Dear Friends,

I have moved. But I will still keep this blog for sentimental reasons.

Here's the new add, so pls re-link:

http://thoroughly-scentified.blogspot.com/

It's my Dad's birthday today. We went to Botak Jones (amk) for dinner. Pretty good but my nephew wasn't feeling too well. Yeah now we're back at home so that my nephew can get a good bath before Dad drives them home.







I'm a little worried over the piles of marking I have to complete tonight. Sigh. It's not like they're terribly easy to mark. They are in fact, quite a torture. So many students did not follow instructions. Sigh. I'll manage, I guess.

I can't believe I found these photos on Facebook. My Sec 4 classmate actually put these up. I think this was taken in the canteen, shortly after our last 'O' level paper. I had good memories in Crescent, mainly due to the friends I've made. Apart from the studying bit, all went well...

I remember staying late in school to finish my O level Art project.. The rugby matches... the extra lessons.. the goofing around in the canteen. And using the canteen's cybercafe quite a bit! I I remember protesting against the use of live rabbits in biology class, protesting against the use of tadpoles for science experiments... the painting of class banners every sports day.. training for sports day... doodling in my textbooks, especially my Literature text, Macbeth, which I still have now.

I remember getting angry with the school, thinking the teachers are biased against Sec 4/9, because we are the arts class. I remember going for counselling and snubbing the counsellor because I was angry.. I remember making a public apology to the school for my misdeeds and then feeling quite embarrassed but later happy cos all my friends were behind me...

I remember meeting my best friend, whom I still am friends with today...







Yes we were forced to tuck in our shirts for photo taking. The nerdy hairstyles were once fashionable. The socks were pulled up. And yes, schools were much stricter than, especially with fringes and skirts. But yeah, I enjoyed myself. There was a class spirit and a school spirit which I don't see in my students today. We hated the strict rules but at the end of the day, we are proud to be part of the school. Any school event, we'll be there. Any basketball match, or hockey match, we'll cheer our hearts out.

Way to go, Crescent Girls. You've become a school way better than you were before. It started from our time but look at where you are now.

Crescent Girls, Sec 4/9, 1999. Gone were the days, but present are the memories.

I'm sorry but I'm stressed now. I don't know, my heart just cannot stop racing. I can't get to sleep even though I laid on bed for 1.5hrs. I know I am tired. But I haven't stopped since 0740 this morning.

I want to stop.

I want to relax.

I can't.

I watched TV, blogsurfed, tried to read, but no. I can't stop thinking about work.

I'm screwed.

I need to stop thinking about work. I'm going hysterical!!!!! Can my heart just slow down? Can I just sleep???? HELP.

There was one thing which kept me going during my school days. Or rather, there was one aspect of my studies which I cannot deny, is the most important factor in making me who I am today - Literature.

Today, or rather, these few days, have been very stressful. My mind was suddenly flooded with many thoughts. One of them bugged me the entire day - Why are students biased towards Literature? And no, this thought wasn't random at all, it emerged from a string of comments from people around me. I don't have a right to be angry, because everyone has a right to their opinion. I'm just frustrated.

"Literature is difficult because there's no right or wrong answer. Poetry is something foreign and even alien. The text is too thick and scary. Any poem can come out in the exam. The language can't be understood. You need good English to do well. You need to be able to write. Literature is tough. Especially at the upper levels. Don't try. Try other subjects. At least the other subjects, there's a right or wrong answer. "

Why do people believe so? Why? Even after I tried to inject life, to make the subject interesting. Why does the public still shun the subject? Why?

Why can't people drop their biases towards the subject?

Precisely it's because there's no right or wrong answer that makes the subject interesting. Because you can argue any point you want, as long as you have evidence to prove your point. Because poetry talks about human life, love, relationships, pain, suffering, loneliness. Because the text is all you need to conquer the exam. No matter how thick. Because Literature is related to English. Because it makes you a better writer. Because Because Because!

The people who are biased towards Literature are the ones who don't know what Literature is TRULY about. How ironic!

Literature saved me.

When I was in school, I did not have the motivation to put in my best. My elders thought the only way to go was to do well in Science and Math. I was good at Science but compared to my schoolmates, my Math was really not up to standard. Till I did Literature. I could understand Shakespeare easily. I saw the meaning behind languages easily. I developed a passion for it because it was the only subject which could allow ANY POSSIBLE ANSWER, as long as you can come up with evidence.

I'm drained. I don't know if I can carry on teaching the subject when year in year out, there are so many people who want to do the subject but shun it because of hidden fears and unfounded hearsay. And especially if these people are clearly Lit people. It just IRKS me.

I want to help others enjoy the subject, but if only people see the true meaning of the subject, and not the biased opinions of other people. I can only do my best and nothing else.
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I'm just tired. Hopefully I regain my strength soon.