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Cheryl
Christian
18
Rafflesian-ACSian
St. Andrew's Cathedral
Singapore

Thankful

God's Joy everyday!
Loving family
Great friends
Good health
Life!

tagboard

your tagboard here.

older posts

How In The World Did I Get IB DSA?
I love Physics and Math, I really, really do.
SATAY PARTAY
Slowly (On a Sunday Morning)
Residence
Wait. Stop. Don't move. Go.
Thanksgiving :D
The Annoyance of Salespersons
Conundrum of the Legal Profession
Dear God...

archives

June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008

affiliates

your links here.

acknowledgements

layout: lyricaltragedy

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

How In The World Did I Get IB DSA?

I don't usually do this but your tag was just too special -
In response to Anon, who tagged my box:

Question: hey im interested to find out, how in the world did you get into ib dsa? there are so few places..

Answer: I don't mean to scare you but my credentials for entering ACS IB 1st batch of DSA were spectacular. I have actually undergone strenuous gymnastics training since I was 32 months old in a Russian Gym Camp and subsequently represented Singapore in the SEA games under the name Leonardina The Magnificent. In my secondary school, my GPA was an astounding 4.3 (perfect score, mind you) and I was the Chairperson of 5 CCAs ranging from Yoga to Skydiving. I am on the Executive Committee of MENSA international and registered an IQ of 175 on the test when I was just 15. I have also been Ladied by the Queen of Belfast and my hobbies include opera, fencing and polo.

This is the level of achievements ACS is expecting from the privileged few who are given the key to enter the realms of International Baccalaureatism.

Good luck, my friend, and I am sure you will be able to join the League of Extraordinary Gentlewomen.

Real Answer: Yeah, I'm sorry if I scared you, all the above was bullcrap. I am really a normal person who was very blessed by God in His opening this door for me. It helped that I was in the first batch and they were kinda desperate for girls. Plus, I would think that I have decent intelligence and a CCA record lah - but nowhere near Leonardina the Magnificent's.

In any case, ACS has been an amazing 2 years of my life and I really hope you do get it. Don't be disheartened by the DSA if you don't get in, try again during the JAE/PAE cos I'm sure the wonderful 2 years of JC life is going to be SO WORTH IT. So yes, do try again! =)

Sunday, July 27, 2008

I love Physics and Math, I really, really do.

why can't physics and math leave me alooooooneeeee

why does a policy maker have to have a physics education?!
whyyyyyyyyy tell me whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
i thought i rid of you since nov last yeaaaaaaarrrr!!
NOW YOU COME BACK AND HAUNT ME IN MY DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICY AND MANAGEMENT!
RAWRRR!!

ok.
deep breath.

physics is fun.
math is lovely.
they are my best friends.
i shall get reaquainted.

get moving, cheryl!!!!
TWO WEEKS LEFT!!!

anyone been to new york and have any idea which places to explore, please let me know.
SOMEBODY STOP THIS TRAIN. It's moving too fast. Hmmm, I remember people were using the John Mayer song 'stop this train' to talk about IB Y6 ... it's been one and a half years since.

Time really flies man. =

Labels: Academics, Cornell

Saturday, July 19, 2008

SATAY PARTAY

Today was a good day.
Actually, recently, every day has been quite fabulous. Let me summarise certain aspects of my interesting life:

My Marriage To A Chinese Legend
2 nights ago, I made the major decision to marry Zhu Ge Liang after watching Red Cliff.
Why's that?

1. He's only the wisest man to exist in Chinese history;
2. He's decked out entirely in white;
3. He has a disarmingly charming tuft of a beard;
4. He just sits there and thinks up strategies and never gets dirty and, most importantly,

5. I didn't know Zhu Ge Liang bore such an uncanny resemblance to Takeshi Kaneshiro.

Yang has become sorely disappointed in my choice of men - having observed my questionable attraction to certain male specimens the past 5 years. In fact, I must add that this is not the first time I have become infatuated with men who are long -how do you put this across tactfully- over the hill and past their prime.

She has even devoted a blog post to this, of which I quote:
"Now you know. The only way to get Cheryl's attention, guys, is to be famous, good-looking, but most importantly, DEAD."

Now, now... That's not true. I am still attracted to live guys who still require oxygen to get by with their daily lives. If not, that would be truly worrisome. =X

SATAY PARTAY BABAY

Hitched a ride from Desmond where all the ASTAR scholars were having their Awards Presentation ceremony.

In the car, DQ, Des and I were talking about MIT girls

Des: A girl going MIT? I mean..
Me: Eh, eh what are you saying? You chauvinistic ah!
DQ: Yeah! What are you saying, Desmond?
Des: No! No! I mean that, it takes a certain girl to want to apply for MIT...
DQ: Hmm. That's true.
Me: ...Nice save, Desmond.
Des: Phew.

Later

Des: (hands me street directory while driving) Do you know how to read this? Should I turn here?
Me: Um..I guess...
Des: Okay, I'll pull over and read it. (Turns on hazard lights and studies directory)
Me: I'm sorry! I'm a girl!
Des: Whoooa, whoooa. Who's being sexist now?
Me: Being female is a handy excuse for situations such as these.

We had a Satay party afterwards and I CAN'T WAIT FOR UNI!!!

<3333333333

Labels: Cornell, Friends, Future, Love, University

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Slowly (On a Sunday Morning)

It hasn't really dawned on me, till a couple of days ago.

Even after finding out one Monday morning at 730AM, even after I started getting tonnes of letters and glossy sheets of coloured photos screaming "KOSHER FOOD AVAILABLE AT OUR ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT DINING HALLS", even after settling the bank drafts, queueing outside the American Embassy...

The thing that got me was my mum's SMS.
"Exactly a month till you leave. I'll miss you so much." followed by ten crying emoticons.
Flabbergasted, I sat in the bus, staring at the phone in my hand.
Then I messaged back "Let's take it a step at a time."

I sounded so rational, so detached, so collected.
When in my mind, wheels were turning.
Being an only child hasn't ever occurred to me as being a pain before. When I was growing up, my parents always spoke half-jokingly of adopting another kid whenever I refused to let them kiss and cuddle. I wasn't very fond of that idea (haha, no prizes for guessing why).

But now, I wish that they had another kid. Just to know that they aren't home alone, that someone's here in Singapore to look after them and to accompany my mum on her shopping trips and be my dad's kungfu partner. That would give my heart more peace.

I realised that after they depart from Cornell's North Campus, leaving me in the (albeit beautiful) Balch Hall, I will slowly come to realise that that would be my bildungsroman. The first night I spend in my hostel alone, staring at the ceiling, knowing that my parents aren't asleep next door and I can't go over at 3AM in the morning and snuggle in between them, under the covers, and wake up the next day at 630AM when my mum would drive me to 121 Dover Road...

That's quite an intimidating thought - leaving the nest. Leaving the oft-complained-about weather of Singapore. Leaving my friends behind.

"Heads up, angel. Smile, because you are mighty!"
I shan't say who sent me that because it's quite embarassing hahaha because right now, I can't fathom Time & Change.

The longer you live, the more goodbyes you experience.
Goodbyes aren't ever easy, but you know the ones who matter, the ones who cherish you, are going to be constant.

To those who love me, I love you too.

To be a living testimony for God's love, to be the light of the world that cannot be hidden, to be the salt of the earth. What ACS Chapel taught us did not immediately apply to me in school, being in a safe haven of mostly common-faith, but in my work, and in the world I have seen out of ACS, it applies and rings so true.

So many temptations, so much anxiety. How do we live our lives as being Peculiar People, set apart for God? How do I let people look at me and see a Christian without me necessarily telling them? How do my actions account for my faith? That's something that I'm striving for, and that part of me is under construction.

I realised, in hindsight, in every vocation I worked in thus far (excluding the 24-hour internship at EvilLaw, LLB), my faith had been made known and I had talked to people about it. From Muslims to other Christians, all very naturally. I'm proud to be of service to my Lord like that.

Forgiveness, reconciliation. Putting down the yoke of the world and carrying my God's. I have realised it's a two-way road and I can only do my share of it. That with that knowledge comes peace.

I know You love me and You are the author and perfecter of my faith; the captain of my ship.
What can man do against me, my mover of mountains?

I love You, my Jesus, so much, my heart feels like it's going to burst.
That's the Joy You've promised and I know I'll find my way, whereever you send me.

P.S. Brothers and Sisters, please pray for journey mercies and a good solid Christian fellowship and friendships for my university phase.

gravitas, baby. allegro.

Labels: Christianity, emotions, Family, Friends, God

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Residence

This is Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's USD253 million house they bought in Paris.

Lucky me is going to be living in it for a year before they move in.

I'm half-kidding. It's not in France, it's in New York.

It's my dorm and I'll be living in it.

OMG.

Labels: University

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Wait. Stop. Don't move. Go.

OH MY GGGGGGGGGG.
im so bored. im so bored. im so bored.
!!!!
ok ive bummed for the longest time EVER in my life and everyday melts into the next.
i've met up with tonnes of people and everything but no "boomshakaboom remember this"moment!

and too much free time lets me think too much - too many idle thoughts. about change. about nostalgia. about how i don't want to leave. and how i don't want things to change.

BUT THEN. you suddenly realise, when it thwacks you in the head that even if u wanna stay on here and cling onto the remaining threads of time, people have moved on (forcibly or voluntarily i don't know, but they HAVE.)

and it amounts to this:

Impetulant me:"Oh my gosh, August is in 2+ months. 2+ months is damn fast. I don't wanna go. I wanna turn back time and freeze it there and then. Nonononono. I miss school. I miss AC. Everyone's leaving, nonononono."

Voice of Reason: "Oh my goodness Cheryl stop being such a chicken. Listen. You stay on here, people would leave. The girls are flying off the same time as you. The boys will still be in army, then they'll leave. Then you'll be in this position again. Nothing's gonna be the same again."

Change sucks. It's necessary but it still sucks! ): I was commenting yesterday to someone that I have to move on, but nothing's happening quick enough for me to extricate myself from this nostalgia. At least the army boys live day-to-day, meeting new people, facing new challenges.

And the girls who work do the same.

That's why, I need a job. Sometime.

Thank God I have 2 good years of memories. Sometimes I think having good memories hurt :( But I guess they hurt for a while, in a few years, they'll be a source of joy.

Here's to change, life and university!

Labels: change, Life, University

Friday, May 2, 2008

Thanksgiving :D

There are so many things to thank God for in my life. And my life has been crazy eventful the past fortnight.

1. Mama

Thank you God for such a loving grandmother who put others before herself. Who held a family of 7 together single-handedly from the 1970s. Who has loved every one of her 16 grandchildren deeply. Who managed to see her hometown one last time before she moved on into Your embrace.

Mama, you were supposed to teach me how to cook all the Sim family dishes - from makatini to curry bak kut. You heard that I got accepted into UK universities last December and you already started to pack winter clothings for me once I hung up the phone, even though I wasn't definitely heading there. I'm sorry I didn't manage to love you more. :( But I know you are in a better place and I love you, Mama.

Your funeral was a grand procession. Everyone of us has a bit of you in us - your eyes, your lips, your soul. We're consoling ourselves that, through that, you still live on in us. The bouquets and blankets were unceasing as condolences poured in, so many till we blocked the whole void deck. We counted over 120 elaborate bouquets - even the MP stopped by. You are dearly loved, grandma. Hope you're well in Heaven. I'll meet you there someday and tell you I love you.

2. Future

Thank you God for making the impossible possible. There is no reason why or how I could have made it through every single gruelling scholarship round. It is really, really not easy at all when they keep slicing off 50% from each round from 2000+ to 8. What are the odds, my Lord - to be weasled down to a single digit? But with you, the Mover of Mountains, my Shield and my Portion, nothing's impossible.

I was in despair less than a month ago, with my emotional life derailed (even though it was of choice and I knew it's rational and for the best) and all scholarship boards simultaneously and heartlessly slamming their doors in my face. My parents were so giving, they were thinking of ways how to pull together their finances to cook up 400 thousand to send me through my undergraduate in an Ivy League. I was so torn. I was really okay with Singapore but I knew admissions were the most selective this year cos of the appallingly ridiculous number of applicants and will become increasingly so.

But then God is my portion (: It's been a long-drawn, horrible wait. But I've learnt so much about faith.

And about cherishing the people around me NOW.

Labels: Cornell, Family, Future, God, Scholarships