QWERTYUIOP (Moral Values)

  

Three moral values that can be learned from “QWERTYUIOP” are perseverance, courage and compassion.

Perseverance (meaning: ketabahan) is important in facing challenges (meaning: cabaran). We should not give up easily in life. We should have perseverance to be successful. This moral value can be learned from the main character, Lucy Beck. Lucy was determined to get a job. She persevered to keep her job although the ghost of previous secretary, Miss Broome kept giving her problems.

We should also have courage. We should not run away from challenges and problems in life. Lucy had to confront Miss Broome’s ghost in the story. She showed her fighting spirit when she refused to run away like the other young secretaries. She confronted (meaning: berhadapan) Miss Broome and fought to stay on her job.

We also can learn the moral value of compassion (meaning: belas kasihan) from the story. Lucy learned to accept her uncle although she did not have good opinion of him in the past. She felt sorry for Miss Broome and managed to calm her down. This shows that she was a compassionate person.

The Fruitcake Special (Moral Values)

Two moral values that can be learned from the story of “The Fruitcake Special” are “honesty” and “superficiality versus substance”.

Honesty is important. We should be honest with ourselves and to others. This moral value can be learned from Anna. Anna knew who she was. She did not listen to David Amos’ compliments (meaning: pujian). She was suspicious (meaning: curiga) about his compliments until she found out that it was the fruitcake perfume that made Amos fell in love with her. Anna also did not take advantage of Amos and the waiter when they fell in love with her because of the fruitcake. She told the waiter not to act foolishly. This shows that Anna was an honest person. 

Substance is more important that superficiality. In a relationship, we should be sincere and not be attracted by physical appearance. For example, Amos liked only young and beautiful girls with model look. On the other hand, Armstrong fell in love with Anna for who she was and not just for her appearance. Armstrong's love for Anna was true and he worked hard to build a pizza company to prove to Anna that he was a worthy gentleman. 

(Note: Write the events that happened in the story in PAST TENSE, because they already happened in the past.)

Love for the country and for sports

[Note: Congratulations to Yee Wen Huan for winning a prize in SMK Desa Petaling's essay writing competition in conjunction of Hari Malaysia! This is her prize-winning essay.]

Malaysia is a melting pot of races and cultures, a peaceful land in which Malays, Chinese, Indians and many other ethnic races live together in harmony. Just like rojak which is made up of many different ingredients, Malaysia is made up of different people with different backgrounds and beliefs.

One of the notable aspects about Malaysia is the progress of national sports. There are many athletes of different races in Malaysia. Some of the prominent figures are Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Nicol Ann David and Datuk K. Raja Gopal. They show their patriotism by working hard to make Malaysia a proud nation in the eye of the world.

Datuk Lee Chong Wei is a badminton player. He always works hard to practise his skills and techniques in badminton. He represented Malaysia in many badminton competitions. Datuk Lee Chong Wei once said that, “I am not fighting for myself, but for my country.” He shows his patriotism by playing badminton. He currently holds the title of the world’s number one.

Datuk Nicol Ann David is another national athlete that makes Malaysia proud. She is the world's number one squash player. She has taken part in many international squash competitions, winning many titles, medals and trophies, making people all over the world know our country.

Another public figure in Malaysian sports arena is Datuk K. Raja Gopal. A former national striker, he is now Malaysian football head coach and team manager. Malaysian footballers are performing better under his guidance and management. He restores the faith of Malaysian people in national football team and Malaysian football team back to their former glory.

Malaysia is truly a unique country with many distinctive qualities that other countries do not possess. Like our national heroes in sports arena, every Malaysian should strive to make Malaysian a proud nation in the eye of the world.