Lately, I met up with a group of ex-students and those updates about their lives really made me reflect deeply upon my role as an educator.
I had this one student in my class who unfortunately did not do so well in his first year of studies, despite it being his 2nd attempt. He is definitely a smart boy but just could not find the discipline and motivation to work hard. So upon getting his promotional examinations results, we talked about his future. I remember vividly that he told me his ambition was to become an architect since only a handful of the kids in my school actually had an ambition to talk about. However, I am always very skeptical when people tell me about their ambition. Your ambition is always an occupation that you conceptualise to be something that you would like to be in but that might not be what you will enjoy doing when you eventually be in that position. How many of us actually have hands-on experiences in the field that we hope to go into, until we actually sign up for it. Lol. I would never have imagined myself to fall in love with Economics, until I actually read it in the Polytechnic. Hence, before the age of 17, I would never have considered an Economist as an ambition.
Anyway, that student eventually switched to read Architecture in my alma mater and recently, he contacted me to inform me that he has graduated and has been offered a place at the university to further his training in Architecture. Honestly, I was very impressed and also happy for him that he eventually made it, though via a longer route. It was a very heartwarming session to hear him tell me about his life in the Polytechnic and his training in Architecture. That made me reflect and wonder how would things turn out if I had tried all means and ways to get him to stay on instead, 3 years ago?
In addition to him, I also caught up with 2 other students who used to be a big headache for me in class, always not doing their work, screwing up their tests and occasionally not turning up for lessons. One of them had this affinity with me, I would say, because I taught him before I left for NIE and also gave him some advices on changing his subject combination, to focus on subjects that he had an interest in and could excel in. Who knows when I eventually returned to the school, he was in my class and became my student! At a certain point in time, I got so frustrated with his lack of commitment in his academics that my patience with him ran really thin. I was the kind of educator who was firm in the classroom but friendly outside. However, I realise that I could no longer be friendly with him outside the classroom. Our relationship became very tense and authoritarian and that was the last thing that I had hope for. My vision of my relationships with all my students must be one that is socially equal. Fortunately, we ironed out the issues that I had with his attitude in class and towards the subject and he eventually did well for the subject!
Another boy was a famous sportsperson in the school and he is one smart boy who has strong survival skills. His interpersonal skills are also good but I never agree with his white lies or lies. As an educator, I am very particular about values education and integrity is always the number 1 value that I preach about. So I clamp down on him real hard about his lies and even had to speak to his parents about it. However, deep down in the bottom of my heart, I know that he will eventually survive when he steps into society and enter adulthood. Although he managed to earn a place in the university, he decided to take a gap year and pursue a career in financial planning since his comparative advantage has always been his persuasion skills and his looks.
All 3 of them had turned out very differently, but I am glad that they have all found their own foothold in life. I then start to think about, what exactly should education be about? There is a strong emphasis on academic results in our education system - teachers feel the pressure to deliver the quality grades, parents want their children to excel, and students compete to do well to get a place in the popular courses in university. I can proudly say that I place my students' interests as the priority - their emotional well-being and also the academic results because I believe that education is the way to change their lives and facilitate social mobility. So I ploughed really hard when I was teaching them, often staying beyond what my working hours prescribed just so everyone could get a little more attention and do well for their exams. Nevertheless, a part of me wanted to prove myself as an educator and the results speak for your ability, whether in others' eyes or based on my own expectations.
After seeing so many of my ex-students doing different things in their lives now that I start to question myself. Should I have judged my own contributions as an educator based on the academic results of my students? I guess lil sis is right. I met students who managed to make it in life even without stellar academic results hence I think I might have placed a little more emphasis on academic results. How about other students who are suffering from the consequences of doing so badly academically and are struggling in life now? I would then feel remorseful about not having helped them enough academically.
Life is always about finding the balance. These kids that I used to worry so much about, I guess I have been too hard on myself. They will find their foothold in life, somehow, someday, in a way that I least expect.
Showing posts with label MyOwnEvolution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MyOwnEvolution. Show all posts
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
Tuesday, 25 August 2015
31 things to say for a month - Day 30: Finally a closing chapter to teaching
Day 30: Finally a closing chapter.
I started writing this thread of '31 things to say for a month' about 2 years ago. I was supposed to complete it within a month but then I got so caught up with work and other commitments in life that I left it hanging by the thread. LOL.
A year ago, I left my first job after graduating from the university. When I left my job, I was feeling jaded and was glad that misery had finally ended. However, the job had so many connections to my life for the last 10 years that I could not entirely close this chapter of the book. I took on private tuition as a means to support myself while I did not have a full-time job. I continue to keep in contact with some of my ex-students and they were a constant reminder of the impact that my job could create. Eventually the H2 student whom I taught last year attained an 'A' grade during her 'A' levels and I was the most impressed and also assured. I am glad that I helped steer her to get a place in the university.
I continued with a little private tuition this year and I am glad I rediscover the joy in teaching once again. I enjoy sharing all these little exam tips with my students, helping them to improve on their content and question analysis skills, etc. The more important thing is, I feel happy when they tell me they like the subject more after having lessons with me. However, as I prepare to enter into the next phase of my life, I must really say goodbye to teaching Economics. I can officially close this chapter of my life journey.
I do not know if I will continue to teach when I return next year, but I highly doubt so unless I am really so broke that I need to earn a living via my old business. I love teaching and I think I excel in it because I am not just good with my content but I teach with passion and patience. When I was a student, I was fortunate to have met educators like Prof. Goh Say Song, Dr. Indranil, Dr. Liu Haoming, (I can even name their names) etc. whom I am indebted to for life for sharing so much of their wisdom and knowledge with me when I felt really lost as a freshie. Hence, I aspire to be an educator like them. I wouldn't say I am an A+ teacher but I did my best in the last 10 years, be it when I was teaching private tuition or when I eventually became a full-time teacher. However, I really want to move on to do other things in life now. Maybe some day when I am done with chasing after my dreams and realise that this profession is my one true love, I will return. Nevertheless, the future is filled with uncertainty.
All the students that have crossed paths with me, Thank You. You have indeed lighten up my life in one way or another, be it positively or negatively.
I started writing this thread of '31 things to say for a month' about 2 years ago. I was supposed to complete it within a month but then I got so caught up with work and other commitments in life that I left it hanging by the thread. LOL.
A year ago, I left my first job after graduating from the university. When I left my job, I was feeling jaded and was glad that misery had finally ended. However, the job had so many connections to my life for the last 10 years that I could not entirely close this chapter of the book. I took on private tuition as a means to support myself while I did not have a full-time job. I continue to keep in contact with some of my ex-students and they were a constant reminder of the impact that my job could create. Eventually the H2 student whom I taught last year attained an 'A' grade during her 'A' levels and I was the most impressed and also assured. I am glad that I helped steer her to get a place in the university.
I continued with a little private tuition this year and I am glad I rediscover the joy in teaching once again. I enjoy sharing all these little exam tips with my students, helping them to improve on their content and question analysis skills, etc. The more important thing is, I feel happy when they tell me they like the subject more after having lessons with me. However, as I prepare to enter into the next phase of my life, I must really say goodbye to teaching Economics. I can officially close this chapter of my life journey.
I do not know if I will continue to teach when I return next year, but I highly doubt so unless I am really so broke that I need to earn a living via my old business. I love teaching and I think I excel in it because I am not just good with my content but I teach with passion and patience. When I was a student, I was fortunate to have met educators like Prof. Goh Say Song, Dr. Indranil, Dr. Liu Haoming, (I can even name their names) etc. whom I am indebted to for life for sharing so much of their wisdom and knowledge with me when I felt really lost as a freshie. Hence, I aspire to be an educator like them. I wouldn't say I am an A+ teacher but I did my best in the last 10 years, be it when I was teaching private tuition or when I eventually became a full-time teacher. However, I really want to move on to do other things in life now. Maybe some day when I am done with chasing after my dreams and realise that this profession is my one true love, I will return. Nevertheless, the future is filled with uncertainty.
All the students that have crossed paths with me, Thank You. You have indeed lighten up my life in one way or another, be it positively or negatively.
Monday, 16 March 2015
What holds for the future of Singapore
In line with the SG50 celebrations this year, I decided to write something about Singapore. My past experiences as a tutor made me realised that the kids these days have so much in life that often, they take things for granted. My ex-colleagues and I always lament about how these kids that we deal with will eventually become part of the workforce yet they lack not just the resilience in life but also the hardworking mentality that effort breeds success. To many of them, success should be God-given and their sense of entitlement is something that I honestly cannot handle. When reality falls short of their expectations, they then go back to their parents to cry foul about the treatment that they receive in school and from society. I kinda disdain that even though I love the job of teaching and nurturing.
Recently, I read an article online about how our government in an attempt to satisfy the electorate, is trying very hard to increase the number of places in university so that more can fulfil their aspirations of attaining a degree and if possible a good one with good career prospects. Consequently, universities have to lower their admission criteria and adjust the difficulty level of the examinations because these brats simply CMI. Even with the bell curve, there are so many failures that they had to give free bonus points to everyone. Well, who to blame because these students are so used to tuition and spoon-feeding and when they get into university, they also expect likewise from their professors. They expect to ace exams without putting in the required effort but they had forgotten the fact that the results are on a bell-curve basis so if you are indeed smart or put in the effort, you will emerge at the top. However, if you just scrap through your exams all your life with that "last-minute hug the buddha leg" mentality, I am pretty sure your results in university will be mediocre. Eventually, these undeserving kids in university graduate and enter the workforce. They bring with them this sense of entitlement to their workplace and overlook the fact that school and society have been accommodating to their whims and fancies for the past 20-odd years. So, yes this is where our dear Singapore is heading towards after celebrating this Golden Jubilee 50!
I share the same sentiments as the author honestly. When I first started teaching, entrance to local universities was so much more difficult that I have several students who did not manage to make it to the local university. However, they are very positive people who happen to fumble during their examinations. Subsequently, because of the 2011 elections, I had several students whose results were much more worse off than the previous batches yet manage to get a place in the university. IMO, I really felt that some of them DO NOT deserve a place in the university. I will always remember this particular student who was extremely lazy and unmotivated throughout the 2 years. No sort of critical thinking in the work done and his command of the language was terrible! I do not know exactly what happened during the exams but he managed to get a place in one of the local university. I met him on the streets some time later and asked him about school. Guess what, oh still the same old last minute studying but scrap through with C's and D's in the university. Imagine this person eventually graduating and stepping into society? Not a bit of him has changed despite the lesson at A levels whereby he flung his exams in the entire JC2 and I had to call his parent umpteen times. SO so so not deserving of a place in the university honestly and eventually calling himself a GRADUATE! What a SHAME - MY THINKING OUT LOUD THOUGHTS. That said, I know that I am in no position to judge.
There is another case which left me in a dilemma but I agreed to help eventually. This student was not in my class but was in the CCA that I happened to be in charge of. The student was doing relatively well in his first year in the college but somehow results got worse in year 2. Having contact with this student through CCA and numerous school events, I find him a little too whiny and had this sense of entitlement which I really disdained. He was extremely rude to his parents when he spoke to them over the phone on an occasion when it was obviously HIS fault. He was always complaining about how lousy the school was, how he was ostracised by his teammates in the CCA and felt that he didn't belong to the team. On top of that, he felt neglected because the coach felt that he was not good to be in the first team and did not give him enough playing time. So one day he came to me and requested to quit the CCA. As teachers, we encourage our students to have a CCA as part of your portfolio so I encouraged him to stay even though my heart told me that I should let him go. We were not in need of players but I did not want him to feel that even I, the teacher-in-charge, did not want him to stay on in the team. Eventually, he stayed on.
When the results were released, he did not do that well and came to me and asked me to be his reference for university entrance. I told him that he cannot possibly use his CCA to try to get a place in the university because he had no achievements whatsoever in the CCA. He held no leadership position, was a substitute 80% of the time and honestly his attitude was poor! The only thing that I could possibly write about was his commitment to the team because his attendance for training was close to 100%. I was really in a dilemma. On one hand, because I had persuaded him to stay on in the team, I felt that I was kinda responsible for his results. Perhaps if he had quit the CCA, he would have more time to study and done much better for A's. On the other hand, I felt that his attitude was poor and I do not think that I should be held responsible for his results. By encouraging to stay on in the team, I had indirectly become responsible for his A level results because he could simply put the blame on his commitment in the CCA and me. So eventually, I agreed to be his reference. I do not know if he managed to get a place in the university ultimately and he did not tell me either. My personal take is that if he had been granted a place in the university because of the reference that I wrote him, he would never learn his lesson that you OUGHT to be responsible for your OWN actions and not point fingers at others all the time. However, this concerns his future and if I do not help him, I feel guilty myself.
These stories that I shared are just two of the many stories that many of us in the teaching profession face. We TRULY want to help these kids so we keep giving and giving. However, we seem to have overlooked that by giving endlessly, we have unknowingly become the ones responsible for their success and failure. These kids will never learn the importance of shouldering responsibility for their own actions and decisions in life. How then are they to face the harsh reality in their workplace? That said, one of my colleagues used to say this - Human beings are highly adaptable creatures. We may think that these kids will suffer when they go out to work with this "type" of attitude but somehow they will survive. Let's just hope for the best.
As much as we keep complaining about our government, I also think that they have a tough job. It is very easy for us to say that "Oh well they are so highly paid so they should be there to solve problems and get mocked by the people." No doubt some of our ministers really seems to be a little CMI but my interactions with the multiple PSC scholars in my career and while traveling tells me that these people who eventually become ministers have really got something up there in their brain. If they were to not be ministers, they can still earn buckets of money elsewhere in a MNCs. Yet some of them chose to serve and take on all these FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS that we are complaining about. That said, some of them really ought to do better la. It is always simpler to be a bystander and look at the effect a policy has on YOU - a single person but to consider the bigger picture and look at the effects it could possibly have on the entire 5.4 million people in Singapore, go with luck.
If you ask me what is the toughest job in this world, I can tell you without any doubts that it has got to be EDUCATION. As for policy making, you might be better off throwing a dice at times and let fate decide? hahaha!
Recently, I read an article online about how our government in an attempt to satisfy the electorate, is trying very hard to increase the number of places in university so that more can fulfil their aspirations of attaining a degree and if possible a good one with good career prospects. Consequently, universities have to lower their admission criteria and adjust the difficulty level of the examinations because these brats simply CMI. Even with the bell curve, there are so many failures that they had to give free bonus points to everyone. Well, who to blame because these students are so used to tuition and spoon-feeding and when they get into university, they also expect likewise from their professors. They expect to ace exams without putting in the required effort but they had forgotten the fact that the results are on a bell-curve basis so if you are indeed smart or put in the effort, you will emerge at the top. However, if you just scrap through your exams all your life with that "last-minute hug the buddha leg" mentality, I am pretty sure your results in university will be mediocre. Eventually, these undeserving kids in university graduate and enter the workforce. They bring with them this sense of entitlement to their workplace and overlook the fact that school and society have been accommodating to their whims and fancies for the past 20-odd years. So, yes this is where our dear Singapore is heading towards after celebrating this Golden Jubilee 50!
I share the same sentiments as the author honestly. When I first started teaching, entrance to local universities was so much more difficult that I have several students who did not manage to make it to the local university. However, they are very positive people who happen to fumble during their examinations. Subsequently, because of the 2011 elections, I had several students whose results were much more worse off than the previous batches yet manage to get a place in the university. IMO, I really felt that some of them DO NOT deserve a place in the university. I will always remember this particular student who was extremely lazy and unmotivated throughout the 2 years. No sort of critical thinking in the work done and his command of the language was terrible! I do not know exactly what happened during the exams but he managed to get a place in one of the local university. I met him on the streets some time later and asked him about school. Guess what, oh still the same old last minute studying but scrap through with C's and D's in the university. Imagine this person eventually graduating and stepping into society? Not a bit of him has changed despite the lesson at A levels whereby he flung his exams in the entire JC2 and I had to call his parent umpteen times. SO so so not deserving of a place in the university honestly and eventually calling himself a GRADUATE! What a SHAME - MY THINKING OUT LOUD THOUGHTS. That said, I know that I am in no position to judge.
There is another case which left me in a dilemma but I agreed to help eventually. This student was not in my class but was in the CCA that I happened to be in charge of. The student was doing relatively well in his first year in the college but somehow results got worse in year 2. Having contact with this student through CCA and numerous school events, I find him a little too whiny and had this sense of entitlement which I really disdained. He was extremely rude to his parents when he spoke to them over the phone on an occasion when it was obviously HIS fault. He was always complaining about how lousy the school was, how he was ostracised by his teammates in the CCA and felt that he didn't belong to the team. On top of that, he felt neglected because the coach felt that he was not good to be in the first team and did not give him enough playing time. So one day he came to me and requested to quit the CCA. As teachers, we encourage our students to have a CCA as part of your portfolio so I encouraged him to stay even though my heart told me that I should let him go. We were not in need of players but I did not want him to feel that even I, the teacher-in-charge, did not want him to stay on in the team. Eventually, he stayed on.
When the results were released, he did not do that well and came to me and asked me to be his reference for university entrance. I told him that he cannot possibly use his CCA to try to get a place in the university because he had no achievements whatsoever in the CCA. He held no leadership position, was a substitute 80% of the time and honestly his attitude was poor! The only thing that I could possibly write about was his commitment to the team because his attendance for training was close to 100%. I was really in a dilemma. On one hand, because I had persuaded him to stay on in the team, I felt that I was kinda responsible for his results. Perhaps if he had quit the CCA, he would have more time to study and done much better for A's. On the other hand, I felt that his attitude was poor and I do not think that I should be held responsible for his results. By encouraging to stay on in the team, I had indirectly become responsible for his A level results because he could simply put the blame on his commitment in the CCA and me. So eventually, I agreed to be his reference. I do not know if he managed to get a place in the university ultimately and he did not tell me either. My personal take is that if he had been granted a place in the university because of the reference that I wrote him, he would never learn his lesson that you OUGHT to be responsible for your OWN actions and not point fingers at others all the time. However, this concerns his future and if I do not help him, I feel guilty myself.
These stories that I shared are just two of the many stories that many of us in the teaching profession face. We TRULY want to help these kids so we keep giving and giving. However, we seem to have overlooked that by giving endlessly, we have unknowingly become the ones responsible for their success and failure. These kids will never learn the importance of shouldering responsibility for their own actions and decisions in life. How then are they to face the harsh reality in their workplace? That said, one of my colleagues used to say this - Human beings are highly adaptable creatures. We may think that these kids will suffer when they go out to work with this "type" of attitude but somehow they will survive. Let's just hope for the best.
As much as we keep complaining about our government, I also think that they have a tough job. It is very easy for us to say that "Oh well they are so highly paid so they should be there to solve problems and get mocked by the people." No doubt some of our ministers really seems to be a little CMI but my interactions with the multiple PSC scholars in my career and while traveling tells me that these people who eventually become ministers have really got something up there in their brain. If they were to not be ministers, they can still earn buckets of money elsewhere in a MNCs. Yet some of them chose to serve and take on all these FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS that we are complaining about. That said, some of them really ought to do better la. It is always simpler to be a bystander and look at the effect a policy has on YOU - a single person but to consider the bigger picture and look at the effects it could possibly have on the entire 5.4 million people in Singapore, go with luck.
If you ask me what is the toughest job in this world, I can tell you without any doubts that it has got to be EDUCATION. As for policy making, you might be better off throwing a dice at times and let fate decide? hahaha!
Thursday, 17 April 2014
31 things to say for a month - Day 25: Why I left teaching
Day 25: Why I was so upset with teaching
As I look back on the past 27 years of my life, I can proudly to say that I have very few regrets in my life. However, so many things have been happening lately and this has made me experienced one of the biggest regrets of my life. I know that the emotions are very overwhelming now which is why I feel so strongly about this and 10 years down the road, I would see myself as being silly and stupid to be writing about this.
About a year and a half ago, I made the biggest wrong decision in my life and that is to accept hockey as a CCA. I was doing so well and enjoying the quality time that I spent with my students in tennis. Last Apr, when I saw the little success that our team experienced, I was so excited and happy even though I know that they are still far from being the best. When I eventually moved over to Hockey, I told myself to commit fully to the CCA and pick up the sport as I go and even though I cannot provide any technical advices, I could show the emotional support and motivation sports players require. I started to watch hockey videos and learnt the technical aspects of the game. I spent time watching with them, organising friendlies, etc. just so that the students will not be shortchanged and get the required training time that they need. Of course, success does not come so easily and in the first year, I was still learning how to manage the many administrative aspects of things and also how to run the CCA smoothly.
Then soon came the new batch of J1s and I tried my best to develop them, be it the leaders or the rest of the members, taking time to talk to them and providing the best support that I can. I went to great lengths to try to recruit an experienced player and the team started to experience a little success in our friendlies last year, beating the likes of SA by a marginal score of 2-0 and also overwhelming AJ during the friendlies.
Despite having the option to change a coach at the end of the year, me being the sentimental me, decided to retain our current coach because I felt that he was just beginning to experience a little success with our girls and it would be unfair to change a coach suddenly.
Unfortunately, I was not able to keep this experienced player due to individual differences and also many associated problems outside of the game. So, she left. There was a stark contrast in the ability of the team to achieve greater success in the absence of this one player and it was a consensus that the coach and I had come to after many discussions. However, I never gave up hope. I looked out for experienced J1s that could join us to fill the void or complete the missing puzzle to the jigsaw. Eventually, we found a suitable candidate and I worked my ass off to try to convince her to join us and it was after much persuasion that she decided to give hockey a shot.
Then came that two fateful events which changed the dynamics of the team and the relationship between them and me soured. A group of girls spending time in the changing room, probably fooling around or whatever it is, I do not know instead of thinking about the important game that they are going to have. I went over and started to question them about what they were doing and of course, gave them a piece of my mind. My ideology of a sportsperson is someone who is disciplined and has a sense of urgency, visualises what awaits them before an important game. Maybe I had too high expectations so this scolding session earned me a "I hereby declare you the worst teacher ever" honour. Not knowing that I had lost my worth as a TIC, I foolishly proclaimed them as one of my few remaining joys in school.
I did my duties diligently, taking over other teachers duties just so I could better manage the rest of the players' emotions and made sure that they had something to do while the coach focused on training his precious players. I cared, I cared for every single player whether they were in the first team or not.
Despite having to study for my own exams, I agreed to bring them on an overseas trip to Malaysia and burn my March holidays just so they could have wonderful memories about the CCA and their teammates to bring home with when they eventually stopped training. I never complain about the administrative work and the added responsibility and risk that I had to take up because my belief as a teacher is that I would never shortchanged my students for anything. While we were in Malaysia, I was always feeling frustrated over the things that they did and the way that they played. As much as I was unhappy with the way they behaved, I still care about their well-being such as "Did they have sufficient time to study?" "Did they have enough sleep?" etc and I often reflect upon myself as well. "Did I expect too much out of these 17 and 18 year olds?" "Was I too harsh?" etc etc. Then, I came to the conclusion that the only way for me to not be disappointed and frustrated with them is that I have to not have any expectations and completely detach myself from their results or gameplay. So I stopped commenting on how they should play, what they should improve on, etc. because they weren't ready to listen to me anyway. For all the things that I did, I do not expect anything in return because I know that I am just doing my job and I am the sort that will always put in my 100% in any responsibility that people give to me. At the end of the trip, I saw how the volleyballers thank their coach and also their TIC and found it so heartwarming. When it was the hockey girls' turn, they never forgot to thank their coach but where was I in the picture? Not a single word of thanks or appreciation but I thought perhaps I simply walked away too soon and too often that they did not think that they had to thank me. I did feel a little upset that I had failed so badly in terms of inculcating the most basic value in life - a sense of appreciation in my students. But it did not take long for me to realise that it was not that they had no sense of appreciation towards what I had done for them but that they did not find me to be a person to thank in the first place.
A week later, a fateful event further damage the already torn relationship between my students and I. A misfortune and a colleague's comment to check out their social networking profiles made me realised that to them, I was a "supportive teacher who provided them 0 motivation to work hard for" because of yet another scolding. It is not about paying out of my own pocket and telling them so that they could understand how much I have done for them but that the fact that I will pay out of my own pocket to provide them these things show that I deemed them to be important for them to be equipped with. I do not need to elaborate on how traumatised and guilty I feel myself when such a misfortune happened and that it happened when the student was under my charge. A lifetime of disability for a stupid game is simply not worth it.
But I knew that I had to be calm and professional and provided the much needed support to the entire team and that from that point forward, the team has to work not for their own glory but also to fight for that one member. But that comment about me really hurt me badly. After all the effort and time that I committed, that was the impression that they have of me. That was when I felt so dejected and gave up trying completely. I could have withdrawn them from the competition but I did not because I felt that they would want to play so badly. I went to settle all other administrative tasks, go all the way to Peninsula shopping centre to buy the competition socks for them because I did not want them to waste their money and time when they should be focusing on their studies.
Yesterday, the same old drama unfolded as per every friendly and competition game. The coach ran into the pitch and tried to "question" the umpires over a decision and I had to run in to stop him just so the team would not be disqualified. After the game, I spoke to the coach and apparently, he could not see things from the professional perspective. Sometimes, I really feel like telling him, "Shame on you for behaving like that because you were once a National Hockey player" but I did not. I show him full respect for what he has achieved over the years, all the fame and glory that he enjoyed in his younger days and that he truly cares for the girls. When he cannot understand my reasoning, I had to be even more firm about what is right and wrong and tell him not to blame the referees for a game that we could have won yet drew. If there was anything that we could have done better, it was about improving on our players' fitness and gameplay. The girls probably heard that or he could have told them subsequently about what I said, it does not matter anymore and once again, I was the convicted one. I was deemed to have "crossed the line" because I did not have the right to talk to "their" coach in that manner. "The team can succeed on their own and that they only need each other and their dear coach's support."
After reading it, I felt so insulted and that is when I know that this has got to be the biggest regret in my life thus far. To continue trying while trying to manage my own emotions only to get all the insults and criticisms from people whom I once supported so much, sacrificed so much for and deemed to have taught me a lot of lessons even though they are so much younger than me. I am very angry and upset at myself for being such a fool to let myself be affected by their comments, all because I once truly cared for these people. I do not even need them to show any appreciation for whatever that I have done, just to understand that I did everything I could to provide them with the best activities one can have in a CCA and also to protect them. But crap, with each passing day, I still have not found rock bottom yet. I am a fool, I must be a fool.
No one will really tell them the cold hard truth that without me and my fellow teachers' support to be there for games, etc. the team would not have existed. We do not even want to claim credit for any of these things but just a little sense of appreciation or a word of thanks for what we have done or at the bare minimum, we definitely do not deserve such criticisms. In all my years of teaching, I have never felt so upset before, not even when a student commented that I was not helpful or when I fell out with one of my best students ever. At least, he eventually come to realise that I truly care for his well-being and wanted him to do well just so he could secure a good future.
Now that I have narrated the story, I feel so much better and I realise that I just needed an avenue to vent my frustrations. Just because I am an adult and I have to manage my emotions way better than kids meant that I had to be tough in front of everyone else and act nonchalant. If I were to speak of this incident, I am very sure I will eventually breakdown and become inconsolable because I would not be able to stop my tears from flowing. After all, I have embarrassed myself too much the week after that fateful event and I hate to let others see the weaker side of me.
Yes, the worst will be over soon. I just have to hang in there for the next 1 month. Teaching, a satisfying career? I guess I will never get to experience the satisfaction that I ought to ever again.
As I look back on the past 27 years of my life, I can proudly to say that I have very few regrets in my life. However, so many things have been happening lately and this has made me experienced one of the biggest regrets of my life. I know that the emotions are very overwhelming now which is why I feel so strongly about this and 10 years down the road, I would see myself as being silly and stupid to be writing about this.
About a year and a half ago, I made the biggest wrong decision in my life and that is to accept hockey as a CCA. I was doing so well and enjoying the quality time that I spent with my students in tennis. Last Apr, when I saw the little success that our team experienced, I was so excited and happy even though I know that they are still far from being the best. When I eventually moved over to Hockey, I told myself to commit fully to the CCA and pick up the sport as I go and even though I cannot provide any technical advices, I could show the emotional support and motivation sports players require. I started to watch hockey videos and learnt the technical aspects of the game. I spent time watching with them, organising friendlies, etc. just so that the students will not be shortchanged and get the required training time that they need. Of course, success does not come so easily and in the first year, I was still learning how to manage the many administrative aspects of things and also how to run the CCA smoothly.
Then soon came the new batch of J1s and I tried my best to develop them, be it the leaders or the rest of the members, taking time to talk to them and providing the best support that I can. I went to great lengths to try to recruit an experienced player and the team started to experience a little success in our friendlies last year, beating the likes of SA by a marginal score of 2-0 and also overwhelming AJ during the friendlies.
Despite having the option to change a coach at the end of the year, me being the sentimental me, decided to retain our current coach because I felt that he was just beginning to experience a little success with our girls and it would be unfair to change a coach suddenly.
Unfortunately, I was not able to keep this experienced player due to individual differences and also many associated problems outside of the game. So, she left. There was a stark contrast in the ability of the team to achieve greater success in the absence of this one player and it was a consensus that the coach and I had come to after many discussions. However, I never gave up hope. I looked out for experienced J1s that could join us to fill the void or complete the missing puzzle to the jigsaw. Eventually, we found a suitable candidate and I worked my ass off to try to convince her to join us and it was after much persuasion that she decided to give hockey a shot.
Then came that two fateful events which changed the dynamics of the team and the relationship between them and me soured. A group of girls spending time in the changing room, probably fooling around or whatever it is, I do not know instead of thinking about the important game that they are going to have. I went over and started to question them about what they were doing and of course, gave them a piece of my mind. My ideology of a sportsperson is someone who is disciplined and has a sense of urgency, visualises what awaits them before an important game. Maybe I had too high expectations so this scolding session earned me a "I hereby declare you the worst teacher ever" honour. Not knowing that I had lost my worth as a TIC, I foolishly proclaimed them as one of my few remaining joys in school.
I did my duties diligently, taking over other teachers duties just so I could better manage the rest of the players' emotions and made sure that they had something to do while the coach focused on training his precious players. I cared, I cared for every single player whether they were in the first team or not.
Despite having to study for my own exams, I agreed to bring them on an overseas trip to Malaysia and burn my March holidays just so they could have wonderful memories about the CCA and their teammates to bring home with when they eventually stopped training. I never complain about the administrative work and the added responsibility and risk that I had to take up because my belief as a teacher is that I would never shortchanged my students for anything. While we were in Malaysia, I was always feeling frustrated over the things that they did and the way that they played. As much as I was unhappy with the way they behaved, I still care about their well-being such as "Did they have sufficient time to study?" "Did they have enough sleep?" etc and I often reflect upon myself as well. "Did I expect too much out of these 17 and 18 year olds?" "Was I too harsh?" etc etc. Then, I came to the conclusion that the only way for me to not be disappointed and frustrated with them is that I have to not have any expectations and completely detach myself from their results or gameplay. So I stopped commenting on how they should play, what they should improve on, etc. because they weren't ready to listen to me anyway. For all the things that I did, I do not expect anything in return because I know that I am just doing my job and I am the sort that will always put in my 100% in any responsibility that people give to me. At the end of the trip, I saw how the volleyballers thank their coach and also their TIC and found it so heartwarming. When it was the hockey girls' turn, they never forgot to thank their coach but where was I in the picture? Not a single word of thanks or appreciation but I thought perhaps I simply walked away too soon and too often that they did not think that they had to thank me. I did feel a little upset that I had failed so badly in terms of inculcating the most basic value in life - a sense of appreciation in my students. But it did not take long for me to realise that it was not that they had no sense of appreciation towards what I had done for them but that they did not find me to be a person to thank in the first place.
A week later, a fateful event further damage the already torn relationship between my students and I. A misfortune and a colleague's comment to check out their social networking profiles made me realised that to them, I was a "supportive teacher who provided them 0 motivation to work hard for" because of yet another scolding. It is not about paying out of my own pocket and telling them so that they could understand how much I have done for them but that the fact that I will pay out of my own pocket to provide them these things show that I deemed them to be important for them to be equipped with. I do not need to elaborate on how traumatised and guilty I feel myself when such a misfortune happened and that it happened when the student was under my charge. A lifetime of disability for a stupid game is simply not worth it.
But I knew that I had to be calm and professional and provided the much needed support to the entire team and that from that point forward, the team has to work not for their own glory but also to fight for that one member. But that comment about me really hurt me badly. After all the effort and time that I committed, that was the impression that they have of me. That was when I felt so dejected and gave up trying completely. I could have withdrawn them from the competition but I did not because I felt that they would want to play so badly. I went to settle all other administrative tasks, go all the way to Peninsula shopping centre to buy the competition socks for them because I did not want them to waste their money and time when they should be focusing on their studies.
Yesterday, the same old drama unfolded as per every friendly and competition game. The coach ran into the pitch and tried to "question" the umpires over a decision and I had to run in to stop him just so the team would not be disqualified. After the game, I spoke to the coach and apparently, he could not see things from the professional perspective. Sometimes, I really feel like telling him, "Shame on you for behaving like that because you were once a National Hockey player" but I did not. I show him full respect for what he has achieved over the years, all the fame and glory that he enjoyed in his younger days and that he truly cares for the girls. When he cannot understand my reasoning, I had to be even more firm about what is right and wrong and tell him not to blame the referees for a game that we could have won yet drew. If there was anything that we could have done better, it was about improving on our players' fitness and gameplay. The girls probably heard that or he could have told them subsequently about what I said, it does not matter anymore and once again, I was the convicted one. I was deemed to have "crossed the line" because I did not have the right to talk to "their" coach in that manner. "The team can succeed on their own and that they only need each other and their dear coach's support."
After reading it, I felt so insulted and that is when I know that this has got to be the biggest regret in my life thus far. To continue trying while trying to manage my own emotions only to get all the insults and criticisms from people whom I once supported so much, sacrificed so much for and deemed to have taught me a lot of lessons even though they are so much younger than me. I am very angry and upset at myself for being such a fool to let myself be affected by their comments, all because I once truly cared for these people. I do not even need them to show any appreciation for whatever that I have done, just to understand that I did everything I could to provide them with the best activities one can have in a CCA and also to protect them. But crap, with each passing day, I still have not found rock bottom yet. I am a fool, I must be a fool.
No one will really tell them the cold hard truth that without me and my fellow teachers' support to be there for games, etc. the team would not have existed. We do not even want to claim credit for any of these things but just a little sense of appreciation or a word of thanks for what we have done or at the bare minimum, we definitely do not deserve such criticisms. In all my years of teaching, I have never felt so upset before, not even when a student commented that I was not helpful or when I fell out with one of my best students ever. At least, he eventually come to realise that I truly care for his well-being and wanted him to do well just so he could secure a good future.
Now that I have narrated the story, I feel so much better and I realise that I just needed an avenue to vent my frustrations. Just because I am an adult and I have to manage my emotions way better than kids meant that I had to be tough in front of everyone else and act nonchalant. If I were to speak of this incident, I am very sure I will eventually breakdown and become inconsolable because I would not be able to stop my tears from flowing. After all, I have embarrassed myself too much the week after that fateful event and I hate to let others see the weaker side of me.
Yes, the worst will be over soon. I just have to hang in there for the next 1 month. Teaching, a satisfying career? I guess I will never get to experience the satisfaction that I ought to ever again.
Friday, 1 March 2013
My 2013 so far and results day
Oh well, after that last blog post about changing my lifestyle for 2013, I am really pleased with myself for taking the first step out towards my next phase of life. Yes, less NUA-ing, more disciplined when it comes to planning for the future, etc.
In another 12 hours time, I will be seeing the fruits of my labour for the last 3 years. From the very first day I entered the classroom, I guess this is the moment that I have been preparing for! I had sent text messages to several of the people whom I will be seeing tomorrow and as the clock ticks, I feel my emotions getting more and more out of control. The last time I had to undergo such emotions was 3 years ago when I checked my final semester's results in Japan! This time round, it is not my own academic results that I am checking but it is indirectly a reflection of my ability, hardwork, aptitude, pride, whatever you call it. But most importantly, a lot more is at stake and that is the future of the people who had trusted me in the last 3 years.
We worked and worked to go through the 2 years to see them going for the exam 3 months ago and now, they had been judged and the outcome of this judgment is just hours away. Most of my students worked really hard and I honestly think they deserve a good grade but I cannot judge this time round if they will be duly rewarded.
I have never sat for this exam before but I know that unlike 'O' levels, it is not one that you will get to see only happy and relieved faces. Some will cry inevitably, some will be beyond consolation, some put on a masked happy and smiling face. Whatever the expression, no one knows exactly how their emotions will battle within themselves when they see their results. All that I can do or have been doing all these whiles is nothing but pray.
I told an ex-student that if you put in the effort, you will be duly rewarded. You might not shine but you will definitely not fumble. God will watch over you. I am no Christian, no Catholic, no Buddha or whatever. I always believe that when you trust that there is a greater power out there that is beyond control, you feel assured, more assured. Nevertheless, who am I to say that when I had not been let down academically for the last 10 years or so? Can I truly empathise with the situation? What I had gone through 14 years ago is vaguely present in my memory though I will never forget the disappointment on other people's faces.
In another 12 hours time, I will be seeing the fruits of my labour for the last 3 years. From the very first day I entered the classroom, I guess this is the moment that I have been preparing for! I had sent text messages to several of the people whom I will be seeing tomorrow and as the clock ticks, I feel my emotions getting more and more out of control. The last time I had to undergo such emotions was 3 years ago when I checked my final semester's results in Japan! This time round, it is not my own academic results that I am checking but it is indirectly a reflection of my ability, hardwork, aptitude, pride, whatever you call it. But most importantly, a lot more is at stake and that is the future of the people who had trusted me in the last 3 years.
We worked and worked to go through the 2 years to see them going for the exam 3 months ago and now, they had been judged and the outcome of this judgment is just hours away. Most of my students worked really hard and I honestly think they deserve a good grade but I cannot judge this time round if they will be duly rewarded.
I have never sat for this exam before but I know that unlike 'O' levels, it is not one that you will get to see only happy and relieved faces. Some will cry inevitably, some will be beyond consolation, some put on a masked happy and smiling face. Whatever the expression, no one knows exactly how their emotions will battle within themselves when they see their results. All that I can do or have been doing all these whiles is nothing but pray.
I told an ex-student that if you put in the effort, you will be duly rewarded. You might not shine but you will definitely not fumble. God will watch over you. I am no Christian, no Catholic, no Buddha or whatever. I always believe that when you trust that there is a greater power out there that is beyond control, you feel assured, more assured. Nevertheless, who am I to say that when I had not been let down academically for the last 10 years or so? Can I truly empathise with the situation? What I had gone through 14 years ago is vaguely present in my memory though I will never forget the disappointment on other people's faces.
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Click!
Yes, all I need is a click tomorrow at 1 pm to know how I do for my exams? To my surprise, I am actually quite excited about it yet there's a little element of fear. lol! Such contradicting emotions.
Remember years ago, Omma & I went to watch CLICK and we both had a really good laugh inside the theatre! Sometimes I missed those days when Omma, Jan and I would create something out of nothing. It was just crap and non-sensical stuff yet everything was so vivid even till today. :))
Like stories?
I have two friends who love to play tennis, Linky & Sarapova. They have a tennis coach who is short and rotund. The coach was once upset because Sarapova stood him up. Short coach subsequently complained to Linken. He also tried to bribe Linken by offering him free balls picked up by a Bla** guy. Incorrigible, indeed.
One day, Shawny, Linky & Sarapova went to a seminar. They were very concerned about punctuality. However, despite reaching the MRT at 9, they proceeded to purchase drinks @ Starbucks - the Christmas drinks which Linky violently recommended. Ok, not so violent. They also missed the opportunity to cross the road due to the taking place of a very intelligent and engaging conversation. They reached the place like 30 minutes late. Very conscientious students and teachers to be, indeed M** would be so proud of them. haha.
Just 2 stories out of a bunch of our interesting public policy seminar. :))
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Public Policy
After two full days of public policy seminar, apparently my brain is stuck with nothing but the government, impeding public issues, conflicting interests of the public and the leaders etc. By nightfall, when I switched on the TV hoping hoping to relax, a simple videoclip of two artistes tying the knots triggered my thoughts yet again.
Impeding Issue-Low Marriage Rates cum Low Birth Rates!
On the TV, I witnessed the joy, happiness and warmth elicited by two beings who are insanely in love with each other. Perhaps their status play a role in the extent that they treasure their relationship. They have to be secretive about their relationship until they took their relationship several steps beyond that of a dating couple. The scenes from shooting their wedding photos till the actual wedding ceremony which took place in Guam Island further instilled in me the true meaning of happiness. It seems I figured my answer to the question of low marriage rates and birth rates.
In the past, marriage was an obligation. You marry someone out of status and of your parent's will. There was no defined boundaries for love or marriage. It was a "the female sticks to her spouse, through thick and thin" society. Women had no status, no rights, no freedom, no voice. Today, it's completely different. We are all educated. We constantly seek out our idealist ideology - TRUE LOVE coupled with WEALTH and AFFLUENCE. Yet, as an economics student, I can't help but dwell on the concept of scarcity which eventually leads to trade-offs and opportunity costs. Because of education, women are more informed of the society and no longer carry the burden of being subservient. Yes, with increasing number of working females, we drive the economic growth yet it comes at the expense of lower marriage rates.
Nevertheless, I can't help but question: What can be done to rectify this issue? Why do we always have to work and correct on the problem coming from the female aspect? What can be done about the males in Singapore?
True enough, I have heard tons of stories about guys complaining and whining about NS, about the government wasting 2 years of their time, about their female peers being 2 years ahead of them of everything etc. When as a female, you try to give your opinion, they shove you off by telling you that you don't understand them because you have never been through it personally. Just so because of the government hearing and empathizing with their situation, we tune women's lifestyle. We suggest that the women compromise and accommodate their male counterparts.
Over time, women's interest in this grumpy, constantly-whining Singaporean group of guys of age 20 or so yet behave like 70-year old war veterans dwindles and labels like pragmatic, over-realistic, idealist and materialistic Singaporean girls set in. Oh come on, I am not a feminist but having hearing so many guys out there speaking about globalisation, changing expectations and society yet all is nothing but a pack of lies of their so called Y-generation mindset. Underneath, they still think this is a world where men are superior and women has to bend down to norms and expectations, and I honestly feel this is a disguise of their true chavaunistic and egoistic self.
So would you consider marriage? Why land your fates on someone who employs his complaining tactics more frequently than taking actions?
Back to that TV scene. When the bride was led down the hallway of the church by her Dad towards the bridegroom, that was the scene that struck me real hard. Tears were welling up in the bridegroom's eyes as he picture his future with this woman, blissfully loved by him and how much he can offer to her. Thoughts swirled the girl as well. Is this man standing 10metres away from me the ONE who is going to take over my dad's role as the protective figure and shower me with unconditonal girl and love our family like there's no tomorrow? Will this be the man that I'd stick to through thick and thin and pledge my heart and soul? To me, it seems like at that very moment, I finally figured out what beholds true love. It doesn't matter if one day their feelings for each other diminishes or fades off, at least this moment will be etched in their memory about how much and how deep is their love.
Coming to reality. Not everyone meets their the other half that was meant to be. Some people end up marrying the wrong person which explains the record-breaking divorce rates today. Some people resign to not owning that brief moment of happiness that's why they remain single. Yet there are a few of the players out there who choose to absorb all these images as ABSTRACTS so they never really got serious about their relationships. What about You, YOu and yoU out there? Which category do you belong to then? Why not ask yourself about how serious you are about your other half that is by your side, by your bed right now? Imagine the day that you have to stand inside the church taking on the role of either the bridegroom or the bride, question yourself.
As the bridegroom, I am pretty certain that no matter how unemotional you are, if you marrying the woman that you want to give your best and protect your whole life, you cry. Not explicitly as in tears have to flush down your cheeks but either tears well up in your eyes or your heart feels the pinch because never have you been so sure of yourself.
As the bride, do those thoughts mentioned in the TV scene embrace you? Of allegiance, pledges, trust and absolute commitment? If you are still trying hard to convince yourself at that very moment, perhaps calling off the wedding would be a better way out.
One of the options to tackle our impeding public issue- more quality not quantity of marriages. I strongly believe in the high correlation between quality marriages and birth rates. I love the work of public administration. Challenging yet fulfilling.
Impeding Issue-Low Marriage Rates cum Low Birth Rates!
On the TV, I witnessed the joy, happiness and warmth elicited by two beings who are insanely in love with each other. Perhaps their status play a role in the extent that they treasure their relationship. They have to be secretive about their relationship until they took their relationship several steps beyond that of a dating couple. The scenes from shooting their wedding photos till the actual wedding ceremony which took place in Guam Island further instilled in me the true meaning of happiness. It seems I figured my answer to the question of low marriage rates and birth rates.
In the past, marriage was an obligation. You marry someone out of status and of your parent's will. There was no defined boundaries for love or marriage. It was a "the female sticks to her spouse, through thick and thin" society. Women had no status, no rights, no freedom, no voice. Today, it's completely different. We are all educated. We constantly seek out our idealist ideology - TRUE LOVE coupled with WEALTH and AFFLUENCE. Yet, as an economics student, I can't help but dwell on the concept of scarcity which eventually leads to trade-offs and opportunity costs. Because of education, women are more informed of the society and no longer carry the burden of being subservient. Yes, with increasing number of working females, we drive the economic growth yet it comes at the expense of lower marriage rates.
Nevertheless, I can't help but question: What can be done to rectify this issue? Why do we always have to work and correct on the problem coming from the female aspect? What can be done about the males in Singapore?
True enough, I have heard tons of stories about guys complaining and whining about NS, about the government wasting 2 years of their time, about their female peers being 2 years ahead of them of everything etc. When as a female, you try to give your opinion, they shove you off by telling you that you don't understand them because you have never been through it personally. Just so because of the government hearing and empathizing with their situation, we tune women's lifestyle. We suggest that the women compromise and accommodate their male counterparts.
Over time, women's interest in this grumpy, constantly-whining Singaporean group of guys of age 20 or so yet behave like 70-year old war veterans dwindles and labels like pragmatic, over-realistic, idealist and materialistic Singaporean girls set in. Oh come on, I am not a feminist but having hearing so many guys out there speaking about globalisation, changing expectations and society yet all is nothing but a pack of lies of their so called Y-generation mindset. Underneath, they still think this is a world where men are superior and women has to bend down to norms and expectations, and I honestly feel this is a disguise of their true chavaunistic and egoistic self.
So would you consider marriage? Why land your fates on someone who employs his complaining tactics more frequently than taking actions?
Back to that TV scene. When the bride was led down the hallway of the church by her Dad towards the bridegroom, that was the scene that struck me real hard. Tears were welling up in the bridegroom's eyes as he picture his future with this woman, blissfully loved by him and how much he can offer to her. Thoughts swirled the girl as well. Is this man standing 10metres away from me the ONE who is going to take over my dad's role as the protective figure and shower me with unconditonal girl and love our family like there's no tomorrow? Will this be the man that I'd stick to through thick and thin and pledge my heart and soul? To me, it seems like at that very moment, I finally figured out what beholds true love. It doesn't matter if one day their feelings for each other diminishes or fades off, at least this moment will be etched in their memory about how much and how deep is their love.
Coming to reality. Not everyone meets their the other half that was meant to be. Some people end up marrying the wrong person which explains the record-breaking divorce rates today. Some people resign to not owning that brief moment of happiness that's why they remain single. Yet there are a few of the players out there who choose to absorb all these images as ABSTRACTS so they never really got serious about their relationships. What about You, YOu and yoU out there? Which category do you belong to then? Why not ask yourself about how serious you are about your other half that is by your side, by your bed right now? Imagine the day that you have to stand inside the church taking on the role of either the bridegroom or the bride, question yourself.
As the bridegroom, I am pretty certain that no matter how unemotional you are, if you marrying the woman that you want to give your best and protect your whole life, you cry. Not explicitly as in tears have to flush down your cheeks but either tears well up in your eyes or your heart feels the pinch because never have you been so sure of yourself.
As the bride, do those thoughts mentioned in the TV scene embrace you? Of allegiance, pledges, trust and absolute commitment? If you are still trying hard to convince yourself at that very moment, perhaps calling off the wedding would be a better way out.
One of the options to tackle our impeding public issue- more quality not quantity of marriages. I strongly believe in the high correlation between quality marriages and birth rates. I love the work of public administration. Challenging yet fulfilling.
"Satisfying your own qualitative ambitions is more of a hindrance than accomplishing merely monetary wants yet it yields more lasting effects that you can look back and flash out your customized grin."
Monday, 29 September 2008
Just a random thought
I was having a pretty restless journey on 198 SBS Bus this afternoon after my mid-term test in school. It was just like any other ordinary ride home on a typical school date. But a brief 3 minutes of playback on the TV Mobile left tears welling up in my eyes. For a moment, I felt proud that I was a Singaporean!
There she was, Ms Yip Pin Xiu, battling against her physical handicap fighting for a GOLD medal for Singapore in the Paralympics. The moment when she was wheeled up the winning platform and presented with the medal, in my opinion, should be one that will be etched in her memory. The National Anthem, which I have been singing every single day for my 12 years of elementary and secondary education, was ALAS played! Wasn't this what the government, the public, the whole nation were waiting for? However, from my observation of the passengers on the bus, none of them seemed interested in what was being shown on the TV.
I've always felt that being able to represent your nation in any form of competition, exchange, seminars etc is something that makes you take a lot of pride in it. It doesn't matter if you emerge as a champion, though being one amplifies the honour.
I am glad that some day in the near future, I too will be serving the Nation and I definitely hope I will be able to continue serving the Nation for the rest of my life in fact! :)
Closing Note: I wish the girl best of luck in her future. :)
When you have a problem and you keep dwelling on it, you do not solve the problem. Instead, you amplify it and make it a BIGGER problem.
There she was, Ms Yip Pin Xiu, battling against her physical handicap fighting for a GOLD medal for Singapore in the Paralympics. The moment when she was wheeled up the winning platform and presented with the medal, in my opinion, should be one that will be etched in her memory. The National Anthem, which I have been singing every single day for my 12 years of elementary and secondary education, was ALAS played! Wasn't this what the government, the public, the whole nation were waiting for? However, from my observation of the passengers on the bus, none of them seemed interested in what was being shown on the TV.
I've always felt that being able to represent your nation in any form of competition, exchange, seminars etc is something that makes you take a lot of pride in it. It doesn't matter if you emerge as a champion, though being one amplifies the honour.
I am glad that some day in the near future, I too will be serving the Nation and I definitely hope I will be able to continue serving the Nation for the rest of my life in fact! :)
Closing Note: I wish the girl best of luck in her future. :)
When you have a problem and you keep dwelling on it, you do not solve the problem. Instead, you amplify it and make it a BIGGER problem.