It has been almost 2 weeks since I left home. I started off the first week with a Mathematics for Economists class and thought if this is mostly what I was gonna learn while on this Master's course, then perhaps I have not signed up for the right one. I want to learn something more than what I have already did in my undergraduate studies. A lot of the material covered is a recapitulation of what I already know. Fortunately, in the 2nd half of the week, I attended Microeconomics classes and goodness, what I have to learn is so much theory and not at all related to what I have already learnt in my Bachelor's. This set me thinking. I had expected a course that was more mathematical-based but it seems like the module is set on a more theoretical course. The exam is writing based, nothing near the numerous calculations that we have to do in our Microeconomics examinations from level 1000 - 4000 in NUS.
I was expecting myself to have sufficient 'ME' time to do the things that I want, such as to work, to read Economics on my own, to continue my Skype tuition business, play a lot of sports e.g. tennis or badminton. However, it seems like things are not going to be what I expect. New challenges in life, I am happy. :)
Showing posts with label School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label School. Show all posts
Thursday, 17 September 2015
Wednesday, 2 September 2015
Would I have done things differently?
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.
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.
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!
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, 29 March 2011
It's a small small world
Readers of my blog would realise that I hardly blog about school. Yeah, indeed. I do not find leisure in discussing about my school life on my blog most of the time. However, there have been too many coincidences in school recently.
Two of my former students are in my class this year and I think I am really blessed to have them in my class. :) There are a million reasons behind why they stayed back for another year but I tell myself that I must believe in them, believe that they are motivated to learn and they will one day prove their worth to the many people out there that they are students worth spending time on, and worth giving them a second chance.
Of course there are other interesting characters around. There is a boy who is from South Africa in my class (but he is Asian)! When I first observed the class, I told myself to be prepared for the worst because his behaviour suggests to me that I am in for serious discipline. However, when I actually took over the class, he caught me by surprise. He told me he was from South Africa and he speaks with an American accent. Lol! He does not give me any problem at all because he takes pride in his work and he submits all his assignments on time. I guess having a good start and introduction to the class really matters. I caught him along the corridor and had a good chat with him the very day I took the lesson and got to know him better. He told me that he found himself to be pretty out of place in the school at times because no one's like him in the school. So I encouraged him to be himself and I really look forward to seeing him shine among his classmates. :) When I had lesson observation last week, he probably earned me credit. Initially, the class was pretty tense until he made a comment "Oh very well," and the class started laughing. I do not think that the comment had any meaningful connotation behind it but somehow the class was more relaxed after that comment.
And there's this other Indian-chinese in my class that perturbed me a lot initially. He is the typical "I-don't-give-a-damn-shit" about school kind of student and honestly, I was once like him. So I know that no amount of threats or punishment can actually motivate him to be more attentive in my class. All I need to do is to ensure that he does not disturb the rest during class. However, over the course of two weeks, I see a drastic change in his attitude. Initially, when he sees along the corridor, he will just walk past me as though I am invisible. Nowadays, he will call me "Cher" and I am really taken aback. :) He will chit-chat with me and sometimes we crack jokes along the way. As a teacher, I know how important it is that your student is willing to walk side by side with you. This shows that he respects you and that he is not ashamed to let people know that, "Yes, this is my teacher and I walk beside her because I think she is just as cool as me." I really do not know what changed him but I appreciate the fact that he has now become much more matured. He's like a little angel in my life these days because when I see him smiling and responding in class, I know that he is listening and he is learning. :)
I always believe that respect does not accompany your social status or designation. You have to EARN it! If you don't concur, do watch World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles. :)
Monday, 13 December 2010
Words have no meaning, you put meaning into them.
I have always uphold this view that "words have no meaning, it is the reader that puts the meaning into the sentences." Indeed, I was proven right yet again! I have absolutely no intention of putting anyone down in the process and in fact, I was already feeling awful that things had turned out the way it did. Someone dealt me another blow when the comment that "I seem to be shifting the blame to someone else" came out from her mouth. C'mon, be professional and objective. Stop putting words into my mouth and degrade my intentions.
I have not been blogging that often these days and it has indirectly affected the way I express certain ideas, perhaps.
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Just a pinch of disappointment
Both LK and I thought he'd bagged the placement @ JJ! God has just taught us the lesson that life's not a bed of roses.
The final 10 weeks that we imagined did not materalize after all. I tried my best to comfort him though I knew he hardly needed any. Instead, he was the one comforting me! Lol! What an irony!
Whatever's not yours will never be I guess.......
The final 10 weeks that we imagined did not materalize after all. I tried my best to comfort him though I knew he hardly needed any. Instead, he was the one comforting me! Lol! What an irony!
Whatever's not yours will never be I guess.......
Friday, 21 May 2010
Bidding goodbye to a promising young lad..
From the corner of my eye, this innocent looking boy who always carries a smile awaits....
Oh who's he? New contract staff? New relief teacher? Tons of question marks... Until Ibir decided to approach him and say hello....
He walked over, introduces himself, we engage in a small conversation cause great minds think alike. We both edge out of the conversation...
The next day, he comes back to the cubicle, we chatted and slowly, we connect.
Then along with others, we played wii, have lunch and the best thing about our friendship is,"we crack jokes, we gossip, we let our hair down, we have fun. In front of our small clique, we ain't pretentious." He kidnaps the green tuning fork and demands a stupid ransom and I played along by giving him a piece of paper with 1,000 written on it.
Today, he stood in front of the school and gave a speech about himself and his jc days. Yet out of a moment of folly and the tumbling pile of work I've on my desk, I missed it.
After 6 months, I sum him up in a sentence. Takes pride in his work but he definitely knows how to enjoy himself and have fun while at work.
Yes, I think he's definitely someone who will go very far in his life. However, I hope his overseas education will not change him. I hope the cruelities of life do not taint his cheerful personality and his candid self. For I envy him for whatever that he's doing at this stage in his life.
At the same time, I'm very glad MOE recruited him as a scholar. We need people like him to mould the future of our nation.
Work's gonna be a tad boring without his crappy ideas and jokes. A and I will have one lesser buddy to gossip with.
Yes, he's ERIC, our buddy in JJ!
Hereby, I wish you success in your future endeavours, Eric! :))
Oh who's he? New contract staff? New relief teacher? Tons of question marks... Until Ibir decided to approach him and say hello....
He walked over, introduces himself, we engage in a small conversation cause great minds think alike. We both edge out of the conversation...
The next day, he comes back to the cubicle, we chatted and slowly, we connect.
Then along with others, we played wii, have lunch and the best thing about our friendship is,"we crack jokes, we gossip, we let our hair down, we have fun. In front of our small clique, we ain't pretentious." He kidnaps the green tuning fork and demands a stupid ransom and I played along by giving him a piece of paper with 1,000 written on it.
Today, he stood in front of the school and gave a speech about himself and his jc days. Yet out of a moment of folly and the tumbling pile of work I've on my desk, I missed it.
After 6 months, I sum him up in a sentence. Takes pride in his work but he definitely knows how to enjoy himself and have fun while at work.
Yes, I think he's definitely someone who will go very far in his life. However, I hope his overseas education will not change him. I hope the cruelities of life do not taint his cheerful personality and his candid self. For I envy him for whatever that he's doing at this stage in his life.
At the same time, I'm very glad MOE recruited him as a scholar. We need people like him to mould the future of our nation.
Work's gonna be a tad boring without his crappy ideas and jokes. A and I will have one lesser buddy to gossip with.
Yes, he's ERIC, our buddy in JJ!
Hereby, I wish you success in your future endeavours, Eric! :))
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
I guess adequate time has passed for me to evaluate my job and the true reasons behind where I'm now.
"attire checked", "attendance checked", "lecture notes checked", "tutorials checked", "markers checked", blah blah.. Endless checks to be done every single passing day....
Pulling myself out of bed in every reluctant manner possible every morning, conducting the checks which I as a student failed to live up to expectations with, I honestly question, why did I sign up for this?
I flipped anxiously over pages of my primary and secondary memories searching for that one special person who steered me in this direction only to my disappointment to see none.
From another perspective, 5 years ago this one person unleashed my potential and inspired me to complete whateve he has left undone, though I'm not sure if I'll be as outstanding as he did.
Over the course of the last 5 years, another 3 popped up and helped complete me as a person.
And the true reasons behind me embarking on this mission is my desire to continue with what that was set out to be done and entrusted to me. The mission is to complete the puzzle of the countless others that I'll be encountering, to be there to provide guidance when they are in a deadlock, to be there to encourage and motivate when they are about to uphoist the white flag. However, it's not in my capacity to blindly lead the way. Only effort can generate rewards and all results are fed by the amalgamation of a positive attitude in learning, desire to excel and be empowered by knowledge.
Right from day one, I told myself that I will never compromise my students' learning over anything nor short change on the knowledge that they are entitled to. Thus, even though a handful are difficult to discipline, a few prefers to live in isolation, the general population that is bubbly and engaging motivates me.
Through my job, I uncover the values that are deep rooted in me. A 50-mark grade is not a pass, A C is. A's are norms whereas C's anomalies. When I teach, I hold the same kind of expectations for my students. I do not think that achieving a C or a pass is good enough which explains why I am always so disappointed with my students' results ever since those times when I was giving tuition. I am not dissatisfied with them because I do know a handful had really put in their utmost best. In fact, I question my own ability to teach them well. Over the years, I did learn to align my expectations because not everyone is capable of the A like what Linky always tell me. He highlighted the top most important attribute as an educator that is, to be able to detach yourself from the learning outcomes of your students. Some people are exam-smart, others work doubly hard, whereas a handful are simply intelligent. You need to have certain attributes to begin with before you can be transformed from a C-grader to an A-grader.
"attire checked", "attendance checked", "lecture notes checked", "tutorials checked", "markers checked", blah blah.. Endless checks to be done every single passing day....
Pulling myself out of bed in every reluctant manner possible every morning, conducting the checks which I as a student failed to live up to expectations with, I honestly question, why did I sign up for this?
I flipped anxiously over pages of my primary and secondary memories searching for that one special person who steered me in this direction only to my disappointment to see none.
From another perspective, 5 years ago this one person unleashed my potential and inspired me to complete whateve he has left undone, though I'm not sure if I'll be as outstanding as he did.
Over the course of the last 5 years, another 3 popped up and helped complete me as a person.
And the true reasons behind me embarking on this mission is my desire to continue with what that was set out to be done and entrusted to me. The mission is to complete the puzzle of the countless others that I'll be encountering, to be there to provide guidance when they are in a deadlock, to be there to encourage and motivate when they are about to uphoist the white flag. However, it's not in my capacity to blindly lead the way. Only effort can generate rewards and all results are fed by the amalgamation of a positive attitude in learning, desire to excel and be empowered by knowledge.
Right from day one, I told myself that I will never compromise my students' learning over anything nor short change on the knowledge that they are entitled to. Thus, even though a handful are difficult to discipline, a few prefers to live in isolation, the general population that is bubbly and engaging motivates me.
Through my job, I uncover the values that are deep rooted in me. A 50-mark grade is not a pass, A C is. A's are norms whereas C's anomalies. When I teach, I hold the same kind of expectations for my students. I do not think that achieving a C or a pass is good enough which explains why I am always so disappointed with my students' results ever since those times when I was giving tuition. I am not dissatisfied with them because I do know a handful had really put in their utmost best. In fact, I question my own ability to teach them well. Over the years, I did learn to align my expectations because not everyone is capable of the A like what Linky always tell me. He highlighted the top most important attribute as an educator that is, to be able to detach yourself from the learning outcomes of your students. Some people are exam-smart, others work doubly hard, whereas a handful are simply intelligent. You need to have certain attributes to begin with before you can be transformed from a C-grader to an A-grader.
It will definitely be encouraging if Linky and I were posted to the same school in future. I guess at least we can constantly motivate each other and we complement each other. Nonetheless, judging from the current circumstances, the probability is HIGHLY UNLIKELY. Well, let fate decide. :))
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Stop in the name of love
That's the charity campaign organized by one of Channelnewsasia's flagship programme, Blogtv.sg!
So TheFD n his co-host came to JJ on Tuesday to accumulate the calls.
When I got the call from one of my class's students, I wad really touched! Over the past two weeks, i've witness how influential my job can be.
Thank you messages from students, calls, etc. made me realise how strong a sense of satisfaction my job can deliver. Nevertheless, there were times when you really feel like you are at rock bottom!
But all it takes is just a word of encouragement or thanks of see a slight improvement or attitude in one student to make your day. :))
So TheFD n his co-host came to JJ on Tuesday to accumulate the calls.
When I got the call from one of my class's students, I wad really touched! Over the past two weeks, i've witness how influential my job can be.
Thank you messages from students, calls, etc. made me realise how strong a sense of satisfaction my job can deliver. Nevertheless, there were times when you really feel like you are at rock bottom!
But all it takes is just a word of encouragement or thanks of see a slight improvement or attitude in one student to make your day. :))
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Bumpy and Excited
The long-awaited one week March Holidays is drawing near!!! Yay!!!
After being out of a government school for so long, it feels damn weird to be back in one. The morning assemblies that I have to attend, the numerous rules and regulations that I have to adhere to and also make my students obey, the discipline that I have to instil in myself and also in my students. Honestly, I still prefer freestyle so I guess in my class, the students do it freestyle too. :))
Now that I am back in school, I reflect upon myself as a student 10 years back. I have to admit that I was a rebellious student myself, often found it trying to obey simple rules like cutting your fingernails, not wearing ankle socks to school, not falling asleep during classes, rebutting my teachers, finding loopholes in the school rules, arguing my way out of trouble, etc. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, I produce the results. :)
Looking at my students these days, I find it hard and redundant to constantly remind them of having self-discipline. It is not as though I do not put myself in their shoes but some of them are simply ridiculous. When I observe some of my fellow colleagues, I can understand why the students behave in a particular manner. Cause they have the wrong role model to follow.
As those reflections ran through my mind, I think a lot about the many life events that I have encountered. Maybe Europe gave me a different perspective, maybe the people whom I hang around with changed my outlook, maybe wisdom grows with age is indeed true. There are numerous reasons for change that I simply can't attribute to just one.
For e.g. I no longer find the need to be engaged in useless debates and arguments, I find that I really love peace more than I can imagine, I rather keep quiet than say something meaningless, I have fewer acquaintances but several more quality friends, I can self-motivate in down times, I step out of the circle of politics, I whine but only to the people who listen willingly, I have learnt that I can't force my will on others not even try to convince them so I never bother, I step aside when a topic doesn't interest me rather than try to be the smart aleck and pretend to know, I see everyone in good light before I use my own judgment to evaluate them but not judge, I adapt but I no longer conform to norms - If I like it, I will do it but I will never allow myself to feel compelled to do things anymore,
and all these qualities that budded bring happiness and joy to my seemingly boring life. Hopefully I guess. :))
After being out of a government school for so long, it feels damn weird to be back in one. The morning assemblies that I have to attend, the numerous rules and regulations that I have to adhere to and also make my students obey, the discipline that I have to instil in myself and also in my students. Honestly, I still prefer freestyle so I guess in my class, the students do it freestyle too. :))
Now that I am back in school, I reflect upon myself as a student 10 years back. I have to admit that I was a rebellious student myself, often found it trying to obey simple rules like cutting your fingernails, not wearing ankle socks to school, not falling asleep during classes, rebutting my teachers, finding loopholes in the school rules, arguing my way out of trouble, etc. Nonetheless, at the end of the day, I produce the results. :)
Looking at my students these days, I find it hard and redundant to constantly remind them of having self-discipline. It is not as though I do not put myself in their shoes but some of them are simply ridiculous. When I observe some of my fellow colleagues, I can understand why the students behave in a particular manner. Cause they have the wrong role model to follow.
As those reflections ran through my mind, I think a lot about the many life events that I have encountered. Maybe Europe gave me a different perspective, maybe the people whom I hang around with changed my outlook, maybe wisdom grows with age is indeed true. There are numerous reasons for change that I simply can't attribute to just one.
For e.g. I no longer find the need to be engaged in useless debates and arguments, I find that I really love peace more than I can imagine, I rather keep quiet than say something meaningless, I have fewer acquaintances but several more quality friends, I can self-motivate in down times, I step out of the circle of politics, I whine but only to the people who listen willingly, I have learnt that I can't force my will on others not even try to convince them so I never bother, I step aside when a topic doesn't interest me rather than try to be the smart aleck and pretend to know, I see everyone in good light before I use my own judgment to evaluate them but not judge, I adapt but I no longer conform to norms - If I like it, I will do it but I will never allow myself to feel compelled to do things anymore,
and all these qualities that budded bring happiness and joy to my seemingly boring life. Hopefully I guess. :))
Monday, 22 June 2009
School to reopen?
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/index.htm
Pls vote for the extension of the school holidays now that the Influenza A is rampaging.!
Pls vote for the extension of the school holidays now that the Influenza A is rampaging.!
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. :))
Saturday, 19 July 2008
The CCAs days...
I stayed back in school this afternoon to observe the CCAs being held in school..
1. Volleyball
2. Harmonica
3. Concert Band
4. NCC
5. Hockey
6. NPCC
7. NCDCC
Watching all of these activities just bring back memories..Tons of them.....
I vividly remember playing Volleyball when I was in Ngee Ann. Initially, my friends and I kept whining about Ngee Ann having "Sports & Wellness" classes because that meant we had to take our Napfa test too. But now that I think of it, I am glad I went through it otherwise I would never have come across this beautiful sport, Volleyball. I badly miss playing the game when I was watching them. I bet now I've completely forgotten how to dig, set and spike. Anyone in for Volleyball? Let's play it some time.
I remember I was telling my friends in Stockholm that I lead an unhealthy lifestyle. None of my friends play sports that often. When I need company for MOVIES.KTV.MAHJONG, I can find a list in my phone book. However, when I needed someone to play sports, I can scroll through the whole list and yet not find any decent one. Here it goes:
The Chicken-and-Egg Problem: Do your interests determine the kind of friends you have or Does the kind of friends you have shape your interests?
Harmonica & Concert Band: I am never a MUSIC person in the sense I have never picked up any musical instrument decently. Somehow, I always give up on learning how to play musical instruments. I guess being able to play the recorder is the only achievement I've in the Music Aspect. When I see people in sync with music and instruments, a sense of dissatisfaction with MYSELF just arises.......... Why didn't I make the effort to pick up at least one musical instrument since I love singing and music so much??
NCC: I guess it's the MOST MACHO CCA that every boy in secondary school thinks. If you are in NCC, you are a MAN and not a BOY. Is that really so?
The NCC boys were doing their arm drills today, learning how to hold the rifles properly and do some drills. It was damn hilarious. They took turns to be demonstrators under the guide of their student-instructor and you see all kinds of nonsense. Boys who didn't listen to commands and simply followed the order of the drills assuming that the instructor would do it systematically. Boys who as timer, timed the file of 3 men according to his own timing which no others were able to follow because it was way too fast. Boys who put on a tough front that they had understood and remembered the steps when in actual fact, their knowledge was only half-full.
These are normal behaviours and reactions to life. I was quite amused by them in fact. Not to forget, I was VERY IMPRESSED by them! They were the 2nd last CCA group that I watched. So when I was making my way to the school gate to HOME SWEET HOME, I walked past them. Their student instructor actually shouted the command for them to salute me with their rifles. Obviously, I was quite DUMB to not know it so I just said "BYE" and the instructor told me they were Saluting me. Honestly, I was overjoyed and touched but I didn't know how to respond at that very minute. I simply said "THANK YOU!" They were still struggling how to do the drill properly 10 minutes ago. But they did it in an UNIFORMED and IMPRESSIVE manner that very occasion.
I can only say: The NCC boys never fail me. They always impress. I hope they continue to do so in their life. :)
Move with the flow of life~~ To look back or not?............
1. Volleyball
2. Harmonica
3. Concert Band
4. NCC
5. Hockey
6. NPCC
7. NCDCC
Watching all of these activities just bring back memories..Tons of them.....
I vividly remember playing Volleyball when I was in Ngee Ann. Initially, my friends and I kept whining about Ngee Ann having "Sports & Wellness" classes because that meant we had to take our Napfa test too. But now that I think of it, I am glad I went through it otherwise I would never have come across this beautiful sport, Volleyball. I badly miss playing the game when I was watching them. I bet now I've completely forgotten how to dig, set and spike. Anyone in for Volleyball? Let's play it some time.
I remember I was telling my friends in Stockholm that I lead an unhealthy lifestyle. None of my friends play sports that often. When I need company for MOVIES.KTV.MAHJONG, I can find a list in my phone book. However, when I needed someone to play sports, I can scroll through the whole list and yet not find any decent one. Here it goes:
The Chicken-and-Egg Problem: Do your interests determine the kind of friends you have or Does the kind of friends you have shape your interests?
Harmonica & Concert Band: I am never a MUSIC person in the sense I have never picked up any musical instrument decently. Somehow, I always give up on learning how to play musical instruments. I guess being able to play the recorder is the only achievement I've in the Music Aspect. When I see people in sync with music and instruments, a sense of dissatisfaction with MYSELF just arises.......... Why didn't I make the effort to pick up at least one musical instrument since I love singing and music so much??
NCC: I guess it's the MOST MACHO CCA that every boy in secondary school thinks. If you are in NCC, you are a MAN and not a BOY. Is that really so?
The NCC boys were doing their arm drills today, learning how to hold the rifles properly and do some drills. It was damn hilarious. They took turns to be demonstrators under the guide of their student-instructor and you see all kinds of nonsense. Boys who didn't listen to commands and simply followed the order of the drills assuming that the instructor would do it systematically. Boys who as timer, timed the file of 3 men according to his own timing which no others were able to follow because it was way too fast. Boys who put on a tough front that they had understood and remembered the steps when in actual fact, their knowledge was only half-full.
These are normal behaviours and reactions to life. I was quite amused by them in fact. Not to forget, I was VERY IMPRESSED by them! They were the 2nd last CCA group that I watched. So when I was making my way to the school gate to HOME SWEET HOME, I walked past them. Their student instructor actually shouted the command for them to salute me with their rifles. Obviously, I was quite DUMB to not know it so I just said "BYE" and the instructor told me they were Saluting me. Honestly, I was overjoyed and touched but I didn't know how to respond at that very minute. I simply said "THANK YOU!" They were still struggling how to do the drill properly 10 minutes ago. But they did it in an UNIFORMED and IMPRESSIVE manner that very occasion.
I can only say: The NCC boys never fail me. They always impress. I hope they continue to do so in their life. :)
Move with the flow of life~~ To look back or not?............
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Back to the old days.....
How long ago was it when you had to wake up at 6 or 7 o'clock in the morning, pull yourself really hard to school, attend the flag-raising, get back to your class and find it trying to stay awake and pay attention to the teacher mumbling in class??
For me, it was a lengthy 6 years ago until today, 16 July 2008 when I once again re-live the feeling of being a participant in the classroom setting... However, this time round, my role was switched. Instead of being the active.interactive.noise polluting agent among the class, I stood right in front of the class, trying to control the bunch of students.
How did it feel? I was in a Secondary 3 Normal Academic class and the students were rowdy, unmotivated to study, appearing sleepy and sloppy blah blah...I remember back in those days when I was a student, everyone in class was more or less motivated to study except for a few handful ones (I probably was one of them too wahaha) so the challenge the teacher had to face was make sure they understood the contents and aim for an A.
But it was completely different for the class I was handling. Being able to capture their attention was the key challenge to me. Without them even listening to you, what makes you think that they will be able to figure out what you taught? A lot of my friends think I am not cut out to be a teacher with my "ah-lianish" appearance, behaviour and even candid language but I think likewise. Perhaps I will not be the typical teacher who's always elegant, professional, intimidating etc. but I definitely have my own ways of handling kids.
I had a difficult time trying to control those bunch of kids but I was once a rebellious child, someone who had difficulties focusing in class, dozing off half of the time and chit-chatting away for the other half except for Mathematics, taking breaks in between classes, attempting to challenge the teacher's authority (Erm hmm, of course for CHINESE lessons!) etc.. I know where to come from to tackle all these behaviour now well but not perfectly of course.
To round it up, it was a pleasant experience for me to be back as a participant in the classroom setting.. I miss Secondary School days where S.I.D.Y crack all kinds of jokes and splattered sarcasm all over the prefects who were one-year our juniors, my favourite last row and third seat from the door in the Physics lab where Mr Illysad couldn't spot me sleeping for a double period for Physics, the 2 contrasting personalities that sat beside me, LW & TL who always never fail to brighten up my day (LW with JM on their hand gestures and language while TL and me engage in conversations non-stop), Mdm Yeo's Kite-Flying mathematics class etc...Not to forget, I miss how I can fit into that petitie size 25 skirt of mine..... hehehe.... :)
Do you miss them like I do?
"Time waits for no man............"
For me, it was a lengthy 6 years ago until today, 16 July 2008 when I once again re-live the feeling of being a participant in the classroom setting... However, this time round, my role was switched. Instead of being the active.interactive.noise polluting agent among the class, I stood right in front of the class, trying to control the bunch of students.
How did it feel? I was in a Secondary 3 Normal Academic class and the students were rowdy, unmotivated to study, appearing sleepy and sloppy blah blah...I remember back in those days when I was a student, everyone in class was more or less motivated to study except for a few handful ones (I probably was one of them too wahaha) so the challenge the teacher had to face was make sure they understood the contents and aim for an A.
But it was completely different for the class I was handling. Being able to capture their attention was the key challenge to me. Without them even listening to you, what makes you think that they will be able to figure out what you taught? A lot of my friends think I am not cut out to be a teacher with my "ah-lianish" appearance, behaviour and even candid language but I think likewise. Perhaps I will not be the typical teacher who's always elegant, professional, intimidating etc. but I definitely have my own ways of handling kids.
I had a difficult time trying to control those bunch of kids but I was once a rebellious child, someone who had difficulties focusing in class, dozing off half of the time and chit-chatting away for the other half except for Mathematics, taking breaks in between classes, attempting to challenge the teacher's authority (Erm hmm, of course for CHINESE lessons!) etc.. I know where to come from to tackle all these behaviour now well but not perfectly of course.
To round it up, it was a pleasant experience for me to be back as a participant in the classroom setting.. I miss Secondary School days where S.I.D.Y crack all kinds of jokes and splattered sarcasm all over the prefects who were one-year our juniors, my favourite last row and third seat from the door in the Physics lab where Mr Illysad couldn't spot me sleeping for a double period for Physics, the 2 contrasting personalities that sat beside me, LW & TL who always never fail to brighten up my day (LW with JM on their hand gestures and language while TL and me engage in conversations non-stop), Mdm Yeo's Kite-Flying mathematics class etc...Not to forget, I miss how I can fit into that petitie size 25 skirt of mine..... hehehe.... :)
Do you miss them like I do?
"Time waits for no man............"