Sunday, February 28, 2010

Multiple Intelligence

Usually we measure intelligence with these questions: How smart are you? How high is your IQ? What school do you attend? However, research has found out that intelligence is not just about IQ, instead consider these questions instead: What are you smart in? Which area of intelligence are you better in?





I am good at Interpersonal, kinaesthetic and musical skills!












The multiple intelligent test was definitely beneficial in helping me establish the fact that intelligence is not measured by “how intelligent are you”, but “how are you intelligent”. This has aided me in boosting my self-confidence as a student leader. Although I am not good at nature, I now know that I can lead people through my intra-personal and musical talents.

The test has definitely made me realize my weakness and strength. Now, knowing my weaknesses, I will try to improve on them, and also maintain my strengths at the same time.

For example, while I may be quite effective in written communication, I am actually weak in verbal communication and also not so ‘sensitive’ to body and gestural languages. I have made a personal commitment to improve on this area.

I strongly agree with this approach as I feel that leadership is about influencing people to do your cause and good leadership is about ‘effective influencing’. To be able to do this we must exercise powerful communication skill and understanding the needs and motivation of the people you want to influence.

I was quite surprised at first that my linguistic ability was so good. I had always gotten low grades for my language arts (English) and was not very good at words… but now that I know that I am intelligent at this area, I should pay more attention to my speaking abilities and practice by trying to speak more in public. I have recently been selected to join the ProEd Café OT, and this is a good opportunity to network with more people who come to the Café, rather than just being the “silent accountant”.

I hope I can look back proudly 10 years later, and boldly say that I have overcome my weaknesses and even further improved on my strengths.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Leadership journey in Hwa Chong - Student Council

It has been year being a student councillor in my school. Till now, I have not regretted this decision and student council is truly a good leadership training for me. I can still vividly remember the day I handed the nomination to my council mentor, the day I took the interview with whole body trembling, with voice shaking, and feet tense. It always appears in front of me as if it was just yesterday.

Recently I was allocated the job of Programs organizer for my consortium leadership camp, which aims to pick out leaders into council. One of the game, which required the students to share their views on controversial questions, really inspired me to think deeper into the meaning of being in council.

The question we planned to set for the students was: Should council be put as first priority before academics? Before even thinking about possible answers the participants would give to us, I began thinking about this question, and was trying very hard to answer it myself.

Of course, for the participants, the politically correct answer is: Yes. However, I do not have a clue to the answering my own question honestly. I must be crazy!

I began to think about the present. Recently, my fellow councillor have been commenting that I am not committed enough to council. But also just yesterday, my parents have been complaining that I have too many responsibilities at hand, and academic studies is still the basic duty of a student.

Then I linked back to the past. Why did I join council in the first place? I remembered it was because I wanted to receive the fantastic leadership education my school provides. It was enriching and of course, daunting, but I really wanted to be a level above my fellow schoolmates.

Now, I have the answer. I should have a healthy balance between council and academic education.

Going to school is the basic job of a student. We are learning in this school because we are setting up the foundations and qualifications for our future. To aspire to become a lawyer, doctor, entrepeuner, or engineer, we have to learn the required knowledge in school.

However, it is common misconception that besides basic education, other activities are not important. I beg to differ. Leadership is also an education, and this an extremely skill of life that would carry me through the rest of life. I would forget quadratic expressions by 21 years old.

As my director of consortium likes to say, "Hwa Chong is a school that provides you a very wide range of buffet food - from China culture to organizing events to examining animals in biology. You have to pick the best food , and don't make yourself too full. Try a little of everything."

My hope in 2010 is that I will not only be just a student, I will not just be a leader, but I will be a student leader that would strike a wise balance between studies and leadership. For example, I can focus more on studies when nearing tests, and focus more on organizing my event during the holidays.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Is Euthanasia the right thing to do?

This is definitely a million-dollar question that has sparked off many arguments and debates all over the world. Some think it is justified because it is a peaceful way to end the patient's suffering, whereas some think killing is still a immoral act. I will share the point of view of the supporters of Euthanasia, before defending my own point of view.

Euthanasia is basically the painless killing of patients with incurable and painful diseases, or with irreversible coma. This practice is illegal in most countries and many have expressed their contempt over this.

Many feel that Euthanasia is the correct thing to do if you love your family member, who is suffering from the great pain incurable diseases has brought to him. They strongly feel that Euthanasia is justified because it is painless killing with good intentions of ending the patient's suffering. After all, the diseases are incurable.

It is true that there is almost zero chance of cure to be discovered and waited for after the patient's is diagnosed with the chronic diseases. Instead of waiting in immense pain for many years - maybe in vain - Euthanasia provides a peaceful death to the unbearable misery.

Many have expressed their anger over family members preventing the patients from receiving Euthanasia because they are optimistic about a possible cure. They argue vehemently that all people should be given human rights to make his or her own decisions. If the patient can't bear the pain, just let him be. This is being merciful.

However, I don't think receiving Euthanasia is merciful. Only protecting life is merciful. As a Christian, I strongly believe that no matter the circumstances, killing is always not right.

No matter how low the percentage of possibility is, we can never measure hope in crude numbers. No matter how impossible the chance of finding cure is, we should never give up because life is precious and we must always protect life.

There were a lot of cases in world history where just a few months after the patients choose to receive Euthanasia, the cure for the so called "incurable" diseases have been discovered. What a pity that these patients gave up the impossible possibility.

Life is beautiful. Life is precious. Life is joy. We should appreciate life because once you choose to die, everything would be gone. There would be no such thing as "choice", or "option" anymore. Even the privilege of bearing hope and optimism for a cure is taken away.

Regarding the point on human rights, family members should help the patients make the decisions. It is just like how our parents help us make all the decisions when we were young. The patients' decisions may be overrided by their emotions, so their family members should help them make the rational decisions.

Euthanasia is killing, and killing is definitely not merciful. Only hope and optimism for beautiful life is precious.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

A New Year

Another year has passed - Saturday marks yet another Chinese New Year. I can still vividly recall last year, when as a new Secondary One, I was sitting down in the Kah Kee Hall, watching the exciting performances on stage. 2009 was indeed an eventful year of much change and development in my life. This year, I will be organizing the event as Logistics In-charge with a few of my fellow councillors.

A year has passed - looking back, I have already felt the good education and learning I have benefitted and absorbed from Hwa Chong over the past 12 months- in sports, academics, the arts, and above all, leadership training.

A year has passed - It has been a eventful year and indeed, a fruitful and productive year - I was being elected as Class Chairman, and nominated into Council. That was the start of my leadership training in Hwa Chong. It is common belief and saying in comics, movies and books - "You are the chosen one", I think it should be "You are the one who chose this path". Indeed, there are no born leaders in this world. Leadership starts from a small, but significant choice and initiative.

A year has passed - reflecting on my leadership journey so far, I have further strengthen and confirmed my belief that everything has a sacrifice to it. Last year, as councillors, we had many events and commitments we had to attend. This has no doubt, tremendously increased the load on our shoulders. But I like this famous saying - "Don't ask for a light load, but a strong back". An arduous journey lies before me, but since I have already chosen this path, I will persist on and never give up.

A new year has arrived - it seemed like it was just yesterday that I was still the gullible and muddle-headed Sec 1 finding my way to the Chinese New Year concert. But in reality, it is also yesterday that I facilitated the Chinese New Year concert rehearsal in preparation for Friday. I can sense the change of maturity in me. I am now Sec 2, and many more responsibilities, duties and commitments lie ahead of me. I hope I will not be daunted by the increase in responsibilities, but be glad that I can benefit and learn more through these commitments.

A new year has arrived - fortunately I scored a 1.17 msg for last year. But the honest fear of losing out to my peers and not being able to perform consistently still daunts me everyday. I hope I will not be afraid by the possibility of not performing well in terms of academic for Sec 2, but be motivated, optimistic and just do my best according to practical plans and actions.

I just hope in the new year: I can make more friends, strengthen relationships with existing friends, just perform to my best for tests, and be a good role model as councillor to everyone. In this new year, I just want to make the best out of what Hwa Chong has offered me.

Chinese New Year symbolizes the start of yet another year, more challenging, more daunting. Let me start a new chapter in my life, to become more resilient, more determined.