Prom Night

It wasn’t bad, but it could have been so much better.

On Beauty

‘And men become very absolute about pretty girls, don’t they?’

‘I don’t ask myself what did I live for. That’s a men’s question. I ask whom did I live for.’

‘Men move with their minds, and women must move with our bodies, whether we like it or not. That’s how God intended it – I have always felt that so strongly.’

‘The greatest lie ever told about love is that it sets you free.’

- Zadie Smith, On Beauty

 

Feel free to disagree, but I think it’s entirely true. An enjoyable read.

Why exams

Many hate it; most eschew the notion that it could ever be a gauge of one’s abilities. Some view it as an obstacle towards realising one’s potential in other areas, rather than an opportunity or a challenge.

For me such frustration is missing the point.

Some would say exams are ultimately about the results only, therefore making its function superficial. You’re right. But you’re right only in the immediate term because your results only have a single use: to get to a good university. There are many things in life where the results matter much more than the process, yet exams are not one of them.

Let’s be clear: no exam is going to determine anyone’s life. Are they a highly limited form of assessment? Definitely. Will they prove one’s capacity to cope with adversity, ability to relate to others, or one’s integrity? No. Are they a good indicator of future work performance? Hardly. Are they growing increasingly outmoded in the drive towards more knowledge-based economies? Yes.

Yet the attitude with which you approach them will.

Because ultimately, it’s not about the exams, as much as it is about one’s response to it. If you can get through shit that is forced upon you, even excel, then I’ll bet on your success.

To anyone still taking examinations, work hard and you’ll not regret it.

Because I’m glad I did, even as it’s highly unlikely that my results will be ideal come next March.

My article got published on TOC! Link here.

Got flamed, too.

Liu Xiaobo

NY Times: Why We Gave Liu Xiaobo A Nobel

Nonsense. Western values are not universal values.

Graduation

It was extremely emotional; not overwhelmingly emotional, but wistfully emotional.

The school song became an anthem of pride. Such a vivid picture; it was deeply moving.

Forget the fact that this is the batch that has every right to feel aggrieved. In the end, this is what the RV spirit is about – feeling exactly what another RVian feels without having known each other. It’s about the many interlocking personal relationships from which it grows. It’s about the sincere appreciation for all that has been given, not about lamenting what was missed. I feel proud that I can say I graduated from a school that treasures such bonds.

Teachers: it is as much the passing question of concern, the painstakingly-prepared lessons and notes, as well as the hours of consultations that showed your dedication. With your patience, care, and unwavering support, they have helped us grow and mature, and made learning meaningful for us. “努力读书， 孝顺父母，好好做人，回馈社会”. I will always remember it. Thank you teachers.

They say you do not know what it means to you till it’s gone. It is probably striking how small the things that will be missed are. Putting on the school badge in the morning, meeting old friends along the corridor by chance and going home together, greeting the security guards and school attendants at every passing. I will not be able to experience these again. Yet I must be thankful that Providence brought me here in the first place.

Today, somehow, I saw and understood how RV will always have a special place in the hearts of many Year 6s.

As it will always be in mine.

 

Mrs Lee

I travelled to the Istana to pay last respects to Mrs Lee. I was determined to do so because she was someone I admired deeply. The train of people present showed me how a person could be so quietly unassuming, yet leave such a lasting impact on the memories of a nation.

To use a cliché, I think Mr and Mrs Lee must have been a match made in heaven. She was gentle, feminine; yet her intelligent and wit complemented MM’s more abrasive style perfectly. They were more than lovers; they were best friends, companions and soul mates. I think that’s what marriage should be about. It does not mean both have to be fully agreeable with each other. Indeed, they had many differences; perhaps not only in opinions but also in personality. Yet it was the appreciation of each other because of these differences that strengthened their attachment to each other.

I read MM’s eulogy to her. It furthered my respect for him not just as a brilliant statesman, but as a person. While having a stoic, authoritarian and no-nonsense public persona, he is nevertheless a devoted man with a sensitive side; a great example.

Her passing must have been a huge, huge blow to him.