.

book out!

2009-01-26T01:05:00.002+08:00

HAPPY NIU YEAR TO ALL FRIENDS AND FAMILY! let's hope we will brace ourselves and strive real hard like an ox in the farm till we emerge victorious from a bad economic downturn and smaller yet still important adversities in the army or at work!

I have already served NS for 16 days. long it may seem for others, it passed by dam fast for me. We are already handling our 'wife', and equipped with military skills. I see my progress in fitness and is getting used to the regimentation and not-using-ur-brain kinda life. well looking at it in a positive light, there's actually still alot of things to learn, fun things to do, new people to meet. NS can be quite fun! at least there is less stress on assignments, tests, deadlines etc.

I kinda like my platoon, good mix of people. quite a few i can clique with and can talk to, no ultra garang people, no wayang personnel, HEALTHY, oh and none with bad body odour (it's impt ok!) i think i just need a week or two more to adjust fully to army life, and hopefully i will be able take something away from this, and not be drained by the constant thoughts of OCS etc. I just want to enjoy, learn, reflect, improve!

and i got overseas merit scholarship (OMS-open), which means possibility of NS disruption this sept/oct and flying to UK to study in cambridge. WOOHOO! but its 'open' which entails things i haven thought thru about, so i need to straighten out my thinking.

i will give you an answer, when i get one.

BYE!

2009-01-07T22:31:00.001+08:00

goodbye world! for the next 2 months.

hello tekong! here i come.

i got butterflies in my tummy and a frog in my throat. mixed feelings of sianness, excitement and anxiety. hurhur.

good news

2009-01-06T17:23:00.002+08:00

a conditional offer to churchill college, cambridge!!!
if i attain 3As for bio chem math at 'A' levels.

i was still shaking when i picked up the envelope from my postbox and tried to open it. as i pulled it out the words conditional offer flashed past immediately, and i jus wanted to scream and heave a very long sigh of relief. then when the excitement died down a little the realities began to set in. this meant more at stake, but of cause hope is still there.

what does it entail: i may be given a place to study there in october this year if i clear my As. i will need disruption from NS, so PSC side has to clear (the interview is on 14th, results within 5 days). if not, i may have to defer the offer from cam, or may even need to reject it. so i really need to score on the interview!

wm and nazri goes in today, hope they're still doing well in there (THEY ARE IN PEGASUS TROOP) tml it will be jason and jarren, then my turn! i may not have a chance to blog until CNY, so sorry guys you jus have to wait. i will take care of myself at NS i promise so don't worry. for the girls and guys still out there working, all the best and do take care of urselves too!

on the 5th day of 2009

2009-01-06T00:40:00.002+08:00

the fun of meeting up with the old vs boys again before NS
the joy of looking at two babies playing a fool on the MRT train
the excitement of a strength of 20 for ODAC dinner
the unexpected compliment that tells you people are noticing (even when you least realised)
the struggles with a close friend that disappears (like always)
the disappointment of a dream unfulfilled (i still have hair)
the sudden realisation that army life takes u away from your friends
the inspiration of entering a post like this xD

new year, new room, new realisations, new (no) hair

2009-01-04T22:14:00.004+08:00

4th day of 2009 and a MAJOR breakthrough! for the first time in 18 years, i have my OWN ROOM!! well half a room to be exact, because the other half is filled with boxes and boxes of STUFF. stuff that we never used but it always sits in the house. if u had made a trip to my house, u would know what i mean - my house is really like a big store room. ok but at least we (my parents la more of) have learnt and are starting to clear off stuff for good! good for me, less headache in the future.

spent alot of time transferring my study table (which i never used as there were just too many stuff to put there, no room u see?) and bed up, and to rearrange the stuff. i can finally display my awards and medals, and all the victoriana and postcards i painstakingly keep, can even maintain a photo wall like that in maho's room.

new realisations occurred at grandma house just now. before dinner, my grandparents and aunt prayed for my safety in NS. my grandma was so worried that tears streamed down my face. i dun usually show the soft side to my family, so i nonchalantly said that i'll be ok with my training in NPCC and ODAC, but of cuz inevitably a tinge our sourness emerged from within. family love is always intangible, u won't realise it exist until moments like this. i recall josiah's story about playing for his grandmother and how they always delayed. well i think now that i still have the opportunity with my two paternal grandparents, i should cherish them. my grandpa is already 90+ (i lost count, born in year of rabbit, can count) no longer clear-minded but still loud, swollen legs, frequent headaches, difficulty in mobility. every day is a gift, not jus for him but his family members. hmm i'm not sure i'm doing enough as a grandson, but i still have time.

on a lighter note, i will be shaving my head alongside odac boys tml. show u photos then!

2008.

2009-01-03T14:44:00.004+08:00

sorry this came only on the 3rd day of the month, there was no internet access in our hotels. alongside with the beautiful fireworks from our hotel room windows, 2009 came with a lot of reflection and realisations. never though how significant a new year will be, until i really thought of a whole year's work, leaving it behind, learning the good and bad, and moving on to a new chapter.

new year's day was filled with a lot of thoughts, especially on the bus journey to ipoh hot spring. bus journeys are a good time to emo and reflect, haha there are always places where i can think think until tears flush my eyes.

2008 was a great year. in school, i'd accomplish so many feats. from the start, it was orientation where i was stretch out of my comfort zone and pushed to my physical and mental limits. but all the hard work paid off as my OG emerged 3rd and i believe my freshmen and OGLs had alot of fun. then it was ODAC all the way with B2B, OLC and DARE to plan. that really tested us as a batch because there were so many things to do with so little time! i'm glad that each were responsible, helpful, accomodating and understanding that disagreements were minimal and ultra-efficiency overwrote everything else.

in june, CLIC was another blasting success, being one of the camps i've learnt the most out of. i learn from my fellow facis, my group 'excelerate', eka and teachers, and myself. yes myself, it was the one camp where i learnt so much more about my strengths and weaknesses, upsides and downsides. it was very fulfilling, and one of my proudest achievements in life thus far, having planned a successful camp! shortly thereafter, we stood down from all our co curricular activities and went on towards the fight for academic performance at the 'A's. because of all the commitments, i truly started studying real hard from june. it was not long before i ended up at the scrabble board, with that bunch of wonderful people who have provided me with motivation, joy, a lot of laughters, and a chance to do what i like to do the best: tutor! you guys made studying for the 'A's so much easier.

then i had two attachments with MFA and MOE which i learnt alot more about potential career pathways. about scholarships and higher education, this year i transformed from a clueless child to an informed adult. i'm sure of what i want to do in the future. applied for UK universities and PSC scholarships. it was a whole lot of decisions to be made, and all thanks to the help by peers and tchers, i was able to make informed decisions.

for my relationships with friends it wasnt at all smooth sailing. frankly speaking wm and i struggled so many times this year, all the way from june until recently. we met so many deadends, roadblocks, talked for so many times, seemingly resolved issues but always left some hanging, or what i like to call as carried excess baggage alongside us. i felt like giving up this imba frenship so many times, but somehow it was jus not possible. it is true i have lost that initial outrageous feeling developed last year, but i have gained back something else in the process. what it entails i do not know yet, but each day i affirm further why he is so special, and takes up so much weight in my heart. we have come so far, and ot3 should be a start of something better, i look forward to being long-life buddies with this idiot haha.

not forgetting josiah, a recently discovered confidant and big brother. josiah is a thoughtful, truthful and ORGANIC (no preservatives, engineering or whatsoever) person. inspiring, motivational, and always taught me how to be imaginative and how to dream. as a big bro he takes care of me so well, and really let me feel that it is someone i can so depend on. thanks bro if ur reading this! i really really appreciate u for everything u have done and are about to do.

girlfriends. hmmm. a blank sheet for me duh! although it gets a little frustrating sometimes when all ur friends are getting attached, but that shldnt in any way be a motivation to do the same thing. well like ive said before, i think it takes time, so i'm not rushing anything i guess. i think i'll probably only think about this after NS? haha lol still a long while to be 'companion-less'. only bros for now!

OH WELL quick summary for 2008, really great year. this year it will be NS already. whole new life, new people, new environment. i hope i can thrive it in too! all the best for 2009 to whoever bothering to read this haha!

odac overseas trip (ot3)

2009-01-03T14:13:00.004+08:00

yippee! i finally went overseas after the dreadful 'A's, although it's jus malaysia for 3D3N, it's still travelling with a bunch of wonderful brothers and sisters of the odac family. in short, the trip was a boost, succinct, uber fun, and a great time of catching ups and hanging outs!

just briefly what i did so i would rmb in time to come:

30 dec
left vjc for penang, overnight bus ride

31 dec
breakfast at a penang market
visit to snake temple
visit to malaysia's biggest buddhist temple
lunch - asam laksa!
visit to fruit farm and fruit buffet (wa a first for me, but we ate like mangoes, PINEAPPLES,
visit to biscuit factory (white coffee and tambun!)
guava, dragonfruit, fig, starfruit, honeydew, oranges, watermelon ... drank fruit juice etc etc. WOAH then later we all bombed in the toilets haha)
walk at a beach in penang with no sand (haha)
SHOPPING
dinner at hawker food stalls - claypot, cuttlefish, fried eggs with oyster, char kway teow ... yum yum
back to hotel malaysia - ate ramly, played polar bear, counted down till 2009! it was fabulous cuz the room we hanged out in had perfect view to fireworks being set somewhere nearby, so we were screaming and shouting and jus viewing at the beautiful nightsky)

1 jan
hotel breakfast
visit to hotspring off ipoh (it was hot hot! legs turn red)
lunch at garden seafood restaurant
visit to chocolate showroom
SHOPPING at sungei wang - bought tshirt
dinner at chinese restaurant
SHOPPING at petaling street market (filled with fake stuffs, but i bought so many things! shades, berms, adidas sleeveless)
talked cock in hotel room at night

2 jan
hotel breakfast
SUNWAY LAGOON - amusement and water park (woohoo! this is the best part, sat all the cool rides, overcome my fear of turning and fast rides, playing the slides, woah it was shiok)
the photo for ben foo!
dinner at yongpeng (pit stop)
bus ride back to vjc

best thing about the trip is the people, catching up, strengthening the bond. i feel that odac is such an essential part of me that even tho the itinerary was simple, i still had alot of fun! yep and it was great time for wm and myself cuz we had alot of time to talk cock, talk serious, sort out stuff, and really remind ourselves whats up with this imba frenship, so i think it made the trip a whole lot better! xD

odac is obviously moving towards a new equilibrium with so many changes taking place from within. seemingly scary at first, but as long as each of us love the club, love one another, put in a little more effort, there's no problem in adapting and embracing them. i have faith that things will get only better in years to come, and the spirit of the 24ths will stay infallible.

i look forward to ot4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ...

the calling

2008-12-26T00:21:00.002+08:00

christmas is a day to celebrate or commemorate the birth of christ.

it's always usual to have family dinner at my uncle's but it's usually a dread becos we know at the end of the day it always ends in evangelism. oh well i do not reject the religion, i do feel the calling when i attend churches (most recently josiah's last sat, when i was close to tears when the pastor asked for those present to accept christ), but the complexity of the relationship between my family and my uncle are a major hindrance for me to take the step forward. i jus dun like the way they put it. talked to bryan during christmas party with the vs boys. he said he has learnt to see his relationship with God away from something needs-based, but as of one of glory, to glorify him. the way they do it, is to tell us about all the successes or smooth-sailing times they've had ever since accepting christ and how they always 'leave it to God' and everything will be fine.

i mean i understand, it's human nature to need support from a higher being in times of stress or despair. but isnt it super shallow or even wrong if im right to say it.

haiz. im not sure, but my parents have distorted perceptions of the religion, and its making me hard to make a choice for myself. i guess only time can help me answer the call.

the grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side

2008-12-26T00:05:00.002+08:00

sorry for not blogging for the past few days! been sinking in the christmas mood, going to stayovers, cooking mashed potatoes, drinking (just a little), giving presents and having a lot of fun!

on christmas eve, decided to share it with jing and josiah, my 2 big bros. it's funny how we call each other ge ge, dunno who is the other side of the brotherhood, but heck la, i derive a lot of motivation from each of them!

spent alot of time talking to josiah cuz the tuna man was terribly late, but it's always fun to talk to josiah. he stirs alot of thinking in you, and yea always get me cracked up. it was funny how we spied on swensens from a higher level, looking and how the waiters wait, and the desserts were prepared. we so wanted to eat there, but didnt realised the queue was uber long as the "viewing platform" only showed "the good stuff". we talked about alot of stuff, like how odac is like how, and the complexities inside. hmm how can things work out with like so much going on, well i know it will, but it wont be easy. i fear for myself too, especially with a trip coming up. oh well as long as u have faith in the batch, u know things will work out. i was also telling him i will feel so alone when i book out from army, cuz only 2 days, for my closest frens, one day will be for family, one day will be for *ehem* family. haah yea so i have all the time for myself, hmm i think i can go gym or run, haha i wont die!

den speaking to jing also stirred alot of thinking. in him is a guy who has many dreams but is laiden with obstacles to achieve it. i do believe results wont be a problem, i have faith in him, but he doesnt have it for himself. ah i dunno, i will see wad i can do to help this fren of mine, who came under very weird circumstances. he told me he wished he was bothered bout scholarships now, i told him i wished i wasnt, which kinda shows how we are never content with where we are or what we've got. thats how we're always like. always seeking for the better, but we will never get it. because there's always something else better. calvin, be content, be satisfied, dun ask for too much. you take things for granted, you dun cherish them well enough. honestly to be in the position im in now, im much more fortunate than alot around me. what's there to complain?

the grass is always greener on the other side, so why cant we jus live to accept our own and stop yearning for other things?

failure

2008-12-21T23:16:00.002+08:00

i guess the worst failure for me getting 7 points for O levels, cuz i scored an A2 for both languages. well i know many of u wanna punch me now, but it was quite a blow for me having put in so much effort, but not much for English la, probably thats why

for a person who has really tasted failure, will he be able to appreciate success?

psc psychological interview tml. jus need to talk to stranger for a few hours, and share my hopes, fears and ambitions

christmas is coming!

what the dragon?

2008-12-19T00:27:00.002+08:00

ok apart from realisations that i have to really read up, today was a wonderful day because it was entirely spent with odac people, playing ball and just talking. odac has that place in my heart that tingles and tickles and jus puts a bright smile on my face and warm feeling in my heart. it's jus so great because so many pple were overseas last week, and i spent a super long time without any of them. BUT NOW THEY'RE BACK. and the gatherings are coming along.

so im excited. well no more worryless fun, but at least it's a great relief than the pre A's period!

the fever is on

2008-12-18T23:37:00.002+08:00

an email came from psc and it's like dropping two bombs. well already anticipated it, but today let me realised it is really SO SOON. psychological interview on 22nd dec, coming monday. actual interview on 14th jan, which entails booking out from BMT.

this would also mean i have to read up vigorously for the next few weeks, not that im complaining, it's good to be in the know, but of cus starting would be difficult. this will put my discipline to the test! well also 1 very good thing to really come clean and clear with myself is why am i applying. i know i really enjoy and want teaching, but i have to be SUPER DUPER CONVINCED, so I should really find one day to think about things and talk to myself.

yes the fever is on. i'm both excited and worried, cuz i know this 2 interviews are really crucial, and i won't have a second chance. i really mus MAKE IT WORK. and im far from it now, lack of opinion and knowledge of alot of stuff. I MUST READ UP.

should be enjoyable i guess. i hope.. haha

bleagh

2008-12-17T22:21:00.003+08:00

today i realised how nice and patient i can be. waited 2.5 hours for someone who didnt turn up eventually, but i'm not at all angry at that person.

haiz sucks to be single and ALONE when everyone around you is pairing up

it's a non-dysjunction for me => aneuploidy (YEA WHATEVER)

learning about calvin

2008-12-16T21:32:00.005+08:00

picked up a line from josiah's blog which said: 'Nobody in this world is entirely honest with another', which triggered some thought processes within me. it's true, not even with the ones u love the most, not even with your closest frens, not even with yourself. im not exactly open to the ones around me, not even you. i don't know if my reasons for doing so are justified, but i just know i cant be truly open to anyone around me. when i was close to doing that, i found that it wasn't such a great idea. hur.

anyway i also need to start being honest with myself, and start being honest in my actions. often i dun do what i think. i get confused and dunno are my feelings genuine, or are there jus like sudden outspurts. i do first before i think, and i will then force myself to feel that way, and it usually works, cuz i m rather easily content. that's y i rarely get angry, that is why no one can sustain a conflict with me with active conversation.

oh well enough about honesty. something i really need to work on or else i wouldn't know if i really feel for the things i'm feeling, or is it mere speculation.

just talked to darryl, who's now busy with church stuff. like me, he hasn't rested since sec 3. but now im really free, but he's still struggling, so of cuz i can sympathise with him. it's funny how both of us actually thought of going to ECP to jus laze beside the sea and watch the waves and the sun, and not caring about anything else. he hasnt got the chance to do so, but for me personally i have done it twice after A levels. yea told no one about it, it was jus like a great escape, and really to just soak in everything u've missed, and everything u have done so far.

i've been doing so much for things that i certainly hope i do believe in doing, but not so much for the sake of myself. yes in the long run it does help me, but it really drains me, and i really neglect myself, and forgot to really reward and dote on myself. I WAS REALLY REALLY TIRED OF THE 4 YEARS OF PURE WORK without much of play. never got addicted to games, played sports like mad, buy things as i wished, all becos of the lack of time and energy. but now, or at least for the next 3 wks or so before BMT, i would be totally free. channelling that active side of me into other areas, like running and swimming, and going out to catch up with frens (which can be rather tiring too). i am truly enjoying this freedom, and the times i can finally live life for me, and nothing else.

went to matt's house ytd to played tennis, swim, watch movie, basically jus to hang out with the scrabblers. haven felt happier in a long time. friends are true gems, the best ppl to brighten up ur lives, or at least for me who is still single haha. but i was really really happy yesterday, becos i was enjoying without any tinge of guilt or worry about opportunities costs or what not. it was jus pure fun! but watching 'into the wild' which showcased a person who decided to escape the system, the expectations, the lies, the acts after graduating from college by venturing into the wild, burning his cash and leaving civilisation, really sparked some thoughts in me, together with the worries i felt while crafting the PSC statement for the last 5 to 6 days or so:

what if i have been struggling so much, putting in so much effort, risking so much of time, in something i dun really want?

that is something to think about calvin!

talking to jing can be super assuring sometimes, i really like his angle to things, like his theory of 'the same moon' and the way he notice the little details. ought to meet him someday to talk about stuff.

ok quite a long post for now. more realisations about me another day.

2 years became 3 bags

2008-12-13T21:43:00.002+08:00

I GOT MY ATM CARD! first ever man. now i can NETS yay! i know many of you already started NETSing since like dunno when la. ok i slow lor! haha ok anyway this is not the main focus of the post. sorry i always start with random shout outs!

been quite a day.. i spent 4 hours packing my table. i dun even have an entire room to myself, jus a table, and it took so long. mainly was to sort out the things to throw. so i jus took out all the lectures and tutorials, and emptied all the files i tried to maintain, retrieved those i wan to keep for my junior, peeped at some of the things, cleaned the dust of the table, rearrange a few things i would always keep. and 4 hours! at the end of the day, i was only left with 3 bags of papers, ten year serieses and MY BELOVED NOTES. past the notes to thongen, and a the latest TYSes, the rest are now outside waiting to be thrown to the garang guni or something.

one thing which i stumbled upon was the CLIC file, which reintroduced alot of memories. all the rushing for deadlines and stresses, and the successes at night cluedo (one of the best projects ive done in my life), and excelerate. the memories were like KABAM! WHAM! ZOOM! haha resurfaced instantly.

but honestly i hate throwing stuff. keeping stuff mayb stupid as u would never even need those things ever again, but throwing them away makes u feel the pinch cuz it's like emptying a part of u. but i still did it anyway. 2 years worth of work, looking through some of the worksheets, i recalled how much seriousness and solemness there was in each of them, with important messages or knowledge that i needed for A's. but now.. it's reduced to something i wanna throw away. like trash

it was like a time capsule. i dunno why clearing a table can bring so many thoughts and realisations. i think as u grow older u start to think a little more. haiz.. but still happy with my cleaned table!

im gone now. prisoner of azkaban part ii on channel 5

ciao!

psc frenzy

2008-12-13T00:08:00.002+08:00

well it's really hard for me to write good essays and personal statements, but i know i want this so i must do a good one in order to qualify for an interview (which will be another headache haha). i realised i should stop talking about my life this few days, jus going out with friends, not thinking much. only thing i realised is the importance of keeping in touch, as today i jus had a sec 2 class gathering. imagine: SEC 2! haha some of them went UK for A's, now already in army. the rest of us are J2s, some can drive even. ok main thing is once u catch up, u realise the differences amongst you, and suddenly u can feel the lack, the gap, the 'moving on' thing. well i know it's part and parcel of life, but meeting once in a while to remind ourselves of these loved ones we care, i believe u can still sustain a wonderful frenship. no it's not about 2-year trends jing! all we have to do is to put in a little bit of effort, then we can have year number 3, number 4 and BEYOND! yea!

anyway the limelight is on the psc statement i have been trying to write. on draft 3 now, but dun really feel inspired by what im crafting. i think i'll stop for today, but i hope i really get something decent tml cuz now it's still in bits and pieces and i dun have much time (deadline's on the 15th). got told off yesterday becos i played a little too much when my teacher came to ask bout my progress, den when i suddenly realised i mayb late then i panicked and went scrambling to look for him, expecting him to be free enough for me. well he's a busy man too, and i do take him for granted most of the times. in fact most of his mentees do. he always comes across as the bad guy but he always have our interest at heart, but we dun understand. becus we can be laidback, ignorant or jus plain stubborn. oh well i really appreciate what we're doing, and i hope all our efforts can be paid off! thereafter i really need to give back something in gratitude!

going to sleep now. really hope tml morning i can produce something great. yea im going to dedicate tml to this now that i have 3 days left. no going out with friends, no exercising. only this! GET IT DONE SOON CALVIN YOU DUN HAVE MUCH TIME! hopefully i'll dream of something i can write.

ah gosh i hate essays.. but if things goes well, mayb i dun have to write one for quite a while!

so long... haiz...

need to make full use of holidays!

2008-12-10T21:34:00.002+08:00

still doing well, but need to plan well to make full use of my days, or will end up rotting at home. with so many overseas it gets kinda happening-less haha

went out with clic facilitators to school yesterday. becus of CT chalet, we met at downtown east, but it was quite a cool place to hang out apart from the usual orchard or suntec area. we watched city of ember which was an ok film, but the first time i watched a movie since like DARK KNIGHT. so loser right. den we went to walk walk until we ended at a settler's cafe like place, so we played for 1 hr ($2 a person only, quite cheap). play the heart attack and dog bone game, and then taboo, had a really great laugh. we then went to crash CT chalet cuz no one was there, and played more taboo. dinner was at some high class kfc place with nice chairs lol.

today i went vj to run 6k, den later looked at 25th's sikkim photos in ms ng's laptop, which were dam cool! ah wished we could go back there.. then lazed around aimlessly in odac room after a long while, then went to daniel's house to swim. i then finished draft 1 of my psc statement by dinner time, then i go home.

matt jus came to return a thumbdrive. talked quite long haha. tml will be going his house! learn guitar and do his lean routine!

ok gtg now.. tired now from all the swimming and running

HOLIDAYS FINALLY

2008-12-09T00:50:00.002+08:00

end of exams, end of school, end of work

START OF A NEW LIFE!

went out with odac today for siew's birthday! HAPPY 18th SIEW! almost all of us are 18 now, left a few more only haha.. it's felt great to really hang out with not much of second thoughts. spent the weekend overnight at jarren's spamming guitar hero and some mario fighting game together with a few others (taariq, shannon, dan, nazri, zara, cher, mark). it feels super carefree, as though i didnt have to care about any commitments. never felt like this in a long period of time.

so many things i wanna do:

i want to run and keep fit
i want to swim and get tan (lol!)
i want to clear my table
i want to go out with my frens
i want to write my statement
i want to play spore
i want to relearn the guitar

i have 3 weeks left!

WHACK.

SDD

2008-12-04T16:14:00.001+08:00

OH before all the glamour, I need to say that I got a conditional offer to imperial college London! Yippee, biochemistry course ah. Well got offer from UCL about last month, but I really want ICL more. Now see how does the Cambridge apps go, and of cuz the mother of them all, which hasn’t happen: P S C. oh well, fingers crossed

Couldn’t update about SDD until now, because it was really draining (reached home at 1 plus am, had to sleep since next day must work). I would say it was quite a cultural shock having not been to a prom before. Well as u know, VS is a boys school, kinda weird to have a prom right? Although I know some boys school have grad nights. I would say we spent awfully a lot for SDD, be it getting there ($85), hotel rooms, make-up artists (for girls of cuz), clothes we will probably only wear this time, BUT THAT’S jus the prep. I think although going there is to jus look group, take a lot a lot of photos, and eat the food which wasn’t fantastic, I will still go as it’s like a school event, and SC put in a lot of effort to plan it I can tell.

Amidst all the camera flashes, random photos and all, I guess I was feeling a lot more about SDD. To think about it, the end of SDD marks the end of our JC life, the best and worst 2 years of your life. 2 years, so succinct, flavourful, meaningful. You meet the ugliest, and of cuz you meet your best friends. You are stressed out most of the time, and when ur not, u feel that ur slack. You mug your head off all the time, and you still have to care about ur CCA or other commitments. It was HELL OF A RIDE, but it ends tonight.

I didn’t expect much from VJ cuz I from the start felt that it can never hold a candle to 4 great years in VS. I was wrong because VJ had its own stories and memories that hold a place in my heart. The best decision I made here was to join ODAC, because the people and experiences shared in the club are just perfect, and I can never ask for anything better. Best things in school was being taken into the scholarship programme with Mr Ho as my mentor, who urged me to find out more and to dream dreams I will never have imagined I would be dreaming. He taught me the possibilities are limitless, but you have to work it for yourself.

Best friends, so many of them. Many brothers whom have left such a mark in me that I almost couldn’t hold my tears after SDD thinking that opportunities and times with them are definitely gonna wane. I really hope alike friends in VS, I can stay in touch with many of them, cuz I don’t want it to be like a 2-year contract thing to put it very crudely, cuz every 2 year milestone we have great frens, but as we move along we find new ones and leave the rest behind. That would be just sad.

Anyway my 6-year Victorian experience has drawn full circle. Amazing education, leading to my unimaginable transformation. Ultimately grateful to teachers and friends, and I promise I would contribute if it is in my means in the future.

Nil Sine Labore shall live by me forever.

MOE attachment day 7 - 9

2008-12-04T15:54:00.000+08:00

Day 7

Really nothing much to talk about today, finished research on Thailand, then did on UNESCO DG since he is coming on Friday and started on commonwealth since we were super ahead of time for finishing all the research. The commonwealth research is because there would be a meeting known as CCEM held next year, and Singapore wishes to participate. I then left early for SDD.

Day 8

No computer work today! Yay, today we helped out in logistics for the coming President (Costa Rica) visit happening on Thursday. We basically helped to staple and file the documents for the meeting, ensuring everything was in place, then we went down to cut the name tags for the breakfast and meeting, quite lehchey but didn’t mind doing it.

Went with our mentor to Chinatown for lunch haha. Then at 4pm we went up to the 23rd level where the Minister (Dr Eng), Senior Ministers of States (SMS) and Perm Sects (PS) and their personal assistants sit. Restricted access! We set up the breakfast table and meeting room and watched as the caterer brought in their cooking and dining equipment, especially that cool espresso machine. Quite a sight!
After that, we just had a short briefing by our mentor for tml before we left for home (but I went parkway to collect my army specs ah)

Day 9

Today was the President’s visit so we had to reach at 7am, but we barely made it (5 min late only la). So immediately went to help out with final prep, placing the documents in place (PROTOCOL) and making sure everything was in place! Donned our blazers and went down to the driveway to await his Excellency’s arrival.

Some delays in the VIP lift made President waited for Dr Eng for about one minute, which was definitely not a very good thing, but I realised no matter how much you plan, you can never be totally ready and free from these types of mishaps. So I was tasked to clear the way for the less high-ranked officials, MFA officers and security officers and usher them to the reserved (non-VIP lift). There were so many of them it was rather hectic, so it was quite exciting that we were running around.

Brought them to the 24th level open gallery to look at the view of almost the entire Singapore, and then back down again to the 23rd for breakfast. We were then stationed at the guest waiting room where the security officers, press and MFA officers were supposed to stay in and not loiter around. They then went for meeting, and then back down, with us ushering again. We then cleared up the place.

Lunch, mentor Adeline and good friend Rachel brought us to some place where they used flowers as ingredients. THE DESSERT was like heavenly! Haha never had such great chocolate cake (ok that’s beside the point). OH DID I MENTION IT WAS A TREAT? lol

Went back to MOE to then prepare for tml UNESCO DG’s visit. We searched for the photos of important officials, and did some name tags and labels. I am actually typing this here in MOE as there is some free time (it’s 3.47 now). Nothing more today probably, might be going home at 5!

SHOUT OUT AT BUONA VISTA!!

2008-12-02T11:15:00.001+08:00

Here I am blogging at MOE HQ, haha quite a cool feeling. But don’t get me wrong, I’m not skiving. Chang Yang and I have finished our work in advance. The people here are busy and have no time to vet our research yet so we are currently free. Haha we are so seasoned that we know the best websites to dig out information. Used to do a report a day, but now I think I can manage about 2 – 2.5? oh well but all these research is getting a little mundane and draining on the eyes I guess.

Having been attached here for a week now (yes A levels has only ended a week friends, for me la, but only a few days more for the others) I guess I am never more sure in my life what I really want. I don’t think I will live to regret the decision (I really hope not), but I guess it is going to be a fruitful and progressive path to take, if I do get what I wish for. So, next few weeks gonna be spent crafting essays and going for tea sessions. Oh well, I should feel lucky that I’m given all these opportunities and choices

OH HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOLENE!! Haha kinda random but just remembered. But she’s overseas spending her time away from ODACers. How fun can that be? Haha

TONIGHT IS SDD!! Woo kinda anticipate the ambience, what people will wear etc etc. Yea I know, it’s kinda like a glamorous night of face values, with thick make-up and nicely-styled hair. But I don’t think it’s like being someone that is not you, it is just a different you. BUT I do have to announce that I spent ONLY $23.30 on prom clothes, and it was used to treat jing cheng at thai express yesterday for loaning me his blazer. THANKS BRO, you helped me save so much! Oh but I think I look ok, kinda nicer than I expected somemore. Ah whatever la, want to see can look at facebook, lol like selling myself. Not say you handsome know calvin.

Ok ok a while more to lunch break, might eat with Mr Jonathan Oh!! Few more hours to the end of work, and I shall make my way down for one of life’s milestones (actually I don’t give it such a great deal la, it’s abit blown out of proportions). I see it as a day to celebrate achievements (end of A’s duh!), spend time with friends, reminisce the great memories in the short 2 years, and TAKE PHOTOS! I’m so gonna spam

Ok cannot jia zhua too much, gotta go now!

never meant to take the sidewalks

2008-11-29T21:31:00.003+08:00

imagine life on the other side..

well not that i'm complaining, i know i'm already a very lucky, sheltered person who hasn't met any major downfalls. there's really nothing that can be better. not that im ranting, jus want to share now some feelings that have harboured in me since i ended A's this week. well when ur freer u have more time to think about stuff, not necessarily a bad thing. you become more sure of yourself, and wad u really wan in your life.

sec 2 october in 2004 was really a major turning point in my life. i went for prefect's interviews even after i got rejected once, as there was serious shortage after the IP students left. i got in, and that sparked off a series of changes that led to where i m today. u never know how much something seemingly small can boost u to something u will never imagine.

so in vs, being a prefect exposed me to many opportunities, including going for CIC and LTC at the end of 2004, and earning the status of a double red shirt. moving on to sec 3, responsibilities built character and maturity and i started learning about performance excellence, and really maximising my time in school. i took up a greater challenge to run for head prefect elections, and fortunately emerged as the first deputy head prefect. again that marked the beginning of all the larger opportunities to shine and be recognised by teachers and fellow peers. of cuz being 'prominent' can go either ways: there were those who were strongly supportive, yet at the same time some were jus out to get u, or even grew a sense of hatred with no basis. i begin to realise a little (actually really jus a little) bit more of the HARSH REALITIES (haha) of life.

moving on i was appointed with more positions in black shirt and NPCC, and i never thought in sec 1 dat i would actually one day to be like the seniors, they felt so far away and yet now u know others are looking up to u like how u used to look up to ur seniors. then came puny O's (in comparison to A's) and it was over!

HOLIDAYS. jus like now (i will fill u in later), i didn't had much time to play during the hols after O's as i was busy preparing for vietnam trip. yea no doubt played a little and hung out a little, but immediately after O's ended, there was like selling of the commemorative yearbooks, collection of donations and 2 star kayaking course. the next thing i knew i went vietnam, and i was back, DEN I WAS CALLED BY MY OGL, which meant school was gonna start.

http://brudderyenkwang.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html

start of JC was really sianed-ded. cuz it was like a restart for me, and by that time i was already tired and jus shyed away from SC CT or house. but as i entered ODAC i found a sort of new calling, and a drive to lead the group, so i jus decided to gave it a shot. who would knew the olc days period pple observe and really felt that i was up to the task, so i was elected as the president. much uncertainties of cuz, since i have never truly been a head of anything. alot of challenges, but im glad that the team was so supportive, and made alot of things very easy. i dare say ODAC 24ths have made an impact and a legacy, as one of the most zai ccas of our batch xD credit to all of cuz!

hmm opportunities came since i was able to perform fairly well for exams, like the scholarships programme, CLIC07 and 08, and so much more! i grew even more, and learnt more about myself, and wad i want to do. dunno when it started, i pranced upon the idea of teaching or SPF, den with encouragement and advice from mr ho, i decided to find out by attending attachments and talks, and listening in to seniors. day by day, my ambitions firmed up and i knew better where should i work towards. somehow or rather the status in school was lifted, with calls to represent the cohort for CLIC08, J1 leadership talks, and even farewell assembly. not boasting but these are affirmations and motivations for me to spur on in wad im doing although it may be tough and draining. not forgetting scrabble grp which really gave me a hands on in tutoring (altho not classroom style but it is as close as it can get) to build on my interest in teaching

and of cuz friends really played a crucial role especially when decisions at this level entail alot more spillovers and consequences of HIGHER weights, and sometimes they can even make it hard for u to breathe. thank goodness i have many wonderful frens who stayed by and gave their support and advice, who never stopped encouraging me, and were there to snap me out of my vulnerable self and to stay strong for the challenges. there were some who would dry my tears and set me back on the right track. there were some who empowered decisions. ah i jus wan to give a big shout out to u guys, u know who u are, thank you for everything you have done for me. i dunno wad i did to deserve all this, but u guys know how much weight u have in me.

oh well then now, 5 days into the end of A's. seemed like so yesterday. on mon i ended i went to sentosa with odac, but tues i immediately started work at MOE HQ. crazy it may seem, oh well but i grew to realise that i will be rotting at home if i werent working. at least now im doing purposeful things. today went for psc tea session, kinda useful, i think i m quite sure that i am going to apply for it under teaching. oh well its like a recessive disease requiring mutation of both alleles, i need to get thru psc and cambridge apps before i can realise the dream of studying next year. oh well no stress, its a win or dun win situation, i wont lose thats for sure. and holidays not a total waste, im going myanmar with odac, keeping fit, going out with frens, picking up guitar again... THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO DO!!!

but i've really come to realise that the path that i am about to take from now on mayb very very different from my closest of frens. so far i've been faced with expectations but not significantly different from the rest. but from now on things might be alot more different than the rest. not too sure what lies ahead but i guess i will jus adopt the attitude i've always had and give my all, and hopefully this can yield more results.

thank You for watching over me all along, i hope i can really make use of the opportunities given to me thus far and beyond to develop ways to give back even more!

till den, i guess being consistent and truthful will be the keys to thrive!

Day 5

2008-11-28T23:13:00.002+08:00

Today’s quite relaxed because our mentor is on medical leave, so Chang Yang and I basically did a lot of research. We are so ahead of schedule. For me, I finished India and Brunei, and started on Indonesia’s. we have only UK and Indonesia left actually. Haha!

Side track a bit but I went to run 6km (slow jog) and did a few conditioning exercises to get ready for prom!

Sorry mans i really want to post more, but it's dam tiring for the eyes having looked at a com for 8 hours. will update soon, i need to crash now.

MOE Attachment Programme

2008-11-28T00:21:00.002+08:00

Day 1

H3 Exams

Day 2

Reported a little later (8.45am) than Chang Yang today as I wasn’t tasked to help out with the setup. We were expecting the Foreign Education Minister (Head of Delegation of Ministry of Education Privatisation Committee) at 10am. So I reported to Adeline (our mentor) , who was very nice and eager to share about the department. The International Relations Branch under the Planning Division was a small department of 11 people, so it took a while. It’s amazing as they were all super friendly, possibly attributed to the teaching experience many of them used to have (like to work with students). I was then introduced to Rachel, the protocol officer under IR branch. Chang Yang and I then helped to set up the conference room, before we went down to welcome the guests (which is when I bumped into Mr Ang).

During the briefing with Saudi ministers, they were keen to find out about our different types of schools, particularly those that were publicly or privately funded, since they were from the privatization committee. The briefing was hosted by former RJC Headmaster Dr Winston Hodge and Mrs Susan Chua (West Zone), and they shared much informative about management and developments of the local system, which I felt will be rather useful for interview! So I felt it was quite fruitful, although rather draggy.

We only had time to get back to our desks to settle down, then it was time for lunch. Went Biopolis with the department. They were always in laughter and couldn’t stop joking, very hilarious and entertaining. After lunch we were back at our designated desks, starting on report writing. We had to research on the education system from primary to tertiary level, forms of national assessments and achievements, the teaching service just to name a few. I did on Saudi Arabia, which kept me occupied from 2 to 6pm when I finally finished it.Time passed quickly while doing research. Mentor and colleagues are very eager to share and engaging, unlike AMM I don’t feel like I am a chore or hassle. Kinda enjoyed myself today, looking forward to tomorrow. Seems like HQ ain’t that bad if you have good colleagues and if you can embrace protocol as a good-for-show necessary evil.

Day 3

8.45am today once again! Reached a little earlier than Adeline so we could talk random stuff with a few colleagues, like Chow Chyn, who was an Engineering student who went Organising before Planning. Chang Yang is honestly clueless about careers, universities and scholarships so he asked for opinion. Came across the topic of History (cuz he considers switching completely) so Chow Chyn was nice enough to call over someone who majored in Hist and Lit, and was a Hist teacher in RJC. Yea but I don’t think Chang Yang is any clearer.

I was tasked to do a factsheet and the same education system research for Costa Rica since her president will be coming down next fri, and we will be involved. That practically took me the whole day, together with minor editing of yesterday’s reports. Could tell that Chang Yang is getting a little sianed about the researching (probably becuz he worked an extra day) but I’m still rather positive! Hope I can sustain this for another 4 more days (tml, mon, tues, wed) cuz thurs and fri will be visits.I NEED TO START WORRYING ABOUT PROM. Ok random, but rather enjoyable so far although we are only researching.

Day 4

Today started really really well as Chang Yang and I made our way to Botanic Gardens for a Curriculum Planning and Development Division (CPDD) Retreat where they actually discussed about the curriculum, assessment, pedagogy etc and they wanted to get some stakeholders (teachers and students) to come and share about what we’ve experienced in school for changes to be implemented for the betterment of the system and future student.

I’ve come to realize that policy implementation is really difficult cuz there may be great intentions at the start but when it boils down to actual execution at school level things get really distorted. One very good example of cuz is SPA. Well I tried my best not to be politically correct and critic the good and the bad of the system. Even though I can said to be ‘thriving’ in the system, of cuz the sheer emphasis on rote learning makes the curriculum a bit meaningless, but having said that, I do acknowledge the difficulty of incorporating additional forms of assessment like project-based or applications-based. That could prove to be more challenging for the student, or maybe another SPA or PW case whereby execution transforms it to mere rote once again. Beginning to really appreciate the different levels of governance, from the highest level all the way down to the ground level, there needs to exist feedback and constant upgrades. I would say I’m rather heartened by the effort of the division! Oh and did I mention I was fortunate to meet Mr Ang Pow Chew and Mdm Low Kah Gek, who shared a lot more about PSC and so on. So in all it was a very well-spent morning!

Went back around lunch time and I finished a report on UAE education system, and started briefly on India’s. Getting the hang of things so researching is getting easier!

WOOO

2008-11-27T00:16:00.004+08:00

Kinda realised I haven blogged properly for the longest of time. only random emo song posts and the bday greeting. here's to surprise those who still have the patience to pop by once in a while.

hmm.. so many many events have passed me by since i last posted a normal post (that was like light years away). i have grown alot more from the events that happened, struggled with myself and close frens for umpteen times, and learning how to be stronger after that. i no longer am so vulnerable as i used to, i am more aware of my flaws and are learning to accept them and to work around them, and i no longer put all my eggs in a single basket.

haha u probably won't understand most of the things i said above and can't relate, but jus know that the past half a year was rather perception-changing and enriching, thanks to the people who have stayed with me, looked out for me when i was met with an obstacle, pushed me backed up. thanks to those who gave me a reality check, and allowing me to realise that all along i am not as great as i think of myself (which is not a bad thing becos i have so much more areas to improve in)

oh well i can say intellectually, mentally, attitude wise i have experience malignant (if its appropriate here) growth and i feel better as a person already!

for A's, the 3 week turmoil took the heaviest toll on me. study in school at the scrabble board was the best thing that happened during the A's. daniel, matt, jarren, zara, mark, taariq, meiching, shiangnee, zonghe, jingcheng, josiah, jiehao, nazri, charissa, yapheng, sufiyan, melissa and the occasional few others (i'm so sorry if i left out ur name) was super therapeutic. although as more ended while i still had h3 the numbers dwindled, there were still a few who lasted till the very end, and of cuz frens who have ended but still made it a point to visit (with gifts sometimes). i'm very sorry that the initial intention (1st time i went there was only matt nazri and me) there was not very pleasant as it was to seek refuge from someone, but i really have to say i never regret ever since. and of cuz the day to day interactions with frens and giving them help sorts of affirms my propensity towards the teaching service (i hope it's enough to draw a parallel). My 'disciples' (especially matt, jing,yapheng,josiah whom i had spent countless number of hours and late nights even to instil the skills to u, but willingly of cuz) had become such an integral part of me that i really hope for as much as my own that you guys all will ace for A's!

i found so many frens in VJC that i would really hope that it will develop further on. of cuz there's the imba bro wyemin whom is indomitable. i jus dunno how things can go badly b/w us cuz it's always solved. well we had too many struggles that honestly i dunno where we stand now but i guess there's always that same amt of place u hold in me and nothing's gotta change anything. we just got to learn to adapt, communicate well and continue this imba frenship until like the day we draw our last breath.

josiah has been a newly-discovered big bro of mine, like really always take care of me. he claims i am a big bro to him sometimes in the area of academics but to me he always can tell if i'm down and offer a shoulder to lean on, literally as well as metaphorically. having 2 elder sisters i had always wanted an older bro who was not competitive but caring and looks out for me, and having a fren like josiah is really like a blessing and i m really really thankful. jus before h3 ended, he visited on sun and passed me a t shirt with his own written words saying "hang in there". he rocks la!

daniel ong is another one whom i have been thru so much so much with. 12 years in the same school, 8 years we know each other, 2C, CLIC, scrabble gang, aiya dunno la, this type is like really cannot compete one. u cant jus randomly produce this kind of fren out of thin air wan la. and recently we have been sharing alot more about stuff so yea i m quite comfortable about it!

matt ho is like imba nice person. never seen someone so selfless and happy-go-lucky in nature. he disgusts me by how nice he can be and how willing he is to do the worst saikangs for others, jus note how often he buys the food in the scrabble gang. another one who reads me really well, and always made an effort to take action when im down and always cycle me home lol

jing cheng is really a fren out of circumstance, started out of bio remedial as i volunteered to be his mentor, influenced by josiah also since they 2 gd fren and josiah my gd fren. his determination gives me alot of motivation to ensures that he produces some form of results cuz i can feel he trys very hard and holds a very positive attitude, den suddenly i sort of evolved into his nanny and mentor for like math chem bio. yea as days passed, the concern grew and suddenly i feel i really really want him to do well, mayb will be happier than my own 4-5As and 1Dist! oh well, but i really enjoy hanging out with him cause he is a very interesting character, and i realise i never stop laughing. well seems to be a likely close fren, ah JING GE GE. oh well , never felt so much drive to help someone before.

yapheng, started from sec sch i had been helping, but this time due to soccer commitments he needed alot alot of help, den a few nights in sept holidays i even when over to his house from 11pm - 1am jus to teach maths and others. but he always cycle me home also and gave me a card before i ended as a form of encouragement!

YES u must be wondering wad about the girls. haha fate is not here, nobody likes me!! im all alone in this dark and empty world. haha no la the right person has yet to appear or be discovered by me. mayb she's already around jus that i cant feel it yet. take things slow la.

wow i wrote so much already, ah have alot more to say, but for now let's jus stop here.

birthday bash!

2008-09-18T00:06:00.004+08:00

the pieces don't fit any better

birthday greetings
jingcheng, jiahao, guojun, rachel, arkar, jaclyn, yapheng, syazana, ada, felix, hari, fanny, josiah, thomas, darryl, ivie, kaili, george, nazri, john, yirui, jarren, darren, dhilshad, audrey peh, mr ho wei kang, benjamin chia, pinrui, xianglin, jeremy ho, melvin, marcus, mingyao, syamil, yongyi, jiaqian, chunyong, huanjek, amanda, ms sharon wong, zonghe, ms evelyn teoh, ms jaclyn ng, junheng, aurelia, shaun tan, chinboon, dione, zoe, shannon tay, firdaus bmi, shihan, wyemin, aloysius ho, jaslyn, audrey han, zhaopeng, zara, lisa jie, jieyu, daniel pflug, daniel ong, junjie, auyong, thongen, melissa lim, neil brian, chaoxiang, akash, wan jiahui, ernest, brian foo, freddie, tedrid, mingxiang, chunkang, bingyu, WHOEVER WHOM I'VE UNFORTUNATELY MISSED OUT

birthday presents
wyemin: watch, muffin
darren yirui: waist pouch
shihan jaclyn syazana jason: my FIRST ever GAP SHIRT
excelerate (esp mastermind kaichun): strawberry cake, giant sized pool bear and milk bottle with marshmellows
S34: chocolate cake, and the big card with deep meaning
odac: chocolate cake, cards from so many lubly people!
economic beehoon auntie: chicken wings
zai, bryan, john: fruit tart which john shared
JOSIAH: FOR MY NOKIA EARPIECE. i tell u i will die without radio

birthday surprises
wyemin, matthias ho: 12am
S34: canteen
odac: in our room
excelerate: in T16
zai bryan john: crashed vj odac room

2008-09-13T23:17:00.000+08:00

it's like moving mountains.

focus calvin

the pieces don't fit anymore

2008-09-11T20:43:00.003+08:00

I've been twisting and turning
in a space that's too small
I've been drawing the line
and watching it fall
You've been closing me in
closing the space in my heart
Watching us fading
and watching us fall apart

Well I can't explain why it's not enough
Coz I gave it all to you
And if you leave me now
Oh just leave me now
It's the better thing to do

It's time to surrender
It's been too long pretending
There's no use in trying
When the pieces don't fit anymore

Oh, don't misunderstand how I feel
Coz I've tried, yes I've tried
Still I don't know why
No I don't know why

Why I can't explain why it's not enough
Coz I gave it all to you
And if you leave me now
Oh just leave me now
It's the better thing to do

It's time to surrender
It's been too long pretending
There's no use in trying
When the pieces don't fit anymore
The pieces don't fit anymore

You pulled me under
so I had to give in
Such a beautiful mess
that's breaking my skin
Well I'll hide all the bruises
I'll hide all the damage that's done
But I show how I'm feeling
until all the feeling has gone

Well I can't explain why it's not enough
Coz I gave it all to you
And if you leave me now
Oh just leave me now
It's the better thing to do

It's time to surrender
It's been too long pretending
There's no use in trying
When the pieces don't fit anymore
The pieces don't fit anymore

judgement day in 6

hope u'll see this somehow

2008-08-31T22:26:00.001+08:00

i know i shouldn't make a promise, cuz i'll feel the need to achieve what i promised using unsustainable methods.

i really dun wan to set a timeline, or force myself to do it. i jus wan to follow my instinct and gut feeling (and i know its there) and i will take my time to make sure we're fine

for now.. take care!

unnamed

2008-08-29T00:11:00.002+08:00

Dreamz FM - Should I Stay

My heart is heavy
Heavy like a rock
But I am so amused
You’re still in my thoughts

I don’t know (I don’t know)
I gotta know
Should I stay or should I go?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Jason Mraz - Please Don't Tell Her

So why after the all of everything that came and went
I care enough to still be singing of the bitter end and broken eras
I told you I don't but
I am only trying to be the best with my intent to cure
The rest is sure to lay me ease the plural hurts of the words of reverse psychology
That's easier said
Easier than done
Please don't dare tell her what I've become
Please don't mention all the attention I have drawn
Please don't bother cause she'll feel guilty when I'm gone

the worst is over. it can only get better.

till i find her, i guess im stuck with me.

why do memories fade?

2008-06-09T00:40:00.001+08:00

suddenly felt the urge to post. quite random, but yea i won't be regular so sorry to disappoint you if you have been checking in once in a while for updates.

why do memories fade
why do friends come and go
why do the people we meet become strangers
why do the moments we've lived become something we cannot revisit
why do we not even say hi anymore
why have i become a non-existent contact on ur messenger list
why do we meet so many in life, yet know only a few good ones at a particular point in time
why do best friends become better, then good, then mere acquaintances
why do we take each other for granted
why is this happening

i don't like the feeling of living now for now
i'm afraid that one fine day, i won't even talk to you when we meet
but it just might happen

why do memories fade

sudden inspiration

2007-12-05T22:01:00.000+08:00

bus number 12

travelling home has never felt so close to the heart
to know that you're right beside me

by bike or foot we make our way down
sometimes full of conversation
sometimes a comfortable silence
there were times you were down
theres were times i was out
but we knew we always had each other
to lean on

bus waits seem forever the times we didn't talk
but the times we did i jus hope it wouldn't come
so that the moments could last
sitting by your side in the bus
just gives a sense of security
when our shoulders meet
i could hear and feel you breathing
nothing ever felt so real before
a living breathing person i can depend on
i jus know i am not alone

looking forward to more bus trips with you
on board bus number 12
because

travelling home has never felt so close to the heart
to know that you're right beside me

brother, i want to spend more of life's journeys with you

- dedicated to you, brother

revive!

2007-10-22T23:39:00.000+08:00

WO ITS BEEN A LONG TIME

thought i should revive my dead blog and update u pple about the latest (altho some not so late) happenings

sorry for being an ungrateful fren and not thanking all those who send me greetings or gifts on my birthday (sept 17 haha). u people know who u are. deep down my heart i will strive to be a better fren i promise! TREAT U NICE EVERYDAY EVEN WHEN ITS NOT UR BDAY!

ooh i recently made an IMBA fren. haha he rocks and can make me say there's nothing else to complain

promos wise i m more than contented with my results, tho hope i can improve on econs. haha but its still not bad la judging cohort performance.

the recent loss of a sec 4 vs boy will definitely affect the school, esp the sec 4 cohort. haiz theres nothing much i can do. but really hope the boys will stay strong and fight on, and show that what truely is the victorian spirit. do well for him, and make sure u guys make us and most importantly urself proud

PW SUCK SUCK SUCK SUCK SUCK. my team rocks but its jus PW dat makes me dread to see them. after this ends we must go eat luxurious one day. haha celebrate freedom from the claws of this 2 letters. how i wished there were only 24 in the alphabet

SIKKIM TRIP IS COMING!! oooh preparations are going on.. lots of real life agriculture to do to put my geog elect theory to practice. well its for a good cause, im not complaining. anyway spending 2 weeks with ODACers in exotic idea will be DAM FUN!! and with IMBA fren too haha. hell of a time. too bad ben cant join us. haiz its a gap we have to fill. ODAC ROCKS ROCKS ROCKS. has been neutralising PW the past weeks. and YA I AM REALLY EXCITED BOUT SIKKIM. SO MUCH THAT I WAN TO FLY THERE NOW (haha but without thermals i will freeze to death). SIXTEEN DAYS MY FRENS, AND WE'LL B ON BOARD SIA (thanks fanny) to INDIA!

hmm many teachers have been speaking to me bout scholarships and stuff. oh well its time that i seriously think bout wad i wan to do. im still keeping my options open. of cuz teaching is like wad i wan to do, altho many may say im foolish. signed up for SPF. hopefully get in with yongcheng and yirui den have company, jus go experience lor =)

ok thats all folks for now. i think i will update more regularly nowadays since theres nothing much to do besides PW.

for george

2007-09-04T00:04:00.000+08:00

Answer the following questions:
The person who tagged you is:
GEORGEY TEO!!
Your relationship with him is :
school mates, brothers, chinese class buddies, fellow senior leader, sleepover mate, cofident for 5 fruitful years as of 2007
Your 5 impressions of him:
1) he's got big neh.. can move somemore
2) lack of self confidence
3) other than weeho and eugene, no other guy so crazy bout SHE than u
4) believes in me truthfully
5) best i ever had
The most memorable words he had said to you:
many times, "i'm sorry bro"
If he becomes your lover, you will:
he already is
If he becomes your enemy, you will:
never will, cuz i'll be dead then
If he becomes your enemy, the reason will be:
enemy has a new definition, describing that of a friend
The most desired thing you want to do for him now is:
listen to him whine and vent his frustrations
Your overall impression of him is:
ROCKS
How do you think people around you will feel about you?
they already feel that way due to the many scandals of the wrong orientation i have in school
The characteristic (s) you love of yourself is:
I am not sure whether you will be able to handle my positive attributes. Thus, to save you the inferiority complex, I shall let this remain as a secret. (haha copy from u george)

On the contrary, the characteristic (s) you hate of yourself is:
Hmmm. Quite like the previous question, I shall let this remain as a secret. (and again copied)

The most ideal person you want to be is:
a wyemin or jiahao.. haha who can make everyone happy when he meets them, who nobody hates, who emits sincerity right from the bottom of his heart =)
For people who care and like you, say something to them:
who u are makes a difference

victorian challenge 4J

2007-07-05T21:57:00.000+08:00

u can do so here

bad year

2007-04-21T00:46:00.000+08:00

sadly somehow things are not going so good back home at vs..

well we cant always excel all the time, but its jus that coincidentally its a whole array of shocking deprovements

cross 3rd and 4th
syf 2 gold 2 silvers (drama still pending)

the only title we have won is floorball..

and the area of academia is still unknown

fight on vs
treat obstacles like stepping stones, not tripping rocks
embrace them for the fact that they make us stronger

WE WILL BE BACK.. i know

201st post

2007-04-12T21:36:00.000+08:00

6 months passed in a glance.. 6 months since i was officially a student of vs..

sadly to say, the more i return to my alma mater, the more detached i feel. its because everything goes on, though u are not that. of cuz its ridiculous to say the sch should stop functioning aftr u leave, but its jus as though we are passing showers.

haha dunno why so emo today but i went back school and saw my juniors, who came confide in me on various problems happening in my cca, and in sch in general. many changes have been implemented that could so called dilute the victorian experience (and i m not jus refering to merger), yet theres like near nothing i could do.

DETACHED.. i feel so powerless now, that i am in no position to help them anymore, and to voice or change anything.

i think its true that my time is up.

life goes on-

bad boy replies tags again!

2007-04-07T23:47:00.000+08:00

7 Apr 07, 20:55

wyemin: BROTHER! (:
BROTHER yay u rock man xD come embrace the brotherhood y'all

5 Apr 07, 22:07

sharon: OMG HELLO YZ. cus theyre all in my class lah hahaha. and hello CALVIN
its all about JOO baby~! wo ai ni ni shi wo de ju li ye, wo yuan yi bian cheng ni de liang shan bo..

31 Mar 07, 17:19

[auR]: LOL omg sharon, u're getting to know all my vs friends! COOL! hahahaha!
erm how should i reply this when its not directed to me, technically speaking it is illegal usage of my tagboard which purpose if for communication with me to communicate with other people. HEY! the focus should be on me, not sharon. ok crap looks like i already found out how to reply..

28 Mar 07, 22:45

wonght: boO!!!
no it should be BAH!!

26 Mar 07, 20:36

faizah: omg how u know malina?!! LOL
haha its malina know me.. eh jk la. we went langkawi rite? with dolly. u forgot ah

26 Mar 07, 19:30

sharon: HELLO ORH HAN ZI!
HELLO!! must continue to K ge in school. its all about JOO, its all about JOO baby ~

24 Mar 07, 23:16

denise(MORTAL): hello!! hahaha dont ask me how i found your blog.
ok i shant haha.. so how u found my blog?

19 Mar 07, 21:51

elaine: wahh. u're super lame eh. lols. but very entertaining! hahas
yay! glad i have entertained u. maybe can put under PW task 2 (ok not funny)

19 Mar 07, 15:42

[auR]: omg how did you know sharon!! you know her too?! HAHAHAH cool.
sharon is my classmate. and she is ah lian soc president!!

18 Mar 07, 16:46

faizah: and im anticipating wtv lame comeback you've got. lol
haha since u expecting already i shall give u
"wtv lame comeback you've got. lol"

18 Mar 07, 16:45

faizah: haha laughs, u're forgiven. BAKWAAAA! and not only my butt popular, my everything is popular! YEAHS. rofl
my everything.. meaning HIM?
18 Mar 07, 12:56
denise: I MISS TIGER

i mean.. who doesnt.. lets do a cheer!
T I G E R
tiger thats what we are
S O L I D
solid thats what we are
tiger tiger (clap clap)
solid solid (clap clap)
tiger solid (clap clap)
chikalanka pi ah pi ah
chikalanka pi ah pi ah
chikalanka pi ah pi ah
SUAH!

17 Mar 07, 15:19

shh: hhahas! cant believe u start bloggin from cny onwards. i miss olc!
of cuz.. i wont shortchanged u devoted visitors of bananarama (zhong shi du zhe)
we are all here to be trained.. in sunshine storm or in rain~!

mass update III

2007-04-07T21:44:00.000+08:00

know this is getting irritating but mass update again!! sorry la life of a singaporean student is like that wan :(

odac 24th results day (24 mar)
a good thumbs up to arkar and shihan for making this event a success given limited time and only a manpower of 2 to plan. we came to school at 9am to firstly indulge in a game of captain's ball in our olc groups (past and present) with myself, jason, syazana, alvin, wenhui, xinhui and jingyi, the 7 of us fought outnumbered to emerge third position. haha not bad la becos the final battle with cyclone and whirlwind was like a 3-way thing got us really confused. besides the other 2 had the advantage of numbers (xP). we then played a match between the 23rds and the 24ths and WON MUAHAHAHA! but i accidentally poked dennis eye. its still red now sorry! =x we went on to play some war game with water balloons and our self-drawn flags, haha which got us wet and ya jus wet. last game was a telematch which consists of bubble tea straw passing, balloon bursting and bubble blowing to form a bridge. haha tornado was real bad at the last one man we couldnt blow that bubble thing cuz we no childhood lol. we then had buffet lunch and free time, where the guys went to the treehouse for games of bridge. but by that time tension had build and we were feeling unez inside.
when the time came, we gathered at the concourse to receive our envelopes. we then split up into our groups to meet our gis. the 4 of us frm tornado (excl jaclyn who had to attend to family matters) were super nervous and didnt talked much. only peered into our letters quietly. fortunately! everyone in tornado made it thru! oh yes forgot to mention gi's present was dam cool! love it lots. but our joys was soon disrupted by news of those who didnt make it frm other grps. haiz it was super sad becuz for an entire month this individuals have put in their utmost effort in hopes of securing a place in odac, and i know they wanted it badly.
haiz i only know those of us who are lucky enough to make it should treasure our time here and ya really contribute.

initiation day (28 mar)
this was a formal ceremony for the official election of provisional positions for the 24th batch. doned in ceremonial shoes and tie, we nominated and voted for our desired candidate for each position in the committee. in the end, i was voted in as secretary and temporary head till july. of cuz i am happy to be entrusted in this position but i really hope i wont disappoint those who voted for me. its not gonna be an easy job but i m sure my fellow odacers will support me and render me the help i need, which they did so far!
the 2nd part of initiation day involved a series of disgusting sadistic games aimed at instilling sufferings in us for the viewing pleasure of the seniors. haha no not kidding, not exaggerating. altho i admit it was fun and pulled us closer together but jus thinking bout the things we did i m like EW!! basically we did. drank peach tea with alot alot of salt and all kinds of nonsense while reciting the ten commandments and pledge. commando crawl in mud (which caused serious rashes/allergies on jason's legs), roll on raw eggs, watermelon, flour and all kinds of nonsense, before flipping our shirts and playing egg captains ball. passing macaroni which has been stored in the odac room for god knows how many centuries with infested bugs mouth-to-mouth with added saliva then eating the macaroni with ketchup (ya and thats our pathetic jts). GRAND FINALE: using our mouths to extract sugar cane juice from sugar cane biting it hard with our teeths and adding saliva to it. thank goodness we didnt have to drink it. next transporting a self made mixture from milo power and water mouth-to-mouth through a straw. haha YUCK. i can jus think of it and wan to vomit. haha and i didnt bathe until like 12am becos i stayed in school to compile contact list and talk cock with the bathed odacers.

vjc annual track and field + odac outing!(30 mar)
nothing much to say bout track + field. basically aquila cheering squad was made up of s34 my class! yay we went ursa to cheer and left the teacher ic speechless becos he came to aquila to dao luan. cheerleading was dam cool! altho aquila could have done better in terms of position if not becos of the playing of the songs, but i still think they did their best and deserve credit. i wasnt surprised when lynx won becos their stunts were real cool. great choreography.
after that went out with odac people and FOOs (frens of odac) to parkway burger king where we basically ate, sat and talked cock. wanted to watch movie but it was too late so we missed the show and we couldnt catch a later wan becos of wads happening the next day (see below)

adventure victoria + odac outing! (31 mar)
our first adventure race. and my journey was shared with zhongxian (more commonly known as alan). there was a hiccup at the start becos we went to the wrong direction of siglap park connector and FANNY and JACLYN told us to move on. haha no lar they werent briefed properly so not their fault. haha den sufiyan jermyn me alan jason wyemin ended up sticking together becos we like give up of top 3 le. but we were forced to break up after the kayaking leg. we ended up coming in 3hrs after the first team. and it was the first time when i drank 5 cans of 100 plus in a day. yay none of the 3 teams were last =D. but top 5 teams had not a single odacer =x haha the top 2 teams both said that it was sensible to go left at the park connector becos the next few stations were nearer and said they wont make u go all the way there den back-trek rite. haha we had the odac mentality thats y we thought it was highly possible. oh wells i had fun. anyway if our own people win our competition very meaningless rite (self-consolation)
ok after went out with the odacers to parkway again. after eating at banquet we went to sat at the 5th level area to talk cock and played truth or dare. MUAHAHAHA many secrets were revealed and kaili gave her first kiss.... to a lego man (what else were u thinking). and it was also then when the cindy and jeanette scandal evolved. haha i think its quite cute den me and jason are like playing along lol. ok but truthfully speaking jason, wyemin and arkar (as i was telling siewhwee on msn jus now) are the least stoning non-vs guy i have seen so far. and i can really clique with them. thats y odac rocks becos there are new brothers to make =D

odac 24th first meeting (4 apr)
FULL ATTENDANCE WOOHOO! although chiaweei came really late due to PA commitments. but still.. FULL ATTENDANCE. i would like to thank the 23rd batch, my family and most importantly the 24th batch for not pangsehing me. ok crap. it was dead long from 3 to 7pm but we got alot of things settled. new blog http://redefiningadventure.blogspot.com visit if u haven done so. the next few weeks going to be cramped with pts, courses, workshops, etc etc. but i think its going to be fulfilling. FINALLY I HAVE A CCA!! after that we went to parkway AGAIN haha to eat at macs. but we left early cuz theres school the next day and we had to chiong our proposals. yea i slept at 2

odac 24th night cycling (5-6 apr)
the route: vjc -> east coast -> geylang park connector -> national stadium -> suntec -> orchard -> tanglin -> thomson -> PRATA HOUSE -> back
the people: arkar, wanping, sufiyan, alex, jiaqian, denise, jason, shannon, jarren, alan, rachel, kaili, jolene, fanny, shihan, zhanliang, me
basically we met up at VJC round 8.30 to 9. first we slacked at the treehouse before going to rent the bikes at kit runners. den a few came my house to place their bags while the rest 'warmed up' at ecp. yay we were finally ready to leave so we took the route there. oh the way we stopped to cam whore dunno how many times. and ya a few fell and jason's tire got punctured. GG! haha and at round 3am we reached prata house and ate. haha who will ever forget the banana prata. made them felt real sick after that becos it was too filling. jason still dare to eat 2. and MILO DINOSAUR!! kept us hyperactive and awake =D. the way back was with less stops becuz we aimed to reach back ecp at sunrise, which we did jus that the sun and risen almost fully already haha. we den decided to go and climb tree (treeclimbing course 1) before we returned bike. den they went my house to sleep and collect bag before they left and i sleep heh!

4a dinner (6 apr)
ate at pepper lunch with weeho shannon alex zhanliang zhongxian jianhao huanjek junsen. haha quite a failure becos all who went were frm vj. haha nvms at least we got to meet up. after dat went to food republic wisma to eat dessert and talk cock (i love to talk cock dun i). den we were joined by pegasus cheerleaders denise wanping matthias nazri benjamin sheena and others i dunno (sorry!). and left at 10 plus cuz was still very tired from cycling

mass update II

2007-03-16T00:14:00.001+08:00

chinese new year
same old visiting! BAK KWA(sorry faizah) and pineapple tarts. ANG BAO!! SHIOK.. but cant eat too much cuz cross is right after. sianz.. but good la dun wan to eat too much also

first econs test
i cant believe it! i didn't fail. in fact i topped my class (25/30) MUAHAHA. i even beat art students(jason!). ECONS here i come

vjc cross country (21 feb)
wa 4.8km in VJ and ECP. i felt dam awful running becos it was right after all the sinful munching of new year goodies. had to stop like dunno how many times. ahha. in the end came in like 384th position. lol. but wenhui gave me hope.. haha IF i get in odac i may improve like him till 70+ position. which is like IMBAR!! haha. sadly aquila came in last. dam sad sia =(

olc II tornado flag painting;briefing (22 feb; 24 feb)
serena was replaced by syazana. our flag rocks i tell u. haha its like single cloth, double-sided, and can really flutter in the wind. can keep it unfurled. haha and the meeting was kinda.. erm haha filled with tent pitching and unpitching although we did learn some basic pioneering. but oh wells.. olc = regimentation camp so what to do. PULL THRU!!

first guitar class (1 mar)
doing for nyaa skills with joseph jiawei boonkiat edmund. at edvox music centre marine parade popular there. not bad la. teacher's mr chris ho. quite pro. haha so we jus learning basic chords and plucking now. quite fun la. i had the passion for guitar but no talent for it. hopefully through this class (which ought to work) i can play better and can impress others with my ehem skills

victoria school sec 3 overseas adventure camp @ KOREF, kahang, johor, malaysia (5 - 8 mar)
oh its such a miracle that i can get to go sec 3 camp again! thanks to lisa jie, EDU outdoors management quite high rank wan, got us in to help out. it was a nice feeling returning to KOREF again, the peacefulness and tranquility there is really priceless lor. and a great break from sch when u watch the sunset. hmm this year sec 3 display less disciplinary problems i agree, but still the enthusiasm is lacking. but oh well i shan be an evil senior who keep complaining. only one point is that many have serious attitude problem, and no respect for the external instructors. oh well those are jus the minority. few good ones i met and haha reminded me of my sec 3 times. haiz.. we have all grown and moved on from there already (emo). returning to sec 3 camp again was really like a reunion for me with the vs spirit. i know its still in here, never lost and whenever i return to my alma mater it will be relighted. ok enough with the emo thing. i was in charged of raft-building which cleared all 380 students on day 2 (dam draining) and had to climb mountain twice on day3. tiring but fun la. haha and it was nice to get to know our juniors.

vjc odac outdoor leadership course II (9 -12 mar)
if u compare the dates of the two camp u will realise how tight my schedule is. i never thought i could survive this week but i did. HURRAY! and i managed to perform at olc up to my standards i guess. selection results will be out on 24 mar and till then i am keeping my fingers crossed, not jus for myself but also for all the wonderful people ive met in odac. with real passion and undying determination, never fail to let me salute them with due respect. i really enjoy their company, as we share common interest and are working towards one aim, that is to be an odac instructor. day 1 started at 5pm and we proceeded on night urban ex where we had to take a single bus to west coast. jason was feeling unwell after his run and that seriously hit tornado's morale as we always regarded him as a pillar of strength. he was so pale i never seen him like that before, so i was uber worried. at west coast night 1, he actually considered pulling out, and as i verbally say pls do not compromise on ur well-being, deep inside (i'm sure he knows too) i m hoping he stays. night 1 ended with tent pitching which was like to be continued (haha) on day 2. yes and day 1 started with tent pitching. we were told to warm up by running around some big circular paths with full packs. that point i felt like falling flat. but jason felt better and ran so fast i didnt dare to stop (haha thats what i mean by pillar of strength) and yes he was continuing (yay!). we den proceeded full packed on our urban ex to bukit timah hill. a wrong turn got us trekking so much more up and down wasting alot of time. we were 2nd to reach, last to leave.thought we have met our worst, but the NParks guy at the booth told us 171&75 went botanic gardens.and 171 came first so we took, but ended up it didnt. we were like WTH?!?! haha dam pissed and tired and know we confirm last le.but still we pushed on hoping for miracles and we did caught up with cyclone at bras basah complex , plaza sing and mount faber. ended up 5th becos hurricane had time penalty for returning late. and for the same reason the cohort ran a 4.8km (without bags fortunately) right after.but thank goodness it was slow.den we got to bathe and eat CHICKEN RICE, the greatest luxury for OLC.took a overnight shuttle to berkelah falls!day 3 was basically trekking to the base camp where we were sleeping and then up to the waterfalls. we had a swim there. the water was clean and cold quite shoik. we had a taste of stream water + chlorine tablets too haha.we den trekked back down and had sessions with instructors. day 4 was morning recreation (campfire item without campfire due to the lack of space) haha which was quite entertaining becos i m quite amazed at our creativity.had a great laugh.den trekked down to entrance and back to bus. the 5km walk to the bus was filled with only more obstacles of people "getting injured" and "need" to be transported manually, the distribution of a dynamic rope and the carrying of more than 1 freaking heavy bags. haiz they really push us. at that point of time i wasnt as loud becos i was jus sick and tired of the regimentation.haha i really tahan during the trek.ya den took bus back with stops for lunch and breaks.reach vjc at 8pm and had to clean up.after that was reveal and TORNADO GOT FIRST. not only that, according to DI we own everyone. also dunno how we got first for so many things. ahha dam shiok la to win altho its not jus bout the competition.den took photo, did appraisal and zhao for good.

olc truly pushed us to our physical and mental limits. and i am very sure many of the participants are REALLY REALLY serious bout joining ODAC. infact they are like dying to join, the fact that they are willing to undergo so many things jus to get a place. so i really hope everyone can get thru, altho i think its quite unlikely it would happen. *fingers crossed*. one thing to be happy for, is that i made many new frens at this camp, and some even i see potential of being real good kakis wan. haha that i think... is the most important for any CCA.

bad boy replies tags

2007-03-03T00:06:00.000+08:00

I apologise for being a bad boy and not replying my tags.. haven been really able to update and maintain. sorry!!

2 Mar 07, 23:46

shh: hahs funny arhs faizah. NO just happened to link from geraldine's blog. hahahas. okays nvm. no scandal faizah.
see i also know its geraldine (see the message i typed below)

2 Mar 07, 21:02

faizah: SHH STALKER! WOOH SCANDAL
haiya not surprising can.. i so popular. haha joking la

1 Mar 07, 20:06

shh: HAHS! tell u a secret okays. i knew ur blog since like last yr. crazy right. but im not a stalker okays. hahahs. ZIHIGH!
haah must be geraldine.. ZI HIGH GANG must fa yang guang da! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO~!! haha

28 Feb 07, 21:11

faizah: HAHAHAHA! BANANA! lol
bananas are a good source of simple and complex sugars, providing energy on a short and long term. good before exercise

21 Feb 07, 20:14

SHARON: CALVINNNNNN!!!!!
AH LIAN SOC PRESIDENT ACTUALLY COMES TO MY BLOG! I AM LIKE SO.. HONOURED WORxXxX.

20 Feb 07, 03:15

ruth: heyo! nice banana-ish blog lol. link me k! hahaha =D
hello the ruth of our house and the one who make s34 not ruthless. LINKED

18 Feb 07, 21:51

shanti: hello calvin! i found your blog!
hi rafflesian-to-be! haha oh man ur gonna leave s34 u evil!! haha jk la.. all the best there..

7 Feb 07, 23:47

adaaaa: I MISS YOU!
me too!! wa but school's so taxing.. ARGH! life of sad students. the langkawi pple have not met up le.. haha rmb dolly and zhen luan.. ya they are in my school now.

27 Jan 07, 11:45

[auR]: UPDATE!! hope u're doing uber!
yes yes i did. i AM DOING UBER!

31 Dec 06, 14:05

adaaaa: boo! i had a dream about you last night! ahahaha. and post an entry, please?
wa pls la xiao jie.. dreams also can kena me u abit unlucky rite haha.. haiz so long never see u le.. but haha i always coincidentally bump into xavier in school.

26 Dec 06, 18:47

`__mark: update?! merry x'mas btw
updated 2 months later. yep same to u!

25 Dec 06, 15:41

bojah: merry x'mas. haha.
merry christmas ying yao! haha i feel guilty saying it only now

24 Dec 06, 22:27

marcus C.: Merry Christmas!
yes yes i know!

24 Dec 06, 22:27

marcus C.: Merry Christmas!
merry christmas to u too! (sorry it came 2 months late)

10 Dec 06, 10:59

farrhan: eh thks for de photos XD
no problem

28 Nov 06, 23:17

bubu: yo emodude. eh all the emopeeps should like go out someday man.
haha but that day we go out u couldnt make it. i will invite u to every gathering we have!

26 Nov 06, 00:54

`_mark: oy! k session someday! lol preferably after your trip! =DD
oh no i think its too late to reply this

mass update

2007-01-17T19:28:00.000+08:00

oh man as u would have already realised orh han zi has not been regularly updating.. haiz bad me. sorry i shall make it up to u this cny holidays. trying to cramp everything down

vjc orientation 1 (3, 4, 5, 8 jan)
breaking the ice, clearing differences, forging new ties, emerging as Victorians
orpheus odyssey with ogl jialing, ogl pauline, ogl suihui, ogl pengkai, xianjun, cheuk yiu, david, wee leong, beverley, melissa, yvonne, christabel, qianyu, audrey, liu ying, jackie, polly and zhaoling.
i thought the entire planning and execution of o1 was impressive, and it really provided a near ideal platform for people of such diversed backgrounds to meet and bond. the pirates and patriots theme was also extremely cool and i thought there was apparent effort in the videos made (hse comm!!). yep 3 cheers for the planning committee. although i would say some of the games are really senseless and the coin system is quite biased (frm wad i heard, i m contented with 5th heh), yep i got to met alot of pple, learn a few moves and enjoyed myself very the much. hopefully the fun doesnt end with orientation
highlights of o1 include sea regatta on 8th @ ECP and suntec mass dance on 8th

vs sec 1 orientation camp @ jalan bahtera (4, 5, 6 jan)
i only went from 5th, night onwards. joined along by emo camp leaders and other black shirts such as dominic zai bryan john naresh faizullah jiawei jon sam etc etc. well i would say this year of sec 1s are rather enthusiastic, kinda shocked me how fast they immersed themselves into the grand aura of the victorian spirit. a few complains heard but oh well typical of sec 1s who are camping for the first time. hopefully this batch can continue to keep the victorian flag unfurled.

lessons proper (9 jan onwards)
finally got a taste of jc lecture tutorial system. kinda sickening after not touching anything related to academia since o levels. but oh wells.. our lives are meant to be like that, so dun complain stay positive! BCME is quite a nice combo. i m getting used to it. only fears are GP and econs(altho i didnt fail my first econs test). hopefully i can do well =)

odac back to basics camp (12, 13, 14 jan)
outdoor activities club or odac for short is my aspired cca to join in college. well of cuz it is only up to me to show my potential and enthusiasm, and the instructors to discover me (pls dO!). back to basics camp (b2b) was like an introductory camp for odacer wannabes. i was in tiger with gi jonathan, gi stella, gi xiaoyun, denise, faizah, siewhwee, weiching, shannon, zhongxian and christopher. first day was a night in school with cooking competition which we put in alot of effort yet got penalysed for blendless haiz. came in 5th out of 6 teams and started amazing race late next day. amazing race was quite a challenge, carrying our heavy camp bags, running around central area and changi area of mainland den cycling round ubin. but tiger stayed together and managed to come in 4th in the end. yes improved by one. quite a feat! stayed overnight in ubin after campfire and nightwalk. 3rd day was a short dragonboat experience at SDBA before going back to vj for floorball match. in the end tiger won the best performance for amazing race. yay!

tiger's jts (24 jan)
if u have not already known, jts is junior treat senior, and is a tradition in vjc. yay and puma and tiger (odac b2b) organised ours to thai express. however the venue was changed to pizza hut after lack of space and fear of non-halal. yep and so we did. turned out to be 16.50 a person so it was quite reasonable. hope gi jonathan stella and xiaoyun enjoyed urself!

o7s34's jts (2 feb)
being a junior in vj is really tough. one jts after another. for this we went to fish and co. omg and guess wad when we receive the bill. $541!!! and gst is still 5%. in the end each person paid about $30+. haiz o6s34, stj better be good!!

o7s34's service leadership venture/slv (6 feb)
entertainment.webshots.com/album/557712966ohYTej
we went to circle kids child care service centre (CKCCSC) to organise an activity day revolved around the concept of healthy lifestyle in the areas of eating, hygiene and exercising. we had a food talk for the bunch of 19 k2s, den followed by some simple games. den we proceed to let them make their own sandwiches, rooting in them the importance of making healthier choices (wholemeal bread, more veg etc). we also acted a skit for them on the importance of keeping oneself clean. the kids were rowdy and hyperactive but we had alot of fun playing with them. but basically we were completely drained after that.

o level release (9 feb)
after breakfast at marine cove macs with o7s34 we bade each other farewell and wished best of luck before we returned to our respectives sec sch to receive our so called verdict. it was really a pain waiting in the hall, could feel my heart jumping out. i got 7, a2s for both languages, not the best, but i am already contented. yes staying in vj and s34 is the most important. happy that john, jarren and marcus got 6! mark desmond 7! george 12! esp john and george becos we really studied together and struggled. i helped them a bit la and its good to see they actually performing better than prelims. fight on pple!

vs 2nd student leaders' investiture 2007 (9 feb)
time really flies. i could still rmb 24 feb last year it was our sli, and i can rmb the days we spent cramping for the preparations and for all to be prim and proper. yes its sli again, weird that now we have become the audience. our juniors put up a great show, minor technical errors here and there, but on the whole it's a really dignfied ceremony, so great job sec 4s!

vjc odac outdoor leadership course I/olc I (10,11 feb)
olc part I is where we got stretched like a rubberband. omg it was SUPER DUPER WHOOPER tiring. fun la. but TIRING. i was in tornado with gi fanzhe, gi stella, gi/landchief jasmine, jason, serena, jaclyn and shihan. haha 10 feb we basically trekked in ubin for land expedition for a period of more than 10 hours, jus walked to and fro to and fro from checkpoint to checkpoint. my legs felt like jelly and ya blisters formed like free. night walk was uber scary becos we had to cross through quite dense forest. fortunately no scaring and many instructors stationed around. den followed solo night, which was a cool experience. we built our own shelter (called bansha) using poncho, groundsheet, cromscord and make-shift wooden pegs. we also made a fire of our own. SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT!! haha and yea we slept alone, round less than 50 m radius from the next guy so not that scary. day 2 was sea expedition, and after reaching mainland a chartered bus (finally) brought us to national sailing centre. we kayaked from there all the way to big splash which was round 8km from 10.30 to 12.45. after lunch we kayaked back against the current and it really took DAM long. about 1.45 to 4.45. yea same distance but we like never move, and everytime when we raft up, the current brought us back. well we thought it was nearly over, den we asked to walk back school. sounds easy? until we realised there were strings (ropes) attached. yep we had to complete so many roadblocks, like taking 5 steps den jumping to shout TORNADO and doing the elephant walk(sick details involved). and we also cheered and ran and screamed along ECP like dunno how many pple stared at us thinking we are lunatics. haha most memorable was the stretch back to vj where we had to carry jason back. 3-man stretcher lift gave us so much trouble i did cradle lift instead. haha at that point i was really physically and mentally near limits, and i feared of dropping jason (my newly-acquainted mate!) and fearing of dragging the team down. much internal struggles and yep we reached back after MUCH effort. left the camp with serious abrasion and blisters (which are still healing now as i blog)

valentine's day and angel/mortal reveal (14 feb)
nothing much here just received alot of prezzies and revealed myself to denise and wilson, while xinting told me she was egnaro, my angel!

chinese new year celebration and mr oh's farewell (16 feb)
cny concerts are definitely different with girls around. well a little more energy and yep more variety. and it was quite fun yep the celebration in vj, esp the mass dance part haha. yay i did frenship dance with jarren, which was dam funny, cuz we both dunno the girl part
went back to vs to prepare for mr oh's farewell, which included a slideshow, our speech and jon sam's speech. he knew nothing. it was a surprise (exciting isnt it). yes and he was really emotified by the presentation (fortunately he was.. or else!!) which i painstakingly took a few nights to do. yea after that went to watch just follow law at cathay with hans adib chinboon george faizullah john bryan jarren mark austin and of cuz mr oh.

Victoria School Fusionoize Vietnam

2007-01-09T19:21:00.000+08:00

1st to 16th December 2006
Reflections: IDEAL

Intellectual

- learnt about the organisational system of community work (committees required, manpower allocation, physical & mental preparations)
I have personally participated in quite a few overseas school trips, but this is the first of its kind. One which has the aspect of community work. Through this trip, I have learnt how a community project functions, and what is expected of us as participants. Although our team face many constraints in the planning and execution part of the project, and much was possible only through assistance of our local guide, this trip showed us what was required of us. Willingness, effort, focus and initiative were certain qualities that were tested in the course of the trip. We also had to be flexible and make relevant and necessary changes to certain unexpected problems, and much did not work out as planned, so we basically had to work on the spot. This was really a recce trip, one which would be of great help if we consider to do more of such projects in the future

- exposed to culture and lifestyle of various minority groups

Vietnam

is home to many different minority groups. This fact about the country actually appealed very much to me, as I have only seen these unique groups of people on television. Visits and homestay with the Giay, Hmong, Dao and Tay people were really enriching and fruitful. We got to see how they live, learn about their livelihood, eat what they eat and sleep in their settings. Their life is really simple, all they needed were basic facilities like beds and blankets, a bonfire, and a kitchen. There were no television, computers or elaborate furniture. Yet we could see they were satisfied and living a simple life. We also got to see how tourism has impacted these groups over the years. Due to donations of clothes by tourists, many of them stopped wearing their traditional clothing, a trend which could lead to loss of culture and heritage. Many children also drop out of school to sell souvenirs to tourists, as these were means of learning English, perhaps more effectively. The women also resort to persistent selling in order to earn a livelihood. Such alarming trends really set us thinking whether we are doing the country a favour or not as tourists.

- appreciated and understood part of the culture & heritage of

Vietnam

What so interesting about

Vietnam

is their rich history. Thanks to the company of a history teacher, we received brief insights about the Vietnam War, how it started, its impact on the country and people, and how it finally ended. The visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which kept the body of the prominent political figure also taught us why was the man was so respected by the entire population

Deliverables

- helped in basic needs of poorer Vietnamese families in villages within our means
I would say this aspect was successful only at a small scale. With our means and size (9 people) our impact was actually minimal. During our trekking, we distributed biscuits, stationery, medical supplies to schools and families in Ta Van, Giang Ta Chai, Xeo Trung Ho, Ban Ho and Su Pan. Such a small approach was greatly received by the locals, and we truly shared their joy.

- improved the schooling environment of a village school which did not have the means to
Our initial plan was to help the Sapa Town Primary School. But according to the guide, the school was actually quite well-to-do already, and another school in the Cat Cat village would deserve this help much more. Hence, we went down to the school he recommended. It was a pity we only spent 4 days in the school, or we could actually do much more. However, I personally was still quite pleased that we managed to repaint two classrooms and the external walls of the building, set up a mini English library and help clean up the school. Our actions were met with much gratitude from the school and students who kept treating us to tea and gave us many gifts despite the fact that they were not wealthy to begin with. I thought the 9 of us received much more than we gave.

- donated stationery, books and teaching materials to poorer schools
Prior to the trip, we have gathered numerous donations from friends, teachers and family. This included english books which were below primary 3 standard, simple stationery such as pencils, pens, erasers, chalks and sharpeners, and certain puzzles and card games. These were spread out and distributed to 6 schools: namely San Sa Ho 1 Primary and Secondary School (Cat Cat), Xeo Trung Ho Primary School, Ban Ho Primary School, Su Pan Primary School, Ban Tru Hoang Lien Primary School

- organised an activity day at a school for the children
This idea emerged during the course of the residential project, which is to organise a fun-filled event for the children in which we could share performances, play games with them, and distribute sweets to them

Emotional

- appreciated how fortunate we are to live with ample basic necessities
During the time we stayed overnight in Xeo Trung Ho, I was really surprised by how simple the house was. There was only a single light bulb in the living and bedroom, and this is probably powered by a self-constructed hydro generator. It dawn on me how rich (in material sense) we actually are, and yet we can demand for more. I felt that i had neglected a lot of things around me and had taken them for granted. Simple things like light, electricity, and the comfort of the sofa, i didnt realise their importance before, and a thought of regret and foolishness surfaced. Hopefully this experience has straightened my thoughts and i will change from now on

- realised how lucky we were to undergo such a programme
The entire experience was priceless. There were too many first times experienced here: biking overseas, trekking overseas, doing an overseas community project, riding motorcycles, etc etc etc! It was really something that simple touring or vacations cannot get us. It is education out of the classroom, it is learning out of the textbook. I would think such an opportunity is rare, especially at our level, and many people agree that we are so fortunate to be able to experience this at a young age. Thanks to mr khoo for making this possible and our parents for so willing allowing us to immerse into this learning experience.

Adversities

- language barriers
This was a major adversity faced by us in the course of the trip. This was because little Vietnamese people received English education and could only speak Vietnamese or their native language. Communication was a hard task, and this became evident especially when we are buying things and when we were in the school. We couldnt understand what the shopkeepers were trying to say and neither did they, so we had to use hand signs or write on a piece of paper. At the school, we could not interact with the children as they did not learn English in primary level. It was a pity as we rarely talked to the children. Fortunately, due to our English-Vietnamese speaking guide and teacher-in-charge played our translator and helped us to overcome the adversity

- cultural differences
Although we are both Asians, we already display great differences in culture. This is overcome by an open mind to receive differences. We cannot go there expecting them to behave or react like Singaporeans as these people have their own way of living. We should accept and learn to adapt to their lifestyle, what the chinese call ru xiang sui su (to learn their culture when you are in a foreign land)

- working in a foreign land, away from comfort zone
Many uncertainties about actual situation and background complexes and complicates the planning process. We had not personally been there prior to the trip, and have little idea of what the school there looks like, and what can be done. Yet planning had to continue. We just tried our best to do as much preparations as we could, bearing in mind all could change when we really got there. In Vietnam, we had to be dependent on our guide for the purchasing of painting materials and food, as we had no knowledge on or transport to where to get them. Thanks to our resourceful and self-initiated guide, the project was still able to run smoothly. We do owe it to him for the completion of our project.

Learnability

I took on this trip with the perception that we are just going there to help them, to teach them, not thinking that actually it can be a two-way thing. However, after being at the school, after trekking for 3 days, after meeting and getting to know the locals, I realise that there is actually more to learn from them than what we have to offer. I had been so myopic to think that we are superior to be the ones who are helping, yet this is not the case. Going to

vietnam

as widened my perceptions and taught me many things about life that i did not use to ponder upon. The trip has expanded my capacity for learning, and I learnt to approach everything I do with an open mind to receive knowledge, and to stand by humility as that is the only policy for wider learning

bye all!

2006-11-30T22:03:00.000+08:00

i will be leaving for vietnam tml. i will take alot of emo pictures of the kids there! dun miss me

till 16 dec
bye people..

post 'O' crazes

2006-11-25T21:03:00.000+08:00

9 days after 'O' levels, what have i done so far

16/11/06 thursday
went to orchard with bryan jarren george shiraj khairy faizullah zai reuel to walk around aimlessly. the lights at orchard reminded us of christmas, and the fact that we are finally freed from the chains of this education system, for now. i was kind of solemn although we were having fun, because it suddenly dwelled upon me that my life now no longer had to be blindly revolving around the academics, and i was just relieved. bryan did some shopping for his maldives trip, the boys bought some games to spend their hols with, and we ended up at wisma food republic talking till 10pm

17/11/06 friday
the history boys shared our joy! went to the school with zhanliang in the morning to settle NPCC stuff with the sec 3s (daniel and teckboon ONLY). well u see, we have to justify our position as SIs, so must go back to help. i do not complain la, for NP has sort become rooted in me although i still do not favour many aspects of the system. the LTC boys came back shortly after the history papers ended. seeing the SLs (gabriel chinboon syamil firdaus hans rahul nicolas qamarul jont) wearing their black shirts truly gives a weird sense of accomplishment, and a note that our times are up. well time to move on pple! vietnam trip briefing was later on when seth thomas joseph jiawei boonkiat and mr khoo joined us. then seth and i rushed to vivo city to meet up with khairy faizullah george zai john jarren desmond jeremy renhao and jabez (sorry if i missed out anyone) to have dinner and catch a movie. watched casino royale. action-filled untypical james bond movie. although it was 2hr 30min, it kept me watching, so i say its quite worth it. yes den we were stranded at harbourfront at 2am thinking how on earth are we going to get home. thank goodness jarren's mom was kind enough to let us (5 of us) hitch a ride. thanks mrs loe!

18/11/06 saturday
late night at vivo didnt help as i was 1.5 hours late for open house. sold the victorian commemorative yearbook with the viet trip boys in hopes of raising funds (hopefully for the trip, but yet to receive green light from mr low) the PSLs were in school planning their camp for following monday, so yea i stayed and talked to them. pangsehed the 4A boys who were playing at ECP (sorry!) as i was super tired.. so i went home with auyong (finally after dunno how many weeks) to sleep.

19/11/06 sunday
today was rest day. did nothing else except playing the com and den went to visit my grandparents.

20/11/06 monday
2 star kayaking course day 1. was in this with seth zhanliang edmund jiawei jermyn farrhan justin chunkang and junheng. today was basically recap of 1 star skills. did alot of capsize drills and got ourselves sunburnt. after that ate at white sands with jiawei zhanliang edmund and chunkang

21/11/06 tuesday
2 star kayaking course day 2. today we learnt many new skills, the gist of 2 star which we needed to master in order to pass. sun was not as strong so our skins were given opportunity to heal. ate again at white sands with seth jiawei zhanliang. came back home for half an hour den basically rushed to school for the prefects camp and peer leaders camp. played carom and tai ti with austin marcus firdaus mark (mr oh helped too!) den later got to talk with the sec 3s as a batch. did a little reflection with them but ended up digressing all the time. well but it was nice to talk to them, cuz we haven done so since we worked closely before stepping down. 2 days of kayaking took its toll on me and i had no choice but to sleep earlier than the rest

22/11/06 wednesday
morning was basically taken up by carom and cards (hehe). den the bunch went to play bowling and i unfortunately could not join due to the vietnam trip meeting i was going to have after that. ended up sitting in for the peer leaders sharing session by the sec 4s. then came home to await mr khoo and seth's arrival to work on the t-shirt design for vietnam trip. returned to school at night to participate in the PLC night walk. honestly being in NP for 4 years, i have only been scared, haven scare pple before. i ended up hiding in the hod toilet (not alone of cuz). very sorry sec 2 psls, especially all those who ended up screaming their lungs out. i was jus trying to build ur confidence, in the name of leadership. haha. slept around 3 to 4am

23/11/06 thursday
woke up at 6.40 am to fetch bryan (desmond nic lim gautam john jiehao jarren) at airport from maldives. den had breakfast at airport staff canteen which sells cheap good food (never knew of such a place). returned to school for the break camp. took photo and did cheer and then went home. i needed sleep badly so i basically fell. i made my choice for PAE at night. guess i was the only person who would put so many choices:
1 VJC Sci
2 NJC Sci
3 TJC Sci
4 SAJC Sci
5 NYJC Sci
6 MJC Sci
7 TPJC Sci
i only know what the first 2 jcs had to offer. yea so the rest was jus to entertain =x slept early again cuz the next day's kayaking expedition!

24/11/06 friday

2 star kayaking course day 3. expedition day! my first long distance experience (although only about 6km). had lunch at coney island, which i never knew existed. and pass the 2 star course successfully (photos at http://community.webshots.com/user/vscLUBemo). ate at white sands (yes again) with seth zhanliang edmund justin jiawei chunkang and mr khoo, with thomas and boonkiat who joined for the meeting. den the vietnam trip boys met to discuss preparations to be done over the weekend before our demo on wed. time was running short and we had to be prepared. lets hope everything can go according to plan if not better than planned.

25/11/06 saturday
i went to cut my hair. first time didnt cut my back so hope it will look nice haha =) then i relived my playstation, surprised that it still could work amidst that layer of dust. its definitely more than 5 to 7 years old haha.

vietnam trip is on 1st to 15th dec. which means we will be flying off on fri. real excited cuz we will be cycling 40km, trekking long distances, kayaking in halong bay, teaching vietnamese children, setting up a library, taking emo pictures of locals, WOW i jus cant wait. and its my first trip with the np dudes. i think it would be real fun. and i hope we can have a fruitful and successful trip. this few days will be devoted to its preparations so i guess there wont be much to blog about. unless u wan to know the minutes of meeting haha. for more info bout the viet trip pls visit http://vsnpccfusionoize.blogspot.com (yes we have our own blog!)

i will take alot of photos and blog bout my trip when i return.
till den,
stay tuned!

o is for over

2006-11-16T23:28:00.000+08:00

the papers are over. so is the journey here

for the past 3 to 4 months, life has revolved only around calculus, organic chemistry and faraday's wonderful discoveries. o levels are finally over.

finally (i cant re-emphasised any more)

i wont say it was easy, cuz it was a tough journey which is rather lonely, i found. yes, u do study with the company of frens. however ur daily accomplishments hinges on YOU achieving what YOU have set for the day. its really a mental game

well its FINALLY over, and life goes back to before. although i am going to be super busy with helping out at NP and PB and vietnam trip preparations, i am real excited. this 'rest' has been TOO long.. and i really want to do the things i like.

the end of o levels mark the end of 2006, and our journey in victoria. yes, each of us will soon take on different paths, be it JCs in hillcrest or bishan or marine vista.. its sad that people that are so close are going to be 'were' so close. yes and frankly speaking i m not one who lets go easily, yet i understand that no frenship can last forever, especially when u dun meet each other as frequent. well to you people who have been with me thruout my victorian experience, u complete it. we will meet up and catch up, and share our stories in our new environment. i will put in my effort to get together, i hope u will too

i feel lost. we are soon going to be stripped of this ideal environment. it has been too ______ (victorians! put ur hand over ur heart and u will know the 'word') the experience. and i will definitely miss it

and to those whom i have watched grow, the remaining year(s) would prove to be worthy of whatever efforts or unpleasant experiences u may have undergone. cherish every moment and dun forget to leave ur victorian life to the fullest ever. dun regret it when u r leaving. i dun! and i m proud to be a vs victorian.

2006-10-24T00:43:00.000+08:00

sun yan zi - yu tian (rainy days)

emo song =)

the friends in vs

2006-10-19T23:18:00.000+08:00

from different primary schools, from different walks of life, our lives intercepted at this fine institution
from complete strangers, we met, we converse and became frens.
from individuals oblivious of each other's presence, FATE brought us together

camps, exams, cheering, emo-ing
every moment was filled with joy
never thought i would love school so much
its context, content, to such an entity

all thanks to u people
leaving is made so difficult
i know we are all going to take on new paths in our lives
we will make new friends, forge new relationships
we will distant from each other
but i hope that we can still return periodically, and share our new experiences

friends of vs
u guys are a bunch of amazing people
u gave me the best birthdays,
u cheered me up when i was down,
u gave me reasons to look forward to school,
u motivated me to put in effort in academics or other commitments,
u made me love the school even further

and none of these could ever be possible
without victoria
its here our finest years are spent

why must everything come to an end
i HATE to leave this ideal haven
of teachers, seniors, peers and juniors
i cant imagine how schooling would be
without any of you

as we go on our separate ways
lets never forget the times spent in vs
time will pass,
but the times we've shared will always be there
we will stay,
together forever and ever more.

friends of vs,
thank you for everything

you complete my victorian experience

full circle

2006-10-14T22:29:00.000+08:00

Nil sine labore.
We felt but did not grasp
That truth, until the years.
The changing age confirmed severely:
Nothing without labour,
Nothing is for free.

You grew us well,
Mother of our youth,
Gave grave to toughness,
Tuned mind and feeling.
Our teachers scolded out of love.
We loved them with the fevour
That only mischief has.

We learnt quarrelled laughed,
Little enemies, great friends
In classroom lab assembly
Below the arches of the Hall.
Upon the tower built by Amin
Bock Hai and their scouting gang.

We shared ourselves, so
Found ourselves: Henry Aziz Boey
Soon Khiang Beng Keng Peter Poh
Guan Noordin Eric Heng Goe
Dhanabalan Teo Yong Chua Seng,
Among the intricacies of calculus,
Adverbial phrase, The Rover,
There was the steadying of the eye
As a though struck deep with beauty,
Or growing symmetry, sudden revelation
We did not feel the day go by

The faces appear each year
Along the corridors to labour, love,
Learn, They too will know
That here our better youth was spent,
That what we are was seeded then.

We do not return to you, mother,
Because we never really left.

a walk down memory lane - my victorian experience ~ 020103 - 131006
here
last week in victoria and graduation ceremony
here

of teardrops and sunshine

2006-10-02T23:19:00.000+08:00

wo it has been a long day

gloomy it was yes as after a week of fun(and studying) after prelims we were dragged back to reality, and at a go thrown at 8 papers which would well determine where can we lay our butts for the next 2 months next year. IT WAS THE MOST GRUELING SCHOOL DAY EVER! yes and it ended with a super weird atmosphere, one which i DREADED HATED AND COULDNT WAIT FOR IT TO END. yes she came in. and say these words i quote "i know many of you are going to beg for me for marks later becos ur life clings on to it. but i m going to tell u sorry i cant" and the class went silent. and many walked up to her and took our scripts, could see the diversed forms of expressions, of relief, craze and some of anguish and disappointment. for a moment the class felt super disunited with pple celebrating and contemplating. it was BAD. well i have to say i kinda hated myself den, knowing some of my frens got dragged down by GSS, yet i was elated that i got an official a1 for the first time in my entire GSS life (the previous tested a 13 mark ss essay question and THAT ONLY)

yes and i also saw many of closed one shedding their tears while others remained 'stone'. i helped to console quite a few but sometimes i really didnt know wad to say. many started asking themselves where am i going to go. and serious i know its a painful question. its really prickling to be the victims of such a system, where ur life sorts of really hangs to this and NOTHING ELSE. and once u free fall, no where else but down, until u hit the ground. well i can only say there's only moderation and still the real things (o's) but i dun think i helped much la.

i got 7. yes this is wad my boss is going to see. will he be able to appreciate the hard work that had gone through behind this simple digit. even if he did, i think the only reason would be that he was a 'victim' of this system as well. it really feels a bit meaningless that ur level of achievement is determined by this numbers. and it kinda feels like we arent fulfilling the big picture. sort of like jus running in circles and chasing tails.

then went to watch little miss sunshine at night. it was really a dark comedy. but as the EMO GUY put it(although it was super punctuated with profanities), why do we even care bout this. yes life is simple, and we often sacrifice many things to strive for the things we desire, to only find in the end that these are things we do not really want or need, and in the end HOPEFULLY, we can still derive something pleasant from the process. like the show when the family really became a family. a real good show that no one should miss, though it doesnt have renowned celebrities, its a real entertaining and provocative show, that leaves u thinking alot after that.

well i should stop my contemplation. because agreeing is one thing we can choose, but accepting is something we cant not do. i shall continue my strive for the O's because of the things i believe in, and for the reasons that pushes me to do well.

study hard class of 2006
we stayed on to make a difference.

prelims practically, theoretically and OFFICIALLY over.

2006-09-23T00:42:00.000+08:00

WE ARE FREE! well at least for another 25 days

i dunno wad to say now but i feel UBER light!

OK HAN'S CLINIC WILL NOW BE OPENED TO ALL SEC 3/4s FOR CONSULTATION

HAN'S - SPECIALIST IN MATHS AND SCI DISEASES

Office hours: 1400 - 2000/2100 (ideally)
Closed after October 5 (ok la partially open la. but i need time for myself so sorry i m a selfish kid)

victorians STUDY HARD for EOYs! it'll be over soon. just a few weeks of turmoil.

=D

sweet sixteen!

2006-09-19T22:09:00.000+08:00

yay 17 september 2006 marks 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 16 years of my life on earth! wow time flies. haha i can now watch nc16 movies! yay! ok wait i am supposed to mature with my age. -_-||

a few thanks to the kind gestures by the kindest of souls around me:

thank you

daniel ong for your hawaiian chocolates! i will savour every piece

marcus chen for your made-in-germany pen! so ex i won't bear to use to write words. haha must keep for souvenir!

huan jek for JAY CHOU's STILL FANTASY (YI RAN FAN TE XI). im like OMG(not trying to sound bimbo but it really came unexpected)

george for your incoming letter which i have yet to receive

ada for your present that will come soon. i m sure it will BLOW ME AWAY like how last year's did (im still finding my way back)

mark for the e-hem e-hem you know what!! my ears itchy already

john, jarren, george, jiehao, daniel ong, faizullah, austin, reuel, naresh, zai, firdaus4 and bryan for that wonderful treat at thai express on the 16th. it was UBER nice to have such a massive birthday dinner

alex, zhongxian, shannon, kenneth, matthew and weeho for the lunch treat at pasta mania and icecream!! at swensens. you guys just made things SWEETER

honghan, seth, firdaus4, joseph, leeyane, junkai, le dung, tawan, marcus, naresh, zai, junheng, waiwan, guojun, mansoor, audrey, shannon, alex, agi, cousin andy, amanda, darius, chinboon, melvin, junsen, jarren, huanjek, matthew, bryan4, zhaopeng, chunkang, idzhar, weeho, shengwei, zhongxian, kenneth, bryan3, chun han, tangziyang, rashal, edwin chua, firdaus3, terence, mr khoo and especially john, jiehao, aurelia, mark, ada and adib (theirs came in hours after 12am) for your verbal or sms-ed greetings (i just counted and realised that the number above = 50). wow writing all out makes me feel popular. hehe, thanks for making my 16 so special!

it was supposed to be a gloomy 16 because it was the day before geog elective prelims. but thanks to devoted and self-initiated friends, it was quite a BOMB itself and i felt really appreciated. thanks alot peeps! u complete me..

(and guess wad.. geog turned out to be fine.. or so i think *fingers crossed*)

well cant talk anymore cuz the guilt of resting is killing me. haah still got chem and a maths and i am free!! well for at least another 20 days. everyone study hard! for EOY or wadever ABCDE levels. haha we shall pull through!

=D

O

2006-09-07T22:39:00.000+08:00

i want to be free again!

daily routine: wake up at 9, bathe/eat breakfast/change, go school, do one science paper, go parkway lunch, do one maths paper, study abit of SS or geog, go back/out for dinner, study abit more, sleep

it's just o levels!!

haha ok fine stop whining or it will chase all of u away. well all i say is i really long the times where i was busy with sch stuff, it actually felt more free, cuz i had the choice of wad to do and i loved wad i do. let studying numb me, haha numb all my senses den i become a mindless person who likes to studying. until now only maths appeals to me (dun call me sick but its true) yes but not to the extent where it gives me the adrenaline rush ahh. oh well poor sec four life like that wan la. to think that we still have A's and Uni on our way.

elapsed time to O levels: only 40 days = 960 hours = 57600 min = 3456000 s (if i'm freaking u out im sorry just needed to SCREAM SOME STATISTICS.

GSS!! omg this stupid subject of which i have only scored a1 for once (CA1 2005 where 100% is a 12 mark ss essay question on diplomacy and deterrence). i really need it to be good or i can bid vj goodbye.
*fingers crossed*

well at least studying with frens is starting to be fun. besides the periodic distractions it is nice to see everyone settling down, be it a clown or a slacker, and we are all working towards a common goal, a shared destiny, strengthen our rootedness towards the school and our social cohesion with each other. hopefully when the results are released come february we can share the fruits of success! xD

off to KBE and embracing our PAP!! =)
my birthday is in 10 days, but i have to learn how to farm on that day =(

auyong sabo me!

2006-09-01T00:01:00.000+08:00

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesnt make sense. NO CHEATING!
4. Tag 5 ppl at their tagboard to ask them to do this!
5. Bold the questions and with the answers, give your own comments on how it relates to the questions.

NOTE: I am shuffling from my WMP. Confirm have alot of Chinese song wan

How are you feeling today?
DJ Crazy Frog - Popcorn Mix

don't ask me why got this song. yea i guess i feel like popping popcorns xD

Will you get far in life?
Bo Bice - I Want to be Inside Your Heaven

I guess so.. heaven is VERY far lor

How do your friends see you?
Shirrels - The NAME GAME

they see me as calvin? or as an oldie (oh dear)

Will you get married?
S.H.E. - Superstar

YESSS!!! TO A SUPERSTAR!!

What is your best friend's theme song?
The Wonders - That Thing You do

Oh gosh i dun even know who still term this as his theme song lor

What is the story of your life?
Amy Adams (one of the AMI episodes) - The Power of Love

My life story is filled with power and love

What was primary school like?
何耀珊 - 还是会想他
Sun He Yao Shan - Hai Shi Hui Xiang Ta (I'll Still Think of Him)

Think of HER maybe la. haha SHHH...

How can you get ahead in life?
Britney Spears - Dear Diary

i never knew i had this song in my com. can't blame la got 1115 items.
must write diary lor (haha not much link lor)

What is the best thing about your friends?
Sugababes - Hole in the Head

erm what hole? mouth ah. ya la they say nice things (yay L5/7)

What is in store for this weekend?
五月天 - 乱世浮生
MayDay - Luan Shi Fu Sheng (Living Relaxingly in Midst of Chaos - please pardon me for my poor translation skills)

sorry leh really cannot think of any link lor. this weekend got chaos ah. CHOY! IMF and World Bank meeting how sia?

What song describes you?
Gareth Gates - Too Serious Too Soon

ya lor ya lor i everytime over-enthu wan. haha

To describe your grandparents?
Mariah Carey - Against All Odds

APT!! They came from Hainan Islands and braved all odds, to set up a family and a small business, bringing up all their children and buying a landed property. love them la! my ah gong is 91 years and still healthy!! xD

How is your life going?
李圣杰 - 远走高飞
Li Sheng Jie - Yuan Zou Gao Fei (Fly Away to Somewhere Faraway)

I am a high-flyer! FLYING COLOURS

What song will they play at your funeral?
Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra - Philip Sparke - Jubilee Overture

OMG band music lor. My sister wan la. she band major. BUT WHY ARE PEOPLE PLAYING SO HAPPY SONG WHEN I DIE? THEY CELEBRATE IN JUBILATION SIA. i have a sad life lor

How does the world see you?
The All-American Rejects - Swing Swing

They see me as a swing? cant see the link rite? neither can i =D

Will you have a happy life?
周杰伦 - 以父之名
Jay Chou - Yi Fu Zhi Ming (Name After Your Father - haha somehow the translation sounds so tacky)

Well i dunno if my dad is having a happy life now. but he's becoming rather easily short-tempered nowadays =(

What do your friends really think of you?
N'SYNC - I Want You Back

They want me back! haah bhb sia

Do people secretly lust after you?
Kelly Clarkson - The Trouble With Love is

ya lor, not say i want to say lor. trouble la those people. haha =x

How can I make myself happy?
The Calling - Our Lives

erm, our lives are the key to happiness? well thats like der?

What should you do with your life?
Backstreet Boys - Everybody

Share it with everybody! haha want anot?

Will you ever have children?
梁静如 - 路
Fish Leong - Lu (Road/Path)

the road ahead is still long, walk one step see one step lor

HAHAHA MY TURN TO SABO ANOTHER 5
1) JOHN CHEOBU! (sorry john, someone's gotta do it, why not me)
2) EMO DEZZY (the cool nerd should have songs too rite?)
3) AUSTANG!! (haha sorry la not much pple i know have active blogs)
4) BRUDDA XUANHAN! (how can i not share good things with my shuggerr kaki?)
5) DAR DAR darius! (xp radius!!)

of english oral and fireworks

2006-08-12T00:33:00.000+08:00

yay finally the long dreaded english oral has just ended for me.
i would say i am quite contented with my performance, i really read well (very little stumbles). but i did felt i could have said more for the picture, too bad she rushed me on after 2 questions only. oh well conversation was fortunately nothing about pollution or how we contribute to the society, something simple (lack of confidence experiences, how to handle, etc.) which i actually told agi before i went on for oral.

well no more oral for the rest of the year, so i can care less about it! hurray!

then went to singapore river @ esplanade to watch the fireworks festival. which is UBER UBER UBER UBER UBER UBER nice!! tomorrow is the last night (9 to 9.15) so all you people who haven't went there should!! because its free yet priceless! haha go see my photos you know le. a sneak peek:i have updated the post below because i recently added alot of photos =)

experience passes, memories lingers

2006-08-07T18:01:00.000+08:00

"Look at this photographs
Every time I do it makes me laugh"

"Every memory of looking out the back door
I had the photo album spread out on my bedroom floor
It's hard to say it,
time to say it
Goodbye goodbye
Every memory of walking out the front door
I found the photo of the friend that I was looking for

It's hard to say it,
time to say it
Goodbye goodbye

I miss that town
I miss the faces
You can't erase
You can't replace it
I miss it now
I can't believe it
So hard to stay
Too hard to leave it"

newly uploaded (july till now)

@ http://community.webshots.com/user/vsnostalgia
vspb farewell o6, nicholas' farewell (under 4a), annual track and field o6, stayovers, national day celebration, firdaus birthday

@ http://community.webshots.com/user/vsnostalgiax
vs 130th anniversary celebration and opening ceremony *added vs web photos*, vsnpcc fusionoize rod o6

*new*
@ http://community.webshots.com/user/vscLUBemo
fireworks festival

bold - updates on 11/8/o6

npcc: end

2006-08-05T00:31:00.000+08:00

4 years 3 x 10 cadets 2 emo 1 fusionoize
3.5 years ago 36 oblivious individuals joined NPCC, without even knowing each other, without even knowing how much it could impact our lives

we were greeted by sir lucas in our first meeting, who later broke the ice with toilet paper method. i then remember learning all the basics: like how to fall in and everything. i remember the times in geylang bahru, where we would just sit outside the NP room which was located at the back of the grandstand, and even down to the sheltered walkway which led to the scouts area, there was our common meeting point. we used to play on the ropes that were with the monkey bars nearer to the parade square. we used to do pushups on the parade square when it was burning hot. we used to do drills on the bend which led to the entrance. i remember being taught the first time how to season the uniform. i remember meeting every morning in the timberstore

then we moved to the campus at siglap link. the NP room moved to 4th floor. timberstore changed to home econs room. we had the IT club area as our common meeting point, and the whole corridor outside IT club room, EL, CL and TL DDS room all belonged us. we had our own campcraft pitch. I remembered embarking on the jamiyah project, helping the less fortunate, getting mr koh's permission to use the NP room when we're sec 2, holding out the camp, bluesky carnival etc. then i was announce as a potential. 3 students left the unit for integrated programme, while 3 left for migration and change of school. sec 3 came and preparations for ncos started. NCO interviews, extra trainings, i remember lucas' leg and thigh killers. i remember having to fall in at 6.30 on a saturday morning, den proceed to parade at 7.30 to 1. i remember being GOH for 129th speech day, training more than 3 times a week, being called b*****ds twice, and we all wanted to give up. we didnt want the post anymore, and kept questioning whether it was really worth it.

well we still pulled through. on 28th july 2005, we took over the unit from viperz squad. i was entrusted with the task of chief badge coordinator. life in NP changed, as we no longer had pple to rely on, and are called sirs, we made our own decisions. NCO ship wasnt easy, expectations from seniors and teachers, stress from increasing schoolwork. but we still pulled through. we planned our own successful UTC!! sec 4 came and i was firstly allocated the role of sec 1 ic. having no experience of a main ic, it was really tough. sec1s were quite rebellious and outspoken, and was not an easy squad to handle although i enjoyed taking them. then i was given the chance to further my np career as SI. and i did, and even joined npday 06 to represent VS receive the gold unit plaque. challenge unlimited was a success! mentoring had started and i soon bonded with adib timothyong chunkang mingxiang and junheng. then came 130 where i helped out with the flag bearers' training.

and on 4 august 2006 we stood down from our NCO positions. CBC was taken by teck boon while sec 1 IC was taken by junheng. adib had planning, tim ong had promotions, ck had sec 3 ic, mx had training. all of them received a post, and that was truely enough for me.

fusionoize will always stay in my heart. the times spent, the bonds made, the joys shared, the tears shed, the sweat, the blood, the spirit. all of you guys will stay embedded in my heart. thanks for making the past 4 years such an enjoyable journey. it could not be the same without any of u. really. i really lub u guys!

zhanliang.calvin.idzhar.nigel.joseph.weilie.
hisham.farrhan.zulhilmi.izzat.daniel.thomas.
boonkiat.seth.darren.zihao.jiawei.junjie.
kaizhong.kavin.fadhly.jermyn.edmund.justin.
elias.melvin.karthikk.longyao. hanen.dharma.
matthias.yeejek.koganti.andrew.salleh.graham.

of not so good things

2006-07-27T23:04:00.000+08:00

sorry for not curbing my temper on wednesday and scolding (ok la more of a lecture) in front of your squad mates. yes i broke my record for not seriously scolded a junior of mine in NP (yes it wasnt drama). ha actually very funnily i've never believed in that la, but who knows what happened yesterday, i was probably too angst after physics paper. but oh well do know that my intentions were still valid, u really have to stop thinking that the world revolves around u, becos that would never happen. haiz i really pray that nothing worse will happen to u. u've been through alot i know, and i dun think its fair that u lose everything.

well ROD is in 8 days. yes and after that i shall close my journey in NPCC. yea to be honest im not really intending to take up the role as CI, and it would take alot to change this perception. however i would really hope to come back regularly in the form of advisor, hopefully i keep the promise, time allows and the sec 3s welcome me. i am currently crafting my emo speech. haha i feel i really have alot to say to everyone, but if it needs to be written down, its really impossible. so much to say to my sec 1s, sec 3s (esp jh, adib, timo, ck and mx) and of course to those who have been thru with me thick and thin, good times and bad times, fusionoize. i really have a feeling there will be re-enactment of PB farewell, cuz i have been attached to NP for a much much longer time. ha but tearing in front of officers and juniors is really abit malu. but wad the hell. EMBRACE THE FEELINGS OF EMONESS. haha yes FYI once again EMO in VS context is the courage to laugh when ur happy and cry when ur sad. =) not some cut wrist jump building. no no no that is wrong!!

ok i sound childish. yes i shall go try my best to put pointers of my emo speech. i just hope i can deliver it successfully without crying, which happened to quite a few seniors last year. RODs are always EMO. =x

i drew this.. not bad rite?

finale

2006-07-21T21:53:00.000+08:00

we have officially completed our jobs as black shirts
and its time for a new batch of selected few who would continue to uphold the passion and the spirit.
hope they'll do a good if not better job den us
i have faith they will

at the national track and field championships o6 held in CCK stadium on wed, VS C div placed 5th while B div placed 3rd. most dramatic moments include the 4-minute long VS Power during the B div 4x400m race (4th) and the end where we ran and did more den 10 solid cheers. singing the school song for the last time in such an occasion is uber emo. look at all the faces of the black shirts, the intensity of the passion on their faces, many seemed about to burst out in tears. we sang 'we will not forget', 'victories we share yet' and 'keep her flag unfurled' uber emoly, with zest, the meanings of each word deeply carved in our heart. it was the first time a song had made such an impact on me, and i could really feel the lyrics, and wad it stood for.

i would say that track n field was a good wrap up for our journey as black shirts. everything went rather smoothly, we put up the most banners, cheered for the sch with limited numbers and cleared up on time. although it wasnt as intense as 2 years ago at the national stadium when it rained and NO ONE opened our umbrellas. we continue cheering and cheering, and the signature last minute catch up by our runners. it really left a mark on me, the amazing thing bout the victorian spirit

yes like bryan said, i wished for wednesday evening to last forever. a total immersion into what it truly meant to be a victorian. to be able to really feel the pride of being part of the school. be it champions or 5th it doesnt matter. all it mattered were we cheered and motivated regardless of the results, and that truly signified our passion for the institution. victoria is really something more, uber lubly school.

well bus rides are always uber emo. thanks jarren for being there, if not i would be uncontrollable. well its really hard to end this wonderful journey. thanks all fellow senior leaders, camp leaders and senior peer support leaders for being great pple to work with. thanks all red shirts for making the journey smooth sailing and unforgettable. we hoped we have touched and impacted ur lives, and u too will strive to become one of us, if not better.

victoria celebrates 130 years of excellence tomorrow, and the official opening ceremony of the premises at siglap. the event would be graced by Ms Seah (director of MOE), Mr Teo Ser Luck (OVA chairman + MP for Pasir-Punggol GRC), Mr Ong Chit Chung (VAC-VEC chairman + MP for Potong Pasir), Mr S R Nathan (President). It'll be a real cool, dignified ceremony. hope that all the paraders and performers do well, especially my flag bearers! tml will rock, and vs will strive for more 130 years to come!! =D

atc

2006-07-15T21:23:00.000+08:00

my kids are gone!

off to ubin to take the ultimate 3D2N test. well our CIs are there scrutinising their every action, so i cant help but worry

especially for junheng, timothy, mingxiang, adib and chun kang!! these five are my mentees =) hope u guys perform well. im rooting for u every second!

sent them off on friday. the bus had left and to my horror saw one sec 3 appearing in the foyer. apparently he had gone home to retrieve his bag but was uncontactable, so the pack gave him up. ya but jus as the bus was moving out the sch gates, there he was standing. yea so i jus chased the bus like an idiot, but it still left. fine den called mr chan, and as ordered i flagged him a taxi there

sms-ed mr chan couple of hours later and found out he didnt reach the campsite. i was UBER worried la. luckily later zhanliang called him and found him at home. stupid taxi driver brought him somewhere else. i was like changi jetty, changi ferry terminal, can go ubin wan. haiz still wrong. i lent him 10 dollars to take cab lor. dunno how sia

ok anyways i heard that he is performing well at camp. hopefully pple will recognise his efforts and see him as a potential!! haha i m jus overjoyed becos i can safely said i succeeded in encouraging to work hard. hope that u can prove everyone wrong and get the post that u wan! jiayoU!

also deeply hoping that best male campers from sec 2 and sec 3 would come from vs!! technically we shld get them, cuz we're the only gold unit in area 12. so if we dun, very malu. hopefully these boys will perform well and be recognised by the CIs and officers. my fingers are deeply crossed

haiz they must be having campfire now. i UBER love the campfires la. its like the only few times i really FEEL the meaning of NPCC and really FEEL PROUD that i m part of the family. not that other times i dun, jus that it is not that intense that it is worth mentioning. i really miss the atc campfires. xD

have fun juniors! when u come back i will demand a talk with all of u mentees so i can know how it has impacted u.

=D

HUR HUR HUR

2006-07-08T18:25:00.000+08:00

sec 1 junior: I just went to your blog. I did not know that you are such an emotional guy you know.

me: oh pls. NCOs are humans too lor

junior: but dont you think that you are too emotional? you are just leaving your school. not as if you cannot come back

me: [trying to sound senior] u wont understand until your sec 4. victoria school is so much more. haha

junior: were you like this when you were leaving primary school [tao nan. really. not like john.. fake one haha]

me: nope. not a bit close. haha i was like laughing the way home. probably cuz i was young and all it didnt hit me that hard.

junior: Lol.

haha =)

'another junior: you have impacted me so much. i cant believe how much my life has changed. its like next time when i grow up i can tell my children and my grandchildren there was this senior in my sec sch who changed my life'

me: i m jus speechless and over the moon =)

total standstill

2006-07-05T23:58:00.000+08:00

haiz. this is getting so unhealthy. who knows why i'm so affected.

i am like having sad thoughts whenever i'm alone (i think i need a mirror too)

life used to be eventful, quick-paced. although super busy without having time to even breath, it felt great knowing what u r supposed to do next. in the mornings i used to run up and down jus to make sure everything's in order, but now i can take all my time in the world, walk up aimlessly and sit down to do stuff. yes STUFF haha. its like a complete transformation, and i m jus super uncomfortable with this sudden change. life without my tie isnt helpful at all. although its real cooling now, i jus dun feel myself. haiz like i suffered from a loss of identity. really. not kidding.

and now whenever i take bus rides home alone i have this silly thoughts about leaving and all the lubly past moments which can even bring tears to my eyes. i guess i really need some time. ah CALVIN!! LEARN TO LET GO. for in life we gain and lose things all the time. hmm i guess i'm thinking too much.

i miss u guys. i miss the life.

vspb farewell for batch-in-office o5/o6

2006-07-01T14:23:00.000+08:00

one and a half wonderful years passed by at an instant, and it is time for us to leave.

mr khoo told me, that
things happen for a season
and/or for a reason
when the season is over, let it go
when the reason is done, let it go

yeah mr oh told me to learn to let go too

but it's not so easy for me to do it haha. having spent so much of my time serving the board with the 10 other super amazing pple firdaus BMI jinjian yapheng warran zhanliang austin marcus mark jabez jaymond, and having walk through the learning and growing journey with 10 superb and brilliant sec 3s firdaus ali paul chinboon kenn timothy xuanyi syamil yuanhong weijie joel.

i would never forget the times we had to do our duties, be it traffic or announcer, be it morning or canteen.
i would never forget the times we were scolded for our incompetence, cuz these were times we really learnt.
i would never forget days under mansoor and of cuz lovest d head nickolas.
i would never forget days in preparation for our very own 23rd investiture.
i would never forget the rehearsals and the actual performance for dance.
i would never forget receiving my prefect badge for the first time.
i would never forget elections and i thank the school for voting me as 1st dept, cuz i think its the bestest best job ever!
i would never forget the mad rush to induct new prefects. timothy syamil chinboon came in at the end of 2005, and made it up to 7 pple, which is just nice EXCO strength. we then madly rushed and by chance and lots of luck inducted joel xuanyi and yuanhong 6 months ago.
i would never forget the sudden idea of SLI and having only 36 days to plan it.
i would never forget all the mirror sessions and talking to each of the sec 3s
i would never forget elections o6 and the passing on of my knowledge to paul
i would never forget interviews for new batch of lower sec prefects
i would never forget finally the farewell which touched me utmostly with its simplicity, sincerity and emoness. u guys made me feel complete and accomplished

i received a total of gifts from 9 sec 3s and 8 sec 4s. i think that itself is already more than anything. its a true testimony that as first dept i have done my part and i feel really really proud. i feel accomplished. thanks pple, u guys are the best. most of u guys regarded me more than my post. u guys saw me as ur brother (it appeared so many times in ur cards). i even received an award for best brother. i even received a mug which was self-decorated. i jus dunno wad to say, but u guys flatter me. i m not sure how much an impact i had on u guys, but i really didnt expect it to be so great. so i m convinced that first dept IS the best job ever. having to see all of u guys grow and transform into leaders, its greater than any gift of the world. having to see pple improving for the better, conflicts resolved and mindsets changed, its just SPECIAL.i believe no other post in school can achieve this to such extent. and i am really grateful.

lastly i just want to say a sincere thank you to all of my colleagues in vspb. especially to the sec 3s who would have a challenging year ahead. always remember the things that i have told u, and go all out for it, for urself, for ur peers, for ur board, for ur school. i can't bear to leave ANYONE of u but the season is over and the reason is done. so as we take our leave we wish u nothing but the best in upholding and creating tradition. all the best.

always remember to soar high pple =)

photos here

OMG OMG OMG OMG!

2006-06-30T00:04:00.000+08:00

ok although this is quite outdated, i still must update

i just got a new guitar, FOC!!!

just the colour i want. shiny black with warm colours.

thanks a million to yapheng, mark, marcus, austin, firdaus, jabez, jaymond and zhanliang who painstakingly offered money and efforts

you guys rock man! i dun want to leave u!!
oh man farewell is in a few hours time. tears will fall!
i am beginning to feel ALL EMO..

so much as i want to elaborate on my happiness of the guitar, time doesnt permit. just want to say sincere thanks to all the 8 peeps who pooled money to buy this for me. i dunno wad else to say but i m blessed with SUPER GOOD FRIENDS LIKE U PPLE. LUB YOU!!!

xD can't stop smiling

2006-06-16T23:30:00.000+08:00

the greatest gift for anyone, is to be reassured by others of his efforts.

one simple sentence was all it's needed

he told me: I came to NP parades because of you. I don't want to disappoint you.

these words made my day

thanks jh!

2006-06-16T00:50:00.001+08:00

RMUN Fashion Parade - India, Guyana and Saudi Arabia (Victoria School)

watch how we faux pas! haha we only rehearse once before the actual show. haha and watch out for the aided sound effects by the computer xD

PSB EXCO out!

2006-06-14T23:44:00.000+08:00

chairman - matthias wang
vice chairman (training) - marcus auyong
vice chairman (corporate) - ho ren an
external communications - jonathan tan
human resource - ang guo jun and chua yun jun peter (=D)
internal communications - daniel tan
secretary - nicolas yee
special events liaison head - chester lum

i can only say YES!!! auyong got vice chair and i think i m even happier than him bout that!! haha i can jus envisage he making it to be the usm of air and psb vice chairman, and he's going to do well and excel in them. haha and more and more do i recognise a resemblance. xD

auyong! u must work hard now that u have greater responsibilities! but gor has faith that u will be able to manage and do even better than me!! haha aim for that! anyway i want you to give ur best in whatever u do. obstacles will come your way but always bear in mind i will always be behind u supporting u as a senior, brother, friend, mentor, advisor, pillar of strength whatever la! u just have to willing to receive my help!! haha

do ur best in every area and make the best time out of ur life in victoria!

that simply, is the victorian PASSION. xD

work hard di. u can do it

rmun: experience. exposure. expertise.

2006-06-09T23:49:00.000+08:00

results

General Assembly (GA)

- Peace and Security in the Middle East -
Honourable Mention for Best Delegate
Calvin (Saudi Arabia)

- Presence of Soviet Troops in Afghanistan -
=)

- Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) -
Best Delegate
John (India)
Best Diplomat
John (India)

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

- Debt Crisis -
Honourable Mention for Best Diplomat
Daniel (Guyana)

- Trade Barriers and New Protectionism -
Honourable Mention for Best Delegate
Ju Lian (Guyana)
Honourable Mention for Best Diplomat
Desmond (India)

Security Council (SC)

- Nuclear Disarmanment -
=)

2006 overall: 2 awards, 4 honourable mentions
2005 overall: 1 award, 7 honourable mentions

I would say we performed much better than expected. viewing that they are more stringent in giving of honourable mentions as the numbers have decreased tremendously, it still looks good for us. =)

Three day long conference has pushed all 15 of us to explore our mental limits, being constantly on our heels, listening to what others have to say, while crafting what you should say. RMUN is no easy competition: maintainence of country's stand and belief, formation of adequate allies, parliamentary procedures (esp writing of resolutions). I would said with the lacking debating support from pillars of strength like USSR (similar stand) and Arab States, I did the best that i could. however, i would like to thank the countries who have time and time again cooperated with me and have agreed to join my stance. i believe my honourable mention is truly a combined effort.

my only regret is that i hadnt had the chance to write a resolution, esp on the governance of Jerusalem. well moderators claimed i clinched the prize as i stuck to my stand and spoke out quite alot. i'm so glad they recognised my efforts as i felt discouraged with oratorical skills which can never hold a candle to the other countries.

through rmun i have also made so many new friends. one i would personally emphasise is fabian from HCI (USSR). haha he's a joker, and quite a nice guy. and we do hit off quite well =). and also the Zimbabwe yong jie, Iran christine, Iraq rashal, Ireland delegate, Palestinian delegate, Afghanistan alan and so many many more. haha hope to stay in contact.

finally i would just like to say that GA Council on Peace and Security in Middle East is truly the best. Hereby thanking chairpersons wei lun and nurul farah, and of course all the moderators, especially who painstakingly help us pass notes for like the whole day, walking up and down the LT.

rmun jargons 101
you have been recognised for 2 minutes: u have 2 min to speak
moderated caucus: focused debate chaired by moderator
unmoderated caucus: focused unchaired group discussion
point of personal privilege: point of own well-being (too cold, go washroom, inaudibility)
point of parliamentary enquiry: notion to ask Chair a question with regards to the system (voting procedures, requirements, etc.)
delegation: state/country represented in the UN

red shirts galore. hmm but --> black shirt?

2006-06-03T19:44:00.000+08:00

hmm.. this few days red shirts must be real tired.
of cuz la.. running around the minds of so many black shirts.. i bet they're exhausted.

nominations and selections begin, for LTC as well as PSB, where we select our successors to champion our EMO and SUNSHINE camps. haha deciding factors include the RSEI (red shirt exotica index) and the GEP (gross EMO-ness product). haah im just kidding. of cuz we do have our means of looking out those who are up for the job. sorry but i cannot disclose as SL selections are still in process =)

anyway it struck me hard that how important a decision we are making. i think of what i have experienced as a black shirt, all the things ive learnt, all the people ive met and so on, and to think that we are actually determining whether a sec 3 gets to enjoy the privilege that we did. its really tough!! i m afraid of depriving anyone of the opportunity but i cant choose everybody. haiz.. it would not be easy.

anyway SPSL interviews are just being held. weird questions they asked.. but hmm. one thing is more to my concern. to my great disappointment, many doubles picked PSB over us. of cuz i should be happy for them, but still i would be crazy if im not hurt. but still, they have their rights to make their decisions, and we as black shirts should encourage all red shirts to do well. and if they did, in whichever way which need not have any concern with us, we should give them the best regards. i gave mind to chester and jonathan, of cuz my heart bleeding when i said those words. haha no la not so serious.

but to all JLs out there who are reading thisi have got something to say.. not that i m desperate for black shirts!! but u guys are viewing us WRONGLY!!!

LTC HAS MUCH MORE TO OFFER RATHER THAN REGIMENTATION!! haha if pple like john cheo can survive LTC twice, arent u convinced?? haha we are much more than our 'falling in' and 'yes senior!'. LTC brings victorian leaders out of their comfort zone closer nature to instil in them the importance of independence, self-confidence and self-reflection, all in the name of a gentleman, professional and sportsman. it moulds us into a better individual, who is ready for all the challenges and obstacles we might face in the future.

and it takes alot of EMO-ness and PASSION to be an SL. these are things which cannot be taught or learned. u just have to have it! =)

may the blackie(ORSA) + reddie(ANGSA) spirit thrive and soar beyond the end of time!

mission impossible IV

2006-06-01T22:46:00.000+08:00

i just committed a crime.
trespassing of private property that is..
i broke into jiawei's house. without getting caught.
but before u dial 999, let me tell u more haha.

ok i live near jiawei. he in lor G i in lor J telok kurau. jiawei did not go to school today for maths lesson and his house phone was down. mr khoo had important things to tell him so being in close proximity i was entrusted with the task of messenger.

i rode my bike to his house in less than 5 minutes. i looked around for some intercom button but to no avail. there's was no point of contact with any of the residents inside. i checked the side gate and give a light push. thinking it was locked, i then called mr khoo. hmm after certain discussions we decided shouting was the best way. i shouted jiawei twice with much fear of getting poured water in the face and the mata coming to take me away. there was no response. suddenly someone nearby came to close the window. i said excuse me but he or she dao me right in the face.

ok so i was still on the phone with mr khoo.. and we were at our wits end. altho his mailbox was filled with flyers, the others were too. did jiawei go on a holiday? or did something undesirable happened?

just as we were about to give up, i went to give another push on the side gate as mr khoo reminded me again that it was not locked according to jiawei. 'click' the door became ajar. i was like OMG.. haha so instructed by mr khoo who had been in the compound before. i took my bike in and made my way to his house. i pressed the doorbell, breathing really heavily and looking around for any signs of pple who may jus freak out to see me there.

i rang the doorbell again. i den discovered it was not working as i couldn't hear it. mr khoo told me to knock. and i did.

within moments the knob turned and the door swung open

jiawei answered the door

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED =)

i cycled home proud as i can be

Photos

2006-05-27T22:05:00.000+08:00

http://community.webshots.com/user/vsnostalgia

4a, ltc bbq 2005, ltc bbq 2006, b div soccer finals, c div soccer finals, annualxcountry, sli echo, head prefect elections, mr oh's wedding

http://community.webshots.com/user/vsnostalgiax

speech day goh, np day o5, np day o6, vsnp sec 1 camp, vsnp sec 4 camp, vsnp sec 4 promotional parade

Head Prefect Elections 2006 [results]

2006-05-24T23:06:00.000+08:00

Taking over the Second Deputy Head Prefect of 2005/2006, Tan Jin Jian, to assume the role for 2006/2007 is Chng Chin Boon of Sec 3H

Taking over the First Deputy Head Prefect of 2005/2006, Han Yen Kwang Calvin, to assume the role for 2006/2007 is Kwa Yujie Paul Christopher of Sec 3G

Taking over the Head Prefect of 2005/2006, Mohamed Firdaus bin Mohamed Ibrahim, to assume the role for 2006/2007 is Muhammad Firdaus bin Muhammad Ali of Sec 3H

The Head Prefect was elected by a clear majority
1360 out of the possible 1600 votes (estimated) were casted

mark = mug x LUCK

2006-05-22T23:26:00.000+08:00

today was the longest day for all of us, and the most dreaded for many.

yes u may wonder why. no, not that its time for health check-up again (yes it is time, but thats not the reason) but its time for students who worship the eleventh hour spirit to face the music.

fortunately, things turned out very fine for me. perhaps its through teaching the sec 3s that i strengthened by sec3 work, which was kinda greatly emphasised in this exam. see i told u my formula works. LUCK really got me through this time. but of course not everyday is sunday. time to start the last sprint

here are my results:
english 2
physics 1
chemistry 1
biology borderline 1
e maths 1
a maths 1
geog elect/social studies 3
and so my L1R5 is 9

well hopefully can keep it up or do better. 6points!!

haha ok i think i continue pple will start to leave.

anyway for some of the sec 3s they did not do very well. many of the ang-sa(red shirt in hokkien, new term i learn from mr chan today) arent performing up to standard. scoring 20+. haiz this is a worrying trend. must quickly salvage

hereby announce that any sec 3s (angsas esp.. sorry la biased. cant help it. fei shui bu liu wai ren tian) who wish to receive help for maths or sciences can feel free to pop by school during the holidays. i should be there doing 'intensive' hehe.

jonathan tan has jumped from an E8 in chemistry to a B4!

*results may vary. tuition is subjected to first-come-first-serve basis. whilst stock last?

Head Prefect Elections 2006 [update]

2006-05-21T14:22:00.000+08:00

The nominees are
(from left) Muhammad Firdaus bin Muhammad Ali 3H, Kwa Yujie Paul Christopher 3G, Timothy Ong Zhi Hao 3F, Muhammad Syamil bin Maulod 3A and Chng Chin Boon 3H

http://vspb.vs.moe.edu.sg/hpe06/HPE06.wmv

May 19 Release of nominees
May 19 & 22 Campaign
May 22 Speech Delivery
May 23 Voting
May 24 or 25 Results

children having fun, we doing rmun

2006-05-17T01:12:00.000+08:00

haah (john, this is a unintentional typo) make rmun sound so bad, but of cuz u will feel a tinge of sadness if pple arnd u are all taking breaks but ur striving. well not really la. firdaus would experience his busiest week and MT O levels are round the corner. it'll just momentary fun they're having.

mid years ended yesterday (YES!). not really thinking bout mock exam on friday, cuz fortunately there's no need to study. in exam-ended mood now. yesterday the first time in almost half a year i think i watched a movie. not that i have no life, just that time doesn't allow (ok la no life). watch mi iii with the same old good frens (lao peng you). it was an ok show i guess.

well today i tried my first time.
it was the first time i asked for girls' contacts. it was the first time i chatted on msn with girls i've never seen before. i dun even know who they are. it was the first time i wrote a letter to girls of my age. no no no, dun get me wrongl haha its all in the name of rmun! well its a really weird feeling, to have topics of conversation with these pple, altho u have no idea wad they look like. and even more when all u talk bout his history stuff but u are still so engrossed in it. haah (john, oops again i swear) rmun is so like survivor (yay aras won on mon) haha and wayne assured it will be.

it would be a challenge for us geog students, but we are determined, me, jarren, bryan, marcus and zhanliang. so what if we're disadvantaged of backgrnd history? we will put in the extra effort to do research and think bout wad stance we shld assume. we can do it!

well rmun would be a breath-taking experience. we are already feeling the heat. with our hearts thumping we longed for the long longed rmun!

hope we'll have a great conference and make up for the 750 dollars the school has invested in us.

lastly, i would like to say that auyong rocks.
i dunno why? but he just takes away my stress and troubles and exchange it with happiness.
u won't understand (yes YOU)
haha (yes! no more typo, john)

Head Prefect Elections 2006

2006-05-11T18:39:00.000+08:00

Note: the nominees will not be revealed in the following post. so if that is your motive of visit, sorry!

hmm one year has passed so quickly!!

长江后浪推前浪
chang jiang hou lang tui qian lang
一代新人换旧人
yi dai xin ren huan jiu ren

it is time for us to pass the baton down to this young, new, fresh batch of enthusiasts
of course i hope they live up to my descriptions
hmm this is really a very special batch
started with thomas beckwith, munir, shawn ting, xuanhan and joshua who left us one by one due to different "reasons"
then wen loong, zhai juan and alvin who chose to pursue a new education
if no one left we would have EIGHTEEN sec 3 PREFECTS now
first time we were holding interviews even in february
only ONE survived from sec 1 till now
next THREE inducted 1 year later
next THREE inducted about 1.5 year later
last THREE inducted about I year and 8 months later (less than 3 months ago)

well this batch has many challenges and difficulties that they are going to face i should say

as seniors, we can only give as much assistance as we can
whether they are willing to put in the effort, it is still up to them

firdaus, paul, weijie, kenn, timothy, syamil, chinboon, joel, yuanhong, xuanyi
being the TEN of the more than THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY, you guys are privileged

although many of you have not experienced the leading styles of the previous batches, i believe many of us would encourage you guys to develop your own styles

a year will fly pass quickly. capture and maximise every microsecond

=)

emo-tified

2006-04-30T00:18:00.000+08:00

hmm.. its been some time since i have updated.. since i have time now why not?

haha guess wad. i m on my bed now. using my sis new laptop to blog! whee first time haha =x anyway its quite cool and i'll need to know how to use for 20th may rmun presentations

first things first its mid years!! oh no i would say one of my most unprepared ones. well i need to pull up my socks! hopefully everything will turn out well
anyway i have formulated my own exam theory, which can be represented in a formula

mug x luck = mark

well i need alot of luck this time to make up for my limited mugging

past few days was prefect interviews and it went well i guess. a few very good ones, but some were just plain amusing. sorry to say la.. but a few interviews were just plain entertaining. well thanks for everyone who made their way down
anyway i just want to tell yu tian that u should reconsider ur choice. bcos i was there b4 and i hesitated like u. well i m in now and frankly i have never regretted my choice. also wanna thank mr ong, xuanhan and daniel. they are the reason for who i am now. =D

currently, we are also picking the nominees for head prefect's elections (HPE). well frankly we have an idea in mind but if u wan us to name 5 now, we cant. it didnt appear to me to be such a difficult choice. well i think after wad we've went thru last year, we know how much this can change a person's life. so definitely we are going to impact someone's life so greatly. dats probably why we're having such a hard time
well for sure i cannot reveal here =D

it struck me hard that i am going to step down from prefectorialship in 1 months time. well, being a prefect for a year and a half now has really changed my victorian life totally. i would say its better den anything that has happened to me and i m really grateful to victorians who entrusted me with the role of first dept. i really love the job altho i dunno if i m good at it and ya its really, well i cant say enriching cuz its still undermining. i dunno how to describe la. 26 may is farewell and tears will flow.
we are soaring high. always

oh yes on a lighter note. i m a great LEAPer bcos i got 39 for CCA points currently. highest in sch but tied with naresh, who has definitely more points to add. well i m already contented. i had doubts of achieving A1 but now i exceeded by 14 points. WOW! credit goes to victoria man =)

while we have HPE in school. GE is the hot topic now. went today with mr khoo, jiawei, seth, boonkiat, john, wayne, changyang and christopher to watch the rallies today @ tampines. went to the SDA and the PAP one. very interesting i would say if we were to compare both sides. there is one which is informal and the other super formal. but the way each criticise the other is just entertaining. well in no position to judge, but jus went to understand our political environment better as i will be voting in the next elections in 2011 maybe?

oh ya and last thing. mr oh is getting married!! ON THE 27th OF MAY. congrats to the young man who is always 15 at heart. haha sir, married le dun so lame ok? haha

quoting ivan
our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter

auspicium!

2006-04-05T23:33:00.000+08:00

Rest no More 4 UNexpected Challenges

Great Anticipation

till the days of the conference, emo shall it be =)

wet wet wet sports day

2006-03-31T20:38:00.000+08:00

are u ready for the immense emo-ness of this post? haha wayang

it was the last sports day
for the graduating class of 2006

for the first time
i went as a spectator
clad in VC shirt
stained with the smell of mawai water

kapor is leading
and continued to soar
the clouds began to build
and let out constant roars

with a prayer in my heart
i wished for no rain
the event was significant
we might not have it again

heaven started crying
i was screaming inside
looking at the endless pours
and victorians running to hide

the sports day was yet to end
but victorians started to leave
some were plain defiant
others i would not forgive

its a gift to wear red
but they take it for granted
i was heartbroken
for this was not i wanted

well u guys better improve
and show us what u can
prove to us that we are wrong
and theres no such thing as the hidden M

sports day 2006
our very last
well its all over
its all in the past

it's time to get emo

2006-03-16T20:30:00.000+08:00

[adapted from desmond - http://imacoolnerd.blogspot.com]
the smell of insect repellent
the sight of vast padi fields
the taste of organic rice
the scorching heat from the blazing sun (and a nice tan too!)
the sounds of mr cheo screaming into the loud hailer
the euphoria of cheering (not very much though..)
the AP of Sec 3s
the fraternity of the black + green shirts (EOA pays $70 a day!)
the familiarity of TOPO BRUDDERS!! [bezzy + dezzy + jazzy]
the dinghy kia [john]
the lambak losers (winners who climbed gunung lembak TWICE!!) [bryan + hong han + calvin + george]
the water obers [bryan + george]
the rusty rafters [calvin + hong han]
the KFC meal from the 15-year-old red shirt who still hasnt pass out from LTC after 5 years
the sec 3 camp 2006

final camp for blacks

2006-03-11T21:18:00.000+08:00

personally i will not rate this camp as success or failure. we managed to achieve some things, but definitely we realise we (black shirts) take some things for granted.

some heartening happenings

i got to know a lot more sec threes, especially those from 3E(accompanying for transport), 3H and 3I (gunung lambak) and of course many other individuals from each class whom i have taken for night walk or even area cleaning

on second night, 5 from 3B got into trouble with us for making noise after lights out. i personally talked to douglas and hoped he could make the most out of the camp. the next day i could see his efforts to maintain order and to push the class on for activities. it really meant alot to me that he actually listened and executed

not commenting on their performance as of yet, i did get to know my red shirts better, especially marcus au yong, kevin kian wei, zhao peng, kwang yi, those who were intially out of my reach

the camp was run on schedule with minor casualties and screw up. on the whole quite organised and objectives were set quite clearly (whether they were met depends on sec 3s themselves)

we actually won sekolah menengah kembangsaan kahang in basketball, soccer, volleyball and table tennis! only lost sepak takraw.

my physical prowess is actually not as bad as i thought, as i managed to climb gunung lambak(510+ metres) twice with only a 40 minute interval.

read the blogs of a few sec 3s (kwang yi and si cheng) and they seem to enjoy the camp so that is what's most important

some disheartening facts

red shirts showed their incapability once again. i will not blame them entirely, for i believe we are only as good as the people we train. sometimes i feel that i have not achieved my main objective as a black shirt, that is to educate and nurture the red shirts, such that they are similar or better of standards than us. this batch definitely needs more pushing, and we have to take the initiative to do so. be it for the new batch of NP NCOs, Prefects EXCO, Camp Leaders, Senior Leaders or Senior Peer Support Leaders, we need to be aware of their mentality and try to change it such that they can successfully continue, and pass down the already damaged spirit of the school.

i cant believe there are sec 3s with such bad attitude. one (i shall not name him) actually complained that we treat them like dogs when we merely ask them to go into pushup position to STRETCH THEIR CALVES (not to do pushups) and he insisted we didnt do when some of us did (only those who supervised didnt). and to think that he came from a uniformed groups. this same guy even made a very nice female EDU instructor shout and flare up. this guy will not make it in society, as he is so self-minded and thinks that the world revolves around him. lets hope he learns someday.

sec three camp made me realise that i will be about to face upcoming obstacles which are definitely not easy to overcome. for the next few months, i not only have to catch up on my revision for mid yrs, prelims and O levels, i must also set tones right in all the organisations or CCAs that i am in such that the torch can be handed over properly and the flag of Victoria can be kept unfurled

my victorian shirt span

2006-03-06T21:45:00.000+08:00

i was browsing through my closet. ova'horror! most of my shirts existed because of victoria
its amazing that i can form a boutique already after less than 4 years =)

__________________________________________________________________________

4 PE Shirts(2 old 2 new, people grow you know)
1 Victorian Challenge 2003 Shirt (unique to Classes of 2006)
1 Kapor House Shirt
1 Junior Leader Red Shirt
2 Camp Instructors Red Shirts
1 Senior Leader Black Shirt
2 Camp Leader Black Shirts
1 High Exposure Blue Shirt (Wilderness Langkawi Malaysia)
1 Wilderness Langkawi Black Polo (Wilderness Langkawi Malaysia)
1 Motorola Big Walk Shirt
1 VSNPCC E-System Shirt (NPCC Shirt)
1 VSNPCC Park Safety Shirt (NPCC Shirt)
1 VSNPCC ATC 2004 Barrack 4 Shirt (NPCC Shirt)
1 Synapse 2005 Shirt (PLMGS Prefects Activity)
1 Dramafest 2004 Shirt
1 'Shiok' Victorians Day 2006 Shirt

21 Victorian Shirts in total

____________________________________________________________

orh han zi

2006-03-06T21:10:00.000+08:00

i haven updated for almost a month, a recap of what happened this time when i m missing in action here

SLI - 24 february
the days before 24 were basically spent rushing like headless swines to meet deadlines. looking back, we planned such a big thing in 36 days, with 15 people (less than that active, cant blame - next pointers will tell u why), during CA period (see?), during peak season of sports competitions (now u know what i mean?) and a small flu pendemic in VS(even worse right, we had 3 to 4 absent everyday). i would say compared to previous years standards, it wasnt prestigious, just mayb proper. oh ya and the emcee left names out, and read wrong orders. not entirely theirs to blame, it was the first time they were reading my list, which i placed firdaus first and jaymond last (should be the other way round, according to position) sorry to those affected (sufiyan, bryan, nicolas yee, wengkeong, and of cuz all prefects). anyway its over. and the seniors did so much for us! the cheers at the end was so solid it made every end on the high.
well at least the teachers and principals were happy. ya just smile along.
as we moved on from 23 years of investiture to the inaugural student leaders' investiture, i realised that not everything lasts, so treasure every moment

CA1 - whole month of february
okay lar, at least it is better den expected. i really did all studying the night before, and really thank god for letting on turn well. i screw up geog elective, well alot did. but to my consolation i got a1 for english, my first after several a2s and b3s. ya i think my L1R5 is 10.
well, we can always do better. this year many couldnt make it to VJC with 9 raw score. pull up your socks han!

SI-ship - recently selected, interview today
well it was by chance that i receive this prestige. not saying that i deserve it the most, but well since i was selected i will go for it. anyways selfishly speaking, i will only gain from it. but if i can i would want to share it with everyone of the NCO board. everyone deserves it, if not no one does. interviews today, and we will be promoted from 1 april 2006
life is never fair in providing opportunities to one, but always generous in providing opportunities to all. so grab them

Campcraft - prelims 18 march, results out today
our boys have been training 24-7 for this competition. well is it worth it, to sacrifice so much of their study and social time just to build a shelter and pioneer structure? its not like we have the luxury of poles, pegs and ponchos in the jungle. but anyway looking at all their faces today it definitely does. PASSION is what they have shown me. and i feel guilty that i cant hold a candle to any of them. well i will support them in the finals
congratulations once again for victoria school national police cadet corps for having both campcraft teams vying for finals in 5th and 7th positions respectively.

words can only tell so much.
the sweet and sour we can only savour in our hearts
*trying to be emo here*

'O' level mother tongue

2006-02-11T00:36:00.000+08:00

i got A1!

__________________________________

[yay]

___________________________________

my left eye is still twitching on a daily affair. someone please save me.

___________________________________

'it is the significance of the insignificant things that truly matters' - Calvin Han (1990 - ?)
haha need to claim credit cuz more and more people using now

unexpected income

2006-02-05T00:05:00.000+08:00

thanks to john's thick skin and jarren family friends' generosity, i earn myself $30 in one hour just by keeping quiet. oh did i mention dinner was provided?

p.s. i m saying this for jarren. he only allow close frens to do this =)
i m saying this for john. he felt guilty =D

haha chinese new year rocks.

___________________________________________________________________

happy birthday everyone!

of eye twitches and gut feelings

2006-02-03T23:44:00.001+08:00

the CI said: you guys BETTER practise your flag bearing at home

and we did not get the hint at all
______________________________________________________

my left eye was twitching the whole week, and i just could not put my full concentration on anything when it did, cause i just felt that something would happen.

yes mark explained that left eye signified something good would happen. and thank goodness it sure is.
_________________________________________

Results Of The Unit Overall Proficiency Award (UOPA) For Year Of Assessment 2005
List of Gold Award Winners:

1. Marsiling Secondary School - Area 1
2. Catholic High School - Area 4
3. Raffles Institution - Area 4
4. Cedar Girls' Secondary School - Area 5
5. Maris Stella High School - Area 5
6. Bartley Secondary School - Area 5
7. Victoria School - Area 12
8. Gan Eng Seng School - Area 14
9. Hwa Chong Institution - Area 15
10. New Town Secondary School - Area 16
11. Jurong West Secondary School - Area 17
12. Bukit Panjang Government High School - Area 20

__________________________________________________________

i recalled a month ago, when mr lai, zhan liang and i were slaving and slogging just to settle the admin report for this unit overall proficiency award (UOPA). i did lesser than both of them of course, i was only doing the badges part, so to say the second hardest 50 points to earn after the attendance. but mr lai and zhanliang did stay back for many afternoons (i stayed for a couple and helped in the other parts too) to complete the whole chuck of one thousand one hundred and ten points (1110)

and the result of our work was 90.8%
Qualification for the Gold award >90%

competitions were our main killer. we did not do well in shooting or quiz last year, and it was a huge blow to our points.

thankfully other aspects like the 9 SPF recipients pulled us back up

i may just be the flag bearer for the award ceremony in NPCC annual parade
which means i get to bear the VS FLAG(!!) in a parade
__________________________________________________________

six years of gold did not come easy
six batches of hard work
six times of effort

victoriaschoolnationalpolicecadetcorps
`above[all]__
______________________________________________________

continue to soar for seventh, eighth, tenth, fifteen
forever more

returns

2006-01-21T18:34:00.000+08:00

nothing beats seeing all those u nurtured lead their own lives, experience, develop, grow and emerge.

[john would definitely agree]

we LUB <3 our junior leaders!

who cares about the shirt anyway?
it is things like this that really returns

the sense of accomplishment

drives me
propels me
pushes me

i am ready for anything

torture

2006-01-16T23:39:00.000+08:00

every rule you break
is like a knife piercing through by heart

are u guys really my friends?
i got pierced umpteen times today

bleeding
bleeding

but so what?

still incapable

irony

2006-01-15T18:31:00.000+08:00

coldplay sings what i feel
____________________________________________

part of [talk]
oh brother i can't, i can't get through
i've been trying hard to reach u
cause i don't know what to do
oh brother i can't believe it's true
i'm so scared about the future
and i wanna talk to u
oh i wanna talk to u

_______________________________________________

part of [hardest part]
and the hardest part
was letting go not taking part
was the hardest part

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less than 10 months to it

abyss

2006-01-14T00:59:00.000+08:00

fallen into an abyss of no return
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worry about fulfilling expectations
worry about continuing tradition
worry about quality
worry about quantity
worry about ending
worry about leaving
worry about anything
worry about everything

please help US.
nothing is looking good at this point of time
seven will not do.
and i cant even confirm seven.

______________________________________________

and to whomever it may concern:
you still dun trust me,
you still dun treat me like i am one,
you still doubt my faith for you.
i miss YOU. the real you.
______________________________________________

放手

2006-01-09T22:34:00.000+08:00

below is a poem i wrote for my chinese homework
sorry non-chinese readers. =)
__________________________________________

生活随笔 - 雨天

哗啦哗啦，
绵绵细雨降落大地。
街道一面寂静，
房里一面凄凉。

我心里有何牵挂？
挣扎了很久，
我把照片收了起来。
四年的旅程即将完毕，
是时候展望未来了！

就如雨水能蒸发再循环，
人握着从前有何作用？
放手吧！
期待雨过天晴的憧憬，
期待振奋人心的另一开始！

__________________________________________

__

2006-01-09T22:27:00.000+08:00

it's shameful such things happen in Victoria School
whatever happened to our core values
whatever happened to gentleman, professional and sportsman

never ever steal
especially when you are a Victorian

cause Victoria is something more
and so are we__

untitled

2006-01-09T22:08:00.000+08:00

below are the thoughts i had before i slept yesterday
_____________________________________________________

the clock is ticking and we will be leaving soon. TOO soon. so why cling on to things u cannot change when there is still areas where u can improve on. victoria has given us too much. much more than we deserve. and its only right we return.

i PLEDGE to put in additional effort to my victorian career be it in my committments or my academics. i want to score well for the school. i want to raise the rankings. i want NPCC and PB to go like before. to continue tradition. i will study like mad if i have to. i will do everything nicely before i pass it down to my successor.

yes, it is time to pass the baton. and every batch plays a part in the continuation of our beliefs, values and excellence. i want to do my best. and i am determined
___________________________________________________

nothing in the world can return what victoria has given me
not even the greatest riches
nor the greatest people that lived
nor the greatest events that happened
cause there are something which value more
and that is love.

___________________________________________________

i know it would be difficult
you are not supporting me in your words or actions
none of you are
you say i help others but not myself
you say i am useless
maybe thats true
but i didnt do this for myself
i dun care what you say
i dun care what you think
it is what i believe
that matters
ultimately

thank god that some people are still with me __
for that i know i am never alone

never

_________________________________________________

graduating depression syndrome

2006-01-06T19:33:00.000+08:00

but isn't it a bit early
__________________________________

secondary one orientation camp 2oo6 really impacted me. hearing mr low and mr siow speak about all those things that the sec ones will be expecting to experience and really the change they are going to undergo hit me real hard. i was just thinking how time flies. when i was in sec one, none of this made sense to me. i was not even listening to what they were saying about this. but now, after walking through three quarters of the journey, everything makes alot of sense in me. i really understood the significance of the entire experience in victoria.

sat in the prefectorial board after the camp with firdaus and mark. we were just thinking about what had happened the last 3 years. remembered our lower sec classes and how we went thru victorian challenge and sec one camp together. sec one orientation camp would most likely be my last camp assuming the role as a camp instructor or camp leader.

it's just feels empty. i just can't forget the fact that i would be leaving everything in a matter of months. and everything that i have pursued for for the past 3 years would be.. just memories. and a new batch would be receiving the baton that we've passed on. now i understand what they mean by "cherish every scolding, and every moment u feel drained"

__________________________________________________

at this point, i dunno what to blog about anymore.
but i might not be all smiles for a while.
i am one who takes time to let go.

two thousand and six

2006-01-02T19:35:00.000+08:00

breathe. cause its the new year
feel. cause its a new beginning
experience. cause it will never return once its lost
_________________________________________________________

the last day of 2oo5 for me was spent with fusionoize (if u hadnt know, its the name of sec 4 VSNPCC squad 2oo6) at darren's house. fruitful i would say, cause i haven been spending much time with them ever since i joined the prefects. seriously sometimes i feel i m drifting away from them. but yes, it was eliminated with a whole night with them.

came online today and the first thing mansoor said to me was:

all the best for everything
THIS year
this is when everything will happen.

i replied this to him and i will say it again

i can't believe i will be taking O levels in less than 11 months
i can't see myself leaving Victoria in a years time
but i know
very soon all this numbers will slowly turn to 1 month, den 1 week, den 1 day

which is depressing so to say, as there will be no other school i want to be.

all the best to the graduated class of 2005
all the best to the graduating class of 2006

______________________________________________________

as we flip to a new page the story continues to be written and scripted by the authors of our lives - ourselves.

cca orientation

2005-12-31T00:20:00.000+08:00

i think i am learning fast from john. now i have mastered how to talk to aunties. and i proved myself today cause i actually kept some of them listening for as long as ten minutes.

haha ya wad bro say is true. the newcomers will just stone around not listening. so we have to of course 'attack' the parents. and definitely must speak their language. i realised for myself i emphasised alot on the "once a week training", "standown before exams" and "cca points" the most frequently. ya but this is what they want to know most right.

secondary 3s(all levels are with ref to year 2006). i actually dunno whether it is still wise to let the recruitment drive be the first project handed by the batch which is taking over. it is sure a risky move. and judging from the diminishing popularity uniformed groups are facing. it would be sursprising we can survive another 20 to 25 years. but fortunately, the response of the parents this year was much better den last's. and they were more willing to let their child participate in this types of tougher ccas.

oh yes my face got shown close-up in the hall. can u imagine. the screen so big. and my face is big initially le. i didnt see it myself, but it must be. cuz many sec 1 parents now recognise me =x

oh ya went to sing karaoke with the baoding meridian buddies and some vs buddies. we fortunately and coincidentally bumped into eason chan. =)

breakdown

2005-12-31T00:12:00.000+08:00

everything will be alright
tomorrow will be fine

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she just kept crying
but she never had
never had once shed a tear
like a child
she claims no one understands her
she claims we only blame her
and she maybe right
being her is not simple
i know
and she still faces pressure from many areas
coming from a family who dotes on her
she has braced through alot with us
maybe we took her for granted
i dunno why she acted like that
perhaps work was really too much for her
sorry mom
i hope that your working experience from now on will be a blessed one
___________________________________________________

and the world keeps turning

my amateurish trials.

2005-12-27T19:08:00.001+08:00

i know not as professional as some of yours, but a good attempt right, for someone who don't take photos regularly. these were taken during the baoding trip.

jeriel staring at a tree haha..

bryan and two strangers behind unfortuately. oh well =)

rare chance i got the glare of the sun. on Langyashan.

christmas time!

2005-12-25T13:34:00.000+08:00

finally. i'm one year old in blogging.

this year has passed tremendously fast. sec 3 is supposedly said to be the toughest of secondary school life. looking back, it was quite a journey. from new classmates, new teachers, new duties to exams with higher difficulties, taking over ccas, greater involvement in commitments to rushing syllabus, planning for camps, more authority in school.

BOOM! we have come to the end of secondary 3.

sometimes i just feel i haven tried my best in certain areas. say NPCC. i just got promoted to staff sergeant. but seriously, i wasnt very happy about it. that is because there are just others who had put in more effort than me, appearing every parade, fulfilling every area of their job scope. while i am away for this and that reason. i m very sorry to people like seth, darren and justin. i really hope i can give u guys or at least share the rank with u guys. but i know its impossible. i can only show to u guys that i deserve the rank by putting in more effort in NPCC. and for PB. i would be next year being more heavily involved with the sec 3s. the batch that is taking over us. this is a problematic batch and they do require alot of supervision. hopefully my actions can repay for whatever i lacked in this year.

sec 4 is the academic year. it is time for us to pass the baton. suddenly i feel i might really miss all the times when i m drained. all the times when i m busy. all the times when i m stressed. i know its kinda sick. but dats wad the sec 4s tell us sometimes. "cherish all the busy times, all the scoldings, all the experiences, cause you will long for the feeling of being drained next year."

ok one last thing. nothing beats people calling me "bro" even before i did.

just yesterday. george, ivan, daniel, darren and yongtat did!

"it is the significance of the insignificant things that matters." - Calvin Han (1990 - ?)

o v e r

2005-12-16T13:54:00.000+08:00

things come and go..
people too..

its over

i can't lie.. i am not fine. no.

time will heal. hopefully.