The tiny bits in Life

Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Secret War Journal[30 March 2011]
Hmm, depending how you view this, this post can be negative or positive. Normally, I would think of something post-worthy but later trash it due to lack of content or I feel that it is pointless but I feel something I experienced today is rather insightful.

We were waiting for a bus. There is this lady in front of me who dozed off while waiting for the bus. When the bus came, everybody started to board the train, leaving that lady behind. I walked past her... then decided to turn to her as I walked past her to wake her up, to inform her that her bus had come. The people behind weren't concerned about her missing the bus, they were more concerned of her blocking the way...

On the bus, I started to think... this is how the world has become since then. When someone need help, no one cares. Life goes on, what happened to others is none of their business. So what if your 'friend' is in trouble, you just move on as though that person never exist. As though you never knew that person, just a fragment of your reality that threatens to disrupt your daily routine.

Would you be the person who walk away when you meet someone in need? Or would be the person who lend that person a helping hand, pulling him or her out of the darkness when everyone just walks off? Guess we will never know until the situation arises...

Personally, I would say I had been tainted by the Society as well. I would not help those who had done me wrong or left me to rot when I needed help. (Guess you figured I'm someone who bear grudges.) However, I believe I will help those who never did me any wrong because I feel that they deserve that help. Because, in this world, no one else will. The majority won't anyway...

Lend a helping hand, every small, minute actions (you may feel) plays a long way in changing one's life, however big or small.
Yes, my friend. I totally agree with you. Sadly, I can't tell you how much I agree with you because saying so to you will only make us view this world with a much more negative light than it already is. There is hope, even if hope is a disease...

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending" - Carl Bard

Sucker Punch

Monday, March 28, 2011
Secret War Journal[24 March 2011]
"Awesome day. Hahas" That was my cliff notes for this post and I think it's super hilarious for me to write that. (Still laughing, oops)

Okay apart from the fact this week's buzzword for me is "Awesome", though many of you probably already realised I mostly meant it in a sarcastic way. That's a tale for another day. Fortunately, this movie outing occurred before this week so the word "awesome" is meant literally. :) Saved by the virtue of the fact that...

Skin-deep or Cell-deep?
For this movie outing, Cynthia's the organiser.
Apparently,... actually forget it. I think it's too chaotic to be written down in words. Just know that everything was done on the spot, the movie to watch, where to watch, everything. Haha. I say Chaos at the cellular level.

Buddy Hoagies
Attendee(s): Johnston, Eunice, Clarissa, Siew Yan, Bao Lin, Cynthia

Ah, before I forget. Let me mention that today, 24 March, marks the end of my March Block Test! Of course there's a cause for celebration! No?

Anyway, after much discussion, we headed off to E!Hub to have lunch!

The restaurant we went to dine at was one named Buddy Hoagies.  It sells affordable western meals! :)

I ate the Flame Grilled Chicken and it's not bad, definitely go try it out when you see a Buddy Hoagies resturant nearby. ;)

Sucker Punch, the Movie
Shoot, I'm running out of time. Let's jumpstart to the movie itself then.

I don't care what other might say but personally, I would relate this movie to one similar to Inception. The plot is rather complex which is actually thrilling to watch, plot-wise. However, the motivation of the plot was left unexplained which was a letdown in some ways. Of course, if you're someone who just wants action without much reasoning, then this movie suits you.
Yet, if you're a big fan of action, I would recommend you to instead watch Transformers: The Movie as it is more action-packed. Sucker Punch is a movie that goes from slow to high-gear then back to slow and so on.
Thus, one can say Sucker Punch is more of a generalist than of a specialised movie focused on one genre.
Sucker Punch incorporates a large amount of one's fantasy, much like Alice in Wonderland and one thing that I really appreciate about Sucker Punch was the director's use of movie technique.

The use of foreshadowing is very apparent in this movie, from the start to the end, subtle hints are dropped from scenes to scenes that allows your subconscious mind to already to be aware of what's going to happen yet at the same time, leaving you a sense of suspense. This, I feel, is very well done as it helps to enhance to the plot.

However, one technique I believe was badly used would be the slow motion scenes in the movie. Initially, I was impressed by it for the first few fight scenes. After a certain point, especially at one particular scene where almost every move was in slow motion, the technique was used too excessively which led to a negative afterthought about the scenes as it was far too slow for a fight scene and that particular move didn't seem to be of any significance (if it was used for a finishing move or one that would be critical for the finishing move i.e. the third move). Apart from that, this movie is still pretty decent despite the name. I'm not sure of the true meaning behind the movie unless what I suspect is true (but that doesn't make much sense in the plot. Okay, perhaps a little bit but...)

Really appreciated Johnston sacrificing his other events to join us. Thanks! :)

"Fear not darkness for that is when the stars shine the brightest" - Anonymous

TM: Interview Prep Workshop

Sunday, March 27, 2011
Secret War Journal[26 March 2011][TM Session #5]
Short post before I leave.
CVs, Recommendation Letters, and Essay Questions
MBTs have just ended, as such TM sessions continue on Saturdays once more. I will talk about MBT on another post. Let me focus on the most recent TM session first. :)

Since last TM session marked the end of the Social Etiquette, this week we attended a workshop by our own tutors on preparing for Scholarship interviews such as the the materials you would need to prepare for the application of scholarship.

Generally, for most applications for scholarship, they would require you to have the following documents ready:
  1. Curriculum vitae
  2. Essay Question / Personal Statement
  3. Recommendation Letters / Referees 
Curriculum vitae
Also known as Resume, it is basically a list of activities that you had did during your secondary schools and Junior College days. However, you should be reminded that you do not simply state all your activities, big or small, into the CV as it should only contain activities that are relevant to your scholarship and purposeful. 

A CV should be placed in a format such that the latest activities are stated first and it should be reader-friendly. It should also contain details of the duration of your education in the school and relevant CIP hours.

Essay Question / Personal Statement
This is the key component of your scholarship application. There isn't any model answer of any sort because it is supposed to be your personal statement, thus unique.

If the organisation requires to answer a Essay Question, then you would have to. Different scholarships have different questions and so there isn't much guidelines on how to answer them.

On the other hand, if a personal statement is required, you would not be given any question but would have to write about yourself to convince them why you're the better choice.

In general, you will need to use relevant and unique points to highlight your strengths and get their attention so that they would call you up for an interview. Above all, be honest. ;)

Recommendation Letters
These are done by your tutors or other relevant supervisors upon your request but they may refuse if they're busy.

What I really learn that was getting to know the fact that we actually have a very small time window to submit our scholarship application, 7 days after our A Levels Results are released, especially for guys since we most likely have National Service(NS) during that period. That highlights the need for us to prepare these documents early.

"A pessimist is one who make difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties." - Harry Truman

Over you is the Answer

Friday, March 18, 2011
Secret War Journal[18 March 2011]
Some of the songs may be old but I thought I would update a bit on the songs that I had added to my library recently. ^^

First up:

Maybe I should go search for more songs by Daughtry. Hahas!


A new group of singers, I really like this song!

Exams wise, next Monday is my Physics Paper. Ah, stress! Wish me luck! >.<

"OUR GREATEST GLORY CONSISTS NOT IN NEVER FALLING, BUT IN RISING EVERY TIME WE FALL" - OLIVER GOLDSMITH

Of arguments and philosophy

Monday, March 14, 2011
Secret War Journal[14 March 2011]
Rare are the days I can finally post on the actual day itself. Rare, indeed. Hahas. Well, that is if I finish this post in half an hour anyway. :)

So I have been promoted to JC2 if you had not been following due to the recent chaos and today marks the start of the March Block Tests.

The first paper would be General Papers. Fancy attending for examinations during your holidays. How great is that?

The paper was tough, not a very bright start.

I did some essay question on space exploration. Not sure if I made the right choice...
Halfway through, I sorta end up writing philosophy though I went back on track (hopefully)
The comprehension was scary, especially the summary.

I hope I pass. I hope. O.o

Had KFC with Bao Lin, Cynthia, and Lai Yin. Tried this new Hearty meal (I think it's called that.)
Left for Simei where I meet with Darian and Johnston for Burger King. ^^

Thanks Darian and Johnston for helping me out for Physics! Much appreciated! :)

Didn't really want to blog about this but... actually, today is White Day, exactly one month after Valentine's Day.

This day is mostly celebrated by Japanese but I doubt that would be so this year with the recent earthquake (and its aftershocks) and tsunamis in Japan...

Not a very joyful day, or this period of time for that matter...

Anyway, be Strong, Japan.

Not meant to be

Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Secret War Journal[9 March 2011]
Indeed, the path I took is one that has no return.
I was given an opportunity to take a turn at another path. When I was shown the opportunity, I was thinking, someone was giving me the chance to see if kindness pays off.

Sadly, like so many times in the past, I had been proved wrong again. Kindness is not often appreciated, not only mine but others, in the end, you only let others hurt you. Figures why there are fewer kind people as years pass... most notably you...

Can't believe I got tricked by Loki again... no matter I think I got the message, what does not kill us only make us stronger, history had been trying to tell us, and this time it will be listened, and heeded.

And thus, has the path which was not a path converges back to the path that I was destined. Another step into the darkness...

I must had been a fool, to allow others to hurt me so many times through my own kindness. God pray that I do not allow them to happen again...