The most bullshit phrase in the world: "Your call is important to us".
Because of this phrase, I have been on the receiving end of countless angry customers who, before launching into a scathing verbal tirade, would apologise to me for being the unlucky officer who picked up their call. They almost always follow the same script," I'm sorry that you're the officer who answer my call ah, but really you know, the service is getting from bad to worse. I've been waiting for the past half an hour just to speak to you".
Well, I can't blame them really for feeling so pissed off. If it was me, I also wouldn't want to be wasting my airtime listening to music which is interrupted every few seconds by that bullshit phrase. Over the weekend, I called various banks to set up or reset my internet banking facilities, and ALL of them answered my call within the industrial benchmark of 8 seconds. Impressive.
Not only did they answer first, the service provided was also top-notch, which makes me feel good after hanging up the phone. After all, it's my money that's in the bank. After I eventually graduate, I will be facing the tough choice of choosing which great financial institution to join. Of course, to be able to choose, I must firstly have the bargaining power in the form of at least a second-upper honours. Looking at the rate I am doing my revision for my 2nd attempt at bridging course, I would have to say I would be lucky enough to get away with a pass degree.
But working in a bank is not the only thing I wanna do. I have narrow my career options to these other two as well - being a great way to fly, or being a man in blue. After deciding not to pursue a career with the Air Force, my dream of being a pilot remains unfulfilled and unrealized. I dunno if it's every man's dream to fly, but it certainly is mine. And after my unforgettable experiences working with planes and choppers during my national service, more than ever I want to be a pilot.
My buddy Jasper, who is currently a flight attendant with SQ, told me that the dropout rate for cadet pilots is very high, and given the long training frame - 2 and a half years - earning a pittance of a salary, it would be a very risky decision career-wise. It's almost like once you are in, you better stay in or you-re f****** if you dropped out. You have an unemployable skill that the market does not require. And in the end, you may end up piloting something with four wheels and a meter instead.
The other option, to be a man in blue, has always been something I have wanted to do since I was a teenager. That was the reason I joined NPCC. Policing work has always thrilled me, and the thought of being involved in investigations and operations constantly resides in my mind. If I were ever to join, it would definitely not be the STAR Team. I do not need two red berets, one is enough to last me a lifetime. And the training is so shag and physically demanding, I would probably lose mobility in my legs by age 40.
I want to be a police detective, the type that does not wear uniforms and yet plays an important role in maintaining law and order. The only stumbling blocks: People laugh in my face when I tell them I want to join the Police Force. They say that there is no career there, no money etc... Being a uniformed civil servant means my career path would be very much fixed, with not much options for flexibility.
Thus, I am in a dilemma. The decision that I would make would be want that will affect the rest of my life until I finally lay to rest. So how? Better pass my bridging course first then think, fail again then no so how to think of.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
"Dude, You Got F For Both"
It has been a very exhausting few weeks. First and foremost, my six-month plan till December was abruptly and severely disrupted with the release of my bridging courses' results. To the shock and horror of my friends and classmates, I did not make it. Slow and steady progress in the transition back to student life gave way to overconfidence and complacency. Yeah, I can argue my case that I was very sick and unfit to take the examinations on both days, but since the school is inflexible, I had no choice. But then again, I will have to admit that I have not had the best of preparations.
Anyway, that is a painful lesson learned. The disappointment on my mother's face when I broke the news just made a bad day worse. And the killer blow came when my sis came home from school and when my mother told her, she just reached out a consoling hand and told me it was okay. My kid sister, 5 years younger than me, showing such empathy and maturity. At that point in time, I felt like I let the whole world down.
Now, two weeks on, thinking about it, it was just but an examination. There are bigger things in life that have yet to happen, and the disappointments are bound to be greater than a bridging course examination. So, I need to retake my bridging course. Again. And that means my whole schedule had just been derailed.
I had a fulltime job with Citibank which pays well and which I was just getting into the hang of things, and now because I need to attend classes in the morning, I must give it up. I thought long and hard about it, and even after my mum reluctantly agreed to resume my allowance, I still thought I need to work. I'm 22 years old and my mum is already sponsoring my university studies, what more could I ask?
I went to see HR immediately and explained my situation to my generalist. She told me she will find some alternative work arrangements for me and told me to inform my supervisor. The next day, I was hauled up to the unit manager's office. I thought I was going to get the pink slip. But instead, after giving me an earful for failing my exams and for telling her I wasn't a student at the point of the interview, she offered to convert my contract to a part-time position.
So I get to attend my classes in the morning and go to work in the afternoon. This arrangement has been working out well so far, just that I am so drained of energy every evening that I cannot bring myself to do anything other than sleep. I have lost the 4kg that I painstakingly gained over the past two months and am back to my skeletal self. But the company holiday to Bintan in two weekends' time is a very good source of motivation to buff myself up and gorge on my protein powder.
BEST COMBAT UNIT: 1st COMMANDO BATTALION
For the fifth consecutive time, 1st Commando Battalion has clinched the Best Combat Unit award. Since the inauguration of the SAF's Best Unit Competition, the elite battalion has garnered this honour for an unprecedented 22 times.
The Commandos are trained to conduct specialised operations and play crucial roles in protecting Singapore's sovereignty. The Commandos are well trained to strike behind enemy lines using airborne landings, helicopter assaults and sea landings. They are also experts in infiltration and reconnaissance operations.
1st Commando Battalion mainly constitutes full-time National Servicemen (NSF). Every NSFCommando is meticulously selected and specially trained to be experts in their vocational domain. The Commandos undergo one of the toughest training regimes in the SAF, and are considered the SAF's elite force. The true strength of these Commandos lies in their dedication, esprit-de-corps, fierce fighting spirit and strong determination to strive for excellence. The NSF Commandos are a tightly knitted community who are known for their camaraderie and intense commitment to their unit. Highly motivated and possessing a strong sense of identity and pride, the unit has proven their mettle once again by coming out tops in the competition, attesting to their high operational readiness and administrative efficiency.
Anyway, that is a painful lesson learned. The disappointment on my mother's face when I broke the news just made a bad day worse. And the killer blow came when my sis came home from school and when my mother told her, she just reached out a consoling hand and told me it was okay. My kid sister, 5 years younger than me, showing such empathy and maturity. At that point in time, I felt like I let the whole world down.
Now, two weeks on, thinking about it, it was just but an examination. There are bigger things in life that have yet to happen, and the disappointments are bound to be greater than a bridging course examination. So, I need to retake my bridging course. Again. And that means my whole schedule had just been derailed.
I had a fulltime job with Citibank which pays well and which I was just getting into the hang of things, and now because I need to attend classes in the morning, I must give it up. I thought long and hard about it, and even after my mum reluctantly agreed to resume my allowance, I still thought I need to work. I'm 22 years old and my mum is already sponsoring my university studies, what more could I ask?
I went to see HR immediately and explained my situation to my generalist. She told me she will find some alternative work arrangements for me and told me to inform my supervisor. The next day, I was hauled up to the unit manager's office. I thought I was going to get the pink slip. But instead, after giving me an earful for failing my exams and for telling her I wasn't a student at the point of the interview, she offered to convert my contract to a part-time position.
So I get to attend my classes in the morning and go to work in the afternoon. This arrangement has been working out well so far, just that I am so drained of energy every evening that I cannot bring myself to do anything other than sleep. I have lost the 4kg that I painstakingly gained over the past two months and am back to my skeletal self. But the company holiday to Bintan in two weekends' time is a very good source of motivation to buff myself up and gorge on my protein powder.
BEST COMBAT UNIT: 1st COMMANDO BATTALION
For the fifth consecutive time, 1st Commando Battalion has clinched the Best Combat Unit award. Since the inauguration of the SAF's Best Unit Competition, the elite battalion has garnered this honour for an unprecedented 22 times.
The Commandos are trained to conduct specialised operations and play crucial roles in protecting Singapore's sovereignty. The Commandos are well trained to strike behind enemy lines using airborne landings, helicopter assaults and sea landings. They are also experts in infiltration and reconnaissance operations.
1st Commando Battalion mainly constitutes full-time National Servicemen (NSF). Every NSFCommando is meticulously selected and specially trained to be experts in their vocational domain. The Commandos undergo one of the toughest training regimes in the SAF, and are considered the SAF's elite force. The true strength of these Commandos lies in their dedication, esprit-de-corps, fierce fighting spirit and strong determination to strive for excellence. The NSF Commandos are a tightly knitted community who are known for their camaraderie and intense commitment to their unit. Highly motivated and possessing a strong sense of identity and pride, the unit has proven their mettle once again by coming out tops in the competition, attesting to their high operational readiness and administrative efficiency.
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