Ambition or Practicality?
Me and Ragui and Maridol and Ace had a talk the other day. Ragui wanted to go to England or Spain to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer, a sentiment which was encouraged by Ace and Maridol. Along the way I advised caution, saying something like not everyone makes it in the business and he should be prepared to face rejection. Which was when things got interesting.
Ace, being Canadian, has an intriguingly Western attitude of total belief in ones abilities and that individual hard work coupled with natural talent can result in achieving the impossible. My stance was that sometimes some things don't work out the way you want, and that there are things beyond your control. For a footballing example Ragui could meet a coach that didn't like him, or he could get injured, and so on. We had an interesting half-an-hour going back and forth over the subject.
Maridol generally took Ace's side in the argument, which ranged all over the place. Like, which is the harder achievement, getting a medical degree or becoming a pro footballer? I said becoming a doctor was easier, cos if you study and really mean it, you're guaranteed that degree. Ace said you can't compare it to a division three footballer winning his spurs.
Also about sacrifice. Ace was of the general opinion that personal sacrifice was routine if you wanted to get what you want. I agreed, but pointed out some things could not be sacrificed, like an education or financial stability.
Then it went to family time, cos they were saying quality means more than quantity. Me, being inspired by a Reader's Digest article, said that quality time had to be quantity, cos a meaningful heart-to-heart talk or a romp in the grass hardly meant anything if it was limited to 10 minutes.
Well we came to the conclusion that your culture and your upbringing had more influence on your personality than you think. I'm Asian, with its emphasis on society above self, ambition weighed with practicality and the heavy emphasis on education and being sensible. My parents have echoed similar sentiments when I was a little lad. Ace by comparison told me his parents had always pushed him to believe in himself and to do anything he wanted.
It's nice to have talks like these. I always learn more, about the world and about myself too.
Finn Solomon 7:47 PM
PROFILE
Sulaiman Daud a.k.a. Finn Solomon a.k.a. Dark Solomon, emo boy.
Liverpool FC die-hard. Rafael Benitez is my master.
Arts Student of Tampines College
Fortunate member of the best academic class in Singapore- 06A05
Reporter for the TODAY Newspaper
Fairly liberal Muslim
Technophobe
Quite possibly the biggest Stephen King/Terry Pratchett fanatic in the world
Lover of classic rock- The Beatles, Guns N' Roses, The Who, Led Zeppelin and AC/DCtag
Gemini- This might explain the days when I am insufferably moody. And also the days when I am wildly optimistic.
Dragon- The Chinese Zodiac is intriguingly accurate in its assessment of my character.
Shares a special bond with a special girl from Texas, an amazing woman in Madrid, the erudite psycho of Tampines, an amusing Egyptian and the classy rock lady in Canada, a great friend from the Phillipines, a lovely lass from Venezuela, another one in Sheffield, and the coolest of dudes from Miami, Minnesota and London.
If for some reason any of you are reading this, you know who you are. Thanks.
The information you are about to view is classified. Unauthorised viewers will be identified and shot on sight. To continue, click on the four bullets lined up on the left to navigate. You have been warned.
1. Transcripted records.
2. Agent's profile & Vital statistics.
3. Contacts. Trust no one. Except these people.
4. Leave a message in the file. We'll get back to you.
"It's just you and me and my forty-five against the world, darlin'"- Clint Eastwood
