Dreams vs Perseverance ...

Hi lovely people.

I'm back. 

Apologies for the long hiatus in blogging, as I'm after my dream. 

Due to that dream, I stopped blogging and gardening. 

I ceased weeding and fertilizing. 

I didn't trim the plants in my garden. 

As a result, my roses rarely bloomed. 

My bougainvilleas refused to grow. 

My hibiscus and hydrangeas were attacked by aphids and deadly fungi. 

Most of them are in a sorry state now.

Hope to revive them soon.

Right after catching my dream!

I believe in this quote...

'Don't let someone else catch your dream. 

You be the dream catcher.'

Fabulous February ...

Day 32/365


Welcome February!

Hope you bring goodness with you.

Hope you come with loads of love.

Hope you come with lots of happiness.

Hope more doors would be opened for us.


Sophyta

The sky is the limit ...

Day 27/365

The sky and me.

To me, only the sky is the limit.

I'll try to reach for everything,

only the sky's the limit!

I'm unstoppable!


Sophyta

A Dream Comes True ...

Good morning peeps!

I have tried hard not to visit this blog but to no avail. The cool wind that barges in through my window urges me to write about him (the wind) here. Yes! Blame it on the wind.

I used to yearn for cold weather. I used to dream of living in seasonal region. I used to ask for winter. And, I know very well that those dreams would  never have come true. They're just a little girl's dreams!

In order to experience a cooler weather, my family would travel to highlands in the country and the neighbouring country. Needless to say those places boast a cooler climate than the stifling plains throughout my country. A three to four-day vacation is incomparable to living in the cool season places.

Two years ago, my hubby was being directed to occupy the quarters at his workplace. Initially, we were quite reluctant to move in; thinking of our newly-renovated house and its close proximity to my workplace. However, we were willing to give it a try. We moved in during the cool season ( of the neighbouring country; Thailand) i.e. December.

Apart from the cool wind which occasionally blows from the north, the place enjoys cooler climate as it's situated on a higher elevation; to be exact it's 1,250 feet above the sea level.

What I like most about this place is the wind. The wind always blows, especially in the morning, and it's usually very cold. Amid a hot day with temperature peaking at 35C, there're always cool wind blowing. The cool wind is a welcome relief. even to the green grass by the roadside.

Though it takes more than four decades to realize my dream, living here is a dream comes true!

Sophyta

Book Club

Books are my passion.

To read the day away is my form of escapism.

To be part of a book club is my dream.

There has been a proliferation of book clubs (of course in the US and other modern countries, but sadly not in my homeland) in recent years and I for one, yearned to be part of them. But it remains and shall remain a pipe dream. Nevertheless, being able to run a book club for kids could, at least soothe my soul. 

Of course, adult book clubs are usually attended by those who love reading. This doesn't necessarily have to be the case with children. They are still at an age where they can be enthused by reading, provided the book club is fun and well organised.

A good friend of mine noticed that her eleven year-old daughter could read well and loved listening to stories but was less keen on reading to herself. So, with support from some enthusiastic parents, we set up an evening book club for ten capable but reluctant readers. We have our book club at 8.00p.m. on alternate Sundays every month. Undeniably, our book club is the brainchild of Ms Lam, the principal of a reputable kindergarten in my little town. 

Before the first session, we gave each child a short message to explain about the book club. We chose a book, and The Summer of the Swans was our first book club book. We assigned them a few chapters, which were to be read before the meeting. We asked them to think about their favourite characters and some prominent incidences that took place in the story. These were the starting point for discussion in the first session. 

To date, I have led six book club meetings, which lasted for one and a half hour each session. The details of activities in each meeting would be shared in the upcoming post. You have my word for that.

No comments? It's fine...just click the LIKE button.

Chasing My Dreams...

My work is my life.

My profession is my dream.

It's my childhood dream.
I love this job.
It gives me satisfaction.
It gives me a sense of fulfillment.
I'm contented.
I'm complacent.

Whenever I chance upon opportunities for self advancement, I would leap at them.

Opportunities don't always come knocking.

Thus, when they arrive, I've to open the door wide and invite them in.

My success means a better chance for my off-springs.

My accomplishments would  transpire a brighter future for my love ones.

Admittedly, I'm not after my dreams for a glam but realising them for the betterment of all dear to me.

With a dear friend, Madam Rositah, an officer from the state education dept.

Yo estoy vivo y coleando ... (I'm alive and kicking )

It's Wednesday, April 27, 2011.
The clock struck three.
I was called into the 'judgment room'.
There're only two examiners instead of the pre-mentioned three.
The chairperson looked very familiar...
Yes! It's a small world. He was my ex-lecturer back in MPPPP, KJ Pendidikan.
He's his usual self...forever warm and friendly.
We exchanged greetings.
I felt slightly better. He introduced the examiner, Dr Hawa, a very special woman.
She looked good, too.
I was then asked to 'pour' out my mind.
First, statement of problems...
Second, methodology...bla...bla...
The chairperson didn't say much ... most of the time, he wore a smile on his face.
The lady examiner tried to 'catch' me off guard a number of times.
Fortunately, I managed to 'ward off' her attempts... thanked to the earlier preparation.
I owed much gratitude to my supervisor, Dr Bala for preparing me well.
Not forgetting the love ones and dear friends who prayed for me incessantly.
Every thing went on ...smoothly.
All questions were given the best answer that I could think of.
Finally, the thirty-minute session was over...
I was released from the 'torture chamber'.
Once I stepped out of the room, I heard fluttering sounds...
Whoosh! All the butterflies who had camped in my tummy for days flew out...
They disappeared into the thin air.
I got back my 'life and soul'!

My Acknowledgements ...

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Gratitude is the word that best summarises my feelings toward the very special people who assisted me to complete this personal and professional goal. I owe much gratitude to the many people who have guided, helped and cheered me on through this process. In particular, I would like to express special thanks to my supervisor, Associate Professor Dr. Balakrishnan Muniandy, who provided me with detailed and insightful feedback for every draft, who spent an enormous amount of time reading and editing my dissertation, and more importantly, who set an example for me to be a rigorous scholar.

My thanks also go to my first tutor, Dr Zarina Mustafa, for her assistance, suggestions and encouragement. Thank you very much for your coaching and assistance with the proposal. I owe much gratitude for your patience. You have taught me more than you can imagine.

Thank you, Puan NoranFauziah Zainol Abidin and students. I would not have been able to collect the data without your assistance.

My love and thanks go to my family. My husband, Mr L. S., supported me unconditionally during the past two years in all aspects of life: spiritually, financially and emotionally. My late mother-in-law, Madam EeFin S., had always willing to lend a helping hand with my kids. I am deeply indebted to my parents, Mr and Mrs SengS. They tirelessly prayed for my safety and well-being.

Finally, this dissertation is dedicated to my wonderful children, Korn and Lynm. Korn and Lynn, your most adorable smile had been the best stress reliever at the end of the day. Thank you, dear.

Burning midnight oil...

It's approaching.
It's nearing.

It's just around the corner.
I can hear the huffing and puffing.
It's panting heavily.
I can feel the heat.
Yes! The BIG days are coming...
And, here I am ...idling around!
Wake up! I'm telling my inner-most...

Someday Syndrome...

Most of us suffer from Someday Syndrome. We tend to procrastinate. We don't get up fast. We keep on postponing. Thus, our goals and dreams seem far fetched. 


According to Alex F. Fayle, there's a cure to this 'sickness'. He asserted that we need to muster the courage in order to sail across the Someday Sea to the Life and Dream  Shore safely.


Quoting Alex, "With a Someday-Busting Cure, you will sort out your dreams, plan your journey, and live your future today, not someday."


My biggest Someday is doing a doctoral degree. In reality, doing a PhD is a huge undertaking. It demands great commitments and sacrifices. It will mean another sacrifice on the part of love ones.

The urge of doing PhD can stem from various sources. As for me, I plan to take a PhD primarily as a means of self-development. I'm not aiming for a big post in a big office neither to draw a 5-figure salary. 


If I were to be granted a chance to do PhD, it's solely due to my intense love in acquiring knowledge. To me, knowledge acquisition is the noblest thing to be uphold by every able-bodied educator.


However, before jumping onto the bandwagon, I need the very blessing from my soul-mate. Only with his blessing, I can diminish the Someday Syndrome!

Seeing the finish line...

It's been months since I last wrote on this blog. It was partly due to work commitment, the demands of study and the worst of all was LAZINESS!


Decided to move on...as the finish line is visible...though not very clear, it's a bit foggy!
I manage to pull through and most of the tasks have been completed on time.


The second draft of my thesis was approved yesterday, and that meant greatly to me!
Now, concentrating on the 'gift-wrapping technique'. Planned to wrap it up nicely and send it off for evaluation. The viva dates given earlier were 26-28 April, but hopefully they would change them as the date coincide with exam dates. What a severe headache I would have!


Whatsoever, life has to move on...
Coming May, everything would be back to normal. No more assignments to be completed, no more tutorials to be attended and no more exams and viva to be worried about! My kids and hubby would be able to enjoy the much-waited home-cook meals once again.


Pray for me that everything would have smooth sailing!
Sadhu (X3)

It's my dreamz ...

It's been my dream to write and share my thoughts. Born into a peasant family, little did I know that I'll be able to own a platform to 'air' my dreams. Writing and sharing (especially in English) was never thought of. That's the power of education. Being 'educated' to love learning and hunt for knowledge proven to be very fruitful! After vigorous searching and browsing ... here am I, publishing my very first thought on a medium called 'blog'.