3rd day of 2009 already... I guess it's time for my belated reflections on the year 2008, plus maybe a little personal advice from myself to the juniors who read my blog. So, this will be yet another long post.
It was a year that passed rather quickly. I didn't believe that it would, no matter how seniors tell me it will. I believed it to be a slow torturous journey that we will be walking through all the way till our O levels. I guess i was wrong. =X Starting of the year was of much lamenting; everyone in the level is complaining about how we're going to die in Secondary 4. I wonder is it a trend to give comprehension for us the Secondary 4 students to do on the first day. Ours wasn't collected; i think only those in Mr Heng's class was collected. I didn't really bothered much before Prelim 1; i cared more about NCC Air instead. Probably that explains why i got an L1R5 of like 19 for Prelim 1. Nevertheless, i was not even called up for Parent-Teacher Meeting. There's way too many 20+ and 30+ people for the teachers to cater to. (No offence)
We had a change of teacher after Prelim 1. Our Mr Lawrence Tan aka Mario aka HB (not going to say what HB stands for) went to teach Secondary 3 instead, as Mr LHB feels that we need a more experience teacher. Too bad for him. So in came Mrs Tina Tang - much better then who Warren got already. On the NCC Air part, there was this sudden thing about PDS. John and I requested for 2 broken rifles that
we I fixed to be placed in the store, and we got what we wanted. Somehow Beng Heng got into the picture, and together with John, they started practising during training. I couldn't really do that, since most of the time I am soloing the Part Bs then. I had few contact with the rifle - only could touch it outside training time, but i still managed rotation. I was left with much regrets that i didn't watch videos and learnt more advanced drills when it was time for POP. No more rifles.
I remember how i continued to go back to training, despite people saying that I'm crazy or other countless comments. I remember how disappointed i was when i saw the standard of the Part Bs 08 dropped. I remember what happened to me on the second night of last year's annual camp. It's way scary. After June, it was endless days of going school when the sky is dark, and coming back when it's also dark. Those days went by so quickly; we were too used to it already. I didn't have time to step back into their training already. Prelim 3 was the catalyst. My L1R5 dropped from Prelim 2's 11 to 13. I was even more devastated when people around me were expecting I would do much better. That marked the start of visiting Woodlands Library often.
I think that's more of a flashback then reflection. It's kind of nice to read my own blog's archives - to see how i crap. LOL. Many things evoked a sense of nostalgia in me. Memories... =X
Now for the advice for the NCC Air juniors...
Secondary 4Don't fret over how this year will be. The more you are afraid of the O levels, the worse you would do. From what i think, the stress from the school pushes you well enough already, so don't keep scaring yourself. Don't be afraid to ask the teachers for help as well. Our school caters to the Secondary 4 students really well, and the Secondary 4 level will be always given priority. For now, put in your best for both NCC and your studies. Don't pass out leaving any regrets of your life in NCC Air. After you pass out, lesson time will be revising already. So you will have enough time to prepare. Jiayou and all the best for your O levels! xD
Secondary 3This year would be a major change for you guys. I almost couldn't take it when i was promoted to Secondary 3. My OAL days were crap. I come back from Sec 2 camp not even knowing who are my teachers. At least now there's some changes to the dates of Sec 2 camp so that you guys would not have to miss much of lessons. As i have told those who have come for the training on Friday, it's the last year for you people to rest. When you take over as NCOs, especially top 5, you'll feel that suddenly everything changes. You no longer wait for instructions and then carry them out, you are the one giving instructions. I guess it'll be a challenge for you to balance between NCC Air and your studies, and even a greater challenge if your parents have high expectations of you academically. I have said what i wanted to say already. If you go all out for your studies, you may lost the motivation in Secondary 4. In Secondary 3, mostly is all learning. When you proceed to Secondary 4, it's mostly revising. After you pass out, you have plenty of time to revise. However, it's still up to you ultimately; just don't leave any regrets when you pass out. Remember, DON'T EVER FAIL ANYTHING. Like this, you won't retain. Cheers! xD
Secondary 2Your streaming year is here - a year that you'll have to make choices. What are you aiming for? Triple science? Double science? What post you aiming for? All this should be in your head, and then start working on it. Most importantly, stay bonded as a part. It's always not easy to do things alone, but when you work for it together, you'll get there much easier. I don't have much advise for you all actually. I was fooling around during my Secondary 2 year - even getting like 20+ position in class. I ended up in double science in the end though. From what i think, it doesn't really matters how many sciences you take. It's only the L1R5 that matters in the end. However, a word of caution, in order to study a particular science in JC, you need to study it for O levels, so make your choices wisely. xD
That shall end my long winded post. I started typing the first word at around 6pm, and now it's like 12.07am already. Even i change the timing also cannot. LOL. Don't be mistaken, I'm not always typing though. That explains why i took so long. A thousand plus words only; maybe it can become a sample Commonwealth essay? Haha.
Staying happy is the best health product ever.All the best! xD
10:43:00 pm