Category: Reflections

GRADUATED!

Four years passed so fast. Am I really a graduate now?! The end of poster day (a day when we put up posters on our Final Year Projects and present them to examiners and guests) marks the end of my University life.

We were all complaining this year cuz we had to present on two days instead of the usual one day for past years. The first day, I was all jittery. It’s madness to just stand around your poster, and wait hours for a professor to approach. We have no idea who and what time they were gonna come and just have to be prepared at all times.

This is my poster! Looks a little un-scientific because I did a project that developed video protocols to aid in undergraduate lab classes. What I’m really proud of is that these videos will be used in subsequent semesters as part of juniors’ practicals. So I actually did something to help the current system :)

The second day was more relaxed, and everyone was just going around socializing. It was after all the last day of school! Sobs. :’( We visited each other at their booths, took pictures, and chitchat. It was kind of more of a socializing event than a presentation!!

My team mates Calvin and Zah with whom I completed the project. Had a really fun time  during the whole time. Everything is better when you have company, so you don’t face things alone. Teamwork was really important as the three of us were in charge of different aspects of the project and we really work quite well to glue everything together. Thanks guys!

Here’s my clique in school. I wouldn’t be able to survive college if not for them. Their crazy antics and jokes really make life more interesting and fun. There were some ups and downs but I’m thankful I’m still part of them.

One last person to thank is Hammy. He’s always there to help me through this period. Without his help, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly. Thank you dear.

Alright! I’m officially graduated. Now it’s time to look forward and move on to more challenges in life! Wish me luck. But no matter what, I’m glad to have Mypeaceofheaven as an outlet and my pride.

Omg I’m getting emotional! :”)

Hello, 2012! – an attempt at NY resolutions

I woke up on the last day of 2011 feeling very happy. Finally, WE MADE IT! The end to a grueling year is drawing near and the anticipation of a fresh start overpowered me.

There are so many things I hope to achieve in the new year, 2012. It is going to be an important year:

I’ll be…

- completing my Final Year Project and graduating from University.

- starting work (hopefully) in the later half of the year. Although I still don’t know what I want to do, and whether any company will want to hire me.

Transiting from school to work life is a pretty major change in phase in my opinion, and although there is alot to look forward to, such as earning $$$, there are also challenges and fears to overcome. I’ll have to start repaying my debts accumulated during my course of study, and then work out a savings plan. I’ll have to go for job interviews and meet new colleagues etc… Ahh, just thinking of these gives me shudders.

BUT, I still look forward to growing up! And working towards independence step by step.

In case the world ends on 21st Dec 2012 according to the Mayan calendar, I have thought of some resolutions that will help me to live my life to the fullest.

1) Give my best to my Final Year Project and get an A.

2) Put in more effort in Mypeaceofheaven.com. Don’t be lazy!

3) Spend more time with family and friends.

4) Love.

Happy New Year everyone! :D

Reminiscing.

You know how people grow up and lose their ability to have fun, be fearless and enjoy every minute of life?

I feel that I am going through that stage right now. Especially when I’ve just started school as a Year 4 student in University, everywhere I turn to, I see kids/ boys and girls (as I would like to call them) all around me, laughing, just fooling around and having the time of their lives with their friends.

And everything just feels so familiar, yet so strange..

I used to be like them. I was happy, did things I would never do again, spontaneous, silly, a bit weird nonetheless. As I sat in the canteen eating alone, it dawned upon me that the surroundings haven’t changed. I have. I see things differently now, and it is the process of growing up.

When I was in Year 1, I only saw my group of friends. I never noticed anyone outside of it. So much that when I started year 2, I thought some students in my class were new and suddenly, I started to notice that there are other people outside of my circle of friends. In year 3, I decided to put my energy into studying, and became more stable in my emotions. Then in year 4, all that joyful and crazy moments are slipping away as I planned my timetable, which is two modules different from my friends’. I am also taking an elective alone.

I am currently making a transition, and trying to keep it as smooth as possible, but it is difficult. I miss important lessons, go for the ones which I am not taking. What chaos. Hopefully, when the timetable is finalized, I will be able to take control of things.

Still, transition is scary. After this, I have another transition to make, and that is the one where I enter the workforce. My friends and I talk more about our future, and plans. We are still figuring it out, wondering if the bioscience field that was supposed to be a booming sector 10 years ago still has any space for us, coupled with the competition from foreigners.

So today, I sat alone in the canteen, reminiscing.

Dear juniors, enjoy your youth while you can, because it’s all going to pass so ever quickly. Most importantly, must study hard in year 1 ok!

Confession post.

This is going to be a confession post.

I skipped school today, cuz it was raining so heavily at my place here. Alright, I know that the rain is an excuse. I was actually in school already, cuz Hammy came and fetch me to school, but I decided to turn back the way I came from, and skip the day’s lessons.

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And I’m feeling DAMN GUILTY now. Like something gnawing on my conscience constantly the entire day, nibbling on my nerves, making me snappy and unsettled.

I’m sad too, because I’ve been a naughty girl. I actually chose to NOT go into class when I was just outside the theatre. :(

Dunno what came over me.

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Think the long holiday rotting at home has done some damage.

I need to get my act together!

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(PS: Shh Don’t tell anyone else!)

Start doing things you love.

Today, I want to share a story that Hammy told me some days ago.

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Once there were 2 friends, who lived on the 80th storey of a tall building. After going to the market one morning, they reached their void deck only to realize that the lift is under repair. Being young and energetic, they decided to take the stairs as that is the only way home.

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The first 20 storeys were a breeze, they even joked and laughed on their way up. Even with their bags full of grocery, they were able to make it up without much difficulty. And they reached the 20th level.

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Next, the journey to the 40th level was a tad more strenuous. They were perspiring, and getting a little breathless. When they reached the 40th storey, they stopped for a rest. They realized that they might have to leave some bags of grocery and belongings behind in order to continue their way home. So they made decisions of what to bring home along with them, and what to discard. Then they climbed on.

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Reaching the 60th storey, they are out of breath. The friends decided to drop more baggage, and encourage each other to press on. For they are almost home!

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Finally, after 80 levels of steps, they are home. He reaches into his pocket… and sadness and despair overcome his face, as he realizes that the key was left behind on the 40th level.

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END OF STORY

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This story is about life and dreams. When we are young and ambitious, we have a lot of dreams. Dreams of becoming successful, accomplished, and recognized. Dreams of becoming a writer/singer/designer/stylist… we set out to fulfill these dreams with our vitality and enthusiasm. We race ahead in life with full force.

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Then when we are adults and more responsibilities set in, we make decisions on priorities in our lives. Family versus career, reality versus dreams, regularity versus uncertainty. Life takes a slower pace as children arrive, or even just cutting back on all that pursuing of ‘silly childhood dreams’ to enjoy some quiet time with a partner. Often, we are lulled into simple contentment as life becomes a stable routine.

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As age catches up, after all the hustle and bustle, we often look back on our lives and realized that there is still this dream, left behind half a lifetime ago, not yet fulfilled because it was forgotten. But there is no way of turning back and reliving life again.

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So the moral of the story is, don’t let go of your dreams. If you have that one dream still pending somewhere behind your mind, take the chance to do it ASAP!

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So as I was thinking about my dreams, I realized that I don’t know what I want to do in life! Then I saw what Erica wrote on Twitter,

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“It’s about having a dream, and making it come true.

So what happens if you do not have a dream?” 

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Haha yeah, what happens?? It’s not being too lazy to think, but just simply clueless of what I want to do in life despite cracking my brains over it. Especially when I’m going to graduate in a year, I have to think hard about what I want.

And everyone around me is also facing the same problem, because we’ve been asking each other what we want to do after graduation, and some of us just don’t have an answer yet.

So if you don’t have any idea what you want to do in life yet, do read on.

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Miraculously, I found my answer in the form of a self-help article online, “How to find what you love to do” by Briankim.net. And before reading, I was quite sceptical that it would really help me to discover my life path as it claims, but surprisingly I did come up with something!

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Step One: Write down a list of your skills and interests.

Here’s mine,

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The lists are not extensive, nor are they impressive… cuz I just wrote the more prominent ones that I can think of. I laughed at myself when I wrote ‘Tweet’. Haha, but tweeting can be considered a skill right?? I mean, some people don’t even know how to tweet! Lol..

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Then now for the most important question,

“What would you love to do on a daily basis utilizing both your skills and interests that will add significant value to people?”

This question is the key to determining what you want to do in life, after taking into consideration of your skills and interests. Haha cuz you may love to sleep and your skill is sleeping, but that doesn’t benefit anyone else! Haha so obviously you can’t do that for a living.

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Of course I would LOVE to do all these on a daily basis! But I probably can’t, because I still owe the bank a lot of money for school fees. So I might have to take up a regular 9 to 5 job till I have repaid my debts. I also think it would be good to have a diploma/degree in social work, so I can contribute more.

At least now I know where I want to end up, I can have better plans on how to get there. I’ve been searching online for more information on how to help lonely and abandoned elderly in Singapore…

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I am writing all these down because I’m going to graduate soon, and when I start work, I’m going to be pulled into the crazy rat race and be working my ass off. I’m afraid that I might forget what I dream to do here on earth, and this post will serve as a reminder. So maybe 10 years down the road, when I become sick and tired of life, this post will remind me of my passion and purpose in life, and I can work towards my dream again =)

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There’s no harm in trying this simple exercise, and you might be surprised by what you come up with, so just do it! Haha..

 I hope this activity will help you as much as it helped me. Bye!