Soliloquy on the end of school

Well, it's not exactly the end yet. I still have exams in a couple of weeks' time. Also, should all go well with my Honours application (I sincerely hope so!), I will be commencing my Honours year the following semester. But it is officially the end of lessons here at UQ, and until I receive an official letter from my Faculty confirming my successful Honours application, I can only assume that the 'student' chapter of my life is coming to an end.

Lessons officially ended last week, but till now my mind is still a whirl of thoughts and feelings about The End. I mean, I have been a student nearly all my life, beginning when I first started nursery and till now at the end of my undergraduate studies. While I do have some working and internship experiences, being a student is the only real job I have ever done all these years. So now that I am on the cusp of entering the real working world, I can't help but feel a mix of sadness, nostalgia, fear and excitement.

My Mum likes to tell me that being a student is the best time of one's life. That's because for all the stress homework, exams and tecahers give, coupled with the trials and tribulations that come with growing up, a student's life is still a shelthered one. Most students will depend on their parents to varying degrees for financial support, for one thing. Also, when you're young, people are more forgiving when you make mistakes. Once you become a full-time working adult, there're more responsibilities to take on and expectations of you are raised a notch. For perhaps the first time, you are truly on your own when it comes to supporting yourself.

For me, I feel the pressures of finding a job after I graduate more and more. It just doesn't help that the International Labour Organization recently warned that youth unemployment has become a serious issue worldwide since the Global Financial Crisis. I fear that I too might be one of those millions of qualified, educated but frustrated young people who either cannot find a job or end up being under-employed. The unemployment situation in Singapore isn't as bad as in Europe and USA, but with increased immigration of late the competition for local jobs have intensified. Ideally, I would like to get a job here in Australia as I feel Australia has more opportunities for my areas of study, but so many other international students also want to find a job here, which means greater competition for the permanent residency needed to apply for most Australian jobs. Probing deeper into my fears, I think I am basically afraid of leaving the comfort of student life and entering the uncertain, fast-changing territory of the working world.

I do have my dreams and aspirations, which I have been working very hard to achieve, but in the face of the unknown, there is no guarantees that they will definitely be attained. But I take comfort in the fact that at the end of student life, I have no regrets. I fought for and got to study the subjects I was interested in, my passion for my two main fields of study at university has been nurtured greatly and I have had the privilege of attending wonderful schools and learning under knowledgeable academics. Student life has been stressful, no doubt, but it had also been fun, fulfilling and comforting. I wish I had appreciated this more earlier.

Special mention must go to my University, for it was here at the University of Queensland that I really and truly blossomed academically and as a student. Until I joined UQ, I had only been an average student in Singapore. I worked hard in my studies, but so did everyone else, as that was how you survive the highly competitive education system in Singapore. I did manage to attend a couple of prestigious and popular schools in Singapore, but I wasn't one of their alumni who left with stellar grades and would be featured as 'high-achievers' in school magazines. I never had stellar grades in Singapore. I couldn't even get into the Faculty of Arts of the National University of Singapore because it was so competitive and my 'A' level grades were just decent. All this changed when I was accepted into UQ. At first, I had a big academic culture shock when I started university as the environment, responsibilities and expectations of university students were quite different from what I was used to in Singapore. It took me a few months to get used to everything and settle down. After that initial difficulty, though, everything was mostly smooth-sailing to my surprise. At the end of my first year, I received a Dean's Commendation from the Faculty of Arts. Subsequently, I have received a Dean's Commendation for nearly every semester except the first semester of last year when I went on exchange to the UK. In addition, I managed to go on exchange to the University of Leeds last year and I recently completed an internship at a public sector organization here in Brisbane. I'm still surprised that I achieved so much here as compared to my student days in Singapore, but I believe I can attribute my success to the academic environment of UQ. There is more academic freedom in UQ,  exams are not the be-all and end-all as is often the case with education in Singapore and I got to learn under many academics who are passionate about their areas of expertise. I also received a lot of social, emotional and academic support here at UQ (and from my wonderful parents back home), without which I am sure I would not have achieved as much as I have today.

This is why I so badly want to do my Honours year the following semester. I love studying in UQ, and I have an area of interest I want to pursue more deeply in an Honours thesis. And having studied abroad in two countries, I realize that the world is such a vast place that is uncertain and ever-changing but where there are still opportunities that await. Singapore will always be home to me, but as I have said before in this blog, Singapore is small in more than just the literal sense.

But maybe I need not fear so much what the future brings, for I do have rich and fulfilling school experiences (especially the ones I had in UQ) to speak of that would no doubt be of use when I finally start working. I cannot say with certainty what will happen in the future for me, but no matter what job I take on or wherever in the world I end up working, I have these precious student experiences that have greatly shaped me to become who I am today.

No matter what happens in the future, no one or nothing can ever take away the things I experienced, learned and loved during my student days for they are all in my heart and mind now.

Thank goodness for the mid-semester break!

Because I really needed it, and really deserved it.

If you were wondering about the lack of posts in March, it's because that month was a CRAZY one. One assignment after another, and an internship to juggle with as well. Honestly, I have never been so busy and so stressed out since the times I took my 'O' Levels and 'A' Levels in Singapore. This is without a doubt the busiest semester of my entire undergraduate life (the most relaxed being my study abroad at the University of Leeds). I deserve a medal, for surviving March without falling sick once, though I did nearly go nuts from the stress.

Enough about Mad March now. You can imagine how relieved I was when the mid-semester break finally commenced. Needless to say, I used that precious one week break to chill out as much as I could. I met up with friends I haven't seen for ages, watched The Hunger Games with my housemates, pounded a batch of green curry paste and made an authentic and very flavourful Thai green curry with my neighbours (did I mention that I love cooking?), explored a suburb I have been wanting to visit for so long, shopped, ate out at new eateries and rediscovered old favourite eating spots and resumed reading my Game of Thrones novel. Not bad at all for one week, though there were some things I wanted to do but didn't have time for, like starting a new anime series (last one I watched was, like, a year ago). I did study and do academic work during the holidays of course, but a significant chunk of my holiday was spent recuperating from the madness of March and doing things that I have been putting off for so long because I was too busy.

The second half of semester started on Monday, and already I'm feeling somewhat drained. Yesterday and today was spent completing a good chunk of the admin work needed to apply for my Honours year next semester. This month is pretty relaxed as compared to March actually, because I only have one big assignment due. That's great, because I could finally get started on my Honours application. There's also my birthday to look forward to sometime in end April and I can't wait to take a whole day off on that special day :D

I survived March. If I can do that, and if what doesn't kill you can only make you stronger, then I will surely be able to conquer what remains of April and the major assignment deadlines May will bring.

Here I go!

Japan, one year on

Today, exactly one year ago, a terrible 9.0 Magnitude earthquake struck North-East Japan. The earthquake was so powerful, it caused a tsunami that swept away whole costal towns and triggered a nuclear crisis when several nuclear power stations broke down. This was not merely a tragedy, but in fact a trio of tragedies, which gripped many people all over the world in the weeks that followed.

I still remember clearly the moment when I first heard the news of the disasters. I was doing my exchange studies in Leeds at that time, and that day, I visited the blog of a Japanese lady who lives in Perth. Her latest post was about a major earthquake in Japan and in her writing, she seemed shaken. However, I did not realize just how serious the earthquake was until I visited the BBC website and saw terrifying reports and pictures of the destruction. Shocked, I immediately logged on to Facebook and visited the Facebook profiles of every single Japanese friend I had. It seemed I was not the only one to turn to Facebook, many other people had flooded my friends' Facebook walls with questions like 'Are you ok?' and 'Where are you?'. All my Japanese friends had replied to say that they and their families were fine. I then checked the Youtube channel of a Japanese cook I had been following closely for about a year (in case you want to know, it's 'Cooking with Dog'). The cook, the narrator and their dog were fine as well. I was so relieved to learn that every one I know was alive and well that I cried.

In the weeks that followed the disasters, there was a outpouring of grief and support from all over the world. I was touched to see so many people of so many nationalities stand by the Japanese people in the aftermath of the tragedies. There were all sorts of innovative donation drives, from the selling of bento equipment on eBay by food bloggers to the publishing of a cookbook to raise funds to the folding of paper cranes. For my part, I was one of the many people who donated to the disaster relief.  What happened in Japan made me particularly upset, not only because I have friends there, but also because I had visited the country three times (and am more than willing to do so again) and am quite fond of Japanese culture. I also took part in a fund-raising activity organized by the International Student Office in my university, which involved the folding of a thousand paper cranes (supposed to make wishes come true, according to Japanese belief). Many people turned up to help, and we exceeded the target. All donations and the paper cranes were then sent to the Japanese Red Cross Society.

One year on, there has been recovery in many respects but some say that the pace of recovery is too slow. There is one thing that I am sure almost everyone will agree with, however: the strength, will to survive and cohesion displayed by the Japanese people, even in the face of disasters of catastrophic proportions. I believe this strong kizuna (meaning 'bond') demonstrated by the Japanese nation as a whole was what moved so many around the world to contribute so generously to recovery efforts. Today, I dedicate the beautiful and uplifting song 'Fields of Hope', sung by Lacus Clyne (Rie Tanaka) in the Gundam Seed Destiny anime, to the Japanese people.

The world is still with you, Japan.

Gambatte.

Third year, second semester

This semester is the second semester of my third year. It is also the final semester of my undergraduate degree.

I am astounded at how time seems to have flown by in a flash. It really did not seem so long ago, only in 2009 in fact, when I first entered university in Australia. Two years were spent here in Brisbane, one semester in Leeds and now I am embarking on the last phase of my undergraduate journey. A friend recently asked if I looked forward to graduating. I admitted that I felt more sad than excited because graduation would mark the end of my undergraduate life, a life that I only began to settle comfortably into not too long ago. It has been a life of joy and discovery, save the occasional setback and difficulty, and I am sad to think university life might come to an end. There is also the prospect that, having graduated, I might have to leave Australia to go back to Singapore.

I probably won't be returning so soon, however. After my undergraduate studies, I firmly intend to embark upon my Honours year. It is both my parents' and my wish. I want to do my Honours badly, because it would give my degree that extra edge and it means that I can study in Brisbane one year longer. After my Honours, I'll look for a job in Australia or the Asia-Pacific region.

You may wonder why I seem so reluctant to go back to Singapore. It's not that I dislike Singapore; Singapore is deeply sentimental to me as the country where I was born and raised most of my life, where friends and family are and where good and cheap Singaporean food can be found. Yet, having travelled quite a bit and having lived in two countries already, I realize that the world out there is vast and many opportunities beckon. Singapore is small, not just in the geographical sense, but also in the sense that the local politics and social culture can be quite stiffling and constrained. Fellow Singaporeans would know exactly what I mean and I think many would concur. Singapore, I have come to realize, is too small for my dreams.


No, I won't be returning so soon. The greater world beckons and I am drawn to it. I will work hard towards my dreams and be the best that I could ever be. Second semester of my third year, watch me now.

Leap Day!

Today is 29th February, a Leap Day!

Happy Chinese New Year!

新年快乐!

Today is 初一, the first day of the Chinese New Year festive period.

This Chinese New Year is special for me because it is my first Chinese New Year spent at home in Singapore with my family in 2 years. In 2009, I missed Chinese New Year because it happened a bit later in the year and I couldn't celebrate it as I had to return to uni in Australia. Last Chinese New Year happened while I was on exchange in Leeds, so again, I had to celebrate on my own (by preparing a steamboat reunion dinner all by myself and taking a day off the next day). This year, Chinese New Year is pretty early, and it so happens that I'm in Singapore to celebrate it! It feels great to be invloved in the Chinese New Year preparations, eating the reunion dinner with my family the night before the New Year, visiting my relatives' houses on 初一 and eating New Year goodies while chatting with everyone.

Since Chinese New Year is celebrated by the majority of Singaporeans, today and tomorrow are public holidays (if only all 15 days of the Lunar New Year period were public holidays...). My family's done with visiting already, so for tomorrow we will most likely be going to see the New Year flower exhibition in Sentosa island.

Here's to a wonderful Year of the Dragon! 恭喜发财，万事如意!

Happy 2012!

My first post to mark the start of a brand new year :) Happy new year everyone, and here's to an awesome and memorable 2012!