Our deepest fear...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne Williamson

One of the most inspirational poems. This quote was also used in the movie Coach Carter. The film, which is based on a true story, is about a high school basketball coach who benched his undefeated team in 1999 because of poor academic results. It is one of my favourite movies. The main soundtrack of the movie is the hit song "Hope" by Twista (featuring Faith Evans). 5 stars. If you haven't watched the movie before or heard the soundtrack (what have you been doing!), I'd highly recommend it



Here is the trailer for the movie

A new tutor. How long should parents wait to see results?

You have just engaged a new tutor for your child, and you think that the worst of your worries are over. Then the results of the next immediate exam comes back to you and you see little improvement. You start to wonder if the tuition is even helping. Then you find yourself asking, should I give them more time, or should I take swift action and engage another tutor (after all the second academic semester is only 16 weeks)?

This is a debate that many parents find themselves contemplating, when examination results do not meet expectations. At the end of the day, you want to make the decision that is best for your child's academic future. On one hand, you might decide that the tuition has proven to be ineffective, and you should immediately find another tutor while you still have time. On the other hand, you might think, realistically, that success cannot be simply bought overnight, and that your child and the tutor should be given more time. 

It becomes a gamble. What if I let the tuition continue and the results do not materialise? Wouldn't it be too late then to find a new tutor? If I change my child's tutor now, how can I be sure that my child's grades will improve under the new tutor? And if it does improve, how long will that take?

Before you make any decision, here are some questions to consider:

Does the problem lie with my child or the tutor? Who should shoulder the blame for the lack of subject competency? If a child doesn't put in the effort to learn from his mistakes and improve himself, then it would not make a difference even if you employ the best tutor. 

Does my child have a slower rate of learning? Are my expectations realistic given the short period of time? Sometimes, students take time to adopt to the methods of a new tutor.

When I was in Secondary 3, I got a D7 for my Physics mid-year exam and decided to get tutoring in the subject. But even after one semester of group tuition, by a retired Physics teacher I should add, I still couldn't pass the final exam (not for the lack of trying!). It wasn't until Sec 4 that my grades gradually improved and I eventually got an A2 for the O Levels.

Here are two of my recommendations. Firstly, talk to your child. After all, they interact more with the tutor than you do. Ask them if they are benefiting from the current tutor. I once told my mum that my tutor was teaching me things that I already know. By the end of the month, the tutor was gone. 

Finally, don't expect overnight results. Some students just need time to grasp a better understanding of a subject. Tutors also need time to find the most efficient method in working with different students.

What finger length says about you

Here's what your finger length can say about you:

A new study finds that boys with ring fingers longer than their index fingers run faster. This phenomenon was explained by exposure to testosterone in the womb, during pregnancy.

Men (and only men) with longer ring fingers were also more likely to be physically aggressive.

Kids with longer ring fingers are likely to have higher SAT maths scores than literacy or verbal scores while children with longer index fingers are better in reading and writing, or verbal, rather than maths tests.

People with longer ring fingers (than index fingers) are also at a higher risk of osteoarthritis. 

Other research can also show a link between behaviour and personality traits and the shape of a hand. 

Such findings reinforce certain beliefs that large parts of our personalities and traits are formed when we are in the womb.

Read the full articles here:

http://www.livescience.com/health/090312-finger-length-speed.html

http://www.livescience.com/health/050203_finger_length.html

Mother's Day

Here's wishing all mothers a Happy Mother's Day. 

10 things to do after exams

1. Sleep-in!

Sleepless nights are over! Catch up on all the lost sleep!

2. Go to the cinemas

Catch up on all the movies you've missed! For all you trekkies, the latest movie is not bad! Also, look out for upcoming blockbusters like Terminator Salvation (release date 28 May 09) and Transformers 2 (24 Jun 09)

3. Buy a drink and spend 6 hours in Starbucks reading a book

My favourite drink is their Hazelnut Hot Chocolate and I recommend everyone to try it. At last we can flip open a book that is not a textbook!

4. Exercise

Play your favourite sport. Shed some of the extra weight you put on while studying in McDonalds.

5. Go for a holiday

As long as it's not cooking classes in France! Be careful not to brag about it on your blog though, times are bad.

6. Get a part-time job

Ya, this sounds like a wet blanket, but you can't possibly play 24/7. Some extra cash can come in handy. It's not gonna be easy though. Like I said before, times are bad.

7. Watch the Champions League Final

At last you can stay up at 2.30am to watch a football match! This year's final in Rome is on 28 May 09 (Singapore time). The UEFA cup final follows 2 days later.

8. Catch up with friends

Meet up for lunch with old friends whom you haven't seen in a long time.

9. Cook or bake something

At least now you have time to experiment various recipes.

10. Go shopping!

The Great Singapore Sale from 28 May 09 to 26 Jul 09. 'Nuff said!

Some exam tips

Some tips during your exam

1. Browse through the whole paper first before writing

Don't be too eager to "jump-in" and start writing.

2. Don't spend too much time on a particular question

This is especially true for MCQs where each difficult question is worth the same as each easy one. If you have difficulty recalling, move on to the easier questions first and come back again later. A good gauge of how much time to spend on a question is to check the proportion of its worth.

3. For essays/compositions, first 10 minutes are important

Choose the best essay question that you are confident in doing. You don't want to change your mind and do another question halfway into the exam. You'll also need the time for planning an essay outline.

4. Always keep track of time

Monitor your own progress and also, make sure you leave time at the end to check your work.