Reflections

I've just been thinking a lot lately.

Wishing somehow ... bright ideas would appear in my mind.
There is a dire need for some bright spark.
I feel parched for ideas, for none has made its way into my brain. It seems to have shrunk to the size of a pea recently. A shrivelled, dried pea.

For one who is not artistically inclined, ART lessons have always been a huge pain for me. Somehow my still-life drawings would be an utter mess. My shadows would be placed at the wrong angle and I would blend the water colours all wrong just to get that particular shade of gray. I couldn't have been happier when i finally bade art lessons farewell at the end of Sec 2.

It is always hard to beg for help. Something I've always felt uncomfortable with. Hence I usually reserve those awkward requests for those whom i feel i know well and would most likely agree to render a helping hand. It is sad to know that people whom you remember to mail a birthday card to every year for many years and bother to help when they asked for it really can't be bothered at all. It is even more sad when they suddenly become bothered when the subject of 'tokens of appreciation' is brought up but just as readily become busy once again when the token is deemed too small to justify the effort.

Whatever the case, it is another learning experience.
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At this juncture, i find myself often reflecting on the few years in this course.
Perhaps the most vivid lesson is learnt from the countless projects, or more specifically project mates, people whom you fortunately or unfortunately become a part of a group with.

I will divide them into 4 general catergories.
1. The Do-er
Profile: Can-Do attitude, will be productive, not adverse to work, responsible. Quality work. What you get when you feel your prayers are answered. Of course Do-ers have their quirks too. Some are gan jiong, some critical, some bossy, but whatever the case, they are responsible people who do their part and more when needed.

2. The Free-Rider
This can range from the 'appear a couple of times' to the 'disappearing' type. Some have made quite a name for themselves and garnered a small legion of 'fans'. They make good gossip fodder nonetheless and are usually a convenient topic to bitch about during tea-time and lunch breaks.

3. The Intelligent Slacker
This group is much smarter than the previous, perhaps smarter than all the others. They do 'show face' at meetings but don't really contribute anything. It takes awhile to spot them as they somehow manage to do the minimal amount of work without attracting attention, usually picking the easiest part that requires the least amount of brain work. Give them anything harder and they are likely to produce poor quality stuff which gives the others even more work to undo the damage. The best of the lot manage to piggy-back all the way without ever incurring negative sentiments.

4. The 'I do my part only' type.
This type does enough to get through. But never expect them to compile a report. The difference between this and the Intelligent Slacker is that this group does something useful. They do give quality work unlike the previous group. Just don't ask them to do anything extra. A group with a combination of this and Do-ers can be a good match as Do-ers tend to take care of the extra bits anyway.

5. Anything in between i suppose. Within each category, there are varying degrees of seriousness. Also, one can transit from one group to another for different projects, depending on the team you get and your level of commitment at each instance.
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Well whatever the case, i am glad that ive found myself a couple of fellow eucharians to work with. Despite our bitching, the occassional bickering and all the crap ... Perhaps I've slipped into this comfort zone after working with them for so long. I do take them for granted sometimes, not realising it until I get a rude awakening from category 2 and 3ers once in a while. Life would have been a lot harder without these 2 girls.