~light of the world~

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I went to school today (like I have for the past few weeks) to get some studying done, plus I had GP consultation along with Kim. I didn't know Mrs J came from a family of teachers! Must really run in the blood. At the end, she said something like, "So next Monday, please do well."

The moment she said "next Monday", I immediately felt a wave of panic! It's genuinely hard to believe that the all important A levels are so close.

There was a whole commotion at the Oasis because of these people with tonnes of unfolded cardboard boxes in stacks, and I was trying to figure out what they were for. I stupidly even said to Sheryl, "What are they for? So far the people taking them have been scholars. Mostly IP3..."

To which she said, "maybe they're packing?" OF COURSE. They're preparing to move all their stuff to the NJC boarding school, which is almost done by now, I think. Poor things, having to move stuff must be such a hassle.

Anyway, after lunch, I was sitting down trying to study chem, and out of nowhere I started to kind of hyperventilate in my mind about A levels, and my vision was a bit blurry as well. Yet another panic attack! My brain started thinking of all the sub-topics I'm unsure about, such as Cell Structure, Duchess of Malfi, Complex Numbers, Reaction Kinetics etc.

When I got home, the Daily Bread topic was about how large our problems seem to be, unless we put them into perspective.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth ... He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:27-31

It also brings to mind what Pastor Albert said on Sunday about worrying, though the context of his sermon was money. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" - Matthew 6:33

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.

Labels: church, school

xuan blogged at 8:56 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...

Friday, October 17, 2008

Today, the 17th of October, 2008, was the IP4 / JC2 farewell assembly, held in the school hall.

It obviously didn't feel like the last day of school, because there'll still be people coming back every day to mug for 12 hours in the library/oasis/canteen/anywhere with a table. But there was a certain sense of happiness, carefree-ness (if such a word were to be had) about the students.

Everyone was armed with cameras ready for shooting anything and everything. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to take as many as I would have if I'd had the time and presence of mind.

The assembly comprised a few speeches / talks by the principal, discipline head, council teacher, and council president. Apparently one study table costs $450, so it's hard to purchase many more for us. Plus, there are a lot of under-used ones at the raintree.

We watched a music video of the past two years, with singing, dancing, cheering, random class photos and such. And then a promotional video for Grad Night. We also got souvenirs: a collar-pin with 2005/2008 on the bottom, and a pen-highlighter.

At the end before the tea reception, all the administration had to be done, i.e. collecting of money for the college annual, checking the MOE CCA Certificate cca records, getting our progress reports back. All CT/CIP/NE reps and CCA exco members were to do a survey, which is practically one third of the level. Imagine 4 reps per class, plus around 5 exco members per CCA.

I'd brought my camera for the main purpose of taking a JC2/IP4 choristers photo, and I'd even planned it out so nicely: After the assembly, take your time eating, then meet at 11 at the atrium, and take a beautiful picture near the water fountain.

However, Ann's and Yun Tian's classes were going out, so they needed to hurry. They were the first few to be at the atrium, with Jaymie as well. So I ran back to the hall to get Ling Chung and Eugenia (who was helping others take photos!).

Then I ran down to the linkway where the buffet was [got Yuvika on the way], trying to find people. I managed to get Yong Jian [by asking his classmate], Bryan and Ek Ping, who were eating. Then I ran back to the atrium to find that Jaymie had left!

So I ran back to the hall, but none of them was there. I went back down to the linkway, unexpectedly saw Conan, who said he saw Jing An somewhere, then I waved to Pei Cheng, and hollered Jaymie's name, though she didn't see me, and PC had to pull her over. I found Michelle too, eating jelly, no less, and pushed her to the atrium [sorry!].

I went to Xiao Yun's friend to ask her where she was, found her buying a drink, and picked up Sara on the way [posing for photos]. By the time we ran back to the atrium, we managed to get Daixi as well, and finally took the photo.

I was very pushy to a lot of people, whom I didn't allow to finish their food or drink, even pushing them along. If I was rude, I'm really sorry, but please understand that some people had to leave, and I really wanted the photo.

We also took our chem class photo, though missing quite a few people, like Sherrie, Wan Ting, Tse Mei etc. We went to the canteen to get food, and I started taking photos with nearly everyone, like a last-ditch attempt to say that I appreciate them and want to keep the memory of them. Argh.

I went to the library to cool down and make a pitiful attempt at finding more mentions of Fortune in DoM. LC and I took a mugger photo in the library!

I left at 1pm to get out of the side-gate and go home before the rain started.

Labels: choir, school

xuan blogged at 2:15 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Today was officially the last day of school for the IP4s and JC2s.

In truth, we've only been having 3 days of lessons a week, so it doesn't really feel like such a big deal to say that I needn't go to school anymore. Ironically, I do, because we still have our consolidation lessons.

People have been frantically taking photos with their friends as well as of the school, and I am one of them! One might logically argue that it would have been better to constantly bring your camera every month to take a photo or something that reflects your everyday school life as opposed to the last 3 days.

I managed to get the JC2 choir comm to take a photo before assembly. Ann and I decided it would be ok to take it at the central fountain garden area. I was surprisingly early, and Eugenia found me at about the stipulated time.

Then I realised Conan, Yun Tian, Yong Jian and Ann were all waiting at the base of the staircase, so we went to join them. YT didn't wear the polo tee like the rest of us girls! [go wear pants, YT!] Ann was hurrying us to take it before assembly started, so we went to the benches, just as Ek Ping came running up.

I was really going to just take it without Ling Chung, when he suddenly came running up from the direction of the canteen.

Eugenia: Wah, run all the way from grandstand, so 伟大 ah!

Turns out he was drinking teh in the canteen. Good grief!

Then they started saying that it wasn't a good place to take photos because there was an audience of all the students at the benches surrounding the place. It was quite funny!

Today's morning assembly was the longest one I've ever had. 9 announcements, prize giving for essays, for courtesy, kindness and school values, appreciation of House Affiliates and the Friends of Council, 2 teachers were retiring, the Challenge Shield winner was announced, and then ensued a string of awards won by the college.

45 minutes. Including the national anthem, pledge and school anthem, it took 45 minutes. I missed half my Bio lesson.

Anyway, I was a bit disappointed today because there was a noticeable number of people missing. And I didn't get to take my Bio class photo with Ms Feng. Then we had to search for our Chem class which magically moved due to SPA and switched teacher.

Today I learnt that if you switch the french fries for spaghetti, you can ask for the pasta sauce and they don't charge extra! Unfortunately my cutlet was smaller than everyone else's.

In GP we discussed various essay questions, had Oreos, and then a lot of phototaking took place! We asked these 3 nice students in the class 2 rooms down to help us take the class photo. We smiled until our faces ached!

It's hard to believe that 4 years in this school has almost drawn to a close already.

Labels: choir, school

xuan blogged at 10:12 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Ok, we got back all our Preliminary results on Tuesday 30 September. Well, actually we got back our papers in drips and drabs, and the last paper to be received was the Bio Paper 3, which hasn't even been gone through yet.

I managed to help Tse Mei find her extra half mark to get her next grade for Bio! *Applause for self* And I've been trying to encourage people who don't think they did well enough, but I'm not sure I've done a good job, because I don't seem the kind who is very encouraging. Hmm.

If you have any doubt about getting your grades, Mr Cheng said to us, on Tuesday afternoon when we were studying in the canteen, that it is possible for your results to increase by two grades, depending on your studying before the A levels. He then asked why the guys playing Frisbee weren't studying! HAHA.

I've been inspired by YJ (Happy Bday!) to put down my progress in terms of grades thus far. B, C, M, L, GP.

CT 1: C , S, A, B, C
Promos: D, U, A, A, C
CT 2: D, U, B, B, B
Prelims: B, B, A, B, B

I may be wrong for some of the grades, because I can't really remember that well. Anyway, I really thank God because I finally passed my Chem, and even better, it was from a U to a B! It was a jump from 39% or so to 61%.

On Tuesday after I came home I told my father my results, and the first thing he said after hearing them was, "Well, it's not yet A right?" I mean, normal people are happy to hear you managed to improve by 5 grades! At least my mother said she's happy that I improved.

Today during Juniors we got into Sunday School groups for a little competition on who could remember what Ben said 3 weeks ago in his slides. We only won because the Sec 2 class marking our paper literally gave us one point per correct word, whereas we gave the Senior/Junior classes one mark per phrase / concept!

My group has all been having exams: Melissa's having PSLE now, Jodie and Nicholas are still having their EOYs, while Stephanie (Happy Bday!) finished hers last week and Marcus has some 11 days to his O levels. Keep praying and working hard, guys!

My sister called just now, and it seems they're coming back for a while next year April. In essence, she utterly ruined my beautiful plan for them to come at the end of May to celebrate my birthday and Yue's in early June.

When we asked why, she said that it's because there's no holidays at that time. I brilliantly offered, "What about Vesak Day?" Which is at the end of May, right? Then she said, "New Zealand doesn't celebrate that!" Oops.

"Then what holiday's in April?"
"Easter!" Apparently they get Good Friday and an Easter Monday! Interesting!

This week will be the last week of school for us, I think, and it's only a 3 day week anyway, since Thursday and Friday are study days. I plan to bring the camera to take photos of everyone! I thought of finding the choir during morning singing and asking them very nicely to sing Lullaby for me to record, but it's probably too much to ask.

(I also really want DBSK's 4th album Mirotic, but I didn't pre-order it like the people smarter than me did. Not that I even know how to. And if I have to wait until it comes out in Singapore stores, it'll probably be, what, Christmas? Everytime I want to download the music I feel a twinge of guilt, so I don't. Stupid twinges!)

Labels: choir, church, dbsg, family, school

xuan blogged at 4:57 PM

May your light shine...
in the darkness...