Rebecca's Antartica Resort

Rebecca's school gave her a project to do. Build an Antartica Resort.

Naturally, the school knows that the children can't build such a project on their own. The intention was to involve the parents to help.

Rebecca is typically short on ability to do a creative art project. It is a huge challenge for her. She sat there for half an hour and could only come out with a plan with a few circles where she would put her McDonald's, an ice skating rink, a hotel, and a ticketing booth. Two years ago when I helped Julian with the same project, he did 75% of the work. Julian's work was voted the best in class.

I am determined to help Rebecca be the best in class as well. So I spent last three days creating the entire 3D resort on a A3 foam base.

Rebecca was happy with the work. But she asked, why do you spend so much time on the project? Most people only spent like half a day to do it.

I told Rebecca, if you want to do something, do it to the best, not to your best, but to the best there is. You may not be the absolute best, but it is good enough if you are one of the finalists.

There is a difference between doing it to your best, and doing it to the best there is.

As a young boy, mum showed me how she was able to create all sorts of crafts with just a few simple household tools. We did not have the luxury to buy toys, so mum improvised and created for me toys like catapults, pistols, lanterns, feather shuttle, paper ball, paper planes, spinning top, and so many others. Mum was so able and creative, I did not remember if there was anything she could not do for me as a child. Mum showed me in action that whatever you want to do, it has to be done to the best there is.

Years ago, when I was trying to motivate Colin to do better at his school works, I told him that we Chinese are a culturally proud and competitive people. We do not walk away from a competitive challenge. Colin's reply almost caused me to choke with laughter. He asked "why do I not feel proud and competitive?". My son had thought that as a Chinese he would have been 'programmed' to automatically be proud and competitive. Ya son, I hope it was as easy as that.

I finished Rebecca's Antartica Resort. I want her to win top vote for this one, and others that she participates in the future.