Archive for the ‘Lessons and Life’ Category

Yes, I'm back in business.

Before I continue with all the tons of work that needs to be done desperately, I also need to write this as a reminder to everyone, so I'll keep it short and simple.

And particular, I hope that there is this certain group that will read it.

Lesson26#:
Openness

During the recent event, Merentas Desa 2010, which I wrote about in my previous post, there have been a lot of complains especially from those who were disqualified.

But the interesting part was this, news came to my ears that some who openly cursed them either upfront or even sarcastically, were called to have a little chit chat, and they were asked to apologize otherwise discipline action will be taken. And yes, news came to me that they were pissed ALL THE MORE.

So what's my point here? Now I'm not saying that cursing a group of people for their failed action is a good thing or it should have been done, I also do think that it is in fact not that good, but I want to shift to the attention of those receiving the criticism.

Openness, is something I've learn to develop over time. Its something hard to birth but yet it can be so very useful in life.

Basically, as insults and criticism is thrown at us, it is always not about reacting, but responding. Reacting would mean upon receiving an insult, an action is immediately produce to counter it, most of the time, it doesn't go through thinking, rather mainly emotional reaction. Whereas responding would require one to actually sit down and think before taking an action.

Perhaps those who insulted them should have apologized also, but to FORCE someone to apologize and to act as if being insulted is a BIG THING, something seems so wrong about it. Take for example the prefects, we practically get insulted from the time we start officially being a prefect, to the time we finish our term. Only those who stand out as a people person would be safe from harm, otherwise, trust me, no student actually likes the prefects.

So my point here is, be open about it, don't react and cause small things to become a big issue, to a point as if the world will fall. When I heard about the news, I was all the more sadden because when people know about this, it just speaks to the world that that group is just unable to handle criticism. I do acknowledge the hard work and effort put into all these, but since matters are bad, spend time fixing it than to make matters worse.

Please, be open.

Concerned runner,
Wai Leem

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If I'm not mistaken, this is a title of an album by Reuben Morgan.

Today's CF committee meeting really opened up my eyes on certain things. Certain things that I realized I have not been doing or perhaps avoided or even neglected doing.

After much talking with Jo Fan, which he seems rather frustrated (sorry Jo Fan). I nevertheless needed answers. In the end, I realized 2 things.

Relationship and the Expression of it.

In CF today I talked about relationship with God, and ultimately, that is what he is looking for. But what I didn't share, was what would or should happen next is actually the expression of it. What kind of expression? This is something Jo Fan didn't explain but he put it in a way that I realized something.

When we were talking about recess revolution, I asked him what are we going to do, he said we will do something, but I don't know what. At first, that to me, is not my culture, but I accepted his premise anyway. But what I think he meant and perhaps what is also true, is that when we have a relationship with God, we will slowly catch on to His heart. When we have the heart of God, one words stands out among the rest, that is COMPASSION. Compassion in simple words is this, loving from the heart to the hand, which in itself defines the relationship with God from the heart, and the expression of it through our hands.

Then I concluded again, that this is indeed, seeing the world through His eyes. But it cannot be done without a relationship.

So despite my restriction to Kidzone for this year, I believe that God has a reason for it. God is calling me to do something, perhaps like Jo Fan, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, but I believe just as he believes, God will ultimately show the way, all God is waiting for, is our one step closer towards him.

"Father, forgive me, for at times, I have been ignorant and unteachable. Teach me Lord your ways that I may know you more. And ultimately, may your name be glorified and magnified in my school, that not just CF will have a relationship with you, but the school, students, teachers, admins, will come to know who you really are. In Jesus name, Amen."

God is awesome,
Wai Leem
p/s: I believe God also had his timing because I recently obtained an album by Steven Curtis Chapman, and about 5 songs spoke so clearly to me. I knew I had to write this post.

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Narrowstreet (NST, no, not New Straight Times) is a youth group in my church. And this time round, they had their camp from the 16-19 of December.

If you read my post earlier, you realized that my mum fetched me from Timothy's place after the annual sleepover at 6.30 in the morning, why? Because I had to rush off to church for NST camp.

I will not go much into detail, but for all 4 days, it was indeed a very very tiring camp. This time, it was army style, but it was only army style for only 3 hours per day. The rest was the sessions where either Ps Sam Phun or Ps Andy Loh would share. Knowing them itself, really, the sessions just come to life and it was really really good.

First day, once we reached Felda Trolak, we started off with some games and also went into our first 'military training'. I was also the group leader and because of that, I had to do suicide runs for 6 times, and that can kill at times. But with that 'military training' left me dead tired, and didn't even give me any appetite to eat dinner. At night, after the session and supper, that was when I realized, I have to suffer without brushing my teeth for the next 3 days, because I left my toiletry bag in Timothy's place, so not cool.

Second day, started off with prayer meeting, devotion, and sessions, and it was all good. Likewise, after lunch, we prepared for more military training, which was once again, TIRING. Nevertheless, my team endured much and we managed to secure our prisoners. There were much more than what I'm saying here, but that would be in too much detail. There were a lot of decisions to make, a lot of dilemmas to go through, and surely, a lot of letters to hold. At night, dinner and then sessions again, which was again, EXCELLENT.

Third day, more of less the same like the second day, just that in the morning, Ps Andy did the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. During that session, I could feel God really moving mightily in the midst of many and lives were really filled with the Holy Spirit and lives were given wholly unto God. After lunch, was the last military training. I expected a bit more, but it was tiring enough. In the end, when we all ended up in the hall and at the final part where we lifted up the word IMPETUS. Not just everyone clapped, but everyone clapped in unison, and the sound of that was like the roar of an army of God as one body, fighting the enemy. After military training ended, we all were so relieved. Night session was once again,wonderful.

The last day, there wasn't much, besides one more session and a photo shoot. Here comes the part where I really share about the camp. I will talked on different segments of the camp. Firstly, the praise and worship is awesome, especially when they sing songs which have actions done by kidzoners, Ps Andy, che che Alice and myself would be happily dancing behind. Praise and worship was indeed a very lively moment and I enjoyed God's presence A LOT, though there were hiccups here and there.

The 'military training' was indeed tiring, but I did feel that it could have been a bit more intense, a bit more awesome and cooler. Perhaps the army style, could have been the camp, rather than just that 3 hours. BUT, I also do know why it cannot, but, i mean, the real sense of 'army' wasn't enough.

Coming to the most important part, the sessions. This time around, sessions were no doubt good, but the thing was I didn't really feel much. There was no stirring in me, there was really nothing for me that made me like cry out to God, kind of a thing. I was really sad and angry why this is happening because for many years, I have always received something, but now? why Lord? So I asked and pleaded with God to tell me why, and what I felt God was telling me was, that he was already shown me things last year, things which I personally realized I have not fulfilled, because I am not done, God is doing a step by step fulfillment, he will not reveal until I accomplish. Along the years, I've always received something from God, and those things come and pass, God comes with something else. This time, I personally have not fulfilled, that was why God doesn't want to bring me too far yet. Because of this understanding, I began to think why, why I have never succeeded in accomplishing what God had told me, and at one point, I felt that my whole year was wasted, wasted on things that I shouldn't have done, or gotten myself involved with. I believe, that this is indeed the greatest lesson of all, that before we ask God for more and more, we must also remember to do what God has asked of us step by step.

So this year, NST camp, with the theme "IMPETUS" may not be the BEST in some parts, but it did teach me a great lesson, a life long lesson.

NST camper,
Wai Leem

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Everyone, welcome to my 90th post of my blog! WOOHOO!

Yes, many have reached way above 100, but as for me, I have made it thus far, and I'm glad at it. So welcome to my 90th post, as I recap and unify all 25 lessons that I have previously written. Something I call the unifying lessons to reach the goal of application.

Let us begin a journey that I will embark, shall we?

We all know that life is unfair, but before we can move on, we got to learn how to embrace it and do something about it, rather than just complain and speak, we should use our hands and work the plow (Lesson 8). Now knowing that we got to do something, we also have to know to stay whole and not sway with our character and values. We got to learn integrity, by living our private life the same as our public life, and not be "good here bad there", basically, walk the talk (Lesson 7). Therefore in life, by being whole and having integrity, we got to learn to make our stand, stands on values, stands on politics, stands on religion, stands on the economy, stands on social issues, etc (Lesson 17). Knowing to have integrity and make our stands, we got to first of all accept it, because we have don't even accept it, we cannot live it (Lesson 16). Then after accepting, we got to apply it because acceptance without application is useless (Lesson 11).

In fact, in life, personally, it doesn't suck, but problems and hindrances try to make it suck and we must learn to overcome them (Lesson 2). But if we don't know what drives us to move on, we will only be stagnant in front of the problem, and so we have to identify what drives us (Lesson 5). Now knowing what drives us, we got to place our passion at the right place because everyone is passionate, but its what we are passionate about which counts more (Lesson 10). But even if life now turns out well, we must continue to remain humble, a critical attitude in order to continue learning and to teach and pick others up on their feet (Lesson 23). In the midst of this, never boast about what we have achieved but take it as a blessing and continue to be humble (Lesson 24). But sometimes we are so near yet so far because when we set our priorities and start doing well in certain areas, we end up forgetting the other parts of life (Lesson 13). That is why we need to understand our focus and set our focal points because we have to major and major and minor and minor (Lesson 22).

When we do things, we also have to know that sometimes its not always about the work that needs to be right, but instead it should be our attitude first which needs to be made right (Lesson 4). Once we got our attitude right, that isn't enough, because we got to let it get an A1, so that wherever we go, its the best character for all (Lesson 21). As we aim to reach an excellent character and attitude, we then got to understand that doing things and doing it well, are 2 major differences (Lesson 1), or in other words we got to do things to our best, the very best, and doing the best is indeed being professional in what we do (Lesson 20). But doing this well, will there karma? Is there an opposite reaction? There is nothing to worry, because as long as we do our very best, God will guide and lead us through (Lesson 25).

We also got to change to become paradigm shifters and change mindsets and the way of thinking in a positive way than to sit around and follow norms or "traditions" (Lesson 9). But in the midst of change at home, we still cannot take our parents lightly like a toothbrush (Lesson 3) and we must respect and honour them, all the more so knowing the importance of it in the bible (Lesson 18). Therefore, mean what you say, whether at home, in school or any where else, we have to watch over our use of tongue (Lesson 6). At times, we end up winning, but we must ask, did we really win? Because some people cheat to win, bribe to win, but they don't really end up winning, so when we win, ask ourselves whether we have really won (Lesson 19). But sadly, the world is such that after we have won, be reminded that there is someone out there, who is better than you and strive to improve rather than be discourage and give up (Lesson 15). But we can have the assurance not to be the best, but to have hope in God, so that in whatever we do, as long as it is pleasing and glorifying unto God, we just have to do our part and God will be there for us (Lesson 12).

So all in all, I do all these so that I can change to be a better person and by being a better person I hope to impact others so that others can impact others and it goes on and on, because I do believe that the very little that I do, I and so do you, can make a difference in one's life (Lesson 14). It is said, "I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one"

I'm aiming high, but more importantly, I have to stay high and last long, oh help me God.

Love,
Wai Leem

http://mejournals.com/whylame/2008/07/18/lesson-14/

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A couple of days ago, on my facebook, I put my status as "Wai Leem Au Yong is learning to be an eagle.... I'm sure everybody is wondering, huh?" Indeed some did reply with a "huh?"

Its nothing really that complicated. Its just that a pastor, Pastor Victor spoke about an eagle, and his whole message was so awesome, because he related everything to that eagle. Of all the eagles that he used, he chose the Bald Eagle, the national animal of  USA.

So let's move on.

First thing. Did you know that an eagle doesn't flap it's wings? I was surprised. Because apparently, it will wait for something called a *tur-something* wind. Its a type of wind. So when it knows that the wind is coming, it will glide and catch unto the wind, then it will fly high. But when it feels that it is too high already, it will get out, and glide down, without flapping its wings, it just swoops  down. Then when it is low enough, it will catch another that kind of wind and fly up again. But what I want to draw here is, in life, people do work without thinking carefully, without consideration and just get on it immediately. But I believe sometimes we really need to wait. Wait to do the right things at the right time. Just like how the eagle waits for the wind, then it will be able to fly very high. Rushing, could sometimes be the very thing that cause whatever we do to be just so insignificant. Rather, waiting, basically just knowing when is the right time, could be the key factor and also could save a lot of time on work wise. In fact, if you wait upon the Lord, he will reveal to you when he will want it to happen. Just like how David never went ahead and build the temple for God. Instead, he asked God first, and God revealed to him that his son will do it. So because of that, the temple was magnificant and in fact, it was a very friendly construction as a couple of nations contributed their treasures. What happens if David never waited and went on with his plan? Waiting is very important at times.

Second thing is that the Bald Eagle at one point in history, was categorised as a near extinct animal. In fact, the were laws created to protect it so extremely. To a point that there was a law which says "no molesting this bird". That was how much to a point it was protected. Because of the laws that protected it, it managed to populate back, and today, it is nowhere near extinction. Are you a near extinct species? I tell you, leaders are not an extinct species, but GOOD leaders are nearing. Men and Women of God are also nearing extinct. What else? Even good hearted people willingly bringing a old person across a street, yes that is also nearing extinction. So, are you an extinct species? That is why sometimes we need boundaries, we need values to teach us, we need direction, just like laws that protect the eagle, we need all these so that we learn to go from extinct to a lifestyle.

There were I think 2 more things to draw from an eagle, which I can roughly remember, but might not be able to explain it here. Just that there is just one more which I like the most.

An eagle lives the longest amongst every other bird in the sky, but there is just one condition for that to happen. When an eagle reaches about 30 years old, its feathers starts to fall, muscles and bones are all weaken, and its claw is frail, and cannot catch any food. So now it has a choice, either to die, or live. But if it wants to live, it has to go through an extremely painful process. If it chooses that painful path, it will fly to a very high place, a mountain top. There, it will first pull off all of its feathers. After pulling out its feathers, it will then break its beak by hitting it on something hard like a stone. Then it will break its claws likewise. By this point, it will not even look like an eagle, and it is suffering really terribly. Then it will be on that mountain top for 3 months or so, waiting for everything to grow back. But once everything does, it can live for another 30-40 years.

Sometimes, when we feel weak and no self worth, we can have a suicide, or we could look to God for help. And most of the time, during this tough period, God will continue to break us, 'destroy' us, so that when we are nothing, we can be filled by Him, and from there, pick ourselves up again, start anew, start afresh and continue to live long.

A couple of years back, Kidzone merdeka celebration theme was "Fly high, Last long" personally, I can't remember much of the message, but what i know is that in order to fly high and last long, we have to decrease and He has to increase in us, in order for us to Fly High and Last Long.

FFT (food for thought):
Do you wait for the right timing?
Are you an extinct species?
Do you want to Fly High and Last Long?

I ensure you, with all my heart, that there is only one way to truly know that you can do that.

Learning to be an eagle,
Wai Leem

To my surprise, many people have actually updated their blogs! Great job to one and all! Except for me..

So the time has come to revive the relatively, sleepy blog. Join me in a shout of "wake up" One, two, three! "WAKE UP!!"

Excitedly getting out of vitual bed: "Yes! I have something for you today!"

Lesson 25#:
Is there always an opposite reaction?

Newton's third law of motion states that "for every action, there is an equal or opposite reaction" True, in terms of objects, but is that true in life?

Take myself for example. I participated in the drama competition alongside fellow team members and we did very well. But, in the midst of all these, i only had one week left to study, my time was totally all taken out. A lot of times we succeed in a certain way, then we realize that something bad or worse is heading the same direction. Or on the brighter side, sometimes we feel that we just cannot go on, then something happens, you see hope and continue to strive.

I came across a Chinese comprehension passage. Somewhere in the middle, it says that this guy's beloved horse was lost but not found, the village celebrated for him. But he said a profound yet simple question, "Could this 'good' turn out to be bad?" A couple of days later, his son who loved riding horses, fell from the horse and broke his leg. Again, the village came and gave their comfort and showed kindness to him, then he asked, "Could this 'bad' turn out to be good?" A few days later, there was a small war, hundreds of innocent civillians died, especially once they leave the house. But because the son could not go out of the house, and the father had to take care of him, both were alive after the war.

Could good turn bad? or bad turn good? Is it always this way?

Its like a balanced force, leveling up between the 2. If you did extremely well, one day, you will fail extremely bad. Why is it like that? I believe the word is karma. Does it really exist?

This topic came to me very randomly, and this is one topic i have yet to find clues and answers. But i will tell you frankly that i do not know whether karma is true or not, whether bad will turn good, or good turn bad, or whatever. But I do know this ONE thing, just one thing. That I believe someone can give a bad turn good, good turn better, better turn best, and best turn *indescribable*. I will be very frank with everyone today, that fella, that dude, that man, is Jesus.

Love to all, all for love,
Wai Leem

Exams on Wednesday!! YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!

Well, despite that, i still ended up reading blogs and came across something interesting by Nicholas Lim YEW XIONG, and also followed by the comment by Jo Fan. This was what Nicholas wrote.

"Things happen for a reason. Do they ever happen for a bad reason?

Events that occur may be a blessing in disguise. Are certain events that take place, a dagger in the shadows?

Every cloud has a silver lining. But are there more clouds gathering on the horizon?"

By the way, that post' title was Doubt. Then it came to me as i read it, indeed there are daggers in the shadows, clouds gathering at the horizon. Then i wondered why. Jo Fan puts it this way, saying that these are the things which help us to mature and grow up facing challenges, which i have no doubt of.

(Then at this second, something else hit me.) The reason why I ever "suddenly" started blogging was because i suddenly had the passion for English, the passion to write, mainly because i got highly commended for a competition. Then today, Mr Chan came to me and said, "Your vocab not good la, no variety, very bad" Just like what Nicholas said, a DAGGER in the shadows. Hearing it was as bad as i could even decide at that moment to stop blogging. Then again, what Jo Fan said was also true. Maybe this 'DAGGER' will help me press on to a deeper learning of the English language.

So fine, back to what i really wanted to say, was i had a different view when i read what Nicholas wrote. I suppose when he wrote it, the dagger and clouds were suppose to mean doubts, since he named the title that way. From there, what struck me was, are we ourselves, our very self, that dagger? Are we like those clouds gathering at the horizon?

Basically, Are We The One Causing Others To Doubt?

Now, doubt about what? you may ask. Well i leave that to you, because we can cause others to doubt about so many things, like exams, competitions, friendships, unity, responsibility, and the list goes on and on. And again you ask, what is wrong with letting others doubt? Firstly, for WHAT? Secondly, doubting creates fear, and fear, WORRY. And Worry is a sin!

DON'T CAUSE OTHERS TO FALL!

So ask yourself, Are We The One Causing Others To Doubt?

Love,
Wai Leem

Today was really an overwhelming day of learning something i never expected myself to learn, International Trade. I mean, i plan to enter the field of medicine! Even many of you know that! But why international trade? I don't exactly know, but i would say it was really interesting. Adding on to that, because of the workshop, i skipped oral! Jo Fan, please thank me for that.

Today! I would just like to share about 2 lessons, something, which i realize, after many physics periods.

Lesson 23#:
Humble

Mr Wong KK says, "You must be humble in order to succeed.........."

Yes, i truly agree. I'm sure you do too! Someone once said, attitude determines altitude. So what attitude exactly? Of course it is many types of attitude, but i think the attitude of humbleness is of utmost importance. Why? Unless you are humble, will you actually produce any other characteristics. Because when you are humble, you become willing to learn, and when you are willing to learn, indeed, it will determine your altitude.

Many successful people in today's world started off literally like crap. Too diverse even i can't explain. Still, whatever it may be, they had to be humble in order to be what they are today. Take for example Oprah. I have no doubt she is intelligent and knowledgeable. But every time her show airs, there somehow is always something to learn. Let's scale it down, my school's company, Xpertise advisers, the first few things that they said when they came during the first meeting, was "....let's all learn together...." They are freaking professionals! Some of them are even head of certain departments and divisions! What is there to 'learn together', you most probably know and predict whatever can happen. Yet until now, they really have been learn from us, the way we think, react and conduct. Yes, they are to a certain extent, humble.

Yet, there could be a problem.......

Lesson 24#:
BOASTING about humbleness

huh?

First reaction towards that phrase? Imagine this, trying listening to it over and over again, almost whenever you are in school. Don't you think its so wonderfully contradicting? So powerfully hypocritical?

Let's go back to the top of the post, Mr Wong KK said "You must be humble in order to succeed........." Realize the 'dot dot dot' there? Come, let me finish it for you, and this is literally from his mouth. "You must be humble in order to succeed, just like me. You know last time ah... I was this, i was that, i was hired..... " and starts ranting on how successful he is and how he was invited and hired in all those top professional companies and events.

You teach people to humble and learn? Or do you teach people to be humble and boast about the success?

This hypocritical act as been going on for many years and i truly pity every class taught by him. I urge you people, don't fall into this trap. Yes! be HUMBLE, but please don't freaking boast about it.

Truth must prevail!
Wai Leem

p/s: On a more cooperative note, 4s3. Whoever who reads this, please spread it around. I don't know when, but I am determine to shut his face up. I am determine to tell him, how ironic his words are. But i cannot do it alone. If you agree that he is going off hand, then come and join me! And no, I'm not going against him, I'm going against teachings that are incorrect, teachings that cause people to wonder, teachings that are just wrong. Join me, if you will, my friends.

Homework continues to pile, activities are continuously increasing despite Easter Rally going off with a blast. I wonder why all these things have to happen, yet i just want it to happen, i like to happen.

Throughout the whole time either going for drama practice, or meetings for YE, I kept asking myself, where does all these activities bring you at the end of the day? What are you going to get out of it? That's where i came to think of this just few seconds ago, which is

Lesson 22#:
Set the FOCUS

If you are a football player, you would aim to win. If you are a student, you aim excellent results. If you are a son, the aim is to be respectful and obedient to your parents. If you are a sales person, the aim is to get customers and sell whatever you need to sell. And the list goes on and on.

So what is the focus?

Focus can be a couple of things, like training for a football match or drama competition, these are all focus for us to achieve our aim, our goal. Yet if you noticed, i wrote "FOCUS' as the title, instead of just "Focus", because when something is bigger, it shows that there can be many focus in different areas, but there must be just one main focus through it all.

Drama cost a lot of precious time, so does YE. I kept thinking and thinking to myself, "in the end, what the main focus, what is it? where will all these lead me? what is there for me at the end of the road?" It was days and weeks just thinking about it right before a sleep. At this point, i THINK i found the answer, though i do not know whether it is an answer in the first place, surely, this is what kept me going on despite tiring hours.

I believe, the my focus here, sorry, i mean FOCUS here, is always God, it has to be Him. What compels me so much? I mean, to be honest, really. "The joy of the Lord is my strength" taken from the bible, is no doubt true. Tired, surely! But i never failed to be sadden and downcast before the Lord, because i know that my strength is from him. It has to be. Someone asked me one day, "How do you manage to still stay so alive? so energetic? despite having so many activities here and there, adding on to that, homework too!" I looked up into the sky, knowing it has to be Him, my Lord, my God, my Friend, my Father.

God can provide this inner strength not just when we are physically tired, but also when we are spiritually downcast. Few months back, someone also asked me, "why does your life seem to be perfect, when others are having family issues, some are smoking, stealing, etc.. why?" I tell you, my parents do argue, i do have intentions to take things which are not mine, but what carries me on? It is that inner strength, to me, that says no to stealing, to smoking. That inner strength that withstands any attacks from the devil, inner strength that can help you stand tall and firm, despite a tough time coming through.

I tell today guys and girls, there is literally no one who can provide you that kind of strength, that kind of spirit of energy. I'm glad i know about it, do you want to?

So back to the lesson, my main focus is that since God gave me strength, i shall use what i have learnt and experience for his glory. Example, i can maybe act in a drama play for church. or maybe after learning marketing techniques, i can come out with ideas to promote community service events and such. This is my FOCUS, that God is and will always be in the centre of my doing.

now, i can't keep talking, i have to ask, What Is Your FOCUS Friends?

Love,
Wai Leem

A1

This happened during my first history lesson of the year.

Mohd Ali : What is your ambition class?
(he goes around asking one by one)
(then he comes to me)
Mohd Ali : Apa cita-cita kamu?
Whylame : Pembantu rumah!
(He thought he heard something 'correct' and was about to walk away, suddenly......)
Mohd Ali : AH?!?! APA TU?

So yea, that's what happened during our first history lesson, but wait! There's more.......

Mohd Ali : Nampaknya, memang banyak daripada kamu ada cita-cita tersendiri. Namun, selama saya ajar kamu, kita akan hanya ada satu cita! YAY! iaitu...... SEJARAH A1!
(whole class went 'huh?!')

It stunned me equally. What kind of ambition or aspiration is that? Its either a lame or... nah, lame is the only choice!

Until today....

Lesson 21#:
A1 in character

Just a slight information for those who don't know, A1 is a significant grade, a grade that everyone wants on the SPM result slip. Its the highest grade one can ever get for SPM.

But today, i realized that its not just about exams and all, but it was about every other thing too, here, i shall stress character.

We learn today that during the Chinese Civilization, studying was only for one reason, that is to pass an exam. But that exam can determine your future. If someone passes that exam, that particular person is eligible for the top jobs in the government, therefore, that exam is very very crucial. This is the cool part, because if anyone cheats, he/she will be killed. Wow, that's really new! and cool! well, maybe not that cool.

So since then, a whole conversation on cheating started. Like how he used to also cheat, tactics and skill of cheating of others, and etc etc. Then in the end, he said that after he was caught in form 4, he never cheated since then. This was his policy, "i know, i answer. I don't know, too bad for me then."

Then it struck me. Yea, everyone can get excellent results and all, A1 can fill their result slip, yet if their character isn't an A1 character, what possibility could it bring them in the future? I recently had failed, again, to represent the school in public speaking. But the topic given, was 'academic excellence does not guarantee success in the future' I cannot agree more! Academic results, really cannot bring success!

Success can be determined by so many things, yet i feel that character and attitude plays a very big role in it. Likewise, if our character and attitude is not an A1 standard, success? Don't even think about it!

So yea.. A1 we all can get, but where the A1 is, that's the ultimate question.

Where is yours?

Cheers,
Wai Leem!