
InterviewI went for a JPA interview last year. It was a group interview in which several candidates will sit around and discuss a topic while the interviewers listen. I was delighted when the topic was national service. Since I was enrolled in the three-month program before, I could keep blabbering about the experience I had. "That went well" I thought. But I turned down the scholarship offer. It wasn't what I wanted.
Recently I went for another interview. I didn't have high hopes for this. The two interviewers didn't seem to have prepared much questions. After I've finished answering a question they'd look out of the window and ponder on the next questions to ask. Not wanting the awkward silence to ensue, I mentioned that I joined the national service program. It seems that my experience at the national service serves as a good ice breaker.
Orphanage visitThis is unprecedented. I've never went to an orphanage before and I wanted to do some charity. I grabbed the chance to do so in the weekend as my club held such a visit. It's the first time I'm staying in the campus during the weekends too as the visit is on a Saturday morning. We went to the orphanage, played games with the children and gave a somewhat horrible performance of two christmas songs to the kids (coz we didn't rehearse). The small boys, mostly indians, are surprisingly good, cheerful and obedient. I guess they've really become more independent as they're not spoilt by parents. A kid even insisted on sweeping the floor with the only broom available even though we offered our help.
SurpriseJust a few days later, I received a great news. I got the scholarship! It's a 50% off my tuition fees and that really halved my parents burden as we saved around 10k per year. I feel great!
Now I can spend those money like crazy. I believe it's kinda like karma, my past national service experience and my small charity work has brought me this.
And about karma, my negligence to my assignments which I should have done so much earlier is giving me a serious headache for this and next week,
after which I'd be on holiday!