The Knowledgeable Warrior: But My Friends Got More A's Than Me Wor!!!

16th - 22nd March 09

Lately the SPM & STPM results are out recently. This is the time where you'll see in the front page of every major newspaper "Student Score 12, 15, or 20A's In SPM". I find it funny that only articles about SPM are published & I can hardly find any news related to STPM whatsoever. I guess it shows that the majority believed that SPM is way more popular than STPM despite the fact that the SPM standard is nothing compared to the STPM which according to rumours that the STPM is the 4th hardest examination in the world. Fuiyooh ~

Me: Good luck ya the SPM results will come out soon.
Friend A: Do you have to remind me??? I dah la so stress!!!
(Ehh...in a few days later...)

Me: What did you score for your STPM results???
Tan: I so disappointed la!!! (tells me the result)

Me: Ok mah overall CGPA is 3.08
Tan: But my friends got more A's than me wor!!!
(Haihz ~)

I met one of my seniors online, Tan Tuan Wern who scored a CGPA 3.08 in her STPM results. Now a score of 3.00 - 4.oo is already considered very good if you know what is CGPA in the first place. In fact scoring a 3.00 is my main target for this year upcoming STPM. I was about to congratulate Tan for her achievements but she complained that 3.00 wasn't good enough for her. What puzzles me that despite scoring excellent results whether it is PMR, SPM or whatever examination, students nowadays would still complain just because someone else scored better than them. Is this what education is all about? Its all about the A's that matters.

Me: Well the main reason you study is so that you can earn a better future, not to compete with your peers to see who can score the most A's.
(She never responded for the next 5 minutes, thinking the last message offended her)

Me: I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't lecture you & all, but I just want you to know that you did a great job & you should be proud of the hardwork you invested in.
Tan: It's ok, I understand now & yes you were right.
(Phew ~)

Eventually for the next 1 hour I was actually giving Tan alot of advice regarding her studies. She really doesn't have a clue what she want to do in the future. So I ask her why not study performing arts, since she's good & passionate in dancing anyway.

Tan: Hmm actually I really love dancing, but cannot cari makan la in this country.
(Again the typical M'sian response "Its impossible la especially here in M'sia")

Me: Do you remember what Mr. Suresh said??? (my business studies lecturer) All things are possible if only you believe in yourself. So if you can believe in yourself by achieving a good result for your STPM, surely you can also believe yourself in making it big 1 day in the dancing scene.
Tan: Wow!!! I never knew that!!!

I swear that wasn't what I intend to say at all. It was the Holy Spirit who guided me on how I should advise this person here so that she'll know how to make a good decision regarding her education. Tan actually reminded me of myself because I too was once like her. I share my story just to give her an example on how my life changed just because I believe in myself that one day I will achieve success in what I love to do, which is sports. Before this I really never thought it is possible to make a living with sports especially since the sports standard in M'sia is at a terrible state. That is until one day Pastor Kevin announced that the church is planning to set up a football academy & they are planning to send aspiring coaches for training at overseas starting next year. The way I see it God is actually giving me a chance to live up my dreams to have a career related to sports & now I must work hard to make that dream a reality. I hope my advice will persuade Tan to pursue her interest although she seemed convinced. I really felt she has a good potential in dancing & I do not want to see her do something else which she may not like & regret later in life. So Tan all the best in your future endeavors & I pray you will make the right the decision. In general Tan liked my encouragement & advice. She said something which really melted my heart.

Tan: I admire you. You clearly know what is your aim in life.
(Woah!!! I really love that statement. If only she said it in person ^^)

While I was online the other day, a friend called me on the phone. Actually I know this friend for 3 years although we seldom hangout together. I tried to ask her out before this but she always busy or she will FFK me last minute. The only memories I have with her is when I gave her a ride home from various places through my dad. Until this year recently I do still give her a ride home from a friend's house with my dad being the driver again (I have driving phobia what to do). I assumed the moment she called me I knew she wanted me to fetch her home again.

Friend B: Hi Marc it's me. Are you at home right now???
Me: No, I'm not.
(I lied just to test her reaction)

Friend B: Ooh ok bye.

Before I could even ask what was the reason (although I knew), she hung up on me! It goes to show all this time I wasn't really her friend, but more like her personal driver. But I wrote this not because I want to demeaned or badmouth about her, but to highlight what I learned in last Sunday's (15th March) sermon which is applicable to this situation. Pastor Kevin said that "But I tell you not to resist an evil person, that whoever slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other side to him also". Of course it doesn't simply means that when someone kick my right balls then I offer my left balls for him to kick as well (damn imagine if that really happens). In other words what Pastor meant that when someone took advantage of us, we should not seek to get revenge. When my friend hung up on me, I was very upset & wanted to call her back to get back at her. Immediately the Holy Spirit told to me chill out & memorized back what I had learned in church. In the end I refrained myself from calling her back & forgotten about her. After this if she ever calls me again, I won't lie saying that I'm not at home. Instead I'll just tell her to call a taxi because I do not want to send her but the fare will be on me x)

Although this week is school holidays for government schools, I still have to attend classes for mine is a tuition centre thus the students there are granted holiday(s) only when the management board sees it fit. So yeah I'm kinda jealous of those who are enjoying their holidays while I still gotta drag my ass to KL. However, on the bright side at least I am learning something new in class compared to government school students who are relaxing now. I was so stuck up with studies until I forgotten that I was one of the only few people who has to go for school this week. When I was back in CG during Thursday...

Me: So Fibiee how was school lately???
Fibiee: School??? I thought we're on holiday for the whole week???
(How can I be so blur...)

Speaking of CG, I met four lovely ladies who both claimed to be Boon Hock's friends. They both originated from the same church & they were visiting our CG as guests for the night. What surprised me is that most of this people came from Cheras & yet they can speak English fluently. Before this I was very judgemental of where people came from. For example, if you come from lets say the rural area, then I would assumed that you're generally narrow minded & have a poor command of English. In this case I stereotyped Cheras to be a place where mainly the people there are Chinese educated & likewise have a poor grasp in English. However these girls who visited my CG are different. Not only they speak English proficiently but they are also intelligent & open minded. I was very impressed by their spiritual maturity for they too share the same desire as me which is to excel in everything we do in the name of Christ. So in conclusion it is not necessarily where you came from that determines your chances of succeeding in life but it is how you bring yourself up as an individual.

I was on duty again as an usher during Sunday. I was extremely tired from the beginning till the end of the church service for I have not yet taken my breakfast. Most of the time while serving I lost concentration in my work & sometimes very restless. Petula who was my colleague has to remind me all the time to stay focus for I was prone to mistakes during that time like not closing the curtain entrance after people passing it by, not greeting members before service commences, constantly yawning loudly & etc. After cleaning up the church hall after service, I thought I was finally free & was able to go home & fulfill my sleep debts. Then I saw my CG leader Felicia who happens to be the Head Usher as well. I wanted to congratulate her for the speech she gave about tithes & offerings during service because she spoke with great charisma & grammar errors to the minimal. She thank me for it & ask whether if I'm going to attend the workshop specially catered for ushers later which by coincidence she'll be giving a talk in it too. I said no & she was unhappy about it because it is compulsory for all ushers to attend the workshop & there are no exceptions for pity excuses. I tried to negotiate with her but in the end I failed to convince her & I have no choice but to attend the workshop. So I had a quick snack with her at Medan after a performance evaluation from Teh then I went back to the church's education centre. Apparently the workshop was not all as boring as I expected. It was somewhat interesting & informative on how we ushers can improve ourselves when serving. Eventually at the end of the workshop we celebrated Dennis, Teh, Foong Yen & Allen's birthdays who shared the same birth month of March.

I really wanted to just fall on my bed once I reached home, I really do. On the contrary I still have one more activity to do, which is futsal. I treat this event as very important because I'll be playing with Abel as well as Pastor Keith. These are the people who are in charge of the football academy which is proposed to be set up starting next year. Whether I will be sent to overseas to undergo training as a prospective coach will be decided by them. That is why I must go & play futsal to build up my relationship & affiliation with these guys. We played at Sunway Xtreme Park opposite of Lagoon Perdana. It was bloody hot & humid during that moment. There is one time where I was playing against Pastor & he shot the ball against my hand which is considered a foul committed by me. It happened very fast so it wasn't that clear whether it was a handball or not (although I myself knew). I lied claiming that the ball hit my stomach instead of my hand so we played on. After a while we rested & Pastor approached me saying that I shouldn't lie just because I wanted the situation to favour my side. He did not confront me but he address the problem to me in a gentle way. I didn't took his words seriously & refused to apologize until we continued on playing. During the game I deliberately scored an own goal although my intentions were to pass back to the keeper. After that we went on to lose the game. At the end of the game, I saw Pastor smiling at me & he knew I got what I deserved for being an dishonest person;

Me: Alright, alright!!! Consider that own goal as my punishment for lying.
Pastor: Haha!!!
(I'm glad he took it with humour)

Be it how small or big a sin can be, we must preserve our integrity & accountability as Christians.