goodbye, halcyon days.
So much has happened after EOYs. I was struck by the fact that I had to GRADUATE from secondary school after this year a lot later than my friends. Still, it wasn't too late, and here's my rant.
I have had a very wonderful and memorable experience for the past two years. There're no words to describe this journey, or rather, there are too many words to describe it. Not all times were happy: there was the "complete" devastation I felt after leaving home, there was the culture shock of being bombarded by kiasuism around me, and there was the responsibility that came side-by-side with freedom. That's on top of the avalanche of schoolwork I get. It took me quite a while to adapt to the changes in environment. It helped a lot to have great friends to take my mind off homesickness, scholars and schoolmates alike, as well as boarding staff and school teachers who are really supportive.
Thus, I have a long gratitude list here. Unless mentioned, this is in no particular order (though I still try, but many-a-times there are ties which I cannot decide on), and explanations do not serve to show who's more important.
Firstly, and most importantly, to my parents and sister, who have been so completely supportive of me for the past two years. It is their help that I deem most important above all else. Their laughter infects me just through their voice (I wonder if I can get an MC for that), their care and concern shows that I am still very much like I'm back in Malaysia.
Relatives: What can I say? They're my relatives. By default they should be in this list for the years they've taken good care of me even before I came to Singapore. Without them I wouldn't be in Singapore in the first place.
My own countrymen, especially Zheng Hung. Thanks, because.... well, just thanks la. Otherwise it'll be too long a list. XD
Old classmates/friends: Tang Eng Yee, Ong Chi Hao, Chan Pui Mun, Lim Cheng Yee, Angelyn Ho, Woo Qi Hong, Tan Yann Fei, Kan Choong Hong, Leong Mun Jun, Chong Yee Xin, Ng Jia Qi, and so many more. Boo. Too many to list. D:
Scholars of my batch, especially Yu Liangping, Vuong Gia Hieu, Manikandan Thyagesh, Chavan Tejas Deepak, Mai Ngoc Nhan, Le Duc Anh, etc etc. (I can't remember everyone D:.) Thanks a lot for being supportive of my actions, decisions and whatever stuff I've done as Hullett 1 chairman.
Classmates, especially Delwyn, Shi Leon, Chin Jie, Dennis, Han Kit, Matthew, Ye Oon, Alvin, Wen Jian, Patrick, Dexter. Thanks for making 4M a nice place for me to study in! (though we have to minus the fact that I can barely listen to the teachers at times, but hey, who cares now? XD)
Batchmates: Bryan Lee, Tat Hsiang... (sorry, just woke up, can't remember shit.)
Scholars' Committee: Nguyen Duong Ngoc My, Gui Xiaohui, Bui Ngoc Linh Chi, Stacey Tay, Forlando Antonius, Jenny Fong, Kevin Frandy Budiman, Li Wanchun, Wu Jianxiao, Talitha, Sivakorn Chongfeungprinya (please do not ask me how I managed to remember his name. I just did. D:), Mai Ngoc Thien Trang, Hanh Trang, Hu Xu Ling, Long Wen, Wu Wei, Yu Shiyu, Elsye, Li Yiqiao, Zhang Wenjing, Xu Qiusi. Did I miss anyone out? XD
Teachers: Mrs Eunice Tay, Dr Koh Siak Peng, Mrs Priscilla Lim, Mr Law Hock Ling, Mr Low June Meng, Mrs Neoh Terh Ling, Dr Chionh Yan Huay, Dr Iluyomade Raphael Funwa, Dr Jeffrey Lee, Ms Quah Seok Whee, Ms Lim Si Hui, Ms Wong Chiu Chin, Mr Ng Kai Yong (betty!), Mr Harold Au. Thank you for your support and wonderful teaching.
Boarding Masters: Mr Vincent Quek, Mr Tan Chiew Sern, Mr Daniel Chua.
"Upper echelon" of the school: Mrs Lim Lai Cheng, Mr Koh Chin Nguang, Mr Magendiran, Mrs Tan Siok Mui, Mr Kenneth Kwok, Mr Lam Nam Soon, Mrs Jacqueline Chua, Mr Edward Ng.
And the list goes on and on and on. It'll be never ending. I think it's important that we show our gratitude to those who have helped us in one way or another, and not disregard their little efforts. I thank those whose names I've left out up there, and know that you're equally important as the people above. (:
As Mr Edward Ng puts it in his talk, JC will be a completely different thing. I care less about arguing over whether or not the school should call it GRADUATION CEREMONY now, because by default, and whether they like it or not, I'm calling it as that. Screw whatever names you can think of; there's no substitution for graduation, even if it's Year 4 to Year 5 of a programme. So is the school contradicting itself now? You name it "Year 4 Dinner" because it's still under the same programme, yet you're telling us "Year 5" or JC1 as I'd like to call it is a completely different game. Make up your mind.
Whatever it is, there'll be no more time for rest in JC. I'll work doubly as hard and compensate for the time spent by using the computer less and joining less stressful CCAs. Excelling is the key, but with it comes a lot of sacrifices. It's truly the time to say: goodbye, halcyon days.
