Who is She? My Mother

Brief Career History

 The author interviewed Madam Lim, a single mother in her late 50. Her husband just passed away on May 2010. She runs a medium restaurant selling variance of food and a small bakery shop. She has four children, three daughters and one son. The oldest daughter is a dentist, currently working at family clinic. The second daughter is a medical student, currently serving as intern. The son is a university student, currently studying in the last year. The youngest daughter is an accountancy student, currently studying in second year.

Madam Lim is a Chinese descendant. She can speak Mandarin and some dialects. She was in food and beverage industry for almost 21 years. She started by helping her husband in running the business since her husband is illiterate. She, herself, was not degree holder. She only finished her Junior College. Due to her family financial background, she couldn’t pursue university degree. She started to work since young to help her poor family. She has nine siblings.

Madam Lim is brilliant and smart even though she couldn’t enjoy university life. She has sharp thinking, excellent communication skills, and good management skills. She picked those skills by herself through the experiences she has undergone. Madam Lim managed to expand her husband business from a small restaurant to a medium restaurant with strong customers’ loyalty. The restaurant is well known for their fast serving and delicious food. She also managed to open a small bakery shop, catered to birthday and wedding cake, along with the restaurant. On top of that she successfully entered her four children to university. Even some people didn’t believe that she could do that.

 She is also an entrepreneur. On May 2010, her husband passed away due to sudden heart attack. Then she has to manage the restaurant and the bakery shop alone. She struggled with the family economy to sustain her three children education cost. Due to the economy recession, the business didn’t go well. Luckily she got opportunity to open family dental clinic together with other relatives. She also joined her friends in other business projects. She is a good risk analyst, excellent predictor, and deep thinker.

The fairy tale is too good to be true. In fact she was diagnosed with diabetes type II, a genetic illness (Amy Adams, 2000). In spite of her illness she continued to fight and pursue her dream. She wanted to see all her children to be successful in the future by having university degree. She continued running the restaurant and bakery shop; and looking after other business. She is a strong-willed person.

NETWORKING, is that so IMPORTANT???

NETWORKING

Nowadays people often talk about how important networking is.

To be a successful person networking is indeed very helpful.
In Indonesia, sometimes people can get easy way thought so called "networking".
Well I would like to talk about it in my entry today.

Why would I talk about it now?
Honestly my sister went for some AIESEC program to Hanoi, Vietnam.
There   she met with a lot of people from different country; namely South Korea, Taiwan, China, South Africa, USA, and Vietnam itself.
My suggestion to her:

Meet new people, talk with them, interact and learn from them. Make your network as wide as possible.

This is her chance to make friends with people from different background and nationality.
Well she attended university in my home country Indonesia and there is limitation to make international friend.
I can call myself lucky to get accepted at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
As we know Singapore becomes a global hub both education  and business purposes.
Hence I had the bigger chance to make friend with people from many Asia's country and beyond.

Before I had no imagination that I could meet people from Europe/USA.
Even thinking to have friends from  middle and eastern part of Indonesia never cross my mind.
I have no tools and barely know no one.
The friends that I had limited to my school friend only.
And even that I didn't try to make a lot of friends from high school.
Well you can ask my high school friend, how many of them know me personally.

It's not that I didn't want to make friends at the first place.
I'm an easy going person and people person, ask my friend to confirm this ;)
I thought as long as I could move on by myself I need no one.

But times prove me wrong.
I learn the power of networking through courses, experience, and  sharing.
Though I took Engineering course, I loved to join Business course.
There I learned how important networking is.
When people gather, talk about their idea, sharing their thought, it can stimulate ourselves.
Networking is like making spider web, connecting from one point to another.
It combines two people or more with same ideas or like minded.
Networking is not just about chit chat, it's how we share with other our opinion.
Knowing people from the way they talk, present themselves, and engage in conversation.
We learn about the attitude of being social person.
Experience is the best teacher.

As student, we join different kind of group. It's a way for us to learn about networking.
There are a lot of so called "professional" club to help us learn the real word works.
Let's just say AIESEC, Toastmasters, Lion, etc. You name it.
Since I joined Toastmasters, I will talk about it to share it with others.
It is a club to train both leader and master of public speaking.
They train us how to be a good presenter yet with a good impression.
It helps us to know how to think on the spot, same like we are having conversation.
We need to think fast but we can't show it to the next person.
We need to keep the conversation engaging and exciting to keep it forward.
But at the same time we have to focus not to get out from the track.
It is the best way to learn by doing.

Third, we can learn from others' sharing.
Like now I share my experience and I hope you can get something out of it.
This is the point of networking, sharing; ideas, opinions, critics,  suggestions.
Take from others that you think good for your improvement.
And at the same time, give advise for others' improvement.
We learn and grow together as human being.
Don't forget to take note the important point.
And apply what you have learned and heard in the next battle.
This is how we learn.

To end this entry, I would like to give you my pointer on networking from my experiences.
Please feel free to add on in the comment section below.
As I said we learn, grow, and share together.

Let's go with the pointer:

1. Focus on the goal and don't lose track. Know why you go there for networking, either knowing new people or getting some new ideas for example.
2. Talk to people and don't be shy. You are there to meet, talk, and share with others not just enjoying the food (if any) or being alone. Make sire you are prepared on what you want (Look 1).
3. LISTEN. Well as much as you want to talk, you have to listen to others. It's not just about you but also your partner. You can learn and get something from listening to others. Don't get intimidated.
4. Keep the contact. People tend to forget to keep contact at the end of the conversation. Exchanging name card, phone number, email, or even adding at social media can be a way.
5. Have the attitude!!! It's important. People won't talk to rude guy. Keep your manner, the way you talk, your poise and posture. Make sure you treat other the way you want to be treated.

Have a good networking and first of all YOU GOT TO ENJOY IT!!! :)

 ~Wilson Wijaya, Lee/23 June 2012~

A Letter to Dad

Last Sunday, we celebrated Father's Day.
For all fathers: Happy Father's Day, may you be a light and salt for the family.
For all children: Happy celebrating Father's Day, be a good child to your dad.
For all wives and mothers: Happy to see you with your loved one, may this will go to eternity.
And for those who don't have father: Happy to you who still have memory of your beloved father.

 And like me, who don't have the warm of father's hug anymore, we can only bring the memory of him.
Indeed we know that our father live forever in paradise.
Now I feel the pain of having no father around and envy them who still have complete family.
Happy are those whose family has both arm of father and mother.

This is just a letter that express my feeling towards my father.
It can be a reflection for you who miss your dad.
And also a reflection for you who still have dad to talk to and speak to.

I think I will do this more often to express my thought and feeling.
A letter to my dad who will never be able to read this.
A letter to my dad who is happy now in God's house.
A letter to my dad who will always pray for his son.

 

Dear Dad,

How are yo now? It's been a long time I see your face. Are you still healthy as before?
Are you happy there in God's house? Is that place better than home hence you leave first?
Don't you know how much mom cried near you asking you why you had to leave first?
Are you still that fat as before or have you slimmed down a bit?

Dad, I never imagined to say this, but I miss you now.
I really missed the time we had a conversation.
I really missed the time we spent time together as one family.
I really missed the time we had dinner together in our big table.

When you left us alone in silence, I asked God, why now? Why not later?
I never imagined to lose one of my parent so young when I still need them the most.
I don't care if my friend called me "spoiled brat".
I enjoy the time we had together, though you never speak a lot of words to me.
Though the memory I had are both smile and cry, happiness and sadness.
I always blame God for this, even till today.
Though I said to my self and friends I'm OK, I will never be OK.
I will never be the same anymore.
My heart was broken the moment I heard the news. I cried, I shouted, I went insane.

You left me before you saw me in my glory.
It was just one more year before I graduated, the moment you have been waiting for even till the last of your breathe. Why couldn't you wait for that moment? Why must God take you earlier?
People said that I didn't cry at all during your wake.
How could I cry if I really didn't understand what happened?
How could I make my mom sadder by crying with her?
How could I cry if I'm the only son in the family who has to be strong?
People just don't understand the pain that I felt that time.
I was pain that even tears couldn't wash it away.

But it was history. It was yesterday. It was my past part of my life story book.
I need to move on with my life and I believe you want me also to do the same.
Dad, did you know that now I have graduated?
Did you know how I wished you could see my graduation?
Did you know how I wanted to have picture taken with you in my robe?
How i wished you are seated there in the auditorium to see me in that stage.

I can't be a filial son to you.
Even now I was facing problem, I really don't know what to do.
Could you tell me what to do?
I can't meet my mom expectation and i believe it is also your expectation.
Have I failed you as a son?
Have I been a embarrassment to you?
I may not be the smartest student in my class.
I may not be the highest paid among my peers.
Surely I may not have  the proudest job among my friend
Do feel that I am a failure?
I wished you could talk and console me, how I want you to be with me, support me, and encourage me.
Let me be selfish this one time, dad I want to e just a child.
I don't want to grow up and be adult.
I just want to be with you like last time when I need not to worry  about anything at all.
Could I have that moment one more time and stay still?

I wish you all the best there dad. Enjoy your new life without pain and sadness.
Please watch me here with all your love.
Though in the silence, pray for your child to prove the world.
Let me be the son that make you proud the most.
Let me live your legacy here and to pay them who looked down on you.
I will make sure that they will pay every penny that they spent to mock you and mom.
I will defeat the world that has been hard on you and mom.
I will make sure your name will be remembered.

Please wait for me there. Till I come back to you, please be healthy and strong.
Protect our family and guard us with your shield.
Let me prove my self to you for once and all.

With love,

Your son

In Memoriam:

Me and My Dad

Words about WORKING

"Working Quotes"

Here some interesting speeches/quotes that I found very true.
I like to share it with my friends around the world.
Hope you guys can learn something from the inspiring words.

1. Bryan Dyson, Former CEO of Coca Cola

2. Unknown

Being First is EVERYTHING

Before you read my entry, please kindly watch the video first.
The topic starts from 8:00 onwards.
If you like it, you can watch the whole video :)

 From Wikepedia:

Malcolm T. Gladwell, CM (born September 3, 1963) is a Canadian journalist, bestselling author, and speaker.^[1] He is currently based in New York City and has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1996. He has written four books, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference (2000), Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (2005), Outliers: The Story of Success (2008), and What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures (2009), a collection of his journalism. All four books were New York Times Bestsellers.

Have you ever wondered if being first is everything?
Is there any different between: Being first is everything and Being first in everything?
Which one are better and why?
Where is our stand on this topic and how do we see this view?
From the video Malcolm said that being first was not that good at all.
How many persons who are first that are not more successful than the second/third?
We can see Google is not the first search machine but make the biggest till today.
Apple was late in entering the market but could stand the ground.

If we look around our neighbor, we can see others example that being first is not always good.
Improving and making the old ideas better, bigger, and cheaper are much important in entering market.
How many copy cat company can gain more profits than original?
And most of the times people goes to cheaper product with lesser quality.
Being first entering market gives us more advantages but at the same time gives us more risks to handle.
Whereas the second and third will only follow the platform with some improvement along the way.

Being first is everything but never be the first in everything.
I don't think you will agree with me but for me I think we should consider about this.
Yes we should try our best to be the best that we can be.
In addition being first will give us sense of accomplishment and self esteem.
It is always great to be in first rank in the class.
I'm really proud to be the winner of International Speech contest in my club.


However I can't be the first in everything and none can do the same (IMHO).
Maybe we see people who are so wonderful; first rank in class, pretty, rich, nice, etc.
However believe me, there is some flaws that we may not see with our naked eyes.
Well I met such person before in my life.
Nobody is perfect and nobody will be one.
There is always some course where we can't be the first and we don't want to be.
I don't want to be the first punished by new law.
I don't want to be the first getting new disease.
I don't want to be the first tasting the death.

As human there is an urge to be the first in every subjects.
Even our mother pushed us to be the first in class.
Hence we grew up with this "program" that we need to be first always, every time, and   everywhere.
We don't like to be defeated and there is a big shame in losing.
Instead of realizing that we may be weak in this area, we push ourselves to our limits till the end where we break.
Hopefully people can realize that it is good to be first but the best is we learn from the process.
End is not an end at all without realization and understanding of the road.
Who will achieve it? Where is it? When will it be? What can it be? How to get there?


Instead of running to be first, give all our best in our work and process.
Whatever the end; the important lies on our means.
Improving and innovating is the key to sustain our existence.
People who fail to see their enemy are deemed to lose their position.
Being first means that we need to work harder to make the gap bigger with second and third.

~Wilson Wijaya, Lee/12 June 2012~

Lady Gaga VS "INDONEISA"

 Lady Gaga VS "INDONEISA"

Well as we know Lady Gaga's concert was CANCELED by her.

First of all let make some lines of understanding :

1.  I'm her fan, follow all her songs, like to listen them, and respect her as artist.
2. I'm a Catholic, believe in GOD, and don't intend to worship Satan in near future.
3. I'm just a normal boy who grew up in Indonesia for almost 20 years.

I hope you have some pictures of me :)

So let's see what's wrong with Lady Gaga to make her banned from entering Indonesia.
Yes Indonesia has 95% of Muslim population but there are Muslims who like Lady Gaga (IMHO).
And I don't think they will shift their religion just because of her.
Don't get me wrong. I don't say all what she did is right.

As my last blog entry not all we planned will go as planned (link).
However the result of this incident is huge; money, good name, chain effect.
I heard U2 considering to cancel their concert in Indonesia due to this.
We don't know who else will do the same or worse we get black list form big STAR.
And this will just benefit our neighbor (you know what I mean).

As a person who grew up in Catholic belief and East value, I understand why  people hate her to the bone.
But living in Singapore for 4 years make me encounter new perspectives.
I think there is some values that we need to learn from Gaga.
But I agree that there is also values that we need not to take from her.
For example we can learn how to be bold in giving our opinion.
Young people need to learn not to dictate what to do, instead they need to be innovative and creative.
We can see Gaga in believing  what she believes hence we can learn form it.
But there is limitation in showing our creativity.
I don't think you want to wear meat dress in Indonesia, unless you want people rape you to take the meat :p
Being sexy doesn't mean we need to be vulgar.

Actually without Gaga here Indonesia already faces problem with so called morality.
The honorable representatives were caught watching porn during meeting.
One were considered having sex video and the video was distributed all over the country.
So many of them are caught by corruption watch police due to corruption issue.
Is that what we called "honorable" to be role model of young people?
Is that what they want us to learn from television news everyday, every time, everywhere? It is even worse than Lady Gaga in a way.
At least Gaga teach us how to be true in ourselves (listen Born This Way).


Stop using religion/doctrine/dogma to stop "Westernization"  or modernization.
You can stop it for a while but at the end you will lose.
If not our country will lose to others.
Instead of that teach our young people what is right and wrong.
Show us the right way in doing, honest words to utter, and respectable behavior.
If you show us violence, don't blame us to be violence as well.
How many demonstration by young people tuned out to be violence?

Guard the young people with LOVE and RESPECT.

Teach us with action and not just word.

Show us example through your work.

Protect us with shield of TRUTH.

"Love and respect yourself. Guard yourself with strong conviction and belief. Protect yourself from lies and shield your soul with TRUTH."

Wilson Wijaya Lee/ 29 May 2012

Be Happy VS Full of Plan

Be Happy VS Full of PLAN

It's been a long time since I post my last blog entry (June 2011).
Today is a joyous occasion for me since I found out that there is one person who read and gain benefit from my blog entry.
I feel blessed and happy for that one person.

"If only one person read my entry and gain benefit from it, I will not stop write on my blog"

~Wilson Wijaya, Lee 2012~

I will try my best from now on to keep my blog alive though I don't know what to write to you guys.

Well for today, for the beginning of my new entry I would like to talk about being happy and live life full of plan.

Yesterday, my friend commented my photo on facebook:
"Hey Son, where are you now? Seem like enjoying life?"

Then my replied:

"Life must be enjoyed wherever we are dear :)"

This morning I gave my one cent of advice to my "child":
"Let's see how it goes and just let it flow"

Then my "child" replied to me:
"Cannot be, everything must be planned. I'm not that type of person. Without plan everything will be mess. If plan A fail, there is plan B."

Me: "It suits you very much."

My "child": "Yup"

It makes me wonder how we should enjoy our life and be happy about it.
Should we go with the flow or everything must be planned and on the list.
I personally not a type who like to plan everything though I also don't like to go without plan.
For me there is a limit to how I plan my life.
Though plan is very important to make sure that we know exactly where we are going, not all plan will go as we planned.

In life there are forces (if you don't believe in GOD) that sometimes "disturb" our list from A to Z.
Unfortunately we only can plan but the result depends on so many factors.
For example: I plan to have a  bright life, high status, and wonderful family.
However in pursuing that I stumble with unemployment.
I can't see to have family in near future.
There is always problem with my family; big or small.
My dad passed away before he can see my graduation.
My life didn't go as my plan :(

Actually having plan is good to some limits (IMHO).
We can plan what we want, where we go, how we do it, who will help it, when we achieve it, and so on.
With the exact list from A to Z our life is structured and arrange properly.
Go to school till high school, than enter university, graduate with good Honors, find high paid job, having family, then have bright and wonderful children, and so on.
We can list and plan everything and we can go deeper by having sub-plan in each big plan.
Life is like schedule and deadline to meet.
We are challenged by ourselves to meet the target and achieve the greatest.

On the other hand, don't you think it is a hectic life; life with all plan.
Don't you want to have freedom; free to do anything, free to have anything, free to get anything.
Our society have value of freedom with responsibility.
Free-thinker is seen as outcast and freak.
But I think it's good to some extent to have no plan at all.
Let life give you its own surprise and find different thing in every corner.
So many great achievements are resulted from not planned experiments.
While walking in the garden, Newton saw apple fallen form the tree.
Archimedes was having bath up when he then thought about the water coming out.
And the rest is only history.

At the end the decision is in your hand.
It's your life and you know yourself  best than anyone else (unless you believe in GOD again).
Whether you want to live your life freely or you want everything listed from A to Z.
Decision is yours and no one, including me, can choose for you.
My piece of advise is live your life as you wanted not as people told you.
If you want to have no plan at all, please with all means do so.
If you want to have plan and control of your life, please kindly make a good one.

Some turn may need plan for you to get success.
Other turn don't need any plan to surprise you.
Both surprise and plan make our life more colorful and brighter.

I just want to end my entry with my quote:

"Have plan in your life, make a good one. However let the result turn out by itself. Let some surprise find you in your way."  ~Wilson Wijaya, Lee/ 28 May 2012~

... because iGave

... because iGave

A Story about LOVE

One, young, academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.

He passed the first interview. The director who did the last interview, made the last decision.

The director discovered from the CV that the youth's academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research. He never had a year when he did not score.

The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarships in school?" The youth answered "none".

The director asked, "Was it your father who paid for your school fees?" The youth answered, "My father passed away when I was one year old. It was my mother who paid for my school fees."
 

The director asked, "Where did your mother work?" The youth answered, "My mother worked as a clothes cleaner." The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

The director asked, "Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?" The youth answered, "Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me."
 

The director said, "I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother's hands and then see me tomorrow morning."

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.

The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. His tears fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother's hands were so wrinkled and that there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water.

This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes every day to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises in the mother's hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director's office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth's eyes and asked, "Can you tell me what you did and learned yesterday in your house?"

The youth answered, "I cleaned my mother's hands, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes."

The Director asked, "Please tell me your feelings."

The youth said, Number 1, I know now the meaning of appreciation. Without my mother, there would not be the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and helping my mother, only now I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship.

The director said, " This is what I am looking for in my new manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. Son,you are hired."
 

Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates. Every employee worked diligently and as a team. The company's performance improved tremendously.

A child, who has been over protected and habitually given whatever he or she wanted, would develop the entitlement mentality and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that every person must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. This kind of person, may be good academically and may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel a sense of achievement. He will grumble and be full of hatred and fight for more.
 

If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying the kid instead?*

You can let your kid live in a big house, eat good meals, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let him experience it. After a meal, let him wash his plates and bowls together with his brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love him in the right way. You want him to understand, no matter how rich his parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young man . The most important thing is your kid learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the ability to work with others to get things done.

What are key factors for my future career?

Conclusion 

  

Based on interviewee as well as analysis and discussion, and reading the prescribed text and recommended readings for this course, the two key factors that will be taken into account in career planning and development for food and beverage industry, the owner of a medium restaurant and a bakery shop and an entrepreneur is motivation driver and values.

Motivation is very important to achieve goals in order to fulfill some need or expectation. Motivation is what an individual can do, will do (given the ability) and allowed to do (Kant, 2009). Motivation also leads to degree to which an individual wants and chooses to commit in certain act. There are a lot of uncertainties in the future, but motivation will drive individual to strive and fight. Like Madam Lim, her motivations drive her despite of her illness, running the restaurant and bakery shop alone. She wanted to see her children graduated from university. In order to do so, she worked hard to earn living and save money for university fees. Finding the right motivation will keep individual stand after so many falls. To be an entrepreneur, motivation will help to cope with unpredictable result; whether the business will be successful or failed.  

Motivation is like oil and fire is career. Without oil the fire will die. Simultaneously career can grow with unending motivation.

However finding the right motivation is another issue. Luckily Madam Lim found the right motivation for her. It was not money or social status but family and good education. Hence motivation must be supported by personal values. Values will build personality. The religion, parent, community, and school provide individual with right values. Each individual has to develop it as guidance in doing anything. It becomes integrity of each person. Guy Kawasaki on The Art of Start mentioned that the company should try to make meaning not a lot of money. By making meaning there is chance for the company to make money. Whereas by making money the company can destroy meaning. It is similar to career. The career should make value in contrast to popular believe that career should make a lot of money. If individual don’t have integrity, they will use any means to achieve their goal. In other word they can use illegal way to get what they want. In conclusion motivation with right values and integrity are the requirement to work in 21st century.

Why am I the Coolest Intern?

Hi, first let me introduce myself to you :)
My name is Wilson Wijaya.
I am a fourth year student from Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
My major is Mechanical Engineering, specialized in Innovative Design.
In addition to that, I have minor in both Business and Entrepreneurship.
My interest is on Social Media. You heard it right, Social Media.

Why am I the world's coolest intern?
Here are the reasons:

1. My world is ONLINE.

You just need to name it:
facebook : http://www.facebook.com/wilson.wijayalee
twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Wilson_Wijaya
buzz : wilsbear2004@gmail.com
youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/wilsbear?feature=mhum
blog: http://wilsbear.blogspot.com/
Basically you can find me anywhere. Just Google me for real, Wilson Wijaya.

2. I eat, think, and sleep about SOCIAL MEDIA.

I'm 24/7 online. I'll do everything using social media.
I twit, change facebook status, upload video to youtube, write on my blog, buzz anyone, make event using facebook, and manage facebook fan-page.
You can call me online whore :p

3. I can do anything online.

Starting from twitting to writing blog. I can do anything. Check my facebook notes and blog article that I wrote.
I love to make video and put it on youtube. I'm planning to have my youtube show :D

SOCIAL MEDIA is my life and source of vitality.
It's my WORLD.

On top of all, I'm young and passionate about it. I have full energy about Social Media and I'm really familiar about it. I can engage and communicate well using Social Media to my friends, family, and other people. Where on earth can you find person like me?

[Faith] Commitment = Marriage

In this rapid, fast, and dynamic environment, commitment becomes the very first issue in anything. It is applicable to our study life, club/organization, project, assignment, and even service to God. Let’s face this, we are NTU student, busy people, doing a lot of things, and thinking 24 hours a day is far from enough. On top of this, we still need to serve God in our community, let it be core team, executive committee, or church helper. All of these force us to have highly committed attitude so that we can handle it well. Now let us focus only in service to God, core team in our context. Are you an ex-core team? Or are you in core team? I believe we are quite familiar with the words; SPIRITUAL COMMITMENTS. Before I start, let me ask you this question,

“Do you think it is important to have SPIRITUAL COMMITMENTS as core team member?”
“If I’m not in the core team anymore, should I just quit this SPIRITUAL COMMITMENTS?”

These questions may be wandering in your mind, I hope so. If not, then I bring you the questions.

Let’s recall our mind, what are the SPIRITUAL COMMITMENTS?

1. Eucharist
2. Bible reading and reflection
3. Prayer life
4. Confession
5. Devotion to Mother Mary

It’s simple, sweet, and nicely put. But what is the meaning behind it actually? Can I just skip it? Do I need to do all? May I just do one at a time?

Commitment is equal to marriage. In marriage vow, the husband unites himself to the wife and vice versa. They are no longer two but become one. It’s the same thing when we are baptized. We no longer belong to ourselves but to the Church and HIM personally. We unite ourselves as body of Christ. In this union “take” and “give” action must take place. Same as husband and wife, the husband can’t give all the time and the wife can’t always take from the husband. Christ will always give us His blessing and love; we can take it freely anytime and anywhere. However we also need to give back to God and His people.

Do you think if we don’t do any of five commitments the glory of God will fall? NO. It won’t change anything. God will always be God. That’s why He is God and not like others King. We do those because our longing to Him and our love to Him. Deep inside our heart we are longing to be one with Him, our creator, you and me. All these five are only the path to bring us closer to Him and make Him known to us.

Hence whether we are in core team or not, as long as we are Catholic, the follower of Christ, we should uphold these commitments in daily life.

But nowadays many people didn’t realize that they need these paths. We are too busy and concerned with our earthly stuffs. I don’t say that we can’t do anything else. However we need to set time for these in our super busy and tight schedule. Let me explain why we do need to pursue this in daily life.

1. Eucharist

First and foremost is Eucharist. It’s not just the celebration. Moreover it’s about receiving the real body and blood of Christ in our human body. The real presence of Jesus in appearance of host will be received. When we take part in the communion, God’s love and blessing are poured upon us. We make God’s sanctuary inside our body. Don’t you remember Saint Paul’s word, “You are the temple of the Holy Spirit?” By eating the bread, God transforms our heart to be like Him. He changes us to be more like Him, remember the story in Genesis that God made us with his own image. We are the image of God and to make it even more we need to receive the real image through Eucharist. Father Gerard shared with us that our body had expiry date and it is seven days. Hence we need to be “relived” every week. Eucharist is the source of power, strength, joy, peace, and love. Where on earth can you find celebration which unites heaven and earth and God’s presence is made real?

2. Bible reading and reflection

Having received the body of Christ alone is not enough. There is old saying, “Know someone from his words.” Listening to God’s word make us become closer to Him, the speaker. Remember what Tommy said about listening to God. One way is to listen to God through his bible where the writer recorded His word to us. In Old Testament, Yahweh was speaking to His people, Israel, through the prophets. In New Testament, God was speaking through His son, Jesus. In fact, Jesus himself is words of God that made flesh. See the connection, to understand God, know God, and fall in love, we do need to listen to Him. After this we need to bring it to higher level, proclaiming the words of God. Jesus told his disciples to bring and spread the good news to the end of the world. We, in fact, are responsible to this task. Reflection helps us to relate and make the bible to daily practice. Hence the word is not just on the lips but also put in action. Do you remember the meaning of three crosses we make before the Gospel reading?

3. Prayer life

After listening to Him, we also want to talk back to Him. In every communication, it is a two ways communication that is effective to build relationship with someone. We don’t want just to listen but we also want to speak up. We want to have conversation with Him. How do we do that? The answer is through prayer. Prayer is one way to have conversation with God. It’s free, 24/7, anywhere, and not complicated. You don’t need anything, basically, just a heart and love to him. Even you don’t need a word in your prayer. Don’t you believe me?

4. Confession

Yes, we have good relationship now with God. We receive Him through Eucharist. We listen to him through bible. We have conversation with Him through prayer. Everything looks perfect, complete, and nice. What is lacking? In relationship, sometimes, or maybe most of times, we make mistake that hurt our partner. We don’t intend to do it but it happened. Then we apologize for it and promise that we’ll never do that again in future. Same story happens with our God. What is our mistake? SIN. Sin huts our God. It makes Him upset, sad, and angry, He fells betrayal from His beloved. Because of this we need to say sorry to Him. But it’s not enough, we need to change our life. Hence confession leads us to conversion. Conversion is moving forward to God’s face while leaving the sin behind. Pope John Paul II called for the universal conversion. Pope Benedict XVI called for whole Church conversion. In his homily, Pope Benedict said,

“We are not alone in this spiritual itinerary," Pope Benedict clarified, "because the Church accompanies and sustains us from the start with the Word of God, which encloses a program of spiritual life and penitential commitment, and with the grace of the sacraments.”

5. Devotion to Mother Mary

To know a person is through his friends. Friends and families are the one who know us the best. It is the same with our Lord. His friends and families are the one who know Him the best. Mother Mary knows Him very well. After all, she is His mother. Hence the devotion to our mother should bring us closer to our Lord, Jesus Christ. According to Legion of Mary handbook, a true devotion to our Mother will lead us to her son, Jesus Christ. Who are Jesus’ friends then? Saints who have done His will throughout the ages are His best friend. We can know Jesus from them, their life, action, charity, love, and activity. All of them resemble Jesus’ love to them. We need to learn and do it on our own. Pope John Paul II told the youth that everyone can be saint, are called to be saint. Pursue your own holiness.

From the explanation above you can see the connection between each other. We can opt to do one or worse do nothing. It will go in flow and continuously. And it doesn’t matter if you are core team or not, if your new to Catholic or not, if your are male or female, if you are young or old. Everyone is called to follow Jesus steps. That’s why we are called the follower of Christ. Remember the fourth point Archbishop Nicholas Chia told us during the Commissioning Mass, for community to be a good community you must have willingness to learn, fellowship, teaching, and reaching out. It’s not just for the community but for us also as individual. We do need these four factors for our growth. Spiritual commitments are the practical fruit. Do you want to be closer to God or you want to be far away from Him? Be careful of Spirituality Anorexia.

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.

What is my Passion?

Arghhhhhhhh again and again I complain about my life.
Well not really complaining more on the crying about it.
The reason is as simple as I don't know what my passion is.

Well I can ask other what they think about my passion,
but it's not the point of others tell me of what to do.
It'll be useless if it doesn't come from my heart.
When doing something with so much passion,
it doesn't matter about the result.

Let me talk stupid thing with you.
Have you ever realize your passion?
Either study, music, film, public speaking, acting, drama,singing, etc.
When you have the passion, you'll do it happily without hesitation.
Even in the point you'll fail, you still can stand up and redo it with your passion.
We can see how important passion in doing something.
It really helps you a lot.

Now, when you don't have any passion or mood doing something,
do you think you can do it?
Well, maybe yes or no.
Yes you can still do it, but you don't know the result.
If the result goes right, you'll just say it's good enough.
If the result goes wrong, you'll mostly leave it as it is.
No you can't do it.
How do you expect someone doing something he/she doesn't like?
It's impossible to make it, even it's possible, I bet you'll get good result of it.

I believe most of us can see the difference.
In our real life, you can see many people doing something for their passion or not.
Some people chase money, higher social status, fame, good grade etc as their motivation.
Others just do it for their satisfaction in life.

As we reflect to ourselves, what motivates you in doing something?
It is simply a calling of passion in your heart or any other motivation.
When you have enough money, will you feel satisfied?
When you have high social status, will you aim higher?
When you have fame as you wanted, will you die for it?
When you have the highest grade in class, will you feel proud of it?
When you had enough, you'll stop since you don't have other reason of doing it.

The passion sustains human in doing and accomplish many things till now.
The passion of film, drama, and acting make Oscar to be the most prestigious award.
The passion of music, singing, and harmony make Grammy to be the highest achievement award.
The passion of peace, God, and service make religious life to be the most valuable way of life.
The passion of science, truth, and charity make Noble to be the most honorable award.

Everyone is indeed different from each other.
Same passion can drive people differently.
But same passion will make people success in their pursuit of happiness.
So what is your passion in life?
Have you fulfilled your passion?

Nothing is PERFECT

Can you get 100% pure gold?
Can you get 100% pure kindness?
Can you get 100% pure love?

Some of you know the answer, NO.
I'm not a typical dreamer who dreams about finding a true love.
That's why all Disney story is very popular.
They sell dream to the children, a dream about perfect world, ideal word.

BUT, too bad, there is no such ideal/perfect world in our real world.
This is not a Disney world where everything ends up happily ever after.
A typical ending for all Disney classic story.
They change everything and fix it to our imagination of world.
A true love, a perfect world, where good conquer bad.

A pure gold can't stand for itself. It's too soft to be used.
That's why when you go to the shop you may be find 99% but not 100%.
A pure love can't stand for itself. It's too fragile, easily break.
That's why when you have it you need to take extra caution about it.
A true kindness can't stand for itself. It's too beautiful to be true.
That's why there is no trust you always wonder a true motive behind something.

Have you wondered why God never created something as perfect?
If you say human is prefect, there will be no dead.
If you say flower is perfect, there will be no fading.
If you say life is perfect, there will be no sadness and trouble.

People always argue that this will make us strong.
This will tamper us to be a tough man.
That's true, this imperfectness makes us a strong human.
This will shape us into a strong human being.

If all is perfect, then human is just lazy and usefulness creature.
If all is perfect, we are just a cry baby and never be an adult.
If all is perfect, I will not learn new thing every second I breath.

Because we are imperfect, we can know each other and be social individual.
We help each other to cover our own imperfectness or defect.
Like gold need other to make it strong, we can't stand by ourselves.

But don't depend too much on other people. That's another human mistake.
Since we are not perfect then let other to complete us, fill us.
It's wrong. I don't agree with that statement.
Since I'm not perfect, I need to pursue my perfectness.
Even though I know I'll never be perfect but I always try to be perfect.
Live my life in perfect mode.
Love like perfect love.
Be kind as no reason to do it.

We are just God's creation and result of social evolution.
Yes, it's true BUT it's not reason we can't be perfect.
Perfectness is just mere standard made by ourselves.

How do you know whether you are perfect or not?
You ask other to mark you.
You look through yourself and mark yourself.
You follow society requirement to be perfect.

My friend, live your life to the fullest.
Have no regret when the time comes.
Try everything while you can and never look back.
That's your standard of perfectness.