J of the Jungle

You may wonder what it takes for something to feature on this blog.

If you have read this for the past 5 years, you'd know it is not only my musings. I also include pieces I find interesting that speaks to me and my circumstances. These will therefore all be captured in posterity (or for as long as Blogger.com remains in operations).

Naturally, the last 3 entries and now this 4th one are not written by me. There are essays by my children but clearly I found these meaningful and worth recording. This one was written at the end of 2016 and got J admitted into a number of US universities.

Photocredit: discoverdruham.com

The continuous high-pitched whine had my soldiers at wits’ end. The cloud of mosquitoes around our heads bore the distinctive stripes of the Aedes genus: carrier of the dreaded Zika virus and Dengue fever.

As the insect chatter rang in my ears, my boots bit into my heels and thorns wedged themselves in my arms. Never before had I felt so alive. I urged my platoon on.

We had a destination to reach. For this exercise, arriving undetected mattered. This depended not only on our training and knowledge, but also our attitude and resolve, turning away from the path of least resistance to stay concealed.

Navigation was tough; the challenges I faced in the mountains of Australia and Taiwan, the rainforests of Brunei and Indonesia, the arid plains of Mongolia and the savannahs of Zimbabwe taught me that nothing in these majestic yet relentless environments came easy. Their inaccessibility underscored their mystic beauty, and my resolve to unravel them grew. Years of training with my scout troop and the military honed my ability to visualize terrain to the finest detail, to know instinctively where we came from and where we had to go.

Nonetheless, there was still much I did not know, and the deeper understanding I craved could only come through completely immersing myself in Nature: its communities and its vagaries.

I am reminded of the Silver Desert Ant (Cataglyphis Bombycina) every time I traverse unknown terrain. Clothed in reflective armor to minimize radiation from the sun, it is easily the hardiest creature in its barren habitat. Using this to its advantage, it ventures out for food in the heat of the day, when predators scurry for shade. Yet, it can only withstand a few minutes of such thermal stress. Hence, its sense of direction, derived via vectoring the sun’s position and an internal pedometer, is absolutely crucial. Should it fail to find its way to the nest, death follows swiftly.

More than the grab-and-go missions of the specialized desert ants, the living rafts of Amazonian Fire Ants (Solenopsis Invicta) and even the colony building efforts of Garden Ants in my ant farm display selflessness that I initially thought was beyond the humble insect. Yet day after day they bravely risk lives and limbs for the survival of their colony, protecting their queen and her larvae.

In the animal kingdom, short lifespans mean there is little difference between survival and sustainability - continuity is essential. Somewhere in our evolution though, we seem to have forgotten this. Around me, an increasingly affluent Asia is bombarded with invitations to “The Great Singapore Sale”, “Black Friday Discounts”; even Mother’s Day and Christmas have been commercialized. They encourage self-centered consumerism, which could well lead us down a path of unsustainable over-consumption.

A man of the jungle, living in a small city-state devoid of natural resources leaves me yearning to be closer to nature, knowing that the demands of modern society can be met without depleting Nature’s capacity. A man of hope, I believe we will remember our responsibility to future generations. I want to live and leave a better world.

Looking for a way to realize this dream, my vocation found me. While undergoing military service, I discovered an organization with a purpose I identify with: to protect and serve. I am proud to be part of it and hunger for the guidance of a strong education so that I may better shape the system from within, to be better able to battle the insidious forces that threaten the natural environment, our physical and spiritual home.

Democritus advised: “Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.” I draw inspiration from the way nature intended us to live; the betterment of the community is not so much an ideal as it is an absolute necessity to protect the world that we so dearly love.

Still on the topic of personal statements ...

I had posted here, with pride, essays of M. J obviously went thru the same process a couple of years earlier. This is one that got him into various universities in the UK (which he eventually opted not to go to)

Nature fascinates me. As a child I wandered around my neighbourhood catching bugs, marveling at the sheer diversity of their species and roles in the natural world. This was my first exposure to etymology and evolution, leaving me thirsting for more. Growing older, my expeditions brought me further afield. I studied, and on occasion had to live off, biomes ranging from Bruneian jungles to Australian mountains and Mongolian steppes. Here I learned to appreciate the way our environment shapes us, through its rugged and often beautiful ecosystems.

In pursuit of explanations for the phenomena I marveled at when outdoors, I came across Geography. The interdisciplinarity of the A-Level curriculum encompassed physical and human aspects, allowing me to intimately research scientific topics such as Tsunami Genesis. This taught us the origins and spatial distribution of tsunamis, and how to mitigate against their devastating effects through hard and soft preventive measures. At the same time, I investigated qualitatively the interplay between anthropogenic climate change and the Earth’s own Milankovitch cycles in raising global temperatures. Both scientific and human perspectives allow us to better understand the complex environment we live in. Perhaps studying this relationship more intimately would advance the sustainable development we desperately need in the face of Global Warming.

My love for the environment drove me to conserve it for future generations: I devoted my youth to finding a way to achieve balance between our modern way of life and the ancient natural processes beyond our control. In 2012, I travelled to Taiwan to design and build earthquake-proof buildings for the safety of their citizens. In 2013, I juxtaposed Temasek history and Peranakan culture against economy and technology to define the Singapore identity on a national stage. In 2014, I trained for, then competed in the International Geography Olympiad held in Krakow, presenting Singaporean population and resource management strategies to solve major urban planning issues on a global scale.

Despite the years I spent researching, I knew that my understanding remains incomplete.

Beyond the academic arena, I sought Geography once again during my time in the military. Our tactics were derived from the most strategic use of surrounding terrain. I realised that victory did not belong to the side that fought the landscape, instead it belonged to the side able to use the landscape to fight for them. This has proven true since the Battle of Thermopylae, and continued to manifest itself throughout history: Russia repeatedly defended the North European Plain against the Poles, Swedes, French and Germans, China sought the annexation of Tibet to prevent invaders from amassing on the commanding heights of the Tibetan Plateau. Truly, geographical acuity can determine the fate of nations.

As President of the United States and its Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama hiked up Alaskan glaciers to personally come to terms with the significance of climate change today. Indeed, Geography informs our political, social and economic decisions on the highest levels, and cannot be overlooked.

Having lived in both Malaysia, a land dotted with oil palm and rubber plantations, and Singapore, a tiny island with a sixth of Malaysia’s population, I understand two paradigms. The first is that of the large peninsula rich and resources and manpower, able to craft policies to utilise them, whereas the metropolitan city-state with neither, has to rely instead on import and ingenuity to stay afloat. The choices that we make in order to cope with the environmental hand we are dealt defines us as nations and spells our future.

I wish to stand at the confluence of Physical and Human Geography to find the way forward for our societies to best work with, not against nature to achieve sustainability. This requires a broad yet intimate understanding of both Nature’s and Man’s vagaries, one which I hope to acquire through my further studies in one of the finest institutions in the UK.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

M also applied to US universities but merely get onto the waitlist. She had only applied to top "ivy league and equivalent" schools which are notoriously hard to get into (the recent admission shenanigans aside). In their response, the US schools however demonstrate a masterclass in managing disappointments!

One school wrote back,
"I hope you understand that the decision reflects the extraordinary range of talents represented in our applicant pool and not a judgment about your own abilities and potential. Of the nearly thirty seven thousand individuals who applied this year, most are fully capable of doing outstanding work and making a contribution to a campus community. It is painful to us that we must turn away so many superlatively talented students. You may be tempted to ask what was lacking in your application. In truth, it is usually difficult to point to obvious weaknesses when so many applicants have demonstrated real achievements and potential for the future. Our decisions say far more about the small number of spaces available and the difficult choices we make than they do about a candidate's personal and academic promise".
What linguistic prowess!

Well, it is unfortunate she was not chosen but her personal statement essay already tell us she will rise well from this.

Sounds of stiff applause filled the arena. Competitors filed in, discreetly sizing each other up. The tension was palpable, alongside the unmistakable smell of treats.

I was 12 and at my maiden canine obedience competition with my 6-month-old poodle, Caramel. Awaiting our turn, I felt Caramel’s nose against my ankle. Neither of us were good with anxiety: at the vet, Caramel had thrown up in hopes of escaping vaccination.

“Next, please.” Heart racing, I signalled her to begin the routine. To my relief, the first segment progressed well. Caramel surprised me (and the judges, I hoped) with impeccable moves.

However, part two was less certain. Despite weeks of practice, we had not mastered the “sit-and-stay”, because six-month-old Caramel just could not keep still. After instructing her, I headed for the exit, but the sound of muffled laughter stopped me. I whipped around, only to find her crouched in the midst of a Number Two. Speechless, I watched horrified as Caramel finished her business and fled the room, disqualifying us. All hopes of winning were soiled, literally.

Running after Caramel, I felt like an utter loser. My grandparents would be aghast! Second-generation immigrants to Malaysia, failing was not an option in their struggles against discrimination. They had taught me that only winners are rewarded. Imagining their frowns at this public disgrace, I was close to tears. I had never not aced before.

Upon finding Caramel, my mortification eased. Wiggling her bottom joyfully, she was oblivious to her blunder. I couldn’t help laughing. Indeed, it was absurd to be ashamed of failing instead of laughing it off and moving on! So, we re-entered the arena, my head (and her tail) held high to friendly applause.

I’ve been in many competitions since, albeit without Caramel who still poops at awkward times. Playing softball competitively for 6 years and representing my country on several occasions, I know the heartache of strikeouts and elation of homeruns. Palms sweating before each match, I was anxious throughout every season but I grew better at conquering the fear of losing. Familiar with the pain of failure on the field, I rallied my teammates when they underperformed. Earliest at trainings and last to leave, our tireless practise saw us rise from underdogs to national champions.

It was one thing to occasionally lose in sports, but it was more daunting to fail in areas I have always excelled in. Although well-meaning peers warned against overloading my schedule and staining my near-perfect grades, I accepted a prestigious offer to read Geopolitics at the National University of Singapore. A geography student surrounded by history majors, I struggled without the pre-requisite foundations (Robert McNamara seemed like just another bespectacled Caucasian.) Knowing less than others was tough, but I wanted to learn – not to become the best, but to satisfy my curiosity. I devoured jargoned readings and researched issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict. Fortunately Singapore is far-removed from violent conflict, but Benedict Anderson’s observation of nationalism as Imagined Communities holds true. Having completed the final assessments, I don’t know what my grade is, but it’s all good. At least, I now recognise defence secretaries and understand how conflicts shape policies, or how policies worsen conflict in the thick of the fog of war.

By the time I was elected vice-chair of the school’s Peer Support Board, I was unafraid to try new things and risk failure, but this also made me overzealous. In organizing Orientation programmes, my proactive ways prevented assigned leaders from working things out themselves. Thereafter, I consciously sought others’ opinions, learning to empower rather than command.

Born determined and competitive, I cannot help striving for the best. Now though, I’ve learnt to seize instead of size opportunities. Inspired by Caramel, I’ve learnt that failing is but a chance to improve. Like her, I’ll aim for Number 1, but won’t let life’s Number 2s get me down!

 PS: about a month ago, Caramel's brother, Summer passed after living a long 15 dog years. He is happy in doggy heaven.

Flying the coop

M passed her driving test two days ago. This means she can now move around even more freely around the city. It's yet another step towards adult freedom she is taking.

Come October though, she will be taking more than a step: more like a leap or a flight! After working really hard throughout her schooling years, she has done well and got admitted into a good university over in the UK.

Photo credit: Carl Court, Getty Images

The university admission process nowadays include submitting a personal statement. Here's the one she wrote that got her into her university.

My neighbours are unpleasant. They lack etiquette, quarrel vociferously, raid our kitchen and mate indiscriminately in public. While nettled by their temerity and thievery, I feel for them. These long-tailed macaque monkeys were left hungry and homeless as nearby forests were cleared for urban development. Were we the first intruders? Alarmed, my human neighbours and I petitioned to conserve the forest.

I care about how humans change nature, and how nature fights back. Take climate change: while Albert Tucker’s Prisoners’ Dilemma reinforces the imperative for cooperation, there is equal urgency for individual effort. Thus inspired, I produced a video for the National Climate Change Competition to raise awareness about climate change in Singapore. I explored Dr. Renee Lertzman’s Environmental Melancholia, where though many recognise the climate crisis, its sheer magnitude is paralysing. I addressed this aspect of human nature with a practical vision to reduce Singapore’s carbon footprint, through roads that can harness cars’ kinetic energy to power streetlights. My video was placed second nation-wide, but my bigger takeaway was the importance of behavioral science in mitigating climate change. Driven by humans, eventually affecting humans, solutions must be human-centred.

All nature is founded on biochemistry. It awed me that life could be traced back to the simple elements of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. Intrigued by enantiomerism and its applications in human health, I searched for more but sadly found many gaps: Thalidomide, a drug used to ease morning sickness, caused birth deformities and even deaths due to side effects of its enantiomer. Such unknowns in the medical field underscore the mysteries about humans that still escape us and my curiosity for answers led to my topping Biology in Secondary 4.

Knowing my own studies are incomplete, I opted to read Geopolitics in the National University of Singapore. I learnt a new dimension of human science: the relationship between space and power. Man’s reliance on the environment shapes our policies. Ironically, we cheer scientific breakthroughs for preservation of life, but ignore the millions displaced in conflict. Our Rohingya neighbours suffer atrocities not too long after genocide in Germany. Thus I am grateful that in multi-racial Singapore, urban planning is guided by spatial justice. Amy Chua wrote in ‘Political Tribes’ that humans are wired with tribal instincts & identities. For cohesion of increasingly plural societies, we need both geopolitical and psychological understandings of humans to create liveable spaces that facilitate optimal human relationships. In short, geography makes us human.

 I took this further when participating in the National Geography Challenge. In my fieldwork research on therapeutic landscapes as conceived by Wilbert Gesler, I found hospital green spaces do reduce levels of cancer biomarkers. Through interacting with patients, I also found their need for emotional wellness. I proposed multi-functional infrastructure with natural elements for physiological recovery, such as lining train tracks with grass and vertical farms on apartment blocks. My research contributed to my individual Gold and team Bronze award in the competition, and my selection for the Geography Talent Development Programme.

Keen to see good plans in action, I secured an internship with National Parks Board. I made use of Geographical Information Systems to map out future zones of development for the Botanic Gardens. The exercise helped me appreciate the judicious planning needed to sustain growth in space constrained Singapore. If we can house 7 million on 50 km2, in theory the world’s population could thrive in just 1000 such islands.

Macaque monkeys are not unique to Singapore, nor are the factors contributing to their displacement. I am excited by the prospect of learning alongside leading minds, for a collective impact through individual effort when we return to the different parts of our world.

I don't think I could have written anything half as accomplished had it been my application. Onwards and upwards, my daughter.....