2025

An Exposé on the Education System?

I have frequently joked with colleagues, past and present, that, when I finally retire from being part of Singapore’s education system, I may write some sort of exposé on the people in it who make life difficult for their own colleagues, external vendors and, also, the very students they profess to be educating and nurturing.

No naming of names, of course. For the benefit of the students from those institutes of learning.

It’s no secret that not all educators should be educators.

And, certainly, every system has its flaws.

But to behave with so little regard for others than themselves in a profession that is clearly about others? That’s just not right, is it?

On the flip side, I have met passionate, courageous educators who give their all and more to their students.

I have also met numerous thoughtful, kind educators who consider others before themselves.

It isn’t them that we need to worry about, though we should be concerned for their well-being under such a difficult system with unrelenting expectations and grinding routines.

It is the relative few who need to be expelled from their positions.

If only the general public knew about these people and how much they adversely affect the lives of the students under their charge.

Well, since I’m still somewhat involved in the system, it isn’t time to do it yet.

Someday, it will be.

Shiny, Colourful Plans for 2025 and Beyond

In the upcoming year, I plan to re-enter the gemstone world in earnest.

I’m looking to get into the following things:

1) Revive my long-dormant @loupinjewels Instagram account, also so that I can put up items for sale on my account. I did think about creating a separate account to do this, but it seems like an unnecessary bother to do so. There is quite a lot to sell - especially fluorites - which I’m no longer collecting.

2) Keep building contacts, especially gem cutters and jewellers, so that I can get my rough stones cut, and my cut stones set.

3) Learn to cut my own stones - exploring the possibility of a 2-week course.

4) Study gemmology at AIGS in Bangkok - this will require something in the region of 3 - 4 months.

5) Finally set up my gems and minerals display(s) at home - Looking to give it a generally softer atmosphere, so not just glass and stands and shelves, but also some ambient display elements, preferably to do with the natural world - perhaps something like a terrarium, but only as a sort of background. The main focus should still be the gems and minerals.

6) Invite fellow gem / mineral enthusiasts for small gatherings - not sure how this will go, but it’ll be nice to have like-minded friends come together to talk and hang out.

I don’t know if being in the gemstone world will be able to replace my current income anytime soon, but I believe that it’s worth a shot. After all, I’ve been talking about leaving the peripheries of the formal education system for a long time.

2025 is as good a year as any to kickstart that process.

Happy to have you along for the ride!