Secrets Why Students Excel in Math

                   By Vic Odarve

 Math intimidates and frightens the students but there are few who did excel or perform far better and more consistently than their peers. Simply, they have their secrets...put a regular effort in their studies, hang with classmates with similar goals, and build a reputation for excellence. By keeping regular study on the notes after the class develops good retention of the subject; associating with fellow good learners can improve time management and developing positive attitude in order to excel. No wonder, these students are on the top of their Math class.

Engineering 200 level

The study showed that the first in a two- hour lecture is the most effective period for memory retention. Faced with this dilemma, a review after the class is needed to recover part of the time where memory retention was least. Reading the notes for a few minutes after classroom strengthen further your memory. Any lapses and misunderstood notes can be easily corrected. Develop this habit regularly makes math understanding perfect!

Another behavior among students who excel in mathematics is that they select their friends. By keeping in a company and hanging around with good classmates or friends who always study mathematics in their school also bring a tremendous change in their behavior, lifestyles, manners, and actions. Oftentimes students slowly and slowly emulate one’s friend’s way of living in one way or another. Look, associate, and surround  only  with friends that give with positive influence; hang only to those that are supporting and enhancing their life, and filter their background and stick to one with the same mission and ambitions in their life. Select friends that are good math performers; they belong to their tribes. Top math performers have good time management for a study and outside classroom activities. They often hang with them.

Sunset, Madonna University

Lastly, these students build a proper attitude to excel in mathematics. They do always the best that they can. In a classroom, they listen intently how teachers did the steps in solving math problems and think mathematically more than memorizing of facts. They often spot patterns in solving problems; systematically seek why and prove the steps. They always strive for the best grade. With competent teachers, coupled with a positive attitude, these students develop a kind of flexibility and creativity; hence, excel in mathematics.

With proper motivation and empowerment from a competent math teacher coupled with these behavioral tips and secrets from students who excel in math, more students will be no longer intimidated and frightened in mathematics.

Drink Moderately, Please!

         By Vic Odarve

While doctors confirmed that alcoholic drinks have benefits to human health, they often have a precautionary warning to the users… drink moderately. Research shows that moderate drinking does have health benefits physically and mentally; drinking in groups promotes enjoyment and friendship, but if taken excessively, alcohol destroys lives. Drink moderately, please!

Birthday Party

In order to have some substantial health benefits from alcohol beverages, one must have a moderate alcohol consumption. The study shows that a moderate intake can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, protect against erectile dysfunction, helps prevent against the common cold, and in the process may lengthen your life.  Moderate amounts of alcohol raise levels of 'good' cholesterol, which are associated with greater protection against heart disease; reduced the chances of erectile dysfunction by 25 to 30 percent. Further research indicates that moderate drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia. A stunning health benefits!

Since time immemorial, humans have been enthralled by alcohol since wine was invented. Alcoholic drinks go hand in hand with many important celebrations such as birthdays, vacations, and anniversaries. Wine has been used as all sorts of stabilizing social purposes; promote social interaction, and become a part of the modern lifestyle. Few pleasures in life are more satisfying and memorable than sharing a splendid bottle of wine or cocktail around a dinner table filled with friends. It is a hallmark in almost all of the get-together party and the other sort of gatherings; hence drinking wine facilitates social bonding. A word of caution, ”drink moderately”, in order to enjoy with your friends and loved ones.

Outdoor adventure

An alcoholic excess has also meant appalling human wretchedness… alcohol has long shown us to be destructive. Excessive alcohol intake may destroy your life. There is an increased risk of developing diseases such as liver damage (cirrhosis), damage to the pancreas, certain cancers, heart problems, sexual problems and other conditions. Sometimes heavy drinkers strain a longtime friendship when friends decide to socialize with you less often because you misbehave when got drunk, or behave in an antisocial way. A dark side of people who often gets drunk!

In general, the more you drink, the greater the risk. Even the Scripture condemned heavy drinkers of alcoholic beverages. Noah became drunk; the result was immorality and family trouble. Lot was so drunk that he did not know what he was doing; this also led to immorality. Genesis 9:20-38.

The choice is yours. Drink moderately, please!

Tennis; The Sport Where Fitness and Fun Meet

           By Vic Odarve

Not only that this game keeps you physically fit and mentally alert, but also gives fun and excitements. Body movements are more than ordinary exercise; burns fat and promotes healthy hearts. It also keeps the players always on alerts; ball anticipation, cat-quick reactions, and explosive power shots. Excitements draw in during individual or double competitions to both players and the tennis enthusiasts as players exhibit their hidden awesome skills. That’s tennis, the sport where fitness and fun meet.

Madonna University, Elele Campus

Tennis promotes general body movements by executing different positions; sprinting, jumping, walking, and quick actions. It develops stronger leg muscles through acceleration and side to side movements in chasing the flying ball. The short and intense burst of activities exercise lungs and actuate breathing; thus improving cardiovascular conditions. A study shows that all over workout a player burns an average of 498 calories an hour…good enough to burn fat, flatten stomach, and achieve physical fitness.

The game also keeps you mentally alert; that is, it requires tactical thinking as the game progresses… trading of forehands and backhands, slicing, top spins, and other techniques to keep your opponents off balance.  Your brain is always working on anticipation, quick reaction time, and finding strategic locations where and how to land the ball in an explosive manner… eluding the opponent’s defense. These mind-bursting activities generate connections between nerves in the brain, according to one of the study. Thus, the game keeps your mind in exercising mode all the time.

Weekend Activity

The game offers an enjoyment and excitement to both players and the spectators.  Some players display different forms of antics to draw the crowd for support and distract opponents focus on the game. Watching the players’ level of finesse and controls, power shots consistency, ball placement and depth, as the game progresses draws excitements. Keeping opponents off-balance by top-spinning, slicing, powering shots or smashing the ball gives a thrill to the fans and players alike. 

Whether you play only in a weekend with your friends, tennis provides an excellent social outlet at the same time keeps you physically and mentally fit. It is a time-efficient outdoor activity, enjoyable sport, and allows you to meet with people in the community irrespective of your age.

There is no doubt that tennis is one of the best sports for us to play. It is the sport where physical and mental fitness and enjoyment meet.

Math-Anxious Parents

By Vic Odarve

“Math is difficult. I could not get along very well with numbers. Just a set of equations and worded problems got me nervous and frightened”, exclaimed one of the parents whose daughter was at university studying engineering course. He is not alone. He may be one of the hundreds of parents following their child's math performance at university. Indeed, math is difficult and providing help our students in math is one of the parental problems.

Math notes-too difficult for parents

Faced with the growing emphasis in Math in all schools from kindergarten to diploma levels, parents must assist math assignments to their children to whatever levels they are in in the education. It is a parental responsibility to see to it that progress has been made on their studies in all the courses. It is a part of parental monitoring process in order to guide them and what part of the study they could be of help.

With the advancing technology, math expands rapidly, such that most parents are left behind. Modern math, from kindergarten to university courses, is becoming complex that most parents no longer understand the whys behind at every step in computations. In the elementary level, it goes beyond the fundamental of addition and subtraction. Algebraic and probability equations in secondary education often grow into combinatorics and number theory, and differential equations and advanced math in tertiary level are coupled with transformations. These issues are out of the parental mathematical worlds. These require deep understanding that most parents are already grasping their breath. That’s why oftentimes they ignored their child's request for assistance. Simply, it is because they do not understand as well. They could not give since they don’t have. Faced with difficulty, math anxious parents just keep their mouth shut and bite their lips in silence.

Parents must train their kids on apps from iPod, etc.

It is a parental woe. Parents look helpless. Hiring a private tutor is an option but most could not afford. They are trying to help the children in math but how. Some researchers suggest that  parents may enroll in math classes; employ learning tools such as math books or apps that may enable them to interact with the children in positive ways; and coordinate closely with the teachers on new teaching techniques and strategies. These may work, at least, to some degree.

Final Exam-Math

Math-anxious parents are common in our modern society. But math is part of our life. Whether we like it or not, we must be in good terms with math. It is time for the parents to stop saying ‘I don’t like math’. There is no day without math. It not only describes our world, but it underpins everything we do. God bless!

Final Exam and Discipline: No Copying, Please!

By Vic Odarve

Without warning, a teacher slapped the student’s face twice after being caught twisting his head to copy another student’s script during the final exam of the course. The student simply did nothing in response after seeing perhaps a million stars twinkling in heaven! In another cheating incident, the lecturer tore the script into pieces before his very eyes in the closing minutes of an exam. Scripts were nothing more than a waste thrown into a garbage can. Surely, this student failed the course! “No copying, please!” the teacher warned.

Final Exam in Engineering Math

The above scenarios are common sight during final exams. Twisting the heads to almost 360 degrees with eyes dangling a mile just to see and copy the scripts of the classmates seems an eyesore inside the exam room. Sometimes invigilators of an exam talk in a stern voice but lose and raise tempers; hence slapping of faces has acted in.  Copying is more prevalent at the last minute of the exams such that teachers can be seen confiscating scripts and tore them into pieces.  “I am not surprised by this cheating. I have seen this for so many years. It is already in our culture and these strong punishments are messages to our students during final examinations”, quoted one native professor. So be it!

Eastern and western countries have different modes of disciplining college students’ misdeeds. Scripts are merely confiscated and advised the students to go out the classroom quietly. Some schools are stricter when it comes to examination time. In China, for instance, lecturers are allowed to slap students in the face and kick out of the class. But in most countries, physical harm is to be avoided or else you will end up in a court battle. Here, we can beat students with a stick, slap their faces, and kneel before you. And they will not bring you to a court!

African University Students

But in no way cheating is pleasing to the eyes of God and mankind. Copying one’s scripts during final examination is synonymous to cheating. Whether these disciplines are an extra mile or just a quite short with the red lines established in the student’s manual, this university is not lifting her hands in defeat. Whether one is cheating or copying scripts or corrupting millions of government funds, one is certain: in the last days, we will face God face to face and be judged according to our deeds.

 "I am coming soon, bringing with me the salary I will pay for each one according to his deeds”. Rev 22:12

Glory to God in the highest. So be it!

Where to Live After Retirement

By Vic Odarve

To find a great place to live after retirement is not an easy task. Environment, climate, and cost of living should be the top priority among the concerns. Environment includes its neighborhood, crime rates, and cultural diversity. Weather, too, considering the extremes, cold and hot, often affects old age health. Living cost, for many, must be sustained. The golden age years is a life altering event; hence a place to live in must provide a great sense of joy and happiness.

Playing with kids

The environment dictates the way on how you live. And it is just a matter of your choice. It could be from rural areas to a bustling city or in the land of your birth. It depends much on your way of life… spending time in sandy beaches to forested scenic beauty or to cities nightlife. Others want to sing hymns and praises in the name of the Lord; thus devoting more in the church activities. It is getting to the part of life where we can just enjoy after retirement.

After getting a good and sound environment, extreme weather conditions must be checked. The place must not be extremely hot or cold. Temperate weather throughout the year is usually the best. Typhoons, hurricane, tsunamis, and other related weather disturbances can be a threatening scenario among older age. Weather conditions must not affect any of your health problems. Excruciating pain from rheumatisms, muscles aches, and heart problems are largely aggravated by an extreme weather.

Relatives and friends are more precious than other resources

Whether you have enough savings or investments, the cost of living could not be taken for granted. Savings and investments sometimes go wrong. Bank closures and investment misfortunes are in the mess. Usually, living in great cities, cost of living is higher than nation’s average; but for those who can afford with the lifestyle, it may set up your mood. It also has all the required amenities and is pleasantly bustling city life. Try to locate one which is the most cost effective and safest cities in the country. Select a quiet, and peaceful cities where the crime rates are impressively low. Living in rural areas, however, are not expensive as in cities and it may help well to sustain your daily needs because you do not know how long you live. Some retirees may live 100 years or more—a centenarian— a rarity, but today it is common. Whatever you have money in banks or investment, it can be sustained further by choosing your lifestyle in retirement.

Davao city,Philippines-one of the top ten safest cities in the world

You ought not to spend your life at home alone in old age! Although money can give conveniences, there are happiness and enjoyments that make your retirement life worth living. Friends, relatives, family, and good health are far more important than your large savings or investment. If by God’s will you have enough resources, learn to share with others and it will transform your life. Being a grandparent, leaving your sons and daughters and their grown up kids successful makes you feel happier.

Indeed, to find a place where to spend the twilight years is a difficult task. Like Elijah on his journey to Mount Horeb, the angel of the Lord reminded him;

"Get up and eat, for the journey is too long for you." 1 Kings 19:7

Indeed, life is a journey, nothing less. A place to live in our twilight years must be prepared.

Easter Sunday With Father Edeh

By Vic Odarve

Like all other Christians across the world, Father Edeh celebrated Easter Sunday with Eucharistic mass and charitable works. As always in the past the homily reminded the faithful, that it is the resurrection that gives life and hope to every Christian believer.

Easter Sunday at Elele, Rivers State

Jesus resurrection, an event around 2000 years ago, gives hope to people around the world  to change for a better and challenging life. They also want to resurrect their lives from the deadly trap of the evil. Some Christians are living dead! Living in the midst of corruptions in our wicked world! They are the modern Pharisees; religious outside, but rotten inside. But Jesus says, "I am the resurrection; whoever believes in me, though he dies, shall live."- John 11:25. With this reminder, Christians rebirth and change for a better. Resurrection is one of the biblical events that shape human history.

Father Edeh distributed foods and drinks

Last Easter Sunday at the Catholic Prayer Ministry, Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria, Africa, an estimated 6000 people, young and old alike, flocked to celebrate the day with a religious man they fondly called Father Edeh by the Nigerian. After a Eucharistic mass, Father Edeh prepared, packed lunch and soft drinks and distributed to everyone who attended the celebration. Thus, all the people were filled with joy.

Father Edeh has done this activity every Easter Sunday celebration of the year.  Like Mother Theresa did in the streets of Mumbai and Calcutta, he lifts and kindles the hearts of our poor brothers and sisters in Nigeria, Africa and in the process strengthens their faiths in our Lord Jesus. It’s a wonderful job. He has done what our Lord has commanded to us. Jesus says” What you have done to the least of your brothers, you have done it unto me.”He has done it.

At the Eucharistic Mass

Father Edeh is the director and Father Founder of the Catholic Prayer Ministry of the Holy Spirit of the Eucharistic Adoration Elele, Nigeria. Like most famous religious leader, he celebrates Easter Sunday on charitable works.