Hello World!
Am I the only one with this thought: Twenty years from now, I will miss school-days.
Today was the last time being surrounded in a sea of red identically dressed beings. Standing on the chairs and waving our hands and flags in the air, shouting and singing our hearts out for our nation would be one of the best memories I will keep from my Junior College days. Also, I am reminded of how close I am to my A Levels and university life.
I will miss having friends I can talk so closely about God to and who understands my every quirky thought, people that I am happy to joke with, teachers who teach with quality (Math- Mr. S. GP-Ms L., Bio-Mr K, and Mrs. J W), and definitely wearing the school uniform.
I also recently embarked on a project, which I have invested a lot of time and energy on. I am happy to see great progress and most importantly, seeing that project self-advancing gradually. This project is one which I have taken on top of my A Levels and I have, ostensibly, been deterred by others from doing so. However, I took it up because I had the opportunity to open and was motivated to develop it at the same time. I figured that this motivation could die and the opportunity could no longer be there in the future. Today marks 2 months and a few days of officially taking it up and I would not say I regret taking up this project although I do feel more hard pressed for time to study for my preliminary examinations.
Other than the progress, what I and keeps me going is the opportunity to learn about myself as well as about the science of developing a good (similar natured project). I do intend to make this project lifelong, however. if it fails one day, the skills and experiences I have gathered will still lend me in giod stead. I would agree that this might not be the best skill to learn right now as my main focus should be my studies. However, one thing is greater- I am staying true to my value in perfecting projects that I embark on. Now that I am more or less settled, I would be shifting my perfectionist mindset to my studies alone. Not forgetting all these are unworthy gains if it is not for God, I should pray constantly and learn about Him.
Anyways this blog post is a reminder to my future self as well as I hope becomes an inspiration to many to not opprtubities go by, but yet seek the Lord to sustain you, because he will. Even if you made a self-harming choice, God will save you as long as you lift it all up to God. I will not succumb to the weakness of the fllesh to my best ablity and admit this to God for Him to help me.
Love Nicole
Wednesday, 8 August 2018
Thursday, 5 April 2018
Running competitively for one year
Training 4 times a week. (Although on paper its twice)
Training during the holidays.
Spending 4-5 hours training and munching with teammates
Worrying about the fat ratio in your body
Self-imposing food bans
Being physically drained
Falling really sick
Worrying about falling sick
Sleeping less
Traveling to the other end of Singapore for pieces of training
but
Beating myself each race
Learning how to challenge me
Being self-disciplined
Learning how to be healthy
Treasuring sleep
Building a stronger immune system to sustain me during exam periods
Relieving myself from the stresses of school
Meeting people with discipline
Learning to adjust and make improvements quickly
Learning to pick up new skills quickly
Learning to pit me with the best\
Learning that setting high goals increases the probability of me going far
It's all worth it.
How I am thankful to God for blessing me:
In just one year I ran faster than a HCI girl who started running since primary school.
I never injured myself after last year
I had beat my personal best in the latest race
Accumulating only 20s difference between me and someone who had clocked 4 years more worth of mileage.
Having the money to buy good shoes to run faster
Blessed by caring and stretchy teammates
2017: 20 mins 12 s
2018: 16 mins 16s
Training during the holidays.
Spending 4-5 hours training and munching with teammates
Worrying about the fat ratio in your body
Self-imposing food bans
Being physically drained
Falling really sick
Worrying about falling sick
Sleeping less
Traveling to the other end of Singapore for pieces of training
but
Beating myself each race
Learning how to challenge me
Being self-disciplined
Learning how to be healthy
Treasuring sleep
Building a stronger immune system to sustain me during exam periods
Relieving myself from the stresses of school
Meeting people with discipline
Learning to adjust and make improvements quickly
Learning to pick up new skills quickly
Learning to pit me with the best\
Learning that setting high goals increases the probability of me going far
It's all worth it.
How I am thankful to God for blessing me:
In just one year I ran faster than a HCI girl who started running since primary school.
I never injured myself after last year
I had beat my personal best in the latest race
Accumulating only 20s difference between me and someone who had clocked 4 years more worth of mileage.
Having the money to buy good shoes to run faster
Blessed by caring and stretchy teammates
2017: 20 mins 12 s
2018: 16 mins 16s
Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Running isn't a smooth and always accelerating journey
National Cross Country 2017 3.8km in 20 mins
ISCA run 5km in 23 mins
Mizuno Ekiden 5.125km in 25 mins
Macritchie 6.4 (Stich 8 minutes longer failure)
Shape Run 10km in 49 mins
POSB Kids 5km in 24 mins
2XU Yolo Run 32 mins for 7.09km
Great Eastern Women's run (Not accurate due to a human jam)
National Cross Country 2018 3.8km in 16 min
Don't drink water 10 mins before a race.
Do core, upper body strength training, hips strengthening, calf raises, thigh and ankle strengthening, intervals and thorough stretching training on top of running 40km a week.
Sleep for 7.5 hours before running the next day.
Hydrate 1hr before a run.
Always exercise till i pant every training.
Keep off fats, proteins and too much fibre a day before the race.
Visualise running and being one of the first before a race.
Push myself to my limits every training.
Keep up pace with the fastest runner each training.
Don't miss a single training.
ISCA run 5km in 23 mins
Mizuno Ekiden 5.125km in 25 mins
Macritchie 6.4 (Stich 8 minutes longer failure)
Shape Run 10km in 49 mins
POSB Kids 5km in 24 mins
2XU Yolo Run 32 mins for 7.09km
Great Eastern Women's run (Not accurate due to a human jam)
National Cross Country 2018 3.8km in 16 min
Don't drink water 10 mins before a race.
Do core, upper body strength training, hips strengthening, calf raises, thigh and ankle strengthening, intervals and thorough stretching training on top of running 40km a week.
Sleep for 7.5 hours before running the next day.
Hydrate 1hr before a run.
Always exercise till i pant every training.
Keep off fats, proteins and too much fibre a day before the race.
Visualise running and being one of the first before a race.
Push myself to my limits every training.
Keep up pace with the fastest runner each training.
Don't miss a single training.
Things I love to do and deem beneficial to pursue
Satisfying my curiosity
Overlearning academic content
Reflecting on my failures, leadership style
Mimicking experts in any field
Learning about current affairs
Motivating others sincerely
Getting to know people
Analysing what is best at every moment of my life
Overlearning academic content
Reflecting on my failures, leadership style
Mimicking experts in any field
Learning about current affairs
Motivating others sincerely
Getting to know people
Analysing what is best at every moment of my life
Tuesday, 14 November 2017
Things I love to do but should not pursue
Hey World, how many of you guys feel the need to detach from the cravings of the flesh? For me these are distractions from me investing my time on enjoying and looking to what is eternal.
Absorbing myself in romance films
Excessively getting to know new people
Indulging on expensive food and activities (Cafe hopping, buffet lines, watching movies in cinemas alone, shopping for wants)
Comparing with others on social media
Absorbing myself in romance films
Excessively getting to know new people
Indulging on expensive food and activities (Cafe hopping, buffet lines, watching movies in cinemas alone, shopping for wants)
Comparing with others on social media
Wednesday, 1 November 2017
Challenging the process - Junior College Years
I personally know people who take 4H2s, have been on the top students' list for 4 or more major exams, has 2 CCAs or leadership roles, and one of them even takes 2 more other H3 subjects. They succeeded in JC, which means, they managed their time primely, has mastered the skill of prioritisation and were able to persevere. I can be like that too. No, I am aiming further and for something different. I will not be sharing my goals here, but the general line of thought is building both tangible and intangible achievements.
I may not have intelligent parents, inspiring siblings/relatives, the most motivated classmates, live nearby my JC, but I would still strive for my goal. My circumstances do not define me, but gives me a greater challenge, which when overcame will build me to become a stronger warrior of life.
I will be taking 3 H2s, 1 H1, 1 H3 , 2 CCAs, fulfilling 4 leadership roles (Captain, Student Councillor, Class ViA Rep, and Orientation Group Leader) actively giving back to the community.
What I come out of them will depend on my attitude and faith in God. :) I urge you to challenge yourself too, to make the most out of the 2 most hectic years of your life, to prepare you for the life ahead!
Cheers, Nicole
I may not have intelligent parents, inspiring siblings/relatives, the most motivated classmates, live nearby my JC, but I would still strive for my goal. My circumstances do not define me, but gives me a greater challenge, which when overcame will build me to become a stronger warrior of life.
I will be taking 3 H2s, 1 H1, 1 H3 , 2 CCAs, fulfilling 4 leadership roles (Captain, Student Councillor, Class ViA Rep, and Orientation Group Leader) actively giving back to the community.
What I come out of them will depend on my attitude and faith in God. :) I urge you to challenge yourself too, to make the most out of the 2 most hectic years of your life, to prepare you for the life ahead!
Cheers, Nicole
Tuesday, 31 October 2017
What to feel about Korean Dramas?
They are fake. That's what we keep hearing from others, naysayers, critics and long-standing sufferers of Korean dramas.
The sweet and fairytale-like scene that gets really awkward without the background music.
Imagine what would happen if every moment of the story was filmed? Even the non-eventful moments? Would our idols still be so likeable? Would their lives still be as interesting?
Instead of getting all hooked up on a 20 hours series drama, we could have done 10 Bio paper 2s, 60 Economics essays, wrote 13 GP essays, read up and researched in depth on global issues which could enlighten our lives forever, done community service, do 3 days worth of after-school work, hang out with friends for 10 2-hour long sessions, went to universal studios, watched 10 movies with friends or family, stayed back for 10 Student council general meetings, run 20 1-hr runs or spent 30 breaks in school building relationships. The opportunity cost is very high, especially for a Junior College student.
The million dollar question is, why is it so hard to leave Korean Dramas despite the high opportunity cost? (aka why do we is the perceived benefits greater than the actual cost?)
Some excuses I tell myself:
1) Just let my hormones rage, I will never experience such a thrill watching Korean dramas like a time like this ever again in my life
2) I need to rest or I will get burnt out
No doubt the plots are getting increasingly interesting, actors getting more good looking, but there are really a lot more cons than pros to watching K dramas. Even if you don't care about your own future, think about others. The electricity you spent watching those episodes, the time you wasted on your intellectual mind, the amount of carbon footprint you contributed from respiring and consuming earth's resources could have changed a few lives somewhere else in the world. Some refugee is dying on the sea right now. Someone is dying of starvation under extremely dirty and humid conditions right now.
So friend lets cap at 2 episodes, the first and the last, then say goodbye and change this world.
Cheers, Nicole
The sweet and fairytale-like scene that gets really awkward without the background music.
Imagine what would happen if every moment of the story was filmed? Even the non-eventful moments? Would our idols still be so likeable? Would their lives still be as interesting?
Instead of getting all hooked up on a 20 hours series drama, we could have done 10 Bio paper 2s, 60 Economics essays, wrote 13 GP essays, read up and researched in depth on global issues which could enlighten our lives forever, done community service, do 3 days worth of after-school work, hang out with friends for 10 2-hour long sessions, went to universal studios, watched 10 movies with friends or family, stayed back for 10 Student council general meetings, run 20 1-hr runs or spent 30 breaks in school building relationships. The opportunity cost is very high, especially for a Junior College student.
The million dollar question is, why is it so hard to leave Korean Dramas despite the high opportunity cost? (aka why do we is the perceived benefits greater than the actual cost?)
Some excuses I tell myself:
1) Just let my hormones rage, I will never experience such a thrill watching Korean dramas like a time like this ever again in my life
2) I need to rest or I will get burnt out
No doubt the plots are getting increasingly interesting, actors getting more good looking, but there are really a lot more cons than pros to watching K dramas. Even if you don't care about your own future, think about others. The electricity you spent watching those episodes, the time you wasted on your intellectual mind, the amount of carbon footprint you contributed from respiring and consuming earth's resources could have changed a few lives somewhere else in the world. Some refugee is dying on the sea right now. Someone is dying of starvation under extremely dirty and humid conditions right now.
So friend lets cap at 2 episodes, the first and the last, then say goodbye and change this world.
Cheers, Nicole
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)