How Bad Friends Affect Your Life

           By Vic Odarve

Bad friends can have a bad impact on your life. They have the power to transform you into someone with an entirely different personality, alter your viewpoint of the world, and gradually influence your way of life.

Mapua University, MCM

Unknowingly, you make bad friends, usually at office work and social gatherings. People in the upper class of our society usually meet bad friends at parties, religious and civic organizations, political acquaintances, and other forms of activities among society’s bigwigs.

The influence of bad friends is powerful. It is more serious for the rich and famous. Take the case of Ruby, a beautiful woman in her early 50's who established her name by making friends and holding important positions in well-known social organizations. With her friends, she found a connection to influential lawmakers; amassed wealth and became famous; and acted as a conduit for graft and corruption. Aware of her impending arrest by the government for her role, she left the country without any traces. But things go differently for her. She was troubled. She could not sleep or eat well. A few months later, she returned as a government witness in a pork barrel scandal that implicated several senators and other famous personalities.

University of Immaculate Conception

Bad friends can also bring a tremendous change in your behavior, lifestyle, manners, and actions. You are strongly connected to their common objectives, likes, and points of view, as well as gossiping activities. You could not feel and sense the threat at the beginning because, slowly and slowly, you are engulfed in emulating your bad friend’s way of living in one way or another. Some of the effects are extremely disastrous to your future. You do not know that your constant companionship with these bad friends seems to program your way of thinking and develop into a habit.

The negative influence of bad friends knows no boundaries. Even for a short time in a company, the influence is great. It can change the world! Imagine what happened to the daughter of a certain newspaper magnate and publisher. The kidnapped of his 19-year-old daughter, after 3 months in the company of kidnappers, became friends and converted herself into a member of the terrorist organization. She sympathized with the cause of the terrorist group and participated willingly in the bank robbery. After just a short period of friendship, the daughter of a wealthy and famous family became a robber. It ruined her life!

Madonna University

There are many ways to avoid falling for bad friends. The best way is to look for, associate with, and surround yourself with only positive influencers. Hang out with those who support and enhance your life; filter their background and stick to those who share your mission and ambitions in life.

Indeed, bad friends have a far greater negative impact on your life than you realize. It can change your outlook on how you perceive the world and your behavior on the dark side. By putting yourself among bad friends, you are inviting a disaster. Bad friends, like a giant black hole sitting quietly at the center of our Milky Way, are waiting for someone who is about to destroy himself. The bible puts it at 22 Cor 6:14–15:14. Do not make unsuitable covenants with those who do not believe. Can justice walk with wickedness? Or can light coexist with darkness, and can there be harmony between Christ and Satan? What kind of union can there be between one who believes and one who does not believe?

Slowly and slowly, bad friends ruin your life. Be careful!

Nature Educates Us on Mathematics

By  Vic Odarve

 Not everybody loves mathematics! "I don’t like numbers. That’s why I did not take up engineering courses," said one student. This summed up everything about his schooling! Since kindergarten up to high school, he has performed miserably in mathematics. But one thing is certain: whether he likes it or not, mathematics is a part of his everyday life. Unknown to many, math already existed in nature the moment we took our first breath of life. What we do is simply marvel at mathematics!

Petals on math sequence

Also, nature teaches mathematics! Nature and math work in never-ending harmony. From the particle world to billions of stars spreading in our cosmic ocean, mathematical laws seem to work, keeping the universe in order. From Newton’s law to Kepler’s laws of planetary motion and Einstein’s law of relativity, math offers our deep understanding of things around us.

 Nature has its own way of expressing mathematics! Patterns such as hexagonal beehives, spiraling Fibonacci flowering trees, fractal flowers and plants, fruits, and leaves, and many more are mathematics!

 FRACTALS, BEEHIVES, AND FIBONACCI’S NUMBERS

 Fractals are repeating geometric patterns. They are rough, fragmented geometric shapes that can be repeatedly subdivided into parts and where each small portion can be viewed as a replica of the whole. These are geometric designs we teach in classrooms. In mathematics, this is referred to as iterations or algorithms. Newton’s method, simplex programming, Gauss-Seidel, Jacobi, and many more algorithms are among a few examples.

 

Mapua University, October 2022

Some plants exhibit simple recursive operations such that, after a few repetitions or iterations, their shape can be recognized as a repeated geometric pattern. It's mathematical! Fractals in nature are always pleasing to our eyes – clouds, plant leaves and fruits, galaxies, shells, and many more. Plants such as sunflowers, ferns, cabbages, and papaya leaves are among a few of them.

The honeycomb structure is also a natural mathematical exhibition. Look at its hexagonal shape. Its cross-section is made of the comb, a latticework of hexagonal cells made of beeswax. It is an expression of geometry in action. The design might be the most economical in terms of labor and wax, hence expressing the least cost in economics and linear programming in mathematics!

Leaves on Fibonacci's sequence

 The Fibonacci number is a simple example illustrating the existence of sequences in mathematics just like arithmetic and geometric sequences and progressions. But in the Fibonacci sequence of numbers, each number is the sum of the previous two: 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21, etc. And these numbers are exhibited in various "family trees" and patterns of spirals of leaves and seeds. The image of a nautilus shell approximates the sequence of the Fibonacci numbers in nature. Once again, nature teaches math! Fractals, Fibonacci ‘s shells, and beehives are iconic images that capture the beauty of nature displayed in mathematical expressions. These displays are like ornaments to the eyes of mathematicians. This is a living math in motion for us to love and appreciate nature!

 

Indeed, nature educates us on mathematics!

 

Educators Are Changing Lives

             By Vic Odarve 

 Although parents shape their children's lives more significantly than teachers do, teachers nevertheless have an impact on children's lives while they are in school. Their future employment are frequently prepared for by the knowledge they gain from the lectures in the classroom. Students are subjected to disciplinary acts and their related procedures in order to shape them into better citizens. The moral and spiritual significance learned in the classroom has an impact on how they develop as a person as a whole. Teachers mold students' futures, therefore they have an impact on and influence their lives, whether it be for a short or lengthy amount of time.

Madonna University, Africa

The world inside the classroom is their second home. The teacher acts as a parent. It is in school that they learn the importance of advanced education to achieving their desired field of interest or discipline. Students acquire the necessary skills they need in the hope of landing a better and more decent job in the future. Recently, while inside the shopping mall, I ran into my former student, whom I did not recognize. "Sir, you don’t remember me?" he asked. "No, I don’t. What’s your name? " I asked. He gave me his name and explained that he was my former student in mathematics. After a few minutes of conversation before we parted, he said seriously, with a gratifying gesture, "I learned a lot of things in mathematics under your lectures, and most of them are used in our petrochemical plant operation. I want to say, "Thank you, Sir." Then he walked away and bid bye.

In the classroom, discipline is always in the making. It is like a nucleus, the center of an atomic structure. It is always a component in a teacher’s teaching strategy to promote peace and orderly management. Well-disciplined students mirror the personality of the teacher as well as the academic institution. Cheating, ranging from old-fashioned writing on the hands to high-tech spy cameras, is not tolerated. Penalties are well defined in the student’s handbook. Imposing good discipline will mold students to become better citizens.

African University

Students are taught how to share their knowledge and assist others in classroom discussions in order to prepare them to be responsible individuals. The topics assigned, classroom group activities such as laboratories and the like, build trust and camaraderie among the peers as well as develop their personalities. At one of the international conventions, one of the presenters was my previous student. He presented a paper titled "How to Learn Math Quickly." I could not believe it! After a short conversation, he confided that it was in my class that he was challenged and learned much about how to learn and love mathematics. In return, he wanted to share his experience of overcoming the fear of taking engineering mathematics at this university. That was it. He wanted to share and touch more lives among our students taking engineering courses; expound on his experiences, ups and downs; and show them how he conquered and shifted to a new paradigm. In my little way, I have touched their lives.

To my surprise, this petrochemical engineer and presenter at an international convention were not even on my list of the top classroom performers.

Today, while in the classroom, we cannot see the impact of our teaching on shaping their future. On several occasions, I was moved and touched. I was dumbfounded and could not say anything. Students expressing their success and gratitude is evidence that teachers are part of their future. It was a feeling of joy and fulfillment! I did not expect that I would touch their lives. Jesus once said,

" What you have done to the least of your brothers, you have done to me." Matthew 25:40.

Touching lives brings us to greater heights with the One who is sitting on the great and splendid throne, with a river of life, clear as crystal, gushing from the throne, and his kingdom will reign forever. Rev 20:11, 22; 1, 22:6.

Indeed, teachers touch and transform the lives of their students, and they have done it to the glory of our God the Father!

MCM-Mapua University

Simply Pursue Your Dreams

            by Vic Odarve.

Last year, she was one of my top math students. Because of this, I always checked her papers before checking the others after every exam and quiz at school. I enjoy reading over her answers, observing the processes she took, and observing how she presented her mathematical calculations to arrive at her solution. She consistently received a flawless score, with a few exceptions. I therefore considered myself to be one of the fortunate instructors to have this student in my class. Her performance becomes a gauge of how well my instructional approach is. There it was.

Madonna University, Nigeria

I am comfortable with her way of performing as a student taking up an engineering course... a course where some stupid ones failed to graduate because of math. On one of my visits to the university library to read some local newspapers, she requested me to consider some explanation of the math solutions previously discussed in the classroom. "Okay, what part of the topic?" I informed her. She opened her notes and described the steps where she perceived the problems. After some explanation and discussion, she was content. "Thank you, Sir; I understand already," she said. At that point, I said, "What was the result of your last quiz?" "I got a 90% score, sir," she smiled. "Good, and on the next quiz, you must get a perfect score," I replied. Then she leisurely walked and slipped away out of my sight. I gave little attention. She obtained an excellent score. So, nothing to worry about She may be just serious enough and want to do more work on her studies every day.

University of Immaculate Conception

Then, the next quiz came. Only 2 out of 54 students in a class obtained an excellent score. And she was one of them! It was then that I focused her attention. I noticed that during the class session, she sat at the end of the last row of seats in a packed and overcrowded room. She listened intently and focused on my discussion. She didn't have a friend, and she didn't even talk to her seatmates, as if she didn't know any of her classmates! She must be extremely shy.

The semester math course was about to finish. I gave a quiz before the final exam. "This will be the last quiz," I informed the students. Then what was the result? She got a perfect score again! She had done it! I told myself, "She is a good performing student." At the subsequent meeting, I returned the quiz papers and scripts. She was absent. For almost two weeks, I could no longer see her. Then I inquired of her classmates what happened to this girl. To my surprise, none of her classmates knew her. She vanished, and I received no word from her or her whereabouts!

Math Class

I was completely pushed to the wall. After two weeks, my phone rang. The girl informed me that she had a part-time job in an instrumentation company to support her schooling financially, and thus, she failed to attend the class. I was dumbfounded and could not believe it. Lately, I also found out that another student who was often absent during my class lectures was also doing a part-time job in a food chain restaurant. It was then that I learned that both were irregular students.

Two years later, I saw their names posted in the school as board exam passers. Their names reminded me how these students were struggling in pain to become engineers. Their sacrifices were paid off.

Math Books by Vic Odarve

Life is a journey and for these two students who did sacrifice to follow their dreams of becoming an engineer are exemplary. The Bible puts it, "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" – Psalms 126:5-6 (NKJV). So, be it!

Sometimes we feel life is a pain but, in the end, shall reap in joy. Simply pursue your dreams.

 

 GIDAMGO KO ANG BATHALA

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Sometimes Life is Difficult and Painful

           By Vic Odarve

My best friend and I were classmates since our primary education and enrolled in the same university taking an engineering course fifty years ago. We studied and worked our class assignments together, even though we were still young and carefree. Despite our determination, we struggled in mathematics, which is the foundation of any engineering education. And then something unexpected happened at the end of the semester. He failed both math classes, whereas I received a passing mark.

African University

I was heartbroken and naturally disappointed by the outcome. Worse, his parents chose to prevent him from continuing schooling.  As a result, he lived and worked on the farm with his father, planting rice and corn as his parents had done.

The world seemed upside down. When the semester ended, I visited him in our village. My heart melted as he looked frail and sickly in front of me. I embraced him and said, "How have you changed, my friend?" And he answered, "Yes, I have had some hard times adjusting to this way of life!" It is because of that failure in mathematics that they stopped me from schooling! "

I was greatly devastated. With the help of my parents, we were able to convince his parents to give him another chance. Fortunately, his parents heartily agreed. He dropped the engineering course and proceeded to enroll in a nautical course. My heart leaps up and down in joy knowing they have approved it. Though we studied different courses and lived in separate boarding houses in the city, we are still able to meet on some festive occasions.

Engineering Lecture

Time flew so fast. Both of us passed the government licensure examination for our respective courses. Since then, we have not seen each other.

Forty years have passed. Then, one day, while having a lecture in an engineering course in one of the universities in Metro Manila, I was informed by my boss that somebody was looking for me at the gate of the university. Genuinely shocked and surprised, I instantly saw him at a distance with a toothy smile. Like before in our childhood days, he instantly threw his arms around my neck and said, "How are you then, my friend?" It's been a long time since I've seen him. “Fine," I said with a pleasant smile. Then he led me to his expensive sports car parked nearby.

He brought me to his private mansion in a nearby subdivision and promptly introduced me to his family. They enthusiastically received me like a king, with all their hearts and proper attention. I instantly saw some of his expensive cars parked in a garage.

The Village Life

I had learned that he had been a ship captain on one of the overseas cargo ships for the past several decades and was still serving to date. He was just on vacation leave to attend his youngest daughter's graduation in one of the premier schools of medicine in our country. "Sometimes I regret not seeing my only daughter grow up the past years because I am far away," he admitted.

And while dining, we laughed and happily reminisced about our past, what we had been through and the encouragement we had given to his parents in persuading them to continue his schooling.

Today, as I visited his grand mansions with luxurious cars parked inside, my heart was pounding with unspeakable joy and contentment. His success in life is also my happiness. The part I played heroically by convincing his parents, coupled with my friend’s determination to complete a nautical course, always haunts my memory as we grow older by the passing of days. But the picture that once upon a time we were both struggling in pain over mathematics in an engineering course remains in our brain until our last breath.

 

  

That Horrible Old Age

                            by Vic Odarve.

We are all getting older, whether we like it or not, and that horrible old age, dubbed "elderly," has two faces to contend with: a deplorable stage or reasonably opulent living conditions.

Bantilan's Family

Deplorable senior conditions are common among poor families in our civilized society, where they live alone in their homes without the care or assistance of their sons or daughters. On the other hand, wealthy seniors naturally spend their golden years in the homes of their children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends, where they are lavished with sensitive affection and care.

The first image is still horrifying. The elderly who are unable to care for themselves suffer the most. In most cases, key members of the family or dear relatives simply abandon or did not extend the needed help. Some of them are bedridden, paralytic, and others are stricken with diseases that place them in very deplorable conditions. They clearly need valuable assistance, compassion, and understanding, and kindness from a well-minded individual.

Old folks at home- Mayana Village

On other hand, there are some elderlies who still enjoy life living together with their children or grandchildren as they have done since the beginning. Of course, majority are traditionally supported by the relatively affluent families and lifelong friends. Most of them are typically receiving modest pensions and other potential benefits from governments. They are properly treated as members of their children’s family with basic needs in social life. This instantly reminding us to properly take care of our own dear children at the prime of our life.

No one really knows how long a person lives. For those who are not fortunate enough typically ended their twilight years in the government homes for the aged, away from their beloved children and legitimate grandchildren, relatives, and friends. As by most cultural tradition, parents who care their children through thick and thin throughout the journey in their lives and able to manage knitted family ended their twilight years under the affectionate arms of their children.

Casimero Dagangon
103 yrs old-Mayana

 Despite notable advances in the modern medical profession, all of us are getting older about the passing years; the conscious thought of what might happen naturally to us as we cross to the dark side of old age. It is a real drama of our modern life. Some are fortunate enough to enjoy life.  Recently, my neighbor living in a village of Mayana, Casimero Dagangon received a cash award for having reached the 100 yrs old.

 Civilized mankind must return from dust to dust, but before knocking out to the world stage, an unspeakable old age presses people down, rendering either living in a deplorable or well-cared stage in their lives. The fundamental fact is, most of us come to a frail stage and whether we like it or not, that awful old age is a reality that everyone must accept.

 

Tips and Benefits of Working Math Exercises

                 by Vic Odarve.

Exercise sets are offered at the end of each chapter in all mathematics texts and workbooks. That is why many engineering students are to do some of these tasks and submit the results at the following meeting. The message is clear: they must be worked out before proceeding to the next chapter. It checks whether students are ready for the next topics, much like a wormhole. If the teachers do not give an assignment on the exercises, solve them by yourself for your own benefit. The following are tips on how to get the most out of the exercises.

Madonna University,Nigeria

As a starting point, select one exercise that is like your notes or workbooks or the one discussed by your teachers. If you find it still difficult and you still have not solved any of the exercises, go back to the examples from your notes and the textbook you are using. Review your example notes and solve it without looking at the solution. Check if you have a similar answer. If along the way you get stuck, uncover the solution for a while and see where in the way you get lost. Repeat this process until you can master and understand how it is done. If you are convinced that you comprehend the process, go back to the exercise, which is like your notes, and solve it.

Make it a habit of reviewing or checking your work until you have your final answer. Since most exercises have answers, look at and compare your answers only after you thoroughly check yours. If you get one exercise with a correct answer, solve the remaining. This way will build your confidence.

Working math exercises prove beneficial to engineering students. It relates to academic success. Students who do math exercises perform better on tests or examinations. By working exercises, students are reviewing what they cover in class, thus increasing their understanding of the subject concept. Students develop self-discipline and management skills too. They also feel enjoyment and challenge in mathematics, and they put their new acquired skills into practice. Practice makes perfect.

UB ME-Seniors 1978 class

Later, students will realize that what they learn in that chapter will be used in the next chapter. Mathematics or workbooks' subject contents are presented in sequence. Master the first one before the next. Do not skip. If they could not solve the exercises at the end of the chapter, most likely they would be in trouble the next chapter. Follow the advice. Do it now! Do not delay! Complete the exercises! Geniuses in mathematics are a gift from God, but skills could be developed!

Academic success and other benefits are yours simply by following the tips.