Well... really supposed to be doing econs now but I can't help it but wanna put this down. Eunice has kept me updated with the latest news in town about my fellow rafflesian this morning. Yup, that girl. The gepper, humans scholar, PM bk prize winner, daughter of XXX, etc. Ya lar, HER la.
First of all, wanna know something? I'm not an elite (so says the girl who went to tons of premier schs, WOW). Not because I'm the pathetic less than 5% of the cohort in RJ who's taking 3 subs but because I don't see myself as one. I'm ur average heartlander who can't really speak gd english (OMG!), or at least most of the time I'm either rolling my tongue too much or slurring my words as often pointed out by my oh-so-angmoh brother. Limited vocab too. Btw, my mommy n daddy aren't some big shot either. Like I read in one of the many blog entries tt responded to the saga, my dad's probably part of the "most educated taxi drivers" group. Yup, he used to be a taxi driver after being retrenched during the 1997 AFC n he holds a degree mind u. Is he too old to rejoin the rat race? I don't think so but many do. Please leh, my dad leh! The man who can do a maths qn in less than 10 steps when the given solution is like a page. BUT! the point is, so what? He's nearing retiring age. That kicks him out of our endless, mindless, pointless game. So obviously tt means ur elitist era is erm... maybe a span of 30 yrs? From the time u sit for tt stupid GEP exam to the time when u get sick of ur job and moving into early forties when people despise u of ur balding head and upcoming menopause. At the end of the day, as we luv to put it in econs: In the very long run, we're all DEAD.
For my darling schmate, u can't blame her for tt elitist mind of hers. Look at that environment that she has grown up in, I bet many of my friends agree with her that it's the elites that's ruling the country and if you can't live with that, get out. We are moving into age of globalisation, when money IS making the world go round. U can't blame others for loathing people from premier schools either. I hate them too. Alright, I was like that too when I was in ny. I nv really like neighbourhood sch kids. Thought they were too rowdy... u noe the lians n bengs stereotypes. However, I've turned the table around n look down on people with tt elitist mindset instead. Who said people who are not academically inclined will not be able to succeed? Maybe it's difficult in Singapore, considering the fact that we lived on meritocracy... haiya, it's all in the blood/surname la. If ur dad/mom's gd, u have ur unlimited resources to make u into a genius. I do believe talents are inheritary though but then again, there's always Yamaha to turn to.
There's alot of discussions abt this elite thingy going on like how scholarships are only based on grades n teachers' recommendations. What abt character, virtues, morals? That's right. What about those? When I look at some of the people I know, I can tell they're definitely scholar materials, know why? Perfect grades, good records, wonderful achievements, it all boils down to how you plan ur path. You want scholarship? Choose good CCAs la, aim for leadership positions lor. Do alot of CIP la, get the hours, super impt. On the other hand, here's some other adjectives to describe a few of them, arrogant, self-centred, selfish, grades-oriented, no friend, only acquaintances. Everytime I talk to them, I only wanna ask "Who do you think you are? Snap out of tt disgusting mindset of yours." Also, how well do the teachers know them? Of course all teachers luv straight As students la, who doesn't? But personally, I think my physics teacher know me better than some of my classmates. Why? Cause I failed physics n I'm stuck with him until A Levels. The time I spent with my teachers, definitely more than the rest. As we all know, some people are only at their best in front of their teachers n I'm definitely guilty of that. So... as we can all infer, we are branded by our results.
Does that mean meritocracy is bad? It all depends I guess. I'm not exactly sure. I of course cannot deny that I've benefitted from this whole system. If I didn't go RJ, u think I can go US for econs trip? Nope. If I didn't go nygh, think I'll be so motivated to do well during Os? Maybe not. On the other hand, this meritocracy thingy makes my life boring. Wanna know why? My friends never change. My social group always consist of the same people. So many nyps ppl at nygh. So many nyps cum nygh ppl at RJ. So many nyps cum rgs/ri at RJ. Bet if I went HC, sama sama la. Everywhere on campus, there's someone I find familiar. Damn sian leh. Of course I wanna keep a certain group of friends but I wanna meet NEW people. New, different! Which is why as I've often said, we are very much grouped into our very own class by the time we reach puberty. Worse ah, u get scholarship, work for gvt, u're back in the same crowd. Ok, not worse, but see how u like it la.
I can't really speak for people past my age but for a mere lowly teenager like myself, this rat race has gotta change its path some time in the near future. We've already surpassed that "dun need nobel laureates, we want productivity!" age. Many of us think the States is the dreamland or utopia. Why? Cause they have freedom which is erm... very much not tt true. They have very strict laws regarding adolescents and they do have tt tyranny of minority like how we succumb to tyranny of PSC scholars. Freedom of speech, yar. Strong cultivation of individuality, yar but I prefer love n peace =) US is everything we're not n yearn for but the truth is (for most of us), we will never be able to uproot that hierachy mindset from our puny brains. We will always classify ourselves as the lowly heartlander, the big shot; the foreign worker, the expatriate; the COE, the cleaner; the neighbourhood sch kid; the top sch kids; the 4 subbers, the 3 subbers; the artsy-fartsy, the science geeks; the JC (watever -sian u call urself), the poly kiddos; the honours degree holder, the diploma holder; the fresh grad, the retirees; the taxpayer, the tax burden. We have very much lived with racial harmony in our secular state for the past 41 yrs, it's time to move on to exterminate this new game of class discrimination.
I realised I really should stand up for many of us. We are NICE people!! Cannot discriminate us just cause we RJ one! Wah lau... ok. Got some very irritating, insensitive, mindless people but I can tell u in a very li3 zhi2 qi4 zhuang4 manner that I'm nice. I don't really have alot to be proud of but I'm proud of the fact that I'm a good person.
Ok, here's my 2 cents worth of thoughts. Still got some la but gotta be censored, I still wanna keep my blog one. Can come find me to discuss though. We can complain n bitch from day till night =) Gotta go back to Econs -.-
P.S: Reminder, I was the Pres of my CCA in sec sch u noe. HoHoHo! But so what? Yar, SO WHAT?
P.P.S: Actually what's the moral of this story, as I've learnt frm Ger, let's just all shut up n keep our beloved thots within our own community
-xin-
you sing!
9:08 pm
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::This is Me::++
I'm yx. Have suffered through education system in top premier "cheena", "bratty" schools and currently undergoing further intense suffering in rjc.
I'm 18 (finally)! I've frequent mood swings and I'm a dangerous girl.
My hobby is to plot against people =) Talent I've learnt some time in my life.
I'm a group person. Means I CANNOT survive alone.
Let me announce to the world that I'm in luv with movies, jap food, music, myself (duh!) and many many more.
BUT! I absolutely detest snobs. insensitivity. unhealthy competition. restrictions. lizards. YOU! (just kidding)
I realised... I need a wishlist! Anyway...
1. New hp
2. Bags
3. Life
4. that my depression will go away
5. Go Japan! go Japan!
6. NANA Illustrated book
7. BIG eyes