An Anonymous "Thank You" Letter

Over the years, I have received many thank you notes from my students. As I was clearing my room today, I stumbled across some of them. I was greatly encouraged as I read through the old letters and emails from appreciative students. They reminded me that my work matters. Teachers have the wonderful privilege of planting seeds in young hearts and minds. 

Below is an interesting letter I received from an anonymous student. It was a timely note as I stepped up to be Vice-Dean (Academic) of the school.

Dear Professor,

I do not know you and you do not know me. But I had heard many stories of how you tried so hard to fight for us Real Estate students. More often than not, your efforts tend to go unappreciated. So here I am expressing my gratitude for all your relentless efforts in building a strong real estate brand name in the industry and garnering more prestigious internship roles and job opportunities for all of us. I will be sure to support DRE when I make it big in future. I can literally feel your passion for DRE. Please keep your spirits and I'm sure more people will be able to feel your passion and join you in building up the brand name of RE. =)

Anonymous

June 2016

Advice to a Fresh Graduate

To RE2013: Here's wishing you the very best for your future as you embark on a new chapter of your life.

 

photo: Big Island, Hawaii (April 2013)

 

Allow me to share a passage extracted from a book I am currently reading: A father tells his son, a recent college graduate, how he should approach the first day of his job with a proper attitude: "Don't try to show them what you know. Instead, show them how much you want to learn."

None of us can accomplish our dreams without the help of others. An arrogant person does not ask for help and thus is helpless. An arrogant person claims to know everything and thus is clueless. A humble person attracts helpers and teachers.

Humility also fosters gratitude and appreciation, which are forces for healing and happiness.

source: Nick Vujicic (2012) Unstoppable

Who is a Teacher?

Received this email from the school's management. At a graduation ceremony, a school Principal shared this story:

He said, "Doctor wants his child to become a doctor... Engineer wants his child to become an engineer... Businessman wants his child to become a CEO... BUT a teacher also wants his child to become one of them? Nobody wants to become a teacher by choice.... Very sad but that's the truth!

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Teacher Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 min. without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental. You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)

I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them how to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.

I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator. I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life

( Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ALL YOUR LIVES,EDUCATING KIDS AND PREPARING THEM TO BECOME CEO's, AND DOCTORS AND ENGINEERS..........

What do you make Mr. CEO?

His jaw dropped; he went silent.

Kung Fu Panda: Lesson 4

4.      The secret to unlimited power is to “believe”.
 

In the movie, the hero and the villain fought over the Dragon Scroll, which contained the secret to unlimited power. However, when the scroll was eventually unveiled, it turned out to be an anticlimax because the scroll was blank. Po later discovered that the secret of the scroll is simply to “believe”.

In another scene, Shifu had an exchange of words with Grand Master Oogway on Po’s potential. Shifu was dismissive of Po, saying, “The panda? He is no dragon warrior!” However, Grand Master Oogway, in his wisdom, foretold that, “maybe he can, if you are willing to guide him, to nurture him, to believe in him!”    

As a teacher, I believe in the value of education. I also believe in what I teach. Most importantly, I believe in my students who are really the hope and future of the real estate profession. I honestly believe that the best buildings have yet to be built, and the most innovative real estate deals have yet to be structured, because the people behind those buildings and deals are in my classroom today.

Source: "Four Lessons from Kung Fu Panda", OEA Public Lecture Series 2012.

Kung Fu Panda: Lesson 3

3.      We may not be born with teaching skills, but we can acquire them through perseverance.

A quick question—are kung fu masters born or made? In the movie, the villain Tai Lung was a natural kung fu fighter. Everyone said, “He is a prodigy!” He mastered every kung fu move very quickly. However, despite his superb skills, Tai Lung’s pride eventually turned him into a monster. Po, on the hand, was fat and clumsy. Although unskilled at first, he eventually mastered the art of kung fu because he persevered and refused to give up.

Similarly, are excellent teachers born or made?

Some are naturally gifted. They have intelligence, good looks, charisma, verbal fluency, a pleasant voice, and a good memory! In my case, it was the exact opposite—for one thing, I am not a naturally fluent speaker. Language and grammar are not my best subjects. Inhibited by a lack of confidence and self-consciousness, I used to suffer from stage fright.

However, I was determined to take every opportunity to learn and improve my teaching skills—both informally, from colleagues and formally, from attending courses organised by CDTL. I recorded my lectures, reviewed them over and over again, and solicited feedback. I read books on public speaking, making good presentations, and general teaching. I also made an effort to master the subject knowledge; I learnt to tell stories and to develop my own style of teaching.

Source: "Four Lessons from Kung Fu Panda", OEA Public Lecture Series 2012.

Kung Fu Panda: Lesson 2

2.      The first step to our dream is to wake up.

We all have to start somewhere; to paraphrase the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step”. In the world of dreams and fantasies, we can do anything—from beating the most powerful foe with one little finger, to executing the most difficult stunt. However, in the real world, nothing worthwhile is easily obtained.

In the movie, Po’s initial reception by the Furious Five and their master, Shifu, was anything but warm. He was ridiculed and poked fun at. In one scene, Tigress, his idol, told him straight in the face, “Look, you don’t belong here! You are a disgrace to kung fu!” In another scene, Shifu derided Po: “Look at you! This fat butt, flabby arms, and this ridiculous belly, and utter disregard for personal hygiene… Don’t stand too close, I can smell your breath!”

When I first started teaching, I also encountered critical comments from students (despite my good intentions and best efforts). Some of these comments included:

·  “he lacks confidence… should be more at ease”,

·  “need to improve on his presentation style... always reading straight from the slide. Not very clear during [the] lecture”,

·  “his lectures are not well organized. Notes are often out of order” 

·  “content [is] too dry and technical”.

Two negative responses to such criticisms would be denial and self-pity. Denial would involve rejecting negative feedback by rationalising that students do not know how to identify “good” and “bad” teaching; that their view of a good teacher is based primarily on popularity and showmanship rather than substance. Self-pity, on the other hand, would involve allowing the negative feedback to eat into one’s confidence and emotion, which could lead to depression and making excuses about one’s teaching skills. In the movie, a dejected Po cried,

“I suck! They totally hate me! How is Shifu ever going to turn me into the Dragon Warrior? I mean, I’m not like the Five. I’ve got no claws, no wings, no venom, even the mantis has this… Maybe I should just quit!” 

In short, critical words can break the confidence of a young apprentice. I am glad that Po did not quit despite such setbacks. If he had, his story would have ended there and then, and there would have been no “Kung Fu Panda”. I wonder how many stories have remained untold and dreams unfulfilled because someone said, “I quit!”

Source: "Four Lessons from Kung Fu Panda", OEA Public Lecture Series 2012.  

Kung Fu Panda: Lesson 1

1.      Every great thing starts with a dream.

 

The movie starts with a dramatic scene of Po fighting alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five (Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey) to defeat an army of villains. Alas, it was only a dream, a crazy dream it seems!

 

Like Po, many of us can recall having childhood dreams. However, at some point in time, many cast aside these childhood dreams. What happened? Maybe as they grew up into adulthood, they learnt that dreams and fantasies were for children and would have no place in the adult world. Maybe, they learnt from bitter experience that dreams and disappointments were correlated. The bigger the dream, the greater the disappointment! As such, in order to insulate themselves from being hurt, they stopped dreaming.

However, dreams are important. To be honest, my pursuit of teaching excellence involved pursuing a series of dreams, starting from scaling small hills to eventually aiming for the peak—the Mount Everest of the OEA! In the words of the great American industrialist Henry J. Kaiser,

“I always have to dream up there against the stars. If I don’t dream I’ll make it, I won’t even get close. So, dream a great dream, a lofty dream, an impossible dream!”

 

 

Source: "Four Lessons from Kung Fu Panda", OEA Public Lecture Series 2012.

Outstanding Educator Award 2012

The University Awards 2012 was held on May 4, 2012 to honour nine exceptional individuals for their excellence in education, research and service to the University, to Singapore and the global community. In his address for the University Awards 2012, NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan highlighted that, “excellence results from the individual’s deep desire to be exceptional and constantly do better. Yet it can be multidimensional, touching the life of others and having an impact on society in many different ways.”

Photo: Receiving the OEA award from NUS President

The Outstanding Educator Award (OEA) is given annually to honour faculty members in NUS who have shown outstanding performance, dedication and commitment to teaching. The citation read by Professor Tan Eng Chye, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost of NUS is as follows: 

 

“Associate Professor Joseph Ooi is a highly skilled and versatile teacher. He excels at lecturing and tutoring a broad range of subjects and is equally adept at teaching undergraduates, graduates and executives. He engages students through innovative approaches and various pedagogical means, such as case studies, storytelling and role playing.

 

A devoted teacher, Joseph enjoys interacting with students and cares for their well-being and personal development. He constantly keeps a lookout for students who need extra help, and adopts an “open door” policy for informal consultations and chit-chat sessions.

 

Joseph’s students have benefitted immensely from his supervision and personal mentorship. Some of them, have co-published their research with Joseph in top journals and have even gone on to win best paper awards at international conferences.

 

Beyond teaching, Joseph has spearheaded a number of notable educational enhancements within his Faculty. Amongst others, Joseph led the revamp of the Master of Science in Real Estate; he developed a new specialisation in real estate for the MBA programme, and pioneered an executive programme in Real Estate Finance.

 

In recognition of his contributions, Joseph has received six teaching awards from NUS. He also won the NUS Young Researcher Award in 2005 and the International Real Estate Society’s Achievement Award in 2008.

 

Joseph is a role model who embodies and fosters academic excellence at NUS; he is a truly deserving recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Educator Award.  My heartiest congratulations to Associate Professor Joseph Ooi.”

What All Good Leaders Do?

"Those of us who are strong and able in faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?". - Romans 15:1-2 (The Message)

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This evening, I was browsing through the journal I kept for my sabbatical. In it, were a number of loose papers and sticky notes in which I scribbled some nuggets of truths, words of wisdoms, or inspiring thoughts that I came across. I believe most of them came from books or articles I read or sermons I heard during that year. Regretfully, I didn't do a good job recording their sources; thus, I may not be able to cite or acknowledge where I got them from. The scrap notes are currently all over the place. Over the next few weeks, I will be revisiting these gold nuggets, reflect and share them on this blog. Trust they will be a good reminder for you and me.

The first one is entitled "What All Good Leaders Do?". One, they get the job done. Two, they get people to produce. Three, they teach people how to do things right, and four, they delegate authority. Whilst all these are true, there's a simple answer that covers all that ground. It is:

"to bring out the best in the people you are leading."

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A good scripture to accompany this thought is Romans 15:1-2 (above). In summary, strength is for service, not status. Leaders need to look after the good of the people around them, asking "How can I help them to be succesful?" We can have enormous influence on the people with whom we come into contact. That influence could be for good or for bad. Similarly, as a professor and an educator, my legacy will not be my research papers nor the awards, but the success of my students.

Field trip to Sentosa Cove (2006)

You have heard of MSG, which is often used in chinese cooking as a flavor enhancer. Well, have you heard of life enhancers? They are people who improve, strengthen, and beautify the world around them. In their interactions with other people, they bring out the best of people. They see something good in us, and then they help us see it too. More important, they help us tap into it... .

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The bible has a lot to say about bringing out the best in people... "Let your words be for the improvements of others, as occasion offers" - Ephesians 4:29; "Therefore encourage one another and build up each other" - 1 Thessalonians 5:11; "The mouth of the upright is a life-giving fountain - Proverbs 10:11; "Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing" - Ephesians 4:29.

In closing, good leaders bring out the best in other people. It's better to build up than to tear down.

Wrong Way Riegels

During my sabbatical in the US, I learnt to appreciate the game and rules of American football. The fact that university teams could have stadiums bigger than some of the biggest soccer teams in England still amazes me. At the end of the season, the more successful college teams earn the right to play in bowl games. And one of the most colorful bowl games is the Rose Bowl Game, which is played on 1 January of each year, between the Big Ten and the Pacific-10 conference representatives.

The Rose Bowl Game is accompanied by the Rose Parade, which featured magnificent floral floats. We attended the parade at Pasadena, LA in 2005.

The Rose Bowl Game also contributed one of the most memorable moments in the college football history. Roy Riegels played for a team in the Rose Bowl years ago (1929) that had the ball in its possession right at the goal line about to score. Riegels got hit and got turned around. He didn't realize what had happened, but he started running in the wrong direction. He ran 99 yards in the wrong direction. He was tackled on his own one-yard line by his own teammates to keep him from scoring two points for the other team.

Riegels said that when he was tackled by his own teamates, he got up angry and began to chew his teamate out: "Why in the world did you tackle me?" Then he realized what had happened. He realized he almost scored for the other team. He may have cost his team a score because they were about to score at the other end of the field. He said that he was so embarassed, so humiliated, so disgraced... After a while halftime came. The players came in and gathered in small groups all over the dressing room just whispering. He said he just knew everyone was talking about him. He said that he was so discouraged and so much in despair that at that moment, he thought he would never leave the dressing room alive. He didn't want to live another day.

Then the coach came in and gathered the players around him. Roy said the coach looked right at him and pointed his finger at him and said, "Roy, when you go in this half ..." Roy was crying. "Coach, I can't go in. I may have cost us the ball game. I have embarassed the team. I have done a stupid thing. I can't go in."... He said the coach... came over to him. He put his arm around his shoulder and said, "Roy, remember the game is only half over".

Good thing is, Riegels came back to be team captain the next year, led a successful life after college and is now in the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. The play is also credited with bringing increased popularity to college football. Roy said that the hand over his shoulder at that most desperate moment in his life literally save his life. Roy went one to become an outstanding high school football coast in the western US, but it was because in the darkest moment of failure, there was one who cared enough to put his arm around him and say, "Roy, remember the game is only half over."

Son of Encouragement:

"You may have stumbled. You may have fallen. The game is not over yet. God's grace is big enough to lift you up".

source: J.T. Draper

I'm a University Professor

I received an e-mail from a student from Vietnam today. Glancing quickly at the heading of the e-mail, I thought it was strange to receive a "Happy Teachers' Day" greeting at this time of the year. Apparently, Nov 20 is Teachers' Day in Vietnam.

"Boy, am I glad that I’m a university professor!"

- Randy Pausch

Below is a shorter video clip of an interview with Randy

[ remember to stop/pause the IMEEM music in the background ]

Below are some inspiration I noted from watching Randy's Last Lecture.

A mentor once told him, “it’s such a shame that people perceive you as so arrogant, because it’s going to limit what you’re going to accomplish.” Randy's comment, "what a hell of a good way to say, 'you’re being a jerk'."

The same mentor told him, "You’re such a good salesman, … you might as well be selling something worthwhile, like education."

The reason you all should be professors:

Enabling the childhood dreams of others!

That’s the best gift an educator can give – to get somebody to become self reflective.

The best way to teach somebody something is to have them think they are learning something else. His goal was to develop a program whereby million of kids learning something hard whilst having fun!

Most of what we learn, we learn indirectly... We can learn from our students.

Give the kids the chance to have some kind of excitement putting on a show for people who will then become excited about it. That’s one of the best thing you give somebody – the chance to show then what it feels like to make others people excited or happy.

photo: Retail Seminar at Suntec City (2005)

One final quote from the desk-top calendar, "We can't help but get the best from our students when each day we're giving them the very best of ourselves."

The Last Lecture

“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” — Randy Pausch

“The Last Lecture” is a series of talks where university professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them.

Randy Pausch (left), a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture on September 18, 2007. Unlike other speakers, Professor Pausch didn’t have to imagine it as his last as he had had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lively, energetic and funny lecture he gave — “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”— wasn’t really about dying. Instead, the lecture was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (as “time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think”). It was about living a full life.

Randy’s lecture has become a phenomenon. It has been watched on youtube by more than 7.8 million viewers. The lecture was expanded into a book which has sold more than 3 million copies. Sadly, Randy lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on July 25th, 2008, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all, for generations to come.

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If you have some time, do watch Randy’s last lecture…

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Initially he was hesitant to give the lecture… but in the end he decided to give the lecture, because it would be an opportunity to create something for his children to watch when they were older. He wanted his last lecture to be part of his legacy to his children. In the preface to his book, Randy writes,

"I knew what I was doing that day, under the ruse of giving an academic lecture, I was trying to put myself in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for my children."

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reflection: Consider what would be your last lecture. What wisdom would you impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance? If you had to vanish tomorrow, what would you want as your legacy?

Sources: http://www.thelastlecture.com/ & http://www.dannold.com/

RE2008 Commencement

I recently attended my students' commencement ceremony at NUS. It is truly a time of celebration for the graduants. After more than 20 years of formal education, it is finally over!

My best wishes to RE Class 2008!

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During the commencement ceremony, the honorary speaker shared an insight into the working habit of one of the most successful property developers in Singapore. He mentioned that NTF's secret of success is 5 to 9: Unlike the average workers who worked from 9 am to 5 pm, the developer's daily work routine starts from 5 am and ends at 9 pm!

Recently, I came across this time-tested formula of success, which the fresh graduates would do well to remember & practice as they start a new phase of their life:

A person will go far in life if he/she consistently does three things: (1) keeps a positive attitude, (2) treats other people with respect and kindness, and (3) works to the best of his/her ability. The percentage of people who maintain these high standards on a regular basis is small. But those who do all have something in common; they succeed in life. It's a great formula for success.

photo: To celebrate his graduation, Jingliang & Jade treated my wife and me to a nice dinner at the Crystal Jade restaurant in VivoCity.

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I also received several e-mails from the graduating cohort; one of which would brigthen up any teacher's day:

I am not too sure if you remember me. I just graduated from RE and was your student in RE Development 1 in 2006. I emailed you my reflections after the group project. Just wanna say that module made a real impact on the way I view life and deal with people around me. I have started work at ... and have made many new acquaintances. The exposure to working life that you gave us during RE Dev 1 is of great help as I was better able to foresee the style of work here and anticipate different kinds of treatment by people. Although the module was not entirely related to my current job scope, the experience I gained in school gives me greater resilience. I am glad I was your student, for your module gave me knowledge and strength. My greatest, most heartfelt thanks to you for your sharings and exposure to working life. Here's wishing you continued success and blessing by God for being the selfless person you are. Thank you once again.

Learning & Teaching

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life - Proverbs 13:14.

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Have you heard of this saying, "expression deepens impression?". Well, I try to live by this principle - I find that sharing what I know somehow deepens my understanding and conviction on a particular topic. The process of articulating what is in my head somehow transformed the "head knowledge" into "heart knowledge". Try it - sharing does deepen your conviction!

photo: New Orleans (Jan 08)

In one way or another, we are all teachers. Almost every day of our lives we come into contact with people who can benefit from our knowledge and experience. According to Hal Urban, "we have a sacred obligation to help others learn new skills and to develop a greater understanding of how life works."

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At the same time, we are all learners. We regularly come into contact with people who know something we don't know, have a skill we don't have, and understand some aspect of life better than we do.

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Hence, we're all teachers, and we're all learners. And we bring out the best in one another when we share our knowledge and wisdom. There's a double-blessing here ... There are excitement and joy in learning something new or going deeper. And there are equal excitement and joy in passing them on to others.

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Despite returning to the busy life in Singapore, here are two reasons why I decided to maintain this blog: (1) the excitement of learning something new, and (2) the joy of passing it on. For me, this blog serves as a scrap book of truths, wise sayings, and ideas, which are primarily for my own consumption and which I seek to internalize by practicing them. And in the process of sharing, I hope others will be blessed too.

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reflection: First, I "learn" to "teach". Then, I "teach" to "learn".

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Source: Hal Urban (2007) The 10 Commandments of Common Sense

Joe Paterno - No Ordinary Joe!

“They asked me what I’d like written about me when I’m gone. I hope they write I made Penn State a better place not just that I was a good football coach.” – Joe Paterno

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Everyone who follows the game of soccer would know who Alex Ferguson is. As the longest serving and most decorated manager in the English Premier League, Alex Ferguson is regarded as one of the game's greatest managers. Similarly, in the world of college football, the name Joe Paterno is equally revered! In Dec 2007, Joe Paterno was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, which is the highest honor in college football.

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Joe Paterno, is the legendary coach of Penn State football team. Next year, will be his 43rd year as the head coach, which is remarkable for a sport in which the players change with each season. Joe Paterno, who is 81, said he tackled each new season with the same energy and enthusiasm as the one before. However, his days as football coach of Penn State are numbered! The university recently announced that his contract will not be renewed when the current deal expires next year.

In 1982, Paterno & Penn State finally broke through, defeating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to win their first national championship. Another followed 4 yrs later.

Joe Paterno came to Penn State, as a 23 year-old kid, in 1950. That’s 58 year ago!After serving as a member of the coaching team for 16 seasons, he was promoted to head coach in 1966. Since then, he has led Penn State to two national championships and five undefeated seasons. Indeed, JoePa, as he is affectionately called, is an iconic figure on and away from the football field - a symbol of tradition and pride for generations of Penn State alumni and fans and a chief ambassador of college football.

How much does Joe Paterno earns? US$ 512,664 annually! That is only the base salary, which does not include additional fees from television and apparel contracts as well as other game bonuses. But if Paterno has earned the status of a celebrity, he does not show off. It was noted that he lives in the same modest home in State College where he raised his five children and where he entertains recruits with his wife’s lasagna dinners and quiet conversation. His wardrobe is simple and unchanged, .., and ties that outdate many of his players.
Paterno’s contribution to the university transcends the football field. Over the years, he has also donated more than US$4.2 million to Penn State. Joe Paterno, along with his wife, also engineered a $14 million campaign to expand the university library, which is now called the Paterno Library.

“The purpose of college football is to serve education, not the other way round.”

"What are coaches? Number one, we're teachers and we're educators. We have the same obligations as all teachers at our institutions, except we probably have more influence over our young people than anyone other than their families."

Although we have not met Joe Paterno in person, we share something in common. Well, we learned from our landlord that JoePa, in his early days in State College five decades ago, used to live in the same house we are currently staying in. In fact, he occupied the smallest room in the house, which is currently our study room. If you can imagine living in a house Alex Ferguson used to stay as a young man, then you can imagine our feeling staying in a house with such a history!

==================I see that you posted something about Penn State football on your blog. I can't remember whether we told you this or not, but Joe Paterno used to live in our house. His bedroom was the study on the main floor. The house was built by a family named the O'Horas in 1957-8. Jim O'Hora was the defensive coordinator at Penn State, and for a while after he moved to town, JoePa lived with the O'Horas.

Once a few years ago, Jim's children drove Jim past the old house to have a look. I wasn't home but Cricket and the girls were, so they had a chance to talk to him. Another time, Cricket called his wife Elizabeth before she died and learned a little bit about the house. For instance, Elizabeth had wanted a larger entry to the kitchen from the garage (where the pantry is now), but they had to make it smaller in order to provide a large closet in JoePa's bedroom to hold his suits. :) So when you wrote on your blog that some people have a Nittany Lion room in their house, it turns out that you do too! - Dave.

Reference: No Ordinary Joe, The Daily Collegian "Paterno's base salary: $512,664" (Nov 30, 2007), "Commerative Edition - History in the Making" (Dec 2007), The New York Times "Question of Age is Getting Old" (Apr 20, 2008).

The Greatest Profession!

Happy Teachers' Day: Well, we almost forgot that Sept 1 is Happy Teachers' Day in Singapore! It is not the case here (yet to find out when is HTD, if at all it is celebrated here). My wife and I are, nevertheless, pleasantly surprised to receive well wishes from our former students who still remember us despite the thousand of miles separating us! We would like to say:

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Have you ever really had a teacher? One who saw you as a raw but precious thing, a jewel that, with wisdom, could be polished to a proud shine? If you are lucky enough to find your way to such teachers, you will always find your way back." – Tuesday with Morrie

Continuing on the theme on "teachers", I would like to share a testimony I wrote last year paying tribute to a former teacher who greatly impacted my life. I would say that to a large extent, I am what I am today because of her input in my life.

One of the teachers whom I am most indebted to is an intern teacher who spent less than two months in my secondary school in 1978. I was in Sec 2 then attending an average school in Malaysia. I was an average student in the B class. Out of the whole cohort of 200, my position would be around 70. I was average in most subjects except for mathematics which was my strongest subject. As a reward for doing well in a test, the intern teacher took me and few classmates for an excursion to her campus. She showed us the lecture and seminar rooms where she took her lessons and encouraged us to study hard and aim to enter the university.

One day, I received a message that she requested to see me in the staff room. Our conversation was brief, 5-10 minutes at most. She said it was her last day teaching in my school but she could see a lot of potential in me. She made me promise that I would do my best for the year-end exam. Guess what? That year, I topped my B class and even performed better than all the students in the school (except for the top student in the A class). Overall, I was placed 2nd in the whole school. From 70 to 2! Till today, I still remember the promise I made to my intern teacher, "to do my best and fulfill my potential".

Looking back, it was at this point in my academic life that I experienced a quantum leap. All thanks to an intern teacher. Come to think about it, the intern teacher was around the same age as my current students (she was then still in her university). So, I believe that as teachers, our words are very powerful.

Unleashing Minds, Transforming Lives!

This is why my wife and I regard teaching as the greatest profession. For us, teaching is more than a career, it is a calling! So, this posting is dedicated to all teachers (including those who are giving tuition!).

“The future of the world is in my classroom today!

A future with the potential for good or bad. Several future presidents are learning from me today; so are the great writers of next decades, and so are all the so-called ordinary people who will make the decisions in a democracy. I must never forget these young people could be the thieves and murderers of the future. Only a teacher? Thank God I have a calling to the greatest profession of all! I must be vigilant every day, lest I lose one fragile opportunity to improve tomorrow.”

- Ivan Welton Fitxwater.

Stretch to success

Recently, I was very impressed by someone I met at the university. I had some problems with the computer in my room and needed help. I call the computer center and kind of expected help in the form of someone young and techy, probably a guy. To my surprise, the HE was a SHE; and she was not young either - probably in her mid 40s.

In my conversation with her, I found out that she had made a major career change in her late 30s. For more than 20 years, she was a hairstylist. She only switched to computing around 6 years ago when she bought her first computer, which she paid a lot of money for. But when it was delivered to her house, she had difficulties setting it up, which is not surprising since it was the first time she ever handled a computer. And when it was finally set up, the computer didn't work.

Frustrated with the fact that she had paid so much for a computer that did not work, she decided to enrol in a computing course. She went on from there to take a degree in computing, and now she has a new career. One of her replies inspired me, "I still love to do hairstyling. In fact, everything about it comes naturally to me. It is relaxing because I don't need to think so much. But everything about computing is the opposite. It is hardwork. I don't have the natural ability and everything I know is the outcome of many hours of attending classes and reading computer books and magazines. "

She amazes me because I am not sure how many of us would dare to be stretched that way! Well, John Maxwell wrote "rubber bands must be stretched to be effective... Like rubber bands, our personalities, talents and gifts are not effective unless we're stretched." He went on to list four reasons why people stop stretching!

• They have surrounded themselves with people who are both bored and boring.
• Their work ceases to be a challenge. everything become automatic, nothing more than an assembly line.
• They have learned to get by with shortcuts. They settle for less than the best.
• They see their value based on their relationships (ie. who they know), not their resources. A good eg. would be marriage. After the wedding, we figure that our spouses would love us just because we're married. So we stop courting (stretching), and our marriages stop growing.

In summary, without stress, there would be no growth (although I would differentiate between healthy and unhealthy stress). Whilst sabbatical is to be enjoyed, I want it to be a fruitful one as well - particular, working on self improvement through the acquisition of a new knowledge or skill. Hence, my decision and resolve to continue with the mathematics and economic modules, even though they may be tough. I welcome them as a stretching and growing experience for me!

Back to School!

A photo of the Business School. It is a new building which was completed two years ago.

August 27 marks the first day of school for Penn State University students. The phrase "back to school" is one dreaded by most students. It marks the end of their holidays and the beginning of a new semester or academic year. However, for those who have left school for a while, "back to school" is actually a welcome relief from the hectic working life. It is an opportunity to update their skills, meet new friends and perhaps, to prepare for a mid-life career change.

Well, even for a lecturer, learning is a life-long experience. One of my targets for this sabbatical is to work on my maths, which is one of my weaknesses but is fundamental to understand economics theory. Hence, I have decided to audit several courses. Today, I attended the introductory lesson for two courses for PhD students on "Mathematical Economics" and "Mathematical and Statistical Foundations for Econometrics".

The warnings by the professors would have scared off many students, "this is a hard and abstract course. It will be tough... Beware, take it at your own risk"; "Some of you will become depressed and doubt your ability... Spare yourself from unnecessary suffering by dropping this course". Nevertheless, a professor helped to put it in the right perspective, "You are here to learn maths. The grade doesn't matter but more important is how much have you learnt? Its your attitude that counts; Never give up!".

Well, I am holding on tight for the bumpy ride!