Exam/Relax = Stress

Some of you may be surprised to find the title of the note.
Some of you may find this is ridiculous that I write a note just 24 hours before my first exam.
Well, let me clear the air.
This note is dedicated to all of us (having exam or not) who are facing stress in our life.
I feel pity to some of us who are troubled to control their degree of stress.
It includes me in the list.

I believe most of us know the meaning of stress.
Everyone has their own meaning of stress.
Some of us can take higher degree of stress as normal level,
while the others can't do that.
Hence I will not talk much about the stress itself.
In fact I'll talk more about the before and after effect of it.

During this exam period, I know the "kiasu" level increases exponentially.
And the relaxation/entertainment decreases in same way or more extreme.
(Well for some it isn't effected)
Hence the stress-meter tells us that we are at the level of almost break down.
Furthermore, the force to ourselves to get good grade (GPA) 5 makes it worse.
The combination of these make body as boiling machine that almost explodes due to the pressure.

The simple formula of for stress/pressure:
Pressure = Force / Area

In this case, pressure is our stress, force is our workload, and area is our body, mind, and mental.
As we know our workload is a constant.
Well you can't say that you only want to take one from seven examinations.
In addition the ECA, feeling, and relationship make the force bigger.
The area is a variable but under control.
You can't change it as you wish to a very large amount.
(Well you can't make your brain bigger).

Hence if we substitute the value to our formula we get:
Stress= (Exam+ECA+Feeling+Relation

ship) / (Body+Mind+Mental)

From this we can derive that:
1. If we don't have exam/ECA/feeling/relationship, our stress will decrease or better 0.
2. If we have bigger mind/mental/brain/body, our stress will decrease.

Is it possible to achieve the ideal condition? It's not theory calculation. It's experimental.

From my experience and observation, I suggest some of my idea:

1. Reduce the force/workload
Well it doesn't mean you have to take lesser subject (21->19). Yes, you can if you want.
What I suggest that you make your own study strategy. Don't copy others.
Please do you think if you follow A+ student so you'll become like them?
Our brain is a wonderful safety box. It can keep a huge number of memory.
But be careful that the memory is not kept in short term memory.
Make your own schedule/agenda. Plan well.

2. Improve your Body, Mental, and Mind
How to improve? You are the one that can answer it.
You know yourself better than others, don't you?
Exercise, do sport but don't over do it.
Keep positive thinking, if you already said to yourself that you're stupid, useless, and failure,
you'll be what you said. Hypnotize yourself with good and encouraging words.
Yes you can! Fighting! Be positive! I can make it!
Take time to relax and do stuffs that you like; games, facebook, singing, reading, dancing, etc.

It sounds repetitive and classic but it's TRUE.
As I said in my earlier note, BALANCING is the important aspect in life.
When you can balance everything, you life will mostly perfect. (I don't dare to say perfect).
This what we tend to forget. Balance your life well.
So it' doesn't mean that you study like crazy.
And also it doesn't mean that you play like crazy.
Remember BALANCE.

From the art of war, know yourself before the enemy.
Conquer yourself to conquer others.
It's true and applicable from times to times.
What is your strength? What is your weakness?
How does your strength help you in exam?
How does your weakness pull you down in exam?
What can you do to make your weakness be your strength?

Now let's share your experiences and ideas.
How do you handle your stress?
How do we make our life to be balance?
Leave comment as references for others.

Departure to NEW Beginning

While watching Departure (Japanese movie), I make this note; 4.26 am.

I remember I made status note on facebook, stating:

"Nothing is last for forever, treasure every moment you have, cherish every time you get together, hold tight every thing you have NOW."

After watching the movie, it becomes clearer what it means to me.
Every human at one point will pass away and rest from all world things.
We're tired from all the problems, projects, tasks, and maybe life.
We want to sleep at peace and put everything behind.

Often we hear people say that death is beginning of a new journey.
It's not an end but a new starting point.
Like birth, death is also a turning point.
Death and life is like a piece of paper.
Side by side, face to face, both always walk together.

Isn't it funny?
When you die people will take care of you.
Other will decide the coffin, the burial place and ceremony, everything will be prepared for you.
When you die, you will not bring anything.
Just like you came to the world without bringing anything,
you will go back with the same way.
Do they spend hundreds or even thousands for the coffin?
Do they spend hundreds or even thousands for the burial?
Do they spend hundreds or even thousands for the grave?

Can you imagine when somebody leave you forever?
You can't touch, talk, hear, or even look him/her.
Let's say your mother, father, sister, brother, husband, or wife.
Until today, at this moment, I can't imagine I lose my special persons.
Even I know someday they will go and rest in peace.
I still need them all.

How about I leave them first?
Can they face it? Can I accept this fate?
Which one is the easiest choice, be the left one or be the person who leaves?
Can we choose? Do we know the answer?
Do we have any choice?

I think it'll be nice if I can be encoffineer.
I make sure my loved one grant eternal beauty.
I make sure my loved one get eternal rest peacefully.
I make sure my loved one give last memory to me.

Death is life.
Life is death.
When you live, live to the fullest.
Don't hold any regrets.
After you're tired, rest peacefully.
Your new beginning will start very soon after you wake up.

The Process/The Outcome

I thought this matter for very long time now.
I asked my friends, seniors, and fellow teachers.
They had different views about this matter.

Suddenly, today, this evening, after celebrating my friends' birthday
this topic came out in our conversation.
Sorry to my friend for making him angry talking about this.
I didn't mean that.
But, it's interesting to talk about this matter.
And also I want to know your opinion about this matter:

"What is more important the process or the outcome?"

You can talk about your mark/grade/title/degree or whatever.
OK to help you, let's just focus on our grade/mark, especially for NTU's student.
We know that in our graduation we will get honour, whether 1st class, 2nd upper, 2nd lower, 3rd class, or pass with merit.
Do you think this is more important than your four years study in university?
What do you look, good honour or good process?

In my honest opinion, I do agree that process is above the mark, although mark is also important.
Having good process will and will not result in good mark.
However it ensures that we had good knowledge and information about the subject.
Mark is not the first and only measurement to decide the understanding of the student.
Especially your mark is mostly affected by 2,5 hours paper at examination hall.
There could be a lot of things happen during the exam that make the student not perform well.
For example, having stomachache will disturb your concentration.
Or you are so nervous so you forget how to solve the problem, make stupid mistake due to not be careful in answering the question.
The student also have feeling of burden because the exam will surely make you grade.
Is it fair to judge the student only in the 2,5 hours?
How about their process during the one semester?
Don't they have other chance?
Just because they fail in the exam, their grade will certainly go down.

But, we can't blind about the mark/grade.
It's also important.
That's our first impression to the company so that they call us for interview.
My friend told me before what the mark/grade meant for company or interviewer.
The manager of a finance company told him that mark/grade expressed your seriousness in study.
Having good mark/grade means you are very serious in study and will be also the same in working.
But I argued that how come he told from the mark/grade.
I know for sure (well from my experience) that sometimes even though I have put much effort on one subject, at the end I just got "enough" mark.
What is the standard of the "seriousness"? Is it A+, A, or A-?
How about the other grade, B, B+, B-?
Don't they who didn't get A put less effort than them who got A?

Unfortunately the company see the mark/grade first before your personality.
Well at least to get interview, you need to get at least 2nd lower.
That's the reality of workplace.
That's the fact about the world now.
To get in first you must have good mark/grade because with that they believe you have good knowledge and ability for the company.
Good mark/grade means you are cleverer than others. In this competition era you need to differentiate and good mark/grade is how you differ from others.
After that your interview will decide everything.
You need to show all your ability and persuade the interviewer that you're capable for the job.
So is your mark or your process more important?
Well it's up to you to decide.
I want to know your opinion.

In life truly marks are not important.
It's your skills and abilities which will make you be a successful person.
But in order to get in you must make the first good impression with good mark/grade.
Having good process will or will not lead you to good outcome.
But learning and knowing how to make the good outcome surely add your skill.
Is the experience the good teacher, isn't it?
What will we follow, the ideal world or the real world?
I know for sure we live in the real world which sometimes doesn't follow the ideal one.
Now it's time for you to speak up.