bystander

'thank you'

'sorry'

'excuse me'

-words which some students no longer use these days...what is the point of scoring straight distinctions and obtaining scholarships if they do not even remember the importance of these terms? what has school become? whatever happened to character-education?

wise words spoken in a smattering of singlish and malay, by 2 school attendants, overheard in a canteen teeming with hungry teenagers with notes and heavy books on their hands...

gosh

a former student, msn-ed me, and asked me to help him proof-read his first varsity essay. i flatly declined, said no. in case you are are reading this, i hope you'll understand why.

another asked several teachers to pen a recommendation form for her to enter a prestigious faculty, without first supplying or specifying any information about her achievements, aspirations or attainments as required in the application form. i taught her for less than 6 months. and i am assumed to possess omnipotent knowledge of her entire life journey. i am sorry i lack all the required information. and i am supposed to dig more info from her and other teachers (CCA and 4 other subjects) and gather them on my own.

no.

i do not recall asking my jc teachers to vet my term essays when i was at uni. at best, my brave push to intellectual independence was the best credit i could give her. she caught a glimpse of my hons thesis only in my fourth year when i offered to share it with her when we met up again. i can still remember her look of pride. and i felt good to come back and know that i have moved on, further than what i could ever imagine. it felt (and still feels) good to be there.

many former students send me their best uni essays so as to share their insights after weeks, months or even a year of intensive research which they embarked on their own. i felt enriched by their knowledge, humbled as they come of age, on their own.
when it comes to my own testimonials, i exercised logic and intiative, made courtesy and effort to supply my professors or referees with all the information i could muster when i needed their help to write a recommendation letter. they were more than willing to help because i assisted them with all the information i wanted them to include, some which they could never have obtained on their own. i knew my place. i followed protocol. and i learnt to be independent and helpful. i also sent a thank-u card in return, regardless of the final outcome

have we all been educating a generation so used to spoon-feeding and a 'take-for-granted mentality' that they have lost a sense to secure their own footing in life?

i hope i have not failed any of you in that regard.

adulthood. independence. self-care. gratitude. detachment; shedding the securities of the past and riding on what i have been given....and have learnt...

i move on that way..and never forgot those who led me to this day...

you too, can do the same.

Father... why?

thanks lawrence for sharing this song. Lent this year had passed unevenly for me. this song invites me to enter more personally into holy week, as i take the place of that little girl...who stood unknowingly before passion & death of Jesus... dedicated to all searching pilgrims everywhere...may the same God who opens the door to our salvation, meet u again at the end of every broken and waking dream, giving you the faith to bring u home...

Why?
Nicole Nordeman

song : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX-lafNe3cc

We rode into town the other day,
just me and my Daddy.
He said I’d finally reached that age,
and I could ride next to him
on a horse that of course
was not quite as wide.

We heard a crowd of people shouting
and so we stopped to find out why.
There was that man that my dad said he loved,
but today there was fear in his eyes.

So I said Daddy why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why is he dressed in that bright purple robe?
I bet that crown hurts him more than he shows.

Daddy please can’t you do something?
He looks as though he’s gonna cry.
You said he is stronger than all of those guys-
Daddy please tell me why,
why does everyone want him to die?

Later that day the sky grew cloudy
and daddy said I should go inside.
Some how he knew things would get stormy,
boy was he right.

But I could not keep from wondering
if there was something he had to hide.
So after he left, I had to find out,
I was not afraid of getting lost.

So I followed the crowds to a hill where I knew men had been killed.
And I heard a voice come from a cross:
And it said : Father why are they screaming.
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why are they casting their lots for my robes?

This crown of thorns hurts me more than it shows.
Father please can’t you do something?
I know that you must hear my cry.
I thought I could handle a cross of this size,

"Father remind me why, why does everyone want me to die?
When will I understand why?

My precious Son, I hear them screaming.
I’m watching the face of the enemy beaming
but soon I will clothe you in robes of my own.
Jesus this hurts me much more than you know,
but this dark hour I must do nothing.
Though I’ve heard your unbearable cry —
the power in your blood destroys all the lies,
soon you’ll see past their unmerciful eyes.


Look there below
see the child trembling by her father’s side.
Now I can tell you why,
she is why you must die."