Monday, July 17, 2006

Dearth Of Labwork

I am going through the time of no labwork... Many may say thats good. To me its a sign of unproductivity. I am desperate to get back on track. To see my patients and get started with doing all the labworks and issuing all the stuffs I have targetted myself to by the end of this term.

My pace is slow, I feel that I am going to lose the race. So many screw-up this term. Every week I will get at least 1 just to screw my week. I am getting so short-tempered that I think many around me are getting irritated as well.

Dentistry bring out the best and worst in me. It forced me to plan till the very best that i could given the current situation which i still advocate to book all 9 weeks at 1 shot. The worst is apparent, my temper. Like the active volcano in indonesia, anytime can erupt.

Anyways a sidenote from Eugene, time is infinitely divisible. Quite an interesting concept. Hard to explain my thoughts about the concept, but basically it will mean infinitely work can be done within approx zero time.

Sunday, July 02, 2006

I am afraid.

I feel afraid. School is gonna start tomolo and I am very afraid of the unknown. Not being able to plan for the full 9 weeks has given me a lot of uneasiness. I probably will end up tackle each day as it comes rather than the concise planning i had the previous term.

I really hope that things can go my way. Moreover to go thru the booking of the sessions again and again is really way too troublesome and effort for just 3 weeks... Why not just do it once and get over and done with it. Anything u wanna change go do internal swap.

Perhaps, I am biased coz this way has worked so well for me. Others may says booking 3 weeks allow more flexiblity. To me i think its a limitation for me to plan till the end of week 9.

Whatever la. Think the situation is fixed liao. Nothing more i say will change the situation. Just hope for the best la. But I firmly believed I'll be able to achieve much more if i am given the bookings for all 9 weeks.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Disappointment and Anger

For the 1st time after a very long while, I snapped.

Maybe its just too much, maybe enough is enough, maybe its just me.
Factors like cancer, like diabetes, like periodontitis, its multifactorial.

I asked myself, is it something i didnt do, or is it I tried too hard.
I accessed myself. I think I am a good friend. I'll go all out to help a friend. I'll send a frd home even if he/she stays in Jurong even if it damn out of the way. I've done that. But why am I always treated as a 2nd level friend. Someone not so impt, but available when help is needed. Someone who most doesnt care about, just notice his presence.

I always know that friendship aint that equal. There will always be someone that is more impt, that ppl will care about. I dun need to be that someone. I just need to know that at bare minimal my frds will help me in due time. Yet time and again, I am disappointed. I dun even need them to help coz I'm so used to doing things myself. But at least show a bit of care that you should as a frd instead of brushing me off like some bug, some dust.

I am worth much much more than that.
There are others that deserve my friendship more i guess.

At least i know i still have other friends. Friends that will at least care.

Saturday, May 20, 2006

34-2

Well.. one less to fight for triming machine, space to mount cast and of course instructors. She has decided to leave this sucky place for good. All I'll say is that its a pity, she has good hands. Still if its a calling, then go for it gal.

Like the card says You will be missed.

I guess many have written about this incident in their blog so dun think i need to explain further. Just be happy.

More on life in dental school.
Effectively 34 weeks more to complete 8 disciplines of competencies.
Future looks bleak.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Bye Bye Bye

Well.. I lost my exam case. Honestly, I am not that happy about it. Especially after I've spent so much time on it. Its okay I guess. I just have to keep going on.

Was talking to one of my classmate, he was saying things about helping the slower ppl etc etc. Not that I am seriously in need of help, perhaps I am but I'm more of a lone ranger. But it will feel good if ppl mention ur name that are looking out for competencies cases for u.

Perhaps, I dun portrays to others that i am slow or whatever. But the truth is. I am. I dun need others to know coz there is nothing that they can do about it as well. But the realisation is quite shocking. I am almost behind for all subjects. No F/F issued till now, no class 2 done, no OHP, no FP case to start(coz its taken away). Worrying as it seems, I hope I can catch up. I just need to cases to do and I will do them. Maybe except for OHP.

Whatever it is. Time to work faster.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Bad Day

I should have known that today is gonna be a bad day. If u get spontaneous chest pain that radiates to ur arm and back with breathing difficulty while doing scaling and polishing for ur patient. Its either a sign of angina/AMI or simply a warning of a real bad day.

I am not able to see my 3rd patient for today (thankfully he is my cousin-in-law). That the 1st bad sign. But clinic overall wasnt that bad. In fact its pretty good. Yet, bad things r perhaps like snowball, they roll and get bigger.

My FP patient couldnt make it for his appointment that i have painstakingly changed with so many of my classmates, going throught the trouble to plan the timing for the whole term and try to ensure that he will be able to get his treatment ASAP. Perhaps, like i always say if there is a place that things doesnt go your way, it had to be dental school. Once again it is true.

Anyways the worse is yet to be. I was totally gone. I dunno what i am thinking, i dunno what i am saying. Problem lead to problem, misunderstanding leads to more misunderstanding. I have done my part to prepare, to discuss, should i deserve at least a clap for my effort. Instead I was shot down, grilled alive and yet none spoke. I was left to die. Until the raw nerve was triggered, I got real pissed, freaking pissed. I may not have all the knowledge, I may not have the experience, but I have my principles. Never question my intergrity, coz i feel that it is an utmost insult.

Anyways all in all things just doesnt go my way. My anger is kind of subsided now. So perhaps I cant write much anymore. Just wanna say that things does get better. I actually found my denture tooth that flew while i was trimming, to those who know what i meant its almost a miracle.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Keep Going

Thats what I tell myself everyday. Keep going. Patients default, criterias unfulfilled, patients unsuitable, patients decide to leave S'pore for good, getting book for ending late. I just say, keep going, do whatever I can do. Plan whatever i can plan. Still things are never smooth.

Ppl outside dental school can never understand our agony, our situation. School is not just school. Everyday is a battle to be won. From planing of sessions, who to be seen, phone call and more phone calls, wat to be done, things to be prepared, instruments to be ordered, timing to be followed, labworks to be rushed to keep up with clinical schedules, lectures to attend (which is really the easiest), seminars to be prepared with clinical findings, Treatment planning (which differs from instructors to instructors), criterias to fulfil to take competency tests, searching high and low for patients with indications to meet criteria and take competency tests. Rules to follow, so many obscured ones that u only learnt about when u get screwed or if u r lucky told off. Those above are only things to be done if everything run smoothly which doesnt happen in dental school, at least not to me.

Patient's default, patient cannot make it for the timing u scheduled, change appointment, change instructors with ur classmates (who r also having troubles just like youself). Labwork screwed up (not by yourself), things that you never know that you have to know that are so remote that you may never know until u have been questioned. Your imperfection is not allowed, not acceptable.

I searched my soul. I've done all i could to keep up. I did all the planning, i did all the calling, i did all the thinking, i did all the reading, i did more reading than i am supposed to, i question to learn, i yearn to learn, yet i want to fulfil my criterias so i dun get retained. Statistics have shown that 1 out of 6 guys in a class will be retained. Looks like I'm on my way there.

If u ask me if I am able to do a those criterias that i am supposed to fulfil. I will say yes. Just that I havent got them yet. Keep going someday I'll get them to come. Just hope that its within this year.

Most stress come from luckier classmates where things just goes their way. 1/2 a page of OD card is all that it takes for them to fulfil their criteria. I'm on my way to the 3rd. Envious I'll say I am. Yet, I'm glad that ppl can move ahead coz they are all my friends not classmates.

Keep going Class of 2007.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Things Not To Do!!!

I am awake now coz my dear sister force me out of my bed at 12 midnight just to fix her stupid wireless connnection for her lappy.

Things one should never do is to force a person sleeping to wake up and do some stupid nonsense like this. For one I will get damn damn damn freaking pissed off. Under the influence of lack of sleep and stressful violent nightmares I've been having, she is actually endangering her ownself by commiting such an act.

2nd thing not to do to me, is to restrict me to my food when I am hungry. That have serious consequences as well.

Maybe I'm just an ass. But I think its my basic instincts to have my sleep and food.

Friday, April 07, 2006

To The Next Level

Literally, indeed I am officially up to the next level to Clinic 3 which presently is in quite a mess and personally I do not like mess. It give me the feeling of unease and what I see influence my mood. I believed it works very much of many ppl. So I'll be expecting the ppl who works there to be in a pretty bad mood when I starts my clinics in this new playground. Let's hope we dun get screwed too badly.

Personally, I do not dislike school. In fact with the out look of so many clinical sessions, I'm pretty thrilled. Aim of this term; Learn more, Practice more and Know more. I still will admit that I am inexperience. I expect no smoothsailing term. There's bound to be obstacles, and even disheartening events. Yet, I will learn and nurture in this harsh environment. Motto of the term, pick urself up at where u fall. I believe even experience clinicians do make mistakes, all I need to make sure is that I am not going to commit any mistakes due to insufficient preparations on my part.

Today, the most successful class outing ever has happened with almost 100% turn out. The sad part is what brought the class together is 9 sets of papers for booking of instructors rather than the class spirit. Throughout the booking session which took us from 3pm all the way to 7.30pm. Due to the fact that it is indeed a very complicated process. Great job to dennis, adrian and nijam who planned out everything. Imperfection is within expectations, perhaps we all should show more appreciation. Honestly, without them, we all can go forget about seeing patients. I apologise for the imperfections I've raised, I was being myself again, an idealist.

Many I know hated how holidays passed by so swiftly and the impending beginning of the new game. Perhaps, its the environment we hated rather than the school itself. Once again, I shall say. Schools really isnt that tough, just that we should work together as a class to fight the battle rather than as individuals trying to outdo each other. Coz at the end of the day, we are fighting for the BDS. I guess things will still pretty much be the same, coz ppl are many times too often lured by the immediate rewards of self-gain, rather than to look at the greater picture for the good of everyone in the long term. Maybe becoz its too obscured. Yet for simplified version please watch "A Beautiful Mind".

Simply put it in this way, would you rather be just someone who graduate from dental school in 2007 or be someone who is part of a class 2007 and proud of it. I'm not good with words, so may not make much sense to you all. Idealistic thoughts I guess. Perhaps thats why I have so much frustrations at times, coz I dun understand people.

To the few who still believe. You will be my friend after everything and not my classmate.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Ridiculous Story

I dunno how to start. But I am simply amazed, irritated, pissed, upset and whatever by this whole bloodly situation. Perhaps many might be offended by this entry. Do not read if you are narrow-minded.

Class of 2007 (hopefully) finally cleared stage 3 of their 4 years quest to attain enlightment. It all started with someone saying: Why not we go to Redang? Many said yes, some said no and as usually the most said see 1st or dunno.

So that's the plan: Go Redang as a class. No matter who the hell is going. Then some say (the females) we dun wanna go with the guys. Thats fine. Honestly. Perhaps guys seems like wolves to many. But more shit get stirred, as females are not equal to gals in the class. Rather its = selected gals in the class.

Those who plan never realised or consider how the rest might feel when they start to make this more exclusive. Many times I've learnt that a group/clique starts forming not when ppl start to gather, rather its when the rest of the world start to be excluded. Personally, I've been through this many times. Being excluded from groups like this for my life.

Those within the group never realised there might be others who would like to be in. Perhaps becoz of silly things like friendship. Those who are excluded only realised they dun have their friendship when the selection process begins.

Those who are lucky to stay within are somehow those individuals that ppl likes. I mean thats life. Some get the better of the others. They have never been excluded to realised the sadness. They have never been excluded to understand the disappointment

To those who fortunately are excluded. Be glad that u are not inside the circle. Coz you would have missed the rest of the whole if you are stucked inside. And through this selection process, you have further filtered off those so-called friends that you have.

For those who are within, you never know when the group is gonna be more specialised until you yourself will have to been excluded. Then you will know the pain that you have inflicted upon other before.

If you ask me, I think this is ridiculous. Coz the ending of the situation is that the selected gals are going to Redang just 1 day before the guys. Probably they might meet there as well. So whats all this bullshit all about.

Perhaps becoz we are all different. And frdship is not about being able to be joined together for an activity. It is about accepting each other difference and be at ease with it.

Personally, I'm glad I have better frds than this. We do not need to go for holiday together to be called frds. We do not need to be eating lunch every other day together to be called frds. All we need is to know we'll be there for each other whoever were to fall.

Its just my own opinion. No offences are intended.

Eh Eugene- Is honesty still the best policy?

Saturday, March 18, 2006

9hrs Again

In exactly 9 hrs time. My exam will officially be over. Provided no Viva. Viva result for Oral Pathology and Surgery are out today. Luckily no one got any extinction viva.

Hopefully everythings goes well tomorrow then we all can have fun.

Monday, March 13, 2006

9 more hrs

In 12 hr time, my 1st paper of this exam will be over. The only reason why I am blogging now is simply becoz I know that even if I were to off the lights and try to sleep, I'll be awake until ard 6/7am. This has been happening to me for the past few days.

I think probably becoz I truly have no confidence even in passing this exam. We have no CAs for the past year for medicine and surgery, so pass/fail basically is hanging on this paper. How can 3 hr of exam determine how much we know and worse determine our fate to be retain/not.

Moreover, I still have no idea what they expects of us. Till now, I have no idea of what i need to know and what I dun for surgery and my paper is in, lets see, 9 hrs time. And without prior CAs, I can't gauge that the examiners would like to see in the answer scripts aka no guides.

I must admit, I'm not someone who truly have the substance in me, rather I've always try find the safest way to pass. Honestly, no one can really remember everything at their finger tips. Perhaps after years and years or experiences.

Whatever the case, i'll still have to take the paper. Wish Me Luck Ppl and for my class too.

Friday, March 10, 2006

DRing In Progress

Just read Wendy's blog. Time really really flies, faster than what we usually think it does. They are all gonna graduate liao. I can't imagine calling Wendy by Dr Chuah. She mentioned that she is going to Europe after her papers, sounds like presents to me.

Can't wait for my turn next year. Though nothing is confirmed yet. But I am really keen. At least it is one thing that i really look forward to. I better start saving.

Yet, the exam this time seems too difficult. But I guess I am not the only one who felt this way. All that I've spoke to does not have much confidence this time round. Still we all have to go through this. 3 more days to D-day.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

I was Bored...

Your Heart Is Blue
Love is a doing word for you. You know it's love when you treat each other well.You are a giving lover, but you don't give too much. You expect something in return.
Your flirting style: Friendly
Your lucky first date: Lunch at an outdoor cafe
Your dream lover: Is both generous and selfish
What you bring to relationships: Loyalty
What Color Heart Do You Have?

Monday, March 06, 2006

Kiss Goodbye

Just wanna introduce this song by Wang Li Hong...
I like it. Wanna let Lulin hear it, too bad she sleep liao.
Well, which normal person will be awake now beside Geng Feng.

http://blog.tpp8.com/User/lovely_cat/1930341212201.mp3

Anyways I just did Eugene's Johari Window. Surprisingly I chose all the traits he had chosen for himself. Back to mugging I guess. 1 week of hell, 1 week of exam, then we shall have happiness (maybe for 2 weeks?)

Saturday, March 04, 2006

I can't sleep

Although I usually sleep really little. And my bedtime can be ard 2am. But I really got trouble trying to get to sleep.

Perhaps its the impending doom. My 3rd BDS final exam is just 9 days away. I think i am really in trouble. Anyways decided to start this Johari thingy for fun.

http://kevan.org/johari?name=Stanley_Kok

actually this one more fun
http://kevan.org/nohari?name=Stanley_Kok


help me do ok.. Though I think most ppl dun visit my blog anymore coz i must admit it is already on life support ie almost dead.

Well, perhaps there are other things that require more of my attention rather than blogging. Example: Exams, Lulin etc etc. Things of great importance.

Anyways, anyone wanna do Ortho aka bracers aka sticking buttons and wire to ur teeth to straighten them. Not that i can do for u, but i can do the examination though, then refer u to the post-grads.

Come to think of it most of u who might read my blog have straight/straighten teeth already. With people like Eugene around, dental clinics can all close shop i guess.

To 99S12 Happy Victorian's Day (4th of March) if u guys dunno. The OVA keep sending me mails to go back to celebrate. Well, I must admit that VJC means nothing to me unless you guys are there. Hope to meet up soon. To the Med Ppl good luck for u Final MBBS, I looking forward to get my MCs from u all.

Back to trying to sleep.

Friday, January 27, 2006

'F'eeling 'F'unny

Feeling funny today.
Perhaps I am having too many emotions, thoughts, plans. ie the things your brain usually does but in a mixed up manner.

Bad news of the week, I flunged my CAs. Getting F for both paper (I call it 'F'inal 'F'antasy). Honestly, it is kind of expected given that I never truly understood Oral pathology. I have perhaps been putting in too much emphasis on my clinical work for the past year since I started clinics proper.

I love clinics, love to see patients. I truly cant wait to become a full time practioner. But 1st I better get thru my 3rd BDS. Just need to buck up i guess, I still have time.

Though I keep getting setbacks thru my dentistry course. Though I am not on my way to fulfiling all my criterias to qualify me for my Final BDS. Yet, I feel that I am doing everything right. Though sometimes it may be discouraging to see that I am lagging behind my peers, I have tried my best to take it at my stride.

Dentistry is indeed a very competitive course. If u never been thru it u can never understand. I've gave up trying to explain it to Eugene. Perhaps because we are too proud to lose. The consequence of losing in this race is not about getting retained, not about the $$, but the pride that I priced above than anything.

Perhaps Weisong is right that I should be more focus and try to fulfil my criteria. Yet, I can't bring myself to do things that some of my peers are doing. Not that it is wrong. Just that all patients are impt to me whether anot are they contributing to my quota to sit for the exams. Once I decided to take up the patient. I will take them all the way to restore their oral health, rather than just to do those procedures that are needed for me to take exams or competencies.

Yet, I am losing the race. Those who focus-fire will reach the end 1st, without a doubt. I just hope that I can get there in time. Yet, I still feel disheartened at times like now.

Many seniors have told me that dentistry will bring the best and the worst out of ppl. As the days goes by, i find that's very true. I am in no position to judge what other are doing. i only have myself to answer i guess. i know that i have always put my patients interests before my own thats all the comfort i have i guess.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Reported Speech

Well, its Sunday nite. And once again I am suffering from Pre-school blue sydrome. I, as usual have tonnes of things to do. Yet, I am not doing. Read a dozen books prepare for clinics tomolo, etc etc. But I just ended up stoning in front of my comp. Reading blogs (mostly un-updated), probably most ppl are too busy with their life to blog.

Anyways, nothing much to say, just glad that I have a well spent and rested weekend.

Friday, went to a dinner at the alumini house at SGH. Turned out to be quite different from what i expected. At 1st i thought its gonna be very restrictive etc etc of a formal function, but turned out to be just eating with some super duper old doctors. Seems like everybody knows everybody. Anyways, the gist of it is that, its a greying alumini, most of them are old, very few young blood. It does seems to me that they are a bunch of very onz ppl when they were younger I guess. They are forever mentioning about the spirit of the alumini, which i think i understand. Something like I saying about class spirit, yet getting no response. dejectful it is indeed. Ppl these days r too individualistic. Nothing wrong, but perhaps we are missing out too much.

Saturday, packed my day with Lulin. had our Mac's, swam, shopped, just missed out kite flying, the layang queen cant wait to fly kite, so maybe tuesday if there is no rain.

Today, basically slack, too lazy to read, only did my wax-up, not v.nice, but can la..

Blog has now reduced to a reported speech station, thanks Singapore.

Monday, October 24, 2005

Food Poisoned Me, Mind Intoxicated Me.

I should either be sleeping or studying now. I can't sleep coz I've slept too much through out the whole of today and yesterday. I can't study becoz the medication i took just cause too much drowsiness that I am getting dbl vision while reading the notes.

Anyways, today is the 1st time ever that I have taken a sick leave since I started clinics from end of Year 2. And its the 1st time that I've gotten food poisoning. Till now I still have no idea of what have caused it. But it doesnt really matter.

I have just a lot of frustrations in me. So much things to do, so much things to manage, I just wanna give up. I am not moving on in clinics, though I must say that every session is a session learnt. Learning from mistakes is not a good experience, feels like crap everytime that happened.

Saturday, October 08, 2005

Wedding Bells

Today, I attended Wei Hon and Lynn Hwee church wedding.

Its my very first friends' wedding. I must say that it is really quite nice to have a church wedding. The only problem is that I think I might fall asleep while the pastor is doing all the readings and I am no christian.

Anyways, I just had some baileys from the left over from last Friday after the wire bending session. Feeling rather philosophical. The big question I have is what is wedding?

Is it a formality, convention, contract, affirmation or izzit just scary.

As the wedding proceeds today, I can't help but to think, will I end up there in Wei Hon's shoes in less than 10 years time. Nahz... I have just confirmed I have marriage phobia. But that's not the discussion for today. Why must wedding involve so many ppl? Why must there be a wedding ceremony. If 2 persons are really meant for each other why still need a wedding?

Okay I'm getting rather incoherent. Alcohol is not good. To be continue... Cant really think now...