Always remembered

First blog post since the start of a hectic semester and it's nothing good.

Today I got news that someone dear to me has lost her 4 year old son in an accident. I can't believe it. He had years ahead of him and just like that, his future has been wiped cleaned. You never, ever expect someone so young to be taken away from you so unexpectedly until they do. My thoughts are with the dear boy's mum and dad.

Gone forever but always remembered.

RIP Cameron Bryant. 

Year 6 lesson on % discount

Today, I got news that my year 6 math teacher (who was also my class teacher) has died a year ago. I haven't seen her for 9 years and I have to admit in that 9 years I haven't thought much about my math teacher from year 6 but hearing the news today, memories came rushing back to me. 

One memory in particular sticks out: our lesson on percentage discount.

I remember her telling us at the start of the lesson not to make the mistake (as some of her previous students have done) of thinking that if we get a 20% discount on 1 pair of shoes, we'll get a 100% discount when we buy 5 pairs (multiplying 5 with 20%), making our purchase free. All of us laughed then. Who would be silly enough to make that mistake?! You'd be surprise.

I wonder now if she remembered me. Did I do anything remotely notable in that 1 year I was in her class or was I another face in the sea of thousands of students that passed through her life? Nevertheless, I'll always remember her to be one of the two most notable teachers in my primary school (the other is my year 3 class teacher but I'll save that story for another post). 

Mdm Ooi, R.I.P. Your students will always remember you to be a great teacher. You have touched my life when I was 11 and the hearts of thousands others, I am sure. You'll live on forever in our memories.

3 apples that changed the world

"3 apples changed the world. 1st one seduced Eve, 2nd fell on Newton and 3rd was offered to the world half bitten by Steve Jobs." - BBC

"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve has lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple." - Apple.com

Tribute to Steve Jobs on Apple.com homepage

Unlike so many of my friends and those around me, I don't own a single Apple product. Not that I have anything against Apple, only that the opportunity to get myself an iPod/iPhone/iPad/MacBook has yet to present itself. I was still extremely shocked by the passing of the face of Apple, hearing the news on the radio on my way back from uni today. My thoughts are with his family. 

Needless to say, he will be missed by millions. R.I.P.

"Your time on this earth is limited. Don't live someone else's life, live by your vision." - Steve Jobs, 1995-2011