Through My Eyes

June 29, 2005

Swimming Champs

Filed under: Life — by Jasmine @ 5:47 pm

“Everyone of you is a swimming champion!” declared Mr. Ching, my biology teacher, today.

We were doing the chapter on our reproductive system, and he was explaining how the sperm meets the ovum and how it then develops into a zygote, embryo, fetus, and then a baby.

“Out of the millions of oocytes present in the ovaries, each month, only the strongest prime follicle develops into an egg. And out of the thousands of sperms that enter the Fallopian tube, only the strongest one gets to meet the ovum.” He explained.

“It does not matter whether you know how to swim or not, you are all champions. Therefore, appreciate your life!”

The class erupted into laughter. How cute of Mr. Ching, I thought.

I then realized how true his statement was. I am indeed special. Every human being is. = )

June 28, 2005

moments in my drama competition

Filed under: Life — by Jasmine @ 4:54 pm

Everyone was congratulating us in school this morning. We had just won the Nothern Zone English Drama Competition for the first time in Keat Hwa’s history.
I want to write “We were overjoyed. We were elated! Man, KEAT HWA BOLEH!”

But I just don’t feel this way. I feel as if a big tonne of weight has just been added to my shoulders. We have to go for the nationals in Johor, 4th August. Uh huh. One more month to go.And many more practices.

Alright, I’m not going to be such a pessimist and spoil all the fun. There were still many memorable moments during our competition in Kulim. I guess those were still precious to me, and as I think of them, a smile appears on my face.

I will never forget the telephone pranks pulled off on our teachers. “Saya Cikgu dari Perlis. Tadi props team cikgu, potatoes itu terjatuh ke dalam longkang…” I could not carry on further as we were all already in fits of laughter.

The next day, teacher got even with us. “Jasmine, tell everyone to come down to the lobby in 5 minutes. A Star reporter is here to interview us.” Of course, there wasn’t any reporter after all the rush to get ready in such a short time. hah. So Pn. Khoo is not too old to play jokes after all.

We spent one night in Kulim before the competition day. Disobeying orders to sleep early, we fooled around until midnight (watching out for teachers at the same time) before dropping dead on our beds. For the first time, I got to watch The Apprentice on TV (after watching Madagascar and a bit of You Got Served on the bus). Not a bad show at all….hopefully I’ll still get to see it after my SPM.

I don’t want to talk about our drama, but well, I guess I have to mention the prize giving ceremony.My teammates were screaming and yelling on top of their voices when Penang, the defending champions, were announced 2nd place.Heck, even all the teachers were on cloud nine, hugging and embracing everyone of us. I really felt out of place then. I don’t know, I simply wasn’t excited about our win. No, how could I be? I was persuaded and coaxed into entering the competition. With feelings of regret, I wore my biggest smile and responded to them brightly ( ah, real acting…how fake). Still, it was nice to see them so happy after working hard for this. Perhaps they have now known what it is to reap what you sow.

Upon our arrival back at school, I immediately set off for my Physics tuition.

As I carried my luggage up the staircase and put it outside the tuition room, I knew it was time to face the mountain of work cut out for me. I braced myself for a lesson of electromagnets and stepped into the room, the drama memories left behind.

June 8, 2005

辩论后感

Filed under: Life — by Jasmine @ 4:31 pm

辩论的路程终于来到了尽头.回顾过去所有的酸甜苦辣,心中涌上一股非笔墨所能形容的感觉.

还记得第一次接触辩论,是观看电视机播放的大专辩论决赛.当时我才中三 ,看到台上八位辩手滔滔不绝地说个不停,心想,自己不知什么时候才有机会像他们一样思维敏锐,反应机智.有演讲基础的我真的不敢想象脱稿说话是怎么达成的一回事.

去年,万万没想到会有机会参加校队,我告诉自己要把握良机,好好地学习一番.当然, 毫无经验又准备不足的情况之下, 我们惨败.

那一次失败,我却找到了说话的勇气.

今年四月,从队长志忠手中拿了福联青辩论题目后,我开始积极地找资料…辩题有两个,”挫折有利于成才”,和”己所不欲,应施于人”. 一开始,和队友们意见分歧,不能达至共识,那时真的很努力控制自己的情绪,努力地让步.当时忙着好多东西, 一方面要顾学业, 另一方面还有课外活动, 我准备得非常吃力.我从主辩突然又被调至结辩, 对于这个位置, 我不了解, 更不能胜任.到了比赛那天, 我们表现差强人意, 我预测一定会历史重演,再次拿到最后一名. 
谁知司仪竟然报告,吉华是冠军,我一时不能相信,哭了出来…

结果,路程真的开始了.打败吉兰丹州的辩论队后,我们进军全国赛.

六月二日晚上,我们浩浩荡荡地出发了,到柔佛的南方学院去.巴士上,大家很吵,除了五位老师,还有我们的军师,焕杰和盈妮,身称啦啦队的正威…还有我们六位辩论员,铭铭,庭庭,茹莹,志忠,炜理和我.一路上都很积极地讨论,直到累了才入睡.
三号早上到了南方学院,筹委为我们安排住宿后,我们又进入备赛的状态.临时换了第一题的整个理论架构,又重新拟了主辩的稿子.”霸权主义比恐怖主义对人类社会的危害更大” 这个辨题,我们对它的了解不深,因此努力作最后的充电,确保论据和普通常识都能上口…我们的”常识专家”志忠为我们阐述越战,海湾战争等事件,也重新说了奥萨马和萨达姆的故事,我获益不浅.
最后,这场初赛是险赢了,但别人对我们的批评可真多.从不能脱稿,临场反应不够快,到不能捉对方的要害等等,我才了解原来我们要学的还多得是!!无论如何,还是成功实施霸权主义,进入半决赛.

半决赛是对沙巴建国中学,题目是爱情的力量比亲情大.我们是正方.乍看之下,题目很好辩,但其实要找个可以让我们推翻反方立场的中心思想可真不容易.所幸彭亨队的教练,也是吉华一度的临教,为我们提供了很有帮助的思路.他说,把题目看成一个拔河比赛,哪一种力量的出现更可以把一个人”拉”过去,它的力量更大.这样就可避免对方以亲情”对像多,时间长”来做比较标准. 这回我试着不要写稿,只在纸上写下重点.

比赛刚开始,看见沙巴队员个个体形高大,很成熟,心理上已有一定的压力.主辩庭庭很有感情地把稿子带出来了,后来我就准备聆听对方的论点.接下来发生什么事我也不怎么清楚,自由辩的时候我们讲的东西竟被对方很荒谬地扭曲,而自己却呆板到无法反驳.我印象最深刻的就是对方提到”肥猫”,而我们搞错了,说成熊猫,顿时哄堂大笑!很遗憾,我并没有做一个很好的总结,对方的大错误都没有点中,比赛就这样结束了.

后来评判点评时说,我们以爱情在心理和生理上的作用做为论点并不太好, 我们攻击力不够强,针刺不到肉,结果只好做沙巴的手下败将. 有位评判还说我像日本娃娃,很可爱,气死了…….

进不到决赛,打不到”日本有资格成为联合国安理会常任理事国”这题,我们被逼准备”参与社团组织对个人是失多于得”,也就是季军赛的题目.之前根本没有在这题上下功夫,我们知道,又要熬夜了。

准备季军赛的过程,最难忘,最珍贵.大多数辩论员都很累了,又完全不能接受”失多于得”的立场,大家有点急.真的佩服焕杰和盈妮给我们的教导,拟了一个还像样的架构,又继续”生”主辩稿。没有他们,我们不知该如何应战.当晚靠着咖啡和饼干, 各式各样的笑话, 拍照, 炜理扮奥萨马,扮鬼,还有我不停地狂笑,我们挨过去了.那晚我们共同地奋斗,将深深地烙印在我脑海中.

五号早上的比赛,我们就以不清醒的状态上场.在巴士上,二助的四个问题终于才出炉,也是军师的功劳.我们说,词穷的时候,就拿稿子起来宣读,真的没办法就骂对方”脑子里生草”. 做在台上时,二助茹莹竟还能与我开这种玩笑.我对着他,也傻傻地笑起来.

比赛结果,我们,输了.应该是预料之中.

我们以殿军之称塔上了归途….心里感觉复杂极了.

沉重, 因为路走完了,意味着繁杂琐碎的事情,功课,将一一到来.

心酸, 因为有过这段美丽的回忆后,必须放下过去,瞻望未来.

感激, 因为有这个难得,可遇不可求的学习经验,看到了全国精英大显身手,看到了别人的本领,自己的不足.

欣慰, 因为有所付出,必然尝到丰硕的果实.

我虽不是个好的辩论员,至少, 我为辩论努力过.

感谢所有在路上帮过我, 指导我, 鼓励我, 欣赏我, 批评我, 看轻我, 鞭策我的人.

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