Life, Wealth, Success & Happiness

An inspiring talk in January this year by the late Dr Richard Teo, a successful Singaporean opthamologist-turned-cosmetic surgeon, who succumbed to Stage Four terminal lung cancer earlier this month at the age of 40. The 22-minute heart-wrenching video features his candid admission on the ceaseless pursuit of materialism and success, which in the final months of his life, meant nothing to him and gave him precious little comfort.  In his final message, he urged the classroom of dentistry students never to lose their moral compass and never to lose sight of the patients they treated. He quoted from Tuesdays with Morris - "Everyone knows they are going to die, but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently.".  Another powerful phrase, "...when we learn how to die, then we'll learn how to live." 

Watch the video here.

More than 2 years ago, when my mother was battling with breast cancer, I remember myself being very disappointed with the medical profession. I could sense that, to the oncologist, the medical consultancy was just a job, and my mother was just one of her many patients that she wanted to quickly done with, so she could see the next patient. I really feel that medical profession is not like any job, it is a calling (just like teachers).  A doctor should be compassionate, feel empathy for each patient and treat each of them like how she wants her loved ones to be treated.

AMC Annual Awards Presentation 2012

The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) Annual Awards Presentation was held at the Novotel Clarke Quay Hotel on 24 Oct, 5.30 pm.

Medal Winners (photo from the Australian Math Trust website). From left: Professor Taylor, (Junior) Wang Weiduo RI, Yang Gan RI, (Intermediate) Gao Yuan ACSI, Bernard Teo Zhi Yi HCI, Eugene Lee RI, (Senior) Jonathan Ang Yun Hao NUSH, Lim Jeck NUSH and Mr Crawford.

Prize Winners (top 0.3%) for AMC.

In the past, two guests could be invited for each winner. This year, only one is invited :( Also, the refreshment seems to be getting worse year after year. This year, the following buffet spread was served: mini drumlets, mini egg tarts, mini chocolate cakes, orange juice, coffee/tea. That's all. :(

The Real Purpose of Life

Since young, I have always been wondering what's the purpose of life, and am intrigued with why we are born. Recently, I have read this book "You Were Born For A Reason - The Real Purpose of Life" by Kentetsu Takamori, Daiji Akehashi, Kentaro Ito. I think some of the writings in this book strike a chord with me.

Below are extracted from the book:

Why do we live? What is the purpose of life? Shinran's answer is unambiguous. "The purpose of is neither to amass money and treasure, nor to win honours and status. It is to have the source of suffering eradicated and be filled with joy, rejoicing that you were born human, and live in never-ending bliss."

The purpose of life is also expressed as "enjoying the benefit of sesshu fusha (being held fast and never forsaken)," or as muge no ichido (the path of no hindrance). Delight in being alive radiates from the pages of Shinran's masterwork Teaching, Practice, Faith, Enlightenment, which beings and ends with the words, "How joyful I am!" It is a manifestation of the blazing joy of one who has attained the purpose of life.

"Why is it wrong to take another person's life?" When a child asks this question, too often adults are at a loss, unable to give a satisfying reply. For adults as for children, the greatest sadness is not to know the joy of living.

Humanity is befuddled, unsure whether life has any meaning, or why those in pain should bother to carry on. Amid this general confusion, Shinran's words ring out loud and clear: "How wonderful it is to be born a human being!" Once the essential dignity of human life is understood, people should see why organ transplantation to extend life are worthwhile, why suicide is never a good option, why every human life is infinitely precious. Then, with doubts over the meaning of human existence resolved, each one can go resolutely forward to work on whatever besetting problems there may be.

Once life's true purpose is known, all trouble and suffering acquire meaning. Live for life's true purpose, and all your efforts are sure to be rewarded.

Preliminary Examinations Results

Lim Min did well for her prelims, especially in Maths, Chemistry and Physics, where she scored in the 98th, 92nd and 87th percentiles, respectively.

Lim Min is awarded Raffles Diploma with Distinction

Brilliant Live Challenge Results: Fall 2012

http://www.brilliantscholars.com/live-challenge-results-fall-2012/

btw, Clarence is 13th, Lim Min is 17th, Choong Yin is 18th and Lim Li is 30th in the Live Challenge

The top winner is Farrell Wu from the Philippines. He has topped many regional Math competitions and is very likely to be a future Math Olympian (at IMO level).

Congratulations to everyone, especially those from Singapore - Jeck (NUSH), Way (NUSH), Wei Liang (HCI), Dylan (NYPS), Jansen (RI), Jau Tung (RI), Jaren (NUSH), Jordan (RI) and Jeremy (ex-RI).

CWMI 2012 Results

Results of the Singapore Team in the China Mathematical Olympiad Invitational 2012 held at Inner Mongolia China recently:

Gold Award:
Liu Yijia, RI Year 2
Way Tan, NUSH Year 4
Clarence Chew, NUSH Year 1

Silver Award:
Sheldon Kieren Tan, RI Year 2
David Lin, RI Year 3
Yap Jit Wu, NUSH Year 5
Teh Jiun Harn, RI Year 4
Bay Wei Heng, HCI Year 5

Congratulations to one and all!

Tea Reception for Singapore International Olympiad Teams 2012

 

Lim Jeck receiving souvenir (Fields Medalists' Lectures book) from Dean of NUS Faculty of Science, Prof Andrew Wee. He has received the same book for the last few years. We have given away the extra copies to NUS High.



Group photo of attendees

Relax ...

Lim Jeck and Mr Thomas Teo were first in the queue!

Invitation to Enrol in FoS NUS, with a good scholarship offered