By Zachary Tan || Photo Credits: Reading Rockets

“He had six small wheels, a short stumpy funnel, a short stumpy boiler, and a short stumpy dome,” the beginning of possibly the most iconic of its stories. When you hear those enchanting words, you know you’re in for a wild adventure. From a heroic escape from death to a weary old man given another chance to prove himself once again, the Railway Series has got it all. You may not have heard of this unsung hero of children’s stories, but you definitely know of the television series it spawned, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

Those innocuous stories of sentient locomotives and their hijinks have had immeasurable effects on my personality and myself as a whole to my benefit or, as my “friends” like to say, to my detriment. Those friends of mine can also attest to my englishero-ness, which I partly attribute to my fascination, maybe addiction, to the television series and books.

There are a multitude of reasons why I still come back to a children’s book series despite being in tenth grade, aside from me being a five-year-old reincarnated into a 15-year-old’s body, is the boundless respect the author, Reverend Wilbert Awdry, had for the series, characters, and greatest of all, the readers, like Little Timmy and I. The series treated the reader, whether they be adult or child, with a level of maturity, as Awdry empathized with the poor souls, in the guardians and parents, who would have to constantly read and reread the stories to their children and the conspicuously older man-child sitting next to them. In turn, this led to little old me learning crazy big new words like “indignity”, “deputation”, and “quay”, which I probably misused anyway.

Aside from my apparent unceasing barrage of grammar and spelling corrections, my friends tell me that there’s another reason why they are figments of my imagination, that being my “challenging” personality. There are many great moral lessons in the series, big and small. However, what I admire most about its lessons is their simplicity yet not being spelled out in large bold font. Children may be young and slightly dim, but they are absolutely not complete blockheads who are incapable of critical thinking. The slow-paced nature of the Railway Series’ stories also allows for complete comprehension of the stories, which is why it has always appealed to a younger demographic and those on the autistic spectrum. This all shows the love Awdry had for not only his stories but for the children reading his books as well, even if one or two may end up a schizophrenic nerd.

All this talk about an old children’s book series from World War II is all for me to say that books are for everyone. If even a self-avowed non-bookworm like me can find a series or two I like, anyone can. Oh, who am I kidding, it’s obvious that you should buy me the Complete Series this Christmas. Thanks!

by Ellyce Lim || Illustration by: Kyle Nase

THE NCE IS BACK! Right off the bat, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fact that you are applying to Philippine Science High School. Has this been your dream high school forever? Did you only apply because of your friends? Or are you perhaps taking it just to see if you could pass? No matter the case, I’m sure you’d want to ace this exam.

So to help you out, here are some tips and tricks from your future senior ates and kuyas that could make your NCE experience much less daunting.

Tips, Tricks, and To-do’s

1. What’s in your bag?

Trust me when I say you’ll want to prepare your bag beforehand. The last thing you need is to get to the testing center to find you forgot to pack an eraser, calculator, or worse— your lucky pen. In all seriousness, it may seem like a small thing to do, but it can help a lot knowing that you’re ready and set to go.

2. Food is life

One tip you’ll hear from almost every NCE taker is to bring snacks. Biscuits, chips, drinks, water, whatever you choose, ensure it is convenient and filling. Just like with learning, taking a test on an empty stomach is never a good idea. You’ll need all your focus to be on the paper, not your grumbling organ. I prefer smaller snacks and candies, but that can vary among people. Make sure to bring your favorites, but avoid messy food!

3. Sleep like a baby

Proper rest is super important for when you take the NCE. Your brain won’t be at its best if you lack an adequate amount of sleep. 8 hours at least. Trust me, you don’t want to be falling asleep while taking (speaking from experience).

4. Be comfortable

Preparing yourself for the test includes being as comfortable as possible. The test isn’t about looking good, so be sure to wear something decent but comfortable.

5. Time waits for no one

Always be aware of the time. Usually, the proctors will update you on how much time you have, but sometimes, they can forget to do that. Just to be safe, bring a watch since you can’t use your phone during the test, and remember to check it occasionally.

6. Don’t panic

It’s pretty obvious that you shouldn’t panic, but it’s worth reminding. If you feel like you don’t know the answer to a question, just move on to the next and go back to it later. If time is almost up and you have a lot of blanks left, guess! Try to finish the paper as much as possible, even if you have to resort to guessing. Statistically, you would still have a chance to get the right answer.

7. Gut Feel is so Real

I cannot count how often I’ve heard people say, “I shouldn’t have changed my answer” or “I should have trusted my gut” after taking a test. It’s good to rely on logic most of the time, but sometimes you just need to step back and let your instincts take the reins.

8. Imagination

This tip is for the abstract reasoning portion. Your imagination is a valuable asset! When you get questions that require viewing other perspectives, you can try to picture the object in front of you. Imagine that it is tangible. Spin it, twist it, and move it around so you can see what it would look like. I know you might look like a weirdo in the process, but trust me, it works.

9. Question Clues

Sometimes the questions in the test reference each other. You might be able to find the answers by simply reading other questions, so take note of the repetitions and reoccurring themes while you go through the test.

10. Stop Reviewing

I know this sounds ridiculous, but this is 100% serious. Stop reviewing the night before and the day of the test. You’ve done what you can and one day of extra reviewing cannot change that much. You need your mind to be as fresh and energized as possible. So, take the night off to prepare your things and just go to sleep, okay? You need and deserve the rest.

To sum it all up, Prepare early, be comfortable and calm, and be sure to be in your best condition before the test. Stop reviewing the night before and instead, use the time to prepare your things and get enough rest. During the test, trust your instincts, use your imagination, and be on the lookout for question clues. Finally, remember that you deserve this. Taking the test is already a huge achievement on its own. You can do this, future Isko. 

Good luck, and see you in Pisay!

by: Lianna Lopez || Illustration Credit: Ashkinaz Canonoy

Stack-by-stack, elementary school textbooks piled themselves on top of one another on the round table of the family dining room. Along with them was a collection of old and crumpled academic worksheets and eraser debris scattered all over. In the midst of it was a girl in thick-rimmed glasses absorbed in the confines of academic work. But this isn’t about her. It’s about the boy who slept just a room away from where she sat. It’s about his story and a visitor whose presence did wonders. A visitor whom we’ve all met at least once in our lives. 

Unlike that overachieving little girl drowned in the sea of academic life, this lad was stuck still and lost sitting on a boat in the midst of turbulent blue ocean waves. His tiny boat fits just him— no room for stacks of textbooks, used worksheets, thoughts of anything of the sort. It was a place devoid of any living human but himself. A place where he was alone, and his notions could go uncharted–where home was nowhere near. He was lost. Afraid? Maybe. However, on that Sunday noon, he was in a deep lonely slumber.

“Maupay nga udto,” the woman with a neat high bun greeted as she entered the house. The kid sat by the table looked at her curiously, slightly intimidated by the presence of a stranger in her home. She observed the visitor as she stood there with a warm smile on her face, one so warm and bright the gloomy weather did not feel as gloomy as it should have been. Shortly after, she fell into a conversation with the mother whose hands were damp and clammy as she led the woman who had introduced herself as the boy’s teacher and homeroom adviser to the room wherein the boy had himself barred in. She let herself inside.

She let herself sail across the dark, barren, and solitary waters the boy had remained afloat in for the past several days. He had spent the minutes and hours of the clock and the days of the calendar locked in this cataclysmic abyss, losing touch with the other world–refusing the hand of those who had tried reaching in. Yet, this woman, whose black and white-streaked hair, perseveringly and unrelentingly took in the extra time, work, and effort willingly on a Sunday noon to reach in for this helpless student. She could’ve used the day to spend time with her own family, but she was here. This spoke volumes.

He was a failing student. Left too much astray in the dark. Yet, this teacher had lost no hope in him. She had welcomed him, and had urged him back. And that says even more. 

She was his teacher: a second parent, a second mother. She was someone who had cared and understood enough to unwaveringly reach out to a student whose times had been difficult. Someone who would not so easily let her own student stray away and give up on quality education, on a future that awaits him. She is who a teacher is. She is who teachers are. 

They are not just educators in the classroom but also guardians willing to guide their students outside of it —whether these be about complex trigonometry and stoichiometry problems, or the heart-wrenching argument from last night’s dinner. They are the adults these children can turn to for advice, knowledge, and values essential to their growth as human beings. They are the grownups outside of their homes who can help mold a brighter future for these young individuals. 

As students, we have encountered these teachers. They, who’ve helped us as we’ve, at least once, strayed far too deep beyond the dark waters of this world. When we’ve found ourselves furthest in thunderous storms and desolate seas, they are the lighthouses that guide us in whipping through the challenges and sailing our way back to the right path in dreary times. 

When home is too far from reach, we see our beacons of light: we see our teachers— our life counselors, our academic instructors, our second parents, and everything more. 

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Editor’s Note:

We at the Science Net are more than grateful for our teachers who make EVC home. To our second parents, greatest confidants, and unsung heroes, your dedication and love are truly worthy of all recognition.

Thank you for imparting to us your superpowers, so that one day, we, too, could become the heroes in our own stories.

Happy Teacher’s Day!