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Assignments from a High School Teacher #2
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Assignments from a High School Teacher #2 |
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kaile
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146singapore 
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Assignment 3--Where My Money Goes Hey, teacher, you know what? My eyes opened up real wide as I took in the words of this assignment. Being the eldest son and having come from a financially not-too-secure family, I learnt to care for money from a young age. I remember distinctly (with embarrassment) how I used to get upset and struggled hard to suppress my emotions whenever I paid first for movie tickets or meals and my friends weren't prompt about paying me back. Sometimes I raved at them before I could keep myself in control. In fact, one of my greatest peeves is (note the present tense) to ask people to pay up for stuff. And a past-time I indulge in is pressing "Account Balance" on the ATM machine with no apparent reason just to ease my mind about my finanical status. I will be the best person to conceptualise the fine distinctions between stingy, scrimping, materialistic, mercenary etc since I am always embroiled in fierce mental battles to find the best word to justify my behaviour. I think that if I were a character stumbling upon a lesson in Enid Blyton's books, it would be the lesson of the necessity of generosity. I was lucky enough to obtain a scholarship for my university education. I'm 23 this year. Being single and still living off my parents, I must say I am in a better position finanically than most of my peers who have to wrestle with huge student loans after they graduate. So where does my money go? I guess a huge part of my allowance goes to fulfilling the needs of a social life. Watching movies and art productions, eating out, singing karaoke and other activites burn holes in my pocket and I'll tell you: when you are an obliging guy who has no mind of his own and picky friends, you spend a hell lot, even more than necessay, trying to accommodate your friends' wishes. Then some money goes into fulfilling my wants. I am fortunate enough to be born in a nation where people can afford to feel that they deserve to pamper themselves. And I'm one of them. Travelling is one of my pursuits as I yearn to experience different cultures and customs and Singapore, as a dot on the world map, can't really satisfy that desire, no matter what its tourism board may proclaim. Recently, I enrolled myself in sign language classes since I have always been fascinated with the concept of communicating via facial expressions and hand signs. My insatisable sense of curiosity also compels me to try to fit in the world of the deaf community and find out what they are really like. In the near future, I hope to venture out into photography, rock climbing and getting a bike license (though I will have to contend with the fact that my mum will seriously freak out) The Iraqi war broke out a few days ago and I got to know that the issue tearing some Americans apart is the fear of having their fellow citizens condemning and hating their soldier troops who are risking all they have to attain peace for all humanity. And of course I didn't fully understand their sentiments until the SARS virus caused an unprecendented national crisis and claimed the lives of 5 people so far. Our doctors and nurses have risen admirably to the occasion, only to have fellow Singaporeans shunning them when they take public transport. Certain individuals have spoken out on how it hurts to see these medical staff being treated shabbily, instead of being lauded as national heroes. Teacher, before you dismiss the previous stanza as "redundant", let me try to redeem this piece by saying that as a human being and global citizen, I think it's important to spend some money on humanitarian causes. It's my responsiblity to ensure that the world will be in a better state when I leave than the state it was in when I arrived. Procrastination is another major flaw of mine (another story left for another day) but I promise some day I will spend some effort to find the address of Singapore Red Cross AND to mail a cheque in support of the fund they have set up to help Iraqi war victims. Of course I have a long way to go before I may be considered as philanthropic but I think generosity may not be so hard to come by after all. It is something that attaches itself on the back of age [This message has been edited by kaile (04-04-2003 12:51 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 heng kaile - All Rights Reserved | |||
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kaile
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146singapore |
geez, didn't expect this to be sooo long...and pretty proud of myself here--I wrote this in an hour  ..and writing this was very therapeutic...though larry, if you are visiting, don't force yourself through this if this doesn't appeal...i'll understand... [This message has been edited by kaile (04-04-2003 12:57 PM).] |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
As Arrrnold says: "I'll be baaaack!" If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
kaile, Well you are quite a young man! Yup, I did enjoy this very much. Fascinating to peek into your world. Thank you for the privilege.  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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