I miss...

I miss studying. 

Just sitting down and recalling my secondary one life is quite something. I remember waking up at 9am on most days as I was in the afternoon session. Would spend the morning doing homework, there wasn't much then, before leaving for school at about 11am.I remember that was the year I started listening to radio and would spend my nights listening to the dedication programmes on 98.7FM. That was quite something. I miss those songs from the mid 90s. Sometimes, hearing them on the radio brings back nice memories, partly the reason for this post. 

I miss the 6 day work week, when Saturday was the ECA day. Would spend Friday night polishing my boots; it was a ritual which I really enjoyed. We would willingly spend the whole of Saturday, from 6.30am to 3pm devoted to our ECAs. Like what someone said to me, no one really remembers what they studied, but they will remember their CCAs. True. Real value added-ness has to transcend pure academics. 

I miss my University days. When I had 18 week of study followed by another 18 weeks of holiday. Had so much time to recharge and do the things I wanted back then. 4 years passed so quickly. 

But in recent times, I really miss my practicum days even though it was only a year ago. I am glad I treasured those days, and it is nice to know that there are still some of them who read this blog. What would I give to have those days back? 

I guess time will tell. 

老了

You feel old when you go for a Planetshakers concert and you look around and you see your students. Felt that way at the Expo on Thursday. I'm getting a little too old for these kinds of concerts already. But you know, we will be doing this for eternity. 

As I was standing there, I was thinking to myself, the last time I was at a Planetshakers concert was in 2005, at SonicFest at Fort Canning. Nice date, but something I rather forget after 3 years. Prior to that, it was at Synerg!z that very same year. 

That one, I shouldn't try to forget and this post captures what happened then pretty well. It's really strange how times have changed so much. 

Lately, been feeling quite the same way as those days. Feeling that same sense of being drained and running on empty. But yet, reason is completely different. Back then, I had all the time in the world to ride things out, but this time, I don't. I guess the system is just that brutal.

April's Fools

It's almost the end of March. MADNESS!!!!! It still feels like school started yesterday! Tomorrow is the first of April. It is an old friend's birthday, lost contact with her many years ago though. We've actually got quite a scadalous history, but nevermind!

Tomorrow marks the start of the secnd quarter and am sure that my students will try play some tricks on me. I don't remember trying to play tricks on teachers when I was a student, we attempted, but failed spectacularly!

It was in Primary 6, my class had decided to play a prank on our Form Teacher; I cannot remember the exact nature of the prank though.

But as it happened, she walked into class with a really serious look on her face with a large stack of science worksheets. Then she proceeded to hand out the worksheets one by one, it was the prelim paper of some other school. After we received the whole stack, she made us seperate our desks and annouced that we had 1h 45mins to complete the whole paper!

It was a surprise test that would eat into our recess. Seeing how serious she was, we didn't protest and simply started our work.

Ten minutes into the "test" she stopped the test and annouced, "April Fools!". RIGHT! Our plan had backfired!

That was 15 years ago. It would be really nice to meet her again. But like I posted on a Teacher's Day post a few years ago, if I don't see her within this lifetime again, I know I will see her again beside the crystal sea.

Bizarre Bazaar

Hard to imagine that it has been 3 years to the day of the Falling Spinning Musical. Hard to imagine that all those songs all talked about graduation and questions about life. Back then I was pondering so hard on the choices I had upon graduation, whether to go to NIE or continue with honours or to do something else. Now here I am having graduated and teaching. 

Even those who were year 1s back during the musical would have graduated or would be in their final year now. Some of the participants are even married already. Indeed, seasons of love. 

The band. We still play at friends' weddings today. The best band I've ever had the privilege to work with. 

Those few months in 2005 were really trying ones for me; not unlike this year at all. Listening to all my friends' advice has been really useful the last few weeks. Even though I've got many months to go, plans have to be made. 

Surely there must be something more. Surely there must be something greater. 

Blessed Easter. 

Strange Equation

Time + Tragedy = Comedy

Something my brother told me a while back. How true. Chatted with an old friend today. Strange that I should even says she's an "old" friend since it only seems like yesterday that I met her. But it was almost 6 years ago in NUS, when we were both introduced to the Varsity Christian Fellowship Music Ministry. There was a lot of drama along the way, a lot of emotional pain but time indeed heals all wounds and makes all things new. It's strange how our conversations have changed from God, to music, to philosophy, to love, to educational psychology and now to teaching. I still remember the long lifts to and fro from school, that was 4 years ago! I still remember the pain when it became clear that she wasn't the one. I remember the redemption a year after that when she comforted me in my own pain at the NIE canteen. Today it was all laughs when we chatted over school. This time not as students but as teachers. It was really encouraging what she had to tell me from a dear sister once again. 

Its also strange how your prejudices against a person can change over time. I really hate entertaining thoughts of moving on, but sometimes, you just cannot work against your convictions and have to look fresher grazing grounds. Well, I still have a good 15 months at the least to pray about it. It's true, it is the students that keep you from moving on. 

Tomorrow is going to be the start of the second term. Things have to go into high gear. I can still remember practicum last year, the pressure was there, but the pressure was different. Will wake up to try reach school early tomorrow. The holidays have not really been much rest to me and I am actually more tired from mental stress than physical exhaustion. 

This is a powerful verse that adorns the school hall and though I read it nearly everyday, it really did not strike me as strong as it did at Fusion. 

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:28-31

I need to remember that as Term 2 begins. 

Cornerstone #7

Forget The Girl (AGAIN!!!!)

Here's a video of my brother's band. It's an acoustic version of one of their songs. And yes... that is really them! 

FORGET THE GIRL!

Not to worry, I wasn't jilted or anything, neither is this some emo post... it's a post about my brother's band! He needs ALL your help, they are currently based in the USA and they would really like to tour Asia. 

All you have to do is to visit their website:

Forget the Girl

OR you can click this link to DOWNLOAD all their CD, mp3, liner notes and all. ABSOLUTELY FREE AND LEGAL! In fact they want you to download it, rip it, burn more CDs and give away to others. 

FREE MUSIC

If the link above isn't working copy and past this one:

http://www.forgetthegirl.com/share/ftgmp3.zip

If any of you want the actual CD, I still have a few left, you can look for me! :D

*post dated so that it will stay on top*

The circle is now complete!

Went to popular at Bras Basar to buy some more stuff to decorate my classroom. After reading Wenya's blog, I really miss the homeroom system; it is unfortunately a system not very suited for secondary school. Perhaps a hybrid might be a good idea. 

Anyway, they were having a massive book sale at Bras Basar! Nearly all the 2nd book shops had displays in the concourse. I set about looking for 3 books, 3 books that I've been looking for for more than a decade. And I found them!

The full original Robotech collection! The book that I bought is book #12, the Symphony of Light. It's the best condition of all the books there! I initially bought the novels in Primary 6 and the last book "End of the cricle" in NS; I finally have the whole collection!

There is a Robotech renaissance going on with the new Shadow Chronicles being finally put into film. However, sadly, the books have been reduced to secondary continuity. I am going to buy the who DVD collection from ADV films one day. 

The DarkSun Prism Pentad. I've been looking for this collection for about a decade now. I finally found the first 3 books during a similar fair in NUS towards the end of my University life, today I found the last 2. 

9862 Days

That's 27 years of which 7 are leap years. Of course, regular readers to my blog will know that that format of a post signifies my birthday. So yes, I'm 27 today, the 8th of March. 

Unlike last year, where I posted that I feel quite youthful, I have to say that I've aged a lot in the past year. As you grow older, you see things from a different perspective and even as much as you want to do things in a certain way, you know that that would not be the best way. 

So what will happen this coming year? I don't know. It's been a very heart wrenching one so far, when you see people hurt themselves and you cannot really do much about it. So on this day, I will light some candles as much as I can. 

Carry your candle, Run to the darkness

Seek out the lonely, confused and torn

Hold out your candle, For all to see

Take your candle

Go light your world

Classique!

They don't make chinese dramas like these anymore!







Listening those songs made my hair stand man! I think I should subcribe to Mobtv to view these old dramas again. I used to be able to play the last two songs on the recorder actually.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS! No internet, no handphones, no pagers, no MSN just simple fun!

From my archives" Are you old enough

It's all part of a grander plan

The Rascal Flatts has been ringing in my head for the past few days. It's V-day today. 14 Feb 2008, made some plans a few years ago to do something this day. But like I wrote in a previous post, some plans are better left unlaid. Almost forgot about it, till a few days when I was reading through my archives.

Came across this post while reading my archives. They say a broken heart sings the sweetest song. Well, that was a really long time ago, reading that made my hair stand a little. But I had to read the rest of it, that post only captured about one-half of the full poem, there are 13 more verses, but the rest will never be published. I really wonder where I got the inspiration to write like that.

I wish that somethings could be different. But it takes a good and young friend to tell me that she's celebrating singlehood today to remind me that there are other things in this world to work for. Like school. It's been really tough the last few days. I'm really touched by what some of the students fed-back to those in "high places", but I'm a "little" appalled at the response. I sometimes wonder how "grand" the plan can be.

Saw something interesting today. I am supposed to be teaching 5 classes this year. But when I checked one of the online data management systems, discovered 2 other classes under my name. In other words, I'm actually supposed to have 7 classes! More work! Project work I believe, which only starts next term. Looking at the classlists of those 2 classes, well, brought a smile to my face. I honestly don't mind adding 4 more periods to my timetable. Though it is already quite heavy!

Cornerstone update #6

Almost done!

Nice break.

CNY was a nice long 4 day break this year. Still can't beat the year when Chinese New Year and Hari Raya coincided, it was a very long holiday then! Too bad I was in NS. 

Those 4 days are probably more break I will get than the March holidays and the next break will be the June holidays. The year seems to be flying by too fast. 

How time flies

Time flies... it just goes right by and before you know it another year has passed. Getting considerably less and less angpows this year and getting more and more aunts asking me "the question". 

Well, was just thinking back at my old secondary school days just the other day. I keep wondering why students nowadays are so busy and why school ends so late. I don't remember having 2 recesses in a day or having to stay back late for CCA. 

School used to be double session, when I was in lower secondary at least. So no possibilities of early or late classes. School had to start at 12.30pm sharp and end at 6pm. 

School used to be on a 6-day timetable. So CCA was always on Saturday, we never stayed back on weekdays and we enjoyed coming back to school on Saturdays. In fact, we would gladly stay from 6.30am to 4pm on Saturdays just for CCA. 

Things changed in Secondary 3 when TK went single session. But school still ended relatively early, 2pm latest. I realise that we did not have a subject called Social Studies, so that knocks off a few periods off the timetable. 

Well, things have certainly changed. I wonder how all this helps students of this era, but I would certainly be tired by the above. 

Cornerstone update #5

Been a while, but just received the latest pictures from Peter! :D

Here are some shots of the neck!

Really intense!

Had my first good night's sleeps since the start of the year last night. Been up till late every night since the start of the school year. Prayer works wonders. 

Well, have harsh decisions to make in the next few months. As it is, I've already clocked up a lot of "extra-curricular activities". 

It's been terribly exciting so far.  I really wonder what else can be thrown my way this year. 

Baptism of fire

Well, that's what I was thinking this afternoon. Not by chance that another teacher said exactly the same thing to me later in the day. Got a big decision to make in the next few days; a tough one that will affect me much in the next few years. 

Hard to imagine a year ago I was preparing for practicum. Harder to imagine it was just one and a half years ago when I started my NIE training and wrote that post about rediscovering the call. Sometimes its good to read old posts, to remind yourself of your purpose in this life. 

"It's a different burden", that's what one of the Senior Teachers at TMS told those first few days. He was referring to producing all the As. But yes, reading that old post was a good reminder that it is a different burden. 

The point of difference. That was my post just as I left practicum. I wrote, "I will be praying that I will remember why I do this and that I will never lose that call to be the difference". Yeah, that's what I need to be praying about. 

I've only ever been for one AnnTIC. That was a traumatic event for me. It was the wilderness experience. I wrote that in my practicum journal, coming out from the wilderness and (literally) to the mountain top. Reading that was a good reminder as well. 

It's been a baptism of fire the past few days. There is an instinctive need in me to be different, yet there is a need to balance and temper that with tough love. Its a struggle (on both sides of the classroom) that I wish for no one. 

So Lord, open my eyes that I may see the work of Your hands. 

Strange...

It's strange how you appreciate something only when it is gone. Like how my former Form Class has suddenly changed their nicks to be so similar on MSN.

1st day...

Been warned by the more experienced teachers that your voice really needs to warm up. True enough, had a tough time projecting my voice today; totally not warmed up. Now I know why they tell me that you'd get a sore throat every time a new semester starts. 

Just came back from TRACkers opening service. Felt really refreshed myself after that. I think I must somehow try wake up at 4.30am and go cycling again.