2008, a year packed full of stuff is coming to an end…now for some resolutions? And my traditional thanks…

This year, if you ask me, was a particularly exciting and interesting year. Truthfully, I enjoyed a big part of it. There was just so much for me to be happy about. This is a year of changes and firsts. Hm…Singapore’s first F1 night race? First Singaporean passed away in a terrorist attack? Happy or sad, those weren’t what I was referring to, haha, its about me! Well, the first and probably one of the biggest change this year would be my CCA.

As all of you know, my past CCA was Track and Field-throws, which unfortunately the school decided not to keep and there it went. But this shock turned out to be a blessing in surprise for me…01 Scouts is really a great CCA. I mean, I have made so many close friends in the past 6 months, and done much more than I otherwise would have…its really unbelievable. Since this is all about beginnings…well, when the bad news hit me, so I was pretty much looking for a CCA roughly in the middle of the year. And I was deciding in my mind what kind I should join. Nope, not musical groups for me (no offense, but im just not musically inclined), sports…it depends, and uniform groups…why not? Haha, some of you might know that I was in Scouts in primary school, and with a number of 01 ppl who I know, that’s where I went. Don’t ask me about 01/02, its sensitive haha. Thanks so much to those who brought me to 01, directly or indirectly, Hiok Yang, of course, Kenneth, Suphasak, Amos, and also to all of those who welcomed me so warmly with your open arms, the rest of 01 06’: Alvin, Anurak, Francis, Tak Wei, Jon Ed, Joel, Zhong Jun, Rong Jun, Marcus, Soham, Bryan. All of you made it seem almost easy to cope with all that is needed to be learnt, and all that we have to go through. =) Haha. The experience I have had in 01, indescribable. (or maybe its my weak vocab, haha, something to improve on next year) All the times we were sitting around in the den, or sitting around at night on the groundsheet…those were my most memorable haha. And I actually feel better this year in that I know I’ve contributed in some way to my CCA, unlike in the past when everything was just negligible to them or something. But for the most part, I love 01 for the family it has given me. Thanks so so much! You know how much I appreciate your patience and care! Couldn’t have pulled through without you guys!

3T…I guess you can also consider it another one of the best things that has happened to me this year. I never expected my sec 3 class to be so…wonderful. Truthfully, last year when the class allocation was just released and I was looking out for any one I might know, I couldn’t spot any more than a few other than my classmates from 2E. Never would I have imagined that these strangers to me then, plus Mr Koh, could come together and make this 3T that I love. I mean, it isn’t by chance that we got first for both the interclass decoration competition and the interclass soccer…haha, maybe its also because of Mr Koh’s constant: pushing, telling us that we have to get first at all costs, ‘I don’t care you just do it’, ‘Must win’, and ‘I don’t want to see you if you don’t win’…haha ok la, but he made it clear that he’s not kiasu, just want to pressure us to do our best…and win. haha. But anyway, I don’t think that winning those stuff is the best thing I like about 3T (although it plays a part too), it’s actually because of the people. Quite weird how we all just get along rather well together, its like you can just talk to anyone in class so easily…and of course the ever-so-important best friends in class. Thanks so much for your company! Hope our class spirit will always remain as strong! Hmm…suddenly remembered some of the best times with 3T, the first was of course during OBS…towards the end when the whole Lincoln group grew closer, and started to work more closely together and we had some laughs together…I guess I really came out of it different…and then there was a time during one of the afternoons after school when a group of us stayed back to decorate the class, especially the leaves part, all the picking, cutting and pasting, and even eating food… another was the end-of-year class party we had, where everyone brought their own food to school and we just had fun playing games and cards, watching videos eating…so memorable. Thanks to 3T for making me a better person! Haha…looking forward to another new year with 3T, or should I say 4T…

Haha, just remembered something which I guess very little people would mention in their eoy post, but Im writing about my Research Education project this year…HSSRP. Jim, Shayne and I have been a great team, working out everything nicely and rather efficiently, throughout the year. Our research topic this year has been quite interesting to research on too, on recycling, haha. Think we did well for RE this year, got some praises from our mentor, so should be ok haha. The process was actually tough, formulating our research, determining the direction we want to take, and how to go about doing it…also the public survey, which was quite a disaster for us, its difficult to get Singaporeans on the street to take surveys you know, spent lots of holiday time on that…Thanks for being a great team! =) Lets go ace the rest of the assessments next year! lols

And then there’s also the interaction with foreign students we have had this year. Lets see, the first was the Korean students from CheongShim who joined our class for a week or so, and we all had so much fun together, haha. As a student ambassador, I got Michael (a really nice guy) as my buddy, and through our interaction we really learnt a lot about each other in the days we had at school. I definitely found the time worthwhile, and I had lots of fun! Really hope that they enjoyed their time here and we have been good enough hosts to them! That’s because during my 2 weeks in Hanoi for the OIP, my hosts have been so warm and welcoming, almost making me feel embarrassed at how I didn’t treat our own visitors as well as they did…made some really good friends there, who I still keep in touch with today…haha. These student exchange programmes are truly memorable…

Maybe DMPs now, I kinda filled my timetable to the max this time, and took everything that sounded interesting. And most of them really were, haha. Ok, the exception would be the philo module, which was seriously too difficult. But others like the Geog, Maths and SS ones were great, learnt lots of interesting stuff which were out of curriculum…Hoping for more interesting ones next year! =) But maybe maxing out is not a good option haha…or is it?

EOYs were something. I really studied for it this time, but sort of chattered with Jim and had some fun in it too, while revising. So, maybe I could have done better, but this year I have done well. Some subjects were really unexpected, like Biology, which I haven’t been able to do very well in, but improved in the EOY…The rest were quite expected I guess, and many more are very lucky indeed. Got lots of low 70s or 80s. Too lucky. I better start to work harder next year…who knows how luck will be like? But please, please be nice…haha. 3T has been such a positive influence on my grades too, so now you know my secret! =)

Hm…last year’s new year resolutions were:

1. Make lots of new friends
Haha, I think I did well for this, at the end of last year I still didn’t know many people from our batch, but now I think I know more! =) The more the merrier I guess…though I still prefer close ones.

2.Do my best to keep up with friends, old and new
This…hm…don’t think I did well for this, because I’ve kinda lost the ‘connection’ with some old friends, but of course others are still well in contact- Rosyth, 2E’07 and others. I don’t like the idea of losing friends, so maybe I should try harder.

3.Maintain this blog, lol
Haha me writing a post this long, and all the reasonable updates…hmm…I guess its up to the readers la…lols.

4.Excel at school(as in academically, in CCA, etc.)(or at the very least, maintain)
This is something I did better in! But its not thanks to me, but all the people around me, 3T, 0106’, my family, friends, among others. Really, I cant do much without them.

5.Do something about my dreams!
Haha, I guess you wouldn’t know what my dreams are, but I can tell you that I on my way! All the stuff which I have been participating in, and the training…I just hope I can do more next year…

6.Get some new stuff
This is very vague. But I can sense a new me…yet still the same me. Confusing huh?

7.ALWAYS stay happy and remain the same me (in terms of happiness)
Haha, this is something Im not too sure about, but I would like to think Ive succeeded in this. Somehow I’ve changed a lot in this aspect from young…when I was a stubborn little kid, so easily agitated and got angry easily…now I just wish to be able to keep that smile of mine. =) It’s a great thing you know…a small action that means so much. That’s how I would describe it.

New Resolutions for the New Year 2009:
1. Form stronger friendships
2. Make something of my years in RI(SS) (haha, afterall the next would be my last) No regrets!
3. Excel at School!! and maintain my GPA…
4. ALWAYS stay happy, in the face of difficulties or whatever
5. Improve as a person
More can be added as we go along, haha.

Actually Im kinda in a rush now to go over to my cousins’ house for some fun and games and a small countdown party!! Similar to last year’s. And haha school starts in 2 days…but Im looking forward to being a class-based PSL with the new students, going through the experience again from a different perspective.

2009 awaits…

Note: Hope it wasnt too long and unbearable...