Of kisaus

Right, about kiasuness. The fact that pretty much none of these education slaves are in our class does reduce the tension in the mood of 4sc2. But anytime in exam season, you can feel the aura of the kiasu 4sc1's seeping over to our end.Why are they this way? Even the top PMR student admitted that she doesnt watch ANY television, has ZERO computer access, and plays NO sport whatsoever. Are things really this dire, wearing ultra-thick glasses, crying and sobbing away at even one wrongly answered question, fighting for even half a mark, all in the name of reaching for that magical triple digit score?

Parents? Well, what can I say, having grown up from a background of not-so-high-achievers themselves, I wonder if parents who push their children to the breaking point were top trumps in their time.
If so, then it should be made consciously that their offspring should not be under any extreme pressure to keep the trend running in the family. Just because their parents were geniuses should not be made an excuse for their offspring to be just the same.
If not, then why is it that they do this to their children?? Pride and honour? Robbing them of a normal teen life, playing sports and going out with friends occasionally? Thats wrong!

And when you think about it, does this lifestyle guarantee them a secure, successful future? Unless you are a physchic gypsy, the answer is a straight no. So many successful people today have come onto the world stage, without ever being mentioned of grabbing top honours in school. Look at Thomas Edison, he discovered electricity and invented the lightbulb eventhough he was a school drop-out. Even my uncles and aunts were never kiasu or fighting for top spot in exams, and yet now they live such an easy, yet successful life. Likewise, have we heard of successful people who REALLY were kiasu and being #1 in class consistently?

Kiasuness, and this battle for honours will ultimately lead them nowhere. Job requirements never once stated about a minimum requirement of 5th place in the school exams or such things like so. What is important is that you really truly learn what you do in school and apply it in everyday life. If all you do is cram and stuff and squash facts and figures into your brain just to win the race, and then forget them the moment you leave school, then your "hardwork" is actually no work at all.