Superboy recently took up a new mission. I hate his task. It's too much time consuming and the payoff is unreasonable! Speaking of benefits from BIG local organisation. I feel so sad for him... He wanted to achieve a lot but the chances given to him are slim. Superboy wanted to use it as a stepping stone but is this stone a little too uneven to land your feet on? I know Superboy is able to undertake any amount of hardship in order to fulfill the mission. But I hate to see him spending more than 12hrs at his work place. I know I sound like I'm whining. Perhaps the librian side of me surfaced... I feel unjustified for Superboy! He is spending more time than I am at work but the pay is peanuts! Fresh grads... what can we expect? We can expect LUCK! I am lucky and I believe Superboy will be too! I just hope he can find (much!) greener pastures elsewhere. We all work to survive, not work till no life! I hope an angel will come and bring him away from the horrible place soon.....
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Monday, October 17, 2005
A quarter of a century old
Reflecting on the past 25 years of my life...
Primary school
---------------
A street-smart girl for my age. Loves pretty frocks and Chomel hairbands but sporting a short crop hairstyle and was always mistaken as a young lad. Likes to collect Barbie dolls and play with paper dolls just like a typical little girl. Also likes to meddle with bows & arrows, swords, guns, cars like the boys. Love to read and developed an interest in writing since then. Abundant energy and full of zest, I played all possible sports in school. Was in the school's squad for atheletics, basketball & badminton. A well-known pupil among the principal, teachers, bookshop uncle, canteen aunties & the school dentist as a result of the many activites involved - the annual class play, inter-class quizzes, prefectorial board since Pri. 3, appointed to raise the Singapore flag during the National antemn everyday. Full of expectations by the teachers, but was greatly disappointed when the PSLE result was only good enough to land me in an average neighbourhood school....
Secondary School
-------------------
My teenage years were pathetic. I hated everything about the school since day 1. The school building was shabby and dilapidated. The school location was near Jurong port, for goodness sake! The uniform was a dull and uninteresting grey. The principal and teachers couldn't even speak proper English. The classrooms tables & chairs were made of wood (!) and had deteriorated. The library has a weird smell and its floor is carpetted in an old-fashioned red carpet. It has limited books and they were almost of a century old. The squeezy music room is located at a quiet corner of the building and was rumoured to be haunted. I wondered how could one's musical creativity be cultivated in a ramshackled shed like this.
Decided to seek some solace in my favourite sports. Went to their basketball training (The school is super proud of this sport) only to realise that it had been dominated by all the main players from a rival primary school team, who had been training since the holidays. The first time I felt left out and unimportant. Wanted very much to play a sport and go to competitions. Went for their badminton try-outs and was selected as a vice-captain but so what? After half a year, I realised the school had no budget for the necessary equipment for trainings and the school has no intention to send any team for badminton tournaments. In short, it is a Badminton (Recreation) Club. The school had no proper channels to do things. You can be selected for an individual event on Sports Day and you even had your name registered but the minute before the competition, your name can be replaced by either the volleyball or basketball player. The whole Sports Day is a day for the basketballers & volleyballers to compete among themselves only. I decided not to attend Sports Day the year after that.
Since then, I had come to a point where I am down right disappointed. And I decided to stop all involvement with the school. My ECA grade was a D in my leaving cert. (Haha!) Since I was not able to create a reputation in terms of a sportswoman, I began to focus my attention to my academic, determined to leave my name among the list of top students. I always bear this vengeance inside me. I want to prove what I'd got. I got 2nd in class during my 1st year and went on to the top class every year.
People may think that I must be a nerd then since I had above-average results. Although I may looked like one beside the "Ah Lian" with her Chantel Thomass bag and her Guess paperbag plus her Ferragamo hairband, I don't bury myself in textbooks everyday. I don't mug, I just enjoy doing the assignments and learning about new Maths formulaes. I can have my dinner, yak on the phone and complete a tutorial at the same time. I was not a good-looking teenager at that time, so I had less distraction regarding guys. All my friends started talking about their previous night conversation with the Ah Beng from another school, holding hands with a guy, their awkward first kiss, etc. Well, I had none of those experience. I was just the plain jane who keeps "falling in love" with guys whom I'd never spoken to.
It was until my sweet sixteen when things started to look a little better. I began to get recognised in a way. I was selected to represent my class in the various inter-class quizzes and I had made a few good friends in the school. I think i started to grow up. I stopped all my silly fantasies of having a boyfriend or be the Ah Lian who is much sought after by Ah Bengs.
College
--------
Wanted a different environment so I decided to opt for this ang-mo-pai school in Dover Road. It painted a much better picture than my secondary school. There were no Ah Lians or Ah Bengs in sight. Fights among gangsters were unheard of. Everyone looked so neat and tidy. The convent girls were pretty and the ACS guys were good-looking. Everyone looked so happy. I was even nicknamed "Ah Lian" by my classmates because I was wearing a frosty hairclip?! My classmates were from single-sex school except me. They had never sat in a class with the opposite sex before and you can see the class is splitted out distinctively by the gender. All the girls had no boyfriend before, just like me. I was actually engaged in lengthy conversation every night with an ACS guy and it was the 1st time a decent-looking guy ever showed an interest in me. That was the turning point of my life. I was still not the most popular person in school but I was living a life that is full of excitment. There were countless class parties at the garden of the home, group movies, dinners at Billy Bombers, etc. I wanted to try a go at basketball again. Joined their basketball team but the school culture was not into this sport. After a friendly game with a neighbouring college and was thrashed badly, I decided to switch college after the 'O' level result release.
The school exterior resembles a chalet. A very good environment for studying. The lecture theatres were more comfy than the previous. I was a little skeptical at first when I went to my class. The people did not look as interesting and fun. The teachers were all very devoted and patient. Although it was also a mission school. there were no teachers chasing after you for donation. In my 1st month into the school, I was shortlisted for the prestigious Temasek Seminar, nominated as a counsillor and selected for an inter-class story-telling competition. I was honoured to be appreciated by my civic tutor but somehow I was not keen to take up the tasks. Got into the basketball team but I realised I was already lack behind by 4 years in term of experience and skills as compared to those who had been training throughout their secondary school life. Despite not being the superstar in the team, I know all is fair here. I was actively involved again in the 2 years in college. I joined all the inter-class, inter-faculty games possible. I had great fun with my class during the annual Sport Day, College day, Heritage Day, etc. It was fun-filled. When it was time to study, we got down to study and when it was time to play, even the teachers were crazy!
Each day was an interesting day for me. I still remembered how I looked forward to seeing this gorgeous tall guy in between lectures/tutorials along the corridor just to exchange smiles, after the day he approached me in the basketball court. I was skipping the introductory lectures and was shooting some baskets in the court. It was then when I started my 1st relationship... It was a short relationship that lasted not more than 2 months. I was ignorant then. I know nothing about guys. Nevertheless, it was an unforgettable experience during my college days....
University
----------
Surprisingly, nothing much to mention for my 4 years in uni. Guess there were nothing new to learn about life except maybe getting into more nightlife partying & relationships. Haha! Friends I made in uni came and go. Met some interesting people as well as some weirdos thou'. I was not involved in any activities purely b'cos I see no interest in doing so. I did however, took part in the ocassional faculty basketball games). What I remembered was most of the time spent was sleeping! I did not study much in uni and that prolly explains my not so glorious results. :) Academic-wise to me was not of utmost importance as well as I managed to advance to the next year "peacefully". Your career in life does not depends on your results, but it's about opportunity. Once you get into a reputable uni and course, you'll be safe. That's my viewpoint.
Writing all these really made me recall numerous things... I realised so many years had passed.... The schoolmate whom you were not familiar with 10 years ago, may be the father of your children in future. Your best friend 20 years ago may be the person who sat beside you in the bus this morning but without recognition.
I want to thank Superboy for the wonderful birthday surprise he had given me. A BIG bouquet of champagne roses & lilies, the choc moose cheesecake and the beautiful night at Scarlet boutique Hotel! :)
Primary school
---------------
A street-smart girl for my age. Loves pretty frocks and Chomel hairbands but sporting a short crop hairstyle and was always mistaken as a young lad. Likes to collect Barbie dolls and play with paper dolls just like a typical little girl. Also likes to meddle with bows & arrows, swords, guns, cars like the boys. Love to read and developed an interest in writing since then. Abundant energy and full of zest, I played all possible sports in school. Was in the school's squad for atheletics, basketball & badminton. A well-known pupil among the principal, teachers, bookshop uncle, canteen aunties & the school dentist as a result of the many activites involved - the annual class play, inter-class quizzes, prefectorial board since Pri. 3, appointed to raise the Singapore flag during the National antemn everyday. Full of expectations by the teachers, but was greatly disappointed when the PSLE result was only good enough to land me in an average neighbourhood school....
Secondary School
-------------------
My teenage years were pathetic. I hated everything about the school since day 1. The school building was shabby and dilapidated. The school location was near Jurong port, for goodness sake! The uniform was a dull and uninteresting grey. The principal and teachers couldn't even speak proper English. The classrooms tables & chairs were made of wood (!) and had deteriorated. The library has a weird smell and its floor is carpetted in an old-fashioned red carpet. It has limited books and they were almost of a century old. The squeezy music room is located at a quiet corner of the building and was rumoured to be haunted. I wondered how could one's musical creativity be cultivated in a ramshackled shed like this.
Decided to seek some solace in my favourite sports. Went to their basketball training (The school is super proud of this sport) only to realise that it had been dominated by all the main players from a rival primary school team, who had been training since the holidays. The first time I felt left out and unimportant. Wanted very much to play a sport and go to competitions. Went for their badminton try-outs and was selected as a vice-captain but so what? After half a year, I realised the school had no budget for the necessary equipment for trainings and the school has no intention to send any team for badminton tournaments. In short, it is a Badminton (Recreation) Club. The school had no proper channels to do things. You can be selected for an individual event on Sports Day and you even had your name registered but the minute before the competition, your name can be replaced by either the volleyball or basketball player. The whole Sports Day is a day for the basketballers & volleyballers to compete among themselves only. I decided not to attend Sports Day the year after that.
Since then, I had come to a point where I am down right disappointed. And I decided to stop all involvement with the school. My ECA grade was a D in my leaving cert. (Haha!) Since I was not able to create a reputation in terms of a sportswoman, I began to focus my attention to my academic, determined to leave my name among the list of top students. I always bear this vengeance inside me. I want to prove what I'd got. I got 2nd in class during my 1st year and went on to the top class every year.
People may think that I must be a nerd then since I had above-average results. Although I may looked like one beside the "Ah Lian" with her Chantel Thomass bag and her Guess paperbag plus her Ferragamo hairband, I don't bury myself in textbooks everyday. I don't mug, I just enjoy doing the assignments and learning about new Maths formulaes. I can have my dinner, yak on the phone and complete a tutorial at the same time. I was not a good-looking teenager at that time, so I had less distraction regarding guys. All my friends started talking about their previous night conversation with the Ah Beng from another school, holding hands with a guy, their awkward first kiss, etc. Well, I had none of those experience. I was just the plain jane who keeps "falling in love" with guys whom I'd never spoken to.
It was until my sweet sixteen when things started to look a little better. I began to get recognised in a way. I was selected to represent my class in the various inter-class quizzes and I had made a few good friends in the school. I think i started to grow up. I stopped all my silly fantasies of having a boyfriend or be the Ah Lian who is much sought after by Ah Bengs.
College
--------
Wanted a different environment so I decided to opt for this ang-mo-pai school in Dover Road. It painted a much better picture than my secondary school. There were no Ah Lians or Ah Bengs in sight. Fights among gangsters were unheard of. Everyone looked so neat and tidy. The convent girls were pretty and the ACS guys were good-looking. Everyone looked so happy. I was even nicknamed "Ah Lian" by my classmates because I was wearing a frosty hairclip?! My classmates were from single-sex school except me. They had never sat in a class with the opposite sex before and you can see the class is splitted out distinctively by the gender. All the girls had no boyfriend before, just like me. I was actually engaged in lengthy conversation every night with an ACS guy and it was the 1st time a decent-looking guy ever showed an interest in me. That was the turning point of my life. I was still not the most popular person in school but I was living a life that is full of excitment. There were countless class parties at the garden of the home, group movies, dinners at Billy Bombers, etc. I wanted to try a go at basketball again. Joined their basketball team but the school culture was not into this sport. After a friendly game with a neighbouring college and was thrashed badly, I decided to switch college after the 'O' level result release.
The school exterior resembles a chalet. A very good environment for studying. The lecture theatres were more comfy than the previous. I was a little skeptical at first when I went to my class. The people did not look as interesting and fun. The teachers were all very devoted and patient. Although it was also a mission school. there were no teachers chasing after you for donation. In my 1st month into the school, I was shortlisted for the prestigious Temasek Seminar, nominated as a counsillor and selected for an inter-class story-telling competition. I was honoured to be appreciated by my civic tutor but somehow I was not keen to take up the tasks. Got into the basketball team but I realised I was already lack behind by 4 years in term of experience and skills as compared to those who had been training throughout their secondary school life. Despite not being the superstar in the team, I know all is fair here. I was actively involved again in the 2 years in college. I joined all the inter-class, inter-faculty games possible. I had great fun with my class during the annual Sport Day, College day, Heritage Day, etc. It was fun-filled. When it was time to study, we got down to study and when it was time to play, even the teachers were crazy!
Each day was an interesting day for me. I still remembered how I looked forward to seeing this gorgeous tall guy in between lectures/tutorials along the corridor just to exchange smiles, after the day he approached me in the basketball court. I was skipping the introductory lectures and was shooting some baskets in the court. It was then when I started my 1st relationship... It was a short relationship that lasted not more than 2 months. I was ignorant then. I know nothing about guys. Nevertheless, it was an unforgettable experience during my college days....
University
----------
Surprisingly, nothing much to mention for my 4 years in uni. Guess there were nothing new to learn about life except maybe getting into more nightlife partying & relationships. Haha! Friends I made in uni came and go. Met some interesting people as well as some weirdos thou'. I was not involved in any activities purely b'cos I see no interest in doing so. I did however, took part in the ocassional faculty basketball games). What I remembered was most of the time spent was sleeping! I did not study much in uni and that prolly explains my not so glorious results. :) Academic-wise to me was not of utmost importance as well as I managed to advance to the next year "peacefully". Your career in life does not depends on your results, but it's about opportunity. Once you get into a reputable uni and course, you'll be safe. That's my viewpoint.
Writing all these really made me recall numerous things... I realised so many years had passed.... The schoolmate whom you were not familiar with 10 years ago, may be the father of your children in future. Your best friend 20 years ago may be the person who sat beside you in the bus this morning but without recognition.
I want to thank Superboy for the wonderful birthday surprise he had given me. A BIG bouquet of champagne roses & lilies, the choc moose cheesecake and the beautiful night at Scarlet boutique Hotel! :)
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