The Life of a Gambler
Good evening Mdm President, fellow toastmasters, and guests.
Here is a million dollar question, is gambling good or bad?
I am so excited about the Integrated Resort that the Singapore government has decided to build, because it comes with a casino. I have to admit…. I am an avid gambler! [pause] I’m just kidding! The only gambling games that I knew how to play are Mahjong and Blackjack, and I only play them once a year, that is during the Chinese New Year. However, in one way or another, I still consider myself a gambler.
I am a high risk taker. I love to take chances, to take risks and to venture into something that maybe unfamiliar to me, but which has high potential of developing into something fantastic. Life is short, its too boring to be safe.When I was born, my parents probably took a risk by giving me a unique name --One which opens more doors for me. Whenever I met someone new, they would be so curious with my name that often, questions regarding my race would be asked.“Excuse me, are you a Malay?” Nope, I’m a Chinese.“Oh, then are you a Singaporean?” Yes I am. Great. Strangers whom I met for the first time would easily strike up a friendly conversation revolving my exotic name and my equally-exotic looks.
I was in the class of elitist the year I sat for my GCE ‘O’ levels. All my classmates were contending to which junior college they can qualify for. I was the only one who took the risk by deciding to go to a Polytechnic despite having fantastic results. Back then, I hated the stiff education system. I hate to read books and I am so lousy in memorizing. I knew the academic path is not something I would like to do, so I pick the technical way. I chose to study design because I thought that was my passion. I was good with colours and always had weird ideas.
When I was out in the society working, most of my friends were in fixed salary jobs. I was the only few who took the risk to enter the finance industry with a commission-based job. A lot of my friends were very discouraging, even my family members and relatives too. However, I have never regretted my decision as I learned a lot of things along the way. I met people from all walks of life and have heard of numerous stories that other people shared with me. I learned to handle difficult people with composure. I had also changed from a blunt and tactless person to be someone who is more sensitive towards other people’s feelings.The journey of this gamble I took as a financial planner has been nothing short of hard work and excitement. Even if at the end of the day, I decide to do a career switch, I knew I have walked away with a wealth of knowledge and skills.
Am I rebellious? I hardly think so, I just love to be unconventional.
For many years, I wasn’t able to swim at all. Thanks to a frightful near-death experience as a young kid that kept me away from all kinds of water-sports. It was only until I had to go on a holiday trip with my colleagues to Phuket last year that I forced myself to learn. Nope, I did not attend any swimming lessons with a coach. I self-taught myself by observing youtube videos on the internet and with lots of practice at the swimming pool.Come to think of it, it was another risk I took when I jumped into the sea in Phuket. You never knew if another Tsunami might hit or a great white shark might be lurking around the seawater waiting to gobble me up!I once heard of this quote from a friend :“Life is like being in a casino. There are many games for you to choose from, blackjack, poker, roulette and etc, just take your pick. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.There are many routes we can choose to take, but sometimes it turn out well, sometimes it doesn’t.
So… is gambling good or bad? I say its good!
Toastmaster of the evening.
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