Monday, August 28, 2006
Role Models
Strange enough, none of the people whom I known long enough really become my role model at any point of my life... Perhaps I have seen the people whom I am close with long enough to know that they are not perfect. Perhaps I have seem them long enough to come to a conclusion that their short comings are so weighty that I should not impose my perception of role model on them. Of course, to me, Jesus is the perfect role model for everyone. But I figured that I need some other people to serve as the milestone to punctuate my life journey for me to set my eyes upon in the life long journey of becoming more and more Christ-like.
I still remembered how my brother's friend (not my brother, mind u) became a role model for me. Top me back then, he was tall, strong, smart and with a good sense of humour.
Then came Patch Adams, a reowned doctor. A doctor who worked with people, not sickness. His punchline is, "there is nothing wrong in death. when you work with disease, you win some, you lose some. when u work with patients, you can only win".
Then came a few of the leaders in my church. I see them is the epitome of humility, wisdom and perseverance.
The lastest one, Ben Carson. Many thanks to a friend of mine who wrote a bit about Carson's book - Gifted Hands. If you are reading this, a big thank you to you... You should know who u r. Because of what she have wrote, I became interested in the book and bought a copy of it. Ben Carson, a reowned neurosurgeon. Ostracised since young because of skin colour, he worked hard to achieve what he has achieved. His remark on Romans 8:28 was inspiring. For some strange reasons, what he have learnt in classical music somehow became useful in helping him to enter John Hopkins Uni and became a convenient conservation topic between he and his wife (girlfriend back then). Its interesting to see how God weave his live and see how what he does now has an impact on what he do in future. I see Carson's life as an example for us, especially for me...
For instance, I have no clear idea why am I going the way I am going now. Becoming trained as a teacher but yet my heart is with the medicine field. I will nevertheless follow what Carson said (or more precisely, what Carson's mum said to him), "Nothing learnt is ever wasted. You never know when u needed them." I pray that this statement be with me for these years. May God bless me in help me in learning what I need to learn in this time as I go through these years to prepare me in what I will be doing in future.
"Gifted Hands" totally captivated my heart. My heart is gripped with the "strangely warm feeling" as I read the pages of the book. Though I have never met you, but I really would like to tell Ben Carson next time, should we see each other in future, be it this life or in heaven, your book left a postive impact on me. I am clearer of my direction in life after reading your book. Becoming a doctor is what my heart tells me to do now. May God show me His way.
*Off to read again, Carson's 2nd book, "Think BIG"* (:
I still remembered how my brother's friend (not my brother, mind u) became a role model for me. Top me back then, he was tall, strong, smart and with a good sense of humour.
Then came Patch Adams, a reowned doctor. A doctor who worked with people, not sickness. His punchline is, "there is nothing wrong in death. when you work with disease, you win some, you lose some. when u work with patients, you can only win".
Then came a few of the leaders in my church. I see them is the epitome of humility, wisdom and perseverance.
The lastest one, Ben Carson. Many thanks to a friend of mine who wrote a bit about Carson's book - Gifted Hands. If you are reading this, a big thank you to you... You should know who u r. Because of what she have wrote, I became interested in the book and bought a copy of it. Ben Carson, a reowned neurosurgeon. Ostracised since young because of skin colour, he worked hard to achieve what he has achieved. His remark on Romans 8:28 was inspiring. For some strange reasons, what he have learnt in classical music somehow became useful in helping him to enter John Hopkins Uni and became a convenient conservation topic between he and his wife (girlfriend back then). Its interesting to see how God weave his live and see how what he does now has an impact on what he do in future. I see Carson's life as an example for us, especially for me...
For instance, I have no clear idea why am I going the way I am going now. Becoming trained as a teacher but yet my heart is with the medicine field. I will nevertheless follow what Carson said (or more precisely, what Carson's mum said to him), "Nothing learnt is ever wasted. You never know when u needed them." I pray that this statement be with me for these years. May God bless me in help me in learning what I need to learn in this time as I go through these years to prepare me in what I will be doing in future.
"Gifted Hands" totally captivated my heart. My heart is gripped with the "strangely warm feeling" as I read the pages of the book. Though I have never met you, but I really would like to tell Ben Carson next time, should we see each other in future, be it this life or in heaven, your book left a postive impact on me. I am clearer of my direction in life after reading your book. Becoming a doctor is what my heart tells me to do now. May God show me His way.
*Off to read again, Carson's 2nd book, "Think BIG"* (:
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
I am in a NIE lecture theatre now, as you can see, I am trying to test the wireless next work.OK, that aside. The picture u see is the mascot for the upcoming learning festival. For some strange reason, the mascot reminds me of Happy Tree Friends. After you take away the "heart shaped mane", I think it can qualify itself as a happy tree friends character. Hmmmz... mebbe it has an implied meaning... :P
For undisclosed reasons, I shall not elaborate on my point. :P
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Learning How to Teach (by negative example)
Head Knowledge. Period. I have no doubts that the lecturers in possessed head knowledge where education is concerned. However, head knowledge remains as head knowledge, it is not transduced to practice. Some of the lectures I have attended so far were delivered by non-engaging lecturers. Ironically, they are the ones supposed to teach us how to make the lessons interesting... Some contradict what they taught by doing the very things they cautioned us NOT to do...
Taboo Number 1
Thou shall not read from your power point slides. Yet, some of the lecturers are reading from the slides.
Taboo Number 2
Thou shall prepare your lessons. Yet, some of the tutors in NIE gave me the idea they did not know what to do with the class. To pull off a 2 hours lesson, we are given 1 hour to introduce ourselves...
Taboo Number 3
Engage your class in the lessons. They did this area well, by reminding us that class participation takes up 10% of the course. Hmmmz.. I feel a bitz threatened. If I am not engaging, then I will forgo the 10% and be labelled as uncooperative... So... I need to talk. Perhaps I should do this in the school that I will be posted to also.
Taboo Number 1
Thou shall not read from your power point slides. Yet, some of the lecturers are reading from the slides.
Taboo Number 2
Thou shall prepare your lessons. Yet, some of the tutors in NIE gave me the idea they did not know what to do with the class. To pull off a 2 hours lesson, we are given 1 hour to introduce ourselves...
Taboo Number 3
Engage your class in the lessons. They did this area well, by reminding us that class participation takes up 10% of the course. Hmmmz.. I feel a bitz threatened. If I am not engaging, then I will forgo the 10% and be labelled as uncooperative... So... I need to talk. Perhaps I should do this in the school that I will be posted to also.
