Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Crossroads. Barricades. Traffic lights. Zebra crossing. Mud holes. Road construction.
OBSTRUCTION!
Can someone please enlighten me how I can encourage my dearest younger brother to study? Darn, he is smart but it stops at there. He is an obsessive computer user. Why do people have potential, don't see that they have?
I used to loathe this guy. He was in my primary school. He is an extremely fast runner. He broke the national record in SWIFT for his division in primary school. Gosh. Everyone was envious of his talent. Down the road, he stopped running and changed to soccer. I was like WHAT! Can you imagine, people who have the talent still dont harness it and just let it decay and rot. Now that I think back, I guess if I loathe him, then I must hate myself too.
I once remember someone saying that I should not put a glass ceiling on the goals that I set for myself. I got a c6 for my chinese o level, first attempt. I really did not want to retake it again. Almost all the teachers were against it( my chinese really that bad meh?) Anyway, then he comes and encourages me to retake. He used to be like me, suck at chinese but he chose to retake. He copied the whole chinese dictionary. MADDENING! Now that when he looks back, he feels proud of himself that at least he tried again and can smile at look at his results. He only got an A2. On the next day, he shared that we shouldn't limit ourselves. His analogy was quite interesting. Assumingly you want to aim for an A1 but at B4, you put a glass ceiling there. So you can stand at your grade which is c6 and look up at the A1 that you aim for. But when you work towards it, you feel that it is impossible so you are stuck at the glass ceiling at B4. You can continue to aim for A1 but all you can do is look at it because you limited your potential at B4. It's quite abstract but I love it. Somehow I knew he was referring to me. At least no one knows. Eventually, I didnt retake. I do kinda regret. On the day of my results for o level's...he told me I could make it to JC if I wanted to before results were out. (shuush!) I was over the moon. I know he will NEVER happen to read this. Perhaps one day... So what is failure to me?
What is failure according to the society's standard? Sadly, it has placed a stigma on people that those who do not match up to the qualifications that is expected of a job, you're a failure. Just recently, someone from class asked me what is my definition of meaning in life. To me it is to live to my fullest potential and to use the gifts that God has given to me. I dont think I have fully harnessed it, thats why I cannot loathe the runner. This classmate of mine said, it's terrible to retain and be in JC1 again. The someone above told me this again. If I have to retake then go for it. Because you will never know, this 1 year can change the 30 years that is to come. It is worth it.
I've got a real testimony. My teacher Mr K. His name is censored. He retook his A level's about 6 times. He got into the habit of smoking for some time that affected his results. He didnt pass his O level the first time either. He was considered the dregs of society. No one wanted to hire him. To put it simply, he was useless, a failure. Finally when he got good grades for his A's, he went abroad to study. The first thing when he came back, he received calls from credit card companies, asking him to sign up with them. Mind you, its not only 1 company. He got stellar grades in fact. He was highly sought after. From a loser as sweaty man will say, to a high-flyer. Is society's definition of success definite? Today, he is a teacher and my daddy. (hint) Moral of the story: Dont get drenched in the society's definition of success or failure. If you want to see who has lead a successful life, go to Heaven and you'll know.
