School(s) & Pride

Patrician Pride….
Now, I’m not a patrician mainly because Saint Patricks is an all boys school and I’m a chick. But my dad is a Patrician (or ex Patrician, I guess) and thats why I take concern about this.

Before I continue, my dad and his old school friends formed a football team called SPS ’79 a few years ago, mainly to exercise, play the sport they love and enjoy the company of their old friends. Over the past four years, respective families have become involved, majority have jerseys(even if we don’t play) and other years have joined in. Some of my uncles are involved as well and now it’s an amazing group of people where not only Patricians bond and have fun.

What I love about this group is that I want to be just like them. They are a group of alumni which love their school and love their school days. The topic of Patrician pride came up late in the conversation this evening while planning their reunion.

I just had my two cents in the conversation. Pride comes from family. If you don’t have family, pride will not grow. SPS ’79 is one giant family, and as much as I like to tease friends from the school and as much as I might not like to admit it, I have a bit of SPS pride in me. Because of SPS ’79.

Tampines Junior College (TPJC), my current school, believes in school pride and bonding (it’s in our school song). The family I have there makes me feel like I’m part of the school and that’s what matter. I really don’t care about school politics. There’s no fun in that. There is no positive result of that. Being part of the Drama Elective Programme(DEP) of TPJC just makes me feel like I’m in another close family and that there is a strong need to maintain my friendships there, which I hope I will maintain after I graduate in 6 months.

The problem with having or maintaining school pride is the ‘politics’ behind pride. Every school has, had or will have this problem. People attempt to build (dictate) school pride, without the basic foundation; school has to be like a family. End of story. Get that right!

Enough with politics between schools, alumnis and ex-students. There’s no point! Pride is pride, family is family. Politics screws things up.

I seriously didn’t believe there was a need for this post before tonight! I actually thought people understood that.

To all schools and school alumnis: school pride is based on family. If the strong foundation of family is there, you have your pride.
To groups of random friends that were from the same school, do something fun and regular together. Just have fun together. When you worry about ‘pride’, things mess up.

 

Pre-trip ideas

Dear World,

I would like to announce that I have been chosen by the Ministry of Information, Communication and Arts (MICA) to blog for them about Singapore Day in Shanghai this April, something I did not expect to win ( it was a contest).

While I am excited about the event I refuse to check out Singapore Day’s website. I would like to go there, get a full experience without any background information about the event, even though it’s too late now cause I know which local artists are going.

However there are some questions I want to see if I can answer when I am there. Firstly, how strong is the Singapore Spirit there and is it so strong that the physical boundaries do not distort this Spirit? Can the essence of Singapore (or any country really) be captured into one day? Is the social/cultural fabric similar or different?

I suppose MICA would want me to ‘report’ on the day but I am not entirely sure if I can do that. Everything I blog about, I try to relate back to what I learn in school and what I learn about the world. 

If you are wondering where all this is coming from, I am actually preparing for an exam tomorrow and was reading my Globalisation notes. Hey, I’m still schooling. There are somethings I still have to do.

Cheyenne

Maturity

Dear world,
So my old friend Derrick has returned to the blogging scene with his come back post on his plans for his life. To be perfectly honest I thought he dropped off the face of the earth. But there was always one thing that interested me about Derrick and it was not that I am a hormonal teen looking for a boyfriend!
Derrick always had a greater sense of maturity than anyone else I have ever met! No adult or teen or kid has been able to show to me that they were as mature as Derrick. Sure some have come close but never really on par. Sometimes I wonder if Derrick is just a class of his own.
I am getting a head of myself. The topic up for discussion this week is maturity. And I just had a friend who turned 18 and he is becoming a real prick. Whoever said that when you turn 18 you come more mature did not meet my friend (obviously)!
I am turning 18 this year and I really do not want to change. Sometimes I wonder if being mature means going back to being a kid. And now you all are wondering how this is so.
As cliche as it may seem, kids are more peaceful people (however, with constant violence in video games and in entertainment, this might no longer be the case in a few years).
Maturity, I believe, is defined by seeing the world much differently than how other people view the world. It is this ‘skill’ that makes mature people like Derrick, well, mature! Sure, I am waiting to obtain the privileges that come with turning 18 (who isn’t?) but I do not just want to drink my life away.
Kids do see things differently. Most of them are open to everything new to them, and their sense of adventure and curiosity is high. They constantly come out with new ideas(which we eventually steal and make our own).
People define maturity as understand big concepts like law or planning your future well, but those have a lot of grey areas! But how do we understand the grey areas when we were taught right from wrong. The more mature people come up with seeing everything in a different way and not to weight and balance the grey areas.
This year I want to explore all possibilities in everything. I want to be a kid. I want to be mature.

Why having a niche makes you boring?

So, I have been reading many blogs and ‘blog experts’ about how to have a successful blog and ALL suggest that I should have a niche. And all I can say is why?

Why should ANYONE have a niche for their blog? To collect more readers? I have plenty of readers thank you every much.

You see, my arguement is that, we are people yes, and therefore we have more than one interest. So, we read more than one blog. Or we are interested in writing about more than one particular interest, yes?

So why should I limit my blog to one small little topic under the sun that can be linked to alot of other little topics when I can cover everything at one go?

I talk about the environment, people, news, politics and is this not everything you all are interested in? Why read about one particular thing? Politic blogs are just so boring to read aren’t they? And environmental blogs are just so green. NO ONE IS LIKE THAT. Everyone is mixed up, jumbled. Why should the internet be so organised anyways?

Im leaving my blog like this. My niche is life. Hopefully everyone learns something from it.

2010 Report/ Letter

Everything has been firgured out, except how to live. Jean-Paul Sartre

 Dear world,

So this day has come. 31 December 2010. The last day of the year. Many Youtubers have done 2010 year reviews and I intend to do my own. Unfortunately, I don’t know if the entertainment level would be the same as some of the videos online.

Well, everyone knows what happened in 2010. Obama is rocking out the presidency. He even ended the war ( yeah, it was not that well publised). There is a new healthcare plan in America and the UK raised University fees. Singapore held the F1 again and the very very first Youth Olympic Games. Hmm, what else happened. Snow came to Europe and has packed up there. Wikileaks happened too; which is good for people who do end year reviews. Wikileaks was this years best scanddle. Last year I think it was Obama being president and Tiger Woods sex encounters. (Yeah the King of Pop was there too but the press had more fun with Woods). The I pad came out this year. You know, its just a giant sized itouch. The iPhone 4 was released too. The apple people are geniuses, (and not in terms of their technology). In terms of Youtubers. DeStorm as a new shoe modeled after him. Dave days is switching from paradies to his own stuff ( now not only is he cute, he is talented too).

But you would see this in all other year reviews.

Every year, I write a letter to myself and the very next year I read the letter and reflect. It is a good practise. I (finally) found last years letter and remember my deep and strong feelings towards getting into the school and course of my dreams. You may think now that this is some random rant but not entirely. Every year, around this time, I write two very personally letters, one to myself and another to my readers.

This year, thanks to everyone, I hit my 10,000 views. It was something to celebrate. I don’t see the numbers flying or sky rocketting any time soon but I am glad that I have a generally healthy flow of traffic to my blog. People ask me what do I write about and I tell them life. Sometimes it is personal. Sometimes I am trying to convince you of a cause and sometimes I am not too sure myself. That is life. Life is such a broad topic and I think that is why I love it so much. Like the quote above, no one really knows how to live. And I know many say ‘oh, you need a niche for your blog’. Screw you! Life is a niche. Everyone can relate to it. And when I blog, I figure out how people live and why people live them and try and understand you. And then try to tell you what I understand.

Next year, I will cramming (again) for exams. But I will blog when I have the chance and inspiration. But I plead all of you. Go out to the world and forget that its 2011 tomorrow. Enjoy countdown celebrations. Eat, drink ( don’t drink and drive). Tomorrow will come sooner than any of us will hope. And watch out. I might just be writing my 2011 year review WAY faster than any of us thinks.

All the best for the new year.

Love, Cheyenne.

Welcoming 2011 with a new habit.

Adventure must start with running away from home. William Bolitho.

Dear World,

I know it is a coupld of days before the actual new year, but I thought I would promise my readers that I will commit to a new habit. What brought this on you might ask? Well, recently, I have been reading some articles and blogs about improving my writing. Many mention a form of a niche, something I concerntrate on. But, being me, I can’t really do that. I have too many opinions about way too many things. So, to try and keep my blog fresh, I will commit myself to find appropreate quotes to start each post.

I happen to like quotes. And may be it will help you too.

Let’s look at the one that starts this post. Adventure must start with running away from home.

I hope everyone gets that there is a potential hidden meaning under this quote. Home= security. ANYTHING that makes your feel secure. Adventure is all about taking risks; stepping out of your comfort zone.

There are a few reasons why this quote kind of starts off 2011, although not officially. Firstly, next year is my A level year and in terms of my theatre studies,  I might have to take big risks in order to be able to try and hit my best potential. Secondly, its a dare for you. In 2011, I would like everyone reading this to try and do something really really unusual for you. Be it bungee jumping or trying some new mexican cuisine. You don’t have to do it at the BEGINNING of the year. Take your time with this. If you know you can get impatient try a jig saw puzzle, 750 pieces.

Actually, everyday has potential for new experiences and new posibilities. You just need to run away from ‘home’ and take that risk.

UK increase in uni fees

Dear world,
If you do not know, I am not a UK citizen and hence will not be complaining about the increase in university fees in the UK.( international students would still pay full fees… That’s if I was going to UK. But I’m not)
So you do not need click the X on your browser. No complaints about the UK parliament here.
But I was on twitter and I searches ‘university fees’ and everyone spammed the same few messages, asking the same few questions, had plans to walk out on classes on Wednesday at 11am local time etc etc.
I would like to politely inform all the UK students that I feel frustrated as well, but not for the same reason they feel frustrated.
You may think ‘you will never be a UK citizen so you don’t understand ‘ but hear me out.
I may not understand, yes, because even subsidized tuition fees here are rather high ( higher then UK anyways) and £9000 may seem like a reasonably cheap price to pay for an education in university and I still stand by the fact that it still is considerably cheap to get a degree. Slightly over $10000 Singapore dollars if my maths is accurate. (Singapore dollar is strong now, so this might increase in coming months).
I am also trying to understand the UK system alil bit more. Most of the tuition fees are tax payer’s money and in fact most things in UK are paid with tax ( if my sources are accurate). I am not condemning this system but I do not entirely agree with it (neutral stand, don’t want to interfere too much with politics) but I think, there are always two sides to this story.
The students strongly strongly believe in their right of an education, and I will not deny them that right. But a free education in a materialistic world? Nothing in a materialistic world is free. It either has been already paid for or is highly subsidized. but yes, education is very important and you have your right to one. But there is this arguement that came across BBC news and twitter post. One girl on BBC that was interviewed or made a comment or something, well, she said my parents had a free university education, they should be paying the taxes for mine ( trying to remember this from memory) and someon on twitter commented that scottland had free education, why should the UK students have to pay.
I am sorry, no matter how much I try and remember the girl, I keep thinking it was a void argument. it made no real sense. As for the second one, well, that is life for you. If that is the cast I should be arguing that my education should be free too. Most Singapore students do take Cambridge exams.
And well, the government has to do this, to an extent. With the financial crisis several months ago that still affected several countries, the government must make more money than it gives to the people before becoming bankrupt. Then students really will have something to protest about.
Well people feel social injustice, they do not sit back and think. They are just filled with emotion. That was why the protests ended up being violent.
Hope UK hangs in there.
Regards,
Cheyenne

Does Complex equal simple?

Dear World,

Watch this video first please!

Complex does not equal to complicated.

Interesting concept. I also liked how he explained everything in three minutes and 28 seconds.

I, personally like complex ideas and situations because then I can take the time to solve them and have some fun, (yeah…I know I might be weird!). But you need to understand. Complex situations just means there is a lot of mess behind the actual problem.  Everything is just very simple. People just make a mess of simple things, making them complicated and visually complex.

Note: VISUALLY COMPLEX! Re-watch the video if you must. He had this mind map stuff or atom like stuff and he made them smaller or more condense and precise. You could understand how to solve the problem.

It makes very good sense if you think about it. I just thought I share it with you.

Adam Lambert Performance: For your entertainment.

Dear World!

HAHA. Actually I had a discussion about this video with 2 of my JC friends and I had told them that I havent seen the video. They described it to me and I thought ‘ OMG ADAM HOW COULD YOU!” ( I am a FAN!)

Then I saw the video and I began to laugh. Several Reasons why. Firstly, the song he sang was ” For your entertainment”. Ladies and gentlemen of the world, Adam Lambert is an artistic genius trapped in a world of non-believers. I know I am making it sound like I have joined the ADAM LAMBERT CULT but listen. There is not such cult. Ok I can explain his performance, just people of the world, listen to me.

For your entertainment is a song which Lambert Genius-ly picked out and the dancing, lighting, staging and the whole theme behind it was genius! He did it all for your entertainment. Now you might say you are not entertained. REALLY? You all seem to be going on about how bad an influence he is. How long ago was his performance anyways? Last week?

If anything 4 minute performance that keeps people talking for about a week is not entertainment then I don’t know what is.

I saw everything from start to finish. I watched it again. I listened to the lyrics. Here are the lyrics that struck me the most. ( Oh yeah! I don’t think everything in this world is wrong. In fact I believe people are innocent until proven guilty)

I bet you thought that I was soft and sweet
You thought an angel swept you off your feet
Well I’m about to turn up the heat
I’m here For Your Entertainment

Hey! This is hard to explain. Society believes his actions were…not appropreate. I believe it fits in perfectly which the song, the lyrics and his overall image. Ladies and Gentlemen, sex sells! It is a fact! Even if it is gay sex, it does sell if use well to sell.

You want to know how sex sells? Notice how much publicity Lambert’s performance got over the past week? The number of exclusives? The number of magazines that interviewed him. The number of sites that disagree with his artistic talents and the sites that do agree? The number of views on that video on youtube?

Sex sells ladies and gentlemen. It was a genius performance, admit it. Well thought out, genius theme. I think it was the best thing I have ever seen the entire year and I have seen a lot of new movies recently. Trust me. Adam’s performance was way more appealing than some of the movies I just saw. It had high energy, there was many things happening which was appealing to the eyes, the flashing lights, the flexible dancers, Adam’s  “bold”  moves. It will definitely be a performance that you will not forget.

It does not even matter if you agree of disagree with it. You know you will never forget it.

Regards,

Cheyenne

The scary adult world awaits….

Hey….fast and enhanced adult world.

I am Cheyenne. I am 16 and I am SCARED AS HELL.

There are many reasons to why I am scared as hell. Firstly, my school posting results are out in about 10.25 hours from now. That would be 8am on the 27th of January Singapore local time that the Ministry of Education releases the posting results. I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN GET INTO THE SCHOOL(S) OF MY CHOICE!!!!!!!!!!! Secondly, I have another fear concerning the school(s) of my choice. You see, I am eligible to enter a Junior College( JC) where it is compulsory for me to take Malay as a subject. If you haven’t been following my blog, or if I have yet to mention it then I will mention it now. I SUCK AT MY MOTHER TONGUE! Finally my mum told me I might not be able to study in an overseas university because we might not afford it.

NOW I AM SCARED AS HELL. I want to cry so much. Not that I hate Singapore Universities. I just really want to get out of this country. Plus there are universities that offer me better Drama or Marine Biology courses. I am currently looking at scholarships. I AM 16 AND I AM LOOKING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!!!!!

There are other options. I am looking for a part time job. I am scared to death as it is and I don’t mind tutoring little kids to help fund my college courses. I don’t want to commit to a job just yet. I don’t know what my timetable is like until I enter a school (which I hope is soon).

I feel like a kid living in an adult world. My parents tell me don’t grow up too fast but the fact of the matter is that I have to. I can’t survive in this world without ‘ growing up fast’ . The harsh reality is hitting me hard, and I am not even facing the worst of it yet. I should have taken up a job.

I think when I am all settled, I’ll apply to a tuition center.

I am a kid living in an adult world. I wanted to grow up fast. I wanted to be free and I wanted to be extremely adult. Now I wish time would stop. Just for me. I don’t want to grow up any more.

I am scared for what the world will bring to me.

Sometimes I wish I didn’t turn 16…..

Lots of luck,

Cheyenne