Morgan (っ˘ω˘ς )

321 reflection on child policy

3 Things I found out:

1) Singapore's fertility rate has dropped significantly over the years to an average of 1.2 children per family

2) Singapore put an end to its 2 child policy after our fertility rate declined rapidly

3) The 'two child policy' was introduced to control the number of children a family could have probably due to the fact that there was not enough homes being built for families.

2 perceptions I have gained:

1) We must think about the decisions carefully before deciding to take action due to the fact that having the 2 child policy in Singapore resulted in a low fertility rate in Singapore

2) We must consider things from the point of view of others, just like how Singapore wants to have a 2 child policy while China wants to have a one child policy

1 Question that I have:

1) Are Singapore and China the only two countries that implement this policy?

In January, we went to watch the annual 'Chingay' rehearsals, and we were all blown away by it. We had not expected it to be such a grand performance judging from its name whereby some people are guilty of laughing at. The origin of the Chingay Parade is as such: On the 4th of February 1973, the first Singapore Chingay parade was held partly as a result of the ban on firecrackers a year earlier in 1972 as a result of fire hazards. This ban was viewed unfavourably despite the safety issues involved. Some people felt that the ban would result in a much dampened festival mood for the Chinese New Year period. To address this issue, the People's Associatin (PA)and the Singapore National Pugilistic Association (SNPA) jointly organised a street parade that features the signature floats, acrobatic acts, lion and dragon dances, stilt walkers, and the like, to bring back some cheer to the general public. Soon enough, it then became a multi-cultural parade after the Malay and Indian communities started to join in. 
Through this experience, I learnt about the importance of multiculturalism and the fact that Singapore actively promotes multiracialism. In Singapore, we celebrate the different festivals and New Years for the three main races, Chinese, Malay, Indians. Therefore, I am quite safe to say that Singapore has done its part well for promoting multiculturism.
Back to the topic of the Chingay Parade, we watched many groups of performers march past the pit and showcasing their talents or their beautifully decorated floats. There were the People's Association Youth Movement (PAYM) in LED suits with their flags marching past. There were also the iconic dragon dance troup, but with a twist this time. The dragons varied in shapes, sizes and even color. The most memorable one for me was the LED dragons. If I'm not mistaken, there were 2 dragons, one yellow and one blue. As soon as they walked, or in this case 'dance' their way into the stadium area, the entire stadium lights dimmed so as to allow the LED dragons to shine ever so brightly in the darkness. Both dragons danced side by side and thus formed a single green LED dragon that shined as brightly as before. It was just such a stunning view that can leaves you speechless.

I feel that the organizers have definitely fulfilled the purpose of the Chingay Parade. I used to think that the Chingay Parade was merely a street parade with people decked out in different costumes walking around on the streets showcasing their different talents of their country and performing stunts that seem amusing. However, I no longer see it as such now, the Chingay Parade is a street parade that involves people of different ages, and races to perform as an entire parade for the people in Singapore to watch. This reminds us of the legacy that our forefathers have left behind, as well as to remind us to appreciate their efforts and not take it for granted.

I am really thankful that the school arranged for us to watch the Chingay Parade rehearsals, because it was a significant and memorable experience for me.

Happiness and Poverty

As we talk about poverty, it is also interesting to note that we ask the question if we are happy. Being a relatively prosperous country, are we a happy country? Why or why not?

As a Singaporean, I personally think that we are not a happy country due to the fact that the society that we are living in is so competitive to the point that nobody wants to lose out in whatever( by saying whatever it means everything) they do, be it in studies or even their clothings. It is true that money cannot buy happiness for example, true friendship cannot be bought with cash, it can only be earned through trust in each other. And if you really have to resort to buying happiness, it will just show that you yourself are not capable of making a friend. Being a relatively prosperous country does not help in terms of happiness because everyone is too busy trying to earn as much money as they possibly can instead of seeking happiness. These people will become obsessed with money and their priorities will shift from the important things in life( happiness ) to the not as important things in life ( money ).

平凡中的不平凡

This as you can see is the school pond, taken from the 4th floor of a class block. You may question my decision in choosing this picture, however, I can tell you this picture, will fulfill the criteria of being extraordinary in the ordinary. The school pond, as big as it is, isn't really appreciated by the students. Many overlook it as another one of the school's decorations and take it for granted. This pond, is very different from the ponds of other schools as it has its own periodic table as one of the pavement to further enhance our learning even when we are not in the classrooms. The greenery of this pond makes it stand out from the other areas of the school. One can come here to take a break from their heavy workload when inside the school to ease their minds and relax. However, not everyone takes the pond for granted, I have seen the school leaders who pass by the pond, bend down near the pond to clear the fallen leaves and branches that float on the surface. The cleaners too, take time in cleaning the pond thoroughly as it would reflect on the school's cleanliness as well.I also remember conducting a geography investigation at this same pond last year .Some people see this as just a pond well i see it as a chance for us to understand mother nature better in a school instead of places like botanical garden.The extraordinary in an ordinary place.

MORGAN'S INTRODUCTION 

My name is Morgan, my CCA is concert band and i play the saxophone. I chose this cca because I would like to pick up a new skill/talent whereby I can learn to play a musical instrument and also learn more about the musical theories. CCA started off rough last year as I went into a musical CCA without prior musical knowledge. But right now, I can say I that I have learned fast and picked up well. Besides doing music, I also enjoy playing basketball regularly, whereby I meet up with my old friends that I made in primary school and we play a few matches together. Basketball can also build up the muscles within our body and in turn help me play the saxophone better. My favorite subject in Mathematics as I think that it is very straightforward whereby there will only be one answer for a particular question which is not the case for most subjects nowadays.