aikjoon

Blame it on my last minute arrangement. The relative sounded so unhappy when I informed her about my abrupt decision that I could not make it this sunday. I do know that his exam is imminent and it falls on the day after my birthday. And I will not be so dumb to arrange it on a day after his exams. Am I such an idiot? Please, I would not want myself to be a sleeping zombie if I ever turn up on sunday for the tuition session. And I have decided to give up tuition when school starts; at least give up this particular assignment. Oh come on, uni exams will fall coincidentally or non-concidentally at this period. Its mid year exams for them but my final exams in the year. What? Expect myself to drag my feet to teach tuition when I need the time to probably mug for my exams? It sucks when I feel like I have owed them a hell lot if I make any inappropriate arrangement or I fail to turn up for a session.

Teaching is indeed a noble calling. And calling all the potential teachers out that, if you are not into teaching – forget about it. If teachers are good enough, would the students even need tuition?

Finally, I had the opportunity to visit the National Skin Centre for my foot infection and it had been confirmed that it was a fungal infection after a scraping test that cost $10 of which the process only included using a sharp metal to scratch the hell itch and observing the skin under a microscope. At least, after all the guesses and predictions by GPs who acted like they were some experts in dermatology, I was properly DIAGNOSED and explained about the exact infection. So there goes, antifungal pills for me for the next two weeks without any influence of alcohol. And the small white pills by Novartis are a rip off as one puny little teeny weeny pill costs the same as a plate of hawker center chicken rice. It’s just sick. Thank goodness there was government subsidy, if not this session would have been a daylight robbery. Which comes to the point if our local medical fees have become too high too intolerable. No wonder, the gray hair are always ranting that we should save more to pay off our inevitable medical bills.

I was observing the behaviour of my niece and I realise how sweet it is to be innocent. A child exudes this arua of naturalness and innocence. They do not think much before they comment on anything. They do not beat around the bush just to make a point. When they are happy, they show it. When they are angry, they display without regrets. Why? Why do adults always put up this facetious front to avoid hurting others or to please others? Why do some people seem so contrived? They are plain irritating whores. But. But this type of people has become ubiquitous. They are been perceived as the people who care about others and knowing the correct etiquettes. We seem to have been eluded by these perceptions and accepting pretence as a norm. I have conceded defeat.

And it’s all because I also realise the importance of political correctness.

Listening to the song just bring back memories I had for the past 20 years. I am glad that I am given the opportunity to just set foot on this beautiful world. Living is the sweetest thing on earth.

Scholarships are known as a good value add to one’s portfolio. Nowadays, there are so many scholarships available which are given out pretty frivoulously that the prestige of having a scholarship is lost. Exacerbating this situation is how shallow the interviews have become. Today, we have been debating about the need to be critical and creative thus the evolution of old fashioned interviews to the recent informal creative(?) interviews. How effective are interviews in selecting the creme de la creme in the first place? Aren’t interviews very much based on first impression? I applaud the selection interview style displayed by SMU. Nevetheless, amid the masses of scholarship applicants, it is really hard to offer a scholarship based on one’s cca records and academic records. Therefore, I would like to suggest a new method in deciding who is the most deserving for a scholarship. Scholarship administors can consider awarding provisional offers to potential scholars. Only after observations by the APs or full profs for a full year should the scholarship be conferred to the best student. Of course, academic achievements and extra curriculum involvement should be considered during the year of assessment. This is because I do not see much point in having a sole interview to decide which candidate should be offered the scholarship. A person who is dramatically inclined will undeniably be able to pull off the interview than others who are vocally more reserved. Inadvertently, if we carry on our present method of selection, we may see more scholars who are unable to perform up to the mark, or to put it curtly, ’scholars’ who only excel in self-marketing but lack the practical capabilities.

An article on Today reported that there is a demand for junior staff as the biomedical industry booms. While, a demand does not equate to a shortage of staff. We all know that there is a substantial number of life science graduates each year from NUS, NTU and even private colleges such as MDIS. We have not even included foreign graduates who decide to work in our multi-racial nation. It was pointed out that BSc and MSc graduates are needed for the posistions of junior staff and they have a fairly high starting pay of between $2500 to $3000. Indeed, the starting pay is considered high among an average graduate’s pay, however, how much career prospects do these junior staff have? Especially so when a junior scientist, note: junior scientist, needs to have a minimum qualification of Phd. In addition to that, Astar awards over 400 people scholarships and the first batch of 57 Phd scholars have already commenced work in the agency. Imagine that! With such limited opportunities in this field, would I still consider entering this field? At least, there are more prospects in becoming a teacher.  

For the record, the interview I had today lasted only a short 8 minutes. Amazing and shocking. I did not expect it to be that fast. There’s only one thing that I can conclude, that, they have actually not much interest in me. *ta da* Or maybe I only have myself to blame. Well, everyone says that being yourself is going to be the most important factor in sailing through the interview. But I beg to differ especially when we are talking about offers that are highly sought after. If I am just going to be the same old AJ during the interview, how will I be able to be different? How would they want to offer you something if you have nothing more interesting? Like what I previously said, when you are selected for an interview, all your previous achievements in any fields will not be any under considerations. It is how we put ourselves across during the interview that is much important. I cannot deny that de facto I had a real boring interview because there was nothing that I could make it interesting given my mood then. So, maybe that’s why the interview was so short and bitter. At least, I learnt that presenting yourself interestingly is of paramount importance. Come on who will fucking care what crap you have talked about during that ten over minutes. At least, they remember who you are. Way to go, man! Life is a learning journey. I will not falter under this disappointment. Life is too short to waste time on regrets.

Now, I am blasting my radio listening to MUSE. LOVE YOU! ”Starlight….”

And MC is on AI tonight. I will be glued to the TV then. 

The lyrics resonate in my heart.

[Young Jeezy:]
It’s M.C. and Y.J.
Another hit, okay
We lookin’ fine, takin’ off
Saw us on a runway
On any given Sunday,
Monday, Tuesday
They try to confuse me,
I never let ‘em use me

I was a girl, you was a man
I was too young to understand
I was naive, I just believed
Everything that you told me
Said you were strong, []
Then I found out that you were weak
Keepin’ me there, under your thumb
Cause you were scared that I’d become much
More than you could handle,
Shining like a chandelier
That decorated every room inside
The private hell we built,
And I dealt with it
Like a kid I wished I could fly away

But instead, I kept my tears inside
Cause I knew if I started I’d keep crying
For the rest of my life with you
I finally built up the strength to walk away
Don’t regret it but I still live with the side effects

Wakin’ up scared some nights still dreaming ’bout the violent times
Still little protective ’bout the people that I let inside
Still little defensive thinkin folk be tryna run my life
Still little depressed inside, I fake a smile and deal with the side effects
(Oh, oh)
Side effects (Oh, oh)
Side effects (Oh, oh)
Side effects (Oh, oh)

It didn’t stop, no one was there
Couldn’t be real, had to keep quiet
Once in awhile, put up a fight
It’s just too much, night after night
After awhile I would just lie,
You was dead wrong, said you was right
Did what I could, just to survive
Couldn’t believe this was my life,
Flickering like a candle
Do my best to handle sleeping with the enemy
Whether he was smothering every last part of me
So I broke away and finally found the strength to leave

Still kept the tears inside
Cause I knew if I started I’d keep crying
For the rest of my life with you
I finally built up the strength to walk away
Don’t regret it but I still live with the side effects

Wakin’ up scared some nights still dreaming ’bout the violent times
Still little protective ’bout the people that I let inside
Still little defensive thinkin folk be tryna run my life
Still little depressed inside, I fake a smile and deal with the side effects
(Oh, oh)
Side effects (Oh, oh)
Side effects (Oh, oh)
Side effects (Oh, oh)

Hey, hey, hey
Let’s go!

[Young Jeezy:]
Hey Magnifico or should I say Magnificent?
Ain’t nothing worth your happiness
And I ain’t caring who you’re with
Misery love company so we ain’t tryin’ to hang with y’all
Hurt you if ya let ‘em in
Gotta keep ya sucka smilin’
Keep tryin’ to play
I tell him I ain’t blowin’ tho
Think they want me outta here,
I tell ‘em I ain’t goin’ tho
Side effects be drowsiness,
Loneliness,
How is this?
I think the call it hateration,
What can you prescribe for this?

Forgive but I can’t forget,
Every day I deal with this
I live with the side efffects
But I ain’t gonna let them get the best of me

Forgive but I can’t forget,
Every day I deal with this
I live with the side efffects
But I ain’t gonna let them get the best of me

Kept my tears inside
Cause I knew if I started I’d keep crying
For the rest of my life with you
I finally built up the strength to walk away
Don’t regret it but I still live with the side effects

Wakin’ up scared some nights still dreaming ’bout the violent times
Still little protective ’bout the people that I let inside
Still little defensive thinkin folk be tryna run my life
Still little depressed inside, I fake a smile and deal with the side effects
(Oh, oh)
Side effects (Oh, oh)
Side effects (Oh, oh)
Side effects (Oh, oh)

It appears that more than 10 people have reached my site after searching for teachers’ pay online. It hinted to me that there is a lack of transparency in the pay of teachers’. Well, I do not wish to reflect much in this treacherous environment.

Here I am at home watching youtube and listening to Mariah Carey’s new songs. Her album is released today! You know me, I am a fervent fan of her, so nobody is going to snatch her away from me! And I really enjoy watching youtube because I can watch so many creative and interesting videos. Shout it out loud! I shall carry on to sing along as I watch my videos. Byebye!