A short conversation with three pupils

It's been another great day.

Just after dismissing my basketball boys, I came across a few students whom I had taught this year.

One of them knew about it and asked me if it was true.

So because of that, I decided to call them to me, and spoke with them for a little while.




Sometimes at moments like this, I feel that there is never a 'good' moment to go.

Because standing before me were three pupils whom I think can do so much more. I think they are capable. Don't tell me about how one of them hangs out with questionable characters. Don't tell me this or that about that person, because when I talk to you, I discern a certain promise, a latent potential.

Then I think about how I can create opportunities for you to shine.



Alas, it is no longer my place to do so for them. I pray that some other teacher will share the same thoughts as me and look at pupils with the same periscope, and deem them worthy of further development.

And this is the bottom line, isn't it. All pupils have the capacity. The Teacher needs to acknowledge it and create opportunities to develop these youths into confident and stronger persons.




At the end of the brief conversation, I told them that I was very proud to have been their Teacher. Leaving them with some words of advice, I hope that, when they return back to School in 2009, they will make that step upwards, and excel in all that they do.

To Xavier, Ming Fen and Sheng Thong, believe in yourself, and always do your best. I wish you all the best.

Twin beauties

It's been a while since we dined at the reclusive One Degree 15 Marina, located at the serene Sentosa Cove.

This time, we made good on our promise to each other, and went there for a great lunch. The meal was good but the fresh air and peaceful surroundings certainly elevated the dining experience. And of course, it is wonderful to dine with my dear missus and baby girl.

After another day spent in the school, it is actually very therapeutic to head out to somewhere, away from people and noise, and sit down. It really drives away the numberless thoughts that can ricochet around in one's head.

Baby Mikayla was once again kicking happily, clearly delighted to be in the outdoors once again.

Never easy to say

It was a lot harder than I thought.

I wanted to break the news to my beloved pupils in the Concourse yesterday afternoon, after the camp. I wanted to stay poised and calm.

But once I started, I struggled to keep my train of thoughts and found it hard to speak coherently.

Suddenly I realised that I was going to miss them.

I did not know what else to say.

Mikayla Mikayla!

Sweet little cupcake

Adorable!

Aspire

If the body tires,
the brain pushes.
If the impossible is to be achieved,
the mind must be convinced.
If you start believing,
you are a step closer to success.

Lil Miss Sunshine

Readjustment

Congratulations have been the order of the day, ever since our baby is born. We are very thankful that she is not just beautiful, but that she is healthy, alive and kicking well!


Some say that handling teenagers is the hardest thing in the world. Actually babies can be the hardest thing to handle in the universe. Especially when Mikayla starts crying. Man, her appetite is more voracious than mine. If she doesn't get her milk, she is going to bawl, period. And, she doesn't cry softly, no matter what I say to her!


The transition to fatherhood isn't always easy. New responsibilities need to be handled face on. Time I used to spend freely in cafes, running, gaming, movies etc, all now pale into the background. Whatever I do must now be weighed in relation to my dear wife and baby's timetable and location.


Nonetheless, having our own child is an awesome responsibility, far bigger than many things in my life. So I must make sure that, above all things, I must work together with my dear wife to raise and nurture our daughter to be a fine young lady.

The star of the show

About the dawn of a new age

This is the beautiful baby I have ever seen, and ever will see:







Mikayla's been a real bundle of joy. In fact, the entire pregnancy, and the child-birth process was just supernatural and we are thankful that God has given us His grace and favour onto us in this walk of life.

I am also thankful to our parents. My mom has been splendid. She is so good with Mikayla, and has gone the extra mile to help us, so that we can have precious time to rest and recover from those late-night feedings. My mother-in-law has been cooking nutritious meals to boost my wife's strength. Being there throughout the entire childbirth process in the delivery ward, I saw how much strength my dear wife expended through the process.

Finally, I am so thankful to my wife. I am very glad that she is fine and recovering well. I am also immensely proud of her and how she maintained such a calm and determined attitude in the delivery ward.

About a chance encounter

Yesterday evening, my dear wife and I had a craving for bak chor mee, so we headed to Katong for one of our favourite joints. Located alongide a road, parking is always a headache, with limited lots that always seem to be full. As usual, I waited by the side, and this time, I didn't have to wait too long, as a car drove out within 10 minutes of waiting. So we gleefully parked the car and headed to the joint.

At one of the tables, two familiar persons caught my eye and I instantly recognised both of them as fellow officers in my army unit.

Out of the two, I do meet up one of them, called Xiao Wei, regularly during our in-camp trainings. But for the other one, Chris, I have not seen him since I departed for overseas studies almost 10 years ago.

So it was really a great joy to meet them both again and catch up for old times' sake.

Chris was my buddy and roommate when we were both posted to the unit, after we graduated from OCS. Yea, we took care of one another, and did lots of crazy things - getting drunk, clubbing, playing games on his Sega console and screaming our heads off.

Those days were wild, crazy and we didn't seem to have a care in the world then.



But now, we're both still basically the same. We still recognise each other's laugh, and we still sound and look the same. He's still as fit, and goodness how we both have so many similarities - like we own the same brand and model of car, our wives both are/ were SIA stewardesses, and to top it all off, we both happen to have the same jobs. This is unbelievable. We even live in the same area, just a few minutes' drive or a short jog away.



So we bade farewell after the dinner was done, but we'll definitely be meeting up again for sure.

About working together and a good end to a good day

Yesterday was 'D-Day', as Team Alpha and I would know.



The biggest day in our school calendar was graced by the presence of a very important guest of honour - Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of MCYS. He exudes confidence and polite mannerism, as befitting of a person of his status. Yet, he radiates a charm that puts us all at ease.

His speech was simple, straightforward, and heartfelt. He was clearly reminiscing from his school-going days, and openly shared about his best moments in school. Of course, he exhorted his audience, which consisted of academic prize-winners, uniformed group cadets, student leaders and a host of parents and teachers, to work hard and realise their dreams.




I hope that his speech, though seemingly brief, would have left an indelible mark in the minds of my students. Appreciate school, and cherish your teachers and friends. You will never find their like again, once you head off into the outside world.



Team Alpha did a very efficient job on our Speech Day. They were dressed to impress, and certainly looked very smart in their formal attire. They looked sophisticated yet made the guests and VIPs feel very welcome. Thank you for your hard work. It must have been very tiring during your service, from Plans A to E!





As for me, I was very glad when it was all over. It marked an end to a major school event. The school has been very caught up with all the rehearsals and unseen preparations. I can imagine students and staff would be nigh exhausted.




I didn't know how tired I was, until my colleague played a trick on me, taking away my water bottle right before my eyes while I was seated on my chair, and I completely missed that, as I was zoned out, my mind completely out of commission.



When I finally got to leave school, I was quite recovered by then, and my wife and I zoomed off to an ice-cream plus waffle date at Gelare's in Suntec City. What a delight, to be able to sink our teeth into the delicious waffle, topped with awesome scoops of vanilla bean, chocolate chip cookie dough, and cookies and cream. Ice-cream certainly does wonders to your mood!



To Team Alpha, I think we met our objectives in our mission and kudos to all of you for stepping forward to make a positive difference to our guests and VIPs. Good job!

About a question that I cannot seem to run away from

When I sat down in front of my boss late last week, I could almost predict what she was going to say, or rather, ask.


This topic had been broached before (about 2 years back), and that time, my answer was non-committal. It was more of a 'not yet'. It was not a direct 'No', but it was definitely not a 'Yes'.



Though it has been some time now, yet deep inside, I am still counting the ramifications of my answer. Sometimes, I wonder where would I be today, had my answer been an unequivocal 'Yes'.


But it has always been like this, isn't it?


Each time you say a 'Yes' or a 'No'; each time you make a decision; each time you make a choice, you close some doors, and open others. Some closed doors may never be opened again.

This is the tantalising speculation that sometimes, though rarely, haunts me.



This time, opportunity presents itself to me again. I am blessed with a choice. But the question that has been posed to me bears a heavy burden.


The burden is heavy, because even right now, my thoughts are in a flux. I do not yet know how to present an answer.


Yet, there are many things I know I can do. My time is long overdue. I need not hesitate no longer.


I should banish all those uncertainties. I know what my bent is. I know what works for me. It's time I laid them all on the table. If the doors will not open for me here, I will move elsewhere.


It's easy to stay in one's comfort zone, twiddling the thumbs, raking in the money, and think that there is nothing more to one's career.

But if you do that, you get stale. You lose your creativity. You do the same things, over and over again.





So, it's time for me to face up to this question once and for all. It's time to ask of myself, "What else can I do besides the so many thousand things I have been doing all this while?"

It's time for a reckoning.

About something that matters most

It is always good to meet my parents, especially for weekend brunch and weeknight dinners.

Today, after sending my wife to work, I met up with my dad and mom for breakfast. We had vegetarian, and I had my usual cabbage, broccoli and fried egg to go along with the rice.

My mom knew I was heading to China this weekend. So, she passed me some renminbi from her home, and put them into a auspicious red packet, and thrust it to me.

Despite my repeated refusals, I succumbed to her generosity and kindness.


Always the helpful and caring ones, my parents.


And I am very thankful for them.


And, to mom and dad - keep up the exercise regime!

About what it should have been

The past few days haven't been very illuminating for me.


I cannot deny that the release of the O Level results kept my mind preoccupied for a great part of the week. My confidence rose and ebbed like the waves. It was always going to be tough to reject many colleagues and students who made morale-sapping comments like, "We're not gonna do well this year."



Anyway, I was glad to have Miss Kum by my side to give out the results slips to 4e5. We were very happy to see you in the hall. I wonder how have you been? I could not speak to all of you, as the Hall proceedings was really highly strung and emotional. It was hard to remain stoic under such circumstances.



To 4e5, I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. Your future remains bright, as long as you believe in yourself and think clearly about what you want to do. Some decisions are going to be difficult to make, but you must never be indecisive.


To those who are pleased with your results, well done. I believe that consistent hard work pays off, and in this case, I affirm this to be true, when I saw some of your results. The journey ahead will prove to be even more challenging and tricky, but just as you have succeeded before, you will also succeed in the future, so long you stay true to the values of diligence and hold fast to positive work ethic.


Some of you may be upset or bitter with your results. Some others might feel nothing in the immediate moments upon receiving your result slip. But the hammer falls hard, sometimes hours later, sometimes the very next morning, and the realisation dawns that you could have done better.


Regrets need not haunt you forever. Consider your options, and submit to the wrath of yourself and your parents.

But you need to move on. You need to make decisions - fast.

Stop playing the blame game.



Bounce back. This is the best way. Be resilient.

You can still get back onto the successful path. Do a reflection, find out how you can manage your time better next time.


Your self-confidence must never be diminished.




I will miss 4e5. We will all meet each other again. I know this for sure!





Another matter also hit me, like a sledgehammer, when I was still caught up in the tense moments of releasing the O Level results to my students.

My coach texted me to give an update on my boys' match against Nan Hua High School.

We lost by 3 points.


That was a blow that really hurt.


From then onwards, it became so much harder to retain that positive smile, when this result weighed like an anvil on my heart.



How I wished that the match could have been held on another day, so that I would fulfil both desires - to issue out the O Level results personally to my form class, and to be present (as I always want to) at this crucual match.





And as if the day couldn't seem to get any worse, it did.

In the evening, I went for the 1.5km swim trial at Yishun SAFRA, where I had to complete 30 laps under 40 minutes, in order to participate in the Biathlon that I have signed up for.

While I am very comfortable with running and sports games, I have never been an able swimmer.


My inexperience counts heavily against me. I rarely swim, and the last 2 swims happened in 2007, and that was during the Triathlons. Even then, it was only 750m in the choppy waters. I foolishly thought that the 1.5km swim in the calm waters of the swimming pool would be a piece of cake.


At my 26th lap, the instructor told me to hurry up. I sped up my breaststrokes, and kicked harder. I was not spent, but stamina cannot increase one's speed.


When I touched home, the instructor showed me the timing on his clipboard - 41 minutes.



Normally, I would be undeterred. I would tell myself, "Ken, it's not a problem. Just try it again."



But the day has been hard on me, emotionally, mentally and physically. I am emotionally spent, after Results day and the match result.


I just picked up the towel and walked off to the changing room.





The mood has hardly improved, though days have passed. Sometimes, I think to myself, "Could I have done more to push 4e5?"


This question, perhaps, will never be answered.

About the gift of weekends

Here I am inside the sanctuary of Miss Clarity Cafe at Upper Thomson, and I'm sitting next to the cake counter. The cheesecakes looks irresistable and it takes some willpower not to fall for my craving and order one of those delicious-looking Oreo cheesecakes.

Nothing could ever beat the alcohol-laced cheesecake in Big O Cafe, or the unforgettable tiramisu cake in a shady joint in New York City's Italian quarter. Now that was one hell of a cake, completely overwhelming your senses.



The best bit of this busy week was having a lovely dinner with my beloved wife in a quiet corner of Seletar Camp. This bar and grill is renowned for its buffalo wings, where they are differentiated into various levels, according to the intensity of its pepper and chilli seasoning.

At first I was not so sure about how to find this restaurant. This place is highly secluded, located in a dark corner of this sprawling camp that dates back to the British era. There were no signposts. The roads were uneven, street lamps were in disrepair, and there were rows of abandoned white houses as I drove into the deepest recesses of the campsite. It's just perfect for my Toyota RAV4 4x4. Anyone with lesser courage would not want to spend any moment in those houses. They look hauntingly eerie. There's not a soul in sight.



Having been there only once before, I could only rely on my memory and directional instincts, so it was with great relief and pride when I saw the pretty lights that lit up the restaurant. We found it!



Needless to say, dinner was fantastic. If only we could have a heineken's to go along with it. Dinner with my wife is always a celebration of life and love. But of course, alcohol is a no-no, especially since I was the driver. So a glass of warm water each was just as good.




Another feel-good moment (many of them, in fact) happened, just yesterday, during the CCA parents' night. In the frenzied interior of the Hall, where a cacophony of cheers, screams, trumpets and chatter filled the air, I was glad to be able to meet familiar faces. I could not remember some names but it's was nice when they came up to me and said hello. Congrats Farhan, for getting a place in the polytechnic after your ITE studies.

I had a lovely chat with Syahirah. Goodness, she is very articulate and I was just drawn into her sharing about her customers at the make-up counter, where she works.

It's great to meet Farhan, Suhaimi, Jasman and Howe Zhong after such a long time. I'm glad that they came to support their CCAs (or his girlfriend, for one of them!). Nice chatting with you, Suhaimi.

The 4T1 folks - Kailing, Joey, Qiu Yue, Bao Hui, Thurga, Azzurah, Munir and Fauzee - brought a wide wide smile to my face. I sure missed their voices. You guys were fantastic and really funny. Munir - you can't run away from Kailing forever!


To Irah and Shahrin, chatting with you both in the canteen was a great experience. It was a very wholesome and engaging chat, wasn't it? And Shahrin, no, I don't think it's a good idea to get a motorbike! You guys make a beautiful couple.




To 4E3 and 4E4, I'm looking forward to next week's lessons in the AVA Room. Remember what you need to bring for the double-period lesson.


Thank Jesus for weekends. It really allows me to take a break from the massive work that lies in store for me.

And I'm excited because next month, there's the Vertical Marathon organised by NTU. It's time to start all those physical training again!


Lastly, as I was driving past Singapore Chinese Girls' School (a premier girls' school in Bukit Timah), I saw this banner that caught our eyes:

"From a face in the crowd, to one the crowd faces."


To my students - your individual value drops when you associate with people of questionable character and values. By persistently sticking with bad company, you will lose your individual sense of identity.



Conversely, choose your friends carefully and stay with the right company. At the same time, be independent. Achieve your goals. Have a dream, live your dream, work on it, and be anchored on the right values. Assuredly, you will shine.

About what makes a good day

It's only 3 days of school but I hardly got a moment to even take a seat on my chair in the staff room, so busy was my schedule and tasks.

But what was definitely good was that I was able to see students again.



Yesterday was particularly memorable, as the day was set aside for the Secondary One Sports Experience.

The Peer Leaders played a key role in ensuring that the programme went according to plan, so that all of the Sec One classes managed to try out the different sports on offer.


The senior and junior PLs were deliberately mixed and allocated to certain classes. I must say that the PLs, decked in the navy blue and orange t-shirts, certainly looked really cool and outstanding.




I am pleased that the PLs, on the whole, were able to keep the Sec Ones in check. It was good to see how well they managed the new students.




I am also very thankful for my basketball players - Zhi Cheng, Colvin, Andy and Haoming, for doing a good job in conducting the selection tests. It was very important because if they do a good job, then Fajar's basketball future is more or less secure.

I am proud of the way they handled the Sec One boys. They certainly captured their attention and managed to get them all to participate. Great job!




Finally, to top it all off, I got to meet some beloved students - Hazimah, Jasman, Lynn, Azzurah, Sin Han, Han Qiang, DJ, Swee Hong, Hamid, Haris and Zhining.


It was lovely to be able to talk to Hazimah, Lynn and Azzurah. And Jasman, it's great to see you. We all had a great game of volleyball, didn't we.


All in all, it's been a fantastic week!

About a fantastic 2007 and an even better 2008

Surely, there is much to be grateful and thankful about, as 2007 draws to a close.


As always, I am thankful to God. He has poured His grace onto me, and has been a most present help when I needed Him.

I will always remember my students. To those whom I have taught, I think you have been splendid.

To 4E5 2007, I wish you the best even as you enjoy your extended break. I hope you are meaningfully occupied and maybe now you realise that school is always better than have a holiday that's too long, correct?

I will see you all there, when you come back to collect your O Level results in early 2008. It will be good to have a 4E5 reunion again.

To 4T1 2007, I want to say to you that each and every one of you is brimming with potential. It is my fervent hope that you will excel in your ITE course and pick up useful skills that will help you in your career. I also hope that you will continue to lend a helping hand to others and continue to be a good influence to others around you.




For all of us, 2008 is coming faster than we think. I am very optimistic, because it means we all get to start anew. The past is to be forgotten, and let new aspirations be re-born and dreams re-ignited.


Finally, to my beloved wife, she's been incredible and I am thankful for her. I will continue to do my utmost to be a good husband and best friend to her. 2008 will be a massive year for us both and thinking about it sets my adrenaline on fire.


2007 has been a good year. Yea, of course there have been tough moments, but I am aware that for every challenging situation that had come my way, there are 5, 10, maybe 20 blessings and good moments too, and for that, I can't help but acknowledge that 2007 is indeed good.

So, let the new year come. With purpose (once you know your purpose, you will have power in your life) and self-confidence, there is nothing we cannot do.

About a genuine scare

The power wall socket in my living room didn't seem to be working very well. Apparently, a piece of the plastic 2-pin adapter broke off and lodged itself within one of the holes.



So, I decided to pry open the wall socket, and, as expected, saw a tangle of red, green and black wires.

There were 4 screws I could see and I had to release them in order to gain access to the broken chip.


However, after doing that, the broken chip wasn't dislodged.

I saw a few more screws, and figured that maybe undoing those screws might do the trick.





The red wires came loose even as I loosened a screw.



Next thing, an invisible wave jolted through the sinews of my left arm and I was forced backwards.


I staggered to my feet.

The mad thing was, I knew exactly what had happened, but I told myself that for a big man like me, that jolt should be peanuts.


But when the tingling sensation never ceased, I gave up working on the power socket, which laid dismantled in the living room.

I warned my wife to stay away from the area.





I felt as if my arm lost half its strength. The tingling was incessant.

But worse was to come.


My breathing became laboured, and my heartbeat felt as if it was pumping harder than usual. I could literally feel my heart beat and forcing my lifeforce with every beat.


I put my finger to my neck, where I could feel my pulse. What I felt sent a chill down my spine.


My heartbeats were irregular.





Somehow the electroculation messed up my heart rhythm. It could have burned my nerves in my arm.




I went to the doctor's. I really needed to make sure I'm all right.




The doctor said, "Oh dear," when she took my pulse. She felt the erratic heartbeat too.


An ECG was promptly administered. The readings revealed some irregularities.

But she assured me that my condition was not serious. More importantly, she told me what I really needed to hear.

She told me that I will heal. My heart will sort itself out.


Thank God.





Some medication was prescribed to me, and I am making sure that I take them regularly. Even in my weakened condition, I continued to work as usual. I was still limping around when I went back to school the next day after the marathon, but it's not so bad. Staying at home would have been worse. I'd rather have my students come for training.



Anyway, I called in the electrician to help me to repair the power points. I observed the way he repaired the power socket, so that next time, I will do it on my own again. Though I was severely bitten this time by my inexperience and carelessness, I think I will still do it if my power point ever get damaged in the future.


But if I ever have to do this again, I better shut off the electric supply first. It's a painful lesson I will never forget.