Book Review

Book Title: The Last Lecture
Author: Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow
ISBN: 978 0 340 97773 6
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Why I choose this book?
This book was highly recommended by the Star newspaper. I could not resist from buying after reading the “Introduction”. As a parent myself, I could not imagine how I could spend my short remaining time on earth with my child. The quotation by the author, Randy Pausch that reads “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand” is so apt to us as we deal with our daily challenges.
The book is easy to read and it is presented in a lighthearted manner despite being shadowed by the reality of dying.

What this book is about?
This book is about a speech delivered by a 47-year old university professor who was dying of terminal pancreatic cancer. Professor Randy Paush gave his last lecture which is part of a yearly series at Carnegie Mellon University. It is a tradition where hypothetically faculty members are asked to deliver a final speech to their student before dying. It is a time where both speaker and listeners would reflect upon what matters most in their lives. Ironically, it was indeed Professor Pausch’s last lecture as he was told by his oncologist he had three to six months to live.
His speech was about how he fulfilled his childhood dreams and the lessons learned along the way that helped to shape who he was. The book is full of stories and related with much humour and simplicity. He also addressed his struggles with cancer and the challenges he faced where he solved with creative solutions. He ensured all his loved ones were mentioned in the book and how each of them enriched his life.

Reflections
If I am face to face with the reality of death, could I do what Professor Randy Pausch did? That is to live out the short remaining days on earth with such grit.
The author said “Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less time than you think” is a reminder that life has its expiry and it may be sooner than we expect. We should value each day and not procrastinate in order not to regret on our dying bed.
He has quoted many clichés and the most inspiring is from the Roman philosopher Seneca who said that “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” We should be well prepared for the things we want so badly in order to turn it into reality when the chance comes.
No doubt the book was written for his three young children for whom the professor had recorded all his fatherly advice that he would not be around to give personally. Professor Pausch‘s advice is so universal in its wisdom, those of us who eavesdropped benefitted equally.

Free Time

This is almost the end of term 2! This term is the shortest but yet the busiest term, I have went back to Malaysia for four times since the start of this term until now, week 9.

On top of that, we have many extra tests compared to term 1. Class tests have been added to our burden. And the tests starts from week 4 until week 8, which lasted for a month. Just imagine we secondary 1 students have to handle such great burden compared to primary 6, just one year ago, had tests for at most a week.

Almost all my test results have been distributed, and they are okay (acceptable). And now, we have to focus on our project work which, if lucky, lasts you for a year. It consists of more than ten categories which you have to choose one of them as well as a project mentor. Besides, we must meet up with your mentor constantly.

Two more weeks and I can go back to Malaysia for a month. But then, Malaysian scholars (sec 1s) have to go for health checkup and take injections. Hope it is not as painful as I expect.

Term 2

Time flies and its now term two! There is only a one-week holiday before this term. In this week, not much had happened.

The only thing that happened is before the holiday. We had a camp for all sec 1s. The camp was held in Sarimbun camp. The camp lasted for three days and two nights.

We have team building between our classmates. We played many outdoor games. I don’t quite get used to the live. We have to prepare our own utensils and plates for the meals.

Besides, our sleeping place is only a simple hut that consists only a fan and a few lights. There is a public toilet that is for all of us, so the toilet will surely be fully occupied when bathing time comes.

A new term starts again, I think all of us will be very busy as it is middle of the year.

Chelsea

Have you watched the match between Chelsea and Portsmouth? Chelsea had won the match by 1-0. This time, Chelsea’s Ivorian striker Didier Drogba scored a goal in the 79th minute. This had helped Chelsea to close the gap on leaders Manchester United to just four points.

But then, Manchester United gained three points back after winning the match between Manchester United and Newcastle United by 2-1.

Thanks to Bosingwa’s cross, even the defender, Campbell, failed to deal with his cross and fell to the Ivorian at the far post. And, instinctively, he fired the ball low into the bottom right hand corner to break Portsmouth’s resistance.

Chelsea will also not maintain the lead without the great defense of Petr Cech, the Czech goalkeeper. He had saved a lot of shots which denied Portsmouth’s opportunity of scoring even one goal.

If you want to know more about the match details, you may proceed to the following URL:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/premier-league/2008-2009/portsmouth-chelsea-236892.html

Miss Oh Siew May

Have you read about the interesting story about Miss Oh Siew May? There was an article regarding about her past. It was quite interesting and besides, it also has moral values.

First, I would like to tell you that she is actually somehow quite unfortunate. The 38-year-old lady walks with an awkward gait and has a great difficulty speaking. However, without wallowing in her self pity, she was able to climb up Mount Kinabalu in the year of 2005, which is the highest mountain ever in Malaysia! It is also 4095meters above sea level, which makes it one of the highest mountains in South-east Asia.

She had written a book called “Scaling Walls” which she wrote and published with the help of some of her good friends. Her book is so popular that more than 3000 copies from the book’s initial print run of 5000 have been sold. Actually, she had been thinking of writing the book eight years ago.

The purpose of writing the book is to let people understand that being disabled does not mean unable, which I sincerely agree with her. Life is difficult for her, she cannot earn a living easily. Sometimes, people will make fun of her and say nasty things. Some may even avoid her from coming near to them as though she has an infectious disease.

Indeed, there has been a lot of sorrow in her life. It will be endless for me to share her past with you, so please proceed to the following URL to more about her: http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20090227-125020.html

At last, she wants to tell us that the mindset is very important to achieve a goal, nothing is impossible.

Chelsea

Last Sunday (1st of March), Chelsea won Wigan by 2-1. This makes Chelsea to be the second in the football club ranking instead of Liverpool. It is quite unfortunate for Liverpool to lose to Middlesbrough by 0-2.

However, it is quite a long way to go for Chelsea to overtake Manchester United for they are seven points leading Chelsea.

At the start of the match, both teams played as well. But then, Wigan’s defender Paul Scharner had the first opportunity to shoot. Luckily, the blues goalkeeper Petr Cech made a wonderful save to deny the goal.

Then Ashley Cole did superbly to clear Bramble’s header off. And Terry then somehow managed to clear the follow-up effort from Charles N’Zogbia as he raced back towards his own goal. Both Terry and Alex were cautioned of Wigan’s performance in the opening 20 minutes. But with a Wigan goal scored, the Blues came to live.

Drogba and Mikel took two shots but neither of them scored. It was until Terry put the Blues ahead by scoring an outstanding scissor-kick volley in the 25th minute. This equalized both teams.

Another goal was scored by Lampard in the 90th minute. Balllack crossed the ball to Lampard and, instinctively, he headed the ball into the goal and closed the gap of leader Manchester United to seven points.

If you want to know more about the match, please proceed to the following URL to watch the match:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=53239632

1st of March

Exam period is almost over, only our second mathematics test is left. I am looking forward to the next weekends, as exam period has past by then.

Today, there is nothing much. Two of my roommates went for the photography workshop. A photo taking competition was held. The photos must be taken in the boarding school campus.

Neither of them won. But never mind, there are still five years to go. Most of the winners are the Chinese nationals. The competition ended at about 3p.m. to 4p.m.