Fair to my feelings right this moment

To be fair to my feelings right now, I just had a conversation with my mother and brother. My father was still at work. To start this blogging, the main point is my mother and father are going to get a divorce soon I guess. This has gone on for 4 years since I was in secondary one when my mother told me that she was going to get a divorce after the end of my O levels examination. Finally, after 4 years, which came so fast, it is time.

Firstly, I had to choose between whether to go with my father or with my mother if there was a fight for custody. After 4 years of my life, I chose my dad all the way. Why you might ask? Usually in reports, they say the kids would stick to the mother. However, in my case, I choose my dad. Reasons that I thought about: assurance, reliability, money, finance, future life, how my mother thinks about her future, my mother is putting too much pressure on my brother - it pains me to see him like this. I just wish this would end soon as my brother would get hurt the most if this drags on. I don't know what to do to help him in this situation but I will support and respect whatever my brother does and says as if I don't support him now, who will?

Secondly, I thought about it very clearly. There is a small possibility that my mother will get the child custody. I really hope that does not happen. I am scared and would do my very best to fight for my rights and beliefs. I would make a speech and appeal and whatever. I want to stay with my dad. If only my mother would think about her future and how to do about it and how to get a job, I would consider siding with her. (Quite impossible if she does not change her mindset, attitude and most importantly, mother's pride) 

Thirdly, when my brother told my mother that he would stay with me and take care of me no matter what decision I make even though I'm 17 years old, I felt so assured and happy. I felt so glad and heaved a sigh of relief now that I know his answer. I love him. That is why when he asked me how would I describe my relationship with him a year ago for his project- Excellent, Very Good, Good, Poor & Very Poor. I said VERY GOOD. [As we fight sometimes too :) ] But when he asked me how would I describe my relationship with my mother. I said Good. (sometimes its good sometimes its bad).

The Long Holidays After O Levels Ended!!!

Okay, I know I haven't blogged  about my life for 6 months +++. So I'm going to give a summary.
This is what I did for the past few months after O level examinations had ended:

I slacked for a few days before trying to find a Retail position job near my place.

I went to Recruit Express Job Agency and found a job at Robinsons. One week later, Robinsons called me and told me to go Raffles City to get the Red Christmas Shirt, name badge and punch card. The guy in charge taught me how to use the punch card even though I was still a bit confused after that. My retail position was 'Temp Sales Associate cum Cashier' at Raffles City Lingerie Department. I worked there for 6 weeks - from 22nd November 2013 to 25th December 2013.  I met my colleagues there and they taught me how to use the Cash Register. The vouchers was a bit complicated at first but I think I got it in the end after a few mistakes here and there. I met the manager and supervisor too - they are both quite nice to me especially the manager. I chatted with her once during my lunch break as the break is a whole one hour. Quite long, She hugged me on my last day of work - Christmas day, 25/12. I gave them Belgian chocolate as a token of appreciation for teaching me all these stuff. The shifts are 10am-6pm, 10am-10pm and 2pm - 10pm. I really learned a lot of stuff there even though it was quite tiring. But I love to work there especially during the Sales period - Its so crowded!! 

After that, I tried to find an administrative job so that I could know whether I was suitable to be in a office or in the frontline. But I know that I want to be in the business and service industry. I stayed at home for the January month.

After Chinese New Year- the year of the horse, I found an admin job at Edufarm Learning Centre logistics Department. It was my Second Job. I worked there from 4th February 2014 to 28th March 2014, about two months. It was an enjoyable experience, allowing me to make new friends. All of them are so nice and helpful. Love them. I learnt a lot of stuff there- binding books, shredding paper, printing, scanning, learnt how to better handle situations and do things fast, how to refill ink to the ink cartridges from the printers, how to tidy the storeroom and set-up a table with the five legs attached to it, how to make calls to parents and teachers, learnt more about the courier service and the pink waybill slip, learnt a bit more about Abobe Photoshop application, etc. All my colleagues there are so friendly and enthusiastic about their job. They also gave me nicknames like 'Sparrow', 'Squirrel' and 'Cartoon-ey'. I do not know how they came up with this but it was another good experience for me!!! 

My dad bought me a HP laptop for my polytechnic studies. I am going to Singapore Polytechnic Business Administration this year on 21st April 2014, Monday. I am so excited as besides going to the same school as my brother did, I am going to see my seniors that graduated from secondary school somehow as we are in the same school again, I guess. I registered to go for two Freshmen Orientation Camps before school starts: the SP Business Club & the Community and Cultural Club camp. I hope its gonna be AWESOME and I can make more friends and know the SP surroundings better as I always get lost in Singapore Polytechnic compound. JIA YOU!!!! I can do it!

Best regards,
Janet Lim
Faithfully blogging about my life

Beginning of O levels

A few days ago, 21st October 2013 was the start of the O levels examinations 2013. It was the English paper with the exception of Science Practical Exam the week before. English, mathematics and Social Studies has passed leaving me with 4 more subjects to go- Chinese, Combined Science (Chemistry & Physics), History and POA. I wonder what the bell curve will be like this year.... Hopefully, I would do well for my examinations, exceeding my goals and finally getting the desired results. Hahahaha :D , to a certain extent of course with the use of Social Studies (SS) skills. Get it?

My teachers dump everyone with piles of worksheets to do. It filled up all the pockets of my thick black box file. It is impossible to finish and understand every single one of them before the next paper on Monday, 28th October 2013 which is Paper 2 - Combine Science for Physics then on Tuesday, 29th October 2013 which is Paper 3 - Combine Science for Chemistry. GO GO GO!! I CAN DO IT!!! :) Cos I know I can...~.~ 

Prelims Just Ended!!!!

My Secondary 4 Preliminary Examinations just ended after 2 long weeks. I think my examinations was not well done as I feel that I was very unprepared compared to the other examinations in the past. I hope that I would do well, of course, as this is my role of a student. Anyway, my notes for  'O' level is not finished and that MOE-Cambridge exam is nearing. About 40 + Days left to the start of  'O' level examinations. I am so anxious everyday, this is seriously nerve-wrecking.

However, my friends seem normal, not nervous. I wonder if it is because they are rich and can afford to go overseas to study if they do badly for 'O' level. I want to do well so badly but I can't make my body move. Just one word to describe me now : LAZY. Sigh~~ Wondering when can I start to focus... Please start to focus now, my mind and body. Motivation and Encouragement is very important to me, I guess..

My Chinese Orchestra SYF Journey

I have taken part in 2 Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Judging Competitions when I was in this co-curricular activity (CCA) for 4 long years in secondary school. After achieving a Silver Award in 2011, I was discouraged by the fact that we did not get the Gold Award but was elated at the same time for maintaining not dropping our standards of Silver.

Finally this year 2013, Chinese Orchestra achieved Distinction. All our time and efforts had paid off. I was very delighted and fascinated when I heard the results. I started to jump up and down in my classroom, feeling extremely excited and motivated. People started to congratulate us and I could hear screams of joy from the other classrooms.

Acknowledgements:

I would like to thank the school for supporting us. The school has helped us in many ways by buying us new and better-quality instruments and arranging public performances for us. For example, on 20th January 2013, we performed at Bukit Panjang Plaza, level 2, at the garden. The event was called the Northwest Arts Roadshow. I was extremely enthusiastic about this performance as it would be my very last time performing in Chinese Orchestra in public. We performed 4 songs:  Rhythm of the Rain, 恭喜 (gong xi), 小拜年 (xiao bai nian), 花鼓调 (hua gu diao). It was a wonderful and enjoyable experience for all of us.

I would also like to thank our Chinese Orchestra instructors and teachers whom have put in their utmost effort in helping and motivating us to press on to improve. Without them, we would not be able to get Distinction. They played a very important role in this Singapore Youth Festival Competition. They gave us a lot of encouragement and boosted our confidence level. Yup, that's my reflection. 

Singapore Youth Festival 2013

Today, 23rd April 2013 was the Official Day to Singapore Youth Festival Judging 2013. The consent form wrote 7am to 4pm. This means that we would miss a whole day of lessons again. It was a pity as our Mid Year examinations were coming in 2 weeks time and I am not well-prepared for it.

In the morning, the whole Chinese Orchestra members gathered in the music room in the morning and we did not attend the morning assembly. We needed to tie our hair into the 'Scorpion' style and make up in the AVA Room as we would not have time later. After that, we hurried to the music room to do our last SYF CO combine practice with Mr Chua, our conductor who seemed anxious. He told us to do our best and would definitely be able to do it!

We went off to the Singapore Conference Hall at about 12-1pm. This was the fourth and last time that I would be coming here and I would definitely miss the time spent performing and rehearsing for the Singapore Youth Festival Judging as I guess I would not touch or play my Zhong Ruan anymore after my Secondary School CCA is over.

We were all nervous, anxious and excited. We went into the Hall with confidence and pride, walking as though it was our stage, our performance and my last performance in Chinese Orchestra. The time passed quickly and we finished the rhythm of the Sea SYF song. Next up, was Jiang Ruan and Jiang Nu. Hoping I would not make any obvious and weird mistakes, I played it with confidence.

After the performance and the bow, we went out of the hall and put back our instruments. Everyone was discussing what went well and wrong and prayed that we would get Certificate of Distinction to bring pride and glory to Chinese Orchestra and to our school. 

March Holiday SYF CO Practice

Today, was another day of March Holiday SYF Practice. Although it was a holiday, but as SYF is approaching, there was definitely more practice. We had to reach school, music room, by 8am. For the 'La Song'. The song that half of us had to sing while we are performing. We had to remember the lyrics, know its rhythm and sing it out loudly. The practice was from 8am to 12pm.

It was easy to remember and I kept practicing at home. Even though I only needed to sing the last line but "All for One, One for All", since half of us were going to remember and sing it, then I should remember it too. As I am still a Chinese Orchestra member. It was great and I always sing it when I am walking home. But I think that the "La Song" which is a "Min Yao" is a bit weird and feel that the members will not sing it loudly as they are all so shy. Hopefully, I am wrong and it would all go well.

After a 45 minutes practice of that, our Chinese Orchestra Conductor came and we started to practice with our instruments. Although we did not put in the song during our practice as were not prepared, I hope that we can put it in in our next practice which is next monday. Hopefully, all goes well and we would get the 'Certificate of Distinction' for SYF judging.