Water Gun Fight
This is a childhood story. I was walking through Toys’R'Us with a friend the other day and a rush of childhood memories held my mind hostage. It was a rather funny sight to see two teenagers walking through the isles of a childrens’ store. But just for the record, we went to buy Parcheesi, the game apparently played by the Royalty of India. It’s addictive and merciless, to say the least.
Anyway, I remembered a time when my mom would take me to this specific toy department store on the regular basis. Once, my friend was holding a water gun fight: me and him versus his twin brothers.
On Kids WB, a cartoon channel, they were playing a commercial advertisement that had a shield attached to the water gun. The way they portrayed this gun was so appealing that I didn’t even take a second look. I walked into the store, picked up “the chosen one,” and walked straight to the counter. (Well, I probably walked to the chocolate section first, then the counter…but you get my drift.)
The following day was our friendly battle. My water gun was no good, as the trigger was at an inconvenient location. So basically, I used my shield and had to cheat: aim for the eyes.
My friend and I ended up retreating, heads bent low. That was my first real experience with American consumerism. One of my more intellectual friends told me that these commercials don’t just sell products, but they sell a lifestyle. Whereas some may find that to be extreme, maybe it’s not all too far off. They market IDEAS, which people choose to accept, whether they realize it or not.
And on a lighter note, I shared this story with my old comrade just a couple days ago. He said at first it was intimidating to see that same gun which was being idolized on TV, but once the firing started, he realized I was very vulnerable. Good ol’ days, good ol’ memories. And many more to come, God willing!
It’s Just A Flier
I’ll be pursuing one of my passions: teaching! A local group asked muah if I’d like to serve as a volunteer tutor in the academic sector of their institution. It’ll be a little squeeze in my schedule, but anything to help others, God willing! By helping ourselves and others is how we worship the Lord and reap the good rewards/feeling of life.
Anyhoozle, to every new initiative is a marketing baggage, probably one of the more tedious tasks. They had asked me to design a flier, which I did within a couple days. Thereafter, they requested some changes so I visited them in order to implement their ideas in their presence. I was hoping this would speed up the process.
No sooner had I done that, I receive another email from them requesting I call them. I can’t handle design assignments via phone; it has to be in-person or via email. So I meet up with the coordinator again and he approves of my changes once again. Literally, in two days I receive another email from a different person now. I rather not my personal email circulate without my permission, but I let that slide. What itched me was the fact that they kept approving and disapproving.
It’s not that I mind performing the changes. It’s no sweat for me to change a .doc file, but I’m a firm believer in professionalism and etiquette. My whole point was to volunteer without any specific commitment. However, as an honest volunteer, I’m to come on time at my designated time slot and focus on the students’ homework. Outside of that, I have my own life and career to work towards.
There is just so much one can do for money or volunteer hours. You’ve got to have a sense of altruism in you if you want to be successful in life. At the same time, there is to be a balance between your selfless side and that which you do for yourself. When you hire a volunteer, you are to respect their time and effort, and expect nothing more than volunteer-quality. And on the volunteer’s side, it is his responsibility to be true to his word and dedicate what he commits with his maximum potential.
Principle of the Matter
When it comes to financial needs (or everything, pretty much – but the focus on this post is finance), I praise God constantly for giving me the ability to afford all the necessities of life and beyond. I can’t really say or remember my parents ever denying me a chocolate bar at the grocery or textbooks for school. As a matter of fact, my mom insisted on buying me my new Adidas Beckhams’ just two days ago.
However, it itches me when people don’t recognize or they simply expect certain things. For example, I’ll describe two of my friends as per an event that happened last night:
- We went out to dinner and my friend didn’t have enough cash on him. He had $3, half of what his meal would cost. So he handed me $3 and expected me to complete the rest of his payment. There was no “please” or “thank you.” Again, I don’t expect anything, and I try not to let these things bother me, as they should be performed with an open and good heart. However, everyone has pet peeves and I’m no different. (This wasn’t his first time, either.)
- There is another friend who is practically my neighbor. Every week I attend this distant youth group about 25 miles away from my home. Considering he’s my neighbor and we’re both striving to be better people, I take him with me. Despite the fact that he’s my neighbor, he insists on paying for his share of the gas. Last night he had $2 on him, which was more than his share, actually. But he felt it was little.
And to be quite frank, even if he had given me fifty cents, I would have been satisfied. Because to me, again, I praise God for providing me with that financial capability. However, it’s the principle of the matter that counts most to me. I don’t appreciate freeloaders, as it does sever friendships.
Or is this pet peeve just mine? Felt the same way?
Friendships | Be Mine
Friendship
By: Raakin Hossain
I’ve always moved from school to school and never really had an opportunity to bond with any individual like some people do. Especially as the holiday season creeps upon us at the global level, everyone shares their plans on having family and friendship reunions. It makes me wonder to what extent these relationships truly reach and what it means to be a friend and whether or not these relationships truly exist. For starters, I’m sure it’s more than just clicking that “Accept Friendship” button on Facebook. I asked a few friends and classmates their opinion on the matter.
“I do believe friends exists. Friends can help you when you are struggling with life stresses such as school or family. Furthermore, friends are there to prevent you (or at least try to) from making idiotic decisions that could potentially threaten your life. A friend is like an adviser, only that adviser cares about your personal well-being.”
- Trevor Mills, 15.
“A friend is a person someone can rely on. A person that when i need, will be there for you. A person who you can count on to help you through the bad and good times. Someone who wont let you down for materialistic things, who will put you above all else (besides family). a person to care for, and cares for you.”
- Michael Guerrero, 16.
Taken from the whiteboard in my bedroom using an iTouch
“It’s when you care for someone more than you should and you put up with their crap because being with them makes you happy. Everyone has crap. If you’re willing to put up with someone’s, that means you’re their friend.”
- Mustafa Mustafa, 18.
“People you will miss. People who you would be willing to sacrifice something for. It’s someone you can have lot of fun with buy will also listen intently when you need someone to talk to. And you can be truthful and tell them “your outfit is ugly today.” And it’s someone you can act naturally around and not feel like you don’t have to be something you’re not.”
- Gina Horiuci, 18.
“I believe they do exist. A friend is a kind of abstract concept. It’s someone you share a bond with, have shared life experiences with, someone who you would risk something for whether it be life and limb or something less.”
- Basil Huffman, 27.
In the common dictionary definition, we are able to classify all our acquaintances as “friends.” Any decent individual would make an attempt to assist you in “your time of need.” As fellow citizens, neighbors, or whatever relationship, we make sacrifices for each other, small or large.
However, people perceive friends to be something beyond that level. We have expectations from our friends, mainly that they’ll stand by our side no matter which Hitler-figure knocks on our door.
Sure, you can rely on a friend to hand you notes for a couple classes you missed. You can even ask to sleepover at their house a couple days, maybe even a few weeks, until you’re able to stand up on your own two feet. For the most part, a friend is someone whom you’ve broken the ice at an uncommon level.
As children, we’re able to form friendships much easier since we all have a common interest: nothing. Our voice begins to evolve and we also have abnormal growth spurts, our personal opinions begin to appear. The scope of our friendship criteria become narrower and narrower with age. Those childhood friends become either once-upon-a-time or just someone we slap on a “hey, wassup” every few months on their Facebook walls for memory’s sake.
Then the factors of time and personal interests appear. Friendships are based on individualistic needs, whether you admit it or not. Very rarely, if ever, will you find an altruistic person in its truest meaning. In reality, you can’t expect a friend to put you above their own spouse and children.
Most importantly, I believe in God and prayer. I also believe in secret benefactors, caring souls, generous individuals, and righteous people in general. We seek to attribute these characteristics in our own “friends.” But a friendship is meant to be mutual. To form a sincere relationship, both parties are required to make equal or similar sacrifices.
But then again, if you limit your expectations and take all necessary precautions, perhaps you can have friendships. Friends are like flowers. If you pick them, they’ll rot in due time. The beauty is meant to be appreciated at some distance.
What’s my opinion on friendship? I’m a neutral. If they exist, then I’m yet to find one.
Disclaimer: For some reason, I feel this topic is incomplete. There is so much to mention, but the post has already exceeded beyond the length wherein I feel reader will feel intimidated to enjoyably read. There’s matters which I left for another time. I’m yet to discuss the terms “best friend”, “true friend”, “facebook friend”, etc. Either way, I’d appreciate if you posted in a comment your own thoughts of what I’ve shared with you.
Growing Up // Transitions
Here’s something I wrote for iDeen Magazine. It has not been published yet, but I thought I’d give the blog readers a well-deserved preview. It’s been a while since I’ve updated this blog.
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Growing Pains // Transitions
By: Raakin Hossain
At dinner parties, my peers complained of the academic pressures. Across the hall, I observed the lights of my brother’s bedroom flickering on and off during the vigil hours of the night. Socially, I sensed a competitive tension. But inside, I brushed these occurrences off my shoulder as none of them ever pertained to me.
That is, until now.
Two nights ago, for the first time ever I noticed hands of the clock revolving mercilessly and my head was still delved within the hundreds of pages of my history textbook. It wasn’t like the thousand nights prior wherein I’d minimize my chat sessions whenever my parents would walk in only for me to expose my homework documents from 8th grade for proof of my ongoing “hard work.” It would remind you of that bumper sticker “hard working or hardly working.” No; this time it was honest-to-God studying.
We all have our own circumstances which create our individualized tests in life. As we grow up, we’re given the freedom of choice and decision-making, an independence devalued. In our early teenage years, this is what we rebel for. For once in my life, I’d like to pick my clothes for Picture Day. I’d like to swipe my mom’s credit card at the grocery store. I’d like to hold onto that steering wheel while my dad turns the corner.
No sooner had I imagined, those rebellions take into effect with the course of life. I’m now swiping my own card that bears my name and turning the wheel single-handed from the driver’s seat. Except, now it’s different. The passion has vanished and now these once-upon-a-time actions have become routine.
This is the inevitability of life. There is a reason why wisdom comes only through age: experience. If taken with a grain of salt, every bite at life has the possibility of tasting better than the last. Our eventual goal of biting into the fruits of heaven is not unattainable.
I’m sure each of us have been through the denial phase. For example, you console yourself at the start of every semester that you’ll turn a new leaf. You’ll sleep by nine or ten and wake up with a fresh eight hour sleep. You’ll complete assignments as it is given, rather than delaying it until the recess session before class. This is an excellent game plan until you’re cursed by the “I’ll-Do-It-Tomorrow” phase. This is the cycle of procrastination.
Seize the day before it carelessly slips through your fingers. Live life to its fullest. We’ve received an earful of these familiar phrases before by our parents, teachers, elders, and our genuine well-wishers. But what does it truly mean? Are we really capable of carrying out these seemingly impossible advices? The key to success lies in contentment. The man with two pennies can be happier than the man with two million.
As pessimistic as it may appear, materialism is a deception. I bought an iPad just last month, with utmost passion and excitement. No sooner had I bought it, rumors began flooding the internet that the second generation would be released in the near future. My heart sunk, as my mind was possessed by the newly updated satanic slate.
There is yet much to be grateful for. Our hearts and minds have become immune to the hardships faced just down the road from our residences. We probably shed more tears watching fictional films than when sincere affliction is being flashed by our eyes. Rather than community empowerment, we’ve stepped into a world of individualism. Every man fends for themselves, as if we reached our peaks by our own accord.
Whether we admit it or not, express it inside or outside, these are thoughts that strike us at one point or another. Funnily enough, however, I do look forward to the future responsibilities that may possibly lay ahead. There is virtue and benefits in the steps leading to the afterlife. If I live long enough, I’d like to experience and enjoy the marital and parental livelihood. I’d want my children to read these very same words and be able to relate to these universal feelings.
@ The Hookah Bar // Lesson #1
Well, I didn’t smoke. And God willing, I shall never smoke anything in my life.
But Lesson #1: You can’t trust anyone.
Forget about friends, but you can’t trust the bouncers. I may look like I’m 25. But looks are deceiving. We learned that in grade school. In truth, I’m 17 and cannot be permitted in a bar.
But that’s the business mind, so let’s say we excused that. That still doesn’t explain how two of my closest friends would encourage me going to a bar, fully aware of who I am and what I believe in.
They shouldn’t even be there themselves. Not behind their parents’ backs. Not against 18 years of being raised in such a religious environment.
About Me
I'm your Muslim-American-Born-Teenager, but I'm far from being average or typical. I consider myself adventurous, but not in the sense that I'll go hunting for tigers in the rainforests of India (isn't that where you find tigers?) or attempt bungee jumping off the Empire State Building. Rather, my definition for adventure is to challenge myself in spiritual betterment...as monkish or Mullah Hullah as that may sound. But it really is an interesting adventure in its own weirdly and bewitched way. >Read More...
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