School so far

Week three and that means tutorials (and labs for me, since i didn't have any last week) have started.

1st week of school and....

It's been about a week since school started. The CORS bidding was pretty eventless as i have 5 core modules this sem and thus got all of them for 1 point, and I decided not to overload this sem in the interests of concentrating more on my modules and getting a higher CAP. I will need to get Bs and B+s on average to push to a 2nd class honours. For a 2nd upper, it will have to be As and A-s on average. Pretty much a tall order but I will still try my best and trust God for the rest.:)

I recently ran into a problem which I am not sure will affect my hall stay in year 3. RH is having a cultural groups performance Rhazzmatazz in February. Problem is, I have a test (30% of the marks) on that same day and time (and another test earlier in the day) which basically means I cannot participate in the event. I'm not sure if there are other events which I can take part in to fulfil the minimum workload, but if not, that will basically mean like last year. And unlike last year, I have nothing to fall back on this time round...

Some comments on the modules so far

MA3501 - A rehash of MA1505 and 1506, at least at the starting part, but I anticipate that it will start venturing into unknown territory pretty soon.

ME2142 - Looks like we need to be very good at differential equations and Laplace transform for this one.

ME2114 - Quite similar to ME2113, even the lecturer is the same.. hopefully the difficulty is, too!

ME2135 - Struggling to understand it, and the lectures... guess i will need to put the energy which will otherwise be spent on the 6th module on this one. Hope the monotony will disperse soon enough though.

ME2101 - Guess it's quite an interesting module on mechanical design etc... builds on what we learnt in ME2103. The lecturer is pretty jovial as well.

I expect to attain a SAP of AT LEAST 3.8 for this sem. No excuse to score any lesser than that since I am only taking 5 modules...

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Everyone!

More SM3 pics...

SM3 photos

The past two days were the SM3 camp co-ordinated by the VCF International Friendship Group. Basically to get to know the PRC students coming to Singapore, get to know them better and understand their culture.

Pics are here, as promised... Please email me if you want the full size high resolution version :)

Results.

I got back my results as follows. Again i had a couple of modules
redeeming me. But i screwed both the 4MC modules...

And as of now, all my grades all have + or - behind them. i have
never gotten a plain vanilla A or B yet..

Pretty disappointed, but at least SAP-wise I did better than last sem.

Now to restrategise again....

HOBTC 2006

I went to HTA yesterday to witness the investiture of the 30th batch Honorary Officers. Mainly to support my 2 friends but also to catch up with old ones whom I have not seen for a very long time, due to having 'disappeared' from the HO's scene for quite some time.

I did not regret it. I was pleasantly surprised to meet one of my long lost JC classmates there who was there for the course. He's in ME too, but in NTU.

Good to know that quite a few of the new HOs are keen on joining Projects... welcome aboard! Congratulations to all newly appointed HOs! (Now, Jeremy, I'm waiting for you...)

Merry Christmas everybody!

It's been a couple of weeks since the last post and boy, a lot of things have happened since then and now.

Raffles Hall Night Cycling
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Been planning for the event for the past couple of months starting from shortly after mid-sem break. Even during reading week, we were still trying our best to tie down some last minute details. In the end, barring some minor hiccups, it was good and personally I'm pleased with the outcome.

Varsity Christian Fellowship Annual Teach-in Camp (ANNTIC)
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This event merits one post by itself, but my mind is still so full of it that i shall just blog away and see whether it becomes one whole post...

Day 1 - met at Kranji MRT in the morning where after some time of looking-lost i got together with my group members and we got to know each other. i already knew a couple of them (lester who was already there, and lynn). we were one of the last groups to set off to JB abord 170 (where we would subsequently board the bus to Port Dickson).
The 4-5 hour bus ride there was quite uneventful (i did have a pretty interesting discussion with a law student) and we reached our campsite. It was indeed more like a chalet (according to those who attended previous camps, much better conditions!) Food was also plentiful, though the condition of the toilet next to our dining area really left much to be desired. Anyway..

Day 2 - this was the first of 4 IBS (Inductive Bible Study) sessions. Overall it was an interesting time of learning how to study the Bible using the inductive method of Bible Study. It can even be applied to other forms of literature! We also had the first of two workshops - Introduction to Buddhism where we learnt basically about their beliefs etc. We gained a better understanding of Buddhism where some of our misconceptions were cleared up.

Day 3 - the highlight was the social action game where each of us had to role-play members of society across all spectra and visit certain stations to earn (or spend) money. Anyway, the object of the whole game was to give us an understanding of the plight of the underprivileged and what as Christians we can do to help them. Later I realised that VCF is also expanding a social action arm to help this segment of society. Brings to mind the verses in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus said, in a nutshell, that what we do for the most unfortunates, we do for Him.

Day 4 - Another workshop, this time on canonicity of the Bible. We were supposed to have a debate on whether the canon should be closed or not, and my group was the opposing team. we won (by a walkover), but had a lively discussion nonetheless.

Day 5 - We were all in eager anticipation what the 'Special Item' was, and we were not disappointed. The committee originally intended for a scavenger-hunt, but changed it to some kind of sandcastle building competition. Only that this time, we were supposed to depict a scene in the Bible using whatever we could find on the beach. Stuff like stones, pebbles, seashells, seaweed and even garbage were used creatively by all the groups. My group came out with a depiction of the 66 books of the Bible, which bagged the 'most creative' award. In the end, every group won a prize and were treated to a special supper - Ramly's burgers.

Speaking of Ramly's burgers, Justin, Jacqueline and I did a rather interesting recording... :) Wonder if i can get it and post on youtube. i'm rather amused at myself on the video..

We ended off the day (or night, rather) by playing a rather corny 'polar bear' game... and after that a serious talk with justin and peishan about serving. Epistole..

Day 6 - the last day of the camp. Nothing much except packing up, checking out and of course the photo sessions together... I'm particularly amused by the AC photo that we took (many AC VCF'ers were there!)
And of course, the ride back was amusing in itself (those in same bus as me (Bus B) will know why)... and the dinner with Kwok and some friends at JB City Square, after which we headed back to Singapore. There were quite a few homeless ppl begging outside the immigration stop. felt real sorry for them but i only had SGD 10 on me (finished all my RM during dinner, and i owe a friend RM7..)

After the big squeeze during the immigration out of Johor (hope the new immigration complex is ready soon), we were on our way home and within half an hour, i turned the key in my apartment and.. it's so good to be home!

And of course, how could i not talk about the theme talks? Was based on the book of Hosea and I would write on how it has blessed me yada yada.. but that's for another time.

Pics taken during Anntic are found on my other blog:
Click here

SJAB Zone Presentation
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When I flipped on my computer, I was bombarded by 22 unread mails. Well, I have been tasked as Asst Secretary for the SJAB Zone 9 presentation on 30 Dec. As of this writing, i have done most of what is required of me. Hope everything goes well from now on.

SJAB wise, now the big headache is to clear the submission of BF1 and Corps Achievement Awards..... and workplan for Secretariat dept for next year.

NPCC
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In my first involvement after my long absence due to exams and Anntic (and my 1st as a full Insp - i've cleared my probation) I had quite a long discussion with OC about plans for next year. First Aid course (we settled on Community First Aid) was a main item on the agenda. The next is my involvement in the unit. She wants me to help more on administration, getting documentation in order. Guess i'll have to work with the NCOs on this. A large part of this is dependent on whether my schedule allows me to do so.

Guess my exit strategy has to wait.

NUS fee hike again?

First off, exams are over! But I know I could have done better. Anyway, what's done is done. Now to have a good rest, enjoy the holidays, before getting back in full steam for the next semster.

Well, we all know that after the recent elections, all kinds of prices have gone up. Electricity, transport, and now, GST is increasing to 7%.

Someone out there (lost the URL but go check it out) did some sums and came up with this conclusion: the ones who would be hit hardest are the ones who earn the least!

But I couldn't help but wonder if an NUS fee hike is next. We had two fee hikes in as many years. If another one is around the corner, I will not be affected as I have a 2 years' lag due to NS, and hence, when it kicks in, i'll be out of here.

But my juniors will be affected. And the fact of the matter is, early Nov 2006, there was a closed door forum between the admin and some student leaders with regards to 'undergraduate tuition fees and financial aid'.

is another fee hike on the way? I really hope not.

Anyway, something to chew on. Is meritocracy REALLY the best policy for singapore?

".. it dawned on me that though the starting point was meritocracy, the end result was dictatorship and elitism. In the end, that was how Sparta crumbled. Yet, Athens, a city of philosophers known for its different schools of thought, survived. What does this tell us about out-of-bounds markers?" - Ngiam Tong Dow interview with Susan Long

I wouldn't claim to have the best, one-size-fits-all solution. That is why we have so many different systems and policies all over the world. Different policies work for different countries. Does meritocracy work for us? Perhaps it did, in the early days of the founding fathers.

I've been following keenly the Wee Shu Min affair ever since it broke, and for the record, that was indeed the inspiriation for my previous post on Father Mother Scholars vs PSC scholars.

meritocracy: - 'governing or the holding of power by people selected by the basis of their ability'. And what is the selection criteria here? In our local context, that's a rhetorical question...

elitism: - 'the advocacy or existence of an elite as a dominating element in a system or society' Is that the case in our local context?

We, FM scholars have missed our chance. Will there be another, better one? I do not know. But definitely not in the public service, not in the public sector. I long for the day when a FM scholar rises head and shoulders above the rest and takes up a high post in public office. But given the current practice, it may not be possible.

Happy holidays everyone!

LAST PAPER

Fluid mechanics paper tomorrow! One of the most feared papers by ME2 students... but, i guess with sufficient preparation, it is okay...

Anyway, I can't help but feel that I've been misunderstood in my previous post with regards to a certain contentious issue. to set the record straight:

i have nothing against RJC students, or GEPs, but what I do have against is the high-and-mighty attitude displayed by a few. Such as the one who made the news recently with her now so famous quote, reproduced on my tagboard by some anonymous prankster.

I like to use this analogy to bridge. Not contract bridge, but the watered-down version known as 'floating' bridge since this is played so widely in Raffles Hall. Not everyone is dealt with a good hand of cards. Some have all the aces, some don't and are just 1 point short of 'washing'. But as they say, it's not about having good cards, but about winning with any (even lousy) cards.

And of course, the guess work involved in guessing the partner...

I won't claim that i have had aces, nor kings for the matter. I shall not expound on this. But i am trying to make the most of it now. To study the best I can, do the best I can in my examinations, and hopefully graduate with a 2nd upper degree.

And to quote a friend of mine 'try not to do anything which you might regret later' which really struck a chord in my heart.
Regrets? I have a whole list of them, and I'm sure everyone has, but I will carry them to my grave.

With regard to regrets, people say, move on. Don't live in the past. I say, Yes, hell, i'm trying, but it's not as easy as it seems. But i'm trying.

I would like to thank a few of my peers who came forward with an alternative view towards this issue. :)

I would like to say more, but no time for that. Time to do more practice on fluids before the final showdown tomorrow.

I'll be back...