Meritocracy

Michael Young wrote a book published in 1958 called The Rise of Meritocracy. It was he who coined this word, and we can say that he is the first person to present Meritocracy in a bad light. His book is set in the future, whereby a person’s social standing and privileges were based on one’s Intelligence Quotient and ‘effort’ (off-topic: we feel an uncanny sense of déjà vu when we think of the movie Gattaca(1997), where everything is the same except your IQ and ability is tested from your blood before you could walk). The basic plot is that the masses, in the end, overthrow the elite who had become arrogant and conceited.

Despite the ugly roots of meritocracy, many think of it as a good thing for society. Proponents of this system declared it more just and more productive than other systems of government. The opposition, however, view it as a very fine line between fairness and discrimination, a line that has been crossed many a time by the societies that embrace this philosophy. The ghost of Michael Young has crept back into many of our minds; the elite see themselves as way above the ‘norm’ and the less intelligent victims are living in poor conditions and are labeled as ‘hopeless’.

Meritocracy is an easy enough theory to understand. It is a system of government based on demonstrated ability and talent rather than by wealth, nepotism, class privilege and cronyism, which is a bias of close friends. But do we really know what it stands for? Yes, compared to the way we used to divide people, meritocracy is a relief. Leaders of the land are no longer chosen based on their parents or connections. Governments are elected by a close cousin of meritocracy: democracy. Measures are taken to ensure that the right leader is chosen. Doesn’t meritocracy, who claims, ‘equal pay for equal work’ sound fair enough? In fact, paying us what our work is worth is a paradigm of fairness. But as Normal Daniels beautifully described, “Proponents of meritocracy have been so concerned with combating the lesser evil of non-meritocratic job placement that they have left unchallenged the greater evil of highly inegalitarian reward schedules. One suspects that an elitist infatuation for such reward schedules lurks behind their ardor for meritocratic job placement.”

Let us now take a look at meritocracy in Singapore. The Singaporean interpretation places an overwhelming emphasis on academic credentials as ovjective measures of merit. Meritocracy here is so ‘pure’ to the extent that in some ways we are an elitist state. Elitism, on the other hand, is, in the context of education, the practice of concentrating attention on students who rank highest in a particular field, the other students being deemed less worthy of attention.

This is evident all throughout the years of education the child receives. When he reaches nine, he has to go through the Gifted Education Programme examination. ‘Gifted’ students, the top 1% in Singapore, will be separated from the other students to be ‘nurtured to their fullest potential for the fulfillment of self and the betterment of society’. To skip a few, in Secondary 3, he will have to be yet again filtered out from the students in his level. Depending on the school he is in, his choices will be Triple Science, Double Science, and so on. These are just to name a few.

We see these people, impressionable children and teenagers, climbing up the educational ladder. In a world such as Singapore, those who get better results and are therefore in better schools and streams tend to look down on those who are less academically inclined. We do not blame them. After all, they are just doing what society has allowed them to do, what we have always been silently encouraging. ‘Go on, they are nothing. They are the worst kind of trash. Anyway, you are helping him by making him realize what a trash he is.’ Yes, subconsciously, even the nicest people are influenced. The things that run across an elite’s mind when EM3 is mentioned are probably along the lines of: ‘stupid’, ‘unintelligent’, ‘slow’ and ‘retarded’. Will this help our society? Yes, it may strive people to work harder, but ultimately there is a very big and ominous gap between those who are ‘elite’ and those who are ‘normal’, even when their education cycles are over. This gap is a divide, a divide across the society that cannot be there.

A certain daughter of a certain minister is a classic example of an elite. She is a Raffles Junior College student, her English is fantastic and she was a GEP student. She went online and saw a ‘non-elitist’ post something about Singapore that riled her up (it had nothing to do with her personally). So she went on her own website and wrote a very long entry on this man. We can imagine what the content is like and it is summarized in one sentence: “You are stupid so don’t go around irritating clever people like me with your incoherent posts. Can you actually spell?” (when she herself did not capitalize her ‘I’s and the letter after a full stop)

It didn’t matter that he was a forty-year old man, more than twice her age in years and in experience. It didn’t matter that he was perfectly coherent in his writing, it took only one sentence in his journal for her to deem him as an idiot: the one that described his education level.

Here we can see this conundrum going on. Now, Singaporean youngsters who have good results are attacking people their senior and thinking they are better than them! Where is the respect? Where is the humility? All down the drain from the attention they get for being ‘smart’.

This is another kind of discrimination, one boundary that we are crossing everyday and we don’t even know it.

When Martin Luther King said, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” he was dreaming of a world where his children could count on equal treatment, NOT equal shares of work and rewards. He was dreaming of the kind of equality that is not evident today.

Theatre

Since joining the English Drama Club in Sec 1, I have always known that I had a liking, even a passion, for acting. When I was young, I read aloud to Enid Blyton, encyclopedias, comic books and the like. Even though I was not outspoken in Primary School, nor was I in Speech and Drama, privately, a genuine interest for immersing myself into a different character was inside me.

Being in the real thing taught me many things. I was fortunate enough to have good roles since Sec 1, and I was taught the foundations of acting, of imitating someone. I was a young sprout, eagerly absorbing my surroundings like a sponge. My inner Dramamama was born, this time for real.

SYF came and went in my second year of Secondary School. We clinched a silver. I was quite upset, but I had LOADS of fun doing a bitchy role and also my main concerns were Drama Day. Not alot of effort and characterization was needed for the role of a bitch. You just went, "Oh darling, shut up." and things like that. Nothing special.

I learnt most in my third year, when our school was chosen to participate in a huge production in Jubilee Hall. To us, it was like a dream. 'Fun' cannot begin to describe my experience, it was mind-shattering, it was bloody fantastic. We learnt so much under Act 3, we knew the secrets and the wonders of regular stage acting, of working together officially as a production. I met wonderful people my age from all walks of life, I learnt how to work impromptu even mid-way through the show, how to think on my feet like a real actor on stage. That was the beauty of stage. There was no turning back, no rewinding and no retrying. Once you are on stage, you are in your role. You cannot do anything, anything at all to make the audience think otherwise. Forgot your lines? Make up your own. Missing a prop? Erase it from all dialogue accordingly. Missed your cue? BLEND. Be natural.

Some of us got this experience as well, and we were confident after that. We felt that SYF wasn't going to be a big deal. We got our favorite instructor back. Life couldn't get better.

I just received news that we got a Bronze award. At first I was in shock. I am in shock, still. But we honestly did not expect this. The Alumni was singing their praises. Our instructor was rather satisfied. We were on a high. Judges were nodding.

Well, maybe they were nodding OFF, because we got the second last award any PA CCA can get.

THE THING IS, NONE OF THIS IS IMPORTANT!

I was absolutely convinced, absolutely sure that we were at the Silver standard. With a little bit of luck, we might even get a gold. I could predict my reaction when I was told the results. "We got a silver." "Oh, brilliant. Great!" But inside, I would have expected it, and I would actually start to question why we didn't get gold. The insatiable appetite of a human being, a fatal instinct.

Someone up there decided to give me a slap on the face, and I welcome it. Good. Shake me up a little, will you? Bronze. If I had gotten anything above that, I would have lost the true bloody meaning of all of this.

We play, we act, we perform for the audience and the audience ALONE. Nothing else. Theatre is not rateable. No matter what we act out, whether is it a devised piece or Hamlet, the audience must come out satisfied, shaken. I might have learnt basics, how to have fun, or stage techniques in the past years, but now I learn something new. The most important thing of all.

Purpose.

What is our purpose? In every move of an actor, there is a purpose. Why move from stage left to center stage? Why say those lines? Why make that expression? It all boils down to purpose. And don't forget the ultimate question: "What is the purpose of acting?"

Certainly not to attain a medal like a sports game. Oh, if I had gotten gold I would not have said this. I would have said, Nice one, SYF! Let's aim for Gold with honors next, shall we?

THE HORROR! Thank goodness we got a bronze,

I don't know if 'effing' is considered a vulgarity after some self reflection, anyone?

anyway, wow. Im so impressed by my angstiness.

anyway no. 2, Just wanted to say that my style of writing in that post was weird. i received some feedback that you all thought that i was saying i was angry that i got vice pres instead of pres. but actually, that's what my father's first question said.

Ok? And thanks for the encouragement, i feel much better after venting. I'll make the post private soon.

Wow. its been a long time.

I have no idea what to write, because im not overwrought with emotions like my last post. However, much has happened, so I shall elaborate.

Im in SYF next year, and Im probably going to play the role of a wife who finds out that her husband has been playing with stocks and shares--and lost. I therefore have to abort the baby the womb lender is carrying because I cannot bear to let a child into this world when our financial situation SUCKS. Nina says she wants me to portray the complexities of this character, but I am dubious.

Im going to USA next monday, wish me luck! If you guys want anything, leave it on my tag board. And im also going Taiwan after two weeks of USA, likewise if you desire any chinese objects do tell.

Im also in deep shit because I havent done much out of 18 chinese essays. Dear gosh.

Reflections

Last night, my sister left. For America, to study her masters and fulfill her dreams to become an interior designer.

In my family, we constantly have to cope with saying goodbye and leaving. This is just one example. I still remember that time, around five years ago, the same sister Nienming had to go to Japan for some internship, lasting 7 months. Before she left, it felt like seven years. Now it is nothing. While Nienming was gone, I still had my sister Nienhaw, Nienming's twin. But I regretfully did not cherish my time with her and we argued alot without Nienming being the peacemaker. There were childish times when we refused to talk to each other, haha. Now I half smile and half cry just thinking about it.

Just three years later Nienhaw went to Japan as well, leaving Nienming and I behind. And then she met Andreas, and later Long long. They got married and are now staying in Japan. We are forbidden to see her because of my dad's temper. But recently she gave birth and Nienming was allowed to see her. That was a breakthrough for us. Sometimes she would come and visit, but it is so different now.

My last few hours with Ming before she left for the airport was extremely unpleasant. She scolded me and said, "This is the last time I can tell you how to grow up." I was sick with a fever, so I couldn't go to the airport to see her off, just to get extra time with her. Instead we said goodbye at home. She gripped my shoulders and told me to be strong, to not be depressed so easily. I could only trust myself to nod, as tears were threatening to spill out of my eyes. She hugged me fiercely and said, "I have so many things to tell you...but its okay if I don't. I'll leave all the growing up to you. I don't know why I'm so harsh to you all the time, I really don't. But I love you very very much, okay?" It was no use. I was already crying. She kissed me on the cheek and I could tell she was also on the verge of tears. What I felt most that night was regret. Why didn't I spend more time with her? It was the same regret that I felt when Haw left.

I could still remember clearly the times when we were all in our room, dancing and singing. We played 'guess the song', our favourite cds were Josh Groban and The Enchanted Garden.

When I myself leave for USA, what would happen to everything? I am afraid.

Thank you.

I have many, many people to thank. Not in order of importance:>

Annabelle: Thank you for being so supportive of me and helping me give out sweets haha... You were a great encouragement and I hope we can work well together as council!!

Aurial: I have endless things to say, but I'll start from beginning. Thank you for being my best friend, my confidante and my helper. I can't put this in words...

3B: Gayle(Naturale), Maggie, Meli, Baboon, Wenbutt, Johnny Kong, Shen, ELrep Jacyntha, Germaine, Shumin, Shawn(yomama), Zhanyi Laodou, Linyu, Jieting, Jingyi, Sexy becky, Yaya, Mana, Wendy, Candy, and if I miss out anyone its not on purpose, but thank you all people for putting up with my idiocy and supporting me anyway. I know I started off rough with you guys, but now I think we are the best class and you people make my sec 3 life happy! I hope we will always continue this friendship!

Minmin: I'm really glad I got to know you better this year, because we make a great team, aurial included! Now that we have nothing to worry about, lets party party PARTY!! Your support seriously touched me as I didn't expect you to be so enthu as we only really talked this year!!

Gwen: lol thanks to min min you publisized me in your blog! haha.

Si han: thank you!! I think that no matter what people say, I still regard you as someone whom I can trust dao di... so lets jia you together okay??

EDC: Zhixin and pearly!! YOU guys rock!! Lets go out together after exams okay? Once again its so nice to have you girls so cool and supportive..

Ben: Haha cool guy. Thank you very much for being my good ed senior for three whole years... I think you are a great person, and keep smiling, okay? Because your teeth are so irritatingly straight now.

Tabby, Yiling, Grace, Joween, Yee wei: haha the 3C girls... I really appreciate your flyer... and once a 2Cian forever a 2Cian!!

Noah: For giving us sound advice and support... You are like a rock! And also, it was really nice actually for you to be so worried over us... thank you once again... welfare is the BEST!

Nicole, Hari: Oh cutie pies! ED senior galore! Nicole, thanks for being so sad-looking haha its really comforting but thanks to people like you I am not sad... Hari thanks for just being(or acting) cute! ;)

Sok Shin, Chin Meng: Haha you know... for being role models hehe. No seriously, I got to know you both better and I am grateful for that. I think the dai gou between us finally reached a closing point! I will, now, sincerely miss you guys as dear friends..

Eugenia: FOR CRAPPING WITH ME!

Shuyi: Look above. >.<

Johannes: For that touching card, and for your loud publicity!! You are like a thousand flyers..

Minhui: In the end I never got to use your poster but the mere fact that you drew it really touched me... You were the first one to do something so nice, and thank you thank you for your support! Lets jia you together kayzz!!

Other people who also helped in little ways, but made a huge difference:

Clarice
Shiya
Xuan hao
Yongsheng
Kristy
Faustina
Weiyang
Guoxiang
Aloysius
Jiayi
Elisa
Soo Hwee
Yuelong
Leonard
Victor
Gin Leng
Sheryl Mun
Sheryl Hong
Venecia
Felica
Jiong Rui
Ji Zhen
Jia Jie
Andrew
Reuben
Binghao

And the list goes on...

Not the last and not the least,

Junle: For being unselfish and a great partner.
Liting: For being so cheerful and funny.
Crystal: For sharing my burdens.
Edison: For being a great friend.

To all of you, I never once thought of you guys as enemies. Not once. And never now. The times we shared are incomprehensible and I can't write them out, I just cant! What we all had to go through, I can't imagine having anybody else as better fellow candidates. I think we were the best. I love all of you, and congrats to junle, you deserve it!

Love,
nienyuan

First and foremost, I want to give apologies to those dear people who have given me links but I'm too lazy to put up. Seriously, I should be hanged.

Then, I shall blog, something I have never done in a long time..(no lah... actually not that long just that pple want to see me mah..)

Sighh..... I'm very stressed. Isn't that what we all say? We mourn about the amount of things in our tight schedules and lament on the 'so much to do, so little time' phrase. It is true. There are many things to do in life, just how you do it. I am a very process person, and the ultimate satisfaction of having done something, all this while, is the best ever.

I just put up my banner today. THANK YOU AURIAL AND MINMIN!!! Without your help, I simply cannot paint such a beautiful picture. I know many times I am a lousy friend, I mean, you all are taking time off just to paint something that you won't even get credit for. And that is really something friends are for. I was lousy in a sense that I didn't really do my job really being enthusiastic about the work, mainly because I felt inadequate and incompetent. But I am really amazed at both your works... I hope that I should overcome my own shortcomings and finally be able to really enjoy life on par with you guys... right now I'm still too cynical and flawed. I hope to become closer. Once again, I LOVE YOU MINMIN AND AURIAL!!!!

Seriously, the banner is fantastic. I really can't claim ANY credit for it at all. So for those who are reading, I just want you to know that I didn't do anything, almost. My friends were the ones, and I am touched by their sincerity. The banner's quality hit the roof.

I am presenting the speech tomorrow. I think my speech is too long and by the time Dr boon stops talking I'll have half the time the say the full thing. :(

I AM SO SCARED!