The document is a resignation letter from a teaching assistant named Kenneth Mak. In 3 sentences: Mak submits a creative resignation letter to the principal arguing he can perform his job duties better by working from home; the principal asks him to stay but he refuses due to contract terms and workload; the letter references theories from Taoism to positive psychology to argue allowing him to work remotely would benefit both himself and the school.

1. Student Name : Mak Koon Wing Kenneth
Last May, I submitted to the Principal a letter of resignation, embodying various
themes across different disciplines. I think it is a creative way to ask the authority to
add benefits to me.
The principal then despatched the panel chair-lady to ask me to stay but I refused
because of contract terms and workload.
Background:
Job nature:
English teaching assistant
Marking F.1 –5 English writing
the tasks can be done at home.
For some personal reason, I have to rest at home.
Bargaining with seniors to take the work home.
Dear Principal “Control Freak”,
Sunrise follows sunset in cycles. When the light comes, darkness vanishes. My
intuition leads me elsewhere for advancement, alerting me of various ways to tap into
my potentiality and unleash the power within. After contemplating following closely
the Tao of my innate abilities, serene dispositions and unique persona, I prefer to
work freelance at home, integrating my life and work in a seamlessly holistic fashion
towards an optimized performance by indulging in the so-called flow experiences,
instead of staying confined to a small room, like untried inmates in a jail.
Undoubtedly, ‘prison break’ is on stage now! Analogously, when the time is ripe,
grapes fall off the canopy effortlessly. Sadly, I don’t think that this post allows me to
more excel my work at home than languish on school premises.
For some personal reasons, might I submit to you this letter of resignation,
indicating that my last working day falls on 18 th May, 2009. During turbulent times
especially when the financial tsunami strikes and continues to broaden and deepen,
replacing the incumbent with a more capable high-caliber candidate seems a piece of
cake. Hope the pinch doesn’t affect you much of locating the right one in near future.
I apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate gratefully and thank you
profusely for the chance once offered to me!
1

2. Warmest regards,
Kenneth Mak
Do you know what I want? Selling myself!
Ulterior motive = to proceed via receding
Combination of different theories = sell riddle and hidden meaning  self
Win/win situation = negotiation (Implicature)
= Me (fully utilised natural ability + personal growth) + Employer ( Increased Performance)
Tao: Natural order/rhythm , Harmony/ cycle/ organic view vs mechanistic view,
integration, balance personal levelpersonalityjob performance
Discipline/domain Central semantic axis Phrases scattered in the resignation letter
Tao flow of the universe Sunrise follows sunset in cycles.
or the force behind the When the light comes, darkness vanishes. My intuition
natural order (cycles) leads me elsewhere for advancement, alerting me of
influence that keeps the various ways to tap into my potentiality and unleash
universe balanced and the power within.
ordered when the time is ripe, grapes fall off the canopy
‘go with the flow’ effortlessly.
Personality psychology Trait theories innate abilities,
Individual differences serene dispositions
Abilities and unique persona
Humanistic view Growth potential; advancement
e.g. Carl Roger, Ideal self tap into my potentiality
Maslow Self-actualisation/Theory Y unleash the power within
Buddhism, Osho Awareness alerting me …
2

3. Religion Light/darkness, Knowledge, intuition,
inner vs outer shattering and adjustment of core beliefs
Social learning theory Learnt preference, I prefer to work freelance at home
e.g. Bandura
goal setting
Personal Growth Making choice, I prefer to work freelance at home
hierarchy of values
Yin/Yang towards Oneness with nature/ integrating my life and work in a seamlessly holistic
Integration of universe fashion towards an optimized performance by
opposites; Carl Jung indulging in the so-called flow experiences
Work-life balance
Positive psychology Hope, optimism, integrating my life and work in a seamlessly holistic
e.g. Dr. Martin Anticipation fashion towards an optimized performance by
Seligman indulging in the so-called flow experiences
Human Resource: From the perspective of a integrating my life and work in a seamlessly holistic
manger : increased fashion towards an optimized performance by
productivity indulging in the so-called flow experiences
Performance
management
Cognitive linguistics: Metaphor: Extension of instead of staying confined to a small room, like
source domain to target untried inmates in a jail. Undoubtedly, ‘Prison Break’
Motive + metaphor domain is on stage now!
Finance Context During turbulent times especially when the financial
tsunami strikes and continues to broaden and deepen,
replacing the incumbent with a more capable high-
caliber candidate seems a piece of cake. Hope the
pinch doesn’t affect you much of locating the right one
in near future.
Human Resource: Aim of hiring During turbulent times especially when the financial
tsunami strikes and continues to broaden and deepen,
Selection and replacing the incumbent with a more capable high-
recruitment caliber candidate seems a piece of cake. Hope the
pinch doesn’t affect you much of locating the right one
in near future.
Human Resource: Initial stance must not be e.g. plot, time limit, timing, spread rumours
achievable
negotiation
Manipulate various
parameters towards win/win
situation
3