Tag Archives: Exams

Bag of Books or Bricks

15 Sep

M2 carries the heaviest bag of books to school these days. We simply cannot fathom why text books nowadays are made so thick and big that they feel more like bricks than books. Hubby commented that her school bag was heavier than his golf bag. I tried carrying her bag to gauge.

Sure enough, it felt heavier than my golf bag too. And mind you, my bag has the full set of 14 clubs, a dozen balls, an umbrella, raincoat and the essential knick knacks.

Why are kids these days subjected to such a burden? I just hope carrying all those heavy books will yield some positive exam results.

Tags: , , , ,

“Could You Be a Darling…”

18 May

It’s obvious we have one sassy child at home when she says this to me, “Could you be a darling and bring me a glass of water from the kitchen when you go there?”

I have never, in my life, said such things to Mom when I was studying. Then again, I have never sat at the dining table and studied like how M2 is studying now for her mid-terms.

Tags: ,

After the School Break

27 Mar

Last week it was the first school break of the year for M2. Daughter dearest was in a bind. Although the thought of going away with us sounded very tempting, she was fretting she needed to prepare for the upcoming exams, scheduled on the Monday (today) when she goes back to school. A sign of the young one having grown up and being responsible? It used to be given a break over the books, the break was chosen.

We were also in a bind. While we were tempted to go away, bringing her along, this would result in her not having any time to study. How does one enjoy whilst on holiday? It doesn’t work this way.

So in the end we stayed put. And I must say we were impressed with her dedication to prepare for the upcoming exams throughout the whole week. Let’s hope the results would yield with the efforts put in.

Tags: , ,

It’s a Wrap!

13 Oct

Yesterday was the last PT3 exam paper for M2 and we went out for a nice dinner to celebrate. For the past two months, we saw a new side of her that we never knew existed. Amazing trait for a 15-year old I must say.

Every day, yes, every single day for the last two months, she would sit at the dining table, with books piled up high, and prepared for this exam. And the last two weekends, we stayed around to give her support wherever possible. If anything else, physical presence for comfort and positive vibes to feel good.

There was no need to tell her to study nor was there any need to worry that she won’t do it. She was just so into it, so determined and motivated. 

In fact, the last two nights, she stayed up until 2.00am in a last gasp effort to refresh her memory on topics she covered earlier. Unlike M1 who would wake up at 5.00am to study in the bathroom so that the bedroom remains dark for her sleeping sister and it feels safer (I don’t know know why) than in the living room, M2 prefers to be a night owl to do her studying. Although I disagree with M2’s method because it deprives rest and sleep, I did not want to dismiss her efforts and am thoroughly amazed at her dedication. I was never like that in high school nor college.

The desire to succeed is far greater in her than me. At this point, it doesn’t matter what the outcome of the exam would be, I am just very proud of her. I just hope there won’t be disappointment when the results come out two months later. 

She had lamented once the what if scenario that all her efforts would be wasted if the results are not up to expectations. To this, we told her it is always the effort (journey) and not the result (destination) that matters and one must never feel that the effort is wasted. Along the way, one learns, grows up, sees things in a different light and ultimately, be a better person.

So M2, stand proud and be proud for what you have done the past two months. We are definitely proud of you. Totally deserving of the dinner celebration!

Tags: ,

An Unlikely Conversation

15 Aug

It was a hot Sunday and we were home because M2 had to study for her exams. So best to stay put for her to be focused. I was trying to garner steam again for my virtual games whilst hubby was outside gardening.

Suddenly we heard a long conversation and thought he was talking to Rooney, who was also out being a busybody in the garden. Both M2 and I thought it was rather long and muted. A lecture for the pooch for meddling in the gardening activity? M2 looked up from her books and realized it wasn’t the case. Hubby was actually talking to the neighbor, who showed up out of the blue! Chortle…

We have never seen much of our neighbor ever since they moved in, what more having a conversation. I thought it was funny that we assumed he was talking to official pet number one…

Tags: , ,

Such Dedication, Part 2

29 Jul

It was a late late night last night. M2 was furiously chasing time to complete her Geography assignment. It is not that she had been slacking on this but the point being the teacher in charge gave out the second part of the assignment late, thus leaving a less than desired timeframe for completion. While we were appalled and certainly not happy, what can we do at this point? 

So I sat with her to help in whatever way I could, be it moral support, bouncing ideas and basically keeping her company. She said there was once when she sat at the dining table alone doing her assignments, there were shadows and it freaked her out. Such imagination the child has…

By 1.30am I got hungry. It was a sin to even think about snacking at this late hour, what more to have a Maggi cup noodle but I did. However, I am not feeling remorseful about it. I needed fuel to keep her company and I certainly didn’t want the caffeine overload of Kit Kat and coffee that M2 had.

She finally got done by 3.00am and the paper will be handed up today; as for me, I feel like a semi-zombie.

Tags: , , , , ,

Such Dedication

28 Jul

With the national education system changed, the requirements to pass the big year-end Form 3 exam for M2 has evolved. Now she is required to submit a field research paper for Geography instead of the usual sit down written exam and I have never seen M2 so dedicated in preparing it. 

The past several nights she has been staying up way past her bedtime to complete her assignment which is due tomorrow. I was certainly never like that! And I don’t think hubby was like this as well. 

Well, I hope all this effort will yield good results.

Tags: ,

Exam Fever

20 May

It’s obvious that exam days are ahead as M2 has her stress mode kicked in, aches and pain plus a slight flu and fever. I don’t recall I was ever like that when I was facing exams especially during my high school days. But I do remember my panic mode with acid churning in my tummy when I was grasping at straws to complete an assignment to meet a submission deadline, be it an art project or paper to write, during my college years. I am still like this when it comes to work especially when there is a presentation deadline looming. People don’t change I guess.

I hope she will manage her stress well and plan her study schedule to keep up the good results that she achieved in the previous exam. Next week, study police duties will kick in to give her the necessary moral support.

Tags: ,

Staying Put

11 Mar

How fast time flies as we head into the end of the first quarter of the year! The school holidays start next week but it’s only a week long. We are staying put because M2 has to study for her exams, which will begin soon after the week long break is over. With her sports out of the way, studying and exams are the next focus.

Then again, we can’t expect her to be constantly at her books, so there will be trips to the mall for a breather; I will have to adjust my work schedule.

Tags: ,

A New Scheme

13 Nov

There is a reason for M2’s new found efforts to do well for the exams. I initiated this new rewards program after the mid-terms disappointment, that one another story by itself. The new scheme worked out well for the 3rd exam of the year and she was totally motivated. So we are hoping for the same results or better for the year-end finals.

It’s very simple, really. Since we have stopped going for long family vacations, trips are no longer the incentive, the last one being the Great Road Trip Adventure under the Carrots Reward Program in 2012. Also it’s just odd to travel afar so soon without M1. Maybe next year…

Anyway, it’s all about what you do is what you get.

For every ‘A’ achieved, my payout to M2 is twenty dollars; a ‘B’ would be ten and a ‘C’ nothing. But if a ‘D’ is obtained, she has to pay me back a twenty. I think this scheme works out well as M2, at 14, is old enough to understand the meaning of working hard to be rewarded besides appreciating the value of money.

Tags: ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →