My name is Kai, and I am from the softball CCA., where I am training to be the pitcher. Now, after meeting my teammates and coaches, I don't think I regret joining (though it's quite tiring). Through my CCA, I think I learned about how important teamwork and mutual trust is, and have formed strong bonds with the team. I think I would consider myself weird, but I guess I consider it creative or having an unpopular opinion. I think my favourite subject is history, as there are a wide variety of answers, and as long as you can back up with your argument you will score. I think learning how to debate with others is an essential skill in the current society, and gaining more knowledge doesn't hurt. My hobbies would be to listen to music, as I think music helps me to calm my mind and helps me to focus better.
But, what you as teachers will think of me; our time throughout this year shall tell.
EXTRA IN THE ORDINARY
RV60 REFLECTION
I was in the drums section for RV60, proudly performing together with 52 others, most of which are now in sec 2. During the holidays back when I was in year one, we had quite a bit of practices. It was not exactly tiring for me, as we were mainly just playing the drums. The harder part, is where we had to play as a group, matching with everyone's tempo, making sure we play well together, synchronised, and as our coach usually says; play with one heart, one spirit. He often tells us, we should not have stage fright, as we are not playing for the audience, but rather for ourselves, as we are the ones that get to actually see the fruits of our labour, both through our eyes and heart. We also practiced many times, making sure we are ready for the real thing, getting us prepared, mentally and physically. Personally, I saw RV60 as a chance for me to have something to do during the holidays, other than just being a couch potato. Thus, I never really complained, or found it bothersome; and also took it as a chance to socialise and get to know more people. But I heard from many others, how tiring it was, when they had to practice so much under the hot sun, some finding it hopeless, as they felt next to nothing for RV, thus performing was just a waste of their time. Many also complained that performing in such a big group was tremendously tiring, and that they would never be noticed in that big a crowd. Soon, it was January 16, the actual day itself. We spent hours preparing, styling our hair, going over the routine, setting up, making sure to not mess up. Then, it was our turn to perform, with pride and confidence, we jogged out to the field, and in front of the huge audience, we performed our best we could. After the whole celebration, we were filled with pride, and my feelings for RV as a school has certainly deepened much. Everyone had smiles on their faces, celebrating the successful show we had put up, and that in itself was proof that we were all satisfied with the end result. No matter how hard it was, we persevered, worked together, not only by sections, but as a whole school; and we know that all the practices were not gone to waste. Our celebration was showed on the news, making us all the more happier; and I feel everyone has grown through this experience, one way or the other, no matter what role they were assigned.
HAPPINESS AND POVERTY
Is poverty related to happiness? I have my different opinions, depending on the situation. For example, if you are rich, you can simply buy anything you want, giving you satisfaction and happiness, letting you choose the way you want to live your life. Although, the rich are often obsessed with money, and will resort to cash to finish any job given, and may also abuse their power since they are wealthier. The happiness gained purely through cash is a shallow one, only being seen on the surface (things we buy), and nothing deeper nor sentimental. It is also usually temporary, not to be cherished in the days to come. Sometimes, if there are any problems in life that money cannot fix, such as the loss of a loved one; this will definitely lead to unhappiness, which may leading to a mental breakdown as this is one of the times where you are not able to solve problems with money.
But, if you are poor and are not able to buy the things you desire, that will result in unhappiness. But when you are truly happy as a poorer person, you will learn to cherish the good memories, and not take everything around you for granted, as nothing lasts forever. Poor people often look down on themselves, thinking they are never happy, living the low life. Thus, only they can experience true genuine happiness, unlike the materialistic world we live in, where happiness is gained from others' opinions of you. As the people say, money cannot buy true friendship. If one is to stoop so low to offer money in exchange for friendship, I feel that it is quite shallow of the person, as the friendship is only shown on the outside, with no true bond or ties with each other. In conclusio n, I do not think that having money equates to happiness.
CHINGAY REFLECTION
On the 30th of January, I attended the Chingay 2016 celebrations, along with my class and the rest of the year 2 cohort. 2016 marks the first year of Singapore's next 50 years of bring a thriving first world country and hence, this year's Chingay is themed "Lights of Legacy, Brighter Singapore". After years of watching it on live television, I was excited to go watch it there myself, to look at it in a whole new perspective, along with my classmates. I have to say, the experience I had there was one to remember it by.
Personally, I think that the purpose of Chingay 2016 was to promote racial harmony, something essential to Singapore, a multi-racial society, who has to have racial harmony to continue to thrive and move forward. Mr Lee Kuan Yew, also believed that racial harmony was important, and Singapore had to move forward as one people, one nation, one Singapore.
The first Chingay Parade was held partly as a result of the ban on firecrackers a year earlier in 1972 as a result of fire hazards. The ban was viewed unfavourably despite the safety issues involved. Some people felt that it would result in a dampened festival mood for the Chinese New Year period. To address the issue, the People's Association and the Singapore National Pugilistic Association organised a street parade, which was Chingay; featuring the signature floats, acrobatic acts, lion and dragon dances, stilt walkers, and the like, to bring back some cheer to the general public. Now, the purpose is to have multi-ethnic performances, celebrating the racial harmony that Singapore has. At first, the performers were all Chinese but over the years, people of other races from Singapore, decided to join in and perform, celebrating the different races, understanding different cultures, appreciating them for their own different reasons. It is also now to celebrate the years of hard work our forefathers and Lee Kuan Yew and to appreciate their efforts put in to create Singapore. I think this change happened as the people were cheered up already, and was rather successful, so they decided to continue it, for different reasons eaxh year, and because Mr Lee Kuan Yew knew racial harmony was essential for Singapore, he decided to change Chingay parade's purpose, to promote racial harmony between the people.
I think the organizers have successfully fulfilled the purpose. While I was there at Chingay myself, I truly got to experience the performance, and I have to say that it was really different from what I experienced when I watched it on the television. The night's event was filled with a very cheery atmosphere, with the audience's eyes sparkling even brighter with every different float and group of performances. We were all waving our pom poms around frantically, with all our spirits being lifted up and becoming happier. There were people of different races from all over the world, here go celebrate this Chingay 2016 with us, and watching how unique each float and performance was, this really shows how we are all united as one people, one nation. The chanting of "Chingay Chingay we are one, Parade Parade we are one, Singapore Singapore we are one," along with the drum playing from above, I really felt my heart thumping to the beat, being united as one Singapore. This shows how despite our different cultures and races, we are able to move forward together, and how our differences bring us together as one, to provide for the country. Thus I think this Chingay 2016 has fulfilled it's purpose, promoting racial harmony, letting Singapore move on as one, to achieve greater heights.
3, 2, 1 REFLECTION
3 things I found out
1) In the past, people in Singapore were
giving birth to many children, so the two child policy was introduced. And now,
Singapore's birth rate has dropped to 1.1-1.2 children per family.
2) China had a one child policy in the
1970s, which was implemented as there were too many children needing a good
education, along with there being not enough money and not having enough
teachers in schools.
3) Standard of living is determined by
many factors, some of which are the GDP, environment, cost of living, and the
availability to education or healthcare, and the quality of goods. If there are
more of these factors, standard of living will be better, but the cost of
living will also increase.
2 perspectives I gained
1) The two child policy in Singapore was
meant to be short term, to decrease the rising population where there was not
enough houses for the people, with some who have to go without proper education.
But now, the policy has been so effective that the birth rates are dropping,
and soon there will not be enough youths to help Singapore, along with an
ageing population. The children will not be able to shoulder so much
responsibility for the parents, grandparents, etc., and this shows that even a
small government action can snowball and prove to be a bad idea, now heavily
affecting the future of Singapore.
2) One child policy in China was
implemented to allow all people to be able to have access to basic needs like
water and food, which was not always available as there was a huge population,
and because the demand for items was high, it was sold at a high price, where
not all people can afford, especially those from lower income families. Because
there was only one child allowed, many preferred a boy to a girl, as they boy
could carry on the family name, and would abandon the girl if they had one,
which I think is very cruel.
1 question I have
1) Why did the Singapore government not
stop the two child policy before it stared to cause severe repercussions?
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