2024 IN WORDS .

Another year flew past just like that. 2024 was indeed a year of change - learning to embrace that change and also enjoying every part of it. Most of my friends know about that "lululemon" incident at the start of 2024 (on my birthday somemore), and that led me to think, will my 2024 be filled with such challenging situations? Thankfully, this year has been rather good to me, especially in the second half of the year as I start a new chapter in my new job, and getting to know a bunch of really kind-hearted individuals that made my everyday working life much more enjoyable.

And yes, I did start a new job in June this year. I bid goodbye to my previous research work position in May, as I chose not to renew my contract. I was offered another renewal for another 4 months, but I felt like, if I wanted to leave to pursue what I wanted to do (social work), that should be the right time to leave, just as the contract ends. I remember telling my colleagues that if I continued to stay in that job, yes for the stability, I would slowly lose the momentum to step out of my comfort zone to pursue what I want to do. And yes thankfully, I am glad to have taken that leap of faith and applied for many social work positions working with children. I remember having to go for multiple interviews within that month, before my contract actually ended, and so so so grateful to have landed myself a position right after my Korea trip. 

2023 IN WORDS .

Another year just went past like that, and growing another year older. Honestly, I don’t feel it - growing another year older maybe just feeling the physical strain on the body but mindset wise I would probably say I still don’t feel that much of a difference (yet). Perhaps with the fact that I finally graduated this year (a milestone worth celebrating this year!!), so I’m still in the “student” headspace, even though I sort of found a job, but it’s a contract job within my school (can never leave NTU for now I guess).

This year has been a year of transitions. From being a full time undergraduate to being a graduate like it’s been honestly overwhelming with everything happening in a flash. Upon graduation, I too had about a month of break to myself, but thankfully keeping myself busy with dreamingmarket during that period so I feel like I was actually doing something, and then a job opportunity arrived within a day which I had to report to work immediately the next day after the interview! It was honestly a blessing to be able to find a job that I don’t mind doing (even though its not the industry that I would see myself in the long run), but still very thankful for the opportunity to be able to still work with children and have fun along the way. The transition to working life is rather abrupt yet manageable, thankfully it’s something I could see myself doing so it went well. 

2022 IN WORDS .

 

Another year, another yearly reflection post. This year felt like it went by in a breeze - felt too fast to process everything and it's already the year end. Looking back, most part of this year was trying to explore and try new experiences with regards to personal interests and career options, while juggling the final few semesters of school.

At the start of 2022, I wrote in my reflection journal (gifted by Kristen) that I have 4 main visions/goals for the year - I wanted to find a summer internship that's preferably in the children/youth social work domain, I wanted to launch my own brand, I wanted to enjoy my final schooling semesters and lastly, I wanted to stay happy and healthy. Right now, I felt that I have managed the year well, being able to do and achieve the things I set out to do at the start of the year - it's just a relieving feeling knowing you have lived the year well. 

Finding a summer internship was quite challenging at the start, but I'm glad that I had this opportunity to actually do something I like. The job scope is really what I want to, and like to do in the future, though the environment might not be the best for a career in the long run. Hopefully I would be able to make use of this valuable opportunity and tap on the expertise learnt for my future endeavors - which reminds me that it's about time to start finding a job since I'm about to graduate in a few month's time. 

2021 IN WORDS .

Another year has past, and it's time for the yearly reflection post again. I haven't been posting a lot this year but this yearly reflection is something I have to do every year - it's like a wrap to the year to lookback on the things I have done and grown as a person and it's always nice to celebrate the little successes or reflect on the down sides. 

This year, the pandemic situation still persisted, with vaccinations, new variants and all - somehow getting used to mask wearing but it seemed like everyone is probably just tired of the everchanging measures and pandemic situation. Here's to hoping that a well-controlled and safe endemic situation will be feasible in the coming year. 

Looking back, most part of the year is trying to survive in university, with the never ending deadlines while getting used to a hybrid learning environments on both online and offline platforms. Honestly, because of the online learning, the semester felt especially short and months seemed to pass by like a week. I would say 2021 seemed to have past by in a flash, spending most of my time at home. 

2020 IN WORDS .

Yet another year has flown by, this year just feels exceptionally fast, with the pandemic and the changing new normalcy of life, 2020 was like a fever dream. Not sure if there is anything much to talk about my year per say, it was mostly just juggling the new normal while trying to survive school life. Entering the second year of university life, and finishing two semesters this year in the midst of the pandemic felt like something that was challenging but now looking back, how did I even manage to handle all that?

This year saw a huge change in most of our lives because of the pandemic situation all around the world. Starting from January even, was supposed to see Taeyeon in Singapore for her concert in February but was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns all over the world. Who knew that this pandemic would have caused so much changes to our life, changing the way we live each day which eventually became a habit as time went by. New cultures and practices of digitalization was also rapidly growing - classes turning to online methods, zoom chatting with friends during circuit breaker period, increased usage of online shopping and delivery platforms, all of these had made us all more dependable on technology, which is also a good thing as we learn to manage and seek new ways to continue our way of life with minimal disruptions. 

2019 IN WORDS .

Comes the end of yet another year. 2019 to me feels like a long roller-coaster ride filed with a variety of experiences, which also at times, seemed to me that time is flying by quickly at the same time as well. It hasn't been an easy year, it wasn't all good nor was it all bad. All I'm thankful for is that I've survived this year, and is ready to receive and see what 2020 has in store for me.

Many new milestones and chapters this year - ORD, going overseas (with my friends as well!!) and also starting my degree school life at NTU. And also attending concerts lol think I went to like 4 concerts this year? Starting the year with Taeyeon's 1st concert in Singapore, with like HallyuPopFest and GFRIEND's concert, then ending the year again with IU's 2nd concert here - even making a promise to see her again next year.

Start of the year in January, celebrated my 22nd birthday with friends - always thankful for MY friends who are always there for me, and also attended Taeyeon's concert!! It was my FIRST time using the GG Bong so it was really exciting and as expected, Taeyeon's performances were world-class.

2018 IN WORDS .

Yet the end of another year. Yet another yearly round up post. 2018 has been pretty smooth sailing for me and I'm thankful and blessed for all the experiences I have over the year. Turning 21, it's a milestone in life, which supposedly meant I had to grow up and be more mature in my thoughts and actions. I think I have grown to accomplish that.

One of the highlights of this year was the family trip to Thailand back in October! It was our first family trip in years and my first time going overseas in 7 years since my passport expired and have not renewed it. It was a fulfilling and enriching break from the hectic life. Now on to preparing and planning for the next holiday trip ~

2017 IN WORDS .

It's that time of the year again to do a reflection of the year; which has somewhat turned into a yearly tradition for the past 6 years to do a blog post at the end of the year. (Check out the older posts in #YEARINWORDS) Although I didn't blog that much this year, it has been a really busy year of changes and new experiences.

This year also marks an end of a phase and also a start of a new chapter. I completed my poly education in Feb and graduated with a diploma in Early Childhood Education in May and it was something we all have been looking forward to for the past three years in poly. I have pretty much summed up the "short yet long" three years in my graduation post and end of poly post so I'm not going to repeat all the cliche stuff but honestly it has been a fulfilling experience despite being the minority in a "female dominated industry" but I think it will get better. It has also been a blessing to meet and click well with friends who I can count on everyday.

Upon graduating from poly, I went back into working life at a student care centre for about three months from April to June. It is somewhat related to my course yet different as it was a totally different age group of children. I had fun during that three months and it was not a job I find it a bore as interesting stories always happen everyday when you are with young children - who can be monsters at time yet somewhat innocent. I also went back to visit them in September during my break and oh boy it was nice to see them again!

2016 IN WORDS .

In a blink of an eye, 2016 is ending already - time flies and omg it's like literally the last few weeks of my polytechnic life before we unofficially graduate in mid feb and have our graduation in april and after that will be national service oh wow TIME REALLY FLIES.

This year was like a roller coaster filled with ups and downs and definitely there were more ups than downs and I was really blessed to be able to go through the year and learnt many new things along the way which has made 2016 a rather fruitful year.

2015 IN WORDS .

It's that time of the year again to do a wrap up of the year! Initially wanted to post this yesterday - before the year (2015) actually ends, but did not have the time to so finally had some time to myself to sit in front of the laptop and type this post out.

2015 ... flies by in the blink of an eye. This year was really fast, don't even remember much happening from my (already boring) life, but it felt so fast that can you believe we're already approaching our final year of poly life in 3 months??? SUPER FAST.

Not many memorable things happened this year but some of the main highlights would be attending VIXX concert back in May when they came to Singapore - it was also like my first kpop concert like oh my god still have withdrawals but looking forward to attend another kpop concert this year if the opportunity allows me to! Actually went exploring a lot this year, visiting alot of places of interests like museums, Gardens By The Bay, USS, and recently Coney Island.

2014 IN WORDS .

It's that time of the year again to do a look back of the year, and the lessons and things I have learnt for the past year! It's so fast. The year has past by us so quickly in a blink of an eye. It has been a happening year - there are things I am thankful for, things which didn't go very well, things I have learnt.

It's been a pretty fruitful year I would say, like there's so many things which happened, all of which has like a lesson for me to learn about. Although it may not be good events, but I'm sure these experiences would help me to become a better person. Hopefully.

When the year started, I hope that 2014 will go pretty smooth, like new school, new friends and everything. Like I have a love-hate relationship with poly life, I like it because it's fun with the people and it's sort of more relaxed as compared to JC, but like it's still super hectic with all the never ending assignment deadlines being crammed together and there's also a lot of drama.

2013 IN WORDS .

I remember doing something like this for 2012 here, where I also talked about the year as a whole and my hopes for the upcoming new year. Until now I still don't feel it's already 2014, time really flies. 2013 has been a year with ups and downs and I'm glad that it has passed by quickly.

2013 was the year where it was pretty important, having O levels and SYF, probably a hectic year. School was pretty rough,especially in the first half of the year, having to juggle between CCAs, schoolwork and preparations for O levels. I'm pretty thankful for the fact that there are so many kind people around who try and help each other in anyway possible, and I'm thankful for them. There will also definitely be negative people in our lives so it's better to avoid them and not bring them into our life.

All the long practices and extra practice for the SYF was long, tiring and a mental test hah. Having to stand the instructors and conductor's mood and also their requests, I actually dreaded attending practices. Getting nagged at by dingxiaoyan or qufeng isn't really a good thing, although I must say that qufeng is now more gentle ... ? probably after marrying fuyingying hahahah but yeah. Having to take on such an important role in the orchestra, and not wanting to disappoint myself or anyone, I tried to carry out my duties to the best of my abilities, and also asking fellow exco mates to help out. I must say that I didn't really do a good job in leading the orchestra.... probably because I originally lacked in leadership and stuff and that I always had to ask the rest for their opinions as well. I'm always afriad that the choices I make would be wrong and that's maybe one thing I would like to change this year, to be able to be more responsible and confident in myself?

2012 IN WORDS .

"Promise is a big word. It either makes something or breaks something"

It's going to be super long post so i THANK YOU for taking time to read this ! :D The year (and holidays) is coming to an end in 5 days. It's really fast. 365 days just passed by quickly without us knowing it. Then it would be a brand new year. Before we set our new year's resolution for 2013, think about whether you have fulfilled your resolution or promises made back then in Jan this year. Think about did you live happily for the past 365 days? Whether you have made full use of your time throughout this year and is satisfied.

Personally, I don't think 2012 has been good. Many setbacks and occasions have happened, causing emotions to be flowing and stuff. Apart from that, I think I have not truly enjoyed 2012.

A look back on 2012:
Birthday month. Officially 15, received a number of well wishes and presents from people, mostly from close friends or relatives. Really appreciate the effort someone takes to look for a gift and buy it, or when they specially handmade it. I think, gifts are really precious. They contain the hardwork and thought people put in.