Friday, November 20, 2009
Something wrong with the Thomson CC Scholarship Application Form?
As a resident of the Bishan Toa Payoh GRC, I was excited to see the banner that said that scholarship applications for the year 2009 was open. I had done fairly well for my A level results and I felt that I would like to try my chances at the scholarship. Hence, my mother went to the RC to collect the application form.
Those who are familiar with the scholarship application procedure would know that you will apply for a scholarship using the results of the previous year. For example, if I am a secondary 3 student, I will apply for the scholarship using the results last year which is the secondary 2 results. As I am now a year 1 student in NTU Communication Studies, I would naturally need to use my A level results to apply for the scholarship.
So my mother, on my behalf, went to my alma mater Temasek Junior College and requested the admin personnel at the counter to sign the referral portion of the form or to request them to pass the application to the Principal or Vice Principal for signing. [Refer to red portion in the picture below]
Having taken my A level examinations at TJC, naturally I would need to go back to my JC to certify that my results are true and not doctored by Photoshop right?
WRONG. The two admin personnel at the counter, to my mother's horror said that I had already graduated from Temasek Junior College, and was now a student at NTU hence they are unable to sign the referral portion of the form. They asked my mother to approach my university. Also, they did not certify that my results were the true copy either.
However, I had applied for the exact same scholarship in JC1 [Yes, so I would use my O level results] and I went back to Anderson Secondary School that time for the referral. The admin personnel at the GO in Anderson Secondary School certified that my O level results were true and passed it to the principal to sign.
So my mother was really shocked. She asked for clarifications from the RC themselves by getting their phone number from the web. The RC said that since I was using my A level results, I would be getting the referral from the JC that I graduated from. [Refer to the portion in picture below]
So we were both thrown into a frenzy. Why couldn't I get a referral from the school that helped me to achieve these good grades in the first place?
Today my mother drove me down to TJC and I approached the admin personnel to request for certification that my results were true and for them to pass the form to my principal, who was in office at that time.
However, to my horror, they said that it was the same form as yesterday and explained that because they did not know me, they were unable to refer me for this scholarship. Also, since I had graduated from TJC, they could not refer me.
Does that mean they can only refer J2 students who are using their J1 results?
After some talking, they agreed to certify that my results were true since I had the original copy at hand. However, the man said that he needed my original IC to certify that I am me. In a hurry to leave house to settle all these matters, I left it at home. He said that I would have to come back another time. I am currently preparing for my examinations in the university and since the office is closed on weekends, and I had exam papers from Monday to Wednesday and the closing date is Wednesday, I could not afford to come all the way back again. However, I instantly remembered that IC does not need certification so I pointed that out. He did not seem to know this though.
So they told me that they could certify my results were true but not refer me. I had to get my teacher to do that because they did not know me personally. I did not see what the problem was as my testimonial shows clearly that I was a student of good conduct. Also, this is not like a PSC scholarship or MOE scholarship where you need a long letter of "recommendation" from your form teacher. This is just signing to prove that you were a student at TJC and your conduct was not problematic.
My form teacher has retired to Spain hence I tried in vain to contact my subject teachers who were all not in school at the moment seeing as it was the school holidays and A level examination period.
With no choice, I went down to the office to request for the signature of the principal. However, the personnel said that she would call the RC themselves to clarify whether it was alright for TJC to refer me in the first place since I was no longer studying there.
My mother & I waited.
After a substantial period of time, she called me over and told me that she had called the RC and it was alright for them to sign. However because of the way of phrasing in the form which says "Recommendation by School/IHL Principal," it was ambiguous and it was wrong for the principal of TJC to sign for me in referral since I was no longer a student there. Hence, she typed this letter declaring that I was a student studying at their school from 2007 to 2008 and stamped the school stamp over it with her signature. She had discussed this method of verification with the woman at the phone for the RC.
I was just really thankful that everything was settled after 2 hours of frustration and irritation.
However, this incident brings to mind something, what if she had refused to sign the referral? Would I have to come back to TJC in the midst of my examinations the next week? Does this mode of referral not make it harder for TJCians who do well to apply for scholarships? Did the school not promote excellence in studies?
& what about students who had graduated from the school? Were they to get the university to refer them for the results that were not obtained in the midst of education there?
Also, was there something wrong with the RC form? Should it have said "Recommendation by previous school/ IHL Principal?" Then what would happen to those students who were in JC2 applying for a scholarship using their JC1 results?
I don't know.
Just for your information, when my mother submitted the form to the RC, they too found it puzzling why my referral was so unique. [Other candidates just had a simple signature from the principal on the form but I had a letter]
On a side note, before we were about to leave, we witnessed a parent requesting for help to apply for a scholarship for her child for some external food union association. Since this student was currently in J2, there was no "Sorry she has already graduated from our school" reply. The man called up the form teacher of the class and read out the student's name. Coincidentally, it was my junior whom I know personally. However, the form teacher was not in school. Hence, the man told the parent to come back next monday when the teacher was in.
Till now I do not know if the RC really needs a school teacher to refer the student for such scholarships. Note, this is not the kind of scholarship where you go for interviews, but just merely an awarding of $300 that year for good results the previous year.
He also looked at her results and said that he needed her CCA records to certify true copy [for which I have never heard of since scholarship is all about academic results & a good conduct to accompany not CCA achievements] On a side note, he commented that since she was applying for scholarship and her results were not very good, her chances were not very high.
The mother acknowledged this and said she would come back on Monday.
Here I would just like to air my grievances. Yes, even though moderate results really reduce chances of receiving a scholarship, should an admin personnel, who is not the judge deciding whom to award the scholarship to, tell an applicant that since her results were not as good, she did not stand a good chance? Does that not motivate a student to excel in her studies?
He did however, said that it was alright to apply in the end but the conclusion was the same: Come back again next monday.
I am just glad that next year I will be applying from NTU Student Affairs Office. Hopefully I won't need to go through so much trouble then.
12:42 PM.
As a resident of the Bishan Toa Payoh GRC, I was excited to see the banner that said that scholarship applications for the year 2009 was open. I had done fairly well for my A level results and I felt that I would like to try my chances at the scholarship. Hence, my mother went to the RC to collect the application form.
Those who are familiar with the scholarship application procedure would know that you will apply for a scholarship using the results of the previous year. For example, if I am a secondary 3 student, I will apply for the scholarship using the results last year which is the secondary 2 results. As I am now a year 1 student in NTU Communication Studies, I would naturally need to use my A level results to apply for the scholarship.
So my mother, on my behalf, went to my alma mater Temasek Junior College and requested the admin personnel at the counter to sign the referral portion of the form or to request them to pass the application to the Principal or Vice Principal for signing. [Refer to red portion in the picture below]
Having taken my A level examinations at TJC, naturally I would need to go back to my JC to certify that my results are true and not doctored by Photoshop right?WRONG. The two admin personnel at the counter, to my mother's horror said that I had already graduated from Temasek Junior College, and was now a student at NTU hence they are unable to sign the referral portion of the form. They asked my mother to approach my university. Also, they did not certify that my results were the true copy either.
However, I had applied for the exact same scholarship in JC1 [Yes, so I would use my O level results] and I went back to Anderson Secondary School that time for the referral. The admin personnel at the GO in Anderson Secondary School certified that my O level results were true and passed it to the principal to sign.
So my mother was really shocked. She asked for clarifications from the RC themselves by getting their phone number from the web. The RC said that since I was using my A level results, I would be getting the referral from the JC that I graduated from. [Refer to the portion in picture below]
So we were both thrown into a frenzy. Why couldn't I get a referral from the school that helped me to achieve these good grades in the first place?
Today my mother drove me down to TJC and I approached the admin personnel to request for certification that my results were true and for them to pass the form to my principal, who was in office at that time.
However, to my horror, they said that it was the same form as yesterday and explained that because they did not know me, they were unable to refer me for this scholarship. Also, since I had graduated from TJC, they could not refer me.
Does that mean they can only refer J2 students who are using their J1 results?
After some talking, they agreed to certify that my results were true since I had the original copy at hand. However, the man said that he needed my original IC to certify that I am me. In a hurry to leave house to settle all these matters, I left it at home. He said that I would have to come back another time. I am currently preparing for my examinations in the university and since the office is closed on weekends, and I had exam papers from Monday to Wednesday and the closing date is Wednesday, I could not afford to come all the way back again. However, I instantly remembered that IC does not need certification so I pointed that out. He did not seem to know this though.
So they told me that they could certify my results were true but not refer me. I had to get my teacher to do that because they did not know me personally. I did not see what the problem was as my testimonial shows clearly that I was a student of good conduct. Also, this is not like a PSC scholarship or MOE scholarship where you need a long letter of "recommendation" from your form teacher. This is just signing to prove that you were a student at TJC and your conduct was not problematic.
My form teacher has retired to Spain hence I tried in vain to contact my subject teachers who were all not in school at the moment seeing as it was the school holidays and A level examination period.
With no choice, I went down to the office to request for the signature of the principal. However, the personnel said that she would call the RC themselves to clarify whether it was alright for TJC to refer me in the first place since I was no longer studying there.
My mother & I waited.
After a substantial period of time, she called me over and told me that she had called the RC and it was alright for them to sign. However because of the way of phrasing in the form which says "Recommendation by School/IHL Principal," it was ambiguous and it was wrong for the principal of TJC to sign for me in referral since I was no longer a student there. Hence, she typed this letter declaring that I was a student studying at their school from 2007 to 2008 and stamped the school stamp over it with her signature. She had discussed this method of verification with the woman at the phone for the RC.
I was just really thankful that everything was settled after 2 hours of frustration and irritation.
However, this incident brings to mind something, what if she had refused to sign the referral? Would I have to come back to TJC in the midst of my examinations the next week? Does this mode of referral not make it harder for TJCians who do well to apply for scholarships? Did the school not promote excellence in studies?
& what about students who had graduated from the school? Were they to get the university to refer them for the results that were not obtained in the midst of education there?
Also, was there something wrong with the RC form? Should it have said "Recommendation by previous school/ IHL Principal?" Then what would happen to those students who were in JC2 applying for a scholarship using their JC1 results?
I don't know.
Just for your information, when my mother submitted the form to the RC, they too found it puzzling why my referral was so unique. [Other candidates just had a simple signature from the principal on the form but I had a letter]
On a side note, before we were about to leave, we witnessed a parent requesting for help to apply for a scholarship for her child for some external food union association. Since this student was currently in J2, there was no "Sorry she has already graduated from our school" reply. The man called up the form teacher of the class and read out the student's name. Coincidentally, it was my junior whom I know personally. However, the form teacher was not in school. Hence, the man told the parent to come back next monday when the teacher was in.
Till now I do not know if the RC really needs a school teacher to refer the student for such scholarships. Note, this is not the kind of scholarship where you go for interviews, but just merely an awarding of $300 that year for good results the previous year.
He also looked at her results and said that he needed her CCA records to certify true copy [for which I have never heard of since scholarship is all about academic results & a good conduct to accompany not CCA achievements] On a side note, he commented that since she was applying for scholarship and her results were not very good, her chances were not very high.
The mother acknowledged this and said she would come back on Monday.
Here I would just like to air my grievances. Yes, even though moderate results really reduce chances of receiving a scholarship, should an admin personnel, who is not the judge deciding whom to award the scholarship to, tell an applicant that since her results were not as good, she did not stand a good chance? Does that not motivate a student to excel in her studies?
He did however, said that it was alright to apply in the end but the conclusion was the same: Come back again next monday.
I am just glad that next year I will be applying from NTU Student Affairs Office. Hopefully I won't need to go through so much trouble then.
12:42 PM.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Flooded
Aaaahhhh so much to mug @_@
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
10:53 PM.
Aaaahhhh so much to mug @_@
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
10:53 PM.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
This is why I'm not an ad copywriter
Making posters or ads of any kinds kill me
& my brain cells
& my desire to study
Hahas~ Those are sufficient enough reasons
.___.
God!!! I really need to be more productive in my exam revisions @_@ aaahhhh
8:13 PM.
Making posters or ads of any kinds kill me
& my brain cells
& my desire to study
Hahas~ Those are sufficient enough reasons
.___.
God!!! I really need to be more productive in my exam revisions @_@ aaahhhh
8:13 PM.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Anger
I realise... anger really gets the better of people.
& I'm not just saying this because I flared up just now.
Basically you need to pay your tuition [school] fees to NTU by a certain date or they will bar you from taking examinations {Yeah, I know -.-"} & I am 100% sure that I submitted the form for GIRO so that they will deduct the tuition fees automatically from my mother's GIRO account.
Everything should be fine right?
Now they send me an email saying I must pay by cheque/cash/NETS at the Student Affair Office, Office of Finance immediately because I have outstanding fees of $3000+.
...
... ...
... ... ...
AHHHH
Then I remembered
Ephesians 4:26-27
"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
AIYA God shot me through the heart.
So here I am sitting down & analysing my actions & reaction when things do not go my way.
1) ANNOYANCE. Total 100% annoyance. I submitted the form and now you're telling me you didn't deduct the money? So I have to go all the way down to NTU Ulu-land just to submit a form to you in what? Cheque/ Cash/ NETS. Absolute inconvenience. Opportunity cost: All the time I could have spent mugging, [Ok this sounds very =.= I know] transport fees etc etc... That was exactly what went through my mind
2) More annoyance. I had planned to wake up early and mug in a library near my house. [I really can't study at home when my brother is happily DOTA-ing or my sister is playing Granado Espada. Gosh, my siblings love online gaming] Foiled plans. totally.
3) So... without thinking, I started stamping around my room in total anger & irritation. Believe me, when I'm irritable, I don't think when I talk.
4) I stormed outside to print the form that says "This has to be submitted with the cash/cheque/NETS payment." So my parents heard me admist their sleep and asked me what happened. I grumpily told them everything.
5) I went back after printing and my sister asked me again. This time, I replied in the same irritable tone and mood.
6) My father came into my room to ask what I was planning to do about it. I said, go tomorrow lorh in a very very bad spirited manner
Lessons learnt:
*Anger gets the better of me at times.
*I really need to control my emotions and not let them run wild like just now.
*Am I a good testimony at home when I behave like this?
*Am I really praising God in all circumstances or only when things go my way?
Thank God for:
# Teaching me that seriously, I have so many areas to grow in
# My mother is driving me to NTU to settle the payments
# How I behaved instantly reflected my stubbornness: that I am right, it's the Finance Office's fault. How is this reflective of what God says that we should respect authority because all authority on earth is given by God? Pride.
This has been a humbling experience. Just thought I'd share it here.
12:52 AM.
I realise... anger really gets the better of people.
& I'm not just saying this because I flared up just now.
Basically you need to pay your tuition [school] fees to NTU by a certain date or they will bar you from taking examinations {Yeah, I know -.-"} & I am 100% sure that I submitted the form for GIRO so that they will deduct the tuition fees automatically from my mother's GIRO account.
Everything should be fine right?
Now they send me an email saying I must pay by cheque/cash/NETS at the Student Affair Office, Office of Finance immediately because I have outstanding fees of $3000+.
...
... ...
... ... ...
AHHHH
Then I remembered
Ephesians 4:26-27
"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
AIYA God shot me through the heart.
So here I am sitting down & analysing my actions & reaction when things do not go my way.
1) ANNOYANCE. Total 100% annoyance. I submitted the form and now you're telling me you didn't deduct the money? So I have to go all the way down to NTU Ulu-land just to submit a form to you in what? Cheque/ Cash/ NETS. Absolute inconvenience. Opportunity cost: All the time I could have spent mugging, [Ok this sounds very =.= I know] transport fees etc etc... That was exactly what went through my mind
2) More annoyance. I had planned to wake up early and mug in a library near my house. [I really can't study at home when my brother is happily DOTA-ing or my sister is playing Granado Espada. Gosh, my siblings love online gaming] Foiled plans. totally.
3) So... without thinking, I started stamping around my room in total anger & irritation. Believe me, when I'm irritable, I don't think when I talk.
4) I stormed outside to print the form that says "This has to be submitted with the cash/cheque/NETS payment." So my parents heard me admist their sleep and asked me what happened. I grumpily told them everything.
5) I went back after printing and my sister asked me again. This time, I replied in the same irritable tone and mood.
6) My father came into my room to ask what I was planning to do about it. I said, go tomorrow lorh in a very very bad spirited manner
Lessons learnt:
*Anger gets the better of me at times.
*I really need to control my emotions and not let them run wild like just now.
*Am I a good testimony at home when I behave like this?
*Am I really praising God in all circumstances or only when things go my way?
Thank God for:
# Teaching me that seriously, I have so many areas to grow in
# My mother is driving me to NTU to settle the payments
# How I behaved instantly reflected my stubbornness: that I am right, it's the Finance Office's fault. How is this reflective of what God says that we should respect authority because all authority on earth is given by God? Pride.
This has been a humbling experience. Just thought I'd share it here.
12:52 AM.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Exams are coming...
The divine paradigm is above the social paradigm
What good is it to gain the whole world but to lose your soul?
Dear Lord, I pray that I won't be self-absorbed in this period & know that though I want to do my best for You, I also want to shine for Jesus
(: yay~
PS: Neoprint taking can be so fun! @_@
11:23 PM.
The divine paradigm is above the social paradigm
What good is it to gain the whole world but to lose your soul?
Dear Lord, I pray that I won't be self-absorbed in this period & know that though I want to do my best for You, I also want to shine for Jesus
(: yay~
PS: Neoprint taking can be so fun! @_@
11:23 PM.
