Certs and Sundry
Went to VJ to collect my A lvl cert & spend morning talking to pple before reporting for work at 2pm. Semi-bad timing, it turned out. This week is Block Test week so all students were cooped up in LTs and I didn’t see anyone much, until tests were over ~11am. Saw Harris & Cook at Stone Table, spoke briefly but they had invigilation to do so I read thru Cook’s Spectator mag (May issue), then bits of Kundera’s Farewell Waltz. Spectator is, by Singaporean standards, subversive, but I suppose it’s normal in Britain. Kundera is amazingly… blasphemous in a light way. Every so often I hit a carelessly-tossed-off but shocking sentence that stops me in my tracks and makes me think for ~5 minutes. Net result: I have only a fragmented comprehension of the plot, but enjoy it nonetheless! I think that’s Kundera’s intention anyway. Ideas first, plot second.
Bored after a while, so went to staff room to seek out Mrs Wee, scholarships teacher i/c (and hence my indirect benefactor) to offer help—giving small- and large-group talks/chats about US universities and scholarships. Got drawn into talking about the J2s, how stressful it is and how many apply unthinkingly (or worse, thinkingly) cos of peer pressure. Suggested VJ build a network of contacts for who-is-in-which-Uni, so that alumni can be directly contacted for advice (if they don’t mind). As for scholarships and the numerous deserving people who didn’t get any, we agreed it is after all the taxpayer’s/corporation’s money so if they feel you don’t deserve it, perhaps they don’t deserve you either—you probably won’t fit in and will be unhappy throughout your 6-year bond. (Of course, they have a zillion other scholar-wannabes to interview after you, but you only have a couple other scholarship hopes left). Concluded (once again—am I running in mental circles?) that however Government policies and capital-lettered rhetoric may change, at the end of the day it is up to us to fight our own individual battles and walk our own lives, buffeted by forces beyond our control.
Also shared with Mrs Wee about the clincher that made me drop the MOE scholarship (besides the fact that I’d already got the Duke one), namely that Daniel had made me realize that there are teachers, and then there are Teachers. Being a teacher is a profession, while being a Teacher is a way of life (the greatest Teacher of all being of course Jesus the Christ Himself). Naturally, many good teachers are also Teachers, for they nurture, guide, encourage and mentor as well as teach. But you don’t need to be a teacher if you are a Teacher. Daniel’s a lawyer by profession, but a Teacher by living. Ignoring the religious element, he teaches, cares and plans for the growth of his charges, things even good teachers don’t always do. Teachers and teachers. I may believe strongly in Teaching, but need not go into teaching.
Later, over lunch, also spoke to Mrs Chan (she recognizes me! Hurgh). Funny how teachers (and in this case, principals) show a different side of themselves now you’re out of their school. She was (for lack of a better term) baldly cynical, and enjoyed the conversation less than the previous one. Found out that College Day is on the 19th. Gargh, that clashes with APM! Priorities, priorities.
It was nearing 1:30 by then, so was leaving, but saw Del on the way out, so spoke to her about common tests (dying) and CAP. Promised to keep her updated on CAP and councillorship. We need more councilors, since SARS has eliminated half our current ones. “Eliminate” not as in killed the councilors mind you(!), but made them unavailable now that CAP’s in Nov.
And that’s Wed morning for you.
Went to VJ to collect my A lvl cert & spend morning talking to pple before reporting for work at 2pm. Semi-bad timing, it turned out. This week is Block Test week so all students were cooped up in LTs and I didn’t see anyone much, until tests were over ~11am. Saw Harris & Cook at Stone Table, spoke briefly but they had invigilation to do so I read thru Cook’s Spectator mag (May issue), then bits of Kundera’s Farewell Waltz. Spectator is, by Singaporean standards, subversive, but I suppose it’s normal in Britain. Kundera is amazingly… blasphemous in a light way. Every so often I hit a carelessly-tossed-off but shocking sentence that stops me in my tracks and makes me think for ~5 minutes. Net result: I have only a fragmented comprehension of the plot, but enjoy it nonetheless! I think that’s Kundera’s intention anyway. Ideas first, plot second.
Bored after a while, so went to staff room to seek out Mrs Wee, scholarships teacher i/c (and hence my indirect benefactor) to offer help—giving small- and large-group talks/chats about US universities and scholarships. Got drawn into talking about the J2s, how stressful it is and how many apply unthinkingly (or worse, thinkingly) cos of peer pressure. Suggested VJ build a network of contacts for who-is-in-which-Uni, so that alumni can be directly contacted for advice (if they don’t mind). As for scholarships and the numerous deserving people who didn’t get any, we agreed it is after all the taxpayer’s/corporation’s money so if they feel you don’t deserve it, perhaps they don’t deserve you either—you probably won’t fit in and will be unhappy throughout your 6-year bond. (Of course, they have a zillion other scholar-wannabes to interview after you, but you only have a couple other scholarship hopes left). Concluded (once again—am I running in mental circles?) that however Government policies and capital-lettered rhetoric may change, at the end of the day it is up to us to fight our own individual battles and walk our own lives, buffeted by forces beyond our control.
Also shared with Mrs Wee about the clincher that made me drop the MOE scholarship (besides the fact that I’d already got the Duke one), namely that Daniel had made me realize that there are teachers, and then there are Teachers. Being a teacher is a profession, while being a Teacher is a way of life (the greatest Teacher of all being of course Jesus the Christ Himself). Naturally, many good teachers are also Teachers, for they nurture, guide, encourage and mentor as well as teach. But you don’t need to be a teacher if you are a Teacher. Daniel’s a lawyer by profession, but a Teacher by living. Ignoring the religious element, he teaches, cares and plans for the growth of his charges, things even good teachers don’t always do. Teachers and teachers. I may believe strongly in Teaching, but need not go into teaching.
Later, over lunch, also spoke to Mrs Chan (she recognizes me! Hurgh). Funny how teachers (and in this case, principals) show a different side of themselves now you’re out of their school. She was (for lack of a better term) baldly cynical, and enjoyed the conversation less than the previous one. Found out that College Day is on the 19th. Gargh, that clashes with APM! Priorities, priorities.
It was nearing 1:30 by then, so was leaving, but saw Del on the way out, so spoke to her about common tests (dying) and CAP. Promised to keep her updated on CAP and councillorship. We need more councilors, since SARS has eliminated half our current ones. “Eliminate” not as in killed the councilors mind you(!), but made them unavailable now that CAP’s in Nov.
And that’s Wed morning for you.
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