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OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

I believe that I’ve overcome many obstacles in my life. My very first obstacle occurred early in life as I wasn’t able to stand independently until the age of 3 and I wasn’t able to walk until the age of 5 as I had a disease called hydrocephalus, which affects mobility and fine & gross motor skills. When I was born in Shanghai, China on February 19, 1982, my head was unusually large, but doctors in Shanghai didn’t know why. I guess this was because of their conservative attitude as they only believed in traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Unfortunately, those medicines didn’t work and the doctors thought that I wouldn’t make it. However, I never gave up on myself. In 1985, I was fortunate enough to be able to join my dad who had been admitted to the Ph.D. program at Case Western Reserve University. There was a wonderful doctor there named Dr. Nelson, who is the founder of the cure of hydrocephalus. He didn’t perform my surgery because he was in his 70s by the time I went to Cleveland, but he had a medical intern, Dr. Mapstone, who had recently received his MD degree. Dr. Mapstone, with Dr. Nelson supervising, performed the surgery with precision. After the operation, I was able to leave the hospital after only 2 days instead of having to stay there for 1 week, thanks to my great appetite. According to dad, immediately after I woke up from the anesthesia of the surgery, I said “Dad, I’m hungry”. Since it was after 2300 (11:00 PM) when I came off the operating table, the doctors and nurses told me that the hospital cafeteria had already stopped serving hot food and that there were only cold cuts of turkey left over from dinner service. So they brought me some cold turkey and to the surprise, delight & amazement of everyone around me, I gobbled up the turkey like a tiger as I had to fast (no food or fluids) for more than 10 hours before the operation. I was able to leave the hospital after just 3 days since my appetite was so good after the surgery. After I went home, I went through an extensive period of rigorous physical & occupational therapy in order to gain some basic skills. This was done both at home & in school through basic activities such as counting candies & cookies to learn numbers. The reward was that I could eat my lecture if I did well which was reward enough for a 4-year-old.

My first academic hurdle came at Sha Tin College, a member of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) in 1999. As I hadn’t obtained Grade C in enough subjects after Form 5, I couldn’t go straight onto Advanced Levels. Consequently, I had to take what was known as “an alternative to higher education” called a General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) and the Head of the Business Department during the last 2 years that I had to deal with the Business Department was a horrible lady named Sara Wilson. How horrible was she? She wouldn’t grant me approval for certain assignments when she approved the work/research of other students who did work of the same standard or of a lower standard. So I had to do some assignments 3 or 4 times whereas other students only had to do them once or twice. On top of that, this lady was not at all focused on her own work & research. The most compelling evidence of this was that she had a boyfriend named Nigel Lock who also taught at Sha Tin College, although Nigel Lock taught physics. The things I saw these two people doing were unbelievable. Once I saw them arriving 1 hour late for work (although the school day started at 8:00, most teachers were in their respective departmental offices by 7:30). However, once I saw Wilson & Lock rushing into the elevator/lift lobby at 7:50 one day huffing & puffing. I suppose that they had been having sex the night before? Also, they often visited each other in the middle of lectures as the Business Studies Department office was right next to the lecture room. So, Wilson would often sneak into the office during lectures to talk to her boyfriend/lover, Nigel Lock, who, for some unknown reason, was always free during the times that Wilson was teaching. I'm still wondering how 2 people who are thousands of miles apart can fall in love so quickly. Hm. They must've been screwing each other before Wilson went to Malaysia, but if they loved each other so much and wanted each other so badly, why did Wilson go to Malaysia in the first place? I would have ignored this inappropriate behavior if they hadn’t withheld my qualification until the last possible moment by asking me to demonstrate competencies in the most ridiculous “Application of Number” areas and communication skills with people who had horrendous communication skills. They are now in Jakarta and probably having more sex. The bottom line is that that kind of behavior is inappropriate for academic settings. Teenagers don't want to see 2 people in their thirties slobbering over each other. It would've been much more interesting if those 2 did it like my former English teacher, Caroline Paskiewiez did it which was to make romance relevant to the lecture (e.g. appeal, etc.) instead of whining about Diet Cokes as Sara Wilson did. Then, she charged us HK$5 for losing a handout, money that she said was going to fund her purchase of a new car, which is basically bribery.

Another hurdle at Sha Tin College was Jeronime Palmer. Although I don't remember much about her now, I do remember several things. Palmer said that she was a "Ms." instead of a "Miss" because she wasn't married, but she was screwing someone. Or perhaps she was being screwed over. Anyway, she has 4 kids now and no husband. Only a "Scotty the Clown" boyfriend. She also made a big deal out of General Studies, the most boring course at Sha Tin College.

However, I had many positive experiences at Sha Tin College as well. I enjoyed Year 9 camp, the 1997 Shenzhen trip (specifically visiting the McKee's Food Factory, supplier of McDonald's food!) and serving as class representative and graduation ball committee member with Pippa Low are experiences that I'll cherish for the rest of my life.

My pursuit of my Associate degree started in 2001. In the months leading up to this, I started having problems with mom. At that time, we were moving house and so we were staying with a family friend. During that time, she made me go to our old house every day and sit outside on the lawn which was torture. Our old house had no furniture, no TV and no computer since it was being cleaned out because we were moving. I was very angry because what was I supposed to do while she "cleaned house" and there was no TV and no internet? To make matters worse, her attitude wasn’t exactly pleasant either. During this period, she would wake me up and say “We’re leaving” in a very aggressive tone.

 My strongest subjects during the course of my Associate Degree studies were economics, business and accounting, but these weren't the most enjoyable for me because throughout the process, I discovered that I was neither able nor willing to do everything alone. Of course, I tried (and I still try) to be courageous, but I realized that I needed friends with whom I could communicate with and "let off steam", whether positive or negative. For this reason, the most "enjoyable" subjects wereAmerican Literature, psychology, PE and speech. Of cours, I liked accounting, business management and economics too, but that was based more on ability and aptitude than true enjoyment.

The second instance of physical pain came in May, 2002 when orthopedic doctors decided that I would be able to walk better if my hamstrings & heel chords were fractionally lengthened. These muscles could only be lengthened a fraction because if they were fully lengthened surgically, I would have been so weak after the surgery that I wouldn’t have been able to stand up. The pain a few hours after the surgery was excruciating and I wouldn’t have gotten through if it weren’t for the wonderful medical personnel (doctors, nurses & physiotherapists) at the Prince of Wales Hospital, the teaching hospital of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. I actually asked the doctor in charge of my operation how weak I would be after the operation and he said “Weak” for a little while if I did enough rehab exercises and potentially “Very weak” if I didn’t do enough rehab or did improper rehab. So I did proper rehab like a madman and I’m “Strong” now. This was quite an accomplishment if we consider the fact that I could not bend my knees for approximately 6 weeks after the operation (I had the operation on May 24, 2002 and the cast stayed on until July 5, 2002). After July 5, 2002, for approximately 3 months along with extensive therapy at the hospital, I was allowed to bend my knees 20 degrees every week. I was able to walk independently by October, 2002. So I guess perseverance is another of my strongest assets.

Something far more challenging came up on February 20, 2008. This involved the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department in Ngau Tau Kok (contact #: 27554835) on February 20, 2008. This Department is ridiculous beyond words. Here’s why. When I finished my Associate Degree back in 2006, I only went there for a 2-day orientation in December of that year. I expected to learn some basic jobhunting skils and interview skills, but I got more than I bargained for and that's not a good thing. Since that year, it has been nonstop pestering by them. They only get on me for my lack of Chinese, despite the fact that I tell them repeatedly that I have many other skills that the other applicants don’t have (e.g. the ability to use computer programs, (e.g. ms word, ms excel, ms powerpoint, lotus notes, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express & e-mail with the ability to type 150 English words per minute), not to mention interpersonal skills. I finally threw the kitchen sink at a guy named Timothy Poon (contact #: 28166112) because again, it was the same old conversation about whether I was looking for a job and after that, how I was unsuitable for employment in Hong Kong based solely on the fact that my Chinese IS NOT VERY GOOD. I WAS GIVEN A LOT OF TROUBLE BECAUSE OF THAT. I was first pestered by a lady named Adel Wong (contact #: 27554835). I’m still wondering that if the Labour Department really offers stable jobs with excellent salaries, why the two people whom I talked to before and were REASONABLE (i.e. Sara Chan & Ray Leung) left. Also, if those people were highly educated, why they tried to force me to stay in their scheme when I told them that I didn't want to. If they really had plenty of money, they would know where to find candidates. Actually, I now know that it’s all a lie because according to the real Hong Kong government web-site (http://www.info.gov.hk), the minimum salary for government jobs is $15K per month (the Labor Department was offering jobs starting at $3K per month and a lady earning $5K per month was classified as a star who is “very stable” now). I was mainly angry at this department, not so much for WHAT they said, but instead for THE WAY in which they treated me. They played the humiliation game by calling my home phone # (26036306) every time they wanted to talk to or about me. So, I demanded that they stop calling me so often, they only call me if they had a definite job offer for me by giving the position on offer, the salary range (I think that my range of HK$6000 – HK$9000) is quite reasonable) and the company that I’m supposed to have an interview with (the Labor Department is mostly about empty talk and sending candidates from one place to another). Also, they said that EVERYONE starts with a salary of HK$3000, no matter how much education they have, which is just ridiculous. Honestly, I saw people in there who said that they were looking for a job even though THEY HADN'T COMPLETED PRIMARY EDUCATION. And they said that they offered positions with the Hong Kong government which I knew was a lie because the minimum salary for a Hong Kong government is between $12K & $15K. Also, which government department would hire someone who hadn't completed primary school? And which government department forces people to be there if they didn't want to be there? The truth is, there are plenty of jobs for international people. We just have to be patient.

As recently as June 19, 2008, a lady from AIA kept calling asking if I was interested in a career selling insurance after I told this same lady repeatedly that I was neither qualified nor interested in selling insurance for a living, but she has continuously harassed me just like Adel Wong of the Labour Department. Honestly, Hong Kong needs a complete overhaul of laws defining aggressive sales tactics.

I also believe that quality is more important than quantity. Some people may publish a hub simply BECAUSE it's their 100th hub. Well, I believe that what we write is far more important than HOW MUCH we write.

In short, I believe that people should use their strengths when picking jobs. Some people might argue that we are/will be evaluated on our weakest points. To that person/those people, I pose this question: if this is truly the case, how can we deliver the goods (i.e. results)? Kobe Bryant wouldn't be doing too well if he couldn't play basketball and Ray Romano & Drew Carey would certainly not be flying as high without comedy. Also, we slow business down if we get into something or hire someone for work that they can't do. Therefore, it only makes sense to use our strengths while taking into account our weaknesses because if we can't do the work assigned to us, then it would become uneconomical and it wouldn't make sense for our bosses to carry on hiring us.

My interests include NCAA Football, baseball, basketball & astrology. I will publish blogs on the aforementioned topics as well as newsworthy events. I also enjoy watching reality TV shows, cooking shows & game shows, specifically, The Price is Right, Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Power of Ten, Yan Can Cook, Danny By the Sea, Jamie at Home, The Hairy Bikers The Apprentice, Survivor, Project Runway and The Amazing Race.

What else? I provide English editing services at a resonable price and so if you need any help with English, feel free to contact me by e-mail (fishskinfreak2008@gmail.com) and I'll be more than happy to help you. We can negotiate prices at the end of your project.

I gratefuly acknowledge several professors whom I consider to be the best professors in the world, communication professors Nan Peck & Brenda Lewis-Holmes, American Lit Professor Jennifer Daniels, historical geology professor Erik Burtis (why don't you call yourself "Prof. Erik Burtis" instead of "Mr. Erik Burtis") and PE professor Dr. Allan Korolowicz (thanks for the humorous PE class) and the greatest friends in the world: Richard Ip, Janna Dichoso, Mike O'Connor, Julie Von, Dan Kanu, Emmanuel Awemu, Kim McCall and Jessie Firestone. Thanks also to those hubbers who have helped me out either by joining my fan club (thanks for appreciating the work of a rusty writer), giving me useful comments or e-mailing me: Creativita, Shannon Clark, Shalini Gupta, Chef Jeff and Fleurnegra (I appreciate your humor).

About fishskinfreak2008
Status:Expert
From:Hong Kong
HubScore:93
Published Hubs:89
Joined:5 months ago

Some of fishskinfreak2008's 30 Fans

Chef Jeff profile image

Chef Jeff

Sounds like YOU'VE overcome some major obstacles in life! Congratulations and I hope to read many hubs from you!

Abhinaya profile image

Abhinaya

A brave hubber on Hubpages.Good luck for your future endeavours and happy hubbing!

glassvisage profile image

glassvisage

Thanks for your quality hubs on hot topics... I appreciate them and your honesty :)

Gawn Fishin' profile image

Gawn Fishin'

Keep your positive attitude fishskinfreak. From my own experiences, that is half the battle! GO CELTICS!


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