Desperate Students

Grown-ups love figures. When you describe a new friend to them, they will never ask you about the important things. They never say: "What's his voice like? What are his favourite games? Does he collect butterflies?" instead, they demand: "How old is he? How many brothers has he? How much does he earn? How much does his father earn?" Only then do they feel they know him

If you say to the grown-ups: "I've seen a lovely house made of pink brick, with geraniums in the windows and doves on the roof, they are unable to picture such a house. You must say: "I saw a house that costs a hundred thousand francs." Then they cry out: "Oh, how pretty!"

You must not hold it against them. Children have to be very indulgent towards grown-ups. Of course, for we who understand life, figures are quite unimportant......grown-ups no longer care for anything except figures.

Excerpt from Antoine De Saint-Exupery's "The Little Prince"

You would laugh at this extract.

Indeed, grown-ups love figures. The definition of grown-ups here, does not only confine itself to adults with a minimum age of 21, but rather, to those who have already gone through puberty and deem themselves as mature.

Like my classmates. I figured that by classifying them into the category of "grown-ups" is both a compliment and an insult. Surely, all of them are mature and there's no doubt over that. However, recent incidents have proven what De Saint-Exupery had written are true.

People just LOVE figures. They are allergic to words, but they just cannot live without figures.

When all the various test results are released, somehow everyone became "good friends" and all of a sudden, they seem to recognise your existence in the class. During this period of time, you will hear "How much did you get for chem? How much did you get for physics? How much did you get for..." about one thousand and one times every day. Somehow, those who are usually reserved and introvert would become outgoing and sociable, and somehow your circle of "friends" broadens within this period of time. Even those whom you seldom talk to, or who seldom talk to you, would approach you with a smile.

But strangely, "good morning" was never ever heard amongst we students. Apparently, "good morning" is reserved to be said exclusively to teachers.

Anyway, being one who detests mathematics, I replied, much to many's amazement, "I scored much lower than I had expected." or "I had expected this score."

To which they prompt further, "so how much did you get?"

When I insist on not revealing my score, they probed again, "so is it an A1? A2? or B3?"

I just shrug with innocence.

When all fails and in a desperate situation, they will say, "Just say lah! I tell you my marks loh..."

My reply would definitely drive them into anxiety, "I hate math, but I have a passion for languages, so I would only describe my marks and would not reveal them. Besides, who gives a damn about how much you score?"

I must have pissed off many of my classmates and had them cursing and swearing at me behind my back.

Or they probably just simply feel that I am selfish/arrogant/or have an attitude problem.

But hey, why are you so concern and uptight about each other's marks and grades? So what if you score A1 while others score F9? So what you scored better than others? So what if you know you are amongst the top in the class?

Obtaining a better grade or score than others does not indicate that you are terrific at that subject.

You may score 80 marks now, while the "other" scores 70 marks. But if you scored 90 for last term, while the "other" scored 65, it simply shows that you have deproved while the "other" had improved. So, why should you celebrate that you fared better than him when you have deproved by 10 marks while he improved by 5?

Instead, you should be focusing on how to improve yourself and push yourself further, if possible to your limits or even beyond your limits, not just feel contented having beating others.

So what if you win others? Do you find satisfaction in beating other people? If the answer is yes, then you are so pathetic.

How desperate.

The worst enemy is yourself.

How true.

It's easy to win someone else, but can you win yourself?

Please, you are already 16. You have already spent 1/5 of your life span on Earth, so stop being so juvenile and superficial. It's time for you to move on get intelligent.

And, true friends do not ask for your score. They will never ever regard you as just figures and numerical values. If people ask for your score, it just shows how they perceive and value you.

P.S. And Jung Hiong, apparently 10 years of education did not improve your situational literacy. Your E.Q. sucks. When I am reluctant to reveal my scores, I don't think you should grab my script away from my hand, or try to or even have such thought in your head. It's my right not to let you know because this is MY paper and MY score, and you just infringed MY right.