These days I'm so caught up in the middle of things that it hardly leaves me any time to do something I totally enjoy 100%. Of course, I enjoy doing everything that I'm involved with right now, but there comes a time eventually that when things don't work out the way you want them to, it gets on your nerves. In my case, I'm left with no choice but to finish it because there are other things that have to be attended to after that. But then again, you don't achieve the results that you hope to achieve because your attention keeps getting diverted due to various reasons. So, I decided to do some things differently.
I recently attended a leadership training camp conducted by by school's international student's interest group. We began with a personality test that identifies you on the basis of an important characteristic that broadly classifies you as a person. When working in a team or a committee similar to the one I'm in, it becomes a lot easier to choose the person you want to delegate tasks to. The test was conducted in part by our beloved Ms Boey, TPIS advisor and mentor.
My test results showed that I'm a very conscientious person with a strong penchant for detail. For me things are never 'fine' or 'okay' until they meet my expectations, which is something that I noticed about myself and it takes me more time to arrive at decisions than most others. This is after analyzing the pros and the cons of my judgement. This could be a good or a bad trait depending on the situation I'm dealing with. Something that I noticed was that when I applied it to my studies, the outcome is something thats very impressive, to both myself and others, particularly my teachers. People are happy with your work and ask you if you want to try out something similar or more challenging. The offer is often irresistible particularly if you've enjoyed working on that particular project. Unfortunately, that may not be the only project at hand and finding a time slot to allocate for the new one can often leave the others in jeopardy. Meeting deadlines becomes really hard and the process leading up to it can often leave you exhausted to do anything else. I learnt this the hard way. Procrastination is something thats easy to do but is never the solution. If looked upon it from the correct perspective, it can have a tremendous influence on ones own personality. When you ask yourself the question 'Why', it often highlights your weakness or the method of approach that you're probably getting wrong. This approach did it for me. It helped me find out that it is better to excel at a few things rather than being an average at many others. So these days, I'm more cautious when it come to accepting responsibilities, no matter how tempting it may be.
This doesn't mean that I have a relaxed schedule now. Boy oh boy, I'm already paddling in deep waters. I sleep much lesser than the hours required, that doctors recommend to people my age, and you'll probably find me answering my cellphone even in the wee hours of the morning. But then again, one of the key advantages I have on my side is age. I am young and I know I can push myself a little further every time. And as time passes, I keep getting better and better. And whatever I do, I try my best to enjoy it. Even the all-nighters seems enjoyable. I'm just wary of reaching my tipping point.
As for my conscientious nature, I think I'll let it be there for a while and take care to be that way only when required. In places which doesn't require much detail, I'll forcefully pull myself out of it. By doing this, I find that I have a lot of time to do carry out my errands and I'm able to achieve the results that I had hoped to achieve. It has been a great learning experience for me personally and I enjoy every bit of it.
Till next time,
Ciao, <3
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Connecting to TP-Secure on Linux (using Fedora 11.0)
Connecting to the SSID TP-Secure in Temasek Polytechnic with Linux can prove to be a very challenging task. I had a hard time configuring my laptop to connect to the network on Ubuntu 8.10. I spent hours trying to figure out a way to connect to the TP-Secure network but it just refused to connect (Although I was happy that the network was at least detected). In the middle of it all, Ubuntu crashed during an upgrade.
I replaced Ubuntu with a fresh installation of Fedora 11. When I tried to connect to the TP wireless network this time, it surprisingly (unlike Ubuntu) connected immediately. Heres how I did it:
Click on the NetworkManager Applet on your panel. If you don't have the Applet on the panel, go to System -> Preferences -> Network Connections:
I replaced Ubuntu with a fresh installation of Fedora 11. When I tried to connect to the TP wireless network this time, it surprisingly (unlike Ubuntu) connected immediately. Heres how I did it:
Click on the NetworkManager Applet on your panel. If you don't have the Applet on the panel, go to System -> Preferences -> Network Connections:
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Its been a really long time since then...
Its been long since I was actively blogging. Truth be told it was one crazy year. Fully loaded with suprises. My racing heart has only just begun slowing down.
It was just another ordinary summer, at least that's what I expected it to be. The city turned warmer day by day until it became rather uncomfortable to stick around. Met Sam, Diggy, Ciril, Nigel, Harsh, Purav, Darshan and few other friends. It was nice to catch up with these folks after a really long time. Had lots of fun in the city as well as Panchi. Diggy was kind enough to have us stay over at his place and in return, we turned the world upside down in his sleepy town of Satara.
It was just another ordinary summer, at least that's what I expected it to be. The city turned warmer day by day until it became rather uncomfortable to stick around. Met Sam, Diggy, Ciril, Nigel, Harsh, Purav, Darshan and few other friends. It was nice to catch up with these folks after a really long time. Had lots of fun in the city as well as Panchi. Diggy was kind enough to have us stay over at his place and in return, we turned the world upside down in his sleepy town of Satara.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Whats in a name?
After a long while I'm finally trying to get back to blogging again. I decided to mark my return by getting a better name for the page. After brainstorming for several hours and bouncing the idea off many people, I was able to settle with this one.
While C++ is an addition of the C language, similarly R++ is an addition of me in Cyberspace.
While C++ is an addition of the C language, similarly R++ is an addition of me in Cyberspace.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
An Uneventful Meeting...
It all began with a pleasant morning,
Which didn't bestow any kind of a warning,
A little boy awoke with a start,
Yawned, stretched and smacked a small fart,
On his face lay a sly flat smirk,
For it was time to get back to work.
Time passed, days rolled, years strolled,
Yet the boy considered himself bold.
Skeptical about what lay ahead,
He was paranoid and so nothing he said.
He was inviting an unusual guest,
Who would prepare him for life's ultimate test.
The boy didn't quite recognize him,
In the room with the light quite dim,
Hesitantly he welcomed the stranger,
Hospitality first so he treated him as a ranger.
Little did he know, the man was here to dwell,
For a period that made his life living hell.
Initially it was all quite well,
Suddenly began ringing the alarming bell,
Awestruck by the sudden turn of events,
The boy struggled miserably with every passing moment.
Someone who was once so authoritative,
Was reduced to a being so contemplative.
It was a series of events culminating in a bizarre situation,
Bit by bit it increased his frustration.
Unable to bear the tension
Quite soon he became overwhelmed,
His agony was now turning into a wicked dell.
Not many folks could dare,
To stay alive with a living nightmare.
Its root cause was still unknown,
Little did he know that his guest had overgrown.
Life was difficult to manage for both of them,
Meanwhile, the guest had found a new gem,
He bade the little boy goodbye,
Who by now was emotionally very high.
"Beware", the man said, "I might visit you again",
"At that time, too, there would be nothing for you to gain".
It was a bolt from the blue, the boy realized,
Now, he seriously had his life to analyze,
The boy wondered what further omens did he lure,
Frightened about what else he had to endure.
As though reading my thoughts, the man replied, "By the way, my name is Failure..."
Which didn't bestow any kind of a warning,
A little boy awoke with a start,
Yawned, stretched and smacked a small fart,
On his face lay a sly flat smirk,
For it was time to get back to work.
Time passed, days rolled, years strolled,
Yet the boy considered himself bold.
Skeptical about what lay ahead,
He was paranoid and so nothing he said.
He was inviting an unusual guest,
Who would prepare him for life's ultimate test.
The boy didn't quite recognize him,
In the room with the light quite dim,
Hesitantly he welcomed the stranger,
Hospitality first so he treated him as a ranger.
Little did he know, the man was here to dwell,
For a period that made his life living hell.
Initially it was all quite well,
Suddenly began ringing the alarming bell,
Awestruck by the sudden turn of events,
The boy struggled miserably with every passing moment.
Someone who was once so authoritative,
Was reduced to a being so contemplative.
It was a series of events culminating in a bizarre situation,
Bit by bit it increased his frustration.
Unable to bear the tension
Quite soon he became overwhelmed,
His agony was now turning into a wicked dell.
Not many folks could dare,
To stay alive with a living nightmare.
Its root cause was still unknown,
Little did he know that his guest had overgrown.
Life was difficult to manage for both of them,
Meanwhile, the guest had found a new gem,
He bade the little boy goodbye,
Who by now was emotionally very high.
"Beware", the man said, "I might visit you again",
"At that time, too, there would be nothing for you to gain".
It was a bolt from the blue, the boy realized,
Now, he seriously had his life to analyze,
The boy wondered what further omens did he lure,
Frightened about what else he had to endure.
As though reading my thoughts, the man replied, "By the way, my name is Failure..."
Thursday, May 17, 2007
The 'Karyalaya' - Contd.
A visit to an Indian Government Office - Day 3
Two working days had been wasted completely for the sake of a simple signature. As usual, I arrived early and the respective officers arrived way after the scheduled time. Yesterday's frustration kept me determined to obtain the signature today at all costs. I asked the clerk to inform me about the Inspector's arrival. He gave me the usual 'He'll be busy' dialog which I completely ignored.
Thankfully the Inspector arrived early, this time in his khaki uniform because of which I spotted him without any worry. The bloke was a tall man with a lot of mass around the equator. Almost every sausage sized finger of his had the trademark signet rings encrusted with colourful stones. Hair greased with oil and combed back completely. Thankfully he was quite fluent in English(which i will later figure out), unlike many of his colleagues, but Marathi was his preferred language of communication
I didn't wait for a chance to be called for, I directly approached him saying that I needed his signature urgently and that I've been waiting five days for it. He was rather calm and didn't find my approach disrespectful. He called me to his office and wrote a chit and handed it over to me and asked me to forward it to his secretary. He told me that she would verify the documents (I only had one sheet of paper)and he would sign it accordingly later that day. I froze thinking about the possibility of waiting another day. Unfortunately this eventually came true. He asked me to leave the paper with his secretary and return to collect it tomorrow.
I didn't know what to say. I quietly accepted the chit and left his office. handed over the chit and the document with his secretary and returned home, saddened by the fact that I had to return another day, but slightly glad that at least he promised me he would surely sign it. Hope he keeps his word.
Day 4
I arrived this morning with high hopes. Thankfully for me the man actually had signed it and the official seal was put too. I quickly returned home contented.
Conclusion:
This was one horrendous experience for me. Its actually a bad reflection of the way work gets done even in a progressing nation like India. Lack of computers and other amenities actually create a discouraging work place - This was one thing I learnt during my visit. You may ask - "Then why do people prefer to work in such a place ?" The answers simple. Its the five figure salary that these people receive with minimal work pressure. Where else do you get second and fourth Saturdays, of every month, off. Its may be convenient for the employees to work in such a jolly atmosphere; but for the common man, its a living nightmare which all of us dread to face, but eventually we all have to make that dreadful trip to a government office. Its could be the regional passport office(Gosh!), where you'll need to bribe people at times to get work done. Take the good samaritan policy of anti corruption and you'll never find your work getting done.
One thing these people need to learn, is how to value other peoples time. In my case, the inspector could have just signed the document (I had verified the document a million times) rather than waste time writing the chit. I hope I never ever have to make a trip to another one of these offices again, although eventually, I'll have to end up in the worst place possible - The Regional Passport Office.
Two working days had been wasted completely for the sake of a simple signature. As usual, I arrived early and the respective officers arrived way after the scheduled time. Yesterday's frustration kept me determined to obtain the signature today at all costs. I asked the clerk to inform me about the Inspector's arrival. He gave me the usual 'He'll be busy' dialog which I completely ignored.
Thankfully the Inspector arrived early, this time in his khaki uniform because of which I spotted him without any worry. The bloke was a tall man with a lot of mass around the equator. Almost every sausage sized finger of his had the trademark signet rings encrusted with colourful stones. Hair greased with oil and combed back completely. Thankfully he was quite fluent in English(which i will later figure out), unlike many of his colleagues, but Marathi was his preferred language of communication
I didn't wait for a chance to be called for, I directly approached him saying that I needed his signature urgently and that I've been waiting five days for it. He was rather calm and didn't find my approach disrespectful. He called me to his office and wrote a chit and handed it over to me and asked me to forward it to his secretary. He told me that she would verify the documents (I only had one sheet of paper)and he would sign it accordingly later that day. I froze thinking about the possibility of waiting another day. Unfortunately this eventually came true. He asked me to leave the paper with his secretary and return to collect it tomorrow.
I didn't know what to say. I quietly accepted the chit and left his office. handed over the chit and the document with his secretary and returned home, saddened by the fact that I had to return another day, but slightly glad that at least he promised me he would surely sign it. Hope he keeps his word.
Day 4
I arrived this morning with high hopes. Thankfully for me the man actually had signed it and the official seal was put too. I quickly returned home contented.
Conclusion:
This was one horrendous experience for me. Its actually a bad reflection of the way work gets done even in a progressing nation like India. Lack of computers and other amenities actually create a discouraging work place - This was one thing I learnt during my visit. You may ask - "Then why do people prefer to work in such a place ?" The answers simple. Its the five figure salary that these people receive with minimal work pressure. Where else do you get second and fourth Saturdays, of every month, off. Its may be convenient for the employees to work in such a jolly atmosphere; but for the common man, its a living nightmare which all of us dread to face, but eventually we all have to make that dreadful trip to a government office. Its could be the regional passport office(Gosh!), where you'll need to bribe people at times to get work done. Take the good samaritan policy of anti corruption and you'll never find your work getting done.
One thing these people need to learn, is how to value other peoples time. In my case, the inspector could have just signed the document (I had verified the document a million times) rather than waste time writing the chit. I hope I never ever have to make a trip to another one of these offices again, although eventually, I'll have to end up in the worst place possible - The Regional Passport Office.
The 'Karyalaya' - Contd.
A visit to an Indian Government Office - Day 2
Firstly, I'm sorry for the delay in this post which should have been put up weeks ago. I was busy with studies and tests.
So after a rather long weekend, (Sat. and Sun. and Mon. (2nd of October is declared a public holiday on account of Mahatma Gandhi's B'day)) I was back again at the mercy of the hon. educational Inspector of the Suburban district. As usual, I arrived way before time and similarly (usually) the office opened half an hour after the scheduled time. It was a dull morning and the sound of the rain pelting on the asbestos roof quite reflected my distorted state of mind. All in all, it was a series of events culminating in a bizarre situation.
I was welcomed by the same two people, the clerk and the employee. This time, the clerk gave me his typical discouraging excuse by saying that the Inspector would be arriving early on account of important work at 11.30 am (Early!! Think again). I didn't have a choice, it was now or never. I and sat on a wobbly wooden bench next to the door leading to the Inspector's office expecting his arrival.
The clock ticked away. Time passed - 10 o'clock, then 11 then 12 and there was still no sign of the Inspector. During this period, the office had a lot of visitors, most of them chatted away in Marathi (The regional Language, something which I'm scarcely familiar with). After a rather long period of two hours, I finally went and asked the clerk where in the world was this darn inspector. To my horror, the bloke replied by saying that the Inspector had already come and gone. That day, he didn't have the need to visit his office on the 1st floor (where I had been waiting anxiously). I cursed and left the place completely frustrated.
Firstly, I'm sorry for the delay in this post which should have been put up weeks ago. I was busy with studies and tests.
So after a rather long weekend, (Sat. and Sun. and Mon. (2nd of October is declared a public holiday on account of Mahatma Gandhi's B'day)) I was back again at the mercy of the hon. educational Inspector of the Suburban district. As usual, I arrived way before time and similarly (usually) the office opened half an hour after the scheduled time. It was a dull morning and the sound of the rain pelting on the asbestos roof quite reflected my distorted state of mind. All in all, it was a series of events culminating in a bizarre situation.
I was welcomed by the same two people, the clerk and the employee. This time, the clerk gave me his typical discouraging excuse by saying that the Inspector would be arriving early on account of important work at 11.30 am (Early!! Think again). I didn't have a choice, it was now or never. I and sat on a wobbly wooden bench next to the door leading to the Inspector's office expecting his arrival.
The clock ticked away. Time passed - 10 o'clock, then 11 then 12 and there was still no sign of the Inspector. During this period, the office had a lot of visitors, most of them chatted away in Marathi (The regional Language, something which I'm scarcely familiar with). After a rather long period of two hours, I finally went and asked the clerk where in the world was this darn inspector. To my horror, the bloke replied by saying that the Inspector had already come and gone. That day, he didn't have the need to visit his office on the 1st floor (where I had been waiting anxiously). I cursed and left the place completely frustrated.
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