Turning Points in Life
March 23, 2006 2 Comments
I have been blessed with a smooth and charmed life. For the past 31 years, I have been fitting into the right places. Despite the many bumps in my life, I never really got stuck in a spot. In fact, I have been lucky. I have good friends, mentors and loved ones to get me out of the dumps.
Life is full of turning points. Many times, unexpected circumstances forced one to make a turning point in his life. For me, I chose to make a turn – without external influence or due to any circumstances.
I like to take risk. I like an adventure. I often define my own path, defying the system. No, I am not a rebel or being indifferent. I just want to take a walk of my own – in my own best interests. I never believe age is a guideline for life experience and events. The labour ministry says you retire at 55. The law says you watch RA at 21, intercourse at 16 and smoking at 18. And then, your insurance broker tells you that you are going thru a mid-life crisis at 40. Your entire life may be chartered by your age.
I starting defying the "rules" when I was 12. I just dun like the "school postings" arranged by some strangers working at the education ministry. How could some one who doesn’t know your strength post you to schools based on the scores of your PSLE. I remembered I was posted to Bartley Sec (a all-boy school). At the first impression, I disliked the idea of attending a all-boy secondary school. Thus, I told my mum that I wanted to change school. Surprisingly, my mum accepted my decision and went ahead to appeal to the ministry for another posting. I was eventually posted to Dunman Sec.
That decision became a turning point in my life. Have I not made that decision, I would have not met my wife. Without her, I wouldn’t be so successful today. At the same time, I met and befriended a group of soulmates who stayed by my side for the past 16 years.
I made another turning point when I was 17. After my O’levels, I was posted to Singapore Poly – Architectual course. It was very difficult to enrol into the course as there were more than 2,000 students applying for it. Every intake (annually) was only 80. So, you can say I am lucky to be enlisted into the course.
Yet I shocked everyone in my family when I decided to quit the course (after 2 years). I was ranked 16th in the course and were doing well. I decided I had enough and did not see myself persuing my life in architectual line. I did not want to waste my final year and get an useless diploma. I decided to pack my bag and headed for my national service.
That decision sparked my new journey into design field. Have I not made that decision, I won’t be into advertising and multimedia today. Today, I am running a good and established design agency with my friends.
In a nutshell, I have made many more "fate-twisting" decisions in my life. I have not regret at all. All these turning points (be it good or bad, stupid or clever) have made me a better person. My mum never set any expectation for me. Unlike the movies "I no stupid"… I am not required to be the top 3 students in my class. My mum just want me to improve every year – be it in studies, sports or career. I have kept her advice in mind and have been achieving that since 1984.
These past 2 years have been smooth and highly satisfying. Come April, I will be making another major "turning point". Hopefully, it will be a great adventure.
12 years away from home - Singapore. Writing my stories here for my lovely mum & dad, friends and most importantly, for my wife & son back home. A self-confessed gadget freak, a spontaneous prankster on the outside and a warm loving heart inside. Enjoying a happy life with loving families, friends plus a dream job. Realising mum’s motto – “Exceed Yourself Every Day”. Always believing that “Simplicity is Beauty”.
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Found this Goose Story somewhere online, its an inspiring spirit of nature, jus to share with you as well.
Hope u like it, n be encouraged. It seems more humane dat we learn from nature, cos we often lose our human instincts in a dog-eat-dog world 🙂
The Goose storyNext fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in "V" formation, think about what science has learned about why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following it. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock can fly at least 71% farther than if each bird flew on its own. Perhaps people who share a common direction can get where they are going quicker and easier if they cooperate.
When a goose falls out of formation, it feels the resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of flying with the flock. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will work with others who are going the same way as we are. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies on the point. It pays to take turns doing hard jobs for our group. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Finally, (get this!) When a goose weakens or is wounded and falls out of formation, two geese fall out and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and they then set out on their own or with another formation until they catch up with the group. If we had the sense of a goose, we would stand by each other like that.
May your life continue to be smooth and highly satisfying… be it here or any parts of the world. You are our shinning star… always lucky and outstanding in the group. Continue to improve and thrive for success! Your soulmate here sincerely wish you all the best in the next hurdle of life which you’ll be heading soon.