And it lives!
Odd time for a blogpost but I feel like it so there. Okay lets see recent highlights...
I normally take pride in being an independent soul. It's not the best method, in fact often times I wonder what i'm trying to prove. Then I realise i can't really help it - it's grown onto me. Wherever I go I end up the odd one :/ I'm the odd one. I hate being the odd one but I can't help it. Or can I? I'm thinking there's gotta be some changes around here *gestures to self* Done it before :s prolly could do it again. Just a little reprogramming.
People say you're supposed to learn something from all this sh*t I've been a part of for close to a year and a a third. Can't say I learned a lot. Say what you will - Damien isn't paying attention, can't make accurate judgment, can't read people etc. etc. - the following is as much as I was able to pick up.
1. the DO SOMETHING eqn: Planning + Compromise = Execution
or something of that sorts. Things seldom go according to plan. Okay the equation isn't all that important. I should say the focus is to really DO SOMETHING. And to DO SOMETHING you have to have a plan, and have the guts/willpower/resilience to carry on doing it even if something goes to sh*t. I find very often people put things off because of a little difficulty or roadblock. If things are to be done then we need to find a compromise. Of course this only works for individual to small group planning. Cos any larger and the compromise component multiplies per individual... (stop looking at the equation it doesn't make sense). I mean there's more resistance to compromise per individual, more opinions. Hence the system that gives shitty planners the ability to override people down the hierarchy.
okay how bout this: Planned Benefit + Benefit loss from Compromise = Actual benefit
HAHAHA I don't know - it's 3 am.
2. What (not) to expect from a leader - I mean this from a (micro?)management pov
Leadership(not) qualities:
Dictatorship - "No, because - no."
Tardiness - "Do not be late, I won't be there early to check."
All stick no carrot - "It's your duty what."
Not there for your guys - "When the shit hits the fan don't look for me"
Okay I'm quite certain there's more, but that's all I can come up with right now. And I can't find a good phrase to describe "No. Because I don't want to explain why we did this to my equally unreasonable superior."
3. Something's wrong with our guys, our country.
Some opinions I gathered were:
"No choice, must defend."
No means to leave :/ can't leave family behind. Not enough cash.
"If sg is hit, I'm out of the country"
Yes means to leave. Some extended family already settled overseas can provide accommodations. Have enough cash to pull family out etc.
I think those are pretty realistic opinions. Rather than "I love my country." Patriotism is rare in this cynical age. Or if cynical is too harsh/biased, I guess you could say people have more resource to judge and make a realistic opinion. And also the option to leave the country is becoming more and more available to people. "because this is where I grew up" just isn't enough to keep people around anymore. People are becoming real globetrotters these days. In the end its very likely that after finishing education we're all going to stay elsewhere (what's a fifth of our lives anyway) make a couple visits a year to see relatives and convince them to go over as well.
Me? I guess I'd stay... and fight also. It depends on who hasn't left the country. If my family moved (+ my extended family) and if my close friends didn't stay (people on facebook who have a gazillion friends prolly would have some explaining to do, luckily I label them as acquaintances) then i wouldn't stay and fight. Otherwise, I'd stay. Stay fight and die? For a country that's barely ours? Sg has a problem building up patriotism for the country, she has to kind of hold hostage the loved ones of the nsf, assuming one nsf is a loved one of another nsf, this would result in a giant web of loved ones held hostage and thus the civilian army is born.
What I'm saying is: I'd stay for my loved ones. It'd be great if every nsf is patriotic and fought because he loved his country and because this is where his roots are, but for every other ns guy, I hope he thinks the same as me. Cos its the only way to think if patriotism is dies here :/
CALL ME A PESSIMIST. I'm walking on a line though, between reality and pessimism I think.
That's it for the NS talk. Not really fond of getting charged if my words are wrongly interpreted xD no one really walks by this corner of the interwebz anyway huh.
And on a different note, I got my scholarship offer from SUTD :DD
*GAASP* No one's ever paid me to study before c':
A nice lady came down to my house and handed me a plaque sort of thing and all the documents personally. Really sealed the deal on this one. But when she left I can't help but get the feeling that she had doubts about me. Could just be me... but as she walked away she asked "you must have did well in your interview right?" And also I was kinda quiet while she was talking to my parents and myself for the half hour duration. But in my defence I already knew most of what she was telling them because I did research for my interview hahaha.
