Friday, August 03, 2007

Question 1:

CASE SCENARIO I

You are a student in Mdm D class and though you weren't exactly interested in what she says, you still pay attention all the same. You weren't particularly diligent in this subject but when encountering abstract concepts, you will try all means and ask her. In your opinion, despite her pronounciation flaws, she's not too bad a teacher. You are not the pet in her class but you aren't notorious either so you thought you are quite safe. However, on a clear fine morning after lecture, your ex-classmates reveal to you that Mdm D had went to Mr C, your form teacher, complaining that you aren't interested in her class. Now half the people knows that you aren't focussing for that subject and you are totally nonplussed.

CASE SCENARIO II

After the previous episode, you decided that you shall SHOW her that you are paying attention. You simply attributed the accuse Mdm D had pinned on you to how you were born like. You forgive her for she can't understand that a student can be listening even though his/her face looks to be in a dream or in short, sian. And then you try to perform well in the subject so that you can get the A you want even though it was a subject that failers extended infinitely. One day, during tutorial, she came in waving a list in her hand announcing that it contained the names of those who had marginally passed the CA. After tutorial, you waited along with your friends who wanted to confirm that they had passed the CA. When the rest of the class had emptied the room, your friends approached her and you (jolly well knew that you had passed the CA) decided to be autistic for once and so, you busied yourself with the whiteboard that was conveniently near. Suddenly, your name was mentioned and you turn to hear the teacher say that your friend had scored better than you for the lecture quiz. You feel totally fine with it and other than giving a surprised look (which you're expected to), you said nothing and returned to the doodling. Three days later, you heard from your friends in other class that Mdm D had mentioned your name. To your aghast, she said that your reaction was "Really arh?!" when she said that someone on the list had scored better than you. Unfortunately you are on the DHL and trouble comes knocking no matter how hard you'd tried to stay away from the limelight. And now a dozen of dunces is going to walk off thinking that you are those 'kiasu' type that can't stand being the 2nd best. Then you think: There are so many others on the DHL but why are you the one that was pinpointed specifically by Mdm D in a situation that was apparently none of your business.


(a) State 3 reasons why 'you' find yourself in such a situation.

1. I was just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
2. I have a quality in me that she can't see eye to eye with.
3. She couldn't come to terms with the fact that I'm a DHL student (as in how can a slacker be good academic-wise).


(b) Suggest 3 solutions to get yourself out of this situation.

1. Confront Mdm D and request her to clear the misunderstanding. (Tempting as much as it's risky)
2. Approach Mr. C and tell him about this and what you're trying to do. (You're going to work on how not to sound like you're whining)
3. Let this matter go. (And I'm going to feel terrible for weeks)


(c) In your opinion, do you think this is a serious problem?

No. It's a problem but not considered 'serious'. However, this problem is going to be a hate factor that's going to nurture if not eliminated.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Mirror Then, Mirror Now

I couldn't count the number of times I had been disappointed by members of my own species.

I guess it's just like a perfect and shiny mirror at first, where you can see your reflection so clearly and the world reflected off it was pretty without lies. However, when the first disappointment hits, a crack forms at the edge, chipping a part of the mirror. It's okay too, the mirror is still pretty even though there's a flaw now. And then when the second disappointment lands like a rock upon the shiny surface, another corner of your not-so-perfect mirror gets broken. You make a decision then, promising that someday someone will come fix it for you.

We all know things aren't always perfect and before that 'someone' comes along, the third object comes about and unlike the others, it made a big fracture right in the middle of the surface, marking its arrival along with some scratches on areas that are still intact. Again and again, setbacks and failures appear one by one on your mirror before that 'someone' appeared.

Along the way, you finally realised that your mirror has become so broken that no one can fix it. Yes, you can still see your own reflection in the badly scarred mirror but it's no longer the same as once before. You can also see the world through the mirror but what remains is the cracked perspective of the outside world.

And so, you know the mirror is no longer perfect and you decided that you can do without it. You wrapped the mirror with yellowish newspaper and with one swift movement, you swung it down the rubbish chute. A muffled thud resonates a few seconds later and satisfied, you thought you have gotten rid of that lousy mirror for good. You thought you could lead a new life with a brand new and better mirror.

Just as you contemplate on which new mirror to get, a nagging pain on your arm demanded your attention. To your shock, you see a gash on your arm, small but deep enough to leave a scar. It reminded you of the mirror. If it isn't enough, it also reminded you of those nasty objects that had hit it.

Eventually, the wound heal but the scar remains. One look at the scar and you think off those disappointments that had never really left your memory. They didn't just hurt your skin but they emblazoned themselves into your soul. And you know your trust for people that are the stem of these are halved.

And now, how many scars do you think you have up till this moment?