Hello! Today I am going to blog about what I think is very important for us to succeed in whatever we do. That is mentality. I believe having a strong and good mentality is very important especially in competitions. I became very interested in triathlon a few months ago and have started reading a lot of things about it. The recent YOG triathlon event spurred me on even more to take on triathlon. The 2 representatives for Singapore are Clara Wong and Scott Ang. Clara Wong is a great example for what I am going to talk about.
Let's discuss about Clara Wong who came in last. When I saw the results on the internet, I felt ashamed. Singapore getting last even though she had trained on the same course hundreds of time already. However, after reading articles about the race, I was inspired. I was not embarrassed, in fact proud. What did she do? She had a great mentality. She suffered a crash during the bike leg but she stood up and continued the race. She suffered bruises on her left arm and hip but she persevered to the end. Due to the crash, both of her tyres were punctured. This made her lose the race, but thats not important. She had a strong heart. She did not give up despite having difficulties. These are qualities of a true champion. I really admire her.
I believe she will succeed in whatever she does in the future, but I sincerely hope she can become a triathlon champion. I will definitely take up the sport of triathlon and I have a goal.
That is to come in first in my age category for the Tribob Series and Osim International Triathlon.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Training.
Hello! I am finally back. I would like to blog about my training yesterday. It was a training for the WDBRC training squad. So we are basically training to get into the National team for next year's WDBRC. In case you dont know, it stands for World Dragon Boat Racing Championship. I really hope I can get into the team. Someone said before," It is hard to say what is impossible for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow." So I sincerely hope I can get into the team. Anyways, yesterday's training was awesome! Although it made my legs hurt like made, it was still great! We learnt new technique on how to paddle on the dragon boat more effectively. It felt weird but... we still learnt something new! :D
I was also considering on join triathlon after the EOYs. I would help me with my fitness and it is a new hobby for me :D However, I dont think I will have the time to train when school re-opens and I would most probably be wasting money this way. But I still want to join! :D Hope I get good grades for EOYs too! :D This way, I can train a lot during the holidays :D
I was also considering on join triathlon after the EOYs. I would help me with my fitness and it is a new hobby for me :D However, I dont think I will have the time to train when school re-opens and I would most probably be wasting money this way. But I still want to join! :D Hope I get good grades for EOYs too! :D This way, I can train a lot during the holidays :D
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Memories of Macau
Hello, 2 days have past since I came back from Macau. However, the memories of Macau are still fresh in my mind. Being in a faraway paradise where we were free of worries. The feeling was great. Memories of training in the mountains. Doing pushups on a bridge outside the 6-star hotel, Venetian. Most importantly, what made me laugh during the trip. My friends and Mr Yong Yuen Cheng. Ever since he became our team manager, our team has improved a lot. Especially myself. Before he came, I wanted to transfer to VJC. However, when he came to HCI, he motivated the whole team. I was very touched by what he said. He told the team,"No matter how ordinary you are, you can achieve something extraordinary... if you work hard enough, you will succeed even if you are not talented like others." I had always thought Im not good in sports and would never be. However, he taught me to not give up. I started to train very hard. Within 4 months, I got my 1st Gold medal and a Silver medal the same day. Till now, I have a total of 7 Gold medals. However, this would not have been mine if not for MrYong. He was the one who helped me find my passion for canoeing and running. I even have plans of joining triathlon to strengthen my heart and improve my endurance which would benefit me in terms of canoeing also.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Back from Overseas Competition
Hey, I just arrived this morning from Macau. I went there with my CCA mates for a dragonboat competition. It was fantastic. The best trip in my life. Until now, I am still living in a world of illusions? I can't express my feelings. It felt like a dream, a dream that I would never want to wake up from. It was just so perfect. Training in the mountain, shopping with friends, racing against other teams, parties at night. It was wonderful. If it was really a dream, why did you wake me up? And if it was a mistake to go there, it was a beautiful mistake. How I wish I could go there again. Free from homework, laugh all day long(except during competition). I feel like I am suffering from depression.
Anyways, the results were awesome. We got Gold for 200m and Silver for 500m. For the 2km races, we were the only U-16 boat therefore we raced with the U-23. Guess what?! We got 3rd! Out of 13 boats. It was so unexpected. 1 year later, it will be the World Dragon Boat Racing Championship in USA, Flo Rida. I hope I can make it into the team as I will be representing Singapore! 2 years later, Club Crew World Championship will be held in HongKong. It is the same as the recent one I went.
I hope I can get over it quickly and focus on my studies. Now, I can't do anything but think about the trip. HELP ME!!
Anyways, the results were awesome. We got Gold for 200m and Silver for 500m. For the 2km races, we were the only U-16 boat therefore we raced with the U-23. Guess what?! We got 3rd! Out of 13 boats. It was so unexpected. 1 year later, it will be the World Dragon Boat Racing Championship in USA, Flo Rida. I hope I can make it into the team as I will be representing Singapore! 2 years later, Club Crew World Championship will be held in HongKong. It is the same as the recent one I went.
I hope I can get over it quickly and focus on my studies. Now, I can't do anything but think about the trip. HELP ME!!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Rainbow Death (Task 2)
Complete the template provided below (Annex A), focusing on (1) Point of View; (2) Situation and Setting; (3) Language/Diction; and (4) Personal Response, and post your response to Task 2 on your blog. This template is based on John Lye’s ‘Critical Analysis of Poetry’, and you can make reference to this in Annex B when in doubt.
Rainbow Death
America did not foresee
Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!
Expecting others to pay a high price.
Now thinking twice?
Toll on the innocent and unborn.
Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.
Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.
All the deceit continues to spread.
Nefariously America led astray -
Generations untold WILL pay -
Execrable effects of agent orange spray!
Hubert Wilson
1) Point Of View
I believe that the poem is written by someone who has encountered Agent Orange before. He obvious that he knows about Agent Orange as he mentioned about them in his poem. However, "America did not foresee" suggests that he probably did not know Agent Orange was released therefore he suffered from the effects. He knew that Agent Orange was "reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead" and "toll on the innocent and unborn" therefore it suggests that he had first-hand experience of it which actually evokes a sense of solemness. With reference to the background information, he was a person that went to war in Vietnam since he was a Vietnam veteran so he should be able to see the effects since the war was about a span of 20 years.
2) Situation & Setting
I setting of the poem is after Agent Orange had been used. Since the poet is experiencing the effects of Agent Orange, he should be writing it in an emotional state. He would most probably like to inform others about the devastating effects of Agent Orange. To fit in historical background, Agent Orange was used in the Vietnam War and it caused 400,000 deaths. I guess the main purpose of the poem is to show people how modern warfare can destroy lives and thus needing the setting of aftermath of the war or the use of herbicide.
3)Language/Diction
Firstly, I would like to elaborate on the title, 'Rainbow Death'. It seems like 2 very contrasting words. Rainbow seems like a very enjoyable word as everytime we see a rainbow, we would stare at it and smile to ourselves. However, death is not a nice thing. Therefore I searched the web for the meaning of 'rainbow'. I found out that rainbow actually symbolizes heavenly glory or they serve as a bridge between earth and paradise. However there is still a contrast, but if you were to think carefully, there might be another meaning to 'rainbow'. It could also mean different colored herbicide used in warfare such as Agent Orange and Agent Green which caused death and deformities. Therefore, I would say that the title actually means a bridge leading to hell or death.
4)Personal Response
This poem evokes sympathy and pity those who suffered from the effects of Agent Orange. The title 'Rainbow Death' is called an oxymoron which leaves the reader puzzled throughout the poem. This makes the reader feel uneasy. The poet elaborates on the devastating effects of war such as "illness, birth defects and prematurely dead" while the Americans had been "Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn". I think the poet tells the reader what caused all this to happen at the last line to make them angry and sympathise with those who died. I think the poet dislikes modern warfare a lot and would hope that war will not happen again as many innocent people would die from it.
Rainbow Death
America did not foresee
Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!
Expecting others to pay a high price.
Now thinking twice?
Toll on the innocent and unborn.
Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.
Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.
All the deceit continues to spread.
Nefariously America led astray -
Generations untold WILL pay -
Execrable effects of agent orange spray!
Hubert Wilson
1) Point Of View
I believe that the poem is written by someone who has encountered Agent Orange before. He obvious that he knows about Agent Orange as he mentioned about them in his poem. However, "America did not foresee" suggests that he probably did not know Agent Orange was released therefore he suffered from the effects. He knew that Agent Orange was "reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead" and "toll on the innocent and unborn" therefore it suggests that he had first-hand experience of it which actually evokes a sense of solemness. With reference to the background information, he was a person that went to war in Vietnam since he was a Vietnam veteran so he should be able to see the effects since the war was about a span of 20 years.
2) Situation & Setting
I setting of the poem is after Agent Orange had been used. Since the poet is experiencing the effects of Agent Orange, he should be writing it in an emotional state. He would most probably like to inform others about the devastating effects of Agent Orange. To fit in historical background, Agent Orange was used in the Vietnam War and it caused 400,000 deaths. I guess the main purpose of the poem is to show people how modern warfare can destroy lives and thus needing the setting of aftermath of the war or the use of herbicide.
3)Language/Diction
Firstly, I would like to elaborate on the title, 'Rainbow Death'. It seems like 2 very contrasting words. Rainbow seems like a very enjoyable word as everytime we see a rainbow, we would stare at it and smile to ourselves. However, death is not a nice thing. Therefore I searched the web for the meaning of 'rainbow'. I found out that rainbow actually symbolizes heavenly glory or they serve as a bridge between earth and paradise. However there is still a contrast, but if you were to think carefully, there might be another meaning to 'rainbow'. It could also mean different colored herbicide used in warfare such as Agent Orange and Agent Green which caused death and deformities. Therefore, I would say that the title actually means a bridge leading to hell or death.
4)Personal Response
This poem evokes sympathy and pity those who suffered from the effects of Agent Orange. The title 'Rainbow Death' is called an oxymoron which leaves the reader puzzled throughout the poem. This makes the reader feel uneasy. The poet elaborates on the devastating effects of war such as "illness, birth defects and prematurely dead" while the Americans had been "Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn". I think the poet tells the reader what caused all this to happen at the last line to make them angry and sympathise with those who died. I think the poet dislikes modern warfare a lot and would hope that war will not happen again as many innocent people would die from it.
Rainbow Death (Task 1)
Task 1
Based on your understanding of the selected poem, perform extensive web research and write a report on your blog detailing the conflict represented in the poem(s) of your choice. Bear in mind that this piece of background information will allow your blog audience to further understand the poem as well as your analysis of the poem in Task 2
Who is Hubert Wilson? I did some research and this are my results. He is a US Vietnam war veteran.The Vietnam war was a Cold War military conflict which lasted from November 1, 1955 , to April 30, 1975, about 20 years.Hubert served in the USAF Security Service along with a dozen of school graduates.His team was sent to Shemya Island, an Agent Orange hot spot.About fifteen or more years ago, he started to have health problems such as headaches and limb pain. Soon, his central nervous system deteriorated with Parkinsonian type tremors. He suffered severe headaches and progressive limb pains. The doctors did not know how to cure him or know what he was suffering from. He guessed it was the contaminated water of Agent Orange he drank when he was at Shemya Island. The effects of toxins could take up to 20 to 30 years before they are shown.
For you information, Agent Orange is a herbicide developed for the military, which use it in tropical climates.The purpose of such a herbicide for the military was to was to clear the possible enemy cover and concealment in dense terrain by defoliating trees and shrubbery where the enemy could hide. This seemed to be a very helpful tool in warfare but it came with unforeseen circumstances.
This poem is about Agent Orange that has caused appalling death and suffering – not only to its intended victims, the Vietnamese people, but also the service personnel that used or even just came into contact with “Agent Orange”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange
http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html#Rainbow
Based on your understanding of the selected poem, perform extensive web research and write a report on your blog detailing the conflict represented in the poem(s) of your choice. Bear in mind that this piece of background information will allow your blog audience to further understand the poem as well as your analysis of the poem in Task 2
Who is Hubert Wilson? I did some research and this are my results. He is a US Vietnam war veteran.The Vietnam war was a Cold War military conflict which lasted from November 1, 1955 , to April 30, 1975, about 20 years.Hubert served in the USAF Security Service along with a dozen of school graduates.His team was sent to Shemya Island, an Agent Orange hot spot.About fifteen or more years ago, he started to have health problems such as headaches and limb pain. Soon, his central nervous system deteriorated with Parkinsonian type tremors. He suffered severe headaches and progressive limb pains. The doctors did not know how to cure him or know what he was suffering from. He guessed it was the contaminated water of Agent Orange he drank when he was at Shemya Island. The effects of toxins could take up to 20 to 30 years before they are shown.
For you information, Agent Orange is a herbicide developed for the military, which use it in tropical climates.The purpose of such a herbicide for the military was to was to clear the possible enemy cover and concealment in dense terrain by defoliating trees and shrubbery where the enemy could hide. This seemed to be a very helpful tool in warfare but it came with unforeseen circumstances.
This poem is about Agent Orange that has caused appalling death and suffering – not only to its intended victims, the Vietnamese people, but also the service personnel that used or even just came into contact with “Agent Orange”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_Orange
http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html#Rainbow
Friday, April 9, 2010
Hey guys! Sorry for not blogging for a long long time, but I was really really really really busy. I had training almost everyday to train for the Nationals School Canoeing Championship. Well, it ended yesterday. The results were good. (: I got a gold and silver medal. I lost by 1 second! 1 second! D: Could have gotten double gold. ): As for the overall title, C division we got 3rd B division got 2nd and A division got 1st! Next year we are aiming 1st for B division :] We can do it!
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