TIme to shine

Tomorrow is the 51st Track and Field Nationals finals. The finale is about to come. I can't wait.

Looking back, it has been exactly a year since the last finals. So much has changed. So much improvement. Yet so many set backs too.

Looking back. i see just how much i have changed. Just two years ago, HPPS IT and Media club member has suddenly been chosen to join HCI's track and field. Unbelievable. I never thought that i would do a sport. Yet, now it is so different. I just cannot imagine how it would have been if i didn't join track and field. Life would be so different, i would be so much less tanned.

Not very good.

Though sometimes i get really really irritated when Gary shows off his untanned exterior by calling me "coloured folk". How funny.

Even so, i earned that name. Toiling for hours under the insanely hot sun. The countless shin splints and luckily, i remain injury-free... touch wood touch wood. My fellow jumpers are so friendly. Its great to be in their company. Jumping together, running together, chatting together.

Sometimes, i think Singapore is too task-oriented. We all aim for points, results, medals... the goals are endless. But how many can actually achieve it? Everywhere i see, i see success. Mr Tan once said "why can't we have a cca just for fun?" It would be pointless, we need the accolades. But yet, he has a point. Why? Lets just blame the system for now.. or us chinese being too competitive. The thrill of competing is indescribable. Just walking up to the high jump mat already has my heart throbbing. Even thinking of it makes me feel excited. But, it is not the competition that is thrilling. Its the experience.

Can you believe it? During a competition, a NATIONAL competition, we laugh at each others names? WAH! Amazing ain't it. So relaxed. Perhaps. Its nice to make more friends. Especially across schools. The perspectives given are so varying.

I enjoy seeing both sides of the coin. It gives me a better view. Instead of 2D, i see it in 3. Also, it is easier to understand. Well, i hope we win the C'Division and B'Division title AGAIN. It has become a minimum. An expectation. In school, people use your title as "tracker" as reason for your ... success in sports. Yet, they fail to understand that "tracker" is but a label. We are still the same. Just that we are required to train on a scheduled basis. Viva la trackers.

MAYCOMB COUNTY: Diary Entry

c. Write a diary entry for a major character of the novel.

Character:

Mayella Ewell

Dear Diary,

Dad hit me agin'. Said t'was not acting right at court. Atticus. Mr Finch. That bastard was pounding me with questions. I couldn't take it anymore. Daddy would kill me if i told the truth. Killed me once i stepped into our home. Sometimes, when 'm workin', i wonder. Is Daddy actually human? Or some satanic bein' that the devil sent to hurt people and chillun'. I don't know.

Tom was such a nice man. He was the only man who ever showed any sign of care to me. He said he "pitied me". Damn right he was. I bet that if i was him, i wouldn't feel any differen'. I don't get why Daddy had to implicate him. Nobody saw it. Nobody knew it. Tom didn't have to suffer for it.

How could a kiss be so evil. Mr. Finch put it too well. I tempted a nigger. You couldn't blame me. Tom was so.. helpful. Better than Daddy. All he'd do was come home drunk and start using us as punchin' bags. When i was younger, i hoped that some prince charmin' would come and haul me outta this hell. Tom brought some salvation. Nobody ever dared to speak to me. Tom did. If he knew what it would cost him, he would have never.

If i knew what it would cost him, i would have just ignored him. Why didn't i. Sometimes, when Daddy made me ran errands to town, i would envy all those chillun' who had friends to talk to. I didn't have a childhood. Not one of my brothers nor sisters had one.

Daddy is pushin' it. One day, i swear. When it's time, i shall deal some payback. When Daddy's older, i'll run away. To yonder. The world's so big. I'll run. I'll sprint. I'll jump. I don't care. I killed a man. If i had spoken out. If...i had the courage to not be a stinkin' coward. Tom would've never been labelled a guilty man. Daddy never told me what happened to him. He just disappeared. Just last night, when i stepped out for some fresh air, i saw Tom's wife.

Crying. Sobbing. Wallowing in her own tears. All i could do was sit on that half-rotten log and watch. I feel so guilty.

Save me,

Mayella Ewell

MAYCOMB COUNTY: Is Maycomb a good place to live in?

a. You have conducted an interview with one of the characters in TKAM. Write out the interview transcript, taking note to demonstrate the essence of the character and his/her point of view.

The Character:

Dill

The Interview:

Is Maycomb a good place to live in?

My Aunt says Maycomb is great. I find that Maycomb is jolly fine. Scout, Jem, Cal and all. Maycomb is interesting too. With Boo and everything. Though i find Meridian better. But i find... um... the prejudice against the negros.

Too hardcore for my taste. But other than that. I like it. Alot. Why'd you think that i spend every summer here?

You find the Justice System prejudiced?

Yea. My Dad, who is a very righteous man, told me never to treat negros differently. He told me there were the same as us. Humans. He called it "racial discrimination". I find it sick. Sick sick sick sick sick. Like Boo stabbing people with scissors. Maycomb people hurt the negros. Its just not fair.

Do you think the people in Maycomb are friendly?

Friendly? Not as friendly as those in Meridian, but people in Maycomb... hmm.... friendly enough. Though there have been a few exceptions. Mr. Ewell is one of those black sheep. If i remember clearly, he was the one who tried to hurt Scout and Jem. Mr. Radley too. Nearly shot Jem. Um.. Mrs Dubose was never friendly to anybody, though i couldn't see any reason why. But there are more friendly people than unfriendly.

What are your views about the recent Tom Robinson trial?

It is not fair. Mr. Finch convinced the whole court that Tom was innocent. Yet, all those bad white men proclaimed him guilty. There was no medical evidence. There was no way Tom could have done such a thing. He was an honest man! Mr. Finch tried so hard. Yet, just because he was a negro, Tom had become ... guilty...

If this is justice, that how can i walk the streets knowing that i am safe from all those bad men?

Do you think Mr. Finch made the right choice when he chose to represent Tom?

Yes! Definitely a YES! His choice has motivated me to become a lawyer like him. I want to bring justice to all those negros out there who have been unfairly treated by the system. I don't see why white men don't like negros. Aren't they both men? Mr. Finch is inspiring. His choice to represent Tom has shown to me that there are still good people in this world.

Do you find any change in Maycomb after the court case?

No. None. Tom was forgotten. Like ashes scattered into the wind. He was forgotten.

So, Maycomb is not a good place to live in?

I find that Maycomb is a good place to live in. Only if you shut yourself up at home all day long, enjoying your life for what it is. The reality is just too ugly. However, if you are able to be righteous and have to courage to right wrongs, Maycomb would be a fantastic place to live in. In fact, the world would become your playing field. Wherever you go, you would be respected. Maycomb. It is a good place to experience things. With such diversity, you can learn alot from the "Maycombians".

Personality Test? More like a Mr Spelmer again.

The personality test.

It has changed. I can't believe it. When Mr Spelmer told us to do that test, i could swear that the results were less linguistic and more kinesthetic. To be absolutely frank, i don't see how a personality test will affect how we learn. From what i have observed, it is the system, the environment and the teacher whom will affect how we learn. To tailor the teaching style to each and every student is impossible.

However, some teachers have done it.

The next few blog posts will be "tailored" to my learning style.

Enjoy.

Jump Jump Jump Jump. Plop

WOW. All comers was so much better than last year. I didn't fail the first height! The stadium seemed so empty.Not many people.

First event- Long Jump

These SAA people should at least measure properly. The stepping that i used was screwed. 1 meter away from the board. How horrible! I could have jumped so much further!

First jump. 1 meter from board. Coach was like "!!!!!!! You are 1 meter from, the board!!!!" Then told me to move back 1.1m so that i can jump closer.

Second jump. Still quite far. Grrr. Was told to move forward 40cm. I was quite surprised. though 40cm away, can still jump 4.9m +

Third and final jump. Moved up. Coach told me. JUST GO! Overboard. Though by a bit, it was still counted as a fault. GRRRRRRR. Horrible rule.

Overall, quite a fruitful experience. But with a price. Strength sapped by a bit. But i still have another event looming.

Second event- High jump

My arch nemesis. The last time i came, i was recorded as:

Hum Qing Ze.

Jump: NIL

I didn't cross the first height.

But now. The tables have turned. With a new heart, i took the jump.

1.4m. (practice height). Crossed it twice. Already over the moon.

1.4m (competition start). Crossed it in one try. It was an improvement already.

1.45m Crossed it in one try. Amazed.

1.5m Crossed it in one try. Shivering with happiness

1.55m All three tries failed. probably because it was a above my personal best.

// Note to self, gotta overcome 1.55m//

Well, it was a great experience!

Let us All-Come

ALL COMERS TOMORROW! Until now, i still have now idea why on Earth it is called an all-comers. The number of people that attend are dwindling. The last time i came, i screwed up. Hey, i was just Secondary 1! No weights, no training, no experience.

Long Jump or High? Or both? If i do long jump, i'll be jumping in Mun Kit's name. Not that i mind, but i am sure Coach has a reason for not signing me up earlier. OH NO! He can tell the future! I'd better ask him for a few 4D numbers. I betcha i'll become a millionaire in a week! Arrgh. Such a tough choice. Or is it? I'll just try, so i won't have to stand at the sidelines and watch my friends get owned by the JC people. All-comers eh? Everyone come and compete? Hmm...

Wish me Luck!

There goes the first week,

ONE WEEK.

gone.

Thats fast. The days go by so quick. Is that supposed to be good or bad? Sighs. I never knew Secondary 2 life was going to be THAT difficult. I thought it would just be a eetsy bitsy change to the usual Secondary life that i have been experiencing. Big mistake.