6 Nov 09, Fri

It's official...my last entry was exactly 1 month ago! Anyway, its just another 4 more days to the A level exams and my heart is pounding hard. Perhaps one of my bicuspid valves may burst in anxiety...4 days more and I am feeling kind of lackadaisical...not a good feeling to be in...

The problem with this schedule is that Math is the first paper! It may not seem much of a big deal but it has to do with the psychological aspect. Now, Math is a black-or-white paper with no intermediates, putting it simply in laymen terms, 'its either you get the answer or you dont'. If I dont get the answer, it's going to haunt me till the day I get my results! In addition to that, those 'showing' questions are a double edged sword; it can help by affirming you got the answer, or kill you when you do not.

I guess the exams are more of a mental and psychological test in addition to the mere applications, regurgitations or rote learning. You need to maintain your composure and last till the very end, which for me, happens to be 1 month and 2 days after my first paper! Not a duration I am looking forward to.

It has been a weird week for me as I do not feel as much anxiety for the papers, but rather claim and able to absorb information better. Perhaps its a blessing from God for me to maintain my composure and not explode into insanity. The first week of the exams is a crucial one as half of all my 12 papers, ie. 6 papers, fall in that week alone! After which, the burden is lifted slightly as I race through the remaining papers.

I cant believe it but next year, there's going to be another syllabus change for Biology and Chemistry when this is just the 3rd year of the new syllabus! I guess 'change is the only constant in life' no matter how paradoxical it may seem. Really, I wonder if I am being too hard on myself or that my targets are too high to achieve, but hey, i agree what Phil 4:13 says! Guess getting straight A's for all my papers including GP is a form of self-inflicted burden/stress or motivation.

Oh well, its 12.47am now reaching 1am and for the past few days, it just seem like too early an hour to sleep...or rather I cant sleep that early due to examination excitement. Hmm, still need to practice my flute and viola for the upcoming Spiritual Meeting end of this month and Year End Evangelistic Service next month. No big deal...I like ot plan my time properly to maximise my abilities...guess its another gift from God.

Got to go get a bite...stomach's growling...

6 Oct 09, Tue

It seems only yesterday when I first basked in the pride of gaining JC2 status, and now, today is the start of the truncated time-table. Indeed, yesterday was the last day of the fixed time-table. Time flies in a wink of an eye, and yet another 2 more weeks and I am off for the study break till my 'A' Level Examinations start.

Although I didnt have any time to blog events pertaining to yesterday, here's just an insight. It was a memorable day, a milestone in my academic journey when I received my High Distinction for the Australian National Chemistry Quiz, organised by The Royal Australian Chemistry Institute. In addition to a certificate that boldly proclaim my results, it came with a plaque that proudly announced 'Award of Excellence'. It was indeed a momentous day to bask in euphoria.

I must say that I will miss Chemistry tutorials with my beloved and well-respected teacher, Mrs Premala Suresh. Her admonishments and encouragements in a motherly way indeed enabled me to see the glimmer of light when atrocious results loomed over me. She grounded me in strong foundations that is key to an 'A' for the examinations. Truely, I am confident and looking forward to the 'A' Level Examinations for Chemistry to do her proud. Nothing I do is sufficient to express my gratitude, but still got a gift from Crabtree & Evelyn plus a letter to express my deep sense of gratitude.

When this year comes to an end, I am going to miss the camaraderie I shared with my peers. The laughter, the encouragements, the sweat, and even tears for some, will all be that of fond memories. It is this class that really made me change my perception towards others. Each had a sense of maturity, and not immature characters usually associated with that of secondary school kids. Somehow, this is the first time I have felt a sense of pride of calling this "MY CLASS", and identifying every single one of them as "MY FRIENDS". Life wasnt all that good for my in secondary school over some private thoughts, but I have relegated my secondary school memories to mere surrealism. No word I can think of best describes that of my class, and the only thing I can think of is '08S113'. Do not look at the surface of these numbers and letter, for beneath it, a story of a thousand words is told, that is mixed with sweat, laughter, friendship in addition to words.

As this chapter of JC life is coming to an end, I need to brace myself towards the impending Armageddon on 10Nov. The school hall will be given a new meaning as that of Megiddo. Although I can handle stress quite well, I have to admit, the pressure felt can sometimes linger on throughout the night - nostalgia to that of 2007. I will only be satisfied if I obtain nothing short of an 'A' for all my subjects, but this comes at a huge price. Preparing is the first step, but practice is crucial. With only slightly more than 30days towards the first paper, I do wonder if I am ready for this battle, based on my Prelim results, and the difficulty I face when doing practice papers. Perhaps it is an acquired bitter-sweet taste that I savour in delight.

Perhaps I should carry on with my Economics revision now as I kind of neglected it since the end of the Prelims. Alright, time to sign off!

9 Sept 09, Wed

Well it has been a super long time since I had my last blog entry! Ok I am in the midst of my Preliminary Examinations and dont have much spare time for leisure activities...alright who am I kidding...I dont have much time left after playing computer games, eating, sleeping and mugging! Perhaps I should focus more on mugging since it is a race towards the exams and I arent exactly putting in as much effort as I did 2 years ago following up to the O levels!

GP paper 1 was horrible! I started on question 12, some question on whether terrorism is the biggest threat faced by my government today, and 45mins into the paper I realised I dont have suitable vocabulary nor points to smoke my way through the paper! So i stopped and started on question 7, a question on whether heroes are still relevant in today's society...BIG MISTAKE! After brainstorming for 5mins, I was left with 40mins to finish an entirely new essay! How was I to do it...plus heroes is not limited to comical or fictional characters but those pertaining to reality such as teachers, religious icons etc. When I was doing question 12 I had a strong urge to do question 7 instead...ok it was a wrong intuition on my part. Think my language and content is going to suffer for that paper as I didnt have much flare for that paper nor display any flowery linguistic ability! Man I am counting on my paper 2 to pull my grade up to a mid or high C for GP!

2nd week into my study break I feel I have accomplished nothing. Well I did have my doubts in macroeconomics clarified and the day seemed much brighter after that. But as for mathematics and biology, well, that's a problem I am concerned with since I need to buck up my grades for these 2 subjects as urged by my teacher mentors. Maybe with some divine intervention I can utopic stage of aceing my exams...lol impossible!

Finally the mooncake month is back again...and I begin my binge on mooncakes! Ok I really like mooncakes and can be crazy enough to eat them for a meal or just finish up boxes (each containing 4 mooncakes) on my own...just snacking as I watch TV or do my work. Cant remember how many boxes of mooncakes I finished on my own last year...well you only get to savour this moment once a year so why not? LOL! Mooncakes are really nice but I cant stand those with eye yolks in it! Especially those with 4-5 yolks in it just disgusts me...the sight of it erks me! That's why I prefer those plain ones or I will just throw away the yolk (kind of wasting it but no choice). Somehow a sense of nostalgia stuck me as I was savouring every bit of my lotus paste delicacy...a bit of heaven in every bit...ok not heavenly with the yolk inside but you do get my point...!

Oh! Today the sound of my viola became better! My teacher helped me with the fine tuners, removing it and replacing it with the original tailpiece without any fine tuners attached to it. Amazingly, the sound became broader and not so airy as before! For once I noticed a significant change in my viola for the better! The sound was much better...and I guess I just need to change the strings and bridge. Both my ex-teacher and current teacher have complained every single bit of my viola except the pegs and chinrest...lol and it was a big milestone today when I was told I dont need to sell my viola as the sound is better. It can be much better with a change in the bridge (which is too short due to the guy in Synwin which shaved the bridge 2 times without my consent) and the strings. As I heard from my teacher, Dominant strings are a no-no for violas as they suit violins better. Wonder which strings is better that can bring out the beauty of my viola...perhaps that can be the Holy Grail of all viola strings!

Anyway of I go to my usual 11pm prayer with the others...see ya!

18 June 09, Thurs

Oh I just got this testimony from Bro C.P which is written by Bro. Yoke Fah from True Jesus Church in London:

"I am going to write a short testimony on behalf of Bro Zhao Cai Chen from Taiwan who worshipped with us on Sabbath day and saw this vision during the evangelistic service at 3pm: As the piano played the intro for the first hymn to be presented by the choir, a bright glorious light shone out from the pulpit and the Lord Jesus Christ stood in the midst. The Lord Jesus was very tall and Bro Chen could not see his face but his feet was in a bright shiny gold colour. As the choir started singing with the piano accompaniment, Bro Chen heard additional music instruments being played and the music was undescribable, it was heavenly music and he looked up and saw little angles above the choir playing the harp and flutes. And as the choir sang the appearances of all the choir members became angelic, innocent and childlike. Lord Jesus started to lay His hands on each choir members as they sang. This vision lasted about 3 minutes and then disappeared.During the 3rd hymn that was being presented, Bro Chen saw another vision with flames descending from above and many hands being stretched out to receive the flames and then the flames ascended back to heaven.All glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. May all of us be encouraged by this vision to serve the Lord with more zeal and holiness and that our worhsip will be in spirit and in truth. Amen.
Emmanuel, Yoke Fah''

It is such an awesome testimony that I thought I needed to share! Really God is very gracious and merciful...really am blessed to be in His chosen flock and in His church.

All glory be given to God!!!

11 June 09, Thurs

I am super bored! Ok I went to practice my flute and viola during the free time....ok more like the whole day is the ''free time''...anyway my flute tone has improved and I was super elated over it...still am! Being super overjoyed, I decided to polish my flute...which I just realised it is silver plated and not nickel...cant imagine I didnt know i was using a silver flute for 3 years...and even when I bought it!

Well actually when I got my flute, I looked out of features like split E mechanism, off-set G etc...and not much on the design...so I got my Yamaha which now I find is quite ok. Having used 3 flutes, a Yamaha, Buffet and Miyazawa flute, I think Miyazawa is still the best (which is like duhh)! After using the Miyazawa flute, I was practically playing on it everyday and neglected my Yamaha! So today I decided to polish my silver Yamaha and it is tiring business having to polish and remove the tarnish areas! So now it is super shiny and back to its former glory!

Hmm for my viola, I still like my German-made viola as compared to my China-made viola...so now I only play my German viola and neglect my China viola all the way! Hahaha that is the problem of having many instruments! It is hard to make time for each of them!

Anyway being super bored, going to eat my curry puff now... -.- zzz

2 June 09, Tues

Argh down with flu....but it is not H1N1 -.-''' but feeling very miserable...like typical flu la except got sore throat which usually comes together...worst of 2 evils! Anyway instead of a 1 month holiday, it is more of a few weeks study break for the Mid Years after the holidays...ok mine is not the only school though...

Whoa i seriously think that a certain subject from my school and a certain tutor need to rethink their teaching skills! I am not criticising or what...just giving a frank and open opinion. Taking a whole period during tutorial just to complete a part of a question whort 2marks? That is total madness and a waste of time! He/she must learn to be more efficient and have proper time management! Cant believe that it is impossible to finish the syllabus and having the need to do make-up tutorials for many periods in a row! Ok I think i can say good-bye to an A for that subject!

How I wish that person can be switched to a better one who can at least have proper time management. No point trying to teach more outside the syllabus (for general knowledge) when you cant even cover the syllabus! Seriously, my whole class and I (plus other classes included) are getting fustrated and worried over that subject! Starting to think perhaps I chose the wrong combination...maybe I shouldnt even have chosen that subject!

Anyway I think some people are just kind of weird as they are obviously to everything around them! Especially there are some who just shows you an attitude when he/she doesnt even know if it is affecting your mental well-being or not! I dont know what is going on in their minds...

Oh and I saw one comment on my blog stating that person dont know what is al these about, well, this is a blog for me to write all my stuff...it is what most people do...seriously, get a life! Ok to put it nicely, the world is diverse....diverse with all kinds of weird people!

Argh cant be bothered anymore...

6 May 09, Wed

Today is SYF...well for GuanYue we met at 7am to do foundation practice (ji ben gong) till 8.15am when the conductor reached. Prac lasted till 10.25am then had lunch, change and shift instruments till 11.15am. The bus and lorry came early and we went to SCH and reach there like super early! Well we had time to tune and prac a little in the tuning room.

During SYF we waited for super long and very nervous! I was totally hoping and praying that we can get Gold with Honours since this is like the last SYF in my life and want to have like a big finish. Anyway for the set piece, Jiangnan Hao, i must admit the song wasnt very well done as people were out of tune and came in early and stuff. The choice piece, La Sa Xing - Da Guay, was quite well done and surprise that the zhong-yin suona could play the part which he could not. Well that part is very obvious and he has never played it in tune and correctly...was super surprised he got all the notes out and in tune!

Despite all these and the astonishing finish, we still got a silver. I was totally disappointed. Everyone was just like waiting in the room in the dark and keeping quiet while hearing some distant sobs. Though a silver, i really enjoyed my CO experience and thank the Guan Yue section for taking me in and helping me after switching from Band into CO. CO is like the only CCA which i really feel a part of and I really enjoy it for the first time. To me, i dont think silver should be an obstacle for future challenges but a learning experience.

Anyway, here's the results for the Chinese Orchestra JC/CI SYF 2009:
1. Saint Andrews JC -------------- Silver
2. Jurong JC ---------------------- Bronze
3. Temasek JC -------------------- Gold with Honours
4. National JC -------------------- Gold
5. Pioneer JC --------------------- Bronze
6. Nanyang JC -------------------- Gold with Honours
7. Victoria JC --------------------- Gold
8. Dunman High ----------------- Gold with Honours
9. Hwa Chong Institution -------- Gold with Honours
10. Yishun JC --------------------- Silver
11. Meridian JC ------------------- Silver
12. Raffles JC --------------------- Gold
13. Tampines JC ------------------ Silver
14. River Valley High ------------ Silver
15. Anglo-Chinese JC ------------ Gold
16. Anderson JC ------------------ Gold with Honours
Total of 5 Gold with Honours, 4 Gold, 5 Silver, 2 Bronze.

Anyway nothing much to talk about...got to prepare for NAPFA tmr and Chem SPA and Maths test on Fri.