Uh-oh 
Monday, March 28, 2005
And, the debate update on CNN
Gosh, its going to be a rather tough week ahead. For starters, the St Thom vs St Mary debate is up next Friday which means, at best, we have two days to let Garrick prepare. And the tension is unbearable! There's rumours that their third speaker, Jylene is damn good at rebuttals, but then again other people i asked said she stutters like hell. Which is good. And the there's the news that they have a form 1 speaker in the lines, which would be most embarrasing if we lost. i mean, we're like veterans compared to form 1s. Lets see, our overall strenghts and weaknesses that suit us to our roles:
1st speaker: Garrick Yeo. Able to capture and charm the judges with a voice that is, to say the least, amazingly clear. Does very good first impressions.
2nd speaker: Aaron Zachary. The most charismatic and experienced among us. Able to create speeches that are often bulletproof, without any chance for POIs.
3rd speaker: Me. Viciously sarcastic during debate. Tends to cry in reaction to pressure. Not bad at rebuttals, if i do say so myself. =D
Okay then. I think i've managed to calm myself down. We're pretty okay, team wise. Just need more experience.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Drama Woes, at the eve of Good Friday
The drama team's really got it hard these days. It's next Wednesday that the actual competition is held, amd they just started three days ago. They are in a very serious disadvantage. And what's worse is that everybody's expecting St Thomas to release yet another critically aclaimed, award winning, great, cool, amazing (add other great adjective) drama for the competition. We've been winners for two years, and everybody connected to the school's proud of it, especially the OTA. The script this year, unfortunately, sucks. Even St Mary's got better preparation than us.
I do hope we win.
Friday, March 18, 2005
Hols are cool. A breath of fresh air. A solitary ray of sunshine. Oww. Stop it.
The holidays this time were perfect. It gave me enough time to do homework, enough time to dust off the projects i was head of, and to just sit back and relax. And chat. And sleep late. And wake up even later.
Sigh.
The slouch in me was very satisfied. My schedule was simple:
- Wake up.
- Go back to sleep
- Drool over pillow
- Wake up, disgusted with self
- Go downstairs ala zombie
- Eat
- Stare into space
- Go back upstairs
- Do homework
- Do homework
- Do homework
- Eat lunch
- Do homework
- Do homework
- Do homework (obviously, the repition here stresses how stupid homework is. At this rate i'll waste half my life doing add maths)
- Turn on com
- Come alive
- Chat
- Chat
- Chat
- Chat
- Chat
- Chat
- Chat (obviously, the repition here stresses how important chatting is to my non existant life. Okay. I'm kidding. Surfing is more important. So is swimming)
I'm a very fascinating creature. *rolls eyes*
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Birth order psychology
While doing research for my English aural exam (for the daft SPM), i stumbled across this. Check it out. Found here
It is fascinating to look at the similarities and differences between children in families according to the perspective of birth order.
A first born child is in a revered but somewhat difficult position in his or her family. They are often burdened by exceedingly high parental expectations particularly if they are boys. For a time they are only children who gain undivided attention from their parents and even grandparents. Their every move is under scrutiny. A quick check of most family photo albums will probably show twice as many photos of a first born than any other child - particularly when they were babies and toddlers.
The first born position is almost regal and worth preserving. The arrival of a second alters this idyllic situation so first borns often spend a great deal of their time and energy demonstrating their ascendency over others. “Look mum he’s being naughty again†is often the first borns anthem as they go to great lengths to show parents how much better than younger siblings they can be.
First borns are also trail-blazers for the siblings that follow. They are continually taking their parents into new ground - breaking them in for the benefit of the others who follow. Many children complain that their parents are often stricter and more anxious about raising first borns than they are with the children that follow.
The youngest child, particularly when there are three or more children, has a favoured position in the family. Unburdened by the high expectations that many parents have for their eldest children many youngest experience greater success than their siblings or they will make their mark in life in a very individualistic way.
Many have greater freedom than their elder siblings as their parents tend to be less anxious about their development and provide them with more space and opportunity to go their own way, than was given to elder siblings.
As the youngest in a family of four I had far greater freedom than any of my siblings. My parents admitted that they had learned from experience which of my childhood and adolescent behaviours they should ignore and those that they should pick up. To put it mildy I had a good time of it at home.
Recently, an old family friend put my favoured treatment more bluntly. “You were spoiled rotten when you were young. You had everything your own way,†she reminded me. That is often the way for the youngest!
And some parents have difficulty letting go of their youngest child. We usually can’t wait to let our eldest stand on their own two feet however we have a habit of holding our youngest back. Many youngest children complain that even as adults their parents still refer to them as the baby of the family.
Second born children are often born into a competitive atmosphere, due to the pressure exerted by the eldest. Second-borns often adopt behaviours and characteristics that are the exact opposite of the first-born. Often when a first-born is cooperative and pleasant, the second will may be the trouble-maker. At least everyone knows he or she is around. Or if the eldest is the academic the second-born may be the sportsperson or excel in the arts. The second-borns are often the black sheep of their families choosing to make their mark in unconventional ways.
Only children spend much of their early years in the company of adults, so it is not surprising that they often develop characteristics that please their elders. Sometimes precocious, sometimes pampered, only children often prefer their own company and have little trouble keeping themselves occupied. They can also carry the entire weight of their parents’expectations which can be a burden to carry around.
The wider impact of a person’s birth order is often underestimated. There is significant evidence to suggest that family position influences career paths and even our choice of life-time partner. Anecdotal evidence suggests the number of first-borns who hold positions of responsibility and power in both community settings and within the workplace is greater than second borns or other positions.
When choosing a partner for life birth order may be a more accurate indicator of compatability than a horoscope. I suspect there is a large number of first born women with experience caring for younger siblings as children who have married a youngest born who is just looking for a mothering type. A little research among the people around you will reveal that such notions are not as far-fetched as they might sound.
Originally written by Michael Grouse
It is fascinating to look at the similarities and differences between children in families according to the perspective of birth order.
A first born child is in a revered but somewhat difficult position in his or her family. They are often burdened by exceedingly high parental expectations particularly if they are boys. For a time they are only children who gain undivided attention from their parents and even grandparents. Their every move is under scrutiny. A quick check of most family photo albums will probably show twice as many photos of a first born than any other child - particularly when they were babies and toddlers.
The first born position is almost regal and worth preserving. The arrival of a second alters this idyllic situation so first borns often spend a great deal of their time and energy demonstrating their ascendency over others. “Look mum he’s being naughty again†is often the first borns anthem as they go to great lengths to show parents how much better than younger siblings they can be.
First borns are also trail-blazers for the siblings that follow. They are continually taking their parents into new ground - breaking them in for the benefit of the others who follow. Many children complain that their parents are often stricter and more anxious about raising first borns than they are with the children that follow.
The youngest child, particularly when there are three or more children, has a favoured position in the family. Unburdened by the high expectations that many parents have for their eldest children many youngest experience greater success than their siblings or they will make their mark in life in a very individualistic way.
Many have greater freedom than their elder siblings as their parents tend to be less anxious about their development and provide them with more space and opportunity to go their own way, than was given to elder siblings.
As the youngest in a family of four I had far greater freedom than any of my siblings. My parents admitted that they had learned from experience which of my childhood and adolescent behaviours they should ignore and those that they should pick up. To put it mildy I had a good time of it at home.
Recently, an old family friend put my favoured treatment more bluntly. “You were spoiled rotten when you were young. You had everything your own way,†she reminded me. That is often the way for the youngest!
And some parents have difficulty letting go of their youngest child. We usually can’t wait to let our eldest stand on their own two feet however we have a habit of holding our youngest back. Many youngest children complain that even as adults their parents still refer to them as the baby of the family.
Second born children are often born into a competitive atmosphere, due to the pressure exerted by the eldest. Second-borns often adopt behaviours and characteristics that are the exact opposite of the first-born. Often when a first-born is cooperative and pleasant, the second will may be the trouble-maker. At least everyone knows he or she is around. Or if the eldest is the academic the second-born may be the sportsperson or excel in the arts. The second-borns are often the black sheep of their families choosing to make their mark in unconventional ways.
Only children spend much of their early years in the company of adults, so it is not surprising that they often develop characteristics that please their elders. Sometimes precocious, sometimes pampered, only children often prefer their own company and have little trouble keeping themselves occupied. They can also carry the entire weight of their parents’expectations which can be a burden to carry around.
The wider impact of a person’s birth order is often underestimated. There is significant evidence to suggest that family position influences career paths and even our choice of life-time partner. Anecdotal evidence suggests the number of first-borns who hold positions of responsibility and power in both community settings and within the workplace is greater than second borns or other positions.
When choosing a partner for life birth order may be a more accurate indicator of compatability than a horoscope. I suspect there is a large number of first born women with experience caring for younger siblings as children who have married a youngest born who is just looking for a mothering type. A little research among the people around you will reveal that such notions are not as far-fetched as they might sound.
Originally written by Michael Grouse
Peter Pan's got it good
Its hard to believe that in exactly one year and 3 months i'll lose all my freinds, probably never to see them again.
Oh, why? Form 5.
So soon i'll soon be going to have to choose which college, U or course i'll be heading for. But i know i'll be in form 6 first. Yeah. Stupid. But i have to please my mum. She has this thing about wanting me to choose my vocation when i'm matured enough. She doesn't know i already have that it mind. And you know what? It doesn't involve academics. I'm matured enough in that way, with a healthy (or unhealthy, whichever way you look at it) dose of idependence. But that's just me, i guess. I wonder about all the other generations of people leaving school and heading into unchartered waters.
I suddenly feel for them, partly because i'll be feeling the same way for myself very soon.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Pre-prepared replies
One of the basic things I do (or you can, too) is to say "Coz i'm lazy" everytime someone asks you about one of your descisions. Like when asked about why i don't gel my hair anymore i say:
"Coz i'm lazy."
Whereas the real reason would be that i'm tired of being afraid that girls would catch me gell-less. I know frens who just can't be without spikes around girls. I was like that ..... once. No more. I guess quirks die when your self-confidence grows. I don't really care what the opposite sex thinks of me now, mainly because i haven't found one i like, soul wise. Pity really. Crushes are fun.
And when my former BB officer asked me why i quit, i said (you guessed it):
"Coz i'm lazy."
That's unfortunately partly true. The other part is that all the guys there suck ego-wise. Tsk tsk. I should stop wearing my heart on my sleeve.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Thursday, March 03, 2005
First debate. First time i did a sarcastic impersonation of a girl in front of judges, to the horror of my debate teacher.
My knees were shaking. So shaking. The audience were laughing, but i didn't realise why until my speech was over. I knew for a fact that they were staring at below my waist but i wasn't sure what at. Was my zip opened? i asked myself..... after all, i had entered the girls toilet minutes before the actual thing (if i hadn't i probably would have burst, and not received the slap on the shoulder from Andy)
And there was that moment when i went (i had to stare at the floor) "Honey, remember to wear your clothes" in a high pitched octave to punctuate my point that the government wasn't a daycare for youths as in National Service. Kevin and Aaron (1st and 2nd speaker, respectively) began banging their heads against the opposition table. Cikgu Orlinda had her mouth hanging open, saying that she thought i was joking when i suggested that during training. Kenny and Paul went crazy. Its so nice to be sarcastic, sometimes. Too bad the judges didn't understand what i was saying. Probably thought i went crazy for a moment.
I was floating on air for the next few days, only to be brought back down from my helium induced high with a nice, sharp announcement from Cikgu Orlinda:"The next friendly is against St Mary. And the girls always win" Oh dear. Immunity can be an asset then.
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