<![CDATA[ZAC'S LAB - Blog]]>Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:11:13 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[10 goals for 2021]]>Fri, 01 Jan 2021 01:58:43 GMThttp://www.zacslab.com/blog/10-goals-for-2021While 2020 has been tough on us all, I would like to look ahead into the next year with hope and positivity. Therefore, here are the 10 goals which I have set for myself to achieve in 2021, to hopefully better myself in most aspects of life.

  • To reduce screen time and to not get distracted while on my computer
  • To further improve my time management
  • To get closer with my family
  • To better, improve, and deepen my relationships with my friends
  • To continue doing well in all my studies in school, be it academic or physical ( Sports etc. )
  • To be able to make time meaningful and to organize my own time
  • To stop playing video games as much, and to stay focused on what matters - My school work
  • To be able to find excitement and joy in things other than online activities ( YouTube and video game etc. )
  • To start reading more book once again, and to deepen my understanding of the world around me.
  • To be a good friend and family member
]]><![CDATA[20 things which made my year in 2020]]>Fri, 01 Jan 2021 01:54:10 GMThttp://www.zacslab.com/blog/20-things-which-made-my-year-in-2020While there were many restrictions put on our activities in 2020 which limited what we were able to do, my family tried to make the best of it, and here are the list of the 20 most memorable things in the past year of 2020. ( In no particular order )

  • My new Grade 7 class
  • ​Organized ‘ Music for Hope ‘ Online concert and raised $7000 for underprivileged families affected by Covid
  • Online busking for SWAG week
  • Built my own PC
  • Hanging out with my friends at Universal Studios
  • Getting interviewed by the Straits Times
  • Glamping at home during summer, and in the JEWEL during winter
  • Exploring more of Singapore on a Bicycle
  • Learning how to Roller Blade
  • Learning how to Sail
  • DJ music mixing
  • Exploration of Pulau Ubin on a bike
  • Spending even more time and getting closer with my family
  • Sharing the same book with my mum and discussing the characters and ideas
  • Becoming a Teenager
  • Meeting new friends and teachers in high school
  • Doing diy projects at home during circuit breaker
  • Continuing my swimming lessons after circuit breaker despite Covid 19 restrictions
  • Once again taking up Badminton as a competitive sport
  • Taking the Grade 4 ABRSM piano exam





]]><![CDATA[The goals I achieved which I set for myself in 2020]]>Fri, 01 Jan 2021 01:45:35 GMThttp://www.zacslab.com/blog/the-goals-i-achieved-which-i-set-for-myself-in-2020In 2019, I set myself 10 goals for me to achieve in 2020. Who knew what a troubling year 2020 would be? Therefore, I have sadly  not been able to achieve all the goals on the list, but I have tried my best to fulfill my goals. Here is the list of goals showcasing which ones I have achieved and which I have not!

To make new friends as I start my first year in High school - Achieved
​ To keep up my swim training in school, and to constantly better myself in competitions - Not fulfilled
 To constantly better myself academically and socially as I adapt to my first year in High school l - Achieved

 Be less of a burden to my parents, and to appreciate the actions they take for us better l - Achieved

To focus more on my piano playing, and to pass my Grade 3 exam in May.  l - Achieved
Continue constantly reading books every day, to improve my learning and for my enjoyment - Not fulfilled
To commit more time to my guitar lessons, and to practicing the instrument  - Achieved
​Spend less time on YouTube when doing homework tasks, and to not get distracted or stray of the task while doing them  - Not fulfilled
To spend less time on digital devices  (in general)  - Not fulfilled
To try my best in all subjects and aspects of high school  - Achieved

]]><![CDATA[Lego stop motion! - My quarantine project]]>Sun, 05 Jul 2020 07:42:55 GMThttp://www.zacslab.com/blog/lego-stop-motion-my-quarantine-projectSitting at home, stuck in quarantine, an idea suddenly struck me. With nothing to do the whole day, I brought out my ipad and legos, and started filming. Filming what? You may ask. Well, I was creating a brickfilm, which is a lego stop motion where you move lego figures and take pictures, to create the illusion that the figures are moving. After 5 days of intense filming, approximately 14 hours of photo taking, here is the final product!

Hope you enjoy!
]]><![CDATA[Music for hope - Yet another quarantine project!]]>Fri, 29 May 2020 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.zacslab.com/blog/music-for-hope-yet-another-quarantine-projectOf course, one quarantine project would not be enough . . .  .
This time, taking inspiration from the musical concert my brother and I hosted last year ( A Musical Promise ) as well as the "One world" online digital broadcast, we hosted yet another musical concert, but this time with the twist of doing it online. We had 17 friends on bard, playing all kinds of musical instruments from guitars, violins, pianos, vocals, and even a band performance! 

If you took part in the concert, thank you for your time and talents, and if your just watching, thank you for taking the time to do so. 

Here is the concert in it's entirety!

Enjoy!

​
]]><![CDATA[My home workout]]>Fri, 27 Mar 2020 11:24:00 GMThttp://www.zacslab.com/blog/my-home-workoutSince the number of covid 19 cases has risen, our school has gone to e-learning from home. Today was the first day, and we had a number of different lessons, varying from chaotic ZOOM conferences to remote contact through our student portal. The most interesting was my physical education, where I had to video myself doing an assigned workout. This was my first experience videoing myself doing a workout, and it was certainly very interesting and unique, but it won't be the last!

Here is the video:
]]><![CDATA[10 goals for 2020]]>Thu, 09 Jan 2020 04:07:36 GMThttp://www.zacslab.com/blog/10-goals-for-2020Now that 2019 has passed and we're now in 2020, I have set myself 10 goals, wishes, and dreams I have for the new year and beyond. Since I have already listed my top 20 experiences in 2019, this is my next list showcasing all of my goals for 2020.

( Not in any particular order )

1. To make new friends as I start my first year in High school
​2. To keep up my swim training in school, and to constantly better myself in competitions
3. To constantly better myself academically and socially as I adapt to my first year in High school
4. Be less of a burden to my parents, and to appreciate the actions they take for us better
5. To focus more on my piano playing, and to pass my Grade 3 exam in May
6. Continue constantly reading books every day, to improve my learning and for my enjoyment
7. To commit more time to my guitar lessons, and to practicing the instrument
​8.  Spend less time on YouTube when doing homework tasks, and to not get distracted or stray of the task while doing them
9. To spend less time on digital devices  (in general)
10. To try my best in all subjects and aspects of high school

]]><![CDATA[20 things that made my year - 2019]]>Sat, 04 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.zacslab.com/blog/20-things-that-made-my-year-2019Wow! 2019 has gone by so quickly and now it's the start of a new decade! While the year has flown by so fast, I have many extremely memorable memories and experiences which happened this year. Now, as we say goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020, here are the top 20 things that made my year in 2019!

( In no particular order )
20- Competed and medalled in an overseas swim competition in Darwin, Australia
19 - Organized a musical concert with my brother and all my friends to raise funds for charity
18 - Achieved my CASS (Community, Activity, Service and Sports) Gold award - The highest level of CASS in SJIIES
17 - Giving a speech in front of my house and winning the house election
16 - Winning a global online writing competition 
15 - Coming in second place in the Grade 6 science fair for our bridge building        project
14 - Arriving at school to participate in early morning swim training sessions
13 - Winning many medals at my in-school swim gala and other SG competitions
12 - Returning back to Kuala Lumpur to revisit my Kung Kung and Ma Ma
11  - Skiing in Hokkaido with my family
10 - Picking up the Guitar as my second instrument alongside the piano
 9  - Visited Beijing for the first time and seeing the famous Great Wall of China
 8  - Going to Barcelona and sitting on the Disney Cruise for the first time in a family adventure in Europe 
 7  - Visited Chengdu, China on a school expedition
 6 - Visited Telunas, Indonesia, and helped to build a school for underprivileged children there  
 5  - Winning multiple medals in our inter-school badminton league
 4  - Playing football with my friends during break time ( and scoring a winning goal against all odds! ) 
 3  - Mr Murphy ( My teacher ) cringe-y but memorable puns
 2  - Sharing the same book with my mum and discussing the characters and ideas
 1  - Sunday morning brunches with my family

Picture
]]><![CDATA[An evening to remember]]>Sun, 24 Nov 2019 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.zacslab.com/blog/an-evening-to-rememberOn the 15th of November, 2019, me and my brother held a musical concert with all our friends. We called it ' A Musical Promise'. If you have been following this website, you will know that we are supporting the non profit organization Pencils of Promise to help build schools in many underprivileged countries.

From very young performers, to my fellow classmates in Grade 6, the evening had a wide range of ages as well as instruments (from piano to violin to harp to a full classical band), but all the performers still used their courage to step up on the stage and to perform.

I'm glad to say that the evening was a success! All the performers were outstanding, and it really was amazing to see all the talent and quality music at display.  A big thanks to all the performers and parents who donated to make this evening a success; We wouldn't have gone this far without you!
]]><![CDATA[winning with words]]>Sun, 24 Nov 2019 07:42:56 GMThttp://www.zacslab.com/blog/winning-with-wordsPicture
In early October, I entered an essay writing competition on the world kids travel guide website. The theme was 'the gift of languages', and I wrote about my experience and journey in learning the Chinese language. A month and a bit later, I received an email from the company. Guess what? I came first place and won the competition!

Link to the website: https://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/writing-competition-winners.html

​Here is the essay I wrote:
As I walked down the narrow alley, I listened to the unique sounds of the local inhabitants going around their everyday business, which included street vendors shouting to advertise their products, thumping sound of footsteps their feet made on the loosely packed gravel street, and the general communications of one person to another in the beautiful, fluid and rich language in which they spoke.
But something was wrong. I couldn’t understand a single phrase, or for that matter, word. After all, I was in the wonderful province of Xiamen, China, where the local language was Chinese, a language which I had not a clue how to speak.
It was from then on, the inspiration which spurred me to learn Chinese started. Even to this day, I have not yet mastered Chinese, far from it, but it is that drive, the one that I found on that day, which keeps me going. From then, I have gotten multiple Chinese lessons a week, private tutoring and even being forced to read Chinese books, all to improve my understanding, vocabulary, and deeper knowledge of the rich Chinese language.
The second time I went to China was to Shanghai, for a 2-week-long Chinese camp. I was better prepared and equipped to learn and explore the language of Chinese. After the camp and speaking to many of the students and teachers there, I felt as though I had once again added to my then small bubble of Chinese vocabulary and knowledge.
However, my journey has not been without challenges. To prepare for tests, I must practice extremely hard in the weeks before, still not being able to achieve the same level of fluency and familiarity that the mainland Chinese kids have of their local language. However, beyond my intention to master the language, I try to enrich my understanding of the country too.
I have been on school excursions to Chengdu and Xi’an, where I learned more about the culture and history of these cities, which helps me to understand the Chinese language in ways which I could not do sitting behind a textbook.
As a Chinese proverb significantly stated: “To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.”
As we learn more languages our window to the world opens wider. Now that is truly the gift of languages.
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