Melaka

My stay in my motherland for the past three days has been one filled with literal tears of joy, reconciliation and reflection. Melaka is where my forefathers originate; where they were born, raised, put to work, encountered rattan-enabled strokes and nurtured to break to productively break their backs.

Home Kampong
What I witnessed I the village was still nothing like how it used to be, albeit not as modern as Singapore. Still the nostalgia of the setting has not failed to send chills down my dad's and uncle's spines thus catalysing the tear-making process. The desired by-product was only to be triggered by a 40 year-overdue aunt-nephew embrace. The reversal of such deep reactions proved to be highly endothermic given that the elder has superb memory. Even spectator particles like me can't be spared from  these cheek-wetting moments.

Makan
I thought my tongue was malay enough until I sat cross-legged in a kampong house, harrassed by flies on a straw mat. I ate what looked like vegetables simmered in a gravy of vomit. But praises to god, its taste is most interesting and nothing like I've ever seen; the most creative way of utilising durian. Not forgetting the asam pedas which tasted just like my late grandma's cooking (says my dad). And I won't be stepping on the weighing scale for some time to come.

Urge.

This week I've faced life in a different manner.

Might I say that I was not too happy by the time the results came out. Not because I was unhappy about the results, though. That is least of my concerns. I only wanted to be promoted as that is all that matters.

I was really unhappy because I get annoyed when people misunderstand me. Nobody will take me seriously in a heart-to-heart conversation for I tend to have an upbeat demeanour and a "bo-chup" face, which I find useful for stealthily gathering aural information. And so, I decided to reactivate myself to post stuff on this blog. As and when I sense that an action of mine needs to be justified, this is for all to see and discern for themselves.

Right from the beginning of the year, I resolved to only have simple ambitions, that is, such that I can sufficiently feed my family.

It so happened that the post-promo period was met with an internal conflict of moral, directional and emotional sorts. Might I reiterate that it has got nothing to do with my results. (I am indifferent towards it, until now, like my parents. No cause for celebration.) Nor was it PW, although something ugly was triggered then, but it is only due to the sudden unleash of all the emotional baggage thus far. And so, ironically, I felt lousy of myself, as if society does not value me anymore, as if people I know think I'm rubbish.

This perception changed after much reflection, catalysed by morning sunlight and boredom, at Sembawang Park. I suddenly felt that I am to impact society one day.

I used to have very big dreams. Those which people expect of me: politician, lawyer, diplomat and so on. I thought I would one day I would be able to do all that I want. But somehow, my self-esteem degraded since. However, apparently, teachers don't think so, but I still didn't realise. I thought they shared the same opinion as me. Until today when I looked at this:

My very recent change of perception of my destiny is only reaffirmed by the above which came a considerable period of time before.

God give me strength to deliver my responsiblities, show me the path of those whom you love, bless my family with good health.

Yes, the above is a wordly endeavour of mine, but to me, I do hope that this big thing I'll be doing will help my fellow Malays, help make Singapore great and most of all, do justice to the care showered by my family thus far.


P.S. Thank you, Shahir, for making me work my fingers and discern my actions even more.

Sleep. And 8 hours of it.

When asked how I got my results, I tell people I don't study much. People get annoyed; either they think I'm arrogant or it is just impossible to them. This intellectual myopia in itself annoys me. But it's true! However, it doesn't end there.

I find that I'm able to increase the efficiency of my studying time by maximising learning when you're not facing your books. This includes lectures, tutorials and the time spent answering nature's call. And all this boils down to sleep. And 8 hours of it. And almost religiously.

There's no denying that sufficient sleep makes you feel fresh early in the morning. You find it easier to arise, no matter how much you're gonna hate the day ahead. Because you feel fresh, there're little means for you to fall asleep during lecture and tutorial (unless it's in the afternoon, of course). Such is important as usually, the golden nuggets which makes one ace one's papers are usually revealed during lecture.

One may say that listening to the recording still does the job. I'm afraid not. Widely-received scientific studies show that only 20% of communication happens aurally. The rest happens through body language. While we certainly do not pay attention by these details, they are subconsciously processed by the brain to be effectively digested. Maybe it's the eyes, the hand gestures or stature which adds impact to the message albeit subconsciously. So why remove this 80% of learning aid?

Another thing that freshness allows one to do is think. 4 hours of sleep will make even walking a chore. During tutorials and lectures you can't be bothered about anything's that going on. Then you tell yourself that you're going to recap at home or some time after lesson. Here comes the big academic evil: procrastination! You simply forget about the lesson. If not, you become simply too tired or bogged down by other work by the time you remember. Worse still, studies show that that retention ability diminishes with time. And that's why you have to mug last minute, cramming as much information in an unsorted, unlogical manner which you can't almost totally appreciate.  You go for consultation only to ask questions already answered during lecture/tutorial. Because you have so much to cover, you can't afford to sleep. Then you can't focus duing exam. Then you go into depression, leading to insomnia. No sleep at all!

The above clearly shows the academic viscious cycle which is all to blame on insufficient sleep. Conversely, early, sufficient sleep contributes to a virtous academic cycle.

You can receive information, process them and link them. This is especially important for any subject. Chemistry is one subject with no room for compartmentalised thinking to ace in it. With a clear mind, these links can be drawn during lectures themselves. It makes you stay awake. It encourages higher order thinking. For the arts, linking is the essence for forming solid arguments.

Thinking can happen on the way home. Or on the toilet. Or while eating. Start with DUH! questions first. At least it keeps you engaged stuff you need to know and APPRECIATE. This is hiw you don't have to spend time.mugging. Mugging time is only to boost details and strengthen the links, NOT to receive new information. Only then will consultations be productive. Last moments before exam are to be spent appreciating and processing information. This way, the content that needs to be known becomes a given.

By now, you realise that all these requires one to be alert, hence requires sleep. Sleep full length, leave the work behind and catch up with them when you wake up fresh. You need less time doing them as you think better. Give it your all in school and you can go home and "nua". Well, that's at least what I do...

Besides, people comment that my face has a perpetual freshness. It's easier for you to smile! Why not stop being the passive "sian" one and be the active smile-inducing party instead?! So sleep.

My results are not the best set but I can assure you this was done by seeking ways to increase the time-for-grades value, noting that I hold three CCAs and an ageing family which I would have to feed very soon.

We must be selfish.

I feel stressed out living in Singapore.

Not only do I have to be perpetually surrounded by people, humans and Homo sapiens, I have to cope with the behaviours of these people. It is bad enough that we have to live digging our faces into others’ armpits. But mismanaged odour in trains puts the most patient to the edges of the cliff of tolerance. The point is, in this day and age, where Singaporeans enjoy high material standards of living, why are we still rude and selfish?

Perhaps this same selfishness is the reason for Singapore’s economic excellence. Being ruthless and competitive in the global arena, amassing the world’s riches for ourselves, dominating trade routes, hoarding all that are for grabs; How Singaporean can we ever get?

Right from Singapore’s founding selfishness has always been key to our survival. How do you suppose our forefathers were able to make their voyage from their homelands to this tiny island, feeding on the bodies of those who died, indignantly throwing the dead overboard? On this island, these people shed blood, sweat and tears to eke out a living for themselves. The treasures were there, up for grabs and only the fittest would prevail. There were no transfer payment handouts from the government to yearn for every recession, healthcare benefits to safeguard social security or schools to learn the trades of the day. Our fathers earned every cent breaking their backs and waited for death to knock on their doors when they were severely ill. However, they were lucky enough to attend the best school ever to exist: the school of life.

Their plight did not end there. They braved through the Japanese occupation where deception, struggle and betrayal were their cup of tea. Even the creation of the Singapore in the form we know of today was not without pain. An alien left alone, at the ransom of its neighbours, it defied the odds to emerge as a player in the world economy today.

How then, could the people we have in Singapore today be the worst time has seen? Survival of the fittest has always been the essence of Singapore’s nation-building of the time that has passed and for the time to come. Hard work, struggle and determination are in our genes. Nature has selected its best to make this island great.

Selfishness has manifested in a new form in Singaporeans today. One which serves self before others, individual before nation. This is alright as this was exactly the case 10 score years ago. Worse still, back then, there was not an idea of nationhood. It was our unorchestrated combined strengths which contributed to an identity we have found for ourselves. And this is still the case.

Pity arises when our selfishness is channelled to matters of the least importance or even derogatory in nature. Yes, being inconsiderate can be said to be a product of this natural selection. Then, we can question, are we getting too comfortable?

What seem to interest Singaporeans today are whether our parks today are crowded, how packed our trains and how ugly the Miss Singapore Universe is.

No matter how strong these grievances, or how true they are, we live in the age of the advent of GST offsets admist economic troubles, world-class medical care envied by the West and top-ranked universities fuelling the needs of today’s economy.

Perhaps provisions such as the above have made us lose our head in the game.

Thankfully, natural selection will once again save Singapore from decline, I think. With the revelation of the foreign talent and its neighbours’ rise from economic idleness, it is high time that Singaporeans return to the way of the struggle before we are strangled. 

Not doing

I've led my life as a very irrational JC student thus far.

Not running for SC, HEXCO, Choir presidency, Scholars' Development and so on. Many asked what in the world I'm thinking. Here's what I'm thinking:

When you're good, you don't compete.  Look at the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra for instance. They don't involve themselves in the All-Japan Ban Contest as a participant but as the benchmark for wind band standards in Japan (by recording the set pieces for reference). This is the same for the world's top orchestras, though they are being ranked. Nevertheless, lists don't define the soul of these mature institutions. They typically the serve as the pride and soul of their home cities. That's way more important.

In all that you are good at, you have to be very confident. People compete because they are uncertain of their abilities. Isn't this a show of self-disrespect? When you're good, you should strive to be the one who sets the standard and be the mentor for your counterparts. Also, you don't need to compete if you're able to distinguish yourself from others such that you are in-substitutable. (Recall PED)

I recall Mr Teo Ser Luck's wisdom that one is not made a leader because of his position but by his character. One does not need to be a leader only when given a position. Positions are merely a source of empowerment to drive on to greater heights in the organisation. However, is this necessary if the individual if self-driven? In other words, one is a leader if he behaves like one in everything that he chooses to do.

Conversely, one is merely an administrator when given a position but has no leadership traits in him. Singapore schools are very good at producing administrators.

Leadership is a lifestyle, not a post. When you have unshakeable values and beliefs, you don't need accolades or leadership posts for you to be noticed. You find opportunities knocking at your doorstep because they know you are different. You don't need to go into scholar development or school programmes to prove your worth. Just do what you like to do and you will reap the benefits. Just look at how ministers are chosen. They come from various backgrounds, doctors, bankers, economists, generals, etc. They are chosen because they are good at what they do, coupled with strong beliefs and conviction.

For me, driven by beliefs and causes that I advocate, I chose to be a president of a non-niche CCA of 20 people, the Malay Cultural Society.  I don't think I'm devaluing myself by heading a very small CCA. I strive to unite all Malay NYJC-ians such that our different strengths would be put together to great causes for our community when we go out and work. I fear that my friends would forget their roots; the people who have helped them exceled, and that their success in the future would depend on the mandate of their own community. Why are the Chinese so successful?It's because they never forget to contribute back to their society when they succeed.

Now you know how I think. 

Antara Sayur dan Nafi

Niat terbotol dalam kalbu
Menjual sayur
Niat terbantut di pasar
Menuntut pembeli


Pembeli
manusia
buta
Kebaikan terlindung
Mudarat disanjung


Penjual
manusia
waras
Kebaikan dikongsi
Mudarat dibasmi


Natijah:
Penjual tak untung
Pembeli rugi

Is there hope for the world today?

I feel there is hope.

While most of the challenges we face today are often created by people
who wield power, either democratically or by unwilling submission of
peoples, what gives us hope really are ordinary people who care. One
will say that only people with power (at least in name) have the
capacity to change the course of events in the world. But real power
lies in the people who are willing to share and give. People who
advocate total inclusion of the disabled in our economy, for example.
Or those who merely come up with recipe books for fellow cancer
patients. These people impact your world, more effectively than guns
do.

And a lesson from Keefe:
Civil unrest should not cause us to lose hope, even on the grounds
that many lives are lost. Such conflict happen in the hope of a better
future for the society.

- done during GP. ;)

Woken Up

Phew, it's a heck of a long time since I put anything here. As you can see, new year - new template design.

The major event of this year has to be my getting posted to Nanyang Junior College. This is where I will spend two years (hopefully only two) of university preparation. I must say I have no regrets putting this institution as the first choice.

1. Mr Kwek
What better way to start tertiary education than to have the school principal pat your back as you enter the school. Mr Kwek was also the principal of Anderson Secondary School in the early '90s and under his leadership, the school has made a giant leap forward, made obvious by its achievement as the "Best Neighbourhood School" in 1992, awarded by The Straits Times. If I'm not mistaken, it was he who convinced Mrs Chong, my Math teacher in secondary school to get an MSG of 1.0 for Maths, which materialised.

What makes Mr Kwek so adored by many, I think, is through his straightforward-ness and friendly demeanour. We have a strong sense of security being in NY, thanks to his repeated calls to "find him in the General Office if you have no money because nobody should be deprived of education." He is a principal who truly put the interests of his students first. He is one in a million.

2. O.G.
Imagine 900 people from 100 secondary schools converging to bring a school hall down. That's exactly what happened.