Reaching my Breaking Point

In materials engineering, the breaking or fracture point of a material is the point where the material just literally snap, where no longer is the material exhibiting elastic or even non-elastic behaviour, and where, depending on the functional condition of the assigned material, it could either be something dangerous, or just a dire warning to the materials engineer that such shitty things do happen. And what do y0u know, maybe, just maybe, I might be reaching mine too, and this is no metaphorical thingy that I would usually ascribe to my writings, but more as a measured reaction to the things that is happening around me. My only hope is that this is not a knee-jerk reaction, but more of a precursor to something even bigger or/and better.

What are my wishes for this year 2007? Hmm, to pen down those thoughts is like literally making me hold myself hostage to the demands of my alter-ego's expectations. But safe to say that among others, I do hope, like my previous post, to be a better person by nature, to be more of a mentor to my students and subordinates, to be able to synthesise my readings better, to create and give opportunities to my friends and officers to develop their rightful potential. But it seems so hard sometimes when things are just not falling into the right places at times, but I guess, like what I always advise others, 'Semua yang terjadi ada hikmahnya', which basically means, that 'Things usually happens for a reason, of which sometimes we might never ever know until we reached that 'AHA!' moment!'

So as I sit here being contemplative and reflective, I do wonder maybe, just maybe, sometimes I try too hard to be this better person. Shouldn't I be letting things flow, just let them be, just let nature takes its course. In the words of Bruce Lee, "I am not here to live up to YOUR expectations, and neither are you here to live up to MINE!" Harsh words, but I do feel that sometimes I am too harsh on myself. Look at what it has gotten me into, or NOT. I do wonder. But then again, this is just a test, something that I will just take it in my stride, and do whatever that I can to overcome, and persevere.

Like the saying that goes, 'The value of a MAN is not when all things are well and fine, but when he faces difficulty and challenges, that one will be able to see what IS his (or her) true value and self-worth'

The best is yet to be

This motto from ACS just got stuck on my head..keeps ringing and ringing in my head for the past few days, more so because it does beg the question of...'if it is still yet to be...then when will it ever be (your BEST!)' Doesn't it sound like a disclaimer of sorts..somewhat like a justified motto to hide away your shortcomings and incompetencies, to tell your opponents and competitors that yeah, we lost, 'but you have still yet to see our best!' But hei, this is just me being the devils' advocate! :)

On the other hand, I do see the good thing about it. Very much so since I also believe somewhat in this motto, that no matter at what level you perform, somehow, there is this little inch of you that you somehow can't, or won't be able to summon, or squeeze out no matter what the condition or situation is. And then there begs the question...so when will it ever be your best then? The simple crux of the matter is, you just never know when. And where does all this leads to? Well, just a little something that I've doing for a long while now, THINKING and REFLECTING. Thinking on how I can best be a better person: a better teacher, a better leader, a better provider of opportunities to both my charges and officers, a better husband, a better subordinate, basically a better person in 2007, than in 2006. Thought of a few things already, will see what I can do to get this wheel moving, the ball rolling and everything in place for a great 2007!

They say the journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. And so...let the journey begins...

A workaholic...at work...

My significant other has just certified me a living example of a true blue workaholic! :) Not that it is any bad, but it certainly made me take stock of things in perspective. What really is a workaholic?

Is it someone who needs to be constantly be doing work, in order to, say, live! Just like how some people are in their eating habits, especially during buffets. But then again, is it any wrong for one to be doing work most of the time, not because they NEED to do work, but because they do enjoy it. :) Call me sick, but then again, I do sometimes enjoy the things that I am doing, like planning, looking and preparing for my lessons, brainstorming on how to make my lessons on design more interesting and engaging, resourcing for materials on the NET...I mean isn't this what MOE is paying me to do...although I do feel I'm a little underpaid! But that is another story altogether...

My point here is that as long as there is nothing wrong liking the things that you are doing, and doing it correctly, professionally, effectively, efficiently, and all the other '...ly's', I see no reason for one to be feeling wronged when they are labelled a 'workaholic'. I don't think it is a disease of sorts...it will ONLY be one if the very reason for one' s living on this God-given earth is to work, work and work. My, my, I hope that I won't be like that.

And yeah, the good news is that I've submitted my application to be considered for the pioneer batch of students that are taking the A level D&T subject in 2009! Seems just a few years away, but if I am selected, I just can't seem to wait for the subject to be introduced. My head has been cramming with ideas, some untested, of course, some, well, lets just say, I'm just all for the key word here, which is 'experimentation'!

Which lead us to the topic on what I am planning to do for the hols, since I AM a certified workaholic! Well, firstly, unless I had a brain transplant, I think I really need to level up my IQ and catch up on my readings. I haven't been reading for the last 3-4 months, and thank goodness, I've managed to just finished the 'the 360 degrees leader' book thingy last week. It was a struggle trying to finish up the book, probably I have an overdose on the topic of leadership in my previous reading marathon sessions way back in June. But it was refreshing to revisit some of these ideas, and perhaps I'll try to post in the main geez of it all in my next post.

So what's next?

Well, for the longest time, I've been wanting to get a DVD cam and a Mac, to experiment with some photography, desktop publishing, video editing, and stuffs like that, though not necessarily in that order. I've also been wanting to write a book, in fact two books, one on the development of the department, some sort of an e-Coffeetable book of sorts, with a designer feel to it, say in a year or two. Which reminds me, I better start to sort out the materials that I want to put in. The other book that I am planning to write about is on prototyping, which perhaps is something that I wanted to experiment and try out, it is just that I simply don't have the time, and other resources. But perhaps, starting from scratch could be a blessing in disguise, as it certainly gives me an opportunity to learn and experiment, without being influenced by others. Hmmm...what others come to mind? Certainly, looking at acquiring some books will be a definite thing! I fell in love with the PageOne bookshop at Vivo, but then...Kino is offering 20% discount to members till end of the year...Choices, choices, choices...wonder whether PageOne has any membership or not! But then, Basheer at Bras Basah offers the widest of selection..plus the sales guy do give good discounts! Hmmmm...maybe I do some book shopping next week. I'm just crazy about books, especially those on design and related areas. I remembered spending like $250 on books alone, that was half of my Progress package! Hmmm, maybe I would spend as much on books now...I can't help it, I'm hooked on books!

Some memories are made of these...

What a wonderful week this has been, or it could almost be! Well, firstly i really enjoyed myself tremendously in my school's prom nite last Wednesday. It was really a blast! Seeing my charges in their full regalia of formal/dinner/prom nite-wear...dresses, shirts, pants, ties, gothic, and many other styles, that will definitely put a smile on Heidi Klum's face when she sees their fashion sense. Wow, I didnt know that they can be soooo stylish! But some, espcially the ladies, well, let's just say that given more time, a couple more years perhaps, they will be able to free up their hands with their dinner, or their partner/s, or both, instead of having the need to constantly adjust...errr...things that are just slowly 'slipping' away!

Hmm, what else came across to me! Well definitely the fact that one mentioned about becoming a chef, and another wanting to become an interior designer...but no one mentioned about becoming a nanotechnoly scientist! Hmmm, I do wonder whether there is a need for some marketing there! ;) Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps!

The teachers definitely have more fun this time round, especially at my table! My, this must have been my most enjoyable prom man...for the past 3 years! I guess it helps that we have some crazy teachers who are attending their Unity's swansong prom nite! :( Sad that they have to leave, but I guess that is the way it is. Hmmm, my time will come, sooner perhaps, but it will! Once I can just get down to the final stage of what needs to be done!

An artistic renaisance...Part 2

Wow, what wonderful news. The D&T Curriculum and Planning Development Department (CPDD) of MOE have announce the news that the subject might be offered at A levels beginning from 2009. I AM definitely going to apply for it, and to be part of this new and exciting development. It will not be called D&T...I think it'll be known as Design and Applied Science. I think it is quite apt in itself. I can just imagine it, the exciting exchanges about design and how the concept of design must not work in silos and without the inlusive nature of other subject areas! How would you design for someone that is illiterate? How do you design for someone who lives in parts of the whole where a screw or screwdriver is not something that they would found in a HOmeFix store? Why do you want to design a table and chair for children who would not be able to value the tables and chairs, and who would prefer to sit on the ground? How do you sustain the products' life cyle? Why design for people who would only use the product, say...once a year? Questions, questions, questions! But what really interests me now is the whole idea that design, or rather the design process must work in unison, or must be inclusive in nature in adopting practices from the various subject areas, like geography, history, literature, sciences, and others, in order for it, and the eventual products or processes that comes out of it, to be THE solution or intended design. Not easy, considering the silo-like nature of our system, but nonetheless, it IS a good start! I do like to envision that design or, its intended study, can be among the unifying subject or subjects that educators and students alike, can use, as a model of what holistic education is all about. And when I mean holistic, it is in the fact that we are no longer working on the basis of subject-like thingy, if you know what I mean. In fact I have kind of propunded the idea that maybe, just maybe, if we can model a few schools to be run like corporations in certain aspects of it, say having the students do real projects, and where they are brokeb up into marketing, production, design, publishing, engineering, research, sales, customer and service support, finance, human resources, and many others, we might just have a school that is really preparing, and I mean, REAL preparation for the students to enter the workforce. Realistically, I can't remember the last time that I need to know what (a+b)^2 can be expanded into!? But hey, I guess this is just something that I am just floating around in my mind...perhaps when I am the Minister of Education (wishful thinking here :) ), then I can start realising this! Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps!