As the cogwheels turn...

As the cogwheels turn, the fate of the subject unveils itself.

My life right now is amidst playing roles of gears and cogwheels in multiple events - SCAMP, Rag, Flag.

It definitely feels different to be part of a gear being turned compared to my previous roles of the machinist in command turning the gears in motion, but in doing so i have learnt many things in the responsibilities of both roles throughout the years in NUS.

The Gear
Gears differ in sizes and importance in the system. You can be a pheripheral gear that can be easily replaced or you can be a gear that is the epicentre of activities. It is up to oneself to prove that one can be up for the task as an important gear. And to do that, you have to fulfill your role efficiently and responsibly, even if you have to start off as the smallest and most unimportant of gears. If u cannot even perform the simplest of tasks, then you cannot be capable of more difficult ones. As a gear you are part of a larger mechanism, so do prepare to be flexible and be maneuvred around the system as the machinist reorganises the system.

Trust is a very important and probably the most difficult concept in any framework. Gears must trust each other that they can each perform their tasks and work together efficiently while fulfilling their own responsibilities. Gears must trust that the machinist knows what he is doing, vice versa.

The Machinist
The most important role in any operating system is the machinist. He who defines the motion of the system; he who defines the efficiency of the system; he who defines the purpose of the system.

One of the most important role of the machinist is to ensure that the right gear is being put in the right placed so that the gear has the opportunity to prove its capabilities and improve. Of course the machinist has to ensure that every gear is happy with the overall system and the specific roles that they play in maintaining the system. Diplomacy and Charisma plays an important role in maintaining morale. He must also be flexible as problems of different complications and magnitudes are bound to appear, each requiring a unique solution respectively.

The machinist has to make sure that every gear knows what it is supposed to do, takes pride in doing it, and be happy working with other gears as well. The most capable machinist brings the best out of the gears in his systems in working together. He cultivates the abilities of his gears such that the gears themselves will one day be capable enough to be an important gear, and even another machinist.

Easier said than done
Points mentioned above are the basic requirements a gear and a machinist must have to operate. There is no one size fit all specifics for the gear and machinist as different systems call for different combinations of capabilities and responsibilities. Many problems happen when roles of gears and machinist are not fulfilled effectively. A machinist may be so focused at a particular connection of gears that other gears may be neglected; A machinist may have lacked certain qualities that the specific system requires; or the machinist chose the wrong gears for the wrong purposes. Countlesss permutations of difficulties may happen from the machinist and gears and affect the whole operating system.

One of the qualities required to preempt problems coming would be far-sightedness and flexibility of the machinist. He will see possible problems and solve them resolutely before they snowball to uncontrollable proportions. He will also be flexible and patient to listen to criticisms and improve the system accordingly.

Both machinist and gears are by far no easy roles in different aspects as each of them play a role in the whole system. Any missing parts will cause problems, one way or another, differing in magnitude and complications.

Be it as the gear, or the machinist, do the best we can to fulfill the roles and responsibilities. Respect and take pride in our roles, no matter how big or small it might be. Be humble and learn from everyone in the team. Stand proud and do the best we can to earn the respect of others. Always remember, respect is to be earned through hard work and dedication towards every single task given to you.