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TIPS for SAT Examination

I had never been a good test taker. Especially, standardized tests such as the SAT and the other Advanced Placement courses. Therefore at the start of 2018, I had a mini SAT boot camp, which was to go over strategies and great tips to face the exam in confident. These are the two tips that I personally find helpful. 

Note *** There are so many more tips online that might be helpful to you

  1. Time Management – Answer easy questions first
     In the reading section of the SAT, there are 5 passages that include 10 to 11 questions and a total time of 65 minutes. Which break down to about 13 minutes per passage. Which means you have about a little than a minute to answer the question. Therefore, when facing questions that you are not comfortable at answering skip to the easier ones first.

    *** Don’t forget to mark it down in your answer sheet so that you won’t forget to come back or messed up circling the wrong questions

  2. Always begin with the easier passage 

There are three main passages in the SAT. There are science, US literature, and history and literature. While practicing for the exam, notice the passages that you managed to score a higher score on. Then on the exam, choose to do those passages first before jumping into the old confusing literature passage. 

Image result for good luck on the sat meme

credit: internet 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

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Starting Pre-calculus

After the intense practice for the SAT exam, now we are focusing on pre-calculus. We flew through the few chapters since we knew most of the stuffs in it. As I’ve mentioned in my previous posts, we use a lot of Khan Academy as our source to further our learning.

 

One of the part that interest me the most is learning to sketch a polynomial graph. Before I was introduced to pre-calculus I only use to see a parabola graph-shape looking graph but now graphing a polynomial is a much cooler graph(in my opinion). To draw sketch a polynomial functions graph, you need to follow a few steps.

 

Step 1: Find all of the x-intercepts of graph.

Step 2: Make a table of values for the polynomial. Include test points to know whether the graph of the polynomial lies above or below the x-axis on the intervals determined by the zeros. Include the y-intercept in the table.

Step 3: Determine the end behavior of the polynomial.

Step 4: Plot all the intercept and other points you found in the table. Then sketch the graph.

 

Using Desmos, this is the difference between a quadratic and a polynomial graph(bigger power).

This is the graph of : x^3+5

This is the graph of: x^2+5

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We spent almost two months practicing for the upcoming SAT in math class. Since we have already know most of its contents, we prioritize those time to finding strategies to beat the test. One of the tricks is to try limiting our time on easier questions so that we could save up more times for the harder ones.

Moreover, as I had gone through many practice tests, I realized that sometimes skipping questions isn’t always bad. So if there are questions that are tricky and would take much time, I would skip the question and move on to the easier ones.

Even Though, everyone is telling me that the result of this test will not depict who I really am, but the result of the test is essential for me, to find awesome opportunities that would brighten up my future, since I would need full scholarship offering from universities.  

 

 

 

 

We used Khan Academy as our main resource in practicing math problems for the SAT. 

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The Second Khmer Literacy Festival

As I am one of the authors in writing the Khmer poetry book, three of my friends and I were invited to the 2nd Khmer Literacy Festival, hosted in Batambang province. The festival lasted for three knowledgeable days. After the event, we have learned and discussed about different Khmer novels, listened to poems that written by Cambodian youths, discussed about the Khmer literacy in Cambodia with Cambodia famous writers. On the third day, we were presenting to a group of 50 university students about our experience writing the poems and the process of making the book. I am honored that we were invited as guest speakers to share our experience to the Cambodian youth and get to participated in such a magnificent event.

 

 

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Changing Cambodia 2017-2018

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” said Gandhi.

 

This phrase has tapped into my mind and became a part of me.

 

As a developing country, Cambodia is driving through rapid economic growth and seeking to advance the country socially. Although this country is developing quickly, there are still gaps in many sectors; education is one of them.

 

Government schools all over Cambodia are facing problems with lack of technology education and limited electricity usage. Especially for rural areas, skillful teachers and class materials resources are limited. Without adept teachers and rich of resources, it prevents students from obtaining a career and growing as change agents for their country.

 

On the other hand, Liger Leadership Academy provided me and other students with a “project based learning curriculum” that prepared us to become successful individuals in the future. In this curriculum, we have access to modern technology and English program, that expose students to different things that inspires our future.

 

The Liger model stated, “We believe that one empowered individual is capable of changing the world around them.”

 

“We rise by lifting others”, stated Robert G. Ingersoll, an American lawyer and a politician.

 

According to New York times best-selling author Steven Kotler, there is a rise in accessibility to technology today to those in the bottom billion population (poorest populations of the world).  As this bottom billion population continues to rise, technology will also play a big role.

 

I believed that if we increase technology literacy to the bottom billion, we will be able to increase the opportunities for these people to lift themselves out of poverty. Country like Cambodia, who is a part of the bottom billion, will now receive the opportunity to become a part of the rising billion with more access to technology.

 

Currently our team is trying to bring new technology which will be powered by solar panels to the public schools that are lacking technology. We have high hopes that this project will bring Cambodians a better future with more opportunities. Moreover, we believed it will give students extra experiences with computers which is advantageous for their future applications.

 

After 14 weeks of intensive planning the budget added up to 30,000 US dollars. “We can’t request 30,000 dollars from the school, that is impossible” shouted someone in the room. We were struggling with the money but not for too long, I and the three others wrote a 17-pages grant to a foundation and requested 30,000 thousand dollars.

 

After a few weeks of waiting the email has been sent to our facilitator, and it says we got the grant! I and Wasseam – a Liger learning facilitator were electrified; jumping around like crazy.

 

Our project has been implemented and are rolling in one government school. It took us a few weeks to set up all the electronic components and varieties of teachers training. By seeing and touching the computer for the first time, the students reactions were priceless, they were emotionally overwhelmed. I could see many students were so excited and engaged with the curriculum. Immediately, my head was in the cloud, I pictured the moment that our Liger students have the access to the computer the first time. I saw tears running down their beautiful faces and everyone hold their computer just as it is their baby.

 

After a few days of rolling the program we were still struggling with the technology. The computers were not fast enough and the English program was too slow, but our team is working really hard to make sure they have the best experience possible.

 

With these changes, we hope to inspire the students’ futures by exposing them to different skill sets they have never been taught. This could change the future of Cambodia with technology education and English program which will improve our developing country with better equipped and more educated people. The country will be elevated.

 

Through this exploration I can see the power of one individual and how much change one person can truly make. Think about this, when one person effects a few others, it is like a ripple effect that over time can actually impact thousands over generations. By working hard and having passion to make positive change, it can really happen.

 

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Science Behind DeadPool’s Healing Ability

I am a huge Marvel’s fan, especially Deadpool. If you don’t know who Deadpool is, first of all, you got to see the movie; it’s hilarious. Deadpool is a superhero that has a super healing ability. In one of the scenes, his hand got chopped off but grew back in a few hours. 

So, then in Physic class, I was researching about the science behind his healing ability. After an intense four hours researched, I constructed a poster that explains the concept of Deadpool’s healing ability. 

An interesting fact that I learned is a “Mexican Salamander” also have Deadpool’s healing ability. The salamanders could regrow their tale, parts of their brain, and also limbs. Scientists are still looking through further research and explore more about this “Mexican Salamander.”

 

* The photo of the posters will be posted tomorrow. 

 

 

 

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Changing the Face of Medicine

A few weeks ago, in physic class, we had a small assignment that required a research paper written about Women participation in STEM. When talking about famous people that have changed the world throughout science, technology, engineering, and math women are not often brought up into the conversations, even though there are a tremendous amount of women that changed the world throughout the aspect of STEM. 

This is the research paper that I have written about a woman that change the face of medicine.

 

“Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end. ” Looking through the life of a woman named Elizabeth Blackwell, inspired a tremendous amount of people, especially women in accomplishing their field in a medical study.

 

Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell was born on February  3, 1821, in Bristol, England. She was raised in a household that strongly believes in Education. Blackwell’s family moved to the United State in 1832, both for financial issues and to join the anti-slavery movement. Six years later after having been moved to America, unfortunately, her father passed away. Even Though her father passed away, her mother and two older sisters worked as an educator. In addition, Elizabeth Blackwell also gets her first job as a teacher in the US. As a group of educated people, the Blackwell’s family campaigned for women’s rights and supported the anti-slavery movement.

 

Further on, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman that earn the first M.D degree from the New York’s Geneva Medical College, in 1849. After being the first woman who earned the first M.D degree, Elizabeth Blackwell has changed the face of medicine. She encouraged many more women to get in medical school. With the help of her sister and another doctor, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell has established the New York Infirmary for Women and Children at 64 Bleecker Street in 1857. This institution and its medical college for women (opened 1867) provided training and experience for women doctors and medical care for the poor. Elizabeth Blackwell was also an author of many books related to science.

 

With a lot of accomplishment, at the same time, there were also challenges of her way to the success. At the time, when she was finding universities, most of the universities and classes were men and sometimes forbidden for women to study. She applied to the New York’s Geneva Medical College and the man students in the class needed to vote for her to get accepted to the school. The man students took it as a joke and voted yes. As a woman, she also gets a lot of discriminations, which sometimes discourages her from the studying. Moreover, while doing a procedure on an infant she contracted a disease that caused one of her eyes to go blind. With one blind eye, she could not pursue her dream of becoming a surgeon.

 

Currently, women are not the spotlight of the STEM field. It is important to spotlight their accomplishment since it encouraged many other females to participate in the STEM field. Representing the male students as personally believe that there should be an equality between men and women.  

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Get Accepted for Virtual Foreign Exchange

I applied for Virtual Foreign Exchange because I am interested in other countries cultures and their lives style. Since I can’t afford to go to the other countries this community would be the best internet platform for me to resolve all of wonders and questions in a safe environment. I could also use this platform to gain knowledge in a way such as: communcation, networking, and cultural exposure from other people all around the world. 

Website

 

 

 

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First Beach Ultimate

This is the first ever beach ultimate in Cambodia. I am really lucky that I was a part of it. In addition, the best part of the trip was learning new skills from the other people and also get to know more people that have the same interests as me. As I played more and more I have a better understanding of the spirit of the game. I really like how at the end of the game, both teams came together and create a spirit circle to speak about what you like and what you don’t about the game. I can’t wait to attend this event again next year. 

Surrounded by tourists and aside to the ocean, the game of frisbee was being played. Frisbee is a new sport in Cambodia, people that were watching had interest and were curious about the sport. Many asked about it and few sat under shades and enjoyed the game. 

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Volunteer for Khmer Sight Foundation

It is killing me watching the Cambodian elders who have no eyes vision. They could not appreciate the view of the environment around them, they can not see people who they love. When volunteered for the Khmer Sight Foundation, I put my full effort to help those elders in my community to do an eye check and get better eyesight. The patients were mostly older people with age around 50-60 years old and they got cataract which causes their eyes sight to lose. For those people who have eyes cataract, we talked to them and ask them kindly to get an eye surgery to help improve their vision. But our challenge was, those old people need to work, and take care of their grandchildren, so they resisted not to go with to the hospital. When faced this problem, our team were trying to convince them in every possible way for them to change their mind. Throughout the whole morning, we had been very successful and I felt so great helping those Cambodian elders. In addition, by volunteering in this event, it helped me to wonder and do more research about the knowledge of human’s eyes.