____T.H.E. .P.A.S.S.

Did I bring it upon myself? Was I asking for it? Or was it a chance to redeem myself?

Once again I am given the task of managing and captaining the road relay team for my Hall. But how do I go about doing a good job? How do I motivate my runners to give their best for the team? How do I perform well for the Hall?

All along I am only the team member - hardly the vocal leader, although sometimes I see myself leading by example. But this time, I need to be more imposing in my role. Besides training hard and improve myself, I also need to motivate the amateur runners in my team, I need to manage the stars of the team well so that they too put in their best for the team. I need to show the stars that this team have a goal in mind and that we are all in it together.

I had a totally humbling experience last Friday when playing as a wingback in the soccer team for Hall in the friendly against the school team, I was torn apart, played around, fooled time and again. I am determined to go about to correct my mistakes.

A quick look at my team:-

-I have got Arthur the star of the team possibly one of the best runners I've seen. He hasn't signed up for the team so I must convince him to join the team again and by doing so, I need to show him that the team have got a goal this time around.

-Another star would be Weiyee who performed really well last year and I'm glad she signed up for road relay again. I might get her to be my vice so that she can help manage the girls in the team.

-I have got Shawn, James, U-wei as seasoned runners that need some push so that they can bring their performance to a next level. The problem with them is to help them identify the fact that to win, we have to clock a minimum timing for the relay distance.

-I've got some girls from block 14 and 17 who are probably experiencing their first competitive run in many years but are involved in some form of running previously. These are the ones who need motivation to come down for training as well as significantly improving their timings. I also note that I need to inject some confidence into them. They must understand that they are not going to turn into super runners overnight but with some training, I'm sure they will get somewhere close. Afterall, man (as well as women) tend to overestimate their abilities over the short term and underestimate themselves over the long term (with training of course).

-I have got people who sign up who are least interested yet need the points. I have got to think of a way to either make them feel the team spirit, or kick them out of the team.

-Lastly, I have many hidden dragons that I think I have to consider them into the team. However, I have to be convinced that they show commitment to the team so that I do not throw in bad apples amongst the good ones.

After getting them to identify the importance of having good team spirit, the training plan have to be drawn up. Trainings have to suit the different runners as much as possible yet due to time contraint and cultivate team cohesiveness, I also need to train my team together.

It isn't easy to captain and manage a team especially when you set high standards for yourself.

---------------------------------

02:36
Friday, October 07, 2005

____Inconsideration...

I sat down at my table and thought about what I should be doing. School work first came to my mind, but I am tired and having realised I haven't been updating this space, I decided to write something that should have been posted here awhile ago.

Hall One's performance a couple of weeks back ranged from ordinary to painful but the night heated up when Ground Zero, an SMU band took to the stage. Their performance was strong, lively and entertaining especially when their lead singer laughs his trademark laugh. Their music was finer than the two previous bands and I could actually hear music instead of a jarring loud noise.

Ground Zero finally made the audience stand when their performed "Are You Gonna Go My Way" again. How I envy the nifty finger skills of that guitarist (Koh Tat Yang or something). Even the actual song fails to impress as much as Ground Zero's live version.
___________________________________________________

I can't remember which day was it but I can vividly picture the nail clippings on the MRT seat. I boarded the North East Line, planning to meet some friends. The train was pretty much empty at that time of the day and I was near the rear cabin so I was glad there weren't many people around.

Then as I proceeded to slump down on this particular seat, I saw NAIL CLIPPINGS on it. I've seen used tissue, chewing gum, dirty plastic bags, but nail clippings was something new. Naturally I sat down at the next seat just beside the one with the disgusting looking nails.

The journey wore on but soon more people boarded the train, and then there were people who were about to sit down at that seat when they saw the nails. I don't think I can remember how many weird looks I received but hell, it wasn't me...

I suppose one does get used to all these weird happenings just by living in Singapore (or just by living for that matter), but I find it strange even after many years of education and courtesy campaigns, people can still indulge in acts of inconsideration.

Inconsideration, in my opinion can be classified into two types - the knowing and the unknowing. An example of the knowing inconsideration would be like the one in my example. Obviously the person who left his fingernails on the seat of the train knows that he is just being bastardly by doing so. Yet, he refuses to be a good citizen, because maybe he feels that "hey, I think the MRT staff will clear it up for me".

This is why there are so many signs on the trains now that says no durians, no pets, no smoking... Anyone caught in the act of doing anything damaging to the property of the public will thus be punished in the manner deemed by the government. Thus, I believe that the "knowing" form of inconsideration is easy to stop punishing the culprits, yelling at them or telling them off are just some of the methods used by many people in our daily lives.

For example, somebody uses your toilet and instead of drying his hands on the towel provided, he flicks his wrist such that all the water is flung onto the ground. Natural reaction would simply to tell him off.

However, I find that the unknowing acts of inconsideration harder to control. Friends, ties, relationships are at stake. Suppose you have a sister whom you share a room with. She's not the cleanest sister around and she leaves her books arranged neatly but placed in a way that eats a little into your desk. Occasionally, you help arrange her books to prevent them from getting into your way. But somehow, the books return to the original place after a few days. How do you cope with such a problem?

The problem arises when you start to drop hints of her acts of inconsideration. Yet, that dumbass of a sister couldn't pick up the hint. Then, maybe you think "hmm, I should drop a bigger hint." But still your sister fails to understand.

You are getting frustrated. And everytime you see your sister, you find you pick out her faults and instances when she acts selfishly. You want to tell her straight in the face of the inconvenience caused to you but then you fear the peaceful relationship between you and her will be destroyed. She might be so hurt, she never knew that she was such a bother and such a consequence might have gigantic repercussions to the otherwise peaceful and happy relationship - not a very nice situation to be in. On one hand, you're saving the relationship, one the other, you're torturing yourself.

I suppose many of you have such problems before, even I'm faced with them. Although I tend to be a little bit more patient with certain acts and the problems seem to wither away, I know that one day the problem will return in a bigger manisfestation and might even hurt others.

The world would be a nicer place if judgement on others is reduced. Before judging the behavior of others, try to think of instances when you have done the same things. Correct yourself before pointing the finger at others. Afterall, as I've read somewhere, everytime you judge somebody, you do not define that person. The person is already defined. Every single judgement you make is just a definition of yourself and how ugly you make others perceive you to be.

---------------------------------