'Y' Junction passed.
Months before I'd already made known my intention of not continuing in the service. All the high authorities had been informed of that intention.
But just last week, I was called up by the registry to read and understand 3 letters. The first letter was an official document that states I chose not to serve any longer once my current contract expires. What shocked and surprised me was the second letter. It was the letter of offer that almost all of my colleagues are coveting after. Why, in whosoever's name, did they still offer me the second stage when I already said 'No' ? Why waste this precious offer on me ? Why not give the place to somebody else who wished he had been offered ? The third letter was of no importance. Its just a typed out statement in my name and whether I accept or do not accept the offer. It was of no importance since I've already made up my mind.
I was one of the only eleven out of the many units in my formation to have been offered the second stage in the service.
Those who knew about it envied me. I could see the envy turned into despise, disgust and jealousy when they discovered that I turned down the "sacred" offer. Everyone I knew asked the very same, exact, similar question, "Why don't want?"
I'd admit that this job is freaking high paying plus extremely good benefits. It is going to be a really really tough job transition for me next year. I will definitely face a huge pay cut and I won't get as good benefits as compared to working in my current job.
They've introduced the second stage. I've got news that the third stage is in the works. If I'd continue into stage two, my future is not cemented. I still might be axed once stage three is in place, and I've still got at least 10 years ahead of me before I get to be cream of the crop. Stage three will most likely be implemented within this 10 years. I feel that its better to take that pay cut now rather than be stranded after the implementation of stage three. I know I'd be axed by then. I'm not combat fighting fit as compared to almost all of my colleagues. So its now, or never. I'd never survive the stage three axe.
But this wasn't what many of my colleagues felt. 98% of them thought it would be better for me to continue first and see what comes up. I thought this was senseless. 1% called me pig-headed, pig brained, nincompoop, said I didn't know how to think (although the words sound hurtful in hokkien, it was all done with good intentions). This fella, he didn't go through army. He was exempted 'cos he was overweight back in the years when the obese were exempted from army. The last 1% thought that the choice was mine to make. He could see the sense in my decision. Well, that's comforting enough, knowing that only 1% of my colleagues understand my rationale.
However, I was still bugged by what 98% of them said. Should I have taken up on their offer ? This, ladies and gentlemen, was my million dollar question. No one has the answer to that. Something tells me I will have the answer next year, a couple of months after my current contract expires in June '07.
But just last week, I was called up by the registry to read and understand 3 letters. The first letter was an official document that states I chose not to serve any longer once my current contract expires. What shocked and surprised me was the second letter. It was the letter of offer that almost all of my colleagues are coveting after. Why, in whosoever's name, did they still offer me the second stage when I already said 'No' ? Why waste this precious offer on me ? Why not give the place to somebody else who wished he had been offered ? The third letter was of no importance. Its just a typed out statement in my name and whether I accept or do not accept the offer. It was of no importance since I've already made up my mind.
I was one of the only eleven out of the many units in my formation to have been offered the second stage in the service.
Those who knew about it envied me. I could see the envy turned into despise, disgust and jealousy when they discovered that I turned down the "sacred" offer. Everyone I knew asked the very same, exact, similar question, "Why don't want?"
I'd admit that this job is freaking high paying plus extremely good benefits. It is going to be a really really tough job transition for me next year. I will definitely face a huge pay cut and I won't get as good benefits as compared to working in my current job.
They've introduced the second stage. I've got news that the third stage is in the works. If I'd continue into stage two, my future is not cemented. I still might be axed once stage three is in place, and I've still got at least 10 years ahead of me before I get to be cream of the crop. Stage three will most likely be implemented within this 10 years. I feel that its better to take that pay cut now rather than be stranded after the implementation of stage three. I know I'd be axed by then. I'm not combat fighting fit as compared to almost all of my colleagues. So its now, or never. I'd never survive the stage three axe.
But this wasn't what many of my colleagues felt. 98% of them thought it would be better for me to continue first and see what comes up. I thought this was senseless. 1% called me pig-headed, pig brained, nincompoop, said I didn't know how to think (although the words sound hurtful in hokkien, it was all done with good intentions). This fella, he didn't go through army. He was exempted 'cos he was overweight back in the years when the obese were exempted from army. The last 1% thought that the choice was mine to make. He could see the sense in my decision. Well, that's comforting enough, knowing that only 1% of my colleagues understand my rationale.
However, I was still bugged by what 98% of them said. Should I have taken up on their offer ? This, ladies and gentlemen, was my million dollar question. No one has the answer to that. Something tells me I will have the answer next year, a couple of months after my current contract expires in June '07.
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