Hindsight

Reflection in the water

Reflection is like a retrospective exhibition of a person's work. You can praise the work if it is laudable, disdain it if his work is really folly or despicable. However, no matter what you do, what he did can not be undone.

My life, hence, can be liken as a ponderous piece of work. It looks like a placid lake water, occasionally rippled by the wind of release of 'o' level result and end-year examination.

The greatest lesson I have learnt recently is that no life partner = shame. Also, girls ought to have an intimate boy friend by the age of 25 while boys should have a girl friend by 30. Otherwise, it means you are 'tak laku'(Malay, meaning no demand). If a relative is actively introducing a potential spouse to you, you should give it a try without hesitation. (Quoted from XXXXXXX)

The greatest achievement of this year is that I do not have a girl friend in my first year in JC. Perhaps you are wondering now what is so great about it. Hereby, I will give you an explanation from my XXXXXX's XXXXXX's XXXXXX. For a student, particularly boy who is still dependent on financial support from his parents, having an intimate girl friend means wasting his parents' $$$$. It is very 'O Dio' (Hakka, meaning being of a wastrel). Since I have no girlfriend throughout this year, I am not 'O Dio' and this achievement can be considered making my parents proud, too.

I have learnt many different perspective towards life and also methodical and systematic management skills while handling things from my influential buddies and close relatives. However, as the chinese proverb (again) says, "Change a person's inherent quality is much more difficult than to shift the mountain and river." I am still the same person today and also for tomorrow.

Although many things have gone through my life this year, my outlook and perspective on things do not change. This is because I believe "what you reap is what you sow. Determination rules all." Fantastic perspective of future without practical action is quivalent to be an armchair strategist. (Quoted from Kornylsky)

“In no more than 500 words, tell me about the activities and interests which you believe best represent the values and beliefs you hold strongly to.”

This question is rather difficult for me, a person who does not holding any strong value. However, I managed to come out with a value which I deem I have shown a bit of it somehow.

I uphold the value of integrity in terms of personal, commercial and intellectual characteristics, for this value is essential in developing a positive relationship with people. A man of integrity will not break his promise, nor does he always lie to exploit others.

The value of integrity can not be represented by a single specific activity but it can be reflected when doing a group project. Despite of a strong dislike of group project work in our curriculum, I will always be involved in group work, striking for the best performance for our group. For instance, I made my way to Singapore shortly after receiving a notification from my group member that an interview was to be arranged in the next morning. In the preparation of oral presentation, I also spent hours to complete the slides as I had promised even though I was sick.
As for the PBL, I contacted Iris, who assigned me some important but difficult tasks, before leaving for KL. Yet, it was possible for me to leave Singapore surreptitiously and let my group members to do the job.

People, more or less, are cynical; they trust only those who appear to be friendly and trustworthy. Therefore, society is infested by friendly-looking villain and trustworthy-looking swindler. As a Chinese proverb says, “Time reveals a person's heart", those who live in the disguise of integrity will eventually be discarded by their community.