As of this point in time (ie 550pm on 27July 2011), I am officially 18 years 7 days 6 hours old :D
Many proclaim that turning 18 would give them a sense of liberation as they are now legal in the eyes of law for many things; cigarettes, alcohol, clubs/bars/pubs/whatnots. Except for drugs of course, that will never be legalised in Sg.
But many had failed to warn me of the sudden overwhelming sense of responsibility that i now feel day and night. One minute, i was young and 17 and still a teenager, but the next, i have turned 18, now considered a young adult, and am expected to be fully (financially) independent in a span of 3 years time. Oh damn.
Looking back on the days that ive spent being wilful and naive, i should have realised sooner that there were many beneficial life lessons to be learnt that had been staring at me in the face. (Hell they might even be dancing around, flailing their arms - if they had any - but i still wouldn't notice. Yeah, that was how ignorant i could be -.-)
Being in Sec1 has thought me not to be a pushover, and to fight for what i think is right. But of course, to contemplate and ponder thoroughly (and then contemplate and ponder thoroughly again) prior to taking a stand/making a decision. During then, i had actually seen my true capabilities; of adapting to a new and more stressful environment; of meeting (or trying veryhard to meet at the least xD) the high expectations of family, friends, and teachers; of making the best of life when nothing is going the way you want it to. Yet of course, being as foolish as i was, i had failed to instill the values and lessons that i should have learnt during that year. Now, ive got a longggggg(gggggggg.....) way to go before i can deem myself to be 'wise' in life. (Heaven help me.)
BUT. (And here i try to redeem myself heheh) I perhaps may have learnt a few worthwhile other things about people, and their individual lives, and this has, in a way, taught me to be more empathetic as a person. Working in McD for a year and a half has widened my social circle significantly. Many questioned my purpose of working at there as it would not bring much benefit to me. Others were spending time well teaching tuition, or going for attachments and internships at highly valued workplaces like hospitals and media companies, while i? Wear a (previously) banana uniform, earning abt 4 an hour. "Yeah, that soooo will look good in your testimonial -.-"
Few could have known that while i was unhappy about the shit attitude (and at times colleagues) that i face there, truly, i was grateful for having been given the chance to embark on that journey. Yes, working there might not have taught me intellectual or analytical skills that would have helped me ace my subjects, but it had exposed me to new experiences with people, and no matter how petty/small the experience might have been to others, they mattered to me. And honestly? Thats all that matters.
I made friends with people who are academically weak, but only because they had to work to support their family. Others may have more frivolous reasons for not studying such to spend more time with friends and improve his social standing, but who else could have felt the difficulties he had to go through, being looked down upon by all his 'friends'. I made friends with people who seems to lepak every night till the wee hours of the morning and emphasizing the importance of brotherhood beyond everything else, but no one could have figured just by observing that his acts are mere de-stressing methods, to let off fatigue and exasperation that he faces when dealing with work, 7 younger sisters, and a single pressurizing mother.
Undeniably, the lifestyle of some of them are often frowned upon by society and people would advice you from befriending them. But being around them has brought me out of my bubble of being around Rafflesians and into the real-er life people have out there. (Ive always had this personal though, that if i had entered a neighbourhood school - and really i am not trying to be elitist here - and that one day i kena hang and slapped like my sister did, i would have just cried and get counselled and died mentally. I never would have survived school then xD)
Well, ive got 6 years worth to exemplify my point of learning/not learning what i should not have/have, but listing everything down would just make me too nostalgic, so ill pass x)
ANW. SO. Now, i am who i am. Ive got my mistakes, of not being who i could have been, but ive got my plus points too, or so i hope i do have. I shall not sell myself here but yes, for people who have seen my plus points, i truly appreciate your existence in my life. It is blatant that i am short of certain essential skills (like writing an atleast30marks GP essay) but for your graciousness in seeing through my weaknesses and finding my strengths, i pray that there are 10 others who can do the same for you.
For when i feel like a nobody, you guys remind me that at the least, i can bring smiles to people's faces. And that's meaningful enough for me♥
(What can i say, im easily satisfied at times xD)
To end of, here's a little reminder:
Youve just gotta find it :))#thankyewforbeingmyfriendsyouawesomezpeoplez~~
(And now its 841 pm, hence i am officially 18 years 7 days and 8 hours old xD)