Dinged 3/3

Looks like my luck ran out. Now... I need to look for a job.

Looking back, I wonder if I had written my essays differently, I would have gotten different replies. But anyhow, in a way I'm glad this whole process is over. Relieved too. At least now I know which direction I'm headed to both in terms of what I want to do with my life, bleak a goal as it may appear right now, and in terms of what my next steps will be.

I'm also quite glad that I've found my footing again. As a person. I lost my marbles sometime back and this whole application process has been helpful in finding them back for me.

"Will work for money"

Dinged 2/3

By LBS this time. Looks like it is back to the drawing board.

Dinged 1/3

INSEAD replied. I got dinged.

I can't say I'm not disappointed but I'm not surprised either.

My INSEAD application wasn't strong. I wasn't entirely sure of it when I sent it out and I guess that's where I slipped up. Especially after having written better ones for LBS and Chicago and sending the application in early without rethinking it over. I think I ought to kick myself really hard for doing that. So I guess I deserve getting dinged.

I am disappointed still. Because what are the chances that LBS and Chicago evaluate their applicants the same way? Quite high I believe.

So despite having stronger applications for LBS and Chicago, will I still make the cut? Admittedly, I still feel a certain element of uncertainty in each of them. Largely because I don't know how the other applicants are like and partly because I don't feel like I stand out enough or have anything concrete to crow about.

In other words, I'm wondering whether I am ready or even suited for these b-schools.

LBS and Chicago have yet to reply so I have 2 more chances. I always sucked at one point scissor, paper, stone games and fared better at the "best of three" ones. Let's hope it'll be the same this time.

Fingers and toes crossed crossed crossed.

Conversations

It's been awhile since I've posted one of these. I guess that's partly because my Sis hadn't been in sg for quite awhile. Now that she's back on a permanent albeit choppy basis, we've begun to have such conversations again. It's good fun. I'm quite happy we are doing this again. Much better than staying in my own head for msot of the time.

We were reading the papers in my dad's car on the way to breakfast this morning. Our usual Sunday breakfast routine. I saw a comic strip about one of those training seminars that can turn you into a millionaire through trading or entrepreneurship and it had the word "sceptic" in it. Wondering how "sceptic" or "skeptic" should be spelt led to my trying to find the correct spelling on the net.

Me: Oh look. There's a skeptics' society.
Sis: Really? Can I join? What benefits do they offer?
Me: It'll be quite pointless for them to have any benefits right?
Sis: Why?
Me: They'll all be skeptical about it.

And on the way home from breakfast, while my dad was expounding on the advantages of having a SLR camera and the care for one.....

Dad: And you have to clean it ....
Sis: That's the troublesome thing if I'm going to get one.
Me: Don't you need a dry box (i.e. a cabinet with dehumidifier) to store your camera?
Dad: Ya. You need one. I have one.
Me: *To sis* It's a tupperware box.
Sis: ....
Dad: Ya. And I collect those little packets of silica gel from food packets to put into the box and keep it dry.

A true Singaporean family, aren't we?

Being Happy

A meaningful quote I found on the net.

"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirement of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about."

~ Charles Kingsley ~

Right. Now bring on the food, the cars and the money! I'm enthusiastic about comfort and luxury!

Honestly, although I do find the quote very true and I realise many would agree with me in its widespread acceptance, I seriously wonder how many people actually realise the real depth of its meaning.

Put it this way, as I always like to view things, how many people will actually believe in it when they are in an uncomfortable situation (i.e. no income and an uncertain future)?

How many people will realise that comfort and luxury are the by products of having an enthusiasm for something instead of seeking comfort and luxury and thus having the enthusiasm for something?

It is probably a very idealistic thought because do such things really exist? I kind of doubt that they do. At least not on this little island I live on. Perhaps in the countryside where people realise self-sustainability and stability through means other than monetary.

Still, it is a nice quote to have and believe in as we move along our daily lives.