2008-05-09

Firsts

It's the last official day of the academic year and the year in hall. I just finished taking down all the decorations on my door and walls and put all the mementos into a box. Woke up early to see Reda off on his backtriping trip and all around me rooms are empty where people have already moved out. Getting emo lol because there's this sense of finality in the air. Want to take the time to reflect on the year past and how it's been the MOST memorable year in my life ever, especially where I've done things for the first time.

For school:

1) First time that I've ever been so academically challenged

At the start of the year, I was really looking forward to starting my law course, a course that I had no intention of entering and had to be strongly persuaded into it by my dad. After a year I can definitely say that I would not go into any other course. What we learn is really interesting and makes us think. There is no more TYS or empty mugging and especially after LAWR, I felt that my whole outlook on things has become more thoughtful.

The work is rigourous to a point where I can't describe it, except that the people in law know. I've been really pushed to do well since the competiton is really tough. In secondary school and JC getting good grades or topping the class was always possible and even manageable but it doesn't seem that way here. There is never a limit to the amount of work you could be putting in and the grades are never guaranteed. I know I could and should have worked harder this year but I'm just really grateful to God for pulling me through the year. I remember exactly the occasion when I was so stressed by tutorials and tests and my committments in hall that I just sat at my table and bawled. First time in my life I was ever that overwhelmed. Thankfully now I know how to handle stress better. I've set goals for year 2 and now I know what I have to do to achieve them. Also really grateful for the friends I made, especially Kaili, Yiling, Sooky and Yanzhen, school would so totally be boring without them haha.

2. For hall:

1) First time living away from my parents

The independence just makes you grow up so much more. No more mum and dad to wake you up in the mornings and nag you to do your work. Basically what you do is entirely up to you and I've definitely learn to be more responsible. One downside is of course seeing my family less and things can get a little (more like a lot strained) when I'm not around to keep the peace between mum and dad. Will make much more of an effort next to spend more time with them. Whatever happens, family comes first.

2) First time acting in a play

First time ever and I got to perform for hall production at the UCC in front of 1,700 people. What a trill! Still remember going to watch the Raffles hall production and being so inspired by Kaili's production experience that I decided to go try out. When rehearsals weren't going well and school work started piling in I initially had thoughts that I had made the wrong decision by joining. But in the end everything was sooooooo worth it and hall production is one of my best memories from hall, esepcially meeting the cast and ensemble members, Francine, Kenny, Kimberly, Jeffrey, Heidi, Zhuhui, Shi Qian, Gim Sen, Reda, Esther and Amelia and the performance night itself.Wow.

3) First time joining a sports activity

All my CCA life I've been in dance and always wanted to do sports but in secondary school and JC you could only join one and they didn't have recre teams. Picked up handball this year after IBG and got the chance to be in the first team for IHG and play and to score 2 goals during the matches. Never experienced the intensity of a sporting match before and it was sooo different from dance, where you rehearse the performance and all you have to do on that actual day is to carry it out. And not to mention getting my first ever sports jersey with my name on the back!

4) First time interacting with so many people

Was really a shock to be with so many people in hall. Even though I consider myself outgoing, I'm not that outgoing and initially when I moved in I was very self-conscious and I still remember my brother coming into my room to talk about leaving my door open. Haha now I've adjusted and being with people and interacting with them through the various hall activities have taught me how to be tactful, how to manage people well and other things that I would never be able to learn if I weren't in hall, such as getting to be friends with foreign students like Reda who really broaden your perspectives on the world and make you realise that what Singaporeans think can be so different from the rest of the world.

ALso really grateful for the friends in hall who have supported me, especially Grace (who has saved my butt countless times), Francine, Insung, Mel Chan and Mel Chua and of course my brother, who I finally got to know better after him being away from home for 3 years. Felt this year like I could actually be friends with my brother. Lol.

Overall the experiences here were just priceless, from all the blk and hall activities to the experience of living away from home. Year 1 is always the best year and next year I know I'll be toning down the hall activities but I'm just thankful that I managed to achieve so much this year.

3. For my personal life:

Was so preoccupied with school and hall stuff that I know I neglected many of my other friends but I learnt along to way to treasure them. People such as Pam :) who have really helped me through the year and my church friends from Teensconnect, whom I know since sec4 and counting. It's getting harder for us to do stuff as a group but I'm glad we make the effort to meet up. Going to church would be so different without them. My spiritual life has admittedly been almost non-existent besides going for regular masses because of the lack of time. Actually time is the key factor in everything you do and I know with better time management that things can improve.

Feeling really emo now and everything (especially with a sad Wang Lee Hom song playing in the background (WOOOOOO first time going Kbox today! I know I'm noob but it was soooooooooooooooo fun!) Signing off the academic year with pleasant memories and soooooo looking forward to holidays and stuff for next year! OFF TO HONG KONG WE GO! First time going overseas with friends instead of family I'm super duper excited! And now on to Grey's Anatomy :)

melcircus at 10:41 p.m.

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