Yeah, it's Graduation Day.
Anyway, here's a little quote I thought of myself while chatting with somebody today. "Don't change yourself for others; change yourself for yourself." Simple words with a deep meaning. Will hopefully remember to continue on this post sometime later.. Bye! (:
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Twelve years of education in Singapore hasn't been easy.
It has been an enriching experience undoubtedly, a fruitful one, with many friendships forged, and lessons learnt.
Out of my 12 years of education, the one which I truly enjoy most would be my secondary education. Why?
To be really honest, I cannot quite recollect my primary school experience too much. It's as if part of my brain just deleted that period of time and there isn't much that's left to remember. I'm not sure why though. But what I do know, is that, I had been this quiet and demure girl in primary school who didn't really have very many friends, just a few close ones whom I have lost contact with. In fact, I might have even been a loner at times. Sometimes, small segments of those times come back to me now and then, but I don't really feel much about them. I can still remember the school environment quite distinctly though, and I remember visiting the library really often (because I didn't feel like eating at recess). I remember where my classrooms had been for those 6 years. I remember the mornings where we would sit in the hall or quadrangle doing silent-reading, then I would sing my national anthem and recite the pledge. I still remember admiring the prefects who were standing at the podium and raising the flags as well as conducting the national anthem. Just a random recollection though - a teacher had fainted once during the national anthem. I remember the friendly and nice teachers whom I really liked, especially my Primary 4 form teacher (Ms Neresa Wong), all my Chinese teachers (probably because I really love Chinese). Primary 5 & 6 - Mrs Sharma - whom the class didn't really like, so did I. I remember myself buying food from the snacks stall, the drinks stall uncle who always splashes drinks everywhere (his eagerness), the chicken rice auntie, the desserts stall which I always bought tao suan from, the Chinese noodles stall, the Malay noodles stall, and my favourite Malay yellow rice stall. My favourite order from that stall would be its chilli fishballs. They were really good, and it was probably that which cultivated my love for chilli. Haha. I still remember the bookshop, where many girls liked to crowd around the stationery and buy things that fancied them. I never really bought anything much from the shop, unless it was necessary (yes I'm frugal like that). I used to make those 10-cent calls back home (or maybe my mum's handphone) to talk to someone (I cannot really why I even did that). I remember the staircase near the hall that was always dark and wet (if it rains) - I think it's called staircase C. Then there was also me doing prefect duty (I was a prefect at primary 5 & 6). Then there was the hall, where we had PE lessons running around the hall, or lessons conducted inside the hall. The hall where we had Taekwondo lessons (I really miss those days!). Then the staffroom, which I hardly visited, but I remember putting things into my teachers' pigeon holes. Then there was also the computer labs (which I hardly remember much of, I just knew that we loved going to those places). Oh, not forgetting the 4th floor open area with study benches which I loved going to. Somehow that place was just so spacious and windy and I really enjoyed spending my time there. I still remember there was always this 'no staying in class during recess' rule. So, in primary 5 & 6, when Cheryl, Jocelyn and I weren't going for recess, we would either hide in class (yes literally) or we would go to that spacious, open space at the 4th floor (our classroom was also on the 4th floor). Those were really good moments. Sometimes I wish to go back to those days. And probably, I should arrange a meet up with some of these close friends...
Upon reaching secondary school, I was faced with a diverse range of friends and classmates from different backgrounds, encountered many different experiences, and met like-minded people (to some extent). At the beginning of secondary school, I was really lost. I tried to clique with the Malay girls in 1E8, like Sabina and company. But I could not find a common topic. Until a few months later, I think it was during Literature project, when I found Amanda, Lee Boon, Karen and Shermin. Then we started becoming friends, and especially since Amanda and I soon realised that we lived near each other. Then also came CCA, where I bonded with Amanda and Lee Boon as well. Although I was not in Student Council, I knew about much of the happenings in school thanks to them. Then there were also rumours about relationships between people including mine (which turned out... as you know it). At the end of secondary one, I was really depressed when I found out that I couldn't get into the top class (2E8 then). So I fought hard and worked really hard and landed into my desired combination and class in secondary three. That being said, I doesn't mean that my secondary two life sucked. It was then that I met people whom I probably might never know if not for the opportunity. It was also then that I really got to know Faith and Ya Wen. Then, came secondary three and four, where I was reunited with Amanda. So we did almost everything together (?), other than council of course. Now that I think of it, I really cannot recall where Tan Ching comes into the picture - was it secondary one or three, or two? Hahaha. I don't know. But whatever it is, I really treasure the people I've known and close friends I have made throughout those 4 years (and counting..!). Although the guys I knew (mainly the whole E8 bunch I'm referring to), were just those few people, their presence always made me feel whole (Amanda if you're reading this, it's not what you think okay). I really miss the lame jokes that Jin An would crap in class, the really cool designs that Jan makes to decorate the classroom, the little quarrel that always goes on at the back of the classroom involving Faith and company, Pan Fei constantly topping the class, the always-so-auntie Glenn (and Chee Yong), the friendly competition going on within the class that motivates you, and so on, so forth. I think I could actually make a list about the characteristics of people/happenings going on around in the class.. Anyway, the people there were just really awesome even though I never really knew all of them personally. I just miss those days like a whole great deal. Apart from friends, the teachers made the whole experience even better. I miss Mrs Chua's nagging, her "there are always exceptions in Chemistry" thing, her sarcasm, her quirky smile that makes you wonder what she is really thinking, her stern face etc etc. I miss Mrs Lim's threats about our class being too quiet, not asking and answering questions, her power-naps when we were almost nearing Os, her asking Pan Fei to explain things to the class etc etc. Then there's Mr Tan's powerpoint slides with a lot of things to copy, the way he always paces himself at the front of the class, that nobody-is-really-listening-to-me-we-are-just-busy-copying feeling and so on. I still remember at secondary one, when I was walking into school, he did this 1 and 0 thing with fingers which made me laugh. And not forgetting our always-getting-ignored-by-E8 Mr Koh. Whose weird antics never fail to make me laugh. And E8 always doing ahead of him, which leaves him bored in class, his sharing about his JC life, trying to teach us other subjects (I think it was Physics or Chinese), and the two things I won't forget was that then humiliating experience I had about getting the class to respond to him as well as the one time which I actually opposed him in class, like literally. It started with me not knowing how to do that question, then he picked me, so I took Pan Fei's (who sat next to me then) work and presented it. I got caught and then got rebellious and argued. Something like that. It was a pretty upsetting experience though. And also, Mdm Nisa and her lame jokes in class. Her lessons were always somewhat boring (it can't be helped - it's Humanities) but her lame jokes always kept me awake. Anyway, there are so many other teachers whom I have to give credit for, and so many more experiences that I have to share.. But i'm rather lazy to type them all out. All these memories will definitely be etched in my brain for as long as I can remember them. :)
Finally came JC. Met this really wonderful class which I didn't end up joining, but instead got into a different class whom I didn't really like in the beginning too. Seems like all my beginnings haven't been great uh.. Anyway, I had problems fitting in. I didn't feel belonged. I don't know if it was due to my absence at orientation with them or what. I told my secondary school friends that my classmates were of a "different frequency altogether" and stuff. After 2 years together, the situation has definitely improved a whole lot. I have gotten to know them better. The super lame remarks from Darius, the sick jokes that the guys will crack as if the girls were non-existent, the people who always doze off in lectures or tutorials, the "loan-sharks" as they have branded the reps, the guys always enthusiastic for PE & inter-class games and so on. They are a really fun bunch of people to be with. They motivate and help each other. Although we may not be as academically inclined, I think these are the traits which really define my class, and my JC experience. Also my photog mates, although I am not really close with them, I know they are really nice people who help to lighten each other's moods from our already heavy workload and burden at school.
All in all, I am really very glad for the 12 years I have had. They have been stepping stones that have made me who I am today, and hopefully a better someone tomorrow.
To all of my friends, classmates, acquaintances, teachers, I really thank you all very much for this experience that you have provided me with. Those 12 years would have been really unbearable if not for all of you. Thank you! :)
I am really getting nostalgic. :')
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