"I chose this picture as it reflects on the MOE coming to our school to evaluate on our school standards etc. when they already know about it. Why would we lie of our standards?"
Victoria School has always been a school that holds strong, upright values that have undeniably nurtured young boys like me into a man. (certainly) A man who holds the values of a Gentlemen, Professional and a Sportsmen.(i agree) A man who never fails to climb up from where he has fallen. He instead gets even more imminent to reach his 'summit'. Let me put it this way, perseverance triumphs above all. Here in Victoria, the teachers, the leaders have never failed to give a good impression on the students. Discipline is another strong root of this institution. (no doubt) When all the necessities are already available, who can stop us from being successful? (good question...) Don't agree with me? Want an example? Let me give you some examples: our own His Excellency S.R.Nathan, Mr.Teo Ser Luck and we have chiefs of armed forces.
think that is enough, unless an interview's wanted)
Wait!! What? Interview??? With who? The MOE? I think i have gone too far, i am not interested too go for an interview! To speak well of your school is something else. But to be asked questions is way beyond imagination! No, no, no! This isn't going to work for me. I am not capable of this. I am not gifted to speak imprompto. It would take me time to think on what to say. Like just now. And by the way, i am not experienced in doing all this stuff. Believe me, i would screw it up.
Exactly. This was absolutely the same way i was thinking when Mr. Maran called up my name together with some 20 other Secondary 2 names to be interviewed by staff from the MOE. Those dreaded staff were visiting us to evaluate our school standards and achievements as apparently they did not believe how great our school was. And thus they wanted to see it from their own eyes. I mean, why would a school lie about their standards, their students and attainments. What would we get from that? Can MOE please face to reality? Aren't they the brains of education? Well, maybe it is true that nobody is perfect...everyone has a glimpse of stupidity within them. Just joking!!
Anyway, among the group of about 100 students, we were divided into different schedules and dates. Me and my classmate, Jonathan were among the 15 students to be interviewed on the 16th of January. On the big day, i was seriously calm (of course, i was going to talk crap), and ready (to make Mr. Maran happy). When i entered the room, there was nobody there, and thus i sat there with the group of students awaiting the arrival of the interviewer. It turned to be an old lady (not rude, but just describing) who kept smiling to herself. She kept asking questions that seemed easy, but no ideas rang in my head. All i could do was show the helpless smile, that captivated her even more to ask me. I managed to answer most of her queries though most of my thoughts became words of someone else's. (we think alike, or maybe we were trained to have the same answers) Only minutes had past when i looked at the clock that had instead marked the end of the interview.
All in all, it was an enriching experience. To speak for your school, is a gift hard to achieve after all...
I have heard from many that parents are the best teachers of lifetime. No doubt it is true. They are the caregivers and they walk through thick and thin with us, never leaving us behind. The amount of discipline they instill us with is not comparable with even multiples of courses and workshops. Yes, that is definitely true. But what if i say that i am aware of such a teacher with similar qualities? A teacher who had helped me reach this standard. Will she become the best teacher of my lifetime? In fact, she will and so will my parents.
Through all the time i have been in primary education, she had captivated my attention. Her soft touch on my hands when she first showed me around the school, her joyful smile that seemed sewed on her face, so that she never got angry; are all etched in my mind. She had never given up on us, although we pestered her bombarding her with questions after questions. I remember a time when she did get angry, when i asked her a question when she was in the midst of a conversation with my classmate. But that was only once, only once. Her modes of teaching never stayed the same, instead she stressed on changing ways of learning to make education fun. The angel within her never failed to make us smile. In fact, she kept aside time for jokes and entertainment to keep our interest in the subject she thought which was Mathematics by the way.
Everything seemed normal until the last few months of 2007. She became 'unknown' for many as she was hardly seen at school at that period of time. Everyone in my class asked around on why she was absent from school for at least three months. Some put it off by saying that she was temporarily ill while others claimed they had no idea. It seemed that not even a soul knew why. However, this did not satisfy me at all as my intuition told me something was wrong.
I still remember the moment of time when i flipped through the newspaper to experience the worst tragedy of my life that i least wished for. I didn't expect this moment of time to arrive so soon. I mean i had just began to feel the love and warmth of this angel. But the Obituaries were screaming that the angel had departed.
How could that be possible?! Why did she have to leave us so fast? And above all why didn't she tell us that she had cancer?! Was it that why she never wanted to be angry with us but have happy memories? She had shared our sorrows and pains but never let us share hers.For 14 years, she had been keeping the biggest secret of my life and not a single information was available for us. :(
Till now as i visit her at Mandai Crematorium, where her soul is resting in peace. Though she is away from me, I can still feel her presence, love and warmth. With tears rolling down my cheeks, I am proud to say that Ms. Jenny Tan, wherever you are, you will always be the angel of my heart. My reason for writing this entry is not because i want to finish this assignment. Today, is Chinese New Year, the day my class annually visits her at home...
((THIS IS SERIOUSLY A TRUE ACCOUNT...This happened when i was in Macpherson Primary School... Anyway, i chose the song no. 4, "Heroes" by Mariah Carey)There is a video as well.:) I chose this song as it reflects on my sorrows and how this event inspired to make my teacher proud by doing well for my studies...
Ever thought of running away from your fears, your problems, and difficulties? Ever thought of letting nature take its course thinking that everything will simmer down? Have you ever bragged that you are free of troubles and difficulties? And if you really have, do me a favour and slap and pinch yourself until everything becomes clear and REALISTIC!!! Excuse me, you have gotten it all wrong. Life isn't that EASY as it seems to you! There is no one as perfect as God! When we have difficulties, we would say,"Why me?" We don't see the rationale that all of us have difficulties be it small or big.
As obvious it is, I had a difficulty i faced for quite a long time that seemed virtually impossible for me to correct. Seriously, at that moment, i had the expression that that particular problem was going to be a part of me. I mean, isn't it very memorable to let go of your fears and continue with an act that includes something you try to avoid. And after so many years of avoiding, you are told to finally do it. How would you feel? Worried and afraid, aren't i right? This was the exact feeling i had when i had to join the swimming course for non-swimmers organised by my school.
Yes, i had aqua phobia. Fear of water. Call me whatever you want, but that was a fact that i thought i was going to live with forever. Why, you would say. Even i don't know. I just detested being in deep waters (well, shallow ones weren't a problem). I would start having a feeling that i am going to drown, and the next thing, i am going down. It has happened umpteen times, i just couldn't control my fear. Every single time, i just come up to surface after a few seconds, but the short duration just increases my fear of drowning. And soon, i stopped going to the swimming pool. Not even the best mode of persuasion was going to bring me back there. Never.
Second thoughts only came when i joined the swimming course. At first, my fear stopped me from going for the first lesson. The coach's joyful demeanour just captivated me from checking the course out. For the following sessions, he trained us according to our standards and paid careful attention to amateurs like me. At times, i felt like giving in to my fears as i failed numerous attempts to swim. However, the calm appearance of my coach simply shocked me as he wen through thick and thin to teach me to swim. And finally I MADE IT!! It was the third lesson(way behind the others) when i swam perfectly and the coach became so proud of me that he started laughing continuously. The scene was no doubt heartwarming.
It is true that perseverance really triumphs above all.
Someone once told me that a person is only euphoric and pleased when he spends most of his wonderful moments with his family. My sentiments too. Be it at home or a vacation, it is the thought that mainly counts. Either a simple, small get-together or a grand outing, almost everyone has at least one account etched in their minds. Unlikely as it may seem, by now, i might have thousands of such experiences. How fortunate i am! (Excuse me...I don't think i need to say that!!!)
Seriously, how many of us are really blessed with spending time with our family? Some families are working so hard for the upbringing of their children, that they don't even have the time for their daily activities. Bearing that in mind, let me share with you one of my treasured moments that i have spent with my family.
Christmas holidays come annually but the joy and laughter just proves it all on how magnificent this day really is. The unreservedly pleased expression on a child's face when he opens up his presents and the beautiful melody of Christmas carols just brightens up the days. Oh wait!! Are u thinking, "Isn't he Indian? Why is he celebrating Christmas?" Celebrating can also mean a mere dining out, enjoying with your family and sharing the joy with the Christians!! :) It doesn't really have to involve normal celebration for a festival, does it?
My family are lovers of Christmas Eve. The atmosphere on this day is so vivacious, that is too tempting too miss. This event dates back to around a month ago, on the day before the best holidays ever. We had a rough idea on where to go and what to do. The plan was a simple dining out, a game of bowling, and a ride through Orchard Road. (if we could only make it through) I am not going to list down what happened A to Z. But just let me point out some of those lovely moments. One of those was the family game of bowling that will be a cherished memory for time to come. When we were there at the centre, we were like swarming for a corner (minds of Singaporeans), as if we were participating in an Amazing Race. Upon getting a corner (apparently, there was no one 'racing' with us), we started off with our tradition of bowling of eves of Christmases. At first, it was very difficult for me to strike, i kept missing shots by inches, but soon, i got the hold of the game. The main highlight was the happiness and joy of my family that warmed my heart. Just to see your family so exuberant, contents your mind.
At the spur of the moment, the atmosphere just changed as an explosion of coloured light and screams marked the day of Christmas. Our ride next was the most crabby but fun ride of the year. The congestion stood still as Santa duplicates stormed the roads spraying white foam at the windscreens. It was only after 3 hours did it clear and i reached home...
For me, this is the best experience and the vivid memories are still etched in my mind. The next Christmas will no doubt be a much better one! I bet it would.
No doubt has it happened to me and it might have happened to you.It comes and goes leaving you unexpectedly as it came. The experience is like an eerie and creepy recognition. It might be detailed or just simple as a short conversation. Whatever or however it may be, it seems so exotically familiar. And when it ends, all we can say is that, "Hey, i just had a deja vu." The feeling just makes you expressionless.
Depict this scenario, you enter a bakery, for instance, and you spot someone whom you have no idea who it is yet the particular person seems intensely familiar. You remember every detail of him, from his looks to his clothes and his character. Following that, the customer asks you something, and the words just keep appearing in your head. You know what she is going to say next. It feels like you gained an entire piece of memory and then you realise that you are going through a phenomena that you in fact, cannot control.
I am familiar with many similar events but i have not once gone through an extraordinary detailed piece of deja vu in my entire life. It dates back to some days ago, when i was having recess. The atmosphere was so hectic, that it took me a long time to push through the crowd and look for a vacant seat. When i had settled down, and ensued eating, it happened.
Munir had come to inform me that Miss Lim wanted to speak to me at the staff room. When i got there, i just felt an urge to trail my steps back to the canteen. And at the spur of the moment, the phenomena controlled me. I knew from the bottom of my heart,that the dress that she was wearing fit the description of that in my dream. How could i have known? Precisely! If this seriously had something got to do with deja vu, i did not want to go on any longer! I stared at her dumbfounded, that was all i could do. I just felt tongue-tied. Impossible! I swear i had not seen her in that dress before. I was so appaled by the current situation that i had forgotten my manners.
She asked, "And Agnesh, why are you staring at me?"
I was speechless yet i could say out a few words," I just had a bit of deja vu." What?! A bit? It was like a whole chunk of information memorised event-for event. How could i even say that?? That particular strange event, has really surprised me on what deja vu can really do. Perhaps, this might not be the worst encounter with this phenomena, but for me it will definitely be!!
THis is in fact my first time writing in a blog. Yeah i agree...a blog helps you to kind of recount and express yourself from your daily activities. And here i am writing for marks! MARKS! 50% of CA1!!! That is like a huge percentage...
If only i was making this blog voluntarily...
Oh yeah, for those who dont know me, let me REMIND you i am Agnesh Rai, proudly a victorian of class 2B. I 'love making blogs' and apparently this is my first one...(sigh.)
Anyway, my next 5 entries are going to be so formal and filled with vocabulary...not like normal blogs...(slangs, singlish etc.) I cant help... Maybe it is going to be a good experience after all! Wish me luck!!!!!
Signing off,
Agnesh Rai
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Agnesh Rai
HEY HEY HEY!!!!
Welcome to my blog everyone whom i know (if not see ya next time...). Just joking!!!!!!!! Those out there who think i am a freak, symphatise with me as this is a project! 50% of CA1!!! If i make any mistakes, there goes my marks for English!!! My resolutions are... 1) To score well for this assignment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2) TO do well for this year...(STREAMING!!!) 3) live a normal life in a normal way 4)to survive till the end of this month for now (sigh..projects)
