英語寫作比賽English Writing Contest
- 主題：我的校園生活
- Topic: My Campus Life
- 得獎名單
- 1st Place
- 數位二 戴元揚
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The route between virtual and reality
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Paddling through the gate, I pass by the red-brick wall that marked by the scars of the past, warning us about what might come in the future. The frog statue, reminding those who left to come home, is situated alone in the shadow of the pine tree. What strikes me most is not the loneliness of the amphibian, but the intactness of the little bell tower. As l walk up to the multimedia class one staircase after another, I always wonder whether the bell will ring joyfully as if it’s Christmas or it’ll be as silence as the frog if l climb up the spiral of the tower.
The seemingly repetitive yet progressive staircases, like the helix of the virus and human cell, is my campus life, the endless cycle between home and class, the convoluted routes between the virtual world of the internet and reality, and most important, as an infp myers briggs type, the recursive loop between my mind and real world.
Since I’m introvert, socializing with others often makes me mentally exhausted. I always feel like I’m pretending to be another person, a more talkative high-spirited version of myself, when I’m interacting with others. I often recall the conversations between me and others, bombarding myself with the cringe of social awkwardness, uncomfortable silences and general faux pas. After taking the 16 personality test, I understood that I am mostly driven by my introverted feeling which oftentimes detached myself from reality. So being pulled by all the interactions with different people is going to make me lose my elasticity, and then I’ll have to spend a long time alone to recharge my mental energy.
Needless to say, in college there are more and more occasions that I have to work with others as a group to finish various projects. When I was a fledgling freshman, l just acquiesced and did whatever I had been told. Perhaps even the darkest cloud has a silver lining, during the pandemic stroke, I could only converse with other group members via online platforms, which saved me from embarrassment and caused me less anxiety. And more and more activities took place online instead. I was introduced into the virtual reality community.
As a student from the ILT department, many of the seniors are working on projects about augmented reality and virtual reality. They made various games in which players can visualize and interact with historical objects as if they were in ancient times. Those who have graduated even hosted their graduation ceremony in Minecraft. One of my teachers introduced “gather town”, a 2D virtual group meeting platform, in which one can create customized avatars and venues for activities. After dabbling in the 2D world, I decided to try 3D. This year I downloaded VR chat because people can now join the virtual world without the need of the expensive VR goggles such as oculus quest. Just download the desktop version and anyone can enjoy the ingenuity of avid creators. It's a cheaper, effective, and safer method for people to make progress socially.
In VR chat, I can become anything I want to be, like anime characters, anthropomorphic animals such as nick the fox, and robotic creatures, for instance, protogen, etc. That’s why people are more carefree in VR chat. I traveled from one world to another, meticulously designed by ardent members. Sometimes I chat with my classmates in “The Black Cat” where most newbies are. Students from the Ilt also can join the discord in which we ramble about various topics and memes. The avatar skin is like another kind of mask against the turmoil of the world, which is now in the morass of plague, the mist of pollution, on the brink of conflicts. In addition, the avatar is much similar to a guardian that protects me from my own awkwardness and fear. It’s less like walking on eggshells when I convey my thoughts in VR. As the myers briggs test result suggests, I started to walk out of my comfort zone, sort of. Instead of daydreaming about fictional explorations in my mind, I teleported into art galleries, survival games, and even movie theaters, etc. It broadened my horizon. I met people from different countries, gradually feeling less disoriented. The introverts covering less than 40 percent of the population are here, and within the 6.3 percent infps are here, too. The never ending oscillation between my mind and the real world shifted. I could hear the bell rings.
I stumbled upon a stunning fennec fox avatar which bared striking colorful chroma. After plucking up courage, I learned that he purchased the skin from an online vendor via which one can customize one’s own avatar. One can also get the public version of fennec fox skin, adding the chroma and designing the texture oneself. In this case, I don’t have to spend any dime. I started to learn more about VR avatar modeling. I took classes in the 3D modeling field. A friend of mine taught me about the 2D live program which he used to put the characters in mobile games he fond of on the website we built. Visitors can interact with the character when clicking on different places on the site. Combining virtual interactive object with the static webpage, I become a better front-end programmer. I planned on learning more about different aspects and programs around the avatar creating subject, and started with some tutorials online. It’s a huge setback for me. I tried to recreate the bell tower as a 3D model. Building the spiral staircase seems easy, but the problem is the details of the texture and the angles of each one. Rendering the shape and the texture of the bell is also time consuming. Light source and shadowing is the hardest part. The problem is there’s always a tinge of separation between the virtual and the reality. That’s why designers need to go to the places they want to render in real life and scan the objects. Thankfully, human technology is ever changing as the convoluted RNA of viruses, one day there might be a meta verse where we will be unable to tell the difference between what’s fake and what’s genuine. Asking how he renders his avatars so well, he introduced me to some websites like sketchfab, artists and their works which I could get references from, and programs to help me improve my skills. For now I just hope I’m capable of carving my avatar so I can express myself. And create a cornucopia of virtual objects with my friends.
A group of people even started a school in VR, which is called VictoryXR Academy. Many of the seniors in the ILT department are aimed toward the same direction. Some use AR and robots as the medium of teaching by games, others use motion capturing devices to tell stories through real-time animations, etc. Visiting the exhibition of the projects of the seniors on campus, I understood more about the fields I’m on. The gap between fantasy and authenticity narrowed, for both educator and student that are hindered by shyness.
Imagine going through the same red wall, by the same statue and the same bell tower, but this time it’s in one of the worlds in VR. The frog is more lifelike. And students are different characters from their own stories. Perhaps one day it will be our campus life, bridging the distance between home and campus, breaking the shell against the inner emotions and the obstacles in modern life. Starting from one object to another, aside from the classes in reality, I am trying to compile the staircases to the tone of my imagination by time-saving expeditions via VR to learn more about the latest technology and meetings with all walks of life, and that’s my campus life.
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Comment
1.
While reality and virtuality could be opposite concepts, they are weaved together through the autour's experiences of life and learning on campus, or more of a virtual campus towards the end of the essay. The author's approach to the campus life topic could be slightly unconventional, but the result is still on the mark, as the transition –– or " route" as the author calls it –– between the virtual and the real is arguably the most pressing issue nowadays, perhaps especially so for the younger generation.
2.
This a well-stuctured and coherent article. The author started this writhing with a lcear tpic sentence. The author describes how he/she overcomes stage firght and also provides his/her experience of teaching elementary school students as a supporting statement for the main idea of this article.
3.
The essay well presents the student's life in the campus. The thoughts are both original and well-expressed and are usually supported with good control of grammar and sufficient vocabulary.
- 2nd Place
- 經管三 許嘉芸
- My Campus Life—Overcome My Nightmare
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Everyone is scared of something at some point in their lives. For me, the formidable task was public speaking. The stage fright would control me as if the ivy crept over my mind, and then to top it all, most courses in the Department of Business Management required many oral presentations. The very thought of speaking in front of crowds would send a chill down my spine. My palms would sweat, my mind would go blank, and my stomach would be in knots. Not only would the fear strike me when I addressed large crowds, but it also took hold when I had to read aloud in class. So scared was I that I would freeze like a statue, shaking like a leaf, and stuttering throughout the whole speech. Every time I go downstage, I was bursting with self-blame and sighed with great regret. Thus, I had an inferiority complex. This inability thus cost me lots of opportunities to clearly express my ideas and demonstrate my skills
to others. I was frustrated in my freshman year of college.
When I was assigned to present the report on our team's behalf in class. I used to "but" every possibility. I kept telling myself, "I want to prove myself 'but' I'm afraid of messing up the report". "I want to break this frame 'but' fear will dominate me again. "I'm willing to try 'but' I don’t think I’ve fully prepared yet". When I got too concerned about the internal factors, I would lose in self-interrogating, which was like a mental black hole that many "buts" emerged and kept me from advancing. The heart was weak, even the briefed "but" could shake it. To break free from that, I should concentrate on self-talk. It was an intentional diversion to drive my attention from the things
that were draining me out.
Afterward, I found out that making a presentation is just like playing football. Coming from a striker's point of view, it's about being concentrated on the target and focusing on shooting posture instead of getting distracted by the goalkeeper. Once I step into the box, I have a few seconds to make that shoot. Therefore, I need to be absorbed in where I want to shoot the ball in the back of the net. If I'm still worried about the goalkeeper or feel not confident in myself for a moment or a second, then I'll miss out on the opportunity. Once I'm on the ball, the best scenario is that I've already turned myself towards the goal. It's the same with life. If I'm overly self-conscious, my thoughts may cause me to underperform as if the goalkeeper deliberately trying to bring me down. I tend to be preoccupied with my surroundings, my self-image, and what other people think. Therefore, I lose focus on the target itself. If I evaluate myself through other people’s eyes, then my ability will be crippled. Knowing where the barriers are, and seeing the opportunity is vital. However, having enough mental strength to stay aware but not dwelling on it and leading me astray my purpose is pivotal. It's something I have to learn throughout my lifetime. Just as the saying, if you are too conscious of other people, the environment, or the obstacles, your very own thoughts will hold you back from taking
action, so what would have worked out will fail.
I realized that the essential problem was a lack of confidence in myself. I was afraid that others might consider my ideas mundane or absurd even though I had never been told so. Therefore, one way to conquer what I feared was to silence my negative inner voice by reminding myself that I'd made full preparations and that I wasn't inferior to others. Another way was to frequently practice speaking in front of my friends and family members. Through obtaining their feedback could boost my confidence and improve my speaking skill. With the above-mentioned approaches, I finally overcame my fear and radiated calm confidence on stage. Now, I can reel off every single idea in my mind. The hardships I was undergoing would make me more sophisticated. It was dark, hard times that made me trained, realized, and learned the most. When I confronted frustration, I could exploit it as an opportunity to become a wiser person, rather than letting it corrode my life away. Although in the progress, I may leave a dent in my ego, doubt my capability, all of these negative emotions were indispensable elements to create who I am. Now, I not only enjoy the time on stage but seize every chance to express my opinion. I realize that enjoying it is the best way to confront
hardships lest I lose myself in downward spirals.
The most unforgettable experience I had about expressing, or presenting is the time when I taught elementary school students in a remote village of Taitung during the college summer vacation. I was accompanied by three college classmates of mine. We decided on the spur of the moment to help financially underprivileged children with their schoolwork. Before arriving at the destination, we were under the impression that we were well-prepared. However, we found out that it was difficult for us to strike a chord with children since they had no interest in academic learning. They were running everywhere as if their enthusiasm knows no bounds. Frustrated, we scratched our heads and try to hit upon something interesting to pique their attention. Eventually, a subtle plan was crystallizing inside us. We figured out a way of incorporating teaching materials into games by dividing them into groups and holding competitions. This plan successfully drew their attention, and our efforts paid off. We saw the beaming smiles on those children's faces with satisfaction. Although we were worn out that time, we were all
delighted and content with what we had accomplished.
After this experience, I learned that prevailing over the fear of sharing is only the first step. Then I had to think about whether the way I shared was proper to the audience. We should have thought about the level of these children's passion for learning instead of intuitively alleging that they would be intrigued by our hard-prepared teaching. Only when the audience completely absorbs the content I shared can it be regarded as a well-rounded presentation. However, it is this flawed experience that gave me some food for thought. I have it seared in my mind–after all, no one can be perfect at the first time. I believe that I will learn from this lesson and improve my
presentation.
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Comment
1.
In clear and vivid writing, the essay delineates the author's effort in overcoming her fear of public speaking, a haunting nightmare since the freshman year. From the initial hesitation, the author slowly progressed to confidence and achieved laudable results, through course activities and collaboration with classmates. The dedication to self-improvement is inspiring.
2.
This a coherent and cohensive article. The author starts the writing with a clear topic sentence which states that his/her campus life is one of a kind because he/she is a transfer students from another university. He/ She decribe his/ her campus life in chronological order.
3.
The essay addressed the topic with original thoughts. It generally shows good control of grammar and sufficient vocabulary. Some grammatical and mechanic problems are spotted and sometimes hinder comprehension.
- 3rd Place
- 國文一 張薰方
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A TALK IN STUDENT RESTAURANT
It was a typical tropical summer day, humid air and blazing sunshine, and my neck was oozing sweat, then sweat rolled down my bare back. Though I was in a halter top, all of my clothes were soaking wet. Starving and desperate for air conditioner, my friends and I decided to have lunch in school restaurant. We talked about everything during lunch time, just as normal freshmen in the university, but something different happened that crashed the peaceful moment into ashes. One of my friends that sited next to me said“ How were your high school life? Mine was bittersweet and unforgettable……” I didn’t mean to be absent-minded, but the dusty memory arouse and dominated my mind without notice.
When I was a senior in high school, I fell depressed owing to pressure from schoolwork. I was like a lonely ghost wandering in the human world, longing for a goal worth struggling but failed eventually. Meanwhile, I had tried my best but still having difficulty concentrating on class, so my academic performance worsen and I found myself trapped in a vicious circle. Overwhelmed, I was in need of a period of time to heal myself. I asked my mom if I could take a year of school or not. “ It’s up to you. ”She said with comfort smile on her face. Instead, I hesitated. It seemed as if I had been in the desert which stretched into the distance as far as the eye could see, and this decision was the only oasis could save me. I cupped my hand round the water then drank it up to satisfied my thirst, or I would die before long. However, I was afraid that it was a mirage that would trap me into difficult situation and claim my life in silence.
When I finally escaped from past nightmare, they havd already changed the subject from high school to dream occupation. I suddenly blurted out“Teacher. Of course. That is what I want to be in the future. ” My friends moved forward and look at me with curios eyes. I smiled“ The main reason why I yearn to become a teacher is the experience in high school which influenced me a lot……”
Even though I left school, the sense of self-loathing kept hovering over my mind. One day, my teacher called me and realized that my condition didn’t improve at all. She said“ Everyone leads different life, so you don’t have to take it to extremes. ” Not until she talked to me did I change my outlook entirely. I understood that all of us were born to be distinctive and the barriers is the essential to growth. From then on, “Disappointed” and “self-doubt” were losing their grip on my vocabulary; additionally, I started to enjoy learning, explored the mental comfort in literature, and passed entry examination to department of Chinese literature and language that I craved for.
Besides, I took part in a volunteer group to teach disadvantaged kids and learned a lot from them. It was another major factor that lead to the target of becoming a teacher. Children out there were fond of sharing their own life story that really amazed me and I remember that there were a sixth-grade boy told me about his hunting experience with his dad. He saw a bird staying on the twig, and it was solid black except for the delicate beak and the slim feet – they were scarlet though. Meanwhile, he couldn’t help being astonished by its imposing appearance and the breath-taking beauty. “It is called haipis, the legendary bird of Bunun, which saved our ancestors from the flood. ”His father said with pious eyes gazing on the bird. Although afraid of birds for no reason, I was deeply gripped throughout the ten minutes of the story. The collision of disparate culture altered my perspective and I found myself addicted to it.
“Dang! Dang! ” The bell ring reminded us it was time for class.“ That’s all. ” I made a hurried end of my story sharing, then my friends left for the class. They strode through the corridor lest be late while I shuffled down the trail to the dormitory. Suddenly, the feeling of emptiness stuffed my heart and left no space for me to breath. It occurred to me that I had to knit my own future and make it come true. Worried about the passing of time and the waste of youth, I made up my mind and set up a goal for the fear of muddling along. It is the inspiring episode that encourages me to engage in education. Just like what my teacher have done - give teenagers the direction to conquer the obstacle. I wish to be a lighthouse and illuminated the correct way. I believe that the determination will spur me on, enrich my campus life, and guide me to realize my dream — become a teacher.
Not to mention, college life is definitely appealing and full of lure for most of freshmen in university, so we have to stick to ourselves. In the sake of carrying out my target, proper time arrangement is critical and necessary. I will separate it into two aspects, learning and interest developing.
First of all, the accumulation of teaching skills is a direct access to know what students’ exactly lacking of and how to respond their needs properly. Apparently, professional Chinese lessons is never enough, so I plan to participate the speech which discuss education issue, volunteer to hold activities in rural elementary school during summer vacation, and apply for jobs as a tutor. It could not only obtain theory knowledge but gain actual experience to ready for any sudden occurrences.
Second, being more competitive is one of the most important part. Due to fewer vacancies in school, mastering foreign language is an advantage, especially the policy of bilingual education have been formulated. Helpfully, The Language Center, National University Of Tainan offers variety of course in foreign language in order to advance students’ ability and I intend to reach higher accomplishment in English and German by these lessons. Additionally, language is the key to the gate of knowledge. I used to have problem in English, but now I can turn what holds me back into something I can strive in.
Last but not least, beautiful life has a lot to do with the mental and physical health – after all, better body better life. Thus, I go to gym at least four times a week to keep my figure trim and release pressure from schoolwork. What’s more, I can develop friendship with others because we have same interest.
“Ding! ” My friends sent the message to ask me if I would have dinner with them or not. “Sure. I’ll see you guys in student restaurant. Bis später!”After meditated for the whole afternoon, I could feel the power filled my mind. Pleasant and energetic, I rushed out of the door. I couldn’t wait to see them and shared how I plan my campus life.
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Comment
1.
The essay appears to be snapshot –– a "talk" –– of the auther's campus life, but it engages a temporal span encompassing the author's past and future, in addition to the narrative present. Past memories are well juxtaposed with the campus life in the present, rendered smoothly in highly lyrical propose. These qualities make the author's self-reflection genuine and deeply affective. Finally, the setting is well-chosen,as the student restaurant is no doubt one of the centers of college life on campus. A well-rounded piece of writing indeed.
2.
This is a very creative article. The author uses the real and virtual world to describe his/her campus life. The author makes good use of various smilile and metaphor techniques.
3.
The essay addressed the topic with sound structure and creative thoughts. It generally shows good control of grammar and sufficient vocabulary. Some grammatical and mechanic problems are spotted and hinder comprehension a bit.