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Saturday, August 29, 2009
A busy week has flew past. Common test week has been an adrenaline-pumping 5 days. For once, my math tests didn't bring me down to my knees. Took my English Comprehension test this Friday, I can only keep my fingers crossed. And while my Chinese test results weren't exactly bad, but I was expecting better. Scored high marks throughout the paper but was brought down by 3 MCQ questions which slashed away 6 marks. Do I sound overly ambitious? I hope not. Just that I didn't want to feel as if all my late-night sleeping had gone to waste.
Tests aside... Oh yea, did anyone know that the German plural of 'tests' is 'testes'? I confirmed it once with Shahir, the only German Language student in our school. That was somehow random, just thought of it suddenly... Forgive my crudeness. But anyway, the week's significance held more than just test(e)s alone. It seemed an unlikely week for life lessons, but it happened.
Want of recognition
Not many of us are willing to set upon a task without desiring credit for our work. We study hard so that we could get high marks and to earn that look of admiration. No? "No, we study so we gain knowledge." Bullshit. Humble pie isn't easily edible. Even Mr Sam agrees that it's only natural that a person can get very arrogant after several successes. It's the matter of controlling it. Now, these are those who succeed. What about those who don't but want to? Note that I'm not just talking about academics alone. Jealousy sets in, and that in turn spurs healthy competition. Or does it?
I'm sure the feeling of feeling ignored and isolated even after putting in much effort isn't foreign to most of us. That's what I meant by 'want of recognition'. It's that depressing feeling that what you do doesn't matter to anyone else. Depressing indeed. And the solution would be to aim towards that goal with a different approach, a more noticeable approach which would earn yourself more reputation. To achieve this, some criticise others and put them down so that themselves can feel superior, even if it's just an illusion. Some are orthodox and continue to improve themselves through hard work. While there's the final type who confronts their worst rivals up straight by coercing or intimidation, this is due to their feelings of indignance. I've seen and interacted with all three types of people, and yet it isn't at all times pleasant. However, no matter how others treat you, doesn't mean that you have to be affected by it. Keep yourself in high spirits, and the other party's purpose would be defeated.
Finally, how come I said that this had something to do with what happened this week? We were required to study a chapter in our chinese textbook, whereby the author of that short story was one who despised all others and felt that they carried an intolerable number of flaws. The revelation came when she realised that she, may not have been that perfect after all. One line in the story sums it all, "你，如果做不成伟人，至少也可以像我那样敲敲蛤蜊，学会做个友善的人。“ If you can't gain recognition through achievements, recognition does come through the form of having happy relations as well.
Jealousy
Earlier on, I mentioned 'jealousy'. I don't know about you all, but this word strikes dislike in me. It means that instead of feeling delighted for a fellow human who has done well, you feel hate for someone who has done you no harm except did something which you could not do. In fact, this word strikes an ugly truth in most of us. Something so distasteful that I felt it was neccessary for this to deserve a whole topic title on its own. God knows how many murders, how many schemes have been plotted, and how many relationships broken based on this alone. What makes it worse that jealousy is only often a product of misunderstandings. Causing unneccessary harm. An emotion so powerful cannot be so effortlessly tamed...
Teacher's Day is coming. A whole harem of great teachers await our thanks, and I better start thinking of what gifts to get for certain teachers.
Tests aside... Oh yea, did anyone know that the German plural of 'tests' is 'testes'? I confirmed it once with Shahir, the only German Language student in our school. That was somehow random, just thought of it suddenly... Forgive my crudeness. But anyway, the week's significance held more than just test(e)s alone. It seemed an unlikely week for life lessons, but it happened.
Want of recognition
Not many of us are willing to set upon a task without desiring credit for our work. We study hard so that we could get high marks and to earn that look of admiration. No? "No, we study so we gain knowledge." Bullshit. Humble pie isn't easily edible. Even Mr Sam agrees that it's only natural that a person can get very arrogant after several successes. It's the matter of controlling it. Now, these are those who succeed. What about those who don't but want to? Note that I'm not just talking about academics alone. Jealousy sets in, and that in turn spurs healthy competition. Or does it?
I'm sure the feeling of feeling ignored and isolated even after putting in much effort isn't foreign to most of us. That's what I meant by 'want of recognition'. It's that depressing feeling that what you do doesn't matter to anyone else. Depressing indeed. And the solution would be to aim towards that goal with a different approach, a more noticeable approach which would earn yourself more reputation. To achieve this, some criticise others and put them down so that themselves can feel superior, even if it's just an illusion. Some are orthodox and continue to improve themselves through hard work. While there's the final type who confronts their worst rivals up straight by coercing or intimidation, this is due to their feelings of indignance. I've seen and interacted with all three types of people, and yet it isn't at all times pleasant. However, no matter how others treat you, doesn't mean that you have to be affected by it. Keep yourself in high spirits, and the other party's purpose would be defeated.
Finally, how come I said that this had something to do with what happened this week? We were required to study a chapter in our chinese textbook, whereby the author of that short story was one who despised all others and felt that they carried an intolerable number of flaws. The revelation came when she realised that she, may not have been that perfect after all. One line in the story sums it all, "你，如果做不成伟人，至少也可以像我那样敲敲蛤蜊，学会做个友善的人。“ If you can't gain recognition through achievements, recognition does come through the form of having happy relations as well.
Jealousy
Earlier on, I mentioned 'jealousy'. I don't know about you all, but this word strikes dislike in me. It means that instead of feeling delighted for a fellow human who has done well, you feel hate for someone who has done you no harm except did something which you could not do. In fact, this word strikes an ugly truth in most of us. Something so distasteful that I felt it was neccessary for this to deserve a whole topic title on its own. God knows how many murders, how many schemes have been plotted, and how many relationships broken based on this alone. What makes it worse that jealousy is only often a product of misunderstandings. Causing unneccessary harm. An emotion so powerful cannot be so effortlessly tamed...
Teacher's Day is coming. A whole harem of great teachers await our thanks, and I better start thinking of what gifts to get for certain teachers.
