This year is quickly coming to an end. This has to be one of the fastest a year has gone by and I honestly can’t say if that is a good or bad thing.
But one thing’s for sure, a lot of shitty things have happened this year, so I guess it’s good that time was fleeting by.
And I’m a firm believer of ‘every cloud has a silver lining’, so those shitty things- well some of them aren’t looking so bad now. Some of them.
As there is no such thing known as a ‘restful holiday’ for teachers, all of us took home our share of 2010 duties/ responsibilities/ expectations for the one month holiday. As the PSD God was heard saying,” Go, go yonder and book that air ticket, oh civil servant… I shall bog thy spirit with unsettling thoughts of WORK while you attempt to laze on that deck chair, muahahahahahhaha!!! “
(“But don’t fret because I am giving you a 0.25 month bonus capped at $750 dollars okay, so BE THANKFUL!”) he added.
For me, I took home a bit more. No. Not bonus. $750 cap, blardy beets- so I’m at the losing end here. Work, I mean. This school has given me a lot of opportunities to shine, and boy have I shone. During my boss’ absence, I was given the chance to lead the department- well notinsomuch lead, more of managing and making sure things don’t screw up and if they do, keep it a secret. Haha. I did try to do my best though, and I couldn’t have done it without the help (and conspiracy!) of my wonderful accomplices colleagues.
And it so seems that it was a blessing that I am in my school’s Staff Welfare Committee. Turns out that the Food and Beverage ambassador doesn’t just order tonnes of biscuits from Khong Guan to keep the school’s workforce alive after the (sucky) canteen stalls close, nor does she stop at ordering cartons upon cartons of 3-in-1 milos, nescafes, and what have yous- none of which she can consume and savour (thanks to the palm oil allergy). (Oh yeah- that’s another thing to add under my ‘Shitty Year’ list). She’s more than that! (Defensive nampak?) I don’t just deal with food and beverages ok- I also write emails to inform the staff of whatever event SWC organizes. Why? This is funny because- A LOT of the activities organized by SWC has a lot to do with FOOD! So FOOD= FADELINAH. Ask anyone in TW and they’ll tell you that!
Apparently, the emails I write are different. Totally disregarding the fact that work email has to be (1) formal, (2) concise and (3) short, I have totally beat the red lights of this unwritten rule and voila! Scored high points for it!
I just can’t help but be longwinded and un-serious. Really. My emails have managed to make the colleagues laugh, and they tell me that they love my emails. So many of them have come up to me to tell me to keep my emails coming in because it makes them lighten up. Of course this makes me feel real good, c’mon, gimme some credit hahaha! Really appreciate them for appreciating me! Some even tell me that they let their kids read my emails because they find it funny. But I must admit- the greatest compliment has got to come from my principal and vice-principals- they are very encouraging and tell me that I have ‘a funny bone’ (???) and that I set a positive mood amongst the staff. Oh betchabygollyWOW! Is that a compliment or WHAT?
And, another great compliment- the principal’s missus even came up to me and gave me a big pat on the back, telling me that she enjoys reading my emails! She even tells him to let her know if I sent any new ones. Hmmm…. maybe I should tell her that I have a blog she can read???? Ideas, ideas….
Okay, to tell you the truth, the emails are not hohohoho funny lah, I do sound like I’m talking though, in my emails. Lots of puns, and wordplay, that’s all. I also make fun of things (calculated risks have been made!) and thank god, everyone in TW has a good sense of humour. Or else dah lama aku mampos, making fun of people.
Anyway (I do digress when I’m boasting, don’t I? 
), somehow or other, I became prominent (and not just due to my size, may I add) and my work has not gone unnoticed. So what this means is….. MORE WORK NEXT YEAR! Wooooots!!!!
(Am I actually happy? Well actually- YES!)
For a start, I will be appointed as Assistant Level Manager for Sec 3- this is sorta like a discipline-master kinda job, but more than that (WHOAAA Nelly!) I have also been appointed as the main I/C for the school’s concert band (I’m kinda scared about this one…. big job big job…). On top of that, I have been chosen to be in the school’s marketing committee; I will be taking over my 2nd VP’s job of giving talks to primary 6 kids, so that they’ll choose to come to TW. This is also something I’m worried about… I asked the man why I was chosen and he said that my charisma will work wonders with the kids (whoaaaa- like captivate them? I can???) plus I ’speak very well’, he said.
Wait a sec- I don’t think he got that right. I don’t actually really speak well. I get nervous as hell speaking up, I swear. If I don’t mentally-bitchslap myself while I’m speaking, I would actually end up mumbling nonsense. Now how did he gather that I ’speak well’? So I told him that perhaps I sound better when I WRITE, and he is confused because one can ‘hear me’ when reading what I write. Right?
But but but he assured me that I can speak well (oh well okayyy then if you insist!) but I’m telling you , his are big shoes to fill. He is Mr Charisma alright. I am nowhere close. What he said about MY charisma, naaaah. He was just talking about HIS charisma. I can, at most, do a Karishma Kapoor.
So, in and attempt to cut the long story short, I actually have A LOT OF WORK TO DO NEXT YEAR, even before next year starts. I have been (secretly) identified by the upper management as a potential leader and although I seriously as hell cannot fathom how I can be a leader (I doodle like mad during serious meetings and roll my eyes to show discontent), somehow, I just have to learn to be one. I have GOT to clean up my act (and my table, my filing), I HAVE to be more organized (can somebody PLEASE conduct a workshop on this tough one???!!!) and definitely- stop procrastinating!
Mark your papers everyday!
File your papers and reports as they come!
Be a toughie and no more Mrs Nice Gal (as opposed to Mr Nice Guy?)
Stop doodling!
Stop rolling your eyes when something official strikes you as being silly!
Read books on leadership, and PLEASE DON’T roll your eyes or say “Oh COME ONNNN!!!!” (out loud) when you’re reading them!
*rolls eyes*
Okay somebody stop me.
So remember, whether a bot is made
of new parts, old parts or spare parts…
…you can shine
no matter what you’re made of.
– ‘Robots’ (2005)
