Emotional Outburst...

Today, I had an emotional outburst. No kidding.

I went for Higher Chinese 'O' level invigilation at Hwa Chong Institution (formely known as The Chinese High School). Well, I was assigned to invigilate class 4B for around 30 mins in all.

As I was standing in class 4B at the clock tower block, I was overwhelmed with emotions. 10 years ago, I was in this same exact classroom taking some of my 'O' level exams (I took the rest in the school hall).

How time flies. 10 years ago, I was a student. Now, I'm a teacher doing invigilation. I could almost feel tears in my eyes.

After doing invigilation, I managed to meet up with my ex-Sec. 4 Chinese teacher, Mr. Tan Yew Keng for lunch. It's really amazing how much he can still remember about my class. He taught me in 1997. And now, he can still remember who is my form teacher, and who are my other subject teachers.

He told me, "Shijiang, when you teach students, you need to teach them with your heart."

Yes, I will do my best and teach my students with my heart, and not just upload infomation into them.

"Above all, teach them moral values. Teach them character.", Mr. Tan went on.

I realised that I really believe in what he says (even before he told me today). I don't want to bring up students who are successful in society, but are filled with character flaws and have no integrity.

Come on, some of you may think that Mr. Tan is some super-old teacher or something. No. He's not. He's only in his late 30s.

I thank God for placing me in The Chinese High School when I was young. He allowed me to meet great teachers who have shaped my life - Mr. Tan and Miss Mok (my ex-form and Chemistry teacher).

And after speaking to Mr. Tan, it has further affirmed me that I need to continue to be firm & strict with my students in RI. I'm not teaching Physics. I'm teaching students. Future leaders who are going to shape the nation.

I must dare to be unpopular at times.

My Life Journey Part 5 - 98S33

After considering VJC (20 min away from my home) and HCJC (45 min), I eventually settled for the more obvious choice. I decided to go to a place where all my friends are. I chose with my heart and not my mind.

Hwa Chong JC is a very different place from The Chinese High. One obvious reason would be that there are girls around. Having being in a boys' school for 4 years, surprisingly, I can still get along with my female classmates.

Being a more Science than Arts person, I chose double maths (C.Maths & F.Maths) and double science (Physics & Chemistry).

98S33. That's my class.

We had a Orientation Camp right at the start of school. It was organised by the Students' Council. The camp was fantastic. Though we were hit with mud and ketchup, dirty beyond reason, my class bonded together really well. And hence, we were quite close. We even had class outings within a short span of time.

After the camp, I made an important decision. I decided to serve the school as a Students' Councillor. To do that, I had to go for elections. My JC classmates helped me come up with simple tokens to get the students to vote for me. My ex-classmates from The Chinese High did a banner with me. My slogan was "No one is more willing to serve you than me."

Yes, I made it. I was elected. But I know that I wouldn't have made it if not for my JC classmates and ex-classmates. I'm really thankful for them. They have made a difference in my election campaign.

And hence, my life in JC totally changed after I was elected.

Always be thankful for your friends. Especially those that stood by you in times of need. You can also choose to stand by your friends when they need you. I think there's more joy in the latter case.

Do You Have a Life?

About a week ago or two, my cell group brothers and I came together and played the "Game of Life". It's a rather interesting boardgame.

Features of the game:

1) You have to get a job.

2) You have to get married.

3) You have to buy a house.


Here are our photos..

My Life Journey Part 4 - The Hidden Side

When I was in secondary school, I have a side of me that not many people know. Except my NPCC-mates.

I think it all started when I'm Sec 2. Every time, after NPCC training on Fridays or Saturdays, my squadmates and I would go to the usual MacDonald's at KAP (King Albert's Park - the biggest Mac in S'pore) to have dinner. Or if we're tight on money, we will go to the the hawker centre at Beauty World.

After dinner, many of us would automatically make our way to the arcade centre either at Bukit Timah Plaza (the preferred one) or Beauty World. Then we would spend tokens and time and money at the machines. For me, I liked to play fighting games.

Almost every time, without fail, I would spend all my pocketmoney at the machines. Yes, literally down to the last cent.

These are the games that got me crazy (and addicted).

Marvel Super Heroes





X-men VS Streetfighter





Marvel Super Heroes VS Street Fighter





Marvel Super Heroes VS Capcom






Marvel Super Heroes VS Capcom 2






Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo

But seriously, I really don't know how much money and time I've wasted over arcade games. Every week, at least once or twice or even thrice, for a total of about 3 years.

Time is something that once you have wasted, it will never come back. I have wasted a significant part of my youth on arcade games.

Are you wasting your time doing something not worthwhile? Like addicted to online games such as Maple Story or DOTA?

Marina South Steamboat 14/10/07

Last Sunday, I went to Marina South for steamboat together with my cell group. Stephen's & Darren's cell & Weijie came along too. We had a really good time cooking all the crabs and prawns and other stuff. =)

Can You Identify with this ...?

I found this on the internet. If you can identify with a significant number of this, you must be quite near my age. I wonder if youths today can even identify with any one at all. It just shows how much Singapore has changed.

I can identify with 40/50 things. What about you? =D

1. You grew up watching He-man, Transformers, Silver hawk and Mickey Mouse. Not to forget, Ninja turtles and Smurfs too. (That's me!)

2. You grew up brushing your teeth with a mug in Primary school during recess time. You will squat by a drain with all your classmates beside you, and brush your teeth with a coloured mug. The teachers said you must brush each side 10 times too.(That's me!)

3. You know what's Bin(1) Fen(1) Ba(1) San(1) is all about. (That's me!)

4. You know what SBC stands for. (That's me!)

5. You were there when the first chinese serial, the Awakening was shown on TV. (That's me!)

6. Internet? What the heck is that? (That's me!

7. You find your friends with pagers cool in Secondary school (handphones don't exist). (That's me!)

8. SBS buses used to be non-airconditioned. The bus seats are made of wood and the cushion is red! The big red bell gives a loud BEEEP! when pressed.There are colourful tickets for TIBS buses. The conductor will check for tickets by using a machine which punches a hole on the ticket. (That's me!)

9. Your favourite actor and actress is Huang Wenyong and Xiangyun. Next is Lee Nanxing and Zoe Tay and the Aiyoyo woman. (That's me!)

10. You've probably read Young Generation magazine. You know who's Vinny the little vampire and Acai the constable. (That's me!)

11. You were there when they first introduced MRT here. You went for the first ride with your parents and you would kneel on the seat to see the scenery. (Not me)

12. Movie tickets used to cost only $3.50. (That's me!)

13. Gals are fascinated by Strawberry Short Cake and Barbie Dolls. (That's me!)

14. You learn to laugh like The Count in Sesame Street.(Not me)

15. You longed to buy tibits called Kaka(20 cents per pack) and Ding Dang(50 cents per box), that had a toy in it and it changes every week not forgetting the 15 cents animal crackers and the ring pop, where the lollipop is the diamond on the ring. (That's me!)

16. You watched TV2 (also known as Channel 10) cartoons because Channel 5 never had enough cartoons for you. (That's me!)

17. All that you know about Cantonese is from the Hong Kong serials you watched on TV2.(Not me)

18. Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, The Three Investigators, Famous Five and Secret Seven are probably the thickest story books you ever thought you have read. Even SweetValley High and Malory Towers.(Not me)

19. Civics and Moral Education was “Hao3 Gong1 Min2”. (That's me!)

20. KFC used to be a high class restaurant that serve food in plates and let you use metal forks and knives. (That's me!)

21. The most vulgar thing you said was asshole and idiot and THE MOST EXTREME WAS 'super white'...you just couldn't bring yourself to say the hokkien relative.(Not me)

22. Catching was the IN thing and twist the magic word. (That's me!)

23. Your English workbooks was made of some damn poor quality paper that was smooth and yellow. (That's me!)

24. CDIS was your best friend. (That's me!)

25. The only computer lessons in school involved funny pixellised characters in 16 colours walking about trying to teach you maths. (That's me!)

26. Waterbottles were slinged around your neck and a must everywhere you go. (That's me!)

27. Boys loved to play soccer with small tennis balls in the basketball court or play something that uses tennis ball to hit other players known as “HUM TAM BOLA” during recess /after school. (That's me!)

28. Hopskotch, five stones,chateh and zero point were all the rage with the girls and boys too... (That's me!)

29. Science was fun with the balsam and the angsana being the most important plants of our lives. (That's me!)

30. Who can forget Ahmad, Bala, Sumei and John, eternalized in our minds from the textbooks. Even Mr Wally. (That's me!)

31. You did stupid exercises like seal crawl and frog jumps. (That's me!)

32. Every children's day and national day you either get pins or pens with 'Happy Children's Day 1993' or dumb files with 'Happy National Day 1994'. (That's me!)

33. In Primary six you had to play buddy for the younger kids like big sister and brother.(Not me)

34. Chinese teachers were always old, boring and damn fierce looking.(Not me)

35. Your form teacher taught you maths, science and english.(Not me)

36. The worksheets were made of brown rough paper of poor quality. (That's me!)

37. You went to school in slippers and a raincoat when it rained, and you find a dry spot in the school to sit down, dry your feet, and wear your dry and warm socks and shoes.(Not me)

38. Famous Chinese singers were only Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok and Leon Lai. (That's me!)

39. School dismissal time was normally around 1 pm. (That's me!)

40. There would be spelling tests and mental sums to do almost everyday. (That's me!)

41. Your friends considered you lucky and rich if your parents gave you $3 or more for pocket money everyday. (That's me!)

42. During class gatherings, parents always tag along in case someone gets lost at Orchard Road.(Not me)

43. You freak out when the teacher tells you to line up according to height! and hold hands with the corresponding boy or girl.(Not me)

44. Handkerchiefs were a must for both genders. (That's me!)

45. Collecting notebooks and all kinds of stationery was a popular thing. (That's me!)

46. Autograph books were loaded with “Best Wishes”, “Forget Me Not”, and small poems like “Bird fly high, hard to catch. Friend like you, hard to forget”. (That's me!)

47. Class monitors and prefects loved to say “You talk somemore, I write your name ah!” (That's me!)

48. There were at least 40 people in one class. (That's me!)

49. Large, colourful schoolbags were carried. (That's me!)

50. You brought every single book to school, even though there was one thing called the timetable. (That's me!)

My Heart's Prayer

Early in the morning, I came across this Christian song (by Planetshakers) that bears the following lyrics. Let this be my prayer to Jesus today.

"If You can use anything,
Won't You use me.

Take me and break me
And mould and make me.

You died for me,
So I'm living for You

I'm living for You,
I'm living for You."

My Life Journey Part 3 - The Chinese High

I spent a significant part of my youth life at The Chinese High School. As mentioned before, what drew me to this school was its sheer size and good reputation. Every day, in order for me to travel to & fro the school, I need to spend at least 1.5 hours on the road. But I've never regretted it.

One of the main reasons was because I joined the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) as CCA. When I first joined the CCA, it was because I felt that the uniform looked smart. I didn't think so much. I didn't know what I was in for.

My squadmates & I went through 3 years of really really tough training. When I was in Sec. 1, we had to gather at the monkey bar every day after school. Our NCOs (officers) would meet us there and made sure that each of us cross the monkey bar a few times. As a result, our hands were always filled with blisters. Eventually, these blisters hardened and became hard skin.

Besides physical training, foot drill was also an essential part of our training. It's really crazy, marching up and down in the hot sun, doing amazing numbers of push-ups and sit-ups. The record number of sit-ups my squad did was 500. Crazy right?

So, the question is why didn't I quit the CCA? After all, some of my squadmates did left us & I don't see the purpose in all that tough training at all. 2 reasons that I can think of. Friends. And pride.

Friends
My squadmates and I began to form a bond, mainly because of shared experiences (shared sufferings to be exact). My closest friends till date, besides my church-mates, are all from The Chinese NPCC unit 1994 - 1997.

People like Lenin, Jianzhuang, Jingrong, Tianshen, Kaiyang and Junqiang all left footprints in my life. Every one of them had been a tremendous blessing to me personally. Even now, we still keep in contact.

Of course, there're many other squadmates who had also influenced me but I have kind of lost contact with them - Kangliang, Liangbing, Shukun, Shane, Marcus, Zhong Hui, Weiwen, Gim Teck, Ah Phua, Yunxi, Danny, Dalian and Junchao.


Pride
Even at that age, I hate giving up halfway. I preferred to endure the tough training and show people that I can make it. There was a lot of pride in me, and that sometimes caused me to do foolish things in the latter part of my life.

At the end of 4 years, I attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and was the Publications Chairman in the Executive Committee. I had the badges as shown below. More importantly, I made many many good friends, who had been with me throughout my life journey.

Don't give up. Persevere on in the things that you really believe in. We need this in every stage of our life.