Jeremy Teo | Just Simply Me

To Put It Simply

Been a while since I last updated, and somehow the countless thoughts always fizz away right at the moment I sit afront the laptop. Hence, I shall attempt to do a fast one by keeping things simple.

To put it simply, 2010 has been in military terms, a Charlie Mike (continuous mission). Went into my final semester preparing for interviews and assessments, all amidst a hectic rush to complete my thesis. When that was done, I dived straight into a major publications assignment which saw me clock like 3 hours of sleep within 4 whole days, with a major exam slotted right in between. Then said my final farewells to NUS, before embarking on my 2-month ‘over-seas’ trip. When that was done, work ensued, with my only ‘recess’ being commencement. No break, but I’m not complaining. In fact, I’m lovin’ it. Probably the most efficient use of my time, ever.

To put it simply, graduation has given me a taste of what’s always been regurgitated about pointless grade-chasing. Whatever paper you get in the end, it may mean something, but definitely not everything.  Too many permutations in life for one to think that his/her life is set-in-stone upon good or bad grades.

To put it simply, World Cup was about an England team lacking variations and creativity, a Maradonna who got what he deserved for his arrogance, a disiciplined and organized German team epitomising world champion credentials, and a Spanish team who probably just deserved the World title.

To put it simply, new EPL season will be about a Manchester duel at the top, and a Wolves, West Brom and Blackpool trio at the bottom. Blackburn’s been quiet, and my realistic sense points to a 12-14th finish. Rovers needs funds, and whatever takeover talks can only be positive news. Still have my reservations over Big Sam, although the Diouf loan and impending Roberts sale points to the up-side of things. Now to just show Grella out the door.

To put it simply, some Singaporeans complain and expect too much. Same people fussing about the country’s way of life are the same people reaping the benefits of uni education, proper housing and stability. Same people who question the influx of foreign workers are the same people picky about jobs. Same people who bemoan foreign sportspersons are the same people who voice dis-support for the YOG. Same people who … you get my point. All cynical-ism but no appreciation, all complaints but no solutions.

To put it simply, the Singaporean in me will always enjoy NDP. The element of patriotism is in itself inexplicably dear, and while it’s a bonus for me to embrace it, it’s simply a loss for those who choose to forsake it. Your take. I take mine with love and pride. Happy Birthday Singapore!

Best When Served Hot

Just like food, blog entries are best when served hot. However more often than not, just when I want to pen these thoughts down, they seem to fizzle away right when I sit myself down in front of WordPress, rendering them into the lost oblivion. Take this week for example. So many things had happened and there were blogging tendencies aplenty, but school work, laziness and the sudden lost of writing inspirations resulted in my entries turning ‘cold’. Nonetheless, I shall attempt to do a week-in-review of these ‘cold dishes’ in one entry.

The two words which filled both small talk and tabloids around the country in the past week, Jack Neo. The news of his affair(s) came as quite a shocker, and despite the nature of the whole thing being terry-bly (pun intended) similar to other famous sportsmen around the world, Jack Neo’s one was closer to Singaporeans’ heart. Admist the whole saga, the one person which stood out was definitely Jack Neo’s wife, Ms Irene Kng. I think she showed tremendous strength and character, and the way she handled the whole matter was really admirable. Wendy Chong and Foyce Le Xuan on the other hand, have chosen to go down an unnecessary path which I think will bring them more shame then fame (if that is what they sought for). Well things will never be the same, for the Neo family, and for Singaporeans’ perception towards Jack Neo and his future productions. After all, one can forgive but will never forget. Then again, time will heal, and I truly hope things will get better for their family.

The Jack Neo saga also brought about much criticisms on the media, and how they handled the whole issue, especially during the press conference. They were reproached for unobjective reporting, for intruding into personal space, and for snapping away at Ms Kng when she collapsed. However, I personally do not see things as negatively as people make them out to be. Sure, you could question morality and ethical conciousness, but the media are just simply carrying out their jobs. The matter of fact is that despite how most of us sympathize with the situation, the public will always be hungry for juicy news stories and scandals, and the media is simply doing what they can to provide for these appetites. We can always leave objective analysis and viewpoints to the newpaper forums, commentary columns or blogs. But if the media reports about factual incidents, how can they really be blamed?

Scandals aside, on a personal note, it was also quite an ‘eventful’ week for me. It was strange how I blogged about graduation the week before last, and straight after that I received a number of phone calls, e-mails and snail mail through the week. These string of calls and mails somewhat laid the path for my post-graduation ‘plans and activities’. For one, the commencement letter reminded me that it was finally going to be my time to throw my mortar hat, something which I never thought was possible since my poly days. Events which involved the throwing of head-dress has always been special for me, during BMT passing-out parade and OCS commisioning parade, and alike those events, this will be another milestone event, and it’ll be another one I dedicate first of all to my parents.

My ‘over-seas’ trip after my final university examinations has also been confirmed. It has been almost 4 years, and I’m feeling rather apprehensive about the whole thing, albeit having a tinge of excitement about what is to come. Also, the whole matter of jobs and interviews surfaced again in the past week. Much has changed and happened since my last entry, and my already narrowed choices have been further scoped down. It’s been a week of hard thinking, and I’m quite sure about what I want now. The lesson learnt is that it is important for one to be true to himself/herself, to listen to what his/her heart says, and to follow his/her gut feelings. A light shines, and I’m hoping it shines till the end.

Life is Like a Box of Chocolates

My previous three entries have been about soccer, so I thought it was high time I deviated from the talk about my favourite sport, to a pressing issue which I’ve deliberated about for a couple of years, but will actually only face in a couple of months. Graduation.

The lack of blog entries (complaining) about school for this final semester is not so much because school work has been a breeze – in fact the pressure’s much greater, but simply because I’ve chosen to view the matter of grades and CAP in a different light. It is after all my final semester, and I believe that seven whole semesters of constant grade striving and worrying is more than enough for anyone to take.

Those who know me well enough would know about my strong desire to graduate and step into the working world. You see, it has reached a point where I feel I’ve been studying for too long. Apart from a 2 year NS stint in between, it has been almost 14 semesters of assignments, deadlines and examinations – and not to mention nerve-wrecking wait for results. School had been fun, enjoyable and memorable in more ways than I could have imagined, and I’m certain I will one day look back to miss it dearly. But for now, there is a stronger urge to work; to earn my own living, to provide for my parents and to lessen their burdens, and to pave a career path for which I hope will be an exciting one.

I’ve spent quite a bit of my time and energy this semester planning for employment after graduation. I’ve already gone through a number of assessments and interviews in the past month, and as much as how I’ve held the ‘keep all options open’ mentality, I’ve narrowed my choices down to a few selected ones. Some are ranked higher than others in terms of preference, but ultimately each has its own merits, and much of it will still depend on whether the opportunity presents. I’ve gone for each interview with huge anticipation and exictement, and each time I have these mental images of what my future would hold if I were successful in my interviews. Yet after such thoughts, I will still be apprehensive about whether the jobs are really suited for me, and if they are really something I would want or prefer.

There’s also a common dilema of interest vs. renumeration vs. future progression. The usual advice is that interest is critical, but ask anyone out there in today’s pragmatic society, and its hard to touch your heart and say money does not matter. If you ask me, money is not the most important, but is still essential and definitely a big consideration. As for future opportunities and progression, I think it is definitely something to think about, but yet again one starts to wonder if it’s really necessary to think so far into the future. After all, there’s only so much one can plan for. I’ve never planned for entry into NUS, morever CNM, and it was only under fortunate circumstances and luck (and a momeny of folly turned blessing in disguise) which tided me to where I am today.

So to think of it, should I really plan so far ahead, or just head down the normal ‘just do what I have to do now, and let nature take its course’ road. As Forrest Gump says, ” Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”.

2009 Year in Review

The end of 2009 also marked the end of a decade. No doubt it was a digital decade of advancements, with wireless technologies, mobile devices and social media taking over our lives today. However, it was more prominently a decade of crisis. Events stretch back as early as the dot com bust, 9/11 and subsequent terrorism acts, to SARS, H1N1 and the countless natural disasters. With human relations around the world becoming more complex, and our negligence towards global warming, it is said that things will become worse in the next decade, and I would actually concur with such bleak forecasts.

The year 2009 was one filled with more downs than ups. Started the year re-adjusting back to Singapore after almost half a year in Hong Kong, then embarked on what was a remarkable 6-month internship stint. In between, I had my first encounter with hospitalization, before Dad’s health condition starkly reminded me of the unpredictabilities of life. I’m thankful that all turned out well, but I’ve since learned to better cherish my loved ones, be grateful for what I still have.

The second half of the year saw my return to school after more than a year’s absence, and it was a torrid return. Took me a while to adjust back to the books and readings, and it didn’t help that the workload of some modules were taxing. This penultimate semester was one which took up more brain-power than time, as assignments were so brain-wrecking that it literally gave me headaches. I was also bogged down by career considerations, a slow-progress thesis, and the constant paper-chase mentality to maintain my CAP. Results eventually proved that despite my year long absence from school, some things still never change. The module I worked hardest for gave me the worst results, and reminded me again of the non-existent relationship between effort and grades. Despite all these, this semester was one which I had learnt the most. Overall, I’m never one who aims too high, and am overall satisfied with what I have.

The year 2010 will be an exciting one. In Singapore, we have the YOG, 3rd edition of F1 Singapore, and the completion of Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay IR. There will also be the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Most important of all, the year will see the end of another major phase in my life, as I graduate and eargerly step out into the working world.

May 2010 be good for all of you. Happy New Year!

New Site, Same Blog

The last entry in my previous blogspot site dates back to almost 8 months ago. The plans then were to stop blogging for a while and to come up with my own personal online space. In the meantime, Twitter and micro-blogging was to fill the void. However, things dragged, the school term started, and I never carried out my plans.

The one thing I realised during this blog hiatus was that as much as how micro-blogging is the “in” thing now, it could never replace the old-style blogging. Many a times I found myself wanting to comment or just rant about something, and 140 characters were just insufficient. Furthermore, the influx of tweets just made it hard to track back to any entry, and things were just moving too fast. You see, blogging takes after the roots of the traditional days of “dear diary”, and micro-blogging is to say the least, different. As much as how the digital and social media age will take further leaps forward in the next decade, I still firmly believe that blogging is here to stay.

Well of course I had wanted to design my own theme and layout, but this is my first time using WordPress and am rather unfamiliar with the entire system. Therefore, so as to prevent any further extension of my blogging haitus, I relied on the ready-made themes and widgets and realised that they were rather handy. Eventually, I found this theme which suits the simplicity I was looking for, and is rather similar to a previous blog design that I created myself.

I have also redirected my old site to this new one, and have brought over all my older entries for valuable keep-sake. After all, one of my purpose for blogging was to archive these memories for future look-backs. While transfering the entries, I was amazed and intrigued by some of my own writings a couple of years back, but I guess these entries well plots how I’ve changed and grown over the years. One should not hide from his past, but learn and grow from the past lessons.

Walking Down Memory Lane

For reasons you’ll know later, I re-visited some of my older blog posts. Some of them really brought back memories, especially the ones about Arts Camp and of course, Hong Kong. Can’t believe that it’s been 4 months since I have returned. Apart from that, if I applied a tag cloud on the contents of my blog, the word ‘school’ will probably stand out the most.

Anyway, I was rather fascinated by some of the contents and style of writing I used in some of my older entries. Fast forward to today, and my style has probably changed pretty much. Then again people do change, and I shall just look back at those entries knowing that they are genuine reflections of myself and my style back then.

I would say that this blog has pretty much served its main purpose as a priceless diary of my life since I started blogging. This will be my last entry here.

Touching – Beautifully Imperfect

Just came across this ‘Funeral Commercial’ on Facebook, and it left such a deep impression on me that I just had to blog about it. Yes, I teared a little while watching it. To evoke such emotions in 3 minutes pretty much highlights the power of the script. The message itself, “Beautifully Imperfect”, was beautiful. The directing and photography was excellent too, and to date is one of the most impressive advertisements I have ever came across. Not to mention it’s a local production.

The commercial probably ‘touched’ me more than it would others due what I been through last month. Through all that happened, I have very much learnt to treasure my family much more, and this commercial was a timely reminder of that.

Taking Life for Granted

So many things to blog about. First of, yes it’s high time I changed my blog skin. In fact, I had plans to do more than just change my blog skin, but work and many other distractions have put my plans on hold.

I’m more than halfway through my internship, and although work has been building up, things have been great. Simply put it, it’s true when people say that there’s no point really studying so hard, as you really only learn best only when you experience it. It’s true, and I’m not sure how this mentality is going to get me through honours year come August.

Blogs and Facebook has been my key to keeping up to date with what’s happening in and around school. If there’s one thing I have to complain about internship, it’s that I no longer get to experience that ‘fun’ side of school. Have already missed quite abit of activities in the last month due to certain distractions in life.

In many ways, last month was one to forgot. The superstitious side of me is glad that April has come to hopefully wash away all the ‘bad’ in March. I’ve been in hospital premises for more times in a month than my lifetime. For one, it felt horrible to lie in the hospital bed myself, but it felt many times worse to see people you know lying there as well. More so if its a loved one. Dad just had an op, and days before, during and after the op was really hard for me personally. Thank goodness he’s better now, but it’s through this month that I realise how much I’ve been taking life for granted. I mentioned before how conversations with friends now often linger around work and quarter life crisis, but I soon realised that the one major sign of us aging is when we see our parents starting to age, and in the process experiencing sickness. I’ve spent much of the last months enjoying myself in Hong Kong and taking life as it is, only to realise that I’ve perhaps been a little to carefree to assume that things were always to be smooth sailing.

Spent almost the entire day doing housework, something which I usually relied on my Dad to do. I felt a little down with all the chores not because I felt tired, but more because I realised how tough it really is, and how I’ve relied too much on Dad to handle all of that. It’s really time to do my part, instead of just bumming around in front of the computer. Routines at home have changed, and it really is a wakeup call for me.

Down

Bad bad month. I pray for everything to turn out for the better. And it doesn’t help that I have work and personal plans all lined up ahead of me.

Worst Week of My Life

The last week was perhaps one of the worst ever in my 24 years. I fell horribly ill during the previous weekend, struggled in bed at home, went to the doctor, struggled another day at home, went to the hospital in the wee hours for outpatient treatment, and struggled another full day at home. Throughout all these, I was running a high fever and had a very bad stomach, with runs to the toilet in between. It finally hit the ‘limit’ on Monday night when I was admitted to hospital with high fever and some very bad stomach infection. I finally managed to get out today.

It was my first ever admission, and I so want it to be my last. Many times, especially during the start of the week, I felt so painful and horrible that at times I just wanted to ask if there was some kind of jab which could put me to sleep until the pain subsided. Through the few days my life was only about sleeping on the hospital bed or sitting in the hospital toilet, and it felt really miserable. The biggest pain of all would be the cost of this whole saga. This unfortunate incident had cost a bomb, and I’m just feeling really down and upset that I have to burden my parents with all these. I can perhaps tell myself that no one could really predict this, and that such unforseen but necessary expenses will always have to be spent in life, but it’s just painful.

The whole thing suddenly brought me to re-think about the whole issue of money, and about how I really want to quickly finish my studies so as to go out to work. Being stuck there in the hospital just gave me so much time to think about anything and everything, and how I could perhaps do so much more with my life. I get upset when I (think I) burden or let my parents down, and am somehow now more determined to work even harder to provide for them in the future.

Of course, I always see the importance of seeing the positives out of the negatives. So despite all the downs, I’m glad I got to experience much love, care and concern during this week. Also, I can count myself lucky that this didn’t happen when I was in HK, nor when I am in a full semester in school. Furthermore, it’s kind of a hellish period in school now, and what a disaster it would have been if this kept me out for a whole week of school. Although there are only two positives out of the many negatives, I’ll just be thankful for them.