Too Clever?

Salam..

It is the time of the year when the telephone never stops ringing, certainly at my parents' place and the homes of our extended family members.. I cannot speak this as an agreed generality.. Some of you may think ringing phones are not a matter of exciting interest, but this ringing phone at this time means something different to our family..

If some of you have noticed, the results of the Malaysian Examination Certificate, or more commonly known as SPM back home, was just published earlier today.. It may have just hit the newsstands and will be aired in the 8-o'clock news shortly.. And since we have a, quite boastfully saying, huge family - with my mom having 13 siblings, all married, and approximately 60 cousins of mine - it is such a time when these results of big exams, be it UPSR, SPM or PMR, make a big impact to us all.. Most of my mom's siblings and some of the in-laws were and still are in the education system, be it teachers, principals, lecturers and professors.. And that said, these exams and their results somewhat stands as a podium for the "Annual Inter-Family Competition".. Of course, the competition is the unsaid strive to perform better and be noticed and 'glorified' when the results come.. For some subconscious reason, it is a matter of family pride and reputation, so to speak..


As for my family, we have marked for ourselves such a standard that it becomes a sibling 'rivalry' as much as it is sibling motivation.. I marked my path through UPSR, PMR and SPM with nothing less than A's.. And Erin and Intan followed suit.. And because of that, the pressure is just immense.. And even sadder is that these 'marks' are becoming a 'must-achieve' target! And I hate to be in my siblings' position..

But it is always nice to know that whatever our results are, we are who we are and who we want to be and our family accepts us as who we define ourselves as..

Peer Pressure

Today, in the local newspaper, another 'genius' broke the record.. Scoring 20A's in the SPM! No parent wouldn't be proud.. In fact, most parents might just 'advertise' this phenomenon nationwide!

This phenomenon of nationwide peer-pressure is not something new, certainly not in Malaysia.. In 2004, a female student broke the news with 17 A1's, and she became the first teenage public-exam trend-setter.. And it only gets better! In 2006, another girl re-wrote the record with 18 A's, and further in 2007 a young boy scored 21A's (19A1's).. Today, another genius marked the newspapers with 20 A's (19A1's)..

I stand tallest with envy and astonishment at the fact that they achieved such credentials.. I feel inferior and ashamed that my parents did not have the chance to be proud of me with those results..

But at the end of the day I forward this very question to all of you and the geniuses :

What will you do with all the A's?

It may sound rhetoric.. In fact, it may sound offensive to some ears.. When I was at school level, I was a good student, I studied hard and with utmost dedication, I played sports and socialise, I was not a geek, neither was I a jock.. But I had something clear in my mind - I wanted to be a doctor.. And I did everything needed to get me there.. And I did get there after school, went into college, ultimately overseas in one of the most prestigious college in the world and graduated.. I did enough to get me there, because I know where I wanted to be..

I fear my next lines would be so offensive that people may stop reading this blog..

Sometimes I feel and somewhat convinced that, despite the multiple A's, we assume these teenagers are multi-talented, super-achievers.. That no matter in what well they are thrown into, they will climb their way out..

I, for one, feel that they have now so much on their plates that the real challenge now becomes to pick which one to digest first.. And the pressure is vast! I believe that some people see a full plate as 'maximising your options', but I regret to say that my stand is with 'no clear ambition and self-doubt'.. Anything they pick will determine their path and, needless to say, the path is wide open with their A's backing them up.. But, it is the matter of choosing the correct one, the wise decision.. With 20A's, you could be a doctor or an engineer or a businessman or a lawyer or a secretary or a janitor or a fishmonger.. But which one is YOU?

Well, that was just me being argumentative and harsh..

I dedicate this entry to my dear brother, Zuhaili, with my utmost congratulations with his results.. I know you want to do Medicine and I will support your ambition all the way.. You have now a brother and three sisters already doctors and we are here for you for advice and support.. I know that you have determined this ambition even before the exams started, and that is how I know the motivation you need to get to it..

Well done!

Salam..