...with our calling and election sure
Wohoo! I feared that by failing to get the RA job and win SSA elections that I would have a dreary and empty sophomore year next year, but it is not to be so! There're so many things I've been chosen for that I think I'll have even LESS free time next year than this year (if that's even possible!). Point form time!
1) Living arrangements: I'll be rooming with a decent chap from my Christian fellowship. I don't know him well yet but I hope we grow closer during our year together and that I may live as a proper example unto him! Our room is rather small so we’ll have to loft our beds to fit our drawers underneath (saves space). This prevents me from simply plopping into bed after a tiring day—I’ll have to climb in! Sadness =( On the other hand, the closets in our room are disproportionately large so I can keep my junk in there, or even study quietly in there with just the closet light on if my roommate sleeps earlier than me.
2) I'm going to be a FAC next year! Which basically means I'll be assigned 7-9 freshmen to take care of during their first year at Duke, especially during their crucial first weeks here. Heh.
3) I'm going to be an Economics teacher next year! Teaching an intermediate econ class--it's really easy to me though a lot of others struggle through it. I thank my A level Econs—looks like the insane SG education is good for something after all! I find I have the gift of teaching so I'm going to exercise it to do some good in my students' lives! Getting paid is a small bonus ;-)
4) I'll be co-leading the Men's Bible study for the freshmen in my fellowship! I'm amazed to be invited by the leadership cos I haven't exactly attended every single meeting, but they somehow discerned the gift of teaching in me despite not seeing me that often. Flattered, I naturally agreed to help out.
5) I’ll be doing some SE Asian-related activism/awareness-raising. All the other SGeans here shun it, but I suppose it’s partly because they’re mostly on government scholarships, and it makes no sense to bite the hand that feeds you, admittedly. As for me, I can make full use of my non-Singapore-related scholarship to be able to do what I want and try furthering this unique (and worthy) cause!
6) Most amazingly, I’m going to be Music Director for my a cappella group next year! I kinda knew I’d get it since I have almost 10 years of experience both with large choirs and small a cappella groups, but it’s nice to have it confirmed. This will be the first time I’ve been appointed to a leadership position in an a cappella group (I’ve led all my previous ones by virtue of founding or co-founding them, rather dictatorial!). So it’s good to have some democratic validation of my musical ability.
7) (UPDATED): I've also been elected co-VP of Public Affairs for the International Council (which lobbies for the interests of the international students @ Duke to the Duke administration)! So i'll be devoting time towards that as well.
8) I was previosuly considering either applying to be a columnist for the Chronicle (Duke's daily newspaper) or an editor-at-large position there too--it would be a great opportunity to influence and moderate debate at Duke. Too often debate here is polarized and seems more like 2 monologues than an engaging dialogue, because neither side is willing to acknowledge the validity of the other's points. What we need is a moderator who can see both sides--something which I feel I can fulfil. Yet I don't want to overextend myself and die sophomore year. So I'll hold off for a year. If God wants me to positively influence public debate at Duke, He'll bring me into it somehow.
What a busy Fall 2006 ahead! Why did I ever fear sophomore year was going to be boring just cos I didn’t get the RA job I wanted?? And this coming 3-month Summer holiday is no slacking time too! I’ll be working for MOE then going to Oxford to study Shakespeare (how cool is that??)
Wohoo! That’s it for my update, I hope to catch people back in SG—you all know who you are!
1) Living arrangements: I'll be rooming with a decent chap from my Christian fellowship. I don't know him well yet but I hope we grow closer during our year together and that I may live as a proper example unto him! Our room is rather small so we’ll have to loft our beds to fit our drawers underneath (saves space). This prevents me from simply plopping into bed after a tiring day—I’ll have to climb in! Sadness =( On the other hand, the closets in our room are disproportionately large so I can keep my junk in there, or even study quietly in there with just the closet light on if my roommate sleeps earlier than me.
2) I'm going to be a FAC next year! Which basically means I'll be assigned 7-9 freshmen to take care of during their first year at Duke, especially during their crucial first weeks here. Heh.
3) I'm going to be an Economics teacher next year! Teaching an intermediate econ class--it's really easy to me though a lot of others struggle through it. I thank my A level Econs—looks like the insane SG education is good for something after all! I find I have the gift of teaching so I'm going to exercise it to do some good in my students' lives! Getting paid is a small bonus ;-)
4) I'll be co-leading the Men's Bible study for the freshmen in my fellowship! I'm amazed to be invited by the leadership cos I haven't exactly attended every single meeting, but they somehow discerned the gift of teaching in me despite not seeing me that often. Flattered, I naturally agreed to help out.
5) I’ll be doing some SE Asian-related activism/awareness-raising. All the other SGeans here shun it, but I suppose it’s partly because they’re mostly on government scholarships, and it makes no sense to bite the hand that feeds you, admittedly. As for me, I can make full use of my non-Singapore-related scholarship to be able to do what I want and try furthering this unique (and worthy) cause!
6) Most amazingly, I’m going to be Music Director for my a cappella group next year! I kinda knew I’d get it since I have almost 10 years of experience both with large choirs and small a cappella groups, but it’s nice to have it confirmed. This will be the first time I’ve been appointed to a leadership position in an a cappella group (I’ve led all my previous ones by virtue of founding or co-founding them, rather dictatorial!). So it’s good to have some democratic validation of my musical ability.
7) (UPDATED): I've also been elected co-VP of Public Affairs for the International Council (which lobbies for the interests of the international students @ Duke to the Duke administration)! So i'll be devoting time towards that as well.
8) I was previosuly considering either applying to be a columnist for the Chronicle (Duke's daily newspaper) or an editor-at-large position there too--it would be a great opportunity to influence and moderate debate at Duke. Too often debate here is polarized and seems more like 2 monologues than an engaging dialogue, because neither side is willing to acknowledge the validity of the other's points. What we need is a moderator who can see both sides--something which I feel I can fulfil. Yet I don't want to overextend myself and die sophomore year. So I'll hold off for a year. If God wants me to positively influence public debate at Duke, He'll bring me into it somehow.
What a busy Fall 2006 ahead! Why did I ever fear sophomore year was going to be boring just cos I didn’t get the RA job I wanted?? And this coming 3-month Summer holiday is no slacking time too! I’ll be working for MOE then going to Oxford to study Shakespeare (how cool is that??)
Wohoo! That’s it for my update, I hope to catch people back in SG—you all know who you are!
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