of the United States population (Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics). In Romans 13:9, it tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus taught us to have forgiveness and compassion for others, no matter how much wrong they have done you. In addition, 1 John 1:9 says that if we are willing to confess our sins to God, He is faithful and will forgive us. If only we take the initiative to seek out His forgiveness, then the death penalty will not be necessary. We shouldn’t have the right to take another’s life (Exodus 21:13), because only God has the right to create and destroy life. We are also told in Daniel 9:9 that God is merciful, despite us disobeying and going against His commands countless times. In Psalm 75:7, it says that God is the ultimate judge, meaning that he is the only one with the power to determine right and wrong. The death penalty should not be utilized as an excuse to openly take one’s life, despite the law saying otherwise.

Many pro-death supporters might argue that the Old Testament of the Bible actually supports capital punishment. They further back this up by quoting Genesis 9:6, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” The Israelites were required to use blood sacrifice to redeem their sins in the olden days. There are plenty of other accounts in the Old Testament that are for the death penalty, but this is just one of the many examples. However, in the New Testament of the Bible, it states that God gave his one and only Son to die for our lives. Since Jesus acted as the ultimate blood sacrifice for our sins, it means that He does not require any more blood recompense from us. Jesus’ gracious act of the crucifixtion eternally established human value, meaning that the need for capital punishment is nullified.

The abolition of capital punishment is still a current battle between pro-death supporters and anti-death supporters. Due to the lack of significant evidence to prove that the death penalty effectively deters crime, the fact that it is against God’s law, and that it’s morally wrong, the death penalty should be abolished. Humans should live as compassionate and loving beings, learning to take the high road when given the opportunity. Using evil to repay evil will not undo what has already been done.

Writing Process and Rough Draft

Reflection: Through writing this research paper, I was able to gain three main takeaways. I learned how to properly use citations and evidence to back up the thesis that I have crafted (both of which are helpful for writing research papers in the future!). I also learned that we shouldn’t make decisions without recognizing all the facts. In the case of the death penalty, one decision could ultimately change the course of someone’s lfie. Lastly, I learned that in order to seek an answer from God, you have to look at the whole picture (from the Bible) instead of just quoting verses from certain chapters.

There are many different unique worldviews out there that can differ from person to person. After reading multiple articles through the lens of other people, it has allowed me to come to the strong conclusion that the way I try to see the world is through Jesus’ eyes.
One of the articles I read was about a woman, Juliet Corwin, who was born deaf but had the privilege of using cochlear implants to help her hear. Her whole life, she struggled with a sense of belonging. She wasn’t deaf enough for the deaf community, but she also couldn’t hear well enough to be accepted as a normal human being. Discrimination is one of main concerns of our sin filled world. To her, she has been ignored by people who are just like her, just because her parents made a choice to benefit her life with technology – but discrimination extends much beyond this. Communities like the LGBTQ+, difference in social class, ethnic minorities, and many more groups all over the world face agonizing discrimination.

Reading this strongly urges me to bring love to a world that’s filled with hatred. I find my identity as a child of God, and I truly do believe that we love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). With love, we can conquer anything that the world throws our way. It’s all about the mindset and attitude that we place towards certain things. If we all are able to see that diversity brings about connections, the little holes in the world will start to mend itself up. Each and every one of us are created in the image of God, and I really think that if we were to reflect Him even in the slightest bit, it could benefit us in the long run. Corwin even goes on to say in her article, The lonely world between the hearing and the Deaf, that she hopes deaf children will grow up with the sense of being accepted. It’s time that we put our differences aside to love and care for one another.

The second article I read was about a cancer patient, Kate Bowler, that battled between a life threatening disease and plain fear. She’s afraid that she’s not able to be strong for her husband and little boy, and couldn’t find the balance between how to be strong and when it’s okay to be afraid. She was, however, able to find that balance. Similarly with the previous article, her answer was just simply: to love. Bowler says in her article, Living a chronic life in a fix-it-now world, “I know the world is full of things to fear, but our love will make a path. We will learn to plod ahead even though love itself makes us terrified that we cannot be without each other.”

I know and have been told many times that perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18). Non-believer or believer, we should take this motto to heart. I probably will never understand the pain she went through as a cancer patient, but this is definitely applicable to so many other regions in life. Love can be a remedy to plenty of other challenges that we might face. It can be used to mend a broken relationship, developed as a daily attitude, and most importantly, a lens to see the world through.

It’s not easy choosing love every day, but it is a conscious choice that we have to make in order to survive. I like to put things into perspective this way because I know from experience that this has worked for me, time and time again. Through every trial and tribulation, I was able to push through because of the love that Jesus has so graciously granted me. I do not deserve His love, but what I can do is spread it to those around me. It’s a gift that’s to be shared with not only our loved ones, but our enemies as well. The second greatest command the Lord gave us is that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). If only we could all spread a little love, things just might turn out okay.

My writing process and Rough Draft

Reflection: We were asked to read two articles that were related to worldview and write a reflection on it. I was able to gain a lot of insight on how others that might be less fortunate than I am viewed certain issues. This certainly allowed me look at things from a different perspective, and I definitely learned to not take life for granted. A lot of the things I experience, others cannot, and it just made me learn to be thankful each and every day to even be alive. Realizing this prompts me to be more successful and live life to the fullest, serving Jesus in everything that I do.

Truth. Truth is one of the things that human beings value most above anything else. In everything we do on this earth, we are always some way, somehow, in search of some kind of truth. Whether that is finding the truth of how much your breakfast cost, or the truth of finding out that you’ve secretly had a brother your entire life – truth matters. The ironic thing about truth is that it’s subjective. Depending on the culture, society, and worldview you grew up in, each and every one of us perceives truth differently. The thing that drives truth in the novel, The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, is the pure intention to protect the reputation of one’s family. However, I cannot say that the message of truth displayed in The Kite Runner is congruent with my beliefs as a Christian of said truth. Truth is essential because lying maliciously hurts others, and it is by accepting the objective truth that only God dictates that only then we are able to live freely in this chaotic world.

In Afghani culture, honor and reputation are highlighted and enforced in every aspect of one’s everyday life. The constant battle between honor and shame is afoot throughout the whole novel. We can see at the very beginning of the book where Baba, the wealthy and well-known father of the protagonist of the story, tells Amir, “there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft.” (page 17). This was a phrase that Amir held so close to his heart throughout his life, idolizing Baba for his wise words, only to be betrayed by this very truth. It is when Rahim Khan reveals that Hassan, Amir’s Hazara servant, is actually his half brother. Enraged by the truth, Amir can’t help but think that his whole life is a lie. Baba had stolen Amir and Hassan’s right to know that they are brothers, and he had stolen honor from his best friend (page 225). This is a massive turning point in the plot because Baba had violated the one thing that he stood by. Baba had concealed the truth from Amir, Hassan, and the rest of the Afghani community purely to protect his reputation as one of the most powerful businessmen in Afghanistan. It is apparent that the Afghani culture’s definition of truth is intrinsically motivated to only benefit oneself, and not the greater good. 

One of the ten commandments is “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour”. As a Christian, I am taught to value these important commands that are given to us by God, one of which is not to lie. Truth is objective in Christianity, and should not be dependent on the giver of the truth. In John 8:32, Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. Baba and Amir constantly try to cover up the truth of their mistakes – Baba hiding his illegitimate offspring from Amir, and Amir hiding his secret of practically granting Hassan’s rape (chapter 7). Guilt becomes a consequence of burying and hiding the truth for so many years, instead of it liberating oneself. Nonetheless, Jesus says that it is the truth that will set you free. What sets Christianity apart from the rest of the world is that it teaches the real truth. Jesus is the truth, and as long as one can recognize that, they are already a step closer to freeing themselves. 

Truth is an abstract idea that can be interpreted in different ways. In The Kite Runner, truth is to protect your honor by hiding it, but according to Christianity, truth is the one thing that will set you free.  Shame and guilt, the product of covering up the truth, shouldn’t have power over our actions unless we give it the power to. No matter how atrocious of an act we commit, the truth will always come out in one way or another. It’s our decision on what to do with it, and whether or not we let it dictate the rest of our lives. To choose the truth, to choose Jesus, is to choose liberation.

My Writing Process and Rough Draft

Reflection: Personally, I don’t enjoy reading lengthy novels that are difficult to understand. Honestly, when we were first told to read the Kite Runner, I was already dreading that I had to read such a long book in a short amount of time. But after reading this book, I beg to differ. The Kite Runner offers so many life lessons, all in one book. Though it’s frustrating at times, it’s also heartwarming and touching. I was able to truly learn the meaning of truth through this book, and it allowed me to reflect on some of the ideas presented in the book as well. The Kite Runner is a must-read and I definitely would read it again, because I’m sure that I have missed something in there that is meaningful.