Worry for me...

Since young, I have not been able to achieve what my sister had set as a yardstick in study.
My mum and dad were illiterate, and I know very well that they pinned their hopes on us, but they couldn't help.

So my fifth uncle and my aunt were the only ones teaching my sister andI as well as my little brother, preparing us for primary school.
My sister had always been a well-disciplined, obedient and hardworking girl.
On the contrary, my brother and I had always been playing and quarreling among each other. ^^

Our results certainly don't appeal to my family very much. However, they didn't grumble on me nor did they reprimand me. I was told to follow everyone else to the next level of study, and that will be enough to delight my parent.

I'm glad my parent did not really pressure us on our studies, my uncle had also been an encouraging force trying to make studying seems more interesting to me. I will never forget how he taught me writing my first three chinese characters - my name.

When I began to realise that I am the elder brother of all my little cousins in the family, I suddenly felt some pressure on my shoulders. I was told to lead and set an example for them.
Basically, I baby- sitted all my little cousins when they were babies. I learnt to look after them, protect them and of course most importantly, put them to sleep with some teochew lullabies ^__^, one of them I remembered faintly starts like this: " Ong ah ong, ong gin gon, gin gon dua, ....."

As I get older, I began to understand things more. After my grandfather had passed away, I felt very sad, but a strength was growing within me- determination.
Without natural born intelligence, or hardworking-ness, I am determined to show my parent and my family that I can be worthy of their love, and not just being the eldest son. I shall be the first one to pass through all barriers in life, leading the way for the rest in the family.

One of the greatest relief for my family is that I have also made my way to the university as my sister had. I can still see that my family is concerned about my work in study, but they did not bring it up often when they get to see me for dinner. I guessed they really did not want to give me unnecessary pressure.

They know that I'm playful by nature, and being complacent will really cast me down the drain.
They are afraid when I tell them "I AM TIAN CAI, WAHAHAHA!"
Well, that was a joke I would always say in order to assure them in my study and also to lighten up the atmosphere.

So far, my grades have been so-so, but this semester, I made a promise to myself after a disasterous second year results, and also promised my grandmother that I will be studying hard this time to let her see good results.

And today is the day, my results were out. I'm glad all my efforts and focus I'd put in this semester of work had not been in vain. I had fulfilled my promise to myself as well as to my grandmother. She is delighted upon hearing my results and my aunt told me she is very happy and smiling the whole evening.


I hope my grandmother will always be happy!
zhaoru.