Friday, April 30, 2004
I have just read the shortest, simplest and sweetest birthday greeting on best female-friended Debbie's blog. Yes, its the same "met-seven-years-ago-playing-hide-and-seek-forever-friend" debbie who has probably never remembered birthdays till now. Its an honour indeed! :)
he rocked the party at 8:50 PM |
Now there's a reason why i didnt even post a single entry last sunday, the wonderful beautiful 25th of April: a day where, 19 years ago, shooting stars fell out of the sky, Bill Gates came up with Windows, teddy bears started whispering to each other, the sky turned golden-pink, a rainbow appeared upside-down, and the great yours truly was born.
That reason being: I had to troop down to SIA Training Centre, duffel bag of army uniforms in tow, for my final interview for the SIA Undergrad Scholarship. Exciting, aint it? After spending the week sneakily reading through newspaper cutouts during my Admin Time in camp, preparing huge radical strategies on how SIA could beat competition from the evil budget airlines, i suppose i was a little taken aback at how easy the interview went. All i did was talk about Commandos (as if i didnt talk enough about it), my father's business (huh?) and myself. Went away feeling cheated and wondering if i was simply one of those who were there to make up the numbers...
Well guess what: I got it!
Yes indeed, the impossible has happened, and although its not official, yours truly has been awarded an SIA scholarship to study overseas!
Like the A Levels, the euphoria hasnt worn off, spent Thursday Friday and Saturday grinning my head off in camp, to the annoyance of my commanders. 'Course, its not official yet, i havent signed any contract or even been accepted to any university overseas whatsoever. But i suppose things would be much easier from now onwards, without hectic interview schedules to adhere to. -whew-
Heck, its a miracle. And a wonderful one at that. As always, its all up to God, and i know i could never have gotten it if it werent for Him.
Well, well, looks like Valuair and the rest of the wussy budget airlines have got something to worry about. Mess with the best, die like the rest, yeah? Heh.
he rocked the party at 8:30 PM |
Thursday, April 08, 2004
or more specifically, about attempt-to-sound-intellectual, personal-philosophy-sculpting, billows-of-smoke-spouting, impressive-word-adding, brazen-self-selling, talking during interviews.
Welcome to the world of the articulate, world-jaded, and razor-witted scholar. Four book outs from camp (gaining me the title "Whole Life Book Out Lionel" amongst platoon mates and officers) to go for interviews for Firefly, CAAS, SIA and a test for IDA has proven to be extremely trying. I do believe my self-impression that i can crap my way through anything has all but vaporised. Its certainly an experience, for sure. Reality has slapped me in the face: that the real world is a far cry from college, from politics in CCAs, from work-hard-and-you'll-make-it cries. Forget all that rubbish about school being a "microcosm of society" (which, incidentally, is a phrase i've used countless times in scholarhsip essays and interviews) In the real world, there's always someone better than you in all aspects, and the only way you're going to get around that is if you're lucky, or if you're likable. (but its so much easier to like the better person) Which is hard. In the real world, there are no second chances. A stupid screw-up in a sentence could cost you everything..
But it isnt all bad, really. I think i'll do okay in the real world, now that i've interacted, verbal sparred, worked with, totally opposed, impressed, seen in action, the best singapore has to offer. Now i know why everyone's muttering about our "world-class workforce", with folks like these, i've got no worries for singapore. These people are no PAP-supporting, rigid, bookworm scholars. They are opinionated, ambitious (sometimes to the point of being ruthless), politically shrewd, creative, and dynamic. Heck, if there was a Survivor Scholar, it'll be the most watched programme of all time. Being in the same room with them has been enriching, horizon-widing, and has helped me to discover lots about myself.
That aside, they're lovely to talk to as well. A three-hour wait for my SIA interview flew by in the company of people who talk as if we were close friends. Feelings of mutual hatred for a bitch of an interviewer in another undisclosed company have relieved some worries that i screwed up in that interview. And of course, who could forget Blaze, a (stressful) whole day activity based programme, organised by Firefly, where you're watched every minute. Team members Pluto, Yogi, BooBoo, Donald, Tom and another whose name i forgot, made me realise that excellence doesnt neccessarily make you different from others. Thank you guys :) and it was certainly an honour to be part of the only group who exchanged contacts!
Another aspect of the real world: that our lives will ALWAYS be dependant on someone, and that someone may not neccessarily be ideal. Bitchy interviewers are the obvious aspect. Those that challenge you, put you down, stare at you as if you're a maggot, are now a major peeve in my life. But heck, i discovered im not a wuss, that i CAN hold my own against such assholes. (maybe its cause of all my experience with bastard sergeants) Still, holding my ground or not, it may not neccessarily have won me my scholarship. Or how about stony-faced assessors who stare and stare and stare and stare and wickedly scribble notes on their clipboards with relish? -shudder-
Whatever. I think i did my best in all of them, which is good enough for me. I do hope its good enough for them though. As of now, i believe SIA has the best prospects and is the company that appeals to me the most. Interview went okay, analytical tests were fine, but my 400 worded GP essay certainly left something to be desired. The other companies are either 1)not appealing or 2)have probably chopped me already.
I do hope i get the SIA one. Really really really. Oh well, have more interviews for local unis coming up, and maybe some from Home affairs and stuff. Hopefully i'll get called back for subsequent rounds for those which ive already taken. We'll just have to wait and see!
he rocked the party at 7:30 PM |
