MINing of Life

Saturday, 29 March 2008

Earth Hour 2008Y

I really hope Dad and Mum will play their part though it will bring great inconvenience to us. Although Singapore is not one of the cities participating in this movement, according to a newspaper article in The Straits Times, some corporations and companies (like Suntec Convention Centre) will be showing their support by switching off their lights from 8pm to 9pm. With just these support, the total energy saved will be sufficient for a year's supply of electricity for a 4-room flat... imagine how impactful it will be if each and every one of us spare just that 1 single hour for our one and only home, Earth.

May Earth Hour 2008 raise awareness amongst people all over the world to show our care for our precious Planet Earth.

This is the very little action an individual like you and I can do; support Earth Hour, creating hope for the future.

7:16 pm;

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Friday, 28 March 2008

Council over Guides?Y

I really cannot predict if I'll ever keep my promise to persevere equally on for both student council and guides. I realised that I've been rather 'not as enthusiastic as I used to be' in guides, and I'm more 'on the go' in council.

Is it because of the rank/position/status? Responsibilities should be equally important, be it being responsible for submitting your homework or being responsible for serving food or being responsible for running an event smoothly.

Probably girl guides is not happening enough, or at least, not as happening as it used to be. But really, there are indeed more school events lined up with the introduction of the house system. Maybe that's why guides meetings are always cancelled and council becomes more happening.

Why aren't guides meeting enjoyable? We apparently sit in the classroom to WAIT FOR TIME TO PASS. I'm not saying that the teachers and ma'ams are having a good time, but I'm sure there could be things for us to do while we wait for the badges to b given out and the test works to be signed and some other administration matters to be settled, rather than sitting down and seeing the guides having a good chatting session.

Or maybe councilors have this drive in them that keeps me motivated and continue to strive even harder. This spirit can hardly be in seen in guides, probably only during the lower secondary times when the 4 of us were super bonded. Many must be shock that I actually don't work on my test works and slack a lot during guides because I wasn't like this previously.

If only guides is more happening with more passionate guides having the real BP spirit instilled in them, I believe that when that day really comes, it'll be guides over council.

This may be one of the reasons why council was my final choice.
When something is accomplished, you'll feel a great sense of achievement with a lot of appreciation to encourage you on.

9:13 pm;

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Thursday, 27 March 2008

Election Results?Y

So many people have been asking me about the election results these days. Sad to say, I do not know a thing and it has yet to be known.

Be patient people, it'll be out soon...

...probably another week or 2?

It should be announced to the school on 7 April :)

7:03 pm;

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Sunday, 23 March 2008

Pioneer Proficiency TestY

Due to the YC presentation last week, I didn't go for the Pioneer Training which was a training prior to yesterday's Pioneer Test as the Guide House (HQ).

Well, there was a make-up practice/ training last Thursday and we made the rope ladder, emergency shelter and read the compass and map.

First up, I got a shock when I realised that there wasn't any recap on what they did last week. Moreover, I don't know what they did, but the Uncle(trainer/instructor) had a really bad impression of our company -.-

Since I had done the rope ladder before, I went all the way for it.
Time limit: 15 minutes
Result: Pass
So cool lah, Clarissa, Si Yuan and I were each tying our own ladder. We were motivating one another because Clarissa and I were not very confident ('cause we were both absent for last week's training) and Si Yuan felt stress because she felt that she should pass no matter what as she should be better than us. In the end, our ladders were let down and hey hey hey, my ladder was the neatest among the 3. We climbed up our own ladder and we passed!

Next, we moved on to the practical for sawing and axemanship. Sawing was cool. Using the axe was ... (I can't confess, but it's something only Si Yuan, Clarissa and I know... opps!).
Result: Straight Pass!

Then was the construction of the Emergency Shelter.
Time limit: 10 minutes
Result: Of course have to Pass right?
I can't say it's chicken feet. I got the lucky spot which was the only spot receiving direct sunlight -.- I finished first! Everyone passed... it's a sure pass test =)

I didn't really like this because we didn't have any practices at all. FIRE LIGHTING!!!
Time limit: 20 minutes
Result: Fail =x
We only had 5 match sticks to set a fire properly and boil whatever amount of water which was in the kettle. All of us except Isabel failed. Once the punks started burning, we were so happy, then the gush of wind came and... byebye~ A second chance was given, so there we had, another 5 matchsticks. Same situation, so that's it, we were told there was no more chance and we had to go back in June.

2-hour hike around Bishan. Since there was no more maps for 1 more person, Isabel and I could do pair work but we were given the tougher paper -.-
Time limit: 2 hours
Result: 4/8 questions correct
Nevermind for that, we forgot to bring our water bottles along, so we're super thirsty and dehydrated under the scorching sun. We were made to walk from 1 end of Bishan to another and I wasn't in proper shoes for long distance walk. The problem was, the Singapore Map didn't really tally with the up-close map of Bishan. I had fun using the compass =)

Back from lunch.

Oh yeah, there was a re-test for fire lighting! I was the last to arrive, but luck enough to be on time before they started. So i gathered as much punks and kindlings and twigs I could find and we were at our "working area".
Time limit: 20 minutes
Result: PASS!!!
I was apparently talking to the punks and kindlings and twigs and the matchsticks and box, askng my fire to burn and last or even appear initially. It was almost dying out when the rest used up all their matchsticks and had no fire at all. So they failed. But I saw some red glowy thing at the bottom of my pit. I was seriously desperate to pass, so I was blowing and blowing with all my might to get the flame back, and I succeeded! They were happy for me. I should say I was really lucky, for if they did not fail, I wouldn't have enough punks and kindlings and twigs to "feed" my fire. I was really overjoyed! It was as if I was some mad person perspiring like a leaking tap which made a lot of unnecessary noises, talking to myself.
I was really contented that I passed!

Lastly was our Sawing and Axemanship Theory test. I knew I couldn't rely on just reading the notes. So I sat by the testing table to observe. I did help a lot. The Uncle was like talking to me and testing at the same time, like ,"Correct or not? You look at your friend, she shake her head. You say correct or not?" So from totally foreign and unknown nonsense, I became a pro at answering his questions. And that's of course, I Passed!

11:33 am;

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Friday, 21 March 2008

Student CouncilY

Finally, the 4 days of campaigning is over and the 5 of us (I mean the candidates) can take a break. It's now up to the student body and the teachers to get busy; for voting day is this coming Monday, the students and teachers will have to decide and cross out the candidate of their choice on the voting slip, and some teachers will have to count the votes.

What's our theme all about? Let's summarize them...

Vote for...
SooHan: Care; Siddharth: Progress; Sharmane: Leader; ChiawMin: Support; Ryan: Improvement.

I gave my speech yesterday. It was my first time giving a formal speech in front of more than 1500 people aged 12 and above. It was really frightening when I stood at the podium alone and when I lifted my head, all I saw was a white sea with black creatures popping out on my left, right and front, and a colourful uneven wave at the extreme back of the sea, and there was complete silence and all eyes were on me. I got the attention, and that was scary enough because never once in TK, anyone actually really want to hear what the speaker would be delivering. However, this year, people were asking what was there that we've planned and why they should vote for us even during normal conversations.

I was supposed to be confident and give an impact while saying my first paragraph.

"I have a dream - a TK united and strong. I have a dream of a TK where I stand fighting for your cause. I have a dream of a TK where the unheard among you are blessed with a fearless voice."

Somehow, all that I'd practiced was of no use; that stage fright was traumatising. Once I said "I have a dream", I knew everything would turn out differently as expected. I forgot what was after that. I kept referring to my que-card. My voice was wobbly. Then when I got to the middle, it somehow became quite comfortable though the little stage fright was still present.

When I ended, the crowd clapped. That was yet another first experience in my life. Never once had any crowd ever clapped for ME (just me alone) for performing (a speech is considered a formal performance right?) That moment was really relieving.

Comments from the crowd: energy not there; didn't sound confident at the beginning; sorry, couldn't hear you; referred to your que-card too often.

If given a second chance, I believe I'd have done a better job. Seriously, we were not given the chance to test the microphone (like at least know how loudly we should speak into the mic) or even know how how it feels to stand in front of a 1500 crowd of super-attentive peers.

You've heard my speech, you've seen my poster, you've got my leaflets and lollies, now is your chance to make a wise decision. Regardless of who you pick, as long as you think he or she will be able to represent you (the sudent body), your choice is wise.

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Youth Congress Presentation

Last Saturday was our judging day. Due to our packed curriculum schedule and CCA meetings/ practises, we only finalised our presentation that morning, just a few hours before our turn to face the penal of 3.
There were a lot of crazy happenings, as usual. We presented our presentation in the Deal or No Deal way, which was o relevence to our project as we played this game during the Character Education lesson we conducted on our own. So we had 3 briefcases and each of the *aahem* "hunks" are in-charge of 1 of them. If you could visualise, our presentation was split into 3, presenting: background work, Anti-Bullying Day, and visit to the Children's Club.

I felt that we did a good job, good enough to impress the judges, but not as well-prepared as the other teams of the 11 other schools. This was mainly because of our time constraints. Though we had a week of "holidays" to prepare, most of us were out for CCA camps/trainings/competitions and the last 2 days of Council Camp was really for us to focus on our election campaigning preparations (4 out of 9 of us are the election candidates). Gosh, the more one is involved in school happenings, the more busy one can be. I've got nothing more to say.

The results were out and sad to say, TKteam did not stand a chance to squeeze into the top 3. Nevertheless, we're very satisfied with all that we've done and I believe the 8 others will agree with me that this 7-month-long project had definitely brought us closer together, from acquaintances we used to be to close peers whom we look forward to meet every day. We work hard and play hard together and even came up with nonsense to make everyone's day. We came up with a clap for everyone, and after realising that I don't have an English name, they even made up 1 for me... guess what, I'm : Cha Cha Pang Chiaw Min... -.-''' lame right? Also, we learn a lot from one another's strength and weaknesses. I've never seen any group of people so committed in a project like this before. This fruitful project may be coming to an end, but the sense of belonging in us will last forever. Well, as least we've already leave a legacy for the school!

Student council is really more than just being the thinkers and leaders of the school, but it's the skills we learn, the spirit we build up and the friendship we enhance that encourages me to see every day as a brighter day for me to add colours to.

10:59 am;

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Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Student Council Election Campaigning PostersY

6:51 pm;

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Saturday, 15 March 2008

Council Camp & YC judgingY

This March holiday was really no holiday for me as there were so many things to do, so much so that sometimes heading home didn't feel like having a break but just working and working and sleep and the next morning I'd be either back in school or doing my homework.

I was working on our YC project presentation from Saturday all the way till the presentation day itself except on Wednesday. Council Camp was on Thursday and Friday and during that 2 days, 4 of the 9 of us had to concentrate on our campaigning training, like preparing our election speech and posters and plans and whatever nonsene. In other words, from Thursday onwards, there was double work-.-

There was only about 2-3 days (adding the hours up) or about a total of 32 hours for me to touch on my homework, isn't that crazy?

The moment I got back home from Council Camp, which was roughly 7pm, I had to rush my speech, campaign proposal and submit to Mdm Halilah by 9pm. And immediately after that, I had to do some final preparations for the YC presentation the very next day. I slept at 12am.

The 4 candidates who were also involved in YC had to reach school by 7.30am. Imagine what we looked like... some zoombies who desperately need to teleport to slumberland! However, we braved through the entire day.

0730 - 0830 : Election campaigning matters
0830 - 1100 : YC presentation preparations
1100 - 1130 : Journey to NYC office
1130 - 1315 : Waiting time
1315 - 1330 : Judging Presentation
1330 - 1400 : Survey

We then had lunch at Burger King. Surprisingly, the 3 "hunks" were very quiet-- wait, make that 4, including Uncle Lawrance-- they were just munching and munching. Nevermind for that.

So Sharmane, Ryan and I headed back to school to put up our posters. Clarissa came to help too. Soo Han was feeling quite ill and she had track competition the next day, so we helped her with putting up of the posters. Staircases were locked, hence we just pasted anywhere accessible. The Chicken Rice Stall uncle and auntie were back to prepare for the new school term, and there was some Chinese Drama in the COE room. It was about 3pm and the security guard told us to leave by 5. Fair enough. But we were not done by then, so he chased us out of school... -.- so malu.

Well, that evening, I went to Parkway, wanting to buy lollies for my campaign, but realised that someone told me the wrong pricing, which meant that I was too poor -.-

I headed to Suntec City to meet up with my parents, then we went to Mustafa Centre to buy lollies.

By the time I was home, it was already close to 10pm! I could have just faint at that very moment!

Sometimes I find getting busy with such stuff aren't as tiring as sitting in front of books and notes; they're more satisfying and motivate me to do more of such stuff. Maybe I'm not so good with books, but I can't deny that they're important to my life.

10:51 pm;

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Tuesday, 11 March 2008

what Chiaw Min really means...Y

What Chiaw Min Means

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.
You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out.Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia.Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person.
You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.
You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.You have the classic "Type A" personality.
You are very charming... dangerously so. You have the potential to break a lot of hearts.You know how what you want, how to get it, and that you will get it.You have the power to rule the world. Let's hope you're a benevolent dictator!
You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want.You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

It's quite accurate actually, I'm like as described most of the time. Well, I guess you peeps can get to know me a little more >.-

9:06 pm;

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Friday, 7 March 2008

failureY

Just when I thought that I had saw that weak candle flame glowing vulnerably in the completely dark maze, it was probably blown off and now I'm lost again.

I've never expected to reach this low, getting more than 30 for L1R5. Many thought that I was joking with them, but probably that's the reason to why I am where I am. The over-expectations I wanted to see and the pressure I'd most probably been pressing myself mentally, unintentionally, all forcing me to overload myself.

I'd never cried that many times in my life. I hate crying, seriously. I shouldn't even cry at all. Where's the strong, determined ChiawMin I used to be? The aftermath of the downpours will always be having heavy eyes that may weigh for about 24hours and that is badly uncomfortable and making me feel sleepy easily.

It's probably the only way for me to let things go and see my weakness. I understand that history may repeat itself in secondary school the way it happened in primary school.

Politics is dark (also applies to school politics), many may not understand. It's so stinky and ugly that I won't want to further elaborate. It's part of the mental scare that is stressing me out.

I think a candle flame is too helpless to even protect itself from going off. I think I need a super high voltage spotlight that is powerful enough to bring light to darkness and show that ever-lasting path clearly.

8:35 pm;

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Sunday, 2 March 2008

Update!Y

Lunch @ Parkway Banquet after YC Project:

Vivian and me

Sharmane's unglam-ness

she's trying to cover and hide

waiting for lunch to be over

Ryan act cute... haha

My idol's phone!

My idol's unglam-ness

*rub rub* I'm your idol???

*twist* Sharmane

Opps, missing Sharmane and Edwin.

Soo Han looked shock...

Ok, Edwin refused to get in...

Edwin still refused to get in...

*point* to leader Ryan.

Rifat looked so cute!

Gosh, they looked energetic and ready

to fight some enemies just after

a simple lunch?

"Eh, TK Team leh... Dun play play!"

"Abang Rifat not toy ok?!"

That's Edwin with his hand up...first trysecond trylast trythey bullied me; emphasize on my egg-head-.-they looked like as if they're worshipping
Vivian and Estee with ice-cream... ... when they were actually sheltering their ice-cream
hahaha...

Visit to Qian Hu Fish Farm:

PLMGS(S) Prefect Installation:

PL Youth Congress (Bobbi and Friends!)

Janice, Joanne, Hannah, Eleanor, me, WeiKee

Vivian's turn

me, WeiKee, Vivian, Eleanor

Joanne

me and WeiKee

smile

look into the sky

~dao~

hey, you set me up!

12:15 pm;

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Saturday, 1 March 2008

Youth Congress: Visit to Children's ClubY

It was phase 2 of our project. I cannot really elaborate too much information at the moment, but I realised that my old weakness is back. This weakness has since caused me to be so easily affected and emotional.

It was just simply a Dog-and-Bone game with the children, but till the very last round, as the facilitator of the game, I was judged unfair and that 1 particular group actually pulled a long face and were complaining amongst themselves, even the quietest girl who didn't even want to say a word.

I was told to try to make every group get a little token so that everyone could put a smile on their faces as they head home, but it turned out to be so disastrous that the entire group that was super active felt the injustice. Even my teammates who were in the group felt that I shouldn't have been so unfair since we're playing according to the rules of the game. Initially I just felt bad for offending the kids.

After the group photo shot, everyone headed to the small stage. Crystal asked me if I was all right. I felt really really really awful then I told her," Huh, how? How? Now they're angry with me. But my intention was just to make everyone feel happy, not to create all these. She tried consoling me, saying that she'd explained to the boy who grabbed the packet of tidbits(bone) that she couldn't hear his answer and hence gave the chance to other people. I was still blaming myself. She could see that my tears were coming our though I could feel it.

We went away from the others. We sat down and she tried to talk me out, to help me see my light again. My emotions got over me and I could stop my tears from coming out but just to hold it back before I cried too hard. This was the third time I cried with the presense of my mentor, but it's different from the other 2.

I used to cry a lot about my family matters and wonder why my brothers didn't seem like they even bother. Then I learnt to not take things too hard, and eveything would not turn out as bad as I had thought. So the same principle applies here. I was just too afraid to have made some children unhappy.

I guess it's probably all too much for me to handle, as in, I've been too demanding for perfection from myself. Maybe I used to be too successful and I keep comparing myself now and myself then.
I don't know how I'm going to change, but all I have to do now is to hold myself up first before I can move on.

10:09 pm;

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