Sunday, November 4, 2007
One by one
7:18 PM
It was 4am in the morning,the sky outside was still dark and today, particularly cold.I wonder why.I was getting ready to head down to Jiang's house so that his dad can fetch us to the airport. (thank you Uncle). o311o7, Cheng Zhu is leaving today, away from Singapore,back to Beijing then to Canada to try out a different education system.The education system in Singapore is tough, way too tough. I'm not talking about the tonnes of homework we get from our teachers nor the endless hours we have to spend in school. However, it is the way the system works, we are constantly challenged to multi-task, the ability to filter what is good and bad, the ability to prioritise and the very value that most students lack - tenacity. The system requires us to put in hardwork-blood,sweat,tears,everything, into the things that we do. Going to school everyday literally means going to war. War with books,friends,teachers,exams,project,peer pressure,NAPFA,CCA and the list goes on. It is something not for the weak-hearted,seriously. When learning concepts in class, it is no longer about preparing to answer the usual questions in exams instead, we have to crack our brains to link concepts from different topics together in order to answer those what i call, "mutated" questions. The recent A'level GP paper shocked our dear J2s. Questions do not entirely come from Environment, War & Terrorism, Poverty alone, but they integrate the topics, the mix them up and make you think. my gosh...It is not only happening at A'levels, a recent family dinner gave me the chance to ask about the well-being of my cousins, who are currently in primary schools. " Wayne is given the choice to take Higher MT at primary 2" said my cousin. i was like HUH?! you get what i mean? I was also told that my cousins are already starting to ask questions regarding the taboo word- SEX..They are taught the reproduction cycle at the tender age of primary 2. Sexuality Education is introduced at Primary 3? Sex was widely discussed when i was secondary 1 can? Changes are happening in the education system in Singapore. we are morphing!As Cheng Zhu left, tears flowed down the eyes of many, hearts broken. She is the second friend of mine that left Singapore for studies elsewhere, the first was Tommy. Life is cruel eh? One more member of S11 left us, how many more will there be? Nobody knows. Cheng Zhu, wishing you all the best in Canada, you will always be part of 07S11 =)
