I am at the end of a most packed and tiring day. Today was the day of my NUS interview, which made it the day that I both looked forward to and dreaded. Incidently, this was the first time in my life attending an interview where the stakes were high, and the pressure to perform was just so real. I did not see anyone I knew today, which was in sharp contrast to sunday's essay test. I tried to arrive early today, but by the time I located the office, it was almost time to begin. The letter didn't give the exact venue, so I actually walked past it without knowing that I was at my destination. I was wondering what the attire should be, and for a moment, I was contemplating No. 3, but then I decided to play safe, and I'm so glad I did. Almost everyone there was formally dressed.
My first interview was in this board room, where the lights were set to a rather serious atmosphere. There were 3 profs across the table, and I was alone on the other side. Thankfully, they put me at ease by starting off with something that I was comfortable talking about, but they slowly went deeper into issues such as why I wanted to study medicine. One of them asked me about the bird flu epidemic, and whether Singapore was at risk. I was caught here, because I haven't had time to read since enlistment. There was only so much that I could discuss before I had to admit that I hadn't read much about it recently. I tried to go along the lines that Singapore was still at risk simply because it had birds, and it had people. The interviewer then asked whether there was any evidence to prove this, but I said that there wasn't any evidence to prove that SARS posed a risk to the entire population, either. I hope that I wasn't marked down too badly for that. By God's grace, they accepted my answers without much criticism or probing.
My second interview was in the next building, and was less intimidating than the first. The questions took a slant towards what had not been covered in the first interview, and more personal issues addressed here. For example, I was given the situation where 3 people arrived at emergency for treatment: A 70-year old lady who is almost breathless, a teenage girl who had just tried to take her own life and a man in his 50s who was suffering from a heart problem, and was asked who I would treat first if I were a doctor. In the end, I said that it is important to have meaning in life, and that someone who has no meaning has not really lived. The girl who tried to take her own life evidently had lost her meaning in life, and would be deprived of living a full life should she pass away, which is why I believed she needed the treatment most.
The same interviewer went on to describe a situation where doctors have their lives dominated by their careers, and have very little time left for their families. She gave me another scenario of a doctor who said that he cared for his family, but his wife gave him a talking to and told them that he had been absent in so many important occasions in their family, such as the children's birthdays, the children's graduations, PTM, their anniversary, and a long list of events... and ended by questioning whether he really cared for them or not. I tried to say that it is the little things that make a difference to show that the doctor cares for his/her family even though he can't be there all the time. I hope none of the interviewers are reading this now, but I have begun to wonder whether she actually had much more than a mere point in bringing this up today. This is something that I had not given serious consideration, and the realisation of it can be quite daunting.
My uni applications are all in God's hands now, and I can only trust that the Lord will provide, no matter what the outcome is.
Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord
Great is thy faithfulness.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Thank God
There's so much to thank God for. Firstly and most importantly, Jesus' resurrection on easter sunday made it possible for us to have eternal life, which makes us forever grateful.
Secondly, MAJ Chew gave me time off tomorrow for the appointment, which I'm really thankful for, beacuse I really didn't expect it.
Thirdly, my driving test date is finally in sight, and I actually have hope of passing, given my performance at the last lesson, ceteris paribus. lol.
Last but not least, I just found out yesterday that I'm shortlisted for medicine. Yay! It's all in God's hands now. The only thing is that my interview date clashes with my driving test date, which cannot be changed without incurring a 4 month wait, so I hope that they can change my interview date for me.
Another abrupt ending. I kind of forgot how to end properly since I stopped writing essays not too long ago.
Secondly, MAJ Chew gave me time off tomorrow for the appointment, which I'm really thankful for, beacuse I really didn't expect it.
Thirdly, my driving test date is finally in sight, and I actually have hope of passing, given my performance at the last lesson, ceteris paribus. lol.
Last but not least, I just found out yesterday that I'm shortlisted for medicine. Yay! It's all in God's hands now. The only thing is that my interview date clashes with my driving test date, which cannot be changed without incurring a 4 month wait, so I hope that they can change my interview date for me.
Another abrupt ending. I kind of forgot how to end properly since I stopped writing essays not too long ago.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
gym @ panpac
It's that time of the year again when we remember that Christ died for our sins and rose again on the 3rd day, so that we can have eternal life. I hope we haven't become indifferent after doing this year after year, as Uncle Soo Yeong said yesterday. My good friday was a really packed day. First, there was church, and I attended 2nd service, followed by lunch with the worship team at mac's. My mum was apalled that I was eating fast food twice in two days, so I didn't dare tell her that it was actually three times and not twice:P Anyway, I had BB senior's reunion at zhic's house immediately after that, and it was simply a great time of fellowship with each other. That took me until nearly evening, when I came home.
This morning, I went with mum to gym at panpac. The gym there is really nice, and the equipment is new, but I still think that the AC gym beats it any day. The pool is always in the shade, which means that it's a great place to relax. After that, we had lunch at marina, and then got some movies from esplanade library. It's really such a big change from being a student, where I enjoy free afternoons. But then, God knows what I'll see at the office on monday.
This morning, I went with mum to gym at panpac. The gym there is really nice, and the equipment is new, but I still think that the AC gym beats it any day. The pool is always in the shade, which means that it's a great place to relax. After that, we had lunch at marina, and then got some movies from esplanade library. It's really such a big change from being a student, where I enjoy free afternoons. But then, God knows what I'll see at the office on monday.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
In the garden
I never realised how pleasant one north park is, that is, until today, where I spent a considerable amount of time. I had to attend the MOE psychometric test today, where I knew no one, and I felt really lost. The first three tests were designed in such a way that we would have trouble finishing on time, but then maybe it's just that I'm slow. By the afternoon was over, I felt well and truly psychoed. lol. Anyway, my parents would not arrive for another half an hour, so I thought I would spend the time at the nice park across the road. The park is really nice, with a great view of the surroundings and the pleasant atmosphere. With some help from coca-cola and creative, the park is really the ideal place to enjoy the nice saturday afternoon.
I'm still rather blur at work. It's quite a big change from tekong, to keep seeing officers with 2 or 3 crabs walking past. The other day, I actually walked past a general without realising it, which means that I also forgot to greet him. Oops. Big mistake. The computer system is really giving me big headaches. Tomorrow is sunday, which means that I better sleep early tonight to avoid visiting dreamland in church tomorrow.
I'm still rather blur at work. It's quite a big change from tekong, to keep seeing officers with 2 or 3 crabs walking past. The other day, I actually walked past a general without realising it, which means that I also forgot to greet him. Oops. Big mistake. The computer system is really giving me big headaches. Tomorrow is sunday, which means that I better sleep early tonight to avoid visiting dreamland in church tomorrow.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Recent Happenings
There's a lot to talk about since the last time I posted, which was before enlistment. Now, I've got a new occupation, new friends, and of course, a new hairstyle. I'm going to write this entry in parts, with the more recent being on top.
Passage 1
I just came back from worship rehearsal at church. Today, it looked like the sound system did not want to cooperate with me, resulting in almost all the mics not working after being plugged in. -sigh- So, I decided to try relying on cordless mics, but then they run on batteries which drain very fast, so that won't be a permanent solution to the situation. The church computer also had some problems setting up and reading data, so it wasn't really an easy time for me. Or maybe it was just me. Maybe NS caused me to loose touch with ordinary life so much that I forgot. Anyway, it didn't go too badly (by my standards anyway) haha
I'm quite happy with the way that things have turned out. I got posted to MINDEF, where I work in the G2 Army unit, which means that I get to come home everyday. I'm rather enjoying my work, which deals with admin and projects, and of course a fair share of restricted / confidential / secret info. (which we're all under oath not to disclose) There's really so much to learn, and I had a vast information overload on my first two days of work. I got sent for a course on my second day, and I turned out to be the only recruit there, which explains why I was so lost. Never mind, I will take things slowly.
Passage 2
Last monday was my enlistment day, the day which marked the big change from civilian life to military life. The instructions in the enlistment notice told us to go to pasir ris interchange and catch the free bus to the SAF ferry terminal, but I didn't fancy being packed onto public buses with complete strangers, so my parents parked at the beach park instead, and we took a morning walk to the ferry terminal where we had a long wait before we got on the ferry.
Anyway, we got to tekong, and the parents got a tour of the school grounds, while we were all sent to the main auditorium first to be trained to sit properly, and the proper conduct during the oath-taking ceremony. The sergeants used lines like "Eh, you sitting at a coffeeshop, is it?!" when some people were slacking in their posture. Anyway, they taught us to shout the oath out (yes, shout) just before the ceremony itself, and it was quite a miracle that everyone learned so fast. After the rehearsal, the sergeant then asked "Who here is from nanyang poly?", and when a hand was raised, he immediately asked "Eh what's going on at your school ah? Unbecoming!" Anyway, the rest of the first day went like clockwork, and the rest of my time there was quite enjoyable in many ways, especially with all the jokes by the WOs. And at tekong, they really feed us too well. I had trouble finishing almost all of my meals, and that was quite a waste of food. By the way, I'm in Leopard Company, Platoon 2, Section 1.
One evening, when my company was having dinner, they started doing flag lowering, so everyone was suppose to freeze wherever they were, and keep still until the whole thing was over. However, I was at the other side washing my hands, so I didn't know that they were doing flag lowering, until a COS shouted and pointed in my direction. I just started walking back to my seat when he pointed at me and shouted:"Stop! You over there!" Just then, I heard the trumpet playing retreat, then I realised what was happening. Well, you can't blame me, right? It was only my second day there. The irony was that after I complied, the COS started walking around while everyone else was keeping still.
It's late now, and I'm out of things to write, so it's the end.
Passage 1
I just came back from worship rehearsal at church. Today, it looked like the sound system did not want to cooperate with me, resulting in almost all the mics not working after being plugged in. -sigh- So, I decided to try relying on cordless mics, but then they run on batteries which drain very fast, so that won't be a permanent solution to the situation. The church computer also had some problems setting up and reading data, so it wasn't really an easy time for me. Or maybe it was just me. Maybe NS caused me to loose touch with ordinary life so much that I forgot. Anyway, it didn't go too badly (by my standards anyway) haha
I'm quite happy with the way that things have turned out. I got posted to MINDEF, where I work in the G2 Army unit, which means that I get to come home everyday. I'm rather enjoying my work, which deals with admin and projects, and of course a fair share of restricted / confidential / secret info. (which we're all under oath not to disclose) There's really so much to learn, and I had a vast information overload on my first two days of work. I got sent for a course on my second day, and I turned out to be the only recruit there, which explains why I was so lost. Never mind, I will take things slowly.
Passage 2
Last monday was my enlistment day, the day which marked the big change from civilian life to military life. The instructions in the enlistment notice told us to go to pasir ris interchange and catch the free bus to the SAF ferry terminal, but I didn't fancy being packed onto public buses with complete strangers, so my parents parked at the beach park instead, and we took a morning walk to the ferry terminal where we had a long wait before we got on the ferry.
Anyway, we got to tekong, and the parents got a tour of the school grounds, while we were all sent to the main auditorium first to be trained to sit properly, and the proper conduct during the oath-taking ceremony. The sergeants used lines like "Eh, you sitting at a coffeeshop, is it?!" when some people were slacking in their posture. Anyway, they taught us to shout the oath out (yes, shout) just before the ceremony itself, and it was quite a miracle that everyone learned so fast. After the rehearsal, the sergeant then asked "Who here is from nanyang poly?", and when a hand was raised, he immediately asked "Eh what's going on at your school ah? Unbecoming!" Anyway, the rest of the first day went like clockwork, and the rest of my time there was quite enjoyable in many ways, especially with all the jokes by the WOs. And at tekong, they really feed us too well. I had trouble finishing almost all of my meals, and that was quite a waste of food. By the way, I'm in Leopard Company, Platoon 2, Section 1.
One evening, when my company was having dinner, they started doing flag lowering, so everyone was suppose to freeze wherever they were, and keep still until the whole thing was over. However, I was at the other side washing my hands, so I didn't know that they were doing flag lowering, until a COS shouted and pointed in my direction. I just started walking back to my seat when he pointed at me and shouted:"Stop! You over there!" Just then, I heard the trumpet playing retreat, then I realised what was happening. Well, you can't blame me, right? It was only my second day there. The irony was that after I complied, the COS started walking around while everyone else was keeping still.
It's late now, and I'm out of things to write, so it's the end.