Sunday, September 10, 2006

My September Holiday 2006

I must say that this is the most hectic September holiday I had for my life. I was packed all the way from Monday to the end of the week. However, I really learnt a lot from this holiday and most importantly, I enjoyed.

Monday, 04-09-2006……

I woke up as usual like school days and went to school for robotics. It starts from 8 in the morning till 6.30 in the evening (as stated in the consent form). The reason for robotics is that the competition (NJRC, National Junior Robotics Competition) is on Friday, 08-09-2006. The whole club is expected to burn their holiday for the competition to work on their robot, as well as their programming.

Sadly to mention, not everyone turn up for robotics, and only the devoted ones made the effort to turn up. We were previously split up into different groups to do the different task assigned to us. I had done mine even before the September holiday; therefore I am here to help the others who need assistance. As this is the first day of the week, we were quite slackened in what we do because there seems to be a long way to go. Worst of all, some seniors did not even turn up hence the sec ones (juniors) did not know what to do and I have to do their task for them and….worst come to worst…they did not even have the correct equipments for their task…!!! Therefore my one task ended up becoming three tasks + building claws and bases for robot. Haiz…

For the day, I worked on building the claw for the task and later went to the science centre with another senior to collect the robotics kit that our school ordered. It was great to be able to leave that cold and bore computer lab and to be able to get some fresh air. When I came back from science centre, I continued on the task and was later dismissed. I was very sad all the way when I work on the task as I was really disappointed by the fact that no one really care about their own task. That first day was very tiring and I cannot imagine how the rest of the day might be like.

Tuesday, 05-09-2006……

My back was aching as I woke up for the second day. I also felt sorry for myself to do other people’s work when they would just sit home and relax and put their mind at ease. With that kind of mood, I set off for school together with my sister who would be having lessons. I did tell her how I felt and she really pities me. She told me to take it easy and accept it… looks like I have no choice but to accept the fact. When I reached school, the attendance when down again… I became the only senior working full time there. I felt the sense of betrayal and really began to feel the heavy load. No matter how tired it will be and how hard it might be, I got to move on. If the only senior stop work, the club can never be motivated to do well. I tried my best to keep myself at the right spirit and mood. I am also very thankful to have good juniors who will always keep me company and crack jokes. This kept me going, and really strengthened the bond and friendship between me and my juniors.

We later went out for lunch at KFC where I get to enjoy a free lunch treated by one of my juniors. I am very grateful and contented by the fact that my juniors were generous and kind; they would always encourage me and support me. Together with the six juniors, we then went back to school to continue our work. I can’t help pushing them to move faster as we might be late at that speed. Indeed, we were late by 5 minutes. Luckily, the teacher-in-charge was not there when we came back if not I will be the first to be scolded. Phew… We really enjoyed our meal and get back to work. We ended our day with the question about what and where to eat tomorrow…

Wednesday 06-09-2006……

I don’t really felt that sorry when I woke up today as I have my support from my juniors and I was keen about the fun we will experience today. As usual, we continued on our work and became more serious as the competition was nearing. I must admit that this year’s mission was really hard as water is involved which might spoilt our important parts in our robot. The same people who came yesterday were present again, and I was still the only senior there. I must say that I really take my hat off to Mrs mak, our teacher-in-charge, who was always there with us and always helping us in the programming whereby those who were supposed to do their task failed to turn up. She will always be working on the task and never fails to give up. This really motivated me and the club to move on.

Even though she sometimes scolds the club for having the mood to chat and play around, I can see that she is really a very committed teacher and I understand how she felt. She even learnt the programming so that she will know how to program the robot hence will be able to help us. I really respect her for her effort and time whereby she could spend time with her family but she chose no to, but to burn her holidays with us.

After the morning work, we were hungry for lunch and many wanted to go for lunch at 12 noon. I told them I will be going for lunch at 12.30 as I wanted to have my lunch with my sister who will also be going for lunch at 12.30. Without hesitation, they agreed to go for lunch together with me. I can see that the bonding between senior and juniors were really stronger. We later went for lunch and had a great time at the hawker centre together with my sister, who really brought joy to us. I had chicken rice which really tastes great. As we were afraid that we might be late again, some of us even ran back with our full stomach (I was one of them) to make sure that we reached the school before out teacher come back from her lunch. It was really fun and we really enjoyed. We were really glad that our teacher- in-charge came back after we got back. We continued on our work with laughter despite how tired we felt after the run and gradually became more serious on our work.

Thursday, 07-09-2006

I told my mother that I might be home very late today as this will be our last day for preparation for tomorrow’s competition. I told myself that this will be my last day of hard work. I felt lesser pressure as I am not the only senior again. Lesser jokes, joys, and chats today due to the fact that tomorrow will be the competition. I began to panic as I have not yet complete “my” task and I still need to settle things like batteries and sensors. For lunch, I had chicken rice again together with my juniors, but this time even more people. I am actually quite sick of chicken rice as I just it yesterday, I told myself this will be the last chicken rice I will take in for the week… It later did not turn out to be as I wanted. We went back to work after lunch and I can tell from the facial expression that stress is the word.

It was 7pm and we had not yet completed our task. Many of my juniors then come to me one by one that they wanted to go home and it was late. I also wanted to go home, if not I will get a scolding from my parents. Even the AM of our school came up to help us. She told us to call home and inform our parents that it will be late today. I called home and my mother wanted to speak to the teacher-in-charge. I was like… oh my god… what the hell…hope that she won’t say the wrong thing. After that, Mrs Mak said that …. Except for Rong Rong, who can also stay until very late…? I was stunned, no idea what my mum told Mrs Mak. Never mind, any way Mrs Mak really put in a lot of effort and it will be heartless if I leave now and leave the job to Mrs Mak. I stayed, together with two other juniors. The AM even brought us dinner… chicken rice…oh my god…not again. For the night, there were five people in the computer lab, Mrs Mak, the AM, me, Chee how (sec 2 junior, 2A) and Daniel (sec 1 junior, 1A)

We worked and worked until very late. Phones started ringing and parents became more worried. My sister called, she went online to get Chee how’s number just to call me as I don’t have a hand phone. When I heard her voice, it was very touching. She told me she went to the school to look for me, but the gate was locked, she even brought snacks for me to eat when I get home later. The 5 of us worked until 11.30 pm…in the school. It will be the first time that I will be home so late. When the rest of the club left, we really felt frustrated and betrayed. We hoped for the best tomorrow, even if we lost the competition, we will never lose the experience and bonding between us. Chee how and me went home first at 11.30 by taxi with the AM. Daniel later went home at 12 mid night. When I reached home, I was dead beat, after taking in some snacks, I went to sleep. Twisting and tossing, I am worried that I will be late tomorrow.

Friday 08-09-2006

Indeed I was late, the moment I reached the school, no one was there. I later heard someone calling my name, it was my juniors. They told me not to go up to the computer lab because Mrs Mak was very angry. I insisted on going up, but Mrs Mak came down even before I make my way up. She passed me the attendance booklet and told me to take attendance. I was contented that she never blamed me for being late. When the club board the bus to science centre, it was so quiet, no one made noise, and it was a quiet journey. We started to get panic when we reached there. Some leaders of the team did not even turn up (they did not even turn up for preparation) and the juniors were blurred. I was very busy; everyone was calling me to solve their problems. Everyone was rushing to download the programming. Some of them don’t even know which program is for which task.

Everyone was desperate to have things done. This is the time when I know who is the self-fish ones and who is the hack-care ones. I really get to see the true colours of everyone. No one really knows what the programming is about except for Daniel and me. (Chee how went for another competition) When things did not work out, people (those who never do anything) blamed Daniel and me for our programming. I even need to tell them that it is not the time to point fingers. However, not everyone is like that, there are good people around also. My good juniors would always feed me with food and encouraged me. I am really glad to have them as my juniors. You can really tell a person’s character by this competition. I did not even have the time to go for lunch, it was really busy.

Unfortunately, we did not make it. At least I knew that I tried my best, it was my first time going for competition as a leader in my team; and I really understand many things. I learnt to work better with people, persevere and learnt from my mistakes. I must really thank Mrs Mak for her effort as well as the AM, ex-seniors, external helpers, my sister and the Robotics Club.
Indeed we lost the competition, but we will never lose the experience gained and the friendship built.

i'm watching you at 4:15 pm

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