This is a reposting of what I posted on LMS for my EL blogging hw this wkend.
Oh and I replied to Natasha's LMS blog post already. Go see, alright?

Yesterday, we had our MTP and we heard Mrs Ouyang presenting us with many figures and statistics as well as targets. That was not surprising, seeing as this is now our 4th MTP in Cedar and every year we get shown the same things. However, this year is a little different in that they now talk about Prelims, O levels, results, etc.

I was just reflecting on Mr Sng's pep talk yesterday and I realised what he said was really true. In the end, what matters isn't really our results, but our effort. When we get our O level results next year, can we really believe that we have indeed given our best effort and be truly satisfied with whatever results we have gotten? It is sad when all the school thinks about when looking at us Sec 4s nowadays is our average L1R5 next year or 'value-addedness' or even whether we remain as a Band One school or not. Sure, these are important and we as Cedarians want to do our school proud and contribute in terms of excellent results. However, like my mom said, "All these are the principal's job to worry about. All you can do is to try your best."

The school wants us to do well but when we do well, it's not really for the school, for our parents, for our teachers, for our friends or anything. Ultimately, it is for OURSELVES. People can motivate us to do well but I believe the best motivator is always within ourselves. You set your goal, you know what you want, you work hard towards that goal. We may face obstacles, circumstances might go against us, but whatever it is, as long as we don't give up and press hard towards our goal, we will reach in due time. As a Christian, I believe all I can do is to 'do my best and leave God to do the rest.'

Mr Sng also commented about my class's attitude. He feels we're not trying our best yet. As Chem Rep, I can understand the frustration Charis felt yesterday when only 10 people handed up the EL expository essay and she had to go around the class chasing people for their essays without much success. Later on, Serene(our A maths rep) also commented that "the subject reps in our class have very difficult jobs." It is true to a certain extent. I hope all of us will work hard together this year and do well as a class in the O's next year. (Now I feel as if I'm writing a speech on option 1! )

Anyway, I have to go now but I just want to make an announcement first.
People who are free on Monday, please please make your way to CCAB, Bukit Timah to support the basketball and netball semifinals against RGS.
Bball match is in the indoor courts at 3-4pm while netball is right afterwards from 4.15-5.15pm at the outdoor courts.
Please come down to support! (Buses might be provided for supporters. If not, many people in 4I are going-me included- so just ask us how to go to CCAB)
Thanks.

THE END

Times have been better.

Still, being grateful for everything the Lord has blessed me with and treasuring the little miracles that happen to me everyday gives me reason to celebrate each morning, each new beginning.

Yep, I've come to realise that you're right; everything does happen for a reason. The Lord had a plan all written out for us way before we even knew how to walk, how to write, how to say "mama". He knows exactly what will be best for us; how troubled times would just make us stronger when we come out of it, though we struggle to understand why it happens.

And so, I trust you Lord. That this will make me a fuller person in body and soul, as I emerge from this battle, victorious.

I have faith.

Love always,
tashi.

Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord

Cedar Fiesta was such a success, I can hardly believe it! So many turned up, and I could see that every Cedarian was enjoying herself a lot(: Our stall was fantastic and by far the most fun game right?:D
I'm pretty sad that I missed the chance to go into the Haunted Dungeon:( Oh well.

Thank you Lord for such wonderful weather on this very special Valetines' Day, for all the smiling faces around the school, for the lively atmosphere, for letting this event be a whooping success.
Thank you for the heart-warming company of my family as we sat together, celebrating the love among us.
Thank you Lord.


I love this song; it's just so uplifting and makes me wanna praise the Lord with all my heart and soul!

Hillsong - Mighty to Save

Everyone needs compassion,

Love thats never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Well everyone needs forgiveness,

Kindness of a savior

The Hope of the nation

(Chorus)

Saviour,

He can move the mountains,

My God is mighty to save,

He is mighty to save

Forever, author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as you find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything that i believe in

Now i surrender (and i surrender)

(Chorusx2)

Shine your light and

let the whole world see

We're singing,

for the glory of the risen king, Jesus

Shine your light and

let the whole world see

We're singing

for the glory of the risen king, Jesus

(Chorusx2)

Shine your light and

let the whole world see

We're singing,

for the glory of the risen king, Jesus

Shine your light and

let the whole world see

We're singing

for the glory of the risen king, Jesus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-08YZF87OBQ

Loves,
tashi.

This week has been quite eventful, what with the preparations for the Cedar Fiesta (tomorrow!) and the Chemistry SPA we had on Thursday. I must say it was really a HUGE relief to have finished up the first of 3 Chem SPAs. I have many other important events coming up after the Fiesta like my piano practical exam on 11 March, the various subject tests in the next few weeks, the Bio mock SPAs/real SPAs, the Chem SPA 2 in the holidays as well as my Chinese (Prelim) Oral on Term 2 Week 1. WOW. I seriously just want to get everything over and done with.

I can sense that my stress level is really going to escalate a lot during the next few weeks but I guess this should be pretty normal for us Sec Fours. I will trust in the Lord to get me through all these events and to do well in them.

Oh guess what, during church last Sunday, I heard a testimony from this guy who had just finished taking his O levels last year. He was in the Youth Ministry and he actually served in the sound ministry in both the Youth Ministry and church services. This means that he will have to donate a significant portion of his time on both Saturdays(Youth Ministry) and Sundays(church service) to serving the Lord's ministry.

He showed us his Prelim results and it showed a couple of A2s, some B3s, I think he only had 2 A1s or something. He said that, " I just did what everyone else studying for the O's did, doing exam papers, 10 year series, constant revision, etc." He continued serving until the youth pastor told him and other Sec 4s in the Youth Ministry to stop and concentratie on their studies.

He trusted in the Lord to be his help and his strength, and every morning before his O level exam, he anointed himself with the holy anointing oil(this was a revelation from our Senior Pastor) and prayed that God would give him the wisdom to remember whatever he had studied and to do well in the O levels. All he had wanted was to get into one of the top 5 JCs in Singapore. He remembered our Pastor saying 2009 was going to be ' a year of the free favours of God'. So he trusted in the Lord.

Then, he showed us his O level resuls slip. You won't believe this. I saw with my very own eyes, 9 A1s out of 9 subjects!! Yes he was one of the 12 boys from Catholic High who got 9 A1s. I couldn't believe it. I felt so overwhelmed. Furthermore, the subjects he took mostly mirrored mine. I'm not sure if he was a Triple Science student (probably yes) but he took Chem, Bio, pure Geog, SS/Hist, E Maths, A Maths, EL and all that. It was simple amazing.

I felt as if the Lord was speaking to me, showing me that if I only trusted in Him, He would definitely carry me through my O levels and help me to do very well. It was as if He was saying to me," Yes, attending church cuts into your sleeping time on Sunday mornings and you may feel like you don't have enough rest/sleep or time to do your homework. Just trust in Me, keep coming to church and walk with Me, I will take you far higher than you can ever imagine."

I feel so blessed. Thank you Lord Jesus, for showing me that you are indeed 'the way, the truth and the life.' I can face all the important events coming up with confidence because I know the Lord will take me by the hand and lead me into 'his plans, his plans to give me hope and a future.'

'Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' (Jeremiah 33:3)

Mandy (:

Thank you Lord for this week, for every second.
Thank you for the beautiful clouds which roll by, unnoticed by most.
Thank you so much for the all the small blessings you shower upon us each and every day.
Thank you for knowing me through and through, for knowing exactly how I feel, for comforting me at the lowest of points.
Thank you for the waves that lap the shore endlessly, never ceasing to calm the soul.
Thank you for your love so great, for enabling us to share it with the world.
Thank you for everything that you have blessed us with.
Thank you.

Why are you cast down, my soul, why groan within me? Hope in God; I will praise him still, my saviour and my God.
- Psalm 42:6


oh, how I love thee.

tashi.

Btw, I still do.
;)

And I promise you, we'll be rockin, til we aint able to rock any more, then we'll use the rockin chair and rock til it breaks. x) Don't give up, trust in the Lord! For He makes a way, when there seems to be no other way.. that way, is in Him and Him alone (: ILY.

I loved you, that's why.
& I just thought everything would be alright.

Don't cry :((((

I stop and pick up a broken scallop shell and realise that this shell is me when my heart is broken, when I am hurting. Yet this shell is still out on the beautiful sandy shore...just as I am.
Thank You, Lord, that I haven't been completely crushed by the heaviness in my heart.
~Carol Hamblet Adams

Boo.
I miss you :/

Haha good one Mandy! :D
I shall follow suit then.

(This was written on Friday, the 23rd)

I only have one thought right now; YES! It's FRIDAYY. Oh yeahh.
I just woke up after conking out while trying to start on the massive pile of homework that we have to complete over this short holiday. And now I feel a whole lot better after waking up(:

On Monday and Tuesday, we were rushing to finish up our class noticeboard decorations. After many hours of staying back to wrestle with that wretched cardboard and getting your fingers stuck together with UHU glue, I'd really like to thank everyone for all your efforts and contribution:D I think that our decorations ROCK by the way;) Great job 4M!

On Wednesday I went down to CCAB to support the B Div' in their first match of the tournament (against Fairfield). I just want to say that you guys did fabulous. You really gave it your all in that last quarter, and I admire how you never let that fighting spirit leave you, right down to the last second. You did us proud(:

On Thursday, it was the C Div's turn again. For some of you, well; I've never seen you hunger for the ball that strongly, nor have I ever seen you play that well before. For that I'm really proud of you too(:

And today, we had the CNY celebrations during assembly. The performances were pretty diverse and interesting. Haha I actually managed to catch a sweet! It was my first time. The funniest performance had to be the teachers' attempt at singing:D Some teachers were actually quite good(: Mr Sng, why didn't you go up on stage?

I'd just like to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year! (:


"For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."
-1 John 3:11



Tata for now~
tashi.

Hey in order to revive this blog and yet not kill off my my burning brain cells, I've decided to repost my LMS Blog (hw for MR Sng for this week here!) Yay problem solved! It's not plagarism(is that how you spell the word) because I am the author and I hereby give myself permission to reproduce my work here. So here goes...

& I'm Burning Up

No I am not a Jonas Brothers’ fan. The reason why I’m burning up is because of my fever! I realized the symptoms(sore throat,fever) are so similar to what Serena posted on her blog. She must be carrying a super virus because many people 4I are sick with the same illnesses!

Yes I was sick today. Thank you so much to all the people who showed concern for me like Genevieve, Miao Xiang, Prabhmeet, Ying Ying, etc. I really felt so sick and feverish throughout the whole day. I’m so sorry Mr Sng, if you felt that I was very unresponsive in your class today, it’s because I was feeling really horrible then.

Oh gosh, this is a really bad time to get sick, just before the Chinese New Year! Maybe it’s better this way because I do not have to worry about putting on weight during this period while eating all the CNY goodies! This is quite sad because quite frankly, what is CNY without good food and red packets! I am not being materialistic here, because , after all, my parents will take most of my money from the red packets. Surprisingly, I felt much better today, in guess which period, Biology! It must because Mrs Gay was telling us her pregnancy and labour story in such a hilarious way. The saying: ‘Laughter is the best medicine’ must be true.

Anyway, I think it must have been quite a miracle that I made it through the school day without fainting. I’m serious! The way everyone commented on how sick I looked today, it was as if I was halfway on the path of death. Well, thank God I am not, because I feel a little bit better now. School really drains the energy out of you.

After the CNY concert, I rushed back home to put my bag down and prepared to go to the doctor. ( I want to get well before first day of CNY.) As the doctor was closing in about 20 minutes, I had to hurry there. Then, guess what? I couldn’t find my clinic card!( I think that’s the term) I searched frantically around the house, turning my room upside down but I still couldn’t find it. ( That just shows you when my last trip to the clinic was). Finally, I found it and ran(yes I ran because I was really cutting it close already) 5 minutes to the clinic. I know you all will think I am crazy for running to the doctor in the sun when I am so sick but I really had no choice. Luckily I reached the clinic in time. By then, I was already perspiring profusely. This must have lowered my temperature because when I went in to see the doctor, he took my temperature and this is what happened afterwards.

Doctor: Hey are you sure you’ve got fever? Your temperature’s normal.
Me: I ‘m very sure I had fever today, everyone who felt me said I was ‘radiating heat’!
Doctor: Hmm…ok but you have no fever now. I’ll just give you Panadol ok? Do you need antibiotics?
Me: Yes I want Panadol. No I don’t want the antibiotics! My body can cope I think. (Must be because of what Mrs Gay told us today about her epidural free labour)
Doctor: You know, you shouldn’t stress out so much. Come home from school go take naps daily!
Me: I came home late everyday this week. If I take naps, how am I going to finish my homework?
Doctor: Hmmm…students nowadays ah….ok at least you got a nice long break this weekend. Better rest well!

Haha he’s quite a friendly doctor. Anyway after this, I went back home, ate and then slept for a while.

Oh and here’s the updates about the netball matches that took place this week.
C Division(Lower Sec)
Tues Cedar beat Bendemeer Sec 66-0. (shocking, I know)
Thurs Cedar beat Crescent 26-5 I think.
B Division (Upper Sec)
Wed Cedar beat Fairfield 26-15. (I can’t remember the score exactly but we won by 11 goals)
The B div match was a real cliff hanger! Throughout the 1st 3 quarters, we were either only ahead by one goal or drawing with them. Luckily, in the last quarter, the team put in their best effort and managed to blow Fairfield off the court. Phew!
Ok before I go, I would like to wish all Chinese a Happy CNY, all non-Chinese, a good break, and all 4I people who are sick( like me), a fast and speedy recovery before 1st day of CNY!

Mandy

P.S. 4I please try to hand up your Chemistry worksheets(no star) on Speed of Reaction and Energy Changes next week as soon as possible. Ms Chng said that if you don’t hand up, you will have to stand in class. If anyone lost their answer sheets, come find me, I will lend mine to you. (: