Reflection

Before I start, let me clarify that this is NOT an article about gender bias or a debate with regards to the superiority of either sex. The title of the article might be misleading, but this is actually an article on what makes good bosses/leaders. (not included in word count)

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According to research done in the article, most people seek out qualities in leaders such as ethics and integrity, lead by example, communication, accountability, building trust, and being knowledgeable and wise.

Sounds familiar doesn't it? These are actually the core values in which the school has been trying to build unto us. The school has recognised the importance of these values in not only molding us into good people, but effective leaders as well.

However, the value topping the wanted list (ethics and integrity) seem to be what Rafflesians are lacking most nowadays. Putting this value down onto a small scale, we can see our friends copying work from one another in class daily. During tests, some students would leak the questions out to those who have not taken it. Now, while these may not seem to amount to much currently, what is worrying is the build-up of such habbits, as well as the continual degradation of our integrity. What would happen if we continue on like this for another 20 years? Would we be rising up the rungs of the social ladder through backstabbing and sabotaging others?

However, as a student, I do not understand how society works and I have made many assumptions by saying so. It is highly possible that people do not act the same way they do in school. Perhaps taking a shortcut by copying another’s work in school is a small issue and they change their behaviour in future as they understand the consequences.

It is a well known fact that Rafflesians are smart. However, being academically smart fufills only one of the qualities as stated in the first paragraph -- being knowledgeable. If this is what we are so proud of, then it really is nothing much to boast of. While the Raffles Programme aims to give her students a well-rounded education, values such as trust and honour cannot be taught easily. It is something which has to be developed over time.

Of course, not to be too cynical, there are definitely exemplary students existing within the school. Going through the Raffles Programme for a span of 4 years would definitely have some impact upon us. I am not trying to say being a Rafflesian would equate to being someone without moral values. My point here is that being successful in the academic field does not necessarily mean success in life.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize once again the importance of the core value of integrity. This is the very basis and foundation to us in working with others. A good leader is one whom others can trust. Before we can set an example, or set visions for others to follow, we need to command respect from them by showing them how good a person we are in the first place. While there are many Rafflesians who have shown this quality in the most admirable ways, there are definitely still some who do not.

Article on Female Bosses

ub Date: 03/02/2007   Pub: BT              Page: 2
Edition: Weekend

Headline: Do women make good bosses? Yes, say most top execs
By: Chuang Peck Ming
Page Heading: Top Stories
Subject: Surveys, Women Workers
Notes:
Chart
  

Ethics, integrity most desired leadership traits, poll shows

[SINGAPORE] Most senior executives think women can make good bosses, though a
sizable number reckon men are more natural at it, a poll by the Singapore Human
Resources Institute has found.
 Sixty-four per cent of the executives polled said gender makes no difference
when it comes to being a good leader. Still, 31 per cent felt that men make
better leaders, while only 4 per cent thought women do so.
 Yet it is the soft skills that senior executives - most of them human
resource directors and above - generally seek when looking for a dream leader.
Ethics and integrity top the list of desired leadership qualities, according to
53 per cent of the 192 executives polled.
 Lead by example (52 per cent) was ranked second, followed by vision (51 per
cent), communication (48 per cent), accountability (37 per cent), building
trust (36 per cent), knowledgeable and wise (33 per cent), motivator (29 per
cent), supportive (28 per cent) and inspiring (25 per cent).
 'At least four in 10 respondents saw three of the desired behaviours
demonstrated by their supervisors,' the report says. 'These were ethics and
integrity (50 per cent), accountability (49 per cent) and communication (46.5
per cent).'
 Only one in three indicated that their bosses, many of whom are chief
executives and managing directors, have two other key traits - leading by
example and being visionary.
 Most of the executives polled work in the manufacturing sector and almost
half at multinational corporations.
 Many do not see their bosses as visionary, inspiring, motivating or
knowledgeable and wise. Nor do they think most bosses lead by example. And
bosses do not put in enough effort to build trust and are not supportive.
 'This could indicate that the leaders at a senior level may lack these
qualities or that their actions and vision might not be clearly communicated or
communicated,' the report says.
 While the poll indicated that the senior executives are generally happy with
their bosses' performance - and there is good camaraderie between them - 54 per
cent of respondents felt there is still room for leadership training.
 Bosses are also not engaging their staff fully to motivate and develop their
skills and abilities, according to the poll.
 Still, the bosses fared well on personal rapport. More than seven in 10 of
the executives polled are impressed that bosses know their audience when they
address them. And more than half appreciate that bosses talk about principles
or values behind their decisions and often explain their actions.
 On the other hand, many of the respondents believe their bosses must improve
personal communication skills. Fifty-eight per cent of those polled complained
that their achievements are seldom, or never, recognised by their bosses.
 Yet many bosses practise empowerment, giving more than half of respondents
polled the freedom to do what they believe is right - and involving them in
decision-making.
 But this should not come as a surprise, the report says. At least 42 per
cent of the executives hold director-and-above appointments. 'Moreover, they
are leaders in their own field.'
 The poll also found that 41 per cent of executives quit jobs because of sour
relations with bosses, while only 12 per cent resigned because their bosses had
quit.

Reflection

Reflection

Abortion defiles the sanctity of life. Fetuses are not merely clumps of cells we are talking about here – they are fragments of our very own DNA. They are fellow human beings. If we are unable to justify the murder of Huang Na (an incident which caused a very big woo-ha, I might add), how is it that people find abortion acceptable? Are they not murderers?

Of course, looking at things from one perspective is not enough. When there are two human entities within a single body, one of their rights must prevail over the other. People use this argument to justify abortion, and I agree there are some situations which fit this reasoning (e.g. rape victim having a misbegotten brood).

However, in most cases in our society, the reasons for abortion are within control. Statistics have shown that there are approximately 126,000 abortions happening daily, which in turn would show there are approximately 46 million number of abortions per year! Now this might seem to be a hugely shocking number – but what is even worse is that out of these 46 million abortions, only about 1% occur because of rape or incest. 6% occurs because of potential health problems regarding either the mother or the child, and 93% occur because of ‘social’ reasons, which would encompass the teenagers in the article.

Most cases of abortion results from irresponsible behaviour. As can be seen from the article, many women have undergone the operation multiple times. One of them even commented that “using a condom will lessen sexual satisfaction” and so conveniently decides to practice casual sex and for that few moments of pleasure. That is simply rash and immature. The article is trying to send the message that using contraceptives would remove unwanted pregnancies and in turn, reduce the rate of abortions.

Another point the article is trying to make is the mindsets of teenagers nowadays. I quote, "I fall asleep in the doctor's clinic and when I wake up, the baby is gone," From their point of view, the baby is of no relation to them, and since they are not born, abortion would not constitute to anything. However, do they not understand that with each operation they undergo, another life is taken? While they feel no pain, a soul is being ripped apart in their body. I understand that as young teens with unwanted pregnancies, undergo immense stress. The thought of having to bring a baby up at this young age is simply horrifying - it would ruin their future. However, i stand by my viewpoint. Either abstain from sex, or use contraceptives.

I do not personally know any one who has had an abortion, or an unwanted pregnancy for that matter. Perhaps
this would indicate that I am in no position to comment on this issue. I admit that I am prejudiced in the sense I
have always thought abortion was wrong, and it constitutes murder. Perhaps there is a reason justifying their
actions. But, perhaps there isn't.

References:
http://www.cbrinfo.org/Resources/fastfacts.html

Article on Abortion

Pub Date: 13/08/2006   Pub: ST              Page: 4
Day: Sunday

Headline: Abortion after abortion after abortion ...
By: Nur Dianah Suhaimi
Page Heading: news
Subject: Abortion, Singapore Youth
Notes:
Photo illustration
  

How teens deal with unwanted babies

Some teens are choosing abortion repeatedly to deal with unwanted pregnancies
and continuing with unprotected sex afterwards, instead of using contraceptives

SHE is 18 years old and a student, but she has already become pregnant three
times, because possible side effects have put her off taking birth control
pills.
 The first two times, she aborted the foetus. The third time, her
gynaecologist refused to perform an abortion, saying her womb could not take
another procedure.
 Like her, many young women here are falling into the abortion trap - and not
just once. They get pregnant, go for an abortion and then continue having sex
without protection.
 Doctors and counsellors say many of these girls believe they will not be
unlucky enough to get pregnant again. Yet, some find themselves on the
gynaecologist's table again and again.
 The Ministry of Health does not have figures for teens who have had multiple
abortions. The total number of teenage abortions has been declining steadily
over the years, reaching a seven-year low of 1,341 in 2004. However, some teens
appear to be contributing more to abortion figures than others.
 The Sunday Times spoke to 20 youngsters who got pregnant as teens, with 12
saying that they have since had multiple abortions. More disturbingly, they do
not see it as a big deal, though all declined to give their full names.
 'I fall asleep in the doctor's clinic and when I wake up, the baby is gone,'
said Jamie, a 21-year-old waitress who underwent her first abortion when she
was 17 and has had two more since.
 'I don't see or feel any baby. Maybe that's why I don't feel guilty when I
abort.'
 Administrative assistant Anne, 23, was 19 when she went for her first
abortion. Last year, she went for another. Both times, she got pregnant because
she never bothered with contraceptives.
 'Using a condom will lessen sexual satisfaction. So I thought I'd take the
risk,' she said.
 Lenny, 17, a secondary school student, went for an abortion earlier this
year after having unprotected sex with her boyfriend on staircase landings and
in deserted carparks. Despite having to pay $400 for the procedure with her
savings and some cash borrowed from friends, she has gone back to having
unprotected sex.
 'If I keep condoms in my bag, my parents might find them. I rather not leave
any traces of my sex life,' she said.
 This kind of attitude is common, according to a gynaecologist who runs a
clinic in Chinatown.
 'They think they will never get pregnant. They're like chronic gamblers who
don't believe they will lose. But they keep on losing.'
 Gynaecologist Jen Shek Wei agrees, adding: 'The risk of getting pregnant is
always there. It is like Russian roulette. Occasionally, you'll get caught. And
some women get caught more than others.'
 Most gynaecologists said it is a known fact that many women visit different
doctors for subsequent abortions to spare themselves the embarrassment.
 'They might be hiding previous terminations from the doctor and there's no
way we can tell. Most times, we don't dwell too much on their history because
they may feel like they are being criticised,' said Dr Loke Kah Leong, who runs
a women's clinic in Tampines.
 One counsellor at aLife, a volunteer group that helps women in pregnancy
crisis, added: 'We see those with multiple abortions only once in a while.
Sometimes, they don't want to come back to us when they're pregnant again
because they're scared we will scold them.'
 The dangers most commonly related to abortion include the risk of cervical
infection and bleeding.
 Having an abortion may also lessen the chances of conceiving in future.
 However, this latter fact, often used to scare girls into being more
careful, can actually worsen the problem.
 Teens whom The Sunday Times spoke to said they tended to use contraceptives
less often after an abortion because they believed it would be harder to get
pregnant.
  'It is a gross exaggeration to say abortions rule out the possibility of
future pregnancies,' said gynaecologist Lee Kim Kwong.
 Subsequent infertility is actually not a big problem in Singapore, because
procedures are carried out properly by certified gynaecologists.
 But while the physical damage may be minor, the emotional trauma can be
harder to prevent. Also, not all teenagers are blase about flushing out their
foetues.
 Ms Rose Boon from Family Life Society has counselled a woman who still
suffers from severe post-abortion depression 10 years after she underwent one.
 One 22-year-old deals with her teenage abortion four years ago by
celebrating the child's birthday each year with a candle-lit cake and clothes
as a birthday present.
 The birthday, which falls on the day of the abortion, is celebrated with her
boyfriend, the baby's father.

ndianah@sph.com.sg


I fall asleep in the doctor's clinic and when I wake up, the baby is gone. I
don't see or feel any baby. Maybe that's why I don't feel guilty when I abort.'
 - JAMIE, 21, a waitress


They think they will never get pregnant. They're like chronic gamblers who
don't believe they will lose. But they keep on losing.'
 - A GYNAECOLOGIST in private practice