Good Friday

Finally got the chance to meet up with my primary school pals again yesterday. We weren't able to schedule a meeting during the March holidays so that was kinda a bummer. We pretty much ate and talked throughout the entire day, to be honest. We met at like 1pm at City Hall and had lunch at Thai Express, then we went to look for K Box. They later decided that it was too expensive and we went for more food at Secret Recipe. That eating and talking kept us busy till almost 6.

It was so good seeing them again, each of them doing well by themselves, Jin Yi with her tan lines, Xin Tian and Randi doing well in Poly, Ning Li in modern dance and well, Tim, Kat and I. It is kinda awesome that we are still hanging out after so many years. We left primary school 6 years ago, but now we are still meeting out to chill and talk. Even more so for Ning Li, have known her since I was like 5 and we are still in contact! :)

Had a really nice day out with the group and I think its a Good Friday well spent. Can't wait till the next holiday comes along so that I can meet up with them again! :)

Back to blogging

I haven't been able to find time to blog ever since the second semester last year. now with Project Work out of the way, I have just slightly enough time to blog. Though it has only been 3 months into Year 2 of Junior College, so much has happened within this short period, I'm involved in two projects, which are taking up a fair bit of my time and I now have juniors in debate which I can pass all that I've learnt last year to.

School has been going pretty well thus far, although I am still worried about not doing exceptionally well, rather, not good enough to attain my desired grades at the A Levels. I seem to have some trouble getting a score of more than 30/50 for my General Paper essay this year, which is quite scary to be honest, since everyone else has been improving so much and 30/50 just doesn't put me anywhere near the top anymore. Used to be proud of my GP score, and now it so happens that GP is the subject that worries me quite a bit. My other subjects are also nothing more of mediocre, which is pretty upsetting, since I am really not used to being an average student. Guess competition is way tougher in JC, way more than I expected it to be. So many smart students in class are starting to work hard, and it is showing, I really should start working as well, just so that I can still be of any competition to these classmates.

I've started paying more attention to TIME magazine after finding the application for it on my iPod Touch and a recent article especially caught my eye. The article, How to Classify a Million Galaxies in Three Weeks caught my interest and I found out about this citizen-science website, Galaxy Zoo, which makes use of online volunteers to identify and classify galaxies through answering a series of questions on the pictures of each of these galaxies they are given. This is not a game, this is real science, and I found that I really enjoy classifying these galaxies, it is almost like fulfilling my childhood dream of being an astronomer. I've classified 50 so far, and my interest does not seem to be waning. I'll see how it goes and probably update my progress every once in a while.

This is the first spiral galaxy I've helped to classify! :)

Reading List

Heh, its the holidays. Though, holidays filled to the brim with homework. Still, I've come up with a list of books I'd want to/ have to finish before I get back to school and resume reading nothing but notes, notes and literary devices.

1. American Gods - Neil Gaiman
2. Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Jeff Lindsay
3. Dexter in the Dark - Jeff Lindsay
4. Dexter by Design - Jeff Lindsay
5. The Assassini - Thomas Gifford
6. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X - James Patterson
7. 1st to Die - James Patterson
8. A Flash of Hex - Jes Battis
9. Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox - Eoin Colfer

And of course, our literature texts. Sigh.

1. Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit - Jeanette Winterson
2. Housekeeping - Marilynne Robinson
3. Proof - David Auburn

Post-trauma

Finally, the stress of the promotional exams are over, albeit the one for oral presentation still lingers. The promotional exams was one heck of a traumatizing experience. Stress of the actual examinations aside, I've never actually studied so freaking hard in my entire life. Not even for the O levels, which was like a series of national exams. The major shock was when I found out that I actually had classmates who were at risk or retaining or expulsion. This was a new thing for me, actually having to say premature farewells to classmates who I grew to like so much. I truly feel that expulsion should be reserved for serious offences, and not just another excuse to kick students that may not have been doing so well out of the school.

Though feeling guilty to say this, I did pretty well for the exams, way better than I had expected, really. Not only did I pass all my subjects, I managed to garner a B and two Cs while I was at it. This puts me rather at ease to fully enjoy my trip to Australia at the end of the year, though having felt the effects that the lack of consistent studying can result in, I am determined to not let this repeat. Hopefully, I'll have enough self-discipline to finish going through the pile of notes and readings I'll be lugging to Australia with me.

Also,after a 4-year hiatus, I've finally had the time to resume leisure reading. Though I'm still kept rather busy, and the speed at which i chew through the books is reduced significantly, I'm finally about to revisit the joy of reading, not for literary terms, not for economic concepts, not for historical content, but just for the sake of reading. I've started on the Artemis Fowl series after Timothy's recommendation, and I intend to finish reading the book, American Gods soon after that. Hopefully I'll be able to find a good book to accompany me on my trip as well.

Meh.

This may be old, but still enjoyable nevertheless.

Mad World

Heard this song a while ago, really liked the atmosphere of the song :)

Oddly creepy, but soothing at the same time.

Mad World

Gary Jules

All around are me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrows
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very very,
Mad world, Mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
May they feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kind of funny,
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very very
Mad world, Mad world
Mad world, Mad world

Changes.

The week-long holidays came and went. Had to send off my beloved Literature teacher back to the states a few days ago, not looking forward to the teacher who is going to be teaching us though. So much to do, so little time, I was so tempted to go buy a budget flught ticket and fly off somewhere to hide in seclusion while waiting at the airport actually.

Despite the sad partings, I had a blast spending the night with Anna, Vincent and Zul, we even managed to stay awake for breakfast in town the following day lol. Not many shops were open, but still, the interaction was good.

Yeah. Not looking forward to school tomorrow. I need to escape to somewhere far, far away.

This isn't metamorphosis, is it?

Ever since entering JC, I've realized that I've been getting increasingly emotional.

I've felt like crying over really random things this year, a feeling I haven't gotten in a long long while, if I'm not wrong, something I've never experienced since the end like 10. Strange things have started the "sour" feeling in my nose recently, really random things, from seeing David Archuleta, to like just feeling the exhaustion during camp, those unsolvable math questions, and now like even classic drama sob scenes that I used to laugh at for their utter cheesiness.

Weird, I figured that the stress would toughen me up, but it looks like its actually breaking me down.

Seriously, I need to do something to build up that defense. I'll have to find a way. Maybe Final Destination.

Something just needs to be done.

Turn of events.

I am really starting to develop a liking for economics. It is so logical and commonsensical, but yet at the same time, in need of so much precise jargon to actually get you your marks. For some reason, although I've never really liked anything that has got to do with graphs, I was rather fascinated with the graphs that explained, or rather, illuminated so many of the economic concepts. The recent lectures on market dominance are really interested me. Can't wait to attend more of the lectures on market failure!

Is it me or do I sound like a total nerd?

Oh yeah, Math also got a lot more fun now with the addition of statistics. Although I'm still fumbling a little, I think I have the basics pretty well, and it seems so much easier to do that freaking differentiation and integration. Alas, I might be wrong though, since we've barely covered I'd say 10% of the statistics topics. Still, I am looking forward to doing more of Statistics.

Maybe then, just maybe, when I start to like Math again, I might start to do well it in, though I suspect my hatred for Math that has lasted for 7 years now would go away that easily.

Maybe its the AJ mood, maybe its the worry of promotional examinations, maybe its the threat of competition, but my desire to excel for my promotional examinations are stronger than ever.

Concrete Angel

Stacey, a friend of mine, recently passed me the link to this song. Little did I know, this video is actually one of the most touching I've seen in a while. Take some time to watch this video and listen for the lyrics, its pretty meaningful. This is also based on a real story of the singer's niece (apart for the angelic part, i assume). Makes it just so much more impactful.



Concrete Angel
Songwriters: Bentley, Stephanie; Crosby, Rob;

She walks to school with the lunch she packed
Nobody knows what she's holding back
Wearing the same dress she wore yesterday
She hides the bruises with the linen and lace, oh

The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask
It's hard to see the pain behind the mask
Bearing the burden of a secret storm
Sometimes she wishes she was never born

Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel

Somebody cries in the middle of the night
The neighbors hear but they turn out the light
A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate
When morning comes it will be too late

Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel

A statue stands in a shaded place
An angel girl with an upturned face
A name is written on a polished rock
A broken heart that the world forgot

Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place
Where she's loved concrete angel


Watching this, I recall this book I wanted to get for a while already, titled "Mummy Doesn't Love You". This is probably a great opportunity for myself to indulge in emo-ness and feel really lucky at the same time that my parents are not alcoholic and/or abusive.

Phenomena.

Wow.

Pity I missed it.

Unsatisfactory.

Hmm, got back my english paper recently (General Paper) and I'm quite disappointed to know that I only managed to get a B. Oh, and i failed Math, as usual. Still waiting for my History, Literature and Economics results but I doubt I'll pass any of them anyway.

Life's been pretty tough, barely getting enough sleep, and yeah, I think I need more sleep. Seriously.

On a serious note, I really feel the rush to study again. Its back! Hopefully it'll stay, since the Promotional Examinations are only 10 weeks away, which is not a lot of time. *Gasp*

Update

Just a little update, I'm now suffering with exams. General Paper (English) was pretty decent, except that the comprehension was super challenging to paraphrase, and Economics today, lets just say I'm getting my ass ready to be fried by my tutor. I actually knew most of the answers, but the bad time management still got the better of me in the end. Ahh the pain and pity!

The next few papers are not looking so bright either, Math I just suck at naturally, History which althought I have somewhat an interest for, yet have failed to pass any paper, and Literature, let's just say I need more time to get the hang of it.

This is definitely the best way ever to torture your students just back from holidays. Hell, i didn't even have much of a holiday, it was just a lot of mugging.

Way to go, higher education!

Why do I sound so negative lately? :-\

Wait, that's just life. :(

Shame.

I've decided to make this post a little more interesting than my usual ones. (Or so I hope.)

I was on the train, on my way to

school .

and was listening to music from my



upon approaching the station i was supposed to get off, i decided to get up early and stood by the door.

Suddenly, the train jerked to a stop,

and my



hit the

train door.

People were



at me, so I had to ignore my bleeding lips and pretend nothing happened.

Meh, what a day.

Hope this was entertaining, cause life is too boring for all of us. Actually, for me, I don't really care about you. :D

*evil laugh*
*choke*

Stress.

Sigh, I've been trying to complete my work and start on my revision, but there is this unknown sense of fatigue that keeps plaguing me. I'm pushing myself hard to not lose focus already, but it doesn't seem to be doing well at all, man, I think I'm really done for this time. What to do?

Anyway, while cutting news paper articles today, I chanced upon this article. Very interesting, I must say.



Click for a clearer picture!







Obama for the win! :O


I finally found time to relax though, I'm really stressed out, and the only way I can relax is to treat myself to an anime break every once in a while, I'm still waiting for the next episode of Hitman Reborn to be released though. :-x

I feel like exploding. Really. Stress is not for me. Nuh uh.

Fuck Math

I can't stand math anymore. Its just killing too many brain cells. Heck, i should just fucking fail the MYCTs.

Alpha Bravo Camp 2009

I attended this leadership camp that devoured 5 days of the first week of my holidays. Meh, the start wasn't as welcoming as I had expected, got punished with push-ups before we even left the bloody school campus, but that was just the start of a longer nightmare, which I later discovered.

Day 1

Nothing much exciting, pretty much boot camp, regimental, but this is where the bonds within the group started growing. Just a lot of games and workshops. Oh yeah, and punishment push-ups.

Day 2

Meh, pretty much the same as before, but lesser punishment. Still, the instructors kept us up till rather late at night, and once again I totally did not hear my alarm go off. And for once I was the first to reach the bathroom for wash-up time! Woo! But then I realised I forgot to bring my soap and shampoo. By the time I got back, there was like 10 people queuing. Wonderful.

Day 3

This is where the camp starts getting fun. Actually, i can't remember much of the day, just the part where we had a day expedition to Kent Ridge Park. Pity Tim wasn't awake then. :\ Ooh, and Sandcastle building in the afternoon. It was orgasmically fun. Actually, that just means very fun in weird words.

Day 4

Omg, this is getting annoying right? But I shall carry on. Bleah. Ohh, fun day! Like major fun. We had our Service Learning project, and we went to Mayflower Primary to teach the little prefects about leadership qualities. I got a really energetic group, they were like going *KABOOM* all the time with energy and craziness. So like at the end where we had to take a group picture, I was so tired coping with them that I had an emotionless face. Actually, that's good luh, cause I always screw up my pictures. And we had early sleep, from like 9- 11. Which was really good, cause we had night expedition afterwards. Night Ex was amazing, good company, good weather, good everything. 7.5 hour walk didn't feel as bad as I thought it would be.

Day 5

Graduation. Yeah, and fun lunch, then I cabbed home for a super long sleep of like 14 hours all the way till the next day.

The end.

Oh, and ZOMG Cheyenne do you know how amazing you guys were(are, will be)?
*insert dramatic expressions, sound effects and blinding (and seizure inducing) lighting*
Like seriously, the easiest group of people to work with ever.

Who's the best in AJ? Go Cheyenne, go Cheyenne! *auto fade out*

I'm Back!

I'm back from AB Camp, tired, aching, but enriched and a better leader. Made new friends, new discoveries about myself, and learnt new skills as a leader along the way. My group was fantastic. Hmm. Very tired now, will do a more detailed account of the camp soon. :)

Go Cheyenne!

My non-existant holidays.

I'm about to start packing for this 5 day camp i'm going for. Hope that i'll be back in 1 piece, and that the 6 hours walk won't kill me.

Phew.

Kris Allen won. WOOHOO!

YESS! *Pops Champagne*

Finally, the one year that a contestant I liked actually wins.

-

A Lieutenant Colonel from the Air Force who came to our school to talk about unconventional threats faced by Singapore during Civics ( Aka National Education) Lecture today, and I was selected to be on of the emcees.

After 4 years without emceeing in secondary school, I got my chance again!

That was super cool, like OMG! I'm back on stage! Whoa, I'm so glad Ms Ng asked me if I wanted to emcee.

The adrenaline rush,
the spotlights,
the mic,
and the crowd.

I love these so much.

Hopefully, I'll get more chances to continue emceeing in the future. Damn it, I really miss emceeing.

-

This song is one of the favourites, revolving around the theme of war and the suffering it brings about.

Waiting on the World to Change by John Mayers

Me and all my friends
We're all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing and
There's no way we ever could

Now we see everything that's going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it

So we keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

It's hard to beat the system
When we're standing at a distance
So we keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change

Now if we had the power
To bring our neighbors home from war
They would have never missed a Christmas
No more ribbons on their door
(This part was especially meaningful, I felt)
And when you trust your television
What you get is what you got
Cause when they own the information, oh
They can bend it all they want

That's why we're waiting
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

It's not that we don't care,
We just know that the fight ain't fair
So we keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

And we're still waiting
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting waiting on the world to change
One day our generation
Is gonna rule the population
So we keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

We keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change



Waiting On the World to Change, John Mayer - Music Video @ Yahoo!7 Video



Random fact : David never had a girlfriend. He can join my NBA (Never Been Attached) Club. :D