I think it finally hit me. I'm in second year. My comrades are in second year. We're second year. We've survived a long, challenging, but definating not unrewarding first year, and now we must take on more. We're no longer froshes. We now have responsibilties. Roles. Positions to fill. Jobs to do. People to build up. Places to go. Things to achieve.
Sometime during our small group time at the first Frosh Cell meeting (today)...as I explain what CCF is, and speak of my own experiences from first year...
As I walked home a frosh who lived at UWP as well...
As I speak with people concerned about their future, their health, their schooling, their life, their own comrades...
Even as I write this...I've realized that I've came a long way. Not quite the naive little frosh kid that walked through the doors of SLC so many days ago. No where close to the person I envision myself to be.
As people come to me for advices...guidance...even (gasp!) role model...I wonder...am I ready? am I correct? am I sure? am I who I need to be at this particular moment? am I focused, once again?
"Praying hard" -Noel Tsang
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
NSR speech
Kind of want to write something, but it'd take a while to gather enough thoughts to put something up for mentorship, so that'll come a little later. Don't really want to cheap out and post random lyrics either, so I guess I'll just put this up.
---
New Student Reception: Speech (Sept 11, 2006)
What is fellowship? The early fellowship was simple. Acts 2 states that "every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts...[breaking] bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people." It was basically a group of Christians that eat, praised and helped each other out. 2000 years later, the world is a bit different than what it used to be, but the very concept of fellowship is very much still the same.
I started applying to the University of Waterloo back in January of 2004. Didn't really try that hard, since I didn't really think it'd be worth it to go to the other side of the country. Kind of did it to please my parents. You know how it is. Being typical Calgarian, my first choice was the University of Alberta. Just far away that my parents can't nag, but close enough to return home when I wanted to. One sunny afternoon in the middle of March, I got a random postcard from UW's Engineering, telling me I could continue my application. A week before the official deadline.
By the time I had gathered everything I needed for the application, it was already 5 weeks late. My marks was a good 5% below the acceptance standard. My Chemistry teacher, who wrote my reference letter, knew I was slacking off in her class and could've easily given me a bad reference. My AIF was only half completed. A few miscommunication emails flew between me and the First Year Office. And yet, through all that...I've just finished my first day of lectures, in 2A Electrical Engineering.
For some reason, I was called out to this university, 1500 miles from home. Before leaving, I asked all the university students I knew the typical questions. How is engineering? What's university like? What about co-op? Is resident food really that bad? I got really mixed answers. Some people tell me they're having the time of their life. Others tell me it's not cool. They all agree res food really is that bad. By the way, don't eat the Chinese food at V1. You'll thank me later.
Fellowship, like school, is really what you make of it. If you put the time and effort in it, you'll be able to walk away from this school with a little more than you came in with. A graduate from last year once said "[Fellowship] needs you to ask, to seek, to knock, for it to have any meaning in your life." And I've found that to be very true.
What you do with the next four, five years here at Waterloo is really up to you. You could run for your society government. You could participate in the juggling club. You could join the engineering teams and help build things like the Midnight Sun solar car. You could be Edcom. You could knock on the doors of any of the six fellowships that are represented here today.
Each of the upperyears standing in this room were all once a frosh. We've all been homesick, or got nailed with a few bad midterms. We've all had long nights, and I'm pretty sure we've all gained weight from Frosh 15, even if we're too proud to admit it. Each of us has a story to tell. My hope is that next year, it would be one of you standing up here, delivering this speech to the new incoming class. We're all here for a reason. I might not know what that reason is. You might not. I'm pretty sure most, if not all, of the upperyears in this room are as clueless as you are! But He knows. And that's what counts.
There will be hard crunch times sometimes, but you know, that's university. We're all in this together. And all you need to do is to ask. To seek. To knock. Welcome to the University of Waterloo.
---
New Student Reception: Speech (Sept 11, 2006)
What is fellowship? The early fellowship was simple. Acts 2 states that "every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts...[breaking] bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people." It was basically a group of Christians that eat, praised and helped each other out. 2000 years later, the world is a bit different than what it used to be, but the very concept of fellowship is very much still the same.
I started applying to the University of Waterloo back in January of 2004. Didn't really try that hard, since I didn't really think it'd be worth it to go to the other side of the country. Kind of did it to please my parents. You know how it is. Being typical Calgarian, my first choice was the University of Alberta. Just far away that my parents can't nag, but close enough to return home when I wanted to. One sunny afternoon in the middle of March, I got a random postcard from UW's Engineering, telling me I could continue my application. A week before the official deadline.
By the time I had gathered everything I needed for the application, it was already 5 weeks late. My marks was a good 5% below the acceptance standard. My Chemistry teacher, who wrote my reference letter, knew I was slacking off in her class and could've easily given me a bad reference. My AIF was only half completed. A few miscommunication emails flew between me and the First Year Office. And yet, through all that...I've just finished my first day of lectures, in 2A Electrical Engineering.
For some reason, I was called out to this university, 1500 miles from home. Before leaving, I asked all the university students I knew the typical questions. How is engineering? What's university like? What about co-op? Is resident food really that bad? I got really mixed answers. Some people tell me they're having the time of their life. Others tell me it's not cool. They all agree res food really is that bad. By the way, don't eat the Chinese food at V1. You'll thank me later.
Fellowship, like school, is really what you make of it. If you put the time and effort in it, you'll be able to walk away from this school with a little more than you came in with. A graduate from last year once said "[Fellowship] needs you to ask, to seek, to knock, for it to have any meaning in your life." And I've found that to be very true.
What you do with the next four, five years here at Waterloo is really up to you. You could run for your society government. You could participate in the juggling club. You could join the engineering teams and help build things like the Midnight Sun solar car. You could be Edcom. You could knock on the doors of any of the six fellowships that are represented here today.
Each of the upperyears standing in this room were all once a frosh. We've all been homesick, or got nailed with a few bad midterms. We've all had long nights, and I'm pretty sure we've all gained weight from Frosh 15, even if we're too proud to admit it. Each of us has a story to tell. My hope is that next year, it would be one of you standing up here, delivering this speech to the new incoming class. We're all here for a reason. I might not know what that reason is. You might not. I'm pretty sure most, if not all, of the upperyears in this room are as clueless as you are! But He knows. And that's what counts.
There will be hard crunch times sometimes, but you know, that's university. We're all in this together. And all you need to do is to ask. To seek. To knock. Welcome to the University of Waterloo.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
NSR
What is NSR? New Student Reception. Got a whole bunch of fellowships together, spewed a bit to some kids. Utter choas at some point. But it was alright at the end. It was alright.
So why did I do it? Why was I crazy enough to take on such a role after denying it before? Maybe a few reasons. Maybe I want to watch over the froshes. Maybe I wanted to gain some leadership skills. Maybe I just like to yell at people and watch things happen, like a manager. Maybe I'm subjected to trial by fire, having to speak before 90+ people...
I don't know. NSR just happened. Just like how Frosh Cell will happen. Just like how Lifesong will happen. I've liken myself to a Knight piece on a chess board. The odd piece that moves around funny. But decent when the enemy is unaware. Decent when I know what I'm doing. You gotta be smart to own with the knight. I used to think I was a guy that made things happen. Not really? I'm just a knight that the Player uses to make things happen.
A little tired, but got a reminder call the other day from someone unexpected. 12 minute long distance, but it was a good reminder nevertheless. And for that I just gotta fight a little harder.
Oh. The froshes are here. Alright...lets get to work. Good luck y'all.
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." - Ecclesiastes 9:10
So why did I do it? Why was I crazy enough to take on such a role after denying it before? Maybe a few reasons. Maybe I want to watch over the froshes. Maybe I wanted to gain some leadership skills. Maybe I just like to yell at people and watch things happen, like a manager. Maybe I'm subjected to trial by fire, having to speak before 90+ people...
I don't know. NSR just happened. Just like how Frosh Cell will happen. Just like how Lifesong will happen. I've liken myself to a Knight piece on a chess board. The odd piece that moves around funny. But decent when the enemy is unaware. Decent when I know what I'm doing. You gotta be smart to own with the knight. I used to think I was a guy that made things happen. Not really? I'm just a knight that the Player uses to make things happen.
A little tired, but got a reminder call the other day from someone unexpected. 12 minute long distance, but it was a good reminder nevertheless. And for that I just gotta fight a little harder.
Oh. The froshes are here. Alright...lets get to work. Good luck y'all.
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." - Ecclesiastes 9:10
Frosh Week
Thought it'd be kind of cool to document random events over the course of Frosh week...extremely random, I know. lol. More serious material will come some other day.
Name: Clockwork (Smurf)
Team: Light blue (more like baby blue...)
HQ Location: RCH 306
Rank: Big
Events.Interesting
- Creating a 8ft paper-machie (yes I can't spell. Meh) smurf
- Paper-machining my shoe laces to the bottom of my shoe
- "When you see a fire, do not run. It instills panic. You have to walk away quickly." *proceeds to 'Waterloo March' across RCH101 - Murph (Rank: Super huge)
- "Rule one: Impress Edcom. Rule two: Impress Edcom. Rule three: Honour the TOOL" - Jay (Rank: Headcom) Oh...Rule 3 isn't impress Edcom?
- Dumperster diving for cardboard at V1...it wasn't that bad. Froshes tend to leave alot of cardboard around. Didn't actually have to go into a dumpster full of garbage.
- Ah. They don't magically appear. There was black cloth materials hiding the TOOL!
- Explaining to kids why they can't use the most convient door to the SLC on "Joint Event"...150 times
- The fire alarm at the "Joint Event"
- Doing securities at Toga, and trying to guess which toliet stall is smoking weed
- Listening to random Edcom radio chatter at the Washroom location
- Listening to the "Wash your hands" cheer at Toga...yeah...that was some cheer there...they must've been some enggs...probably scared a few froshes
Name: Clockwork (Smurf)
Team: Light blue (more like baby blue...)
HQ Location: RCH 306
Rank: Big
Events.Interesting
- Creating a 8ft paper-machie (yes I can't spell. Meh) smurf
- Paper-machining my shoe laces to the bottom of my shoe
- "When you see a fire, do not run. It instills panic. You have to walk away quickly." *proceeds to 'Waterloo March' across RCH101 - Murph (Rank: Super huge)
- "Rule one: Impress Edcom. Rule two: Impress Edcom. Rule three: Honour the TOOL" - Jay (Rank: Headcom) Oh...Rule 3 isn't impress Edcom?
- Dumperster diving for cardboard at V1...it wasn't that bad. Froshes tend to leave alot of cardboard around. Didn't actually have to go into a dumpster full of garbage.
- Ah. They don't magically appear. There was black cloth materials hiding the TOOL!
- Explaining to kids why they can't use the most convient door to the SLC on "Joint Event"...150 times
- The fire alarm at the "Joint Event"
- Doing securities at Toga, and trying to guess which toliet stall is smoking weed
- Listening to random Edcom radio chatter at the Washroom location
- Listening to the "Wash your hands" cheer at Toga...yeah...that was some cheer there...they must've been some enggs...probably scared a few froshes
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Relationship - Like vs Love
"More today than yesterday. More tomorrow than today." Heard this twice over the last little bit...first time was this 722 sermon (good stuff btw. Love and Marriage. A friend sent it to me. Give me a shout if you're interested), the second was this random song I heard on the radio. No idea what it was, but yeah...
Whatever assumptions and ideas I had about "liking" and "loving" I'll clear right now by redefining those two words.
Like: "to feel attraction toward or take pleasure in", "to wish to have" (Webster's Dictionary Online)
Emotionally driven. This is that feeling you can't explain. This is why I eat chocolate or listen to rock music. This is why I read manga or play video games. This is why I prefer hanging out with certain people than others. Because it feels good. Because, for some reason, when I'm reading manga with music in the background, it feels good. Now, I understand that this term (in relations to people anyway) can be further broken down into two subcategories (ie, liking someone friend-wise, or liking someone relationship-wise) but I'll be focused on the relationship stuff today.
So liking someone. It feels good to hang out with them. To talk to them, to walk with them, etcetcetc. It is possible to like based on very little. Likewise, it can take little to stop liking someone.
Love: "affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests", "warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion", "unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another" (Webster's Dictionary Online)
Emotionally and knowledge driven. Might I suggest that our society uses this word all too lightly? I like chocolate, but to develop a warm attachment or devotion to it? I don't think so. Might I further suggest that we do not develop such feelings towards something unknown? Lets pull this verse from the Bible...
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." - 1 Corinthians 13.4-7
I'm still forming the argument, but this is what I am suggesting: It is impossible to "fall in love at first sight." Love involves trust (developed by communication), not self-seeking (there is no way "first sight" will tell you enough about the person for you to be able to share in his/her goals)
Many people operate on that "first sight" thing, and assume that their feeling is one of love. There really isn't much for them to compare against, cuz if that's all they operate on, that feeling is the most extreme they'll ever feel. If we relabeled this scale...and say its possible to "like on first sight"...and that love is only developed (by patience. by kindness. by truth)...maybe we wouldn't be in such a mess we are in today.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Click
Just finished watching the movie. It's interesting. Reminds me of that other movie...Family Guy? Family Man? Nicholas Cage. Though Click is more comedy based. I dunno. Movies like this always makes me think. We don't have a second chance to do things. We don't have the ability to live an alternative life, and see what we're missing...
I suppose. Movies like this. Life really is about the people. I suppose I should try harder. This term really has gone by too fast. And I don't even have a fast forward button. A few more random reflections...
- Talking to a friend back at home. On more then one occasion she had to beat some sense into me. In some ways, she held onto ideals I thought I held onto very strongly, yet she showed me very clearly that all I did was drop it cuz it was the easiest thing to do. And that's not how to do things. Gift from God...I'm not. But friendship is. Loyalty. I'm sure I'll need this reminder over and over again...will have to count on you for that one. Haa...Thanks...
- Encouraging a frosh coming from Churchill. Email another who I haven't talked to for a good five years. It's amazing on how they've grown. Heading straight first into environments they've never been to...seen before...ready to take it all on without any support or knowing anyone. I was able to help one...but the other, I'll just have to pray for...
- Leading a group in VBS and working with kids...and people who feel like kids. Haa... never really thought I might miss some of them. A few terms ago, I definitely wouldn't have given Sunday School another thought...but then, a few terms ago, I wasn't really walking either... something about their energy and drive. Can't lose that. Can't ever lose that. It's just like focus... you lose what you should be focused on, it's GG... and the most you can do is hope that someone else will walk with you and bring you back. And VBS did that.
- Facing the "Panel of men" after getting my man status revoked. It was funny yes. I rather they not have put me on the spot like for mis-identifying beef...it wouldn't even have been that bad, but then I DO come from Calgary...fun...no, I refuse to eat beef for a term...
And tomorrow is the last day of work. This time tomorrow, I'll be sitting in my UWP room, planning for NSR again. Emailing people. Getting in my last hellos before school locks me back into the system. And so it goes. I'm not even gone yet and already I miss work term. Just a little bit.
Find myself thinking of a few people right now. A small family in 1987. A few aunties in 1990. The family in 1991. A handful of kids in 1994. Another handful in 1996. Yet another handful in 1998. The grads of Sr.Rock in 2002. Churchill's IB class of 2005. The Engineering grads of 2006. VBS crew of 2006. And so forth.
Lets go.
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