Reflections 2005
We're already two weeks into 2006, and I truly feel that this is going to be an exciting year! But before the excitement drowns my senses, let me take a look at year 2005.
On the whole, 2005 is the first year in my life whereby my occupation is not officially a student. I'm a soldier for the entire year! This is when I realise how comfortable my past learning environment has been.
For years, I had been fortunate enough to have so many caring and patient teachers to guide me through the rigorous academic programme. Yet in SAF as a "L" plate driver, the verbal taunts and abuse by the driving instructor are provacative, if encouraging at all. Their actions only spur me on to prove them wrong, that I can complete the course and get my license deservedly. So much for negative motivation. Although I must admit the instructor's driving skills are admirable, his style of teaching is never commendable. If not for my persistence and determination to excel in driving, I'm afraid I'd have just given up half-way. Why must I subject myself to this verbal torture? Just pay a few thousands bucks to learn civilian driving then. The "price" of a free civilian license.
And I got "Best Driver Trainee" award at the end of the course. Though the reasons behind the selection are never disclosed, I wasn't keen at that point of time to know too. I just wanted the course to end, return to the Force, and start to work towards earning my civilian license. That's the ultimate aim, otherwise all my efforts would have mostly gone to waste. The award was perhaps because someone appreciated the effort I had put in learning, despite the mental torture. Maybe. But definitely not due to my driving skills, as there are course-mates who are more apt at driving than me.
Initially I felt that the award was a curse, because the 7th MT spec saw the recipient who should be his successor. I was vehemently against that arrangement. Yes, it's true that MT Spec is most likely to get his civilian license. However, the kind of workload that he gets is something that I don't look forward to. I take pleasure in driving, not in assigning the drivers to various work, liasing with others regarding transport resources etc. Perhaps it's the after-effect of the driving course. In the end, my encik somehow also agreed that I'm not the proper choice for the job, and I became Medical Suppy Spec then.
Horrors. The 7th Med Supply Spec, or "Drug Spec" had suspectedly some missing Sch III drugs. His excuse was that Spec II course took up most of his time. Luckily, after a few months, it turned out that only about two items were missing. However that period of time was frustrating, simply because I was seemingly doing most of what he's supposed to be doing, yet he's on 8 to 5 most of the time. And then he decided that he's gonna take charge of things one last time, brushed my work aside without regards, and did things another way instead. Perhaps at that time, he's clearing leave and off, and he'd only got just enough time to pull himself out of trouble.
What has happened is all in the past. Soon, it'd be my turn to hand over to 9th. I'm adament that nothing of this sort will happen again. It'd be unfair to the incoming specialist.
Oh yes that's Spec II too and my first ever ambulance and hospital attachment! Really fulfilled one of my childhood dreams: to be in an emergency vehicle responding to people's calls for help.
Looking back at my blog posts throughout 2005, I can safely say that I've put in a great amount of effort into maintaining my social circle. As William observes, I've been present for all the outings, just like Wanxin, Mingli etc (Really???) But this kind of effort has to be sustained, and not just for a year or so only. One year of conscious effort has brought about, well, ok benefits; at least I still have contact with them ya?? Haha that's what all's about perhaps.
So much about the military. Am I labelled a "boy" if I keep talking about the military, but a "man" only if I talk about oh how I have started working and into relationships, getting married etc. That's why we are called "army boys" and some others are called "uni men". Is that so? I pretty sure I'm not being childish. I'm doing something meaningful.
Other meaningful things I've achieved? Contact has been maintained with my angel. But it has been sporadic, and hence frustrating at times. Waiting in vain for response sometimes. At best probably 2-3 weeks? If not, 1-1.5 month =P Haha I'd probably go mad if status quo continues ha I'd better stop thinking of such details then. The more I take it to heart, the more frustrated I get, though nobody's to blame at all. Miracles happen when one least expects them.
Ok I've overcome some challenges in year 2005, maintained status quo in some others, and failed in the rest. More challenges to come in 2006, and the coming years in fact.
May the lucky stars watch over me as I fight on, as usual.
On the whole, 2005 is the first year in my life whereby my occupation is not officially a student. I'm a soldier for the entire year! This is when I realise how comfortable my past learning environment has been.
For years, I had been fortunate enough to have so many caring and patient teachers to guide me through the rigorous academic programme. Yet in SAF as a "L" plate driver, the verbal taunts and abuse by the driving instructor are provacative, if encouraging at all. Their actions only spur me on to prove them wrong, that I can complete the course and get my license deservedly. So much for negative motivation. Although I must admit the instructor's driving skills are admirable, his style of teaching is never commendable. If not for my persistence and determination to excel in driving, I'm afraid I'd have just given up half-way. Why must I subject myself to this verbal torture? Just pay a few thousands bucks to learn civilian driving then. The "price" of a free civilian license.
And I got "Best Driver Trainee" award at the end of the course. Though the reasons behind the selection are never disclosed, I wasn't keen at that point of time to know too. I just wanted the course to end, return to the Force, and start to work towards earning my civilian license. That's the ultimate aim, otherwise all my efforts would have mostly gone to waste. The award was perhaps because someone appreciated the effort I had put in learning, despite the mental torture. Maybe. But definitely not due to my driving skills, as there are course-mates who are more apt at driving than me.
Initially I felt that the award was a curse, because the 7th MT spec saw the recipient who should be his successor. I was vehemently against that arrangement. Yes, it's true that MT Spec is most likely to get his civilian license. However, the kind of workload that he gets is something that I don't look forward to. I take pleasure in driving, not in assigning the drivers to various work, liasing with others regarding transport resources etc. Perhaps it's the after-effect of the driving course. In the end, my encik somehow also agreed that I'm not the proper choice for the job, and I became Medical Suppy Spec then.
Horrors. The 7th Med Supply Spec, or "Drug Spec" had suspectedly some missing Sch III drugs. His excuse was that Spec II course took up most of his time. Luckily, after a few months, it turned out that only about two items were missing. However that period of time was frustrating, simply because I was seemingly doing most of what he's supposed to be doing, yet he's on 8 to 5 most of the time. And then he decided that he's gonna take charge of things one last time, brushed my work aside without regards, and did things another way instead. Perhaps at that time, he's clearing leave and off, and he'd only got just enough time to pull himself out of trouble.
What has happened is all in the past. Soon, it'd be my turn to hand over to 9th. I'm adament that nothing of this sort will happen again. It'd be unfair to the incoming specialist.
Oh yes that's Spec II too and my first ever ambulance and hospital attachment! Really fulfilled one of my childhood dreams: to be in an emergency vehicle responding to people's calls for help.
Looking back at my blog posts throughout 2005, I can safely say that I've put in a great amount of effort into maintaining my social circle. As William observes, I've been present for all the outings, just like Wanxin, Mingli etc (Really???) But this kind of effort has to be sustained, and not just for a year or so only. One year of conscious effort has brought about, well, ok benefits; at least I still have contact with them ya?? Haha that's what all's about perhaps.
So much about the military. Am I labelled a "boy" if I keep talking about the military, but a "man" only if I talk about oh how I have started working and into relationships, getting married etc. That's why we are called "army boys" and some others are called "uni men". Is that so? I pretty sure I'm not being childish. I'm doing something meaningful.
Other meaningful things I've achieved? Contact has been maintained with my angel. But it has been sporadic, and hence frustrating at times. Waiting in vain for response sometimes. At best probably 2-3 weeks? If not, 1-1.5 month =P Haha I'd probably go mad if status quo continues ha I'd better stop thinking of such details then. The more I take it to heart, the more frustrated I get, though nobody's to blame at all. Miracles happen when one least expects them.
Ok I've overcome some challenges in year 2005, maintained status quo in some others, and failed in the rest. More challenges to come in 2006, and the coming years in fact.
May the lucky stars watch over me as I fight on, as usual.
posted by Zhane at 2:56 PM
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