SELECTED ESSAYS AND PARAGRAPHS

My first day at school

    So many years have passed but I still remember the excitement I experienced on the first day at school. I was four years old at that time and was being taught basic lesson at home. One night my mother told me that I had to go to school the next day and asked me to be ready. I was so much excited that I could not sleep well the whole night. In the morning my mother made me ready and I left the house for school with my father. As I reached the school, I was surprised to see so many children. Some of them were playing and some of them were busy talking and some were standing with their guardians.

   Then suddenly  the school bell rang. All the children walked to their respective classes. My father took me to my class teacher who asked me to sit in a chair in the classroom. The children sitting next to me asked my name. Then after some time the recess bell rang. I went  out of the classroom and went to the playground. I played with new friends.

   After some time the bell rang again and I walked into my classroom with my friend. My class teacher came and asked me to tell her my name. Then our class was suspended by our class  teacher. She asked me to come next day in uniform and with books and copies. We came out of the class. Outside the school my father and mother were waiting for me and with them I came back home.

INTERNET

        Can you imagine any such place where you can get every type of information at any time; can do shopping of your own choice; can find better people to marry with; can not only take admission in educational institutions sitting at home but can also attend classes and can also take

exam; can play different games and can exchange views on any topic with people sitting in any corner of the world by seeing them? Yes, there is a such place and that is Cyber Space or the Internet.

    Why is Internet called cyber space? Let us summarize it. The concept of cyber space was first of all used by science fiction writer William Gibbon in 1984 in his novel Neuromancer, a place where people can exchange views electronically.

    Internet was first of all started by American department of defence in 1960 so that in case of nuclear war if all the other means of communications are destroyed then this means of communication could be utilized. Till 1980 Internet was out of reach of general public, but in the beginning of 1980 the people started using it in a systematic way and it began to gain importance among the common people. According to the Internet demographic survey which was held in 1993-94 the number of the people using Internet was 30 million which has now in 2000 gone above 50 million.

   The most interesting thing about Internet is that it does not have any headquarter. There are no Office Bearers or President or Chairman on any level nor there is any Internet Corporation that controls it. So much so that there is even no government that controls it. Internet has in fact come out of Internet works that means the net work of net works. There are not only thousands but millions of net works which are connected with the Internet system. This will perhaps be a new information for the students of Computer Science that there are 13 hubs of Internet in the entire world. Out of these 13 hubs, 7 hubs are in America, 4 in Europe and 2 in Japan.

    There is not a single day when the software regarding the Internet does not expand its working circle. Internet is becoming stronger day by day and becoming a source of an effective information and quickest connection. Take E-mail for example. E-mail means electronic mail and  you can send a message to your relative in America through electronic mail at a very low cost. E-mail of one page can be sent to any part of the world in less than one rupee. There is such a site available on Internet that you can send your friend a poem in your voice on his or her birthday through E-mail. When he will see the E-mail he will see beautiful flowers twinkling on the screen and it will also have a sweet voice of happy birthday. Besides this you can also send voice mail to a friend that means that you can send your friend a small clip after recording it.

   Besides the E-mail the real purpose of Internet is to provide information. You can benefit from the Universities of America by sitting at home. You can read the books available there. It is also possible that you enter into the library of the White House and read the books available in the library. Besides this, there are web pages/ addresses available of various companies. These web pages provide introduction of these companies.

    There is also Internet Relay Chat . It is very interesting series. This means to talk face to face. It has different channels on which you can have (real time) talk, that means that you will type a sentence and the person(  living in  any part of the world thousand miles away ) is sitting on his computer in his house, will reply. For example, if you write, “How do you do?  He or she  will write in reply , “How do you do?” And in this way you can exchange views with each other.

   With the addition of multimedia on Internet you can not only talk to the person who is related with Internet in any part of the world but can also see him. There is another Internet software called Internet phone (I-Phone). You can see the list of the people connected with the I-Phone .  On clicking this software you shall dial the number. After a while in reply to your call you will be able to get your required number and you can talk to that person. In the I-Phone system, there is also a small video camera attached to the computer and you will be able to see the photograph of the person along with his voice to whom you are speaking. Now in the market their is a company which has introduced the internet through satellite dish, but that is very expensive.

POLLUTION

    Pollution is the term that refers to all the ways and means by which people pollute their environment. People are polluting the air with gases and smoke, poison the water with dangerous type of chemicals and other substances and damage the soil with too many fertilizers and pesticides. People also pollute their surroundings in various other ways. For example, they ruin natural beauty by scattering junk and litter on the land and in the water. They operate machines and motor vehicles that fill the air with disturbing noise. Nearly everyone causes pollution in some way.

  Pollution is one of the most serious problems facing humanity today. Polluted air can cause illness and even death. Polluted water kills fish and other marine life and pollution of soil reduce the amount of land available for growing food. Pollution also brings ugliness to our naturally beautiful world.

   Everyone wants to reduce pollution. But the pollution problem is as complicated as it is serious. It is complicated because much pollution is caused by things that benefit people. For example, exhaust from automobiles cause a large percentage of all air pollution. But the automobile provide transportation for millions of  people. Factories discharge much of the material that pollutes air and water but factories provide jobs for people. Too much fertilizers or pesticides can ruin soil, but fertilizers and pesticides are important aids to the growing of crops.

  Thus, to end or greatly reduce pollution immediately, people would have to stop using many things that benefit them. Most of the people do not want to do that of course. But pollution can be gradually reduced in several ways. Our scientists engineers and the people from all walks of life should sit together to find ways to lessen the amount of  pollution that such things as automobiles and factories cause. Government can pass and enforce laws which could help stop polluting activities. Millions of people have become alarmed by the dangers of pollution and a large number of people are now working to reduce pollution.

IMPORTANCE OF COMPUTER

          The present modern age is the age of science and technology. Science has given us so many gifts. We see dynamic changes in every walk of life. Man is travelling by aeroplanes which fly at the speed of hundred of miles per hours. With the help of telephone we can talk with friends and relatives sitting thousands of miles away from us. With the help of radio and television we can keep ourselves in touch with the political and social condition of the entire world. The most essential gift of science is Computer. It is the most important thing of the world today.

         Computer is an electronic machine which is being used in the banks for big calculations. Computers are also being used in schools and hospitals. In short, Computer is a very important invention of science and the students must learn Computer to make their lives a real success.

HELEN KELLER

     Helen Keller was born in 1880, in a little town in the United States of America. She was a normal child upto the age of two. But in 1882, i.e. when she was two years old, she fell seriously ill and became blind, deaf and dumb. When she was seven years old, her father appointed Miss Sullivan to teach and look after Helen. Miss Sullivan taught Helen to read and write. Then at the age of eight Helen was sent to a school for blind children. There, her teacher would put Helen’s fingers on her lips at the time to speaking. Helen felt the movement of her teacher’s lips and after doing many such exercises, Helen learnt to speak. She was taught at the school by making her read books with raised points instead of letters. She passed her all exams easily. She graduated from the Harvard University. She was very active throughout her life. She worked for the welfare of the blind, deaf and dumb people of the world. She also visited Pakistan in 1956 to help the blind and the deaf.

A visit to a historical place

    It is really a great pleasure and experience to visit a place of historical interest and look  at the historical remains  of the past. Our final exams were over and we made a programme to go to Moen-jo-Daro by train.

   One day before leaving for Moen-jo-Daro, we packed our luggage and got our seats reserved in the train.  Next day we got up early in the morning and after taking breakfast we hired a taxi and reached the railway  station. The train had arrived at the platform and was ready to leave.  We got into our compartment and sat on our seats. The train left at the appointed time. It passed through green fields and plains. It also stopped at many stations and we got down to take drinks and light refreshment.  We reached Moen-jo-Daro at 12 o’clock.

    We went around the place and  were very happy to see this historical place. It was a  well planned city .The houses were made of baked bricks. There were covered drains which ran beside the streets. These streets were also made of backed bricks. After eating lunch, we visited the museum of Moen-jo-Daro where we saw the statue of dancing girl, seals, jewellery, painted pots and other objects on exhibition and were very much impressed by the skill of the people of Moen-jo-Daro. In the evening we returned home by road.      

MY AIM IN LIFE

    No one can enjoy an aimless life. Aim makes our lives interesting. Without an aim our life is  dull and worthless.  Every one has an aim in his life. There are some people who want to become lawyers, some want to become doctors, some want to become an engineer, a pilot , an artist , a policeman, a businessman or  a politician etc. I also have an aim in my life. I want to become a teacher.

     I decided to become a teacher because education is one of the major problems of our country. Only twenty percent of our people are educated. Without education, no country can develop or make progress in any way. After completing my education, I shall join any school as a teacher and shall teach the children of my country. I shall love my students and treat them as my own sons and daughters. I shall do my duty honestly and never absent myself from school. I shall also keep on studying to be able to give my students fresh knowledge.  In my spare time I shall coach my students without charging any fee.

     I am hopeful to develop a sense to learning and teaching. I also hope to get love and respect in return from my students who will become good people, good Pakistanis, good teachers, good businessmen, good players, good officers in future.   

    I do not have any intention to be a big man or gain wealth for myself. I know  money is evil necessity. I need money only for my bare expenses. May the Almighty God be with me and help me to achieve my goal.

 MY LAST DAY IN SCHOOL

      A day of the month of February was my last day in the school. That day we attended our classes for the last time as the holidays preparatory to the final examination were to begin from the next day. I was happy and sad at the same time. I had worked hard during the previous ten years and I was sure of getting good marks in the coming examination. The thought that I would now go to the college made me happy and excited.

   So in this happy mode I want to the class room and sat down on my seat. Then the memory of my first day in the school, some ten years back took hold of my mind. I recollected my excitement and nervousness of that day. I had spent many happy years in this school. I had participated in many functions and had won prizes. I had enjoyed my stay in the school and had made new friends. I had developed great respect and love for some of my teachers.

   Now I am leaving this school. I felt a touch of grief. My eyes were slightly wet. I had forgotten that I was sitting in the classroom and our teacher was delivering his farewell speech. Suddenly the bell rang and I was roused from my thoughts. I stood up and walked slowly out of the room. Even the last day in the school had ended.

MY HOBBY

    Hobby is something which people like to do in their spare time. Some people play games, some people collect stamps or coins, some read books and some go for walk.

       I want to relax after working hard at my studies. I need some diversion which will restore my energy for the next day’s work. It is my hobby, gardening, that makes me forget my worries and gives me great happiness. It is an excellent hobby. It gives me physical exercise as well as great pleasure.

     Whenever  time I can spare from studies, I devote to cultivating beautiful flowers in the front lawn of my house. I have to do a lot of work with my own hands. I have to protect the plants from the extreme weather. I am very happy on the day when the first leaf begin to grow on the cutting. The joy my hobby gives me is permanent. Every day there are new flowers and new happiness.

BLESSINGS OF SCIENCE

     In the past, man’s life on earth was a hard struggle. He had to work hard to protect himself from sun, rain and storm. He had to fight against hunger, disease and death. In the course of time he discovered many things and invented many things and learned many things. Today the situation is quite different.

    Science has completely changed man’s life. His life had never been so comfortable as it is now and for this he has to thank the scientific knowledge.

   What science has done for man is a long story. We can only mention a few things discovered and invented by science. Man has made electricity which can move the small and big machines that do a million things for man. Radio, television, telephone, trains, ships and aeroplanes are all gifts of science. Most of the diseases that killed  people have almost been overcome.

   Now we have more comforts and leisure than we had in the past. The benefits of science have reached every man and it is true to say that science is a great blessing for man.

LIFE IN A BIG CITY

      A big city is a product of civilization. It has all the facilities and comforts that civilization can provide. The life in a city is very different from the village life. It is busy fast and restless. The people are always in a hurry. There are big shops, stores and super-markets that sell  everything, from a needle to a motor car.

      Today’s city is a clean and pleasant place. Medical facilities are available to the people in a city. People have better educational facilities. There are many schools, colleges and universities and technical institutions for the people. There are better and greater opportunities for employment as there are government offices private companies and factories in a city. A city also offer many kinds of recreation and amusement. The cultural literary and sports activities are carried on throughout the year.

     But the city life is not all comfort and blessing. Every city dweller is not a rich man. Money is important everywhere but in a city it becomes still more important. Most people are so busy that they have no time or sympathy for their neighbours.