'Cos change.
Started off the year paper chasing, hunting down profs to supervise my thesis and psyching myself up for a last ditch effort to charge towards the elusive First Class Honours (half thought it was pretty much a lost cause, really). Took a mod that I thought will benefit my transition into working life (Housing Econs) and it probably will, just not yet. Did help my thesis though.
Tutoring a level 2000 module was really exciting, sailing through rather smoothly was encouraging, and the above-average student feedback was a goddam ego booster.
Won the TFF subgroup forum but didn't manage to clinch the eventual finale forum was slightly disappointing but not enough to dampen the spirit of the challenge.
LYLC and we didn't even win a single handball match. That'll remain the only regret perhaps for my short lived Handball career so far: from champions to almost the bottom of the pack. More work to be done definitely. Anyway, it was a nice end to my conversely long lived Basketball career, scoring the final two points through free throws in the finals and, of course, we won. And win we fcking did, we even brought home the overall championship after a nail-biting track finale. Was a good year as an LYLC, not so much as a sportsman...
And we bade hall goodbye, it was unbearable to say the least, painful to some extent. Spent a good 3.5 years (bar the exchange semester) practically living in this place and it was like what I imagined when I was young - living happily with good friends as neighbours. I guess never will I ever live this fantasy ever again.
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And then came the break.
I did my first overseas trip with just my parents. Just the 3 of us. It was really challenging but I will do it over and over again if I have the chance. And perhaps more is really to come (looking at you, 2017!)
Then came South East Asia trip with the Bros. Another fantasy of mine, another dream came true. Kangster's absence was a pity but I believe we can make that up with more short trips in the future; and I really hope it'll materialise in 2017!
Campervan trip has always been this fairy tale idea that I only read about in magazines and sometimes in western movies. Never have I ever thought that I will have the chance to do it someday, much less at so young an age. Truth is, it was so far from reality that I didn't even have any desire for it to begin with. And then it happened. The first night was magical, and then even till now the whole trip seems abit unreal... It set the bar high but I'm pretty sure our next trip for Ms Blur's graduation in 2017 will match it up. ;)
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And then back to reality. This time round reality came with responsibilities in the adult world. Suddenly, I've been thrown out of my comfort zone.
Getting the Economics Society of Singapore medal is probably the highest achievement I've ever had academically (so far, haha) and I was so freaking stunned when I realise I won it. I was half-believing I will graduate with a second upper and suddenly I was the student with the highest CAP in my specialisation?! [Had the same feeling last night when I lost hope in this particular round in my mahjong game, when I have no tai to win the game and the tiles are in a mess; then suddenly I got an animal, got a four of a kind, and drew a in-the-middle tile all in the same round and I was waiting to win out of no where! And I did just that! Freaking 1-tai but that has been the best gamr I've had in a very long while. Ah, the small things in life... I digressed]
But then all these also didn't really matter in the end. Out in the adult world, everything got reset. Once you get your first job, it doesn't really matter how exam-smart are you in school, everyone's back to square one competing on the same ground. And there's suddenly so much competition! I know I will survive, but this will take some time... 2017 will be another year of change in my career and I hope what I have will end on a high note, and this high note can be carried forward to the next department I'm heading to! Please!
Took on more external activities after I've slightly stabilised in my work cos that's just how I function: nothing much to do and nothing will be done, at all. So TFF moved towards AF and I moved from the chairperson of a subgroup to the Vice-president of the whole Exco of SG100. Many plans are installed for 2017, and much more work is coming my way. Great!
Didn't wanna waste my "research skills" (nothing R rated) so decided to put it into good use by volunteering to research for an NPO and it's a new project, but we are expecting it to upscale come 2017 so it's gonna be exciting as well!
Wanted to join HDB's (or at least HMG's) Basketball team training but was kinda late and missed the season. There's a chance that I'll miss the next one in 2017 as well but the thought of having the opportunity to train with a team again is triggering the basketballer (read: team player) in me. Haha! Been wanting to quit this sport since JC cos I kinda stagnated but I just kept coming back for more. The force is strong in this one...
Ended the year OT-ing with a friendly match with the TH handballers and it's encouraging to know they have a much bigger team with big potential next year. Played with the alumnus, most of them playin for Ravens, and it really reignited my passion for this new sport I've picked up (I also don't wanna end my handball career on such a low note that is our zero-win IHG season lol). Ravens is having player issues and if skills and time allows, hopefully I'll be back in the game in 2017!
And then I went on to countdown for 2017 with people I've met (mostly) in hall. Some of my best friends are within this group of hallmates. And then I realise we don't miss hall. We miss the life we once had inside it... The joy, the laughter, the tears, the quarrels; the sweat, the grumbles, the chill and the fumbles (if you know what I mean). Nothing will bring that life back. But we can bring the people who created the memories out... Here's to 2017, and many more years to come, many more years to live out this fantasy of friendships!
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2017 will never be as important as 2016, but 2017 will be the year of settling in after 2016's year of change. Hope the transition will be smooth and steady. Cheers, 2017!
