This was the most common question people ask me during the past few weeks. Others were, “Won’t you miss us?” or “Where are you going to study? Why not in Singapore uni?”

Dilemma at the crossroads, as usual.

The fact is that I don’t know.

It all depends on the following scenarios:
1) God opens a door for me to go to the US to study by enabling me to obtain an admission offer from one of the universities listed in my previous post AND a financial aid package that allows me to pay for the immense costs of studying there. I will study in NUS if all the universities I apply to reject me.
2) If I obtain an admission offer but do not receive any financial aid (for universities like Stanford do not offer need-blind financial aid) I will have to make the decision of either studying in NUS or paying RM 800,000 for a US education without any scholarship, loan or grant. Another question is, “Is it worth it paying that sum for an ‘elite’ education in a US Uni when I can get it at a fraction of the fee in NUS?” My mum would have to bear the load of the cost at the expense of a few properties perhaps. (sell them off)

My stand: NO scholarships please. I hate bonds.

My answer to the above question:
1) Yes, if I am studying in NUS next time given the above scenarios.
2) Yes, I intend to work in Singapore but this is just a desire. Life may lead me somewhere else. So if I go to the US I may be coming back to Singapore after I get my paper qualifications.
3) Why not Malaysia? Opps… I really don’t know.

Thank you Zhong Liang for the card you gave me the other day and I will quote it: “…it’s the hands of the Lord that leads and guide us on.”

Yes indeed. My definite answer to the question “What’s next?” is: “Wherever the Lord leads me to.” He has the best plans for me and yes, anyone who believes in Him.”

Well we had cell group consisting of cell groups E314 and N354 tonight at Ben’s house. It was not unlike other cell group meetings, with praise and worship and all. It has been a good two years of cell group meetings and far from the days when I had to travel all the way to Punggol to attend Hui Zhen’s cell group (one hour journey) during my earlier days in the church.

I hope to be integrated into a cell group in Malaysia fast too. I think that it is absolutely essential for Christians to connect to God and the cell group ensures that the commitment to God remains strong and renewed. Last I checked, the cell group directory recently added a Bandar Utama cell group to the list. CHCKL is indeed spreading its influence (from Subang Jaya), and I’ll be glad to join it in Malaysia.

Was interviewed today by Mr William Lau who is working with the DSTA (or was it the Ministry of Defence?) Anyway we had a good chat and he ask me things which I was familiar with. The main purpose of the interview was to help me to differentiate myself from all the other applicants who are presumed to have great academic qualifications (myself not included). So anyway it was a no stress interview. Expected those classic questions such as “What are your weaknesses?” but they never came. So, essentially, I did not prepare at all for this interview other than fooling around the MIT website and thinking through the question “Why do you want to go to MIT to study?”

I told him about Sunday’s marathon, my Prefect Experience, my YMCA Youth For Causes venture, and we veered of to politics and business (since I told him that the reason I wanted to go to MIT was to learn innovation at its very best as my goal was to establish a start-up that puts innovation at the forefront)

On my way back Zhong Liang invited me to go ‘makan’ the (Malaysian) Penang Char Kway Teow in near Aljunied MRT and after that we simply had a good time spending the whole afternoon at Sim Lim Square shopping for stuff. I bought a wireless router for my Malaysian house use (SGD 55) and also a game called Call of Duty plus its expansion United Offensive (SGD 57) to help me kill the boredom after the exams.

And I think tomorrow we will go ‘makan’ again at Botak Jones near Clementi. I heard the food is good there. =)

My last days in Singapore.

I charged my camera for two hours and inserted it into my camera only to obtain a display that said “Battery Empty.” So I guess the pics must wait until my friends start sending it over. =(

A great night and a great way to end two years of JC life.

Prom King went to Muhammad Faisal and Prom Queen went to Samantha Ng (both Councilors, and members of the Council Executive Committee!) Met many friends and said my goodbyes. Well i don’t have much to comment about it except for the fact that I tool umpteen pictures and posed what felt like a hundred times. NJCians are really a bunch of friendly and wonderful people. GO NJ!

Oh, and kudos to the 40th Student Council for organizing such a great and smooth night!

After long discussion and debate with my mum, we have come to a list of five universities which I would apply to:

1) Stanford University (already applied, notification on Dec 15th)
2) University of Berkeley (already applied)
3) MIT
4) Cornell
5) Princeton (my mum was intent on this university, although I felt that it’s engineering department was not too solid compared to the rest above)
6) University of Pennsylvania? (I might add this in)

The list might not end here, but at least for now, it is this. No safeties, but if God really wants me to attend any of the above, He would help me to enter no matter hard it is to gain admission.

“A new animated epic family film about an ordinary man who faces in extraordinary adventure when he is called by God to save his people from slavery.” It’s about Moses, and it is an animation film. Don’t miss it!

Opening in cinemas 6 December 2007 in Singapore.

I don’t think Malaysia is allowing its screening in cinemas. A last check on tgv.com.my showed that this movie is not being featured in the “Next Attractions” page. I’d better catch it in Singapore before I head home on the 8th of December!

Today was the first time the English Church service is being held in the Jurong West building after 2 years of absence from the building since the services moved to Singapore Expo. I thought that the service today was simply explosive and full of impact. God’s presence was stronger than ever. It opened with a dance presentation for new visitors to the church (by O’ school dancers) and also featured the church choir singing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Pastor Kong delivered the sermon, and the message sunk into my heart ever deeper. More on the message soon.

I would miss this church. It is one of the very few churches with a vision from God. I will definitely continue to serve and attend City Harvest Church Kuala Lumpur (located in Subang) in the not-too-distant future. Rock on City Harvest Church!

I thought that it would be quite an easy run. But by the twenty-something kilometre, my legs cried out in agonizing pain…

The 42.195 kilometre run was my first marathon in my entire life. And I must confess that I have gone through anything worse or more torturing than what I went through today. Even all the push-up and other torturous punishments dealt to me last time during Scout meetings in secondary school were put to shame today.

To put it simply: The marathon was very very challenging. More mind than body in the race. To finish it was, to me, to conquer new territory. Thankfully, I did manage to cross the finish line. Even now as I type, my legs were aching so badly. After the race, I had serious trouble trying to walk straight or climb the stairs. I suspect that I would not even be able to walk at all tomorrow. =(

But what was most interesting in the marathon today was not the fact that I finished the 42.195km race in 4 hours and 50 minutes, and received an exclusive finisher’s T and a medal. Something else made the race more worthwhile and more meaningful.

I actually attached a tag behind me throughout the whole race on which a verse from the Bible-Philippians 4:13- was written. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” So when runners run behind me, they would be able to see this tag of mine which also carries the picture of a cross and the words “Jesus Loves You.” At first, the race started without anything off-beat. As I ran eventually I would hear a man reading out the whole verse behind me (it was audible to me but I pretended to take no notice) and ended off his recitation by saying “Jesus Loves Me.” (I wrote “Jesus Loves You,” didn’t I?)

As I raced on, a man ran pass me and said, “Praise the Lord” to me. As I ran in front of another girl, she said, “Amen.” Also, I would encounter a man wore a shirt with the words “Powered by Jesus” in fluorescent orange colour, who became my moral supporter throughout the race (we constantly bumped into each other in the race, sometimes me leading and sometimes him) He approached me after seeing my tag and encouraged me. Further on, another man told me, “Great message.” Another guy told me, “Nice tag.” I really felt very encouraged in the faceless marathon of tens of thousands. God’s people was everywhere.

Which brings me to my point: In this race of life, we are never alone. There are always other Christians running alongside us to give us encouragement and moral support. Amen.

Needless to say, I was proud to have run today with my little tag tagging along behind me proclaiming the greatness of the Lord.

Starting from today, Blogger will serve to record my thoughts, views and takes on matters that matter to me. On the other hand, recordings of notable events and happenings will be shifted to ernsheong.wordpress.com. Why I am doing this? Well, let’s just say that I want to try new things. =) But actually I have noticed that this blog is really all about my rantings and ravings about my inner thought that rage in my mind more than anything else. So I’m starting another blog to document my external happenings.

Let’s just hope that I will now update my blog more frequently now.

Hello world indeed! This is Ern Sheong and I have started this wonderful blog to update you about the notable events that happen in the journey of my life in this world. Don’t know me? Nothing to worry about. After reading through this blog you will DEFINITELY know me better. See you in later posts!