indispensable
it's time for hall application once again. and soon, when the results of hall application is out, there will be politics once more - people wondering why they cannot stay, people demanding for more points, people demanding explanation why person a gets more points than person b when person b does more things than person a.
this is the time of hall stay that i both hate and love. hate that things get political. love because the smiles of the superficial are finally lost and they reveal their true colours. gives even more kick if you know that that person aren't sincere and no ones believe you, until his or her true colours are revealed.
but then again, i'm happy that i'm not part of all these action this year.
when i was in first year, someone once told me that if you prove to be indispensable, the hall will want you back no matter what. i laughed when i heard it.
first, there is no such thing as indispensable. it's either good-to-have, or we-will-do-fine-but-not-as-good-without-you. if anyone is really indispensable, what about those "indispensable" seniors that has since left?
next, wouldn't it be bad for the hall if you're indispensable? think about the long-term running of the place.
the greatest thing one can do for an organisation is not being indispensable or to carve a legacy for yourself. that is a short-sighted view. the greatest thing one can do for an organisation is to nurture and allow people to take over him or her and make things even better than he or she could.
as much as i'm worried that i wouldn't be able to get back into hall next year, i'm feeling assured that there are a bunch of people, who are more talented than i am, who will make things even better. yes, i will miss hall life greatly if i don't get to come back, but what will the hall gain if i had suppressed them to make myself "indispensable"?
of course, those working out there would say that it is a matter of keeping their jobs. but think about it - if you're occupying your space and preventing those more capable than you to take over just because you want to secure your job, will your organisation become better in the long run? imagine if everyone in the organisation does that, you wouldn't be able to move up either.
so what happens to the organisation in the end? it either stagnate, or declines. how does that benefit your job then?
legacies, even cast in stone, will still be doubted in the future and eroded away.
carving a name out for yourself? why be so short-sighted when all goes back to nothing
how about doing something for the next group, so that they can do something for their future groups?
this is the time of hall stay that i both hate and love. hate that things get political. love because the smiles of the superficial are finally lost and they reveal their true colours. gives even more kick if you know that that person aren't sincere and no ones believe you, until his or her true colours are revealed.
but then again, i'm happy that i'm not part of all these action this year.
when i was in first year, someone once told me that if you prove to be indispensable, the hall will want you back no matter what. i laughed when i heard it.
first, there is no such thing as indispensable. it's either good-to-have, or we-will-do-fine-but-not-as-good-without-you. if anyone is really indispensable, what about those "indispensable" seniors that has since left?
next, wouldn't it be bad for the hall if you're indispensable? think about the long-term running of the place.
the greatest thing one can do for an organisation is not being indispensable or to carve a legacy for yourself. that is a short-sighted view. the greatest thing one can do for an organisation is to nurture and allow people to take over him or her and make things even better than he or she could.
as much as i'm worried that i wouldn't be able to get back into hall next year, i'm feeling assured that there are a bunch of people, who are more talented than i am, who will make things even better. yes, i will miss hall life greatly if i don't get to come back, but what will the hall gain if i had suppressed them to make myself "indispensable"?
of course, those working out there would say that it is a matter of keeping their jobs. but think about it - if you're occupying your space and preventing those more capable than you to take over just because you want to secure your job, will your organisation become better in the long run? imagine if everyone in the organisation does that, you wouldn't be able to move up either.
so what happens to the organisation in the end? it either stagnate, or declines. how does that benefit your job then?
legacies, even cast in stone, will still be doubted in the future and eroded away.
carving a name out for yourself? why be so short-sighted when all goes back to nothing
how about doing something for the next group, so that they can do something for their future groups?
posted by yanjie at
5:32 AM
1 Comments:
Hey Yanjie,
Good luck for your hall application. I've never stayed in halls when I was in uni so won't be able to comment on that. But a pal of mine, like you, was commenting on the politics behind the selection process - with the 'favored' ones getting the best rooms and all.
For me, after the time spent in my army bunk (during NS), I very much prefer the comfort of my own bed.
Cheers,
C K
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