Being a blogger for almost three years is something I would say has never been easy for me all these while. I have always been questioning myself why creating a blog when I am not even good at speaking what is up on my mind. In fact, I was never sure about keeping my personal blog alive when I first created it because it takes a whole lot amount of effort in keeping it going.
If you were to ask me to describe myself in a short sentence, I would say, I am not who you think I am. I have no idea how to even describe how complicated I am a person, but as complicated as you think I am going to be, I am just that.
I will be turning 21 this year. To me, 21 is not just a figure but a very important day to tell myself that I have come this far not because of anyone else but God's grace towards this life of mine. I looked back and I realised how much I have changed. From someone who used to worry about everything under the stars, to someone who finally stopped then rest in the faith she just received, she knows this is definitely the right path that she has taken on.
While you may think that my life has always been smooth sailing, I would say it has never been so. People often say that only when you reach a certain age then will you begin to have in you, the wisdom you need for this life of yours. I was never sure about what that sentence actually means until the day I got into the polytechnic of my choice.
I have always been a rebellious kid, throwing assessment books around when I was asked to complete all of it. I just could not sit still because I dislike studying. Apparently, I did badly for my PSLE and O' Level. It was not because studying was not my forte but because I gave up on myself thinking that I just could not do it. It was only until I started out my first year in poly that I told myself to not be discouraged because I believe that failing myself is not the only thing I could do. Making myself study was never an easy task because I know that I almost failed. It was especially tough when all odds were against me. It was to my surprise that I actually managed to pull through despite the tough battle I had against an opponent I know I almost lost myself to. That opponent is none the less me, myself.
Ever heard of the sentence, "You are your own worst enemy."?
If not for Him, I would have lost in that battle. Honestly speaking, I would not be here in this university today if not for His grace towards my life. While it may seem difficult for a JC student to get into a local university, the intensity of it is not to be compared with a polytechnic student who has only one-third chances of getting in. That is something a polytechnic student would agree with because in this world today, that is the exact reality we were all put forth to, throughout our three years of studying in the polytechnic.
I would not say that life is unfair because we are all put to different situations that could bring the best out of us. Only when you are being exposed to areas you are not comfortable at, then will you be able to see yourself growing and becoming better. Because you are your own worst enemy, you should never compare yourself with the others you thought are better than you. Even if it is the truth, you will still have to tell yourself that you are to only compare yourself with who you were a year ago because you have to believe that you are the best. Learning to appreciate yourself for who you are is something I am in the process of doing and I hope this sentence can reach out to you as well.
Hey Sharon, your reflective writing is truly inspiring and meaningful. Continue to have this positive mindset and I'm sure you will achieve even greater success in life! I agree with you about the difficulty of entering a local university as I am a polytechnic student myself. Your reflection has motivated me to do better and has indeed reach out to me. This had got me thinking on how much I have come so far. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon, I think my personality is quite similar to you as i am someone who don't speak my own mind too. Many a times, I don't understand myself and get really tired of my own failure. But, this is life, sometimes we are up and sometimes we are down. Therefore, I hope you will always have a positive mindset whenever and wherever you are. ^.^
ReplyDeleteSharon,
ReplyDeleteContent and organisation: Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us. This is truly a very meaningful and reflective piece of writing. You were able to articulate your ideas about and explained the difficulties you faced. I sense your failures came from believing you were not able. I hope you know by now that you are a very able person. As you said, you are amongst a small percentage of poly students who are able to study at NUS. Don't underestimate your ability. Be confident in what you do and enjoy your youth. Enjoy making life-long friends, enjoy your challenges and enjoy your learning process.
Your work flows logically from past, present and future--great job, and you described your experiences very clearly.
Language: Pay attention to the following:
1. Use of tenses:
-I have always been questioning myself why 'creating' a blog when I am not even good at speaking what is up on my mind.
compared with the sentence where you used
-…. 'I first created…'
2. Use of tenses: Can you see you changed between past and present tenses though you referred to an experience/event in the past.
-when I first created it because + it takes a whole lot amount of effort in keeping it going. (tense in the later part of the sentence is also incorrect).
-I was never sure about what that sentence actually means until the day I got into the polytechnic of my choice.
-Making myself study was never an easy task because I know that I almost failed.
3. Should this sentence be in present tense?
-you should never compare yourself with the others you thought are better than you.
4. Word choice: Think about why 'apparently' may not be the best word choice.
Apparently, I did badly for my PSLE and O' Level.
Dear Dr Cook
ReplyDeleteThank you for your feedback on my reflective writing as well as your encouragement which I will definitely keep with me this life. You said the exact same thing that I was told by my sis when I first started school last semester and I pretty much agree with this sentence of yours – “Enjoy making life-long friends, enjoy your challenges and enjoy your learning process.”.
1. Instead of “…why creating a blog…”, I should phrase it as “I have always been questioning myself why did I even create a blog when I am not even good at speaking what is up on my mind.”.
2. “In fact, I was never sure about keeping my personal blog… because it took me a whole lot amount of effort in keeping it going.” is more appropriate.
“That sentence took me quite some time to understand and it was only until the day I got into the polytechnic of my choice that I finally understood what it really means.” would be a better way of phrasing that sentence of mine.
Rather than “…was never an easy task…”, I should phrase the sentence as “Making myself study had never been an easy task because I almost failed and gave up on it.” because it would be more appropriate than the sentence constructed.
3. Indeed, that sentence – “Because you are your own worst enemy, you should never compare yourself with the others you thought are better than you.” should be in its present tense. The word ‘thought’ should be changed to ‘think’.
4. Based on my research, the word ‘apparently’ is used to describe something that appears to be true based on what is known. In this case, “…did badly for my PSLE and O’ Level” is true so that word ‘apparently’ should not be used. Instead, that sentence should be something like “Not to my surprise, I did badly for my PSLE and O’Level.”.
Dear Sharon, you are very welcome indeed
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the corrections! See my feedback below:
1. Instead of “…why creating a blog…”, I should phrase it as “I have always been questioning myself 'why did I even create' a blog when I am not even good at speaking what is up on my mind.”.
Misty: Very good attempt at correcting your sentence. It is almost correct. See my explanation:
'why did I even create' a blog. Why did I = question (WHY + VERB-SUBJECT)
You cannot insert a question in a sentence. Therefore, it should be:
I have always been questioning myself about why I even created (NOW SUBJECT-VERB STRUCTURE) a blog when I am not even good at speaking what is up on my mind.”.
Is this clear?
2. “In fact, I was never sure about keeping my personal blog… because it took me a whole lot amount of effort in keeping it going.” is more appropriate.
Misty: Correct--great job.
“That sentence took me quite some time to understand and it was only until the day I got into the polytechnic of my choice that I finally understood what it really means (MEANT).” would be a better way of phrasing that sentence of mine.
Misty: Almost correct.
Rather than “…was never an easy task…”, I should phrase the sentence as “Making myself study had never been an easy task because I almost failed and gave up on it.” because it would be more appropriate than the sentence constructed.
Misty: Correct--great job.
3. Indeed, that sentence – “Because you are your own worst enemy, you should never compare yourself with the others you thought are better than you.” should be in its present tense. The word ‘thought’ should be changed to ‘think’.
Misty: Correct--great job.
4. Based on my research, the word ‘apparently’ is used to describe something that appears to be true based on what is known. In this case, “…did badly for my PSLE and O’ Level” is true so that word ‘apparently’ should not be used. Instead, that sentence should be something like “Not to my surprise, I did badly for my PSLE and O’Level.”.
Misty: Correct--great job.
Dearest Dr Cook
DeleteYes I understand all of the above that you have typed.
Thank you so much! :)