Monday, November 24, 2008
Reflections
Lessons from PH1101E
1. You can only feel the existence of the 'in' group you're in, only after the presence of the contrasting 'out' group. In a way, the 'out' group actually helps to solidify the bonds within the 'in' group. Like how can you ever feel very strongly for your country if there are no other countries?
2. You can ONLY be completely sure of your stand after all possible challenges to it have been exhausted. The challenges actually let you know your stand better, as they pit your stand against many plausible alternatives. As such, challenges to your stand are good, as it helps you consolidate the belief towards the original stand. Without knowing the plausible alternatives, how can one be ever sure the current stand is the best one? (Much like the existence of the 'out' group consolidating the 'in' group)
From an emotional point of view, alternatives are irritating. They often leave one frustrated, as the challenging of one's status quo is often hard to accept. Agreements lead to on-the-surface happiness, but it leads to nothing learnt.
That's kinda what Obama meant when he said, "Even if you didn't vote for me, I hear your voice.". Agreeing to disagree, the beauty of liberalism.
Haha what's the point? I think this post has a similiar vein to my previous post entitled 'Respect'.
lowtide blogged @
3:13 am
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Exams
Saw mich's post on the exams, and feel rather inspired to blog, but just a short one bah.
Despite my lofty aims this time round, it's great that I'm mightily chill this exam period.
It feels good having done consistent work throughout the sem, and now I'm enjoying the fruits of my previous labour. Not just in action, but mentally as well, as I tried to absorb as much as I can as the lectures wore on, and asked questions immediately to the lecturer once I had any parts I could not understand.
I think that is the reason why I worked so hard then, cos I knew I wanna slack (relatively) during this period, rather than cramming in and panicking at the very last moment. This is so especially when I have 6 papers and they are rather crammed.
It feels good to have this peace in my mind amidst the chaos of the volumous academic stuff looming on, and it certainly feels good to go into battle with the weapons made long ago.
Just love having a room in campus, and how it facilitates my resting (hence better understanding in lectures, better mental state when doing tutorials), and of course, the convenience.
It is very expensive, and my cash is running low, but I'm willing to pay for it as long as it helps me achieve what I want to achieve. Rem: Do whatever it takes!
I realised I really need solitude when I study, so I can really engross myself mentally when I study, and not be disrupted by anyone, even as willing as I am in helping others.
This feels good, and I hope by the time the results come, I could be a big step nearer to my dream. =)
lowtide blogged @
11:54 pm
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sending off
Just sent off auntie at the airport.
Despite the worries of her not being able to take care of herself in a different climate and country, I'm happy for her, that after so many years, she finally got to board a plane.
She finally got to get off from either work or housework, and she finally got to go around relaxing and get away from the mundane life she has been leading for almost her whole life.
Well, one thing about me is that I can't stand bad-tempered people.
No matter how nice, how funny, how generous the person is, I'll try to be friendly, but I'll never be close. Cos to me, such characters are dubious, and I'll just be wary of them.
Even worse will be people who lie just to achieve their agenda, that's a definite no-no for me. So even for people whom went through shit with me, I'll be grateful for the times, but I'll never be close, that's just me.
It's not that I can't stand dissent or disagreement, despite my strong feelings on matters.
I've been through very strong disagreements with people, and I've can classify these people into two groups.
1. People who can trash out matters, vigorously, but in a civil way, and sought to seek the understanding between two contesting points of view.
2. People who are defensive, basing their ideas first before anything else, faking a front of understanding 'the other side', only to show insistence in his/her own ideas/instincts.
Why am I saying this? I'm only slightly sure. But if you belong to the 'I can't stand' categories, you know who you are.
And if you feel you have no need to change yourself, it's your right too. =)
lowtide blogged @
2:00 am
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Talk cock
Spent the last 2 days talking cock in clubroom.
It felt good, really. To just like meet up with these old friends, plus a few of the new ones, and just sit down there and talk cock.
Like shouting in hokkien, adding in the odd (ok many) vulgarities, and joking about people and some issues.
One more lecture (Ake Gunnar Blomqvist) to the end of the sem!
Exam period coming = more talking cock in the clubroom! =)
lowtide blogged @
1:05 am
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Yes we can! Yes I can?
After spending the last 7 torturous days thinking, preparing, analyzing, finding and writing for my SC2101 term paper, I finally get to rest now.
Finally I'm done with all my mid-terms, presentations, website and term paper!
Well, taking six modules is tough, and I'm proud to say (in the clubroom just now) that I'm still kicking and alive.
Doing this term paper, to me, has pushed my current limits.
A while ago, Kaiwei was telling me about a friend of hers feeling stressed due to studies.
However, I said to her I'm not worried, as this is part of the neccessary "labour pains", when you aim for higher things, and you work extra hard.
That conversation reminded me how working in AK a few months back changed my mindset towards things.
In the past, I was like many other people - doing their perceived 'best', and hope for the 'best' outcome. Like in the chats I had with some people during the semester, they refused to take in the notion that anything could be achieved, and instead emphasise on the concept of being "realistic".
Perhaps, this is the difference I saw in me. When I worked, I heard about the story of Sylvester Stallone. On how despite his stonic expression and blurred speech, he fought all his way (even selling his beloved dog at one point) to become an actor, and a very famous one indeed. I watched a film on how an African American man battled racial prejudice to become a marine, and how he fought to be reinstated after the loss of his leg. I saw how a little boy born with deadly sickness fulfilled his 3 dreams within his very short lifespan (he died at the age 11). He published a book spreading messages of peace, he met ex-US president Jimmy Carter, and he appeared on the Oprah Winfrey (whose own life is an inspiration to us all) show.
And many other such stories.
They inspired me. If these people can battle such circumstances to achieve what they have achieved, many things in this world cannot be termed as 'impossible'.
After learning the lessons of such stories, being 'realistic', to me, becomes just an excuse for people to judge future outcome based on the status quo, or the refusal to pin-point the reasons that caused these unwanted 'realities' in the first place.
You know, as mentioned before, it's funny for me to hear how many people supported Obama, without knowing what his polices are, and what he stands for. It's even funnier to hear people marvelling about how a Black president would signify the beginning of the end of racism in USA, when they themselves are racists.
Anyway, that's not the point. If we were to find Obama's speeches so-called 'inspiring', we have to know what it stands for. Yes we can! Everybody can shout that, but do people apply that 'Yes I can!' spirit in their very own lives?
People cheered Obama said that cynicism and doubts will not stop what they can achieve, yet when faced with their own lives, they use the exact doubts and self-cynicism to restrict what they can achieve.
If Obama was being perfectly 'realistic' 1 to 2 years ago, he would have told himself, "Come on, I'm just one of the 100 senators in the Senate, barely 3 years into my office. Hillary Clinton is tauted as the 'inevitable democratic candidate', has the political clout of being a former First Lady, has massive political resume and experience, of course I stand absolutely no chance of clinching the nomination, not to say the presidency!".
But he believed, he planned, and he got it. For him, it was relatively 'smooth', as he fought a brilliant publicity campaign, and I applaud him for that.
However, for those who are not so 'lucky', it is the response to failure that decides whether success will ultimately be achieved.
1. Some people give up at the first signs of failure, citing 'being realistic' as the reason.
2. Some people continue to work hard, but continue using the methods of failure, without bothering to find out how successful people achieve success. Belief is strong, but the method is wrong.
And the sieving will continue. Along the way, some people who keep working hard, but keep using the methods of failure, will one day give up, and join number 1.
Ultimately, only people who accepts that failure as the result of wrongly-employed methods, rather than the lack of ability, will take actions to change (does this word sound familiar? =P) , learn from the best, and achieve success.
Well, what I want to achieve for this semester is tough, really tough. But I'll continue to believe, continue to be motivated, and continue to learn from the great mistakes learnt from the flop last sem.
Yes I can!
(but only with the correct strategy)
lowtide blogged @
1:10 am
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Some words.
要成功，就不要怕吃苦。
怕吃苦，就别想要成功。
成功背后一定有代价。问一问自己：要付出代价，或要放弃成功？若意已决，就别往后看。要享受成功的果实，就别感叹代价多么的高。要享受放弃的悠闲，就别感叹成功多么的少。
"A fool is someone who does things the same way yet expecting a different result."
"To achieve success, do what the situation requires, rather than what you like."
"Persistence in the methods of failure will result in the persistence of failure."
与他人比较，于事无补。他人的失败, 难道意味着自己的成功吗？
与自己相比，成败，好坏，全由自身而定，不因外来因素而改变初衷。
因别人失败而沾沾自喜， 或因别人成功而自叹不如，因他人而喜，因他人而忧，为他人而活，既愚之，亦蠢之。
lowtide blogged @
1:13 am
