There is always so much whoop-la before Christmas. Once December starts its all over on the streets. Roads are packed with traffic all day. Closer to Christmas it only gets worse. My family and I believe people get crazy at Christmas time. All of a sudden everyone is a dare devil on the streets, driving like they have nothing to live for and you don't either. *sigh* A few years ago my parents and I stopped exchanging Christmas gifts. I'm not sure if it was because my sister migrated, but somehow this gift-giving was phased out. I had no problem with it. I must say I am quite fortunate and thank God for my hardworking, loving parents. They always ensured I had all I needed and I am eternally grateful for that. So, the phasing out of gift-giving wasn't really a problem, because I didn't really need anything.

ME AND MY HAPPINESS Since prep school I have always had people come up to me and ask me why I'm always this happy.... So, when I really sit and think about it. I am always happy, or seemingly happy because as long as you have life, there is hope. As long as there is life the bad situations you are going through can change, the hardships can be easier, the barriers can be moved and the wall can be broken down. You might think it's pretty cliche`, but I believe this whole heartedly.

So, this blog was originally for politics related issues. Our say on whats happening in Jamaica, but all of this is too depressing.... so let's share some happy moments :)...raise a glass [well, maybe not so much a glass, since its school time] rather raise a hand, put on a smile and we'll share these moments. Before I mislead you, let's be real. Life is not all about happy moments, so there will be some somber ones too. But I assure you it won't be as depressing as the daily news. Cheers to a new beginning !

There has always been debate about the Grade Six Achievement Test, even before its inception in 1999. This test was seen as the deciding factor in determining where you went after primary education. In the final year of primary education, when the student is in grade 6, the GSAT is taken. Prior to the sitting of the examination students are told to make a list of choices of the high schools they would like to attend. In 2000 when I sat the GSAT there were only 3 choices, as opposed to the 4 or 5 choices they have now. The grades you received in the series of tests that made up the GSAT , were averaged and each high school you chose had a minimum entrance level average. Your average determined if you were placed in you 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice, it also determined if you were not placed (as was the case with one individual at my preparatory school).

I am someone who sometimes sits for minutes, hours even, just thinking about the world's state of affairs. Many times my thoughts exceed my vocabulary. However, these few points I am about to discuss have been on my mind for some time and indeed it is time to share them. Wherever we go, we are faced with the pssibility of violence and as such are "on edge" many times when we go out, or even when we visit other countries. Violence is no longer situated only in the ghetto, or under-privileged areas or only in Kingston anymore. Although it is a bad thing, yes and although we should not have to live like watch-dogs, it makes us more aware. Many things we once did we probably won't do anymore. The crime situation forces you to ever be alert and to learn to trust noone.

It seems that Jamaica has plunged even deeper into a destitute state of lawlessness. Two days into the new year thirteen people had already been murdered. We have statistics equivalent to a war in our country. We need to take a stand. It would appear the outside world that every ten steps a Jamaican takes without being shot or stabbed is a blessing from God . There are ways to stop crime, but no single person can do it.

I have been doing some reflecting rcently, while listening to a CD I found. The CD was Renaissance Culture Mix (I am unsure of the year, or if another CD like it has been released since), however it got me thinking about the state of the world. How much a little posititve music can do... The world is grossly unfair as we would all have found out already. The person who yearns for work is usually the person that is least likely to get it. The world is full of three types of people, the rich ones, who can get anything they desire, the ambitious ones that want to achieve much in life and the ones who are not ambitious and do not seek to "jump" at opportunities. Which ones of these persons do you want to be?