my parents might not be the smartest ones in terms of educational transcripts or the riches but they are rich in love, morals, life skills. i'm going to talk about the life skills part. this is the part where your parents teach you to overcome challenges and obstacles. they include, break-ups, failures, rejection and what not.
when i was young and naive i always get jealous of friends having better GameBoys and toys than me and what not. i wasn't aware that my parents cannot afford all of them and that they have been providing me with whatever they can afford. it was then when they tell me that i shouldn't always compare myself with those people happier or those having better lives than me. at times, i should pause and look at those who are less fortunate. as a kid, i felt this was a stupid excuse to write me off and through the years of schooling i realised the sense in the advice they gave more than a decade ago. therefore, i'm here to share in hope of helping some of you when you feel small.
before that let's talk a little about the human nature of looking to those doing better than you. in school, we tend to look up to those smart people who get consistent good grades. in work, we tend to admire those who are rich and need not worry much about daily expenses. well, doing these aren't bad for look to them at least you have an aim and target.. something to get yourself working hard to strive for higher grounds.
that aside, why should we look the other direction as well? think about those who doesn't have internet to read this post. think about those who struggle to get food on the table daily. think about those who isn't experiencing the security you are experiencing now. then you will realise how rich you actually are. wealth is not measured by money. that is why i am now really thankful for the advice my parents told be years ago.
let's be a little cliche and end off this post with a thought provoking quote pertaining to this issue. the quote is from a legendary French football player..
"i once cried because i had no shoes to play football with my friends, but one day i saw a man who had no feet, and i realised how rich i am" ~ Zinedane Zidane
what is school with just mere lectures, tutorials, labs, recitations.. and yet without CCAs? so yeah, the CCA selection has kind of start to begin for me. guess i will be joining mainly hall CCAs rather than faculty ones. one, because of convenience. two, because i want points to keep my hall placing for as long as possible. three, i would enjoy more with CCA mates staying all around me.. the familiarity and all.
last week was the CCA fair.. sort of those CCA open houses you get in secondary schools and i just remembered writing my names into 8 CCAs to express interest. of course, i might not be joining all 8 at the end of the day. throughout the next year, i would want to do something i like anyway.. so yeah, no harm placing our name in more than the required number of CCAs. can't exactly tell you off-hand what i applied for. just want to talk about the trials i am expected to go through anyway.
last night was the first ever CCA trial for me. it was floorball. i know the trainings will be late at night passing midnight but i am interested in this sport.. so much so i tried to apply DSA into VJC with it years ago. of course, without any professional experience, i was rejected immediately. now is another good chance for me to try. anyway, the trail went pretty good i guess. not that i'm good, it is that i enjoyed it. let's just hope for the best.
this week will have another 4 trials as well. two for frisbee, one for acapella, one for rock band. for acapella they give us a piece to practise in like half a week. on top of that, a choice of our own song as well. for rock band, i auditioning for bass and the pieces they give for us to practise are pretty challenging. after consideration, i am doing the piece by Muse titled "Panic Station". never heard or learn that song before but now i have to. here is the good example i found on YouTube.
so yeah, bass and also ukulele for the rock band. if i can auction for a third "instrument" it would be vocals.. haha. ohh well, just trying my best and hoping for the best as well.
so it is the first weekend of a new school term. actually, the whole week just consist of mainly lectures. the tutorials, labs sessions, recitations will all start only on Week 3. nonetheless, i am still in the midst of adjusting to uni life. the lectures are pretty different from JC. life in hall is pretty happening as well.
despite the stress that is slowly seeping into me, i have those good friends around. really glad they gave me surprises and attend lectures together and eat together and many more. let's all stay strong and survive NUS together.
lol.. wow, i speak as though i have been in NUS for a long time. sorry people, i'm just not used to the life yet. too much to take in in a week.. haha. studying on weekdays and working on weekends can be tiring. plus social life and family time.. man all my me-time is gone.
so yeah.. that's about it. treasuring whatever sleep time i have.
