{the long road}

It's almost time for the new Pre-U1s to start sixth-form in SMSA. Meaning that we've got one major thing left ahead: their orientation. And then after that, though still being MPPs 'til April, we've all but become normal students, doing the normal things:

Classes. Homework. Tests. And of course, exams.

It doesn't seem all too much, considering the juggling act we've been doing for most of last year and this, through AS and all. Oh, I can't wait to be a normal student again. To be just like everyone else, and standing out not by virtue of the colour of my trousers but by the content of my character. And to unburdened by all the 'other things' that the school more than loves to pass to us.

Not that we do it unwillingly, but again, the 'days in pink' have been a testing time.

{the armor of integrity}

Retired General Charles C. Krulak, former Commandant of the United States Marine Corps gave this speech at The Joint Services Conference on Professional Ethics in January of 2000:

"We study and we discuss ethical principles because it serves to strengthen and validate our own inner value system. It gives direction to what I call our moral compass. It is the understanding of ethics that becomes the foundation upon which we can deliberately commit to inviolate principles. It becomes the basis of what we are . . . of what we include in our character. Based on it, we commit to doing what is right. We expect such commitment from our leaders. But most importantly, we must demand it of ourselves.

Sound morals and ethical behavior cannot be established of created in a day, a semester … or a year. They must be institutionalized our character over time. They must become a way of life. They go beyond our individual services and beyond our ranks or positions. They cut to the heart and soul of who we are and what we are and what we must be: men and women of character.

They arm us for the challenges to come and impart to us a sense of wholeness. They unite us in the calling we now know as the profession of arms. Of all the moral and ethical guideposts that we have been brought up to recognize, the one that, for me, stands above the rest. The one that I have kept in the forefront of my mind . . . is integrity. It is my ethical and personal touchstone. Integrity, as we know it today, stands for soundness of principle and character – uprightness-honesty. Yet there is more. Integrity is also an ideal. A goal to strive for. And for a man or woman to "walk in their integrity" is to require constant discipline and usage. The word integrity itself is a martial word that comes to us from an ancient Roman army. Tradition during the time of the twelve Caesars, the Roman army would conduct morning inspections. As the inspecting Centurion would come in front of each Legionnaire, the soldier would strike with his right fist the armor breastplate that covered his heart. The armor had to be strongest there in order to protect the heart from the sword thrusts and from arrow strikes. As the soldier struck his armor, he would shout "INTEGRITAS," which in Latin means material wholeness, completeness and entirety. The inspecting Centurion would listen closely for this affirmation and also for the ring that well kept armor would give off. Satisfied that the armor was sound and that the soldier beneath it was protected, he would move on to the next man.

At about the same time, the Praetorians or imperial bodyguard were ascending into power and influence. Drawn from the best "politically correct" soldiers of the legions, they received the finest equipment and armor. They no longer had to shout "integritas" to signify that their armor was sound. Instead, as they struck their breastplate, they would shout "Hail Caesar," to signify that their heart belonged to the imperial personage – not to their unit – not to an institution – not to a code of ideals. They armored themselves to serve the cause of a single man.

A century passed and the rift between the legion and the imperial bodyguard and its excesses grew larger. To signify the difference between the two organizations, the legionnaire, upon striking his armor would no longer shout "INTEGRITAS," but instead would shout "INTEGER." Integer means undiminished-complete-perfect. It not only indicated that the armor was sound, it also indicated that the soldier wearing the armor was sound of character. He was complete in his integrity. His heart was in the right place. His standards and morals were high. He was not associated with the immoral conduct that was rapidly becoming the signature of the Praetorian Guards.

The armor of integrity continued to serve the Legion well for over four centuries. They held the line against the marauding Goths and Vandals. But by 383 AD, the social decline that infected the Republic and the Praetorian Guard had its effects upon the Legion. As a 4^th Century Roman general wrote, "When, because of negligence and laziness, parade ground drills were abandoned, the customary armor began to feel heavy since the soldiers rarely, if ever, wore it. Therefore, the first asked the Emperor to set aside the breastplates and mail. Then the helmets. So our soldiers fought the Goths without any protection for the heart and head and were often beaten by archers. Although there were many disasters, which lead to the loss of great cities, no one tried to restore the armor to the armor to the infantry. They took their armor off, and when the armor came off, so too came their integrity." It was only a matter of a few years until the legion rotted from within and was unable to hold the frontiers. The barbarians were at the gates.

Integrity. It is the combination of the words, "integritas" and "integer." It refers to the putting on of armor, of building a completeness-a wholeness-a wholeness in character. How appropriate that the word integrity is a derivative or two words describing the character of a member of the profession of arms. The military has a tradition of producing great leaders that possess the highest ethical standards and integrity. It produces men and women of character. Character that allows them to deal ethically with the challenges of today and to make conscious decisions about how they will approach tomorrow. However, as I mentioned earlier, this is not done instantly. It requires that integrity becomes a way of life. It must be woven into the fabric of our soul, just as was true in days of imperial Rome. You either walk in your integrity daily, or you take off the armor of the "integer" and leave your heart and soul exposed…open to attack.

My challenge to you is simple be often very difficult. Wear your armor of integrity. Take full measure of its weight. Find comfort in its protection. Do not become lax and always, always, remember that on one can take your integrity from you. You and only you can give it away.

The biblical book of practical ethics, better known as the book of proverbs, sums it up very nicely. "The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them." [Proverbs 11:3]

Thank you."

{nbasifsafbafla}

I affirm that for a student, academics comes first before anything else. We all understand that.

But it is terribly upsetting that the hard-working students who go out of their way and give time and effort in service are put down and disregarded instead of being appreciated and thanked.

{the king of spin}

Spring 2006 was when this must-see movie for all aspiring debaters was released. Thank You For Smoking shows you that you can always take something profoundly true and make everyone believe it isn't.

{breathe deep}

Sometimes, we get too caught up with the demands of today's life that we forget to really live - we don't even remember anymore why we're here in the first place.

It's only when we get a scare; when something happens, say for example someone close to ourselves falling seriously ill, or becoming disabled, that we stop and reflect on the bigger picture of life.

{mr. nyiau's quotes}

Since around July of last year, I've written down interesting things my tutors say. They're in three different notebooks, and there are more which I jot down on whatever I have handy at that time (and as a result, cannot find now). Here's just a few of the many things Mr. Nyiau, my Physics tutor, has said:

"You think you know, but actually you don't know"
- Too many times

"When you revise, don't read the answer. You have to solve the question. Otherwise, you know nothing."
- 23rd July 2007 (how to prepare for Physics tests)

"Advertisement is a form of brain-washing."
- 30th August 2007

"Respect the units."
- 3rd November 2007 (referring to units in Physics)

"It is very stupid not to make use of your intelligence to work for you."
- 8th October 2007

"Know what you have. Know what the enemy 'have'. ART OF WAR."
- 8th October 2007 (run-up to the exams - enemy is the old men of Cambridge)

"Don't answer: Couple is two people meeting under a coconut tree."
- 4th September 2007 (You learn about 'couples' in Physics, but not the 'two people' type)

"You must be very careful with the 'orang putih' English. Be very careful."
- 5th September 2007 (on writing answers)

"What you're studying is nothing new: it's history.
Physics class: History of nature
History class: History of events."
- 5th September 2007 (an effort at making Physics more appealing)

"Luck means you are prepared to grab the opportunity."
- 5th September 2007

"One fellow tell a story, 10 fellow(s) laugh."
- 6th September 2007

"Some of the answers, I look at them, my toe starts to laugh."
- 3rd November 2007 (congrats Pre-U1 Physics Sets 1,2,4!)

"They have a lot of problems. The biggest problem is they don't solve."
- 5th September 2007 (solve problems!)

"If you can solve all the questions from 1976 to 2006, guarantee you can get a 'B'."
- 5th September 2007 (promo for the 'pink' book)

"No Physics sense."
- 7th August 2007 (most of us?)

There's more I can't find where, and a whole wealth more in the hearts and minds of Mr. Nyiau's students past and present. =)

{we know you're not 25}

August 17th of last year. If you haven't watched Superbad yet, then make sure you do.

It's a tour-de-force.

Look that up! Haha