Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Dressing for success / 5:24 PM
Many will think that companies should not judge their employees from their appearance, but I believe the reasons they do so is for the best interest of the company.
Everyone knows that one’s inner beauty is very important, but if the person does not take care of his or her appearance, who will bother to understand the person better? Hence this shows that first impression is very important.
During an interview, the employer will judge the interviewee’s capabilities from how the person carries himself or herself. The employer has very little time with the interviewee so one of the ways the employer judge is by appearance. From how the interviewee dresses, u will be able to know the interviewee’s character and if he or she is serious about the interview. Moreover, between two individuals with equal potential or talents, it is natural for the employer to choose the one that is more pleasing to the eye. On the other hand, there are jobs which require the employees to be very aware of their outer beauty, such as being a model or a beauty specialist.
However, I agree that appearance is not the only way the employer should judge an employee and I believe that most employers are not as shallow to judge people only base on their appearance.
There are different ways to dress for different situations. When you are going for an interview or having a meeting with your superiors, try not to dress overly “loud” (too many colours on the same clothing or too revealing) whereas when you are partying with your friends you can wear anything you like. Lastly, will you wear jeans with holes or a t-shirt with rude slogan to a wedding? No! So remember to think twice about what you wear because it influences people’s opinion of you.
Another issue regarding beauty is plastic surgery. I do not discourage plastic surgery as there are a number of people who gain confidence after they went through the surgery, but I am quite disgusted by people who are naturally beautiful but continuously go for plastic surgery till they changed a lot of themselves. When it all comes down to it, a person should not go for plastic surgery just to please others, but should only do it for themselves.
Everyone knows that one’s inner beauty is very important, but if the person does not take care of his or her appearance, who will bother to understand the person better? Hence this shows that first impression is very important.
During an interview, the employer will judge the interviewee’s capabilities from how the person carries himself or herself. The employer has very little time with the interviewee so one of the ways the employer judge is by appearance. From how the interviewee dresses, u will be able to know the interviewee’s character and if he or she is serious about the interview. Moreover, between two individuals with equal potential or talents, it is natural for the employer to choose the one that is more pleasing to the eye. On the other hand, there are jobs which require the employees to be very aware of their outer beauty, such as being a model or a beauty specialist.
However, I agree that appearance is not the only way the employer should judge an employee and I believe that most employers are not as shallow to judge people only base on their appearance.
There are different ways to dress for different situations. When you are going for an interview or having a meeting with your superiors, try not to dress overly “loud” (too many colours on the same clothing or too revealing) whereas when you are partying with your friends you can wear anything you like. Lastly, will you wear jeans with holes or a t-shirt with rude slogan to a wedding? No! So remember to think twice about what you wear because it influences people’s opinion of you.
Another issue regarding beauty is plastic surgery. I do not discourage plastic surgery as there are a number of people who gain confidence after they went through the surgery, but I am quite disgusted by people who are naturally beautiful but continuously go for plastic surgery till they changed a lot of themselves. When it all comes down to it, a person should not go for plastic surgery just to please others, but should only do it for themselves.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Conceptions of Success / 9:11 PM
What does success means to you?
Being successful may be seen commonly as one with high authority or popularity, achieved a lot or even one who earn lots of money. Though this may be the case for some people, I believe that as long as one tried his or her best in whatever they are passionate about, they are successful. Even if others don’t think so, they did not let themselves down.
Blessed with an industrious and self-disciplined spirit, Susan B. Anthony persevered through the prejudice and culture of her time to emerge as the architect of a movement which secured the passage of the 19th amendment that gave women the right to vote. Her belief that U.S. citizenry entitled everyone to the same rights under the constitution formed her platform for lifelong activism.
"Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation."
— Susan B. Anthony
From this quote, i notice her resolve to succeed. I agree with her that one who care more about his or her social status would not be able to help others. To succeed one must be willing to try any possibilities and take chances.
Being successful may be seen commonly as one with high authority or popularity, achieved a lot or even one who earn lots of money. Though this may be the case for some people, I believe that as long as one tried his or her best in whatever they are passionate about, they are successful. Even if others don’t think so, they did not let themselves down.
Person whom I deem to be successful.
Susan B. Anthony
Susan Brownwell Anthony was honored with her appearance on the Susan B. Anthony dollar.
Susan B. Anthony was the first person who came my mind when i thought about whom i deem to be successful. I remembered her due to her dollar coin. I once read a book that wrote a little about her. I was inspired but did not went to look up for more information. This time i know more about her and also learn a lot from her.
Susan B. AnthonySusan Brownwell Anthony was honored with her appearance on the Susan B. Anthony dollar.
Susan B. Anthony was the first person who came my mind when i thought about whom i deem to be successful. I remembered her due to her dollar coin. I once read a book that wrote a little about her. I was inspired but did not went to look up for more information. This time i know more about her and also learn a lot from her.
Susan Brownell Anthony (February 15, 1820 – March 13, 1906) was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She traveled the United States and Europe, and gave 75 to 100 speeches per year on women's rights for 45 years.
Blessed with an industrious and self-disciplined spirit, Susan B. Anthony persevered through the prejudice and culture of her time to emerge as the architect of a movement which secured the passage of the 19th amendment that gave women the right to vote. Her belief that U.S. citizenry entitled everyone to the same rights under the constitution formed her platform for lifelong activism.
"Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation."
— Susan B. Anthony
From this quote, i notice her resolve to succeed. I agree with her that one who care more about his or her social status would not be able to help others. To succeed one must be willing to try any possibilities and take chances.
Early life:
She was forced to end her formal studies because her family, like many others, was financially ruined during the Panic of 1837. Their losses were so great that they were forced to attempt to sell everything in an auction, even their most personal belongings.Anthony left home to teach and to help pay off her father's debts. She taught first at Eunice Kenyon's Friends' Seminary in New Rochelle, and then at the Canajoharie Academy in 1846, where she rose to become headmistress of the Female Department.
Even after suffering such a big setback of being financially burderned, Susan B. Anthony did not give up. It is easy to say that one should not give up when he or she meet obstacles, but how many can actually do that? It is not easy to not fall into self-pity and move on.
In 1849, at age 29, Anthony quit teaching andbegan to take part in conventions and gatherings related to the temperance movement. In Rochester, she attended the local Unitarian Church and began to distance herself from the Quakers, in part because she had frequently witnessed instances of hypocritical behavior such as alcohol abuse amongst Quaker preachers. As she got older, Anthony continued to move further away from organized religion in general, and she was later chastised by various Christian religious groups for displaying irreligious tendencies.
Though the above may not be a good thing , i applaud her for not being affected by others.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Anthony dedicated her life to "the cause," the woman suffrage movement. The accomplishments of Susan B. Anthony paved the way for the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 (14 years after her death) which gave women the right to vote. Her accomplishments include the following:
1) Founded the National Woman's Suffrage Association in 1869 with life-long friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Together they worked for women's suffrage for over 50 years.
2) Published "The Revolution" from 1868-1870, a weekly paper about the woman suffrage movement whose motto read, "Men their rights and nothing more, women their rights and nothing less.
3) First person arrested, put on trial and fined for voting on November 5, 1872. Unable to speak in her defense she refuse to pay "a dollar of your unjust penalty."
4) Wrote the Susan B. Anthony Amendment in 1878 which later became the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.
5)Helped found the National American Woman's Suffrage Association in 1890 which focused on a national amendment to secure women the vote. She served as president until 1900. )
6) Compiled and published "The History of Woman Suffrage (4 vols. 1881-1902) with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Matilda Joslyn Gage.
7) Founded the International Council of Women (1888) and the International Woman Suffrage Council (1904) which brought international attention to suffrage.
8) An organization genius -- her canvassing plan is still used today by grassroot and political organizations.
9) Gave 75-100 speeches a year for 45 years, traveling throughout the the United States by stage coach, wagon, carriage and train.
10)Led the only non-violent revolution in U.S. history -- the 72 year struggle to win women the right to vote.
Last words:"Failure is Impossible."
When i first saw this words. I thought that it is a bit harsh as i believe that people make mistakes and that most people will meet with failures at least once or twice. After i went to look up i realise that what she meant was about the woman suffrage movement. She meant that with such a worthy cause as theirs, "Failure is impossible!". From this we see her dedication and her confidence that the fight for women's equality will not fail.
She had inspired me to be as succeessful as her. I not only want to be someone who can achieve my own goals, but also I want to have the ability to help people and to give back to the society like she did. I learnt that we should have the courage to put our ideas into actions and have the courage to speak up to our beliefs.
How can this programme help you to get closer to your goals?
From this programme I will learnt more knowledge to further equip myself to do well in the society. I will also be able to developed more qualities that will enable me to work more efficiently in the future.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Scholarship & Service / 4:55 PM
§ What does scholarship mean to you?
At first I join the scholarship programme without much knowledge about what it is about, but I still went for the interview as I see it as a new experienced that will benefit me. Thus I will have a more fulfilling secondary school life.
As many people know, scholarship will provide us in monetary terms. Education does not come cheap, hence if a scholarship is granted it will really be a bonus.
Moreover, I think of scholarship as a mean to improve myself with the motivation of the peers I will be working with. At the same time, I will discover the different sides of myself that had been hidden. I believe that the new abilities found will help me in terms of my own achievements and will enable me to make a bigger impact on others. Lastly I hope to gain recognition.
§ What responsibilities does a scholar have?
Firstly, I think a scholar must be sure of what he or she wants. Secondly he must have the right attitude. I think that if someone possesses these two qualities they will be able to improve on what they lack and develop themselves to gain success. In the future they will be able to inspire and help others achieve their ambitions.
People look up to the scholars as scholars are the chosen ones. Hence they need to be better than others. Their academic result must be at a high standard consistently and they must have good character. Scholars need to be able to cope with the expectations.
Most importantly, scholars should be alert at all times as people see them as 'examples'. They have to make the right decisions and be responsible for the consequences of their actions.
§ What are some of the obstacles you think you will face?
I am not a very organise hence I need to put more effort if I want to accomplish tasks.
At the same time, I am also a very opinionated person and hate to be controlled. Worse still, I am quite hot-tempered. So when someone gets too bossy I may get angry. I think I need to improve on this as many at times we don’t get what we want in life. Even when we disagree, it may not be up to us. Moreover, if people with more authority instruct us, we cannot decline. Academically, I am also weaker than others so I need to work extra hard to get better.
§ Is a scholar also a leader? How so?
I believe that every scholar has the abilities to be a leader, but not all scholars need to be leaders. Different people have different personalities. Some are more outspoken while others work behind the scenes. Regardless of being a leader or a follower, all of us can impact the society in our own way. At the same time I believe that everyone can be a leader. Being a leader may not only be people with high authorities but also people who have the charisma to inspire others.
§ Who and how do you intend to serve as a scholar?
As a scholar I want to do my best in every given task. I want to be the one to change some of the injustice that people faces. Most importantly I want to be someone whom people will look up to. I want to inspire people, to make them see their capabilities.
At first I join the scholarship programme without much knowledge about what it is about, but I still went for the interview as I see it as a new experienced that will benefit me. Thus I will have a more fulfilling secondary school life.
As many people know, scholarship will provide us in monetary terms. Education does not come cheap, hence if a scholarship is granted it will really be a bonus.
Moreover, I think of scholarship as a mean to improve myself with the motivation of the peers I will be working with. At the same time, I will discover the different sides of myself that had been hidden. I believe that the new abilities found will help me in terms of my own achievements and will enable me to make a bigger impact on others. Lastly I hope to gain recognition.
§ What responsibilities does a scholar have?
Firstly, I think a scholar must be sure of what he or she wants. Secondly he must have the right attitude. I think that if someone possesses these two qualities they will be able to improve on what they lack and develop themselves to gain success. In the future they will be able to inspire and help others achieve their ambitions.
People look up to the scholars as scholars are the chosen ones. Hence they need to be better than others. Their academic result must be at a high standard consistently and they must have good character. Scholars need to be able to cope with the expectations.
Most importantly, scholars should be alert at all times as people see them as 'examples'. They have to make the right decisions and be responsible for the consequences of their actions.
§ What are some of the obstacles you think you will face?
I am not a very organise hence I need to put more effort if I want to accomplish tasks.
At the same time, I am also a very opinionated person and hate to be controlled. Worse still, I am quite hot-tempered. So when someone gets too bossy I may get angry. I think I need to improve on this as many at times we don’t get what we want in life. Even when we disagree, it may not be up to us. Moreover, if people with more authority instruct us, we cannot decline. Academically, I am also weaker than others so I need to work extra hard to get better.
§ Is a scholar also a leader? How so?
I believe that every scholar has the abilities to be a leader, but not all scholars need to be leaders. Different people have different personalities. Some are more outspoken while others work behind the scenes. Regardless of being a leader or a follower, all of us can impact the society in our own way. At the same time I believe that everyone can be a leader. Being a leader may not only be people with high authorities but also people who have the charisma to inspire others.
§ Who and how do you intend to serve as a scholar?
As a scholar I want to do my best in every given task. I want to be the one to change some of the injustice that people faces. Most importantly I want to be someone whom people will look up to. I want to inspire people, to make them see their capabilities.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
MBTI / 6:09 PM
Your personality type is ENFP.
Extraverted (E) 57% Introverted (I) 43%
Intuitive (N) 77% Sensing (S) 23%
Feeling (F) 55% Thinking (T) 45%
Perceiving (P) 86% Judging (J) 14%
ENFPs generally have the following traits:
-Project-oriented
-Bright and capable
-Warmly, genuinely interested in people; great people skills
-Extremely intuitive and perceptive about people
-Able to relate to people on their own level
-Service-oriented; likely to put the needs of others above their own
-Future-oriented
-Dislike performing routine tasks
-Need approval and appreciation from others
-Cooperative and friendly
-Creative and energetic
-Well-developed verbal and written communication skills
-Natural leaders, but do not like to control people
-Resist being controlled by others
-Can work logically and rationally - use their intuition to understand the goal and work backwards towards it
-Usually able to grasp difficult concepts and theories
Possible Career Paths for the ENFP:
-Consultant
-Psychologist
-Entrepreneur
-Actor
-Teacher
-Counselor
-Politician / Diplomat
-Writer / Journalist
-Television Reporter
-Computer Programmer, Systems Analyst, or Computer Specialist
-Scientist
-Engineer
The jobs are those i am interested in.
Hahas. there is possibility of being a psychologist. :D
ENFPs are lucky in that they're good a quite a lot of different things. An ENFP can generally achieve a good degree of success at anything which has interested them.(I am not sure about this, but i hope its true.:P)
However, ENFPs get bored rather easily and are not naturally good at following things through to completion.Accordingly, they should avoid jobs which require performing a lot of detailed, routine-oriented tasks.(I admit i get bored easily but i will still complete given task!)
They will do best in professions which allow them to creatively generate new ideas and deal closely with people. They will not be happy in positions which are confining and regimented.(True. I don't like it when people use their authority to control me.)
Extraverted: 57%, Introverted: 43%
People with a preference for Extraversion draw energy from action: they tend to act, then reflect, then act further. If they are inactive, their level of energy and motivation tends to decline. Extravert's flow is directed outward towards people and objects.
I am not exactly an extrovert. As seen from the results, the percentage of both introversion and extraversion is very close.
It is very true. I do many things on impulse. When I am halfway through I started to think about what I am doing, many at times I regret so I stop. Also, I like to engage in many different activities bacause I like to feel busy and partially because I don’t want to feel anti-social.
At the same time, I also like to be alone. I tend to be distracted when my friends are around so I will prefer to be alone when I want to do serious work. I also think more when I am alone so I may get depressed easily.
Intuitive: 77%, Sensing: 23%
Those who prefer iNtuition tend to trust information that is more abstract or theoretical, that can be associated with other information (either remembered or discovered by seeking a wider context or pattern). They may be more interested in future possibilities. They tend to trust those flashes of insight that seem to bubble up from the unconscious mind. The meaning is in how the data relates to the pattern or theory.
From the result, it is obvious that i can be said to be quite unrealistic. This I agree with as I mostly follow what I believe in instead of the facts. I think this is so as i believe that things are not what it seems, so i tend to not trust things on the surface level. Some of my friends will say that i have a crazy imagination and often say that i ask ridiculous questions.
Feeling: 55%, Thinking: 45%
Those who prefer Feeling tend to come to decisions by associating or empathizing with the situation, looking at it 'from the inside' and weighing the situation to achieve, on balance, the greatest harmony, consensus and fit, considering the needs of the people involved.
Since the results are close, I like to think that although I tend to make decisions based on my feelings but I also think. As I said before, I am lead by my emotions. Many people may think emotions are troublesome as they create many problems but i think that life is only eventful because we feel. What is the worth of life without emotions?
Perceiving: 86%, Judging: 14%
Perceiving function (Sensing or iNtuition)
NP types as abstract.
Perceiving types prefer to "keep decisions open."
I don't like to be restricted, so I tend to keep decisions open to the last minute. This may lead to indecision. Most of my friends are also indecisive so we often stand in the middle of nowhere for a long time to decide what we want to do.
Personally, I think the results are quite accurate.
I am not very affected by the results as I already know about it from horoscope readings or have heard from my friends.
Still, I think MBTI test is a great personality test and will definately recommend to others.:D
Extraverted (E) 57% Introverted (I) 43%
Intuitive (N) 77% Sensing (S) 23%
Feeling (F) 55% Thinking (T) 45%
Perceiving (P) 86% Judging (J) 14%
ENFPs generally have the following traits:
-Project-oriented
-Bright and capable
-Warmly, genuinely interested in people; great people skills
-Extremely intuitive and perceptive about people
-Able to relate to people on their own level
-Service-oriented; likely to put the needs of others above their own
-Future-oriented
-Dislike performing routine tasks
-Need approval and appreciation from others
-Cooperative and friendly
-Creative and energetic
-Well-developed verbal and written communication skills
-Natural leaders, but do not like to control people
-Resist being controlled by others
-Can work logically and rationally - use their intuition to understand the goal and work backwards towards it
-Usually able to grasp difficult concepts and theories
Possible Career Paths for the ENFP:
-Consultant
-Psychologist
-Entrepreneur
-Actor
-Teacher
-Counselor
-Politician / Diplomat
-Writer / Journalist
-Television Reporter
-Computer Programmer, Systems Analyst, or Computer Specialist
-Scientist
-Engineer
The jobs are those i am interested in.
Hahas. there is possibility of being a psychologist. :D
ENFPs are lucky in that they're good a quite a lot of different things. An ENFP can generally achieve a good degree of success at anything which has interested them.(I am not sure about this, but i hope its true.:P)
However, ENFPs get bored rather easily and are not naturally good at following things through to completion.Accordingly, they should avoid jobs which require performing a lot of detailed, routine-oriented tasks.(I admit i get bored easily but i will still complete given task!)
They will do best in professions which allow them to creatively generate new ideas and deal closely with people. They will not be happy in positions which are confining and regimented.(True. I don't like it when people use their authority to control me.)
Extraverted: 57%, Introverted: 43%
People with a preference for Extraversion draw energy from action: they tend to act, then reflect, then act further. If they are inactive, their level of energy and motivation tends to decline. Extravert's flow is directed outward towards people and objects.
I am not exactly an extrovert. As seen from the results, the percentage of both introversion and extraversion is very close.
It is very true. I do many things on impulse. When I am halfway through I started to think about what I am doing, many at times I regret so I stop. Also, I like to engage in many different activities bacause I like to feel busy and partially because I don’t want to feel anti-social.
At the same time, I also like to be alone. I tend to be distracted when my friends are around so I will prefer to be alone when I want to do serious work. I also think more when I am alone so I may get depressed easily.
Intuitive: 77%, Sensing: 23%
Those who prefer iNtuition tend to trust information that is more abstract or theoretical, that can be associated with other information (either remembered or discovered by seeking a wider context or pattern). They may be more interested in future possibilities. They tend to trust those flashes of insight that seem to bubble up from the unconscious mind. The meaning is in how the data relates to the pattern or theory.
From the result, it is obvious that i can be said to be quite unrealistic. This I agree with as I mostly follow what I believe in instead of the facts. I think this is so as i believe that things are not what it seems, so i tend to not trust things on the surface level. Some of my friends will say that i have a crazy imagination and often say that i ask ridiculous questions.
Feeling: 55%, Thinking: 45%
Those who prefer Feeling tend to come to decisions by associating or empathizing with the situation, looking at it 'from the inside' and weighing the situation to achieve, on balance, the greatest harmony, consensus and fit, considering the needs of the people involved.
Since the results are close, I like to think that although I tend to make decisions based on my feelings but I also think. As I said before, I am lead by my emotions. Many people may think emotions are troublesome as they create many problems but i think that life is only eventful because we feel. What is the worth of life without emotions?
Perceiving: 86%, Judging: 14%
Perceiving function (Sensing or iNtuition)
NP types as abstract.
Perceiving types prefer to "keep decisions open."
I don't like to be restricted, so I tend to keep decisions open to the last minute. This may lead to indecision. Most of my friends are also indecisive so we often stand in the middle of nowhere for a long time to decide what we want to do.
Personally, I think the results are quite accurate.
I am not very affected by the results as I already know about it from horoscope readings or have heard from my friends.
Still, I think MBTI test is a great personality test and will definately recommend to others.:D
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Vacation Highlights: Northern Island Kayaking Expedition / 6:05 PM
Vacation highlights: Entry 1
I just came back from my three days, two nights, Northern Island Kayaking Expedition conducted by ODAC. From this expedition I learnt a lot.
There are ten principles of good expedition behaviour (Adapted from Alex Kosseff (2003) AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership):
Self-awareness: Understanding yourself and your effect on your group.
Self-leadership: Take initiative to take care of yourself so you do not create problems for the group
Selflessness: Always be willing to help others.
Commitment: Doing your best.
Tolerance: Accept others for who they are.
Consideration: Be polite. Respect the time and personal space of others.
Trust: Trust that the others have your best interest at heart.
Communication: Communicate in an open, honest and respectful way.
Humility: Learn not to rely not only on yourself, but also on others.
Sense of humour: Have fun! Be positive.
From the above ten principles, I rank them from 1 to 10, according to the order of which I think is easier to achieve:
1) Commitment: I think it is easier to achieve as I think that once you are sure you are ready to accomplish a certain task, you should not back out. I believe that along the way, all of us will feel like giving up. I don’t see that as not being committed because I think that even if one wanted to throw in the towel but if he or she did not in the end. It shows the true meaning of the person’s commitment.
2) Self-leadership: Although I think I am a follower for most of the time, I think that I have self-leadership because I know how to take care of myself. The teachers say that knowing how to take care of yourself may not mean big stuff, it can also be things as minor as staying hydrated, remembering to put on sun block, stc.
3) Self-awareness: I think everyone understand their strength and weakness even if all of us are embarrassed to admit it, since we don’t want to sound arrogant.
4) Tolerance: I think I do okay for tolerance as got really agitated by someone, and it is not a small matter as I need to work with that person for the whole journey. Both of us are on unhappy terms but we still tolerate each other throughout the entire journey.
5) Humility: Mostly I rely on myself more. I do rely on others but not all, since I do not trust everyone. So I need to work on it.
6) Trust: This is similar to humility; I don’t trust everyone because I think everyone think of their best interest first before thinking of others. Though this is a cruel fact I need to let loose a little more
7) Sense of humour: I did not have a good sense of humour throughout the journey because of some unhappy incidents but I applaud my friends sense of humour as it really brightened my day. I should learn more from them.
8) Consideration: I think I am polite for most of the time but when I get angry it seem to come out of me less as I tend to tell others what I think.
9) Selflessness: I am willing to help others most of the time, but as everyone knows, during crucial moments most people tend to look after themselves more. That’s why I think that selflessness is very hard to practiced but as long as you treat others well and help them, it is already enough.
10) Communication: I think I communicate too openly and honestly till sometimes I hurt people’s feelings unintentionally. Whenever I get angry I just say what I think. Sometimes truth hurt. I vent my stress through communication so I hurt others easily, so when I do not speak my mind I end up being hurt as I think too much.
Also I learnt to be more independent as I experience the solo night. Spending time alone at night is not as scary as I thought. Though due to the rain most of the members were quite close it was also a great experience.
My time management also improve as there were times when we were running from the lighting( the dark clouds were like chasing us). We also need to pack up fast and wake up on time. Though now when I get back to my daily life I am still not as punctual but I am at least a little bit more organize.
Physically I also gotten stronger.
Mentally, I know my weakness of being hot tempered and will try harder to change it.
Most importantly I learnt that setbacks are evident in most experiences. Though misunderstandings occur, I learn that as long as one’s conscience is clear, even if people don’t see it at the moment but sooner or later they will come to understand you better.
I just came back from my three days, two nights, Northern Island Kayaking Expedition conducted by ODAC. From this expedition I learnt a lot.
There are ten principles of good expedition behaviour (Adapted from Alex Kosseff (2003) AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership):
Self-awareness: Understanding yourself and your effect on your group.
Self-leadership: Take initiative to take care of yourself so you do not create problems for the group
Selflessness: Always be willing to help others.
Commitment: Doing your best.
Tolerance: Accept others for who they are.
Consideration: Be polite. Respect the time and personal space of others.
Trust: Trust that the others have your best interest at heart.
Communication: Communicate in an open, honest and respectful way.
Humility: Learn not to rely not only on yourself, but also on others.
Sense of humour: Have fun! Be positive.
From the above ten principles, I rank them from 1 to 10, according to the order of which I think is easier to achieve:
1) Commitment: I think it is easier to achieve as I think that once you are sure you are ready to accomplish a certain task, you should not back out. I believe that along the way, all of us will feel like giving up. I don’t see that as not being committed because I think that even if one wanted to throw in the towel but if he or she did not in the end. It shows the true meaning of the person’s commitment.
2) Self-leadership: Although I think I am a follower for most of the time, I think that I have self-leadership because I know how to take care of myself. The teachers say that knowing how to take care of yourself may not mean big stuff, it can also be things as minor as staying hydrated, remembering to put on sun block, stc.
3) Self-awareness: I think everyone understand their strength and weakness even if all of us are embarrassed to admit it, since we don’t want to sound arrogant.
4) Tolerance: I think I do okay for tolerance as got really agitated by someone, and it is not a small matter as I need to work with that person for the whole journey. Both of us are on unhappy terms but we still tolerate each other throughout the entire journey.
5) Humility: Mostly I rely on myself more. I do rely on others but not all, since I do not trust everyone. So I need to work on it.
6) Trust: This is similar to humility; I don’t trust everyone because I think everyone think of their best interest first before thinking of others. Though this is a cruel fact I need to let loose a little more
7) Sense of humour: I did not have a good sense of humour throughout the journey because of some unhappy incidents but I applaud my friends sense of humour as it really brightened my day. I should learn more from them.
8) Consideration: I think I am polite for most of the time but when I get angry it seem to come out of me less as I tend to tell others what I think.
9) Selflessness: I am willing to help others most of the time, but as everyone knows, during crucial moments most people tend to look after themselves more. That’s why I think that selflessness is very hard to practiced but as long as you treat others well and help them, it is already enough.
10) Communication: I think I communicate too openly and honestly till sometimes I hurt people’s feelings unintentionally. Whenever I get angry I just say what I think. Sometimes truth hurt. I vent my stress through communication so I hurt others easily, so when I do not speak my mind I end up being hurt as I think too much.
Also I learnt to be more independent as I experience the solo night. Spending time alone at night is not as scary as I thought. Though due to the rain most of the members were quite close it was also a great experience.
My time management also improve as there were times when we were running from the lighting( the dark clouds were like chasing us). We also need to pack up fast and wake up on time. Though now when I get back to my daily life I am still not as punctual but I am at least a little bit more organize.
Physically I also gotten stronger.
Mentally, I know my weakness of being hot tempered and will try harder to change it.
Most importantly I learnt that setbacks are evident in most experiences. Though misunderstandings occur, I learn that as long as one’s conscience is clear, even if people don’t see it at the moment but sooner or later they will come to understand you better.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Who Am I? / 9:59 PM
I am Yvette of class 206’08. I am from ODAC. The motto of ODAC is to Improvise, Adapt and to Overcome. What I learnt from my CCA really help me. I like to start new projects and learn new things, but I often get bored easily. Actually I am just an ordinary 14 year old girl. I am not perfect, but if you still want to know more about me, continue reading.
Motivations and personality:
I think I am a ‘people’ person as I draw energy from people around me. When people are happy I tend to get infected and get overly excited: when they are down I understand their plight and feel sorry for them. Failures also motivate me. Initially I may be a bit cranky and even snap at people, but after a while I do not see the point of feeling sorry for myself and move on. I hate myself for being foolish and work even harder. I believe in the stars, such as fate, karma and horoscope. Though some might find this ridiculous, but I often reflect on my life with its help, and it helps me see my wrongs and rights. I know what I want in life and work towards my goals. Sometimes I get distracted and question my purpose, but sooner or later I will return, better then before.
Strength and weakness:
I am a very emotional person so I tend to do things when I have the sudden urge. Being spontaneous may not necessarily be a good thing as I often regret what I did, but I learnt to accept this flaw as part of me and turn the situation around till it benefits me. Being an emotional person, I am easily affected by what is happening around me. I may feel down easily if I receive negative comments, but when I receive praises I will forget about those negative comments and regain my confidence. I am lead more by my heart then my brain, so this also helps me empathise with people. People will tend to come to me for advice, or even just for a listening ear. Despite this, I often had a hard time solving my own problems.
I have bad time management skills as I procrastinate, hence I am often not punctual.
Despite this I am able to complete most of my task on my given deadline as I work well under stress. I am also not very organise as I tend to go with the flow. I am flexible and do not constraint myself by rules. This may sometimes get me into trouble, but most of the time my adaptability help me overcome obstacles.
I think out of the box. This gives me insights on how I am living my life and about many issues around the world. Often my friends will get annoyed when I get too defensive over my opinion and may sometimes think I nag too much. The complexity in my thinking sometimes makes me moody as I think too far and burden myself by being paranoid.
Likes:
Well currently I have three ambitions.
1) Fashion Designer
2) Psychologist
3) Lawyer
I want to be a designer as I love art and drawing. Fashion also gave me a more colourful perspective. I think I can be a good designer as I believe I have talent and express myself better with it. On the other hand, I want to be a psychologist as I like listening to people’s problems and help them to solve it. According to my friends, there are possibilities of me being one. Also I want to be a lawyer as I love to debate. I love to put my ideas across to people and when they agree with what I said I get satisfaction.
Despite being small size, people who know me well, knows that I am a glutton. I eat a lot of junk. I like to play all kinds of sports, such as running, badminton and kayaking.
People’s first impression of me, is that I am not sporty, but when they get to know me better, they often ask why I will not get tired despite me moving around so much.
I also love Japanese culture and often indulge myself in anime and manga. Though I do not study the language and have not been to Japan before, I still like to listen to Japanese songs and will most probably visit Japan some day.
Dislikes:
Regarding my life, I dislike feeling out of control. I sometimes dislike my rash personality. I dislike people giving me funny looks when I tell them about ambition.
I also dislike myself when I start blabbering whenever I get nervous.
I am a competitive person so I get moody whenever I feel inferior to others.
I dislike routines as I think it is boring.
Most of all, I dislike the fact that most people wear a mask, including me. Although people wear a mask to protect themselves, I hope to see the real side of people.
What is interesting about me:
Well, I think I am interesting because I am myself. Everyone is unique. One’s likes or dislikes, strength or weakness, and most importantly their personality, show their true self.
Motivations and personality:
I think I am a ‘people’ person as I draw energy from people around me. When people are happy I tend to get infected and get overly excited: when they are down I understand their plight and feel sorry for them. Failures also motivate me. Initially I may be a bit cranky and even snap at people, but after a while I do not see the point of feeling sorry for myself and move on. I hate myself for being foolish and work even harder. I believe in the stars, such as fate, karma and horoscope. Though some might find this ridiculous, but I often reflect on my life with its help, and it helps me see my wrongs and rights. I know what I want in life and work towards my goals. Sometimes I get distracted and question my purpose, but sooner or later I will return, better then before.
Strength and weakness:
I am a very emotional person so I tend to do things when I have the sudden urge. Being spontaneous may not necessarily be a good thing as I often regret what I did, but I learnt to accept this flaw as part of me and turn the situation around till it benefits me. Being an emotional person, I am easily affected by what is happening around me. I may feel down easily if I receive negative comments, but when I receive praises I will forget about those negative comments and regain my confidence. I am lead more by my heart then my brain, so this also helps me empathise with people. People will tend to come to me for advice, or even just for a listening ear. Despite this, I often had a hard time solving my own problems.
I have bad time management skills as I procrastinate, hence I am often not punctual.
Despite this I am able to complete most of my task on my given deadline as I work well under stress. I am also not very organise as I tend to go with the flow. I am flexible and do not constraint myself by rules. This may sometimes get me into trouble, but most of the time my adaptability help me overcome obstacles.
I think out of the box. This gives me insights on how I am living my life and about many issues around the world. Often my friends will get annoyed when I get too defensive over my opinion and may sometimes think I nag too much. The complexity in my thinking sometimes makes me moody as I think too far and burden myself by being paranoid.
Likes:
Well currently I have three ambitions.
1) Fashion Designer
2) Psychologist
3) Lawyer
I want to be a designer as I love art and drawing. Fashion also gave me a more colourful perspective. I think I can be a good designer as I believe I have talent and express myself better with it. On the other hand, I want to be a psychologist as I like listening to people’s problems and help them to solve it. According to my friends, there are possibilities of me being one. Also I want to be a lawyer as I love to debate. I love to put my ideas across to people and when they agree with what I said I get satisfaction.
Despite being small size, people who know me well, knows that I am a glutton. I eat a lot of junk. I like to play all kinds of sports, such as running, badminton and kayaking.
People’s first impression of me, is that I am not sporty, but when they get to know me better, they often ask why I will not get tired despite me moving around so much.
I also love Japanese culture and often indulge myself in anime and manga. Though I do not study the language and have not been to Japan before, I still like to listen to Japanese songs and will most probably visit Japan some day.
Dislikes:
Regarding my life, I dislike feeling out of control. I sometimes dislike my rash personality. I dislike people giving me funny looks when I tell them about ambition.
I also dislike myself when I start blabbering whenever I get nervous.
I am a competitive person so I get moody whenever I feel inferior to others.
I dislike routines as I think it is boring.
Most of all, I dislike the fact that most people wear a mask, including me. Although people wear a mask to protect themselves, I hope to see the real side of people.
What is interesting about me:
Well, I think I am interesting because I am myself. Everyone is unique. One’s likes or dislikes, strength or weakness, and most importantly their personality, show their true self.
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