Meetings

Meetings can be very funny sometimes. Most of the time during a meeting, nobody knows exactly what's going on. Some jokers sleep in a meeting. Another group has a notebook in front togeether with a pen and it may look like they are taking down the minutes, only after further inspection it is noticed that they are actually sketching the meeting room. When a guy who is really following the meeting asks a question, the person answering doesn't answer the question but merely beats round the bush to convey the fact that 'I don't know what the hell you are talking about!' this whole situation goes on for an hour or two until one wise man realises the whole crap and decides to call for an end to the meeting. In conclusion, nothing is achieved but precious time is wasted!

What Is It About Headphones???

Honestly, I don't get it why people love to have headphones hanging on them all the time! It's like, a vital organ which is part of their body and without it they will become MAD! OK. I'm not against this but PLEASE! It's totally alright having headphones on while you're alone for you might be so bloody bored with nature to take notice of it. But when you're with a friend and have that silly wire on, it's rude. Are you telling that your friend is actually such a boring person that you have to have that thing on you? Well, as it is already rude enough to have earphones when you are with a friend, I think it is bloody rude to have earphones on during a class or when somebody is giving a speech. Imagine you are a teacher, lecturing and a student is looking at you with earphones on! Yes, he might be the type who can kill two birds with a stone, but the perception he gives to the outside world is 'You're boring and I'm so not interested!' Is this how we want our students to be?

And then comes another party claiming prolonged or extensive usage of headphones is bad for health as it can cause hearing impairment. Yet we see an increase of headphones being used! What is this? Negative x negative makes a positive? It's funny how some complain that a noisy surrounding makes it difficult for them to study, yet it is them who use headphones! Ironic isn't it? Some blast the volume to the maximum until the person standing a metre away could hear the song clearly! It is no wonder that teenagers nowadays do not understand instructions as they are becoming deaf!

Headphones while jogging! Wow! How brilliant can one be?! The reason God gave us the ability to hear is so that we can use that extra sense to be alert of our surroundings! Have you ever thought of the fact that while jogging you could be kidnapped or harmed? And while the attacker is creeping behind you, you are too busy listening to 'Boom Boom Pow'! Good! Being unaware of your surroundings, you can now sing all the songs while you are gagged and tied up or hurt on the hospital bed!

It amazes me to think of the fact that modern people who are so advanced in technology have stopped thinking of the simple rationale of life! As I said earlier, I'm not against headphones. It is wise to use it when you are ALONE in the crowd but not when you are with COMPANY in the crowd!

Thinking Out of the Box

So today, I had my first lesson with my school principal, Mr. Maslan... He is a guy who seriously thinks out of the box. Well, it's quite true. We all need to do that. Get out of our comfort zone,
DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!

It isnt that difficult, but taking into account the fact that our students have been spoon-fed since Standard 1 till Form 5, does make it a little difficult to have a sudden change. While studying in school for eleven years, students are mould to be timid, scared of voicing out their opinions and not strive for their rights. They are only taught to absorb what they are taught, like a sponge. The practice of using the WH questions is only carried out in exams, that is during writing essays. Besides that, it's just pure absorption. What has hapenned to EQ and SQ?

We hear students scoring zillions of As in their SPM examinations, yet after that glorious victory many fail to realise that we never hear of them doing so well in univercities after that! Now, isn't that something to ponder upon? Where do these creams end up? I fully support our Deputy Prime Minister's move, to limit the number of subjects that can be taken for the SPM examinations. Kudos to you, Sir!

Why do we need to take so many subjects? I'm very sure you cant be studying all of that subjects when get into the University. Or is ti because our students are just confused on what course they should pursue later on in life? Maybe, we are only producing a generation of confused scholars who have a very good memory power but fail to perform as a first class citizen. And with these, born are the Cut-&-Paste students, born are the students who are not independant enough to find information, born are the students who epect oppurtunities to come knocking their doors.

My principal did say on how he had the oppurtunity to talk to a CEO of a company and had asked in the criterias looked for when hiring a staff. Vibrant, brave and vocal candidates were his choice. When asked on whether public local graduates are better or private graduates are better. And guess what? Many prefer graduate froms the local private universities than the public universities. What is this? Private grads are more vocal and brave to voice out their opinions unlike the latter.

It is time for a paradigm shift. Pak Lah has said that 'We have 1st class modenisation but with 3rd class mentality'. Now, as responsible citizens, we have to prove ourselves to the world. Adapt a change. If the West can be inventors, why cant we? If the East are so hard-working, why cant we? As Malaysians we have to be the best among the best.

Yes, we are a growing nation, both socially and economically, but we have great histories and legacies to be proud of, and having them as our guide, we should progress forward, both for the betterment of our future and our nation!!!