So I remembered I started off 2013 sick on my birthday cause I didn't have enough rest during last December. Collected my O Level results and though I was disappointed with the score, I was still somewhat contented and not overly depressed or whatever. Had my first work ever and was pleasantly surprised to see my fellow classmates working there too. But since I got good results for y AMaths, Jiashen treated me to an ice skating trip.
Went out with the clique to USS. Chose this photo cause it was the clearest photo of me last with my long, long hair before I chopped it off with some impulse and a lot of courage. Here for the group photos though.
Basically spent my February and March watching all my dramas and nua-ing away. And maybe a little baking here and there once a week. Couldn't do anymore frequent that that cause baking is JUST. SO. EXPENSIVE. If you want quality bakes and yields that is.
Went for the SPSU FOC and before I knew it, time for school to start. Finally started a new chapter in my life. I remember how eager I was to graduate from Commonwealth then cause I was so bugged by all the friendship problems I experienced then. And I can recall myself often telling Kaiying how weary I was having need to deal with all those... issues. But looking back, I think we just all need a little space to do our own growing and just a little time to figure things out. So school started, new school, new life, new friends and new things to learn and to experience.
Class clique photo taken in April one Friday after school when it ended at 10 in the morning. Went to Bugis area to do some shopping. And there you see me with my chopped hair and growing side bangs.
Knew some really nice and friendly seniors during the SPSU FOC and was honestly quite shocked that they were even graduates. I mean like, some of them looked so young I couldn't believe they have graduated till I saw them in their graduation gowns. Happened in May. Went down during my 1 hour breaks to find them, congratulate them and not forgetting snap some pictures! Oh and it was in May that the results of the Standing Committee of SPSU was out. Thank God for a place in Finance Comm!
Had my first ever Tests in school. And was equally uptight as though I was taking my CA2s in secondary school cause I was in the notion that WHATEVER is graded, is contributing to my final GPA. So was rather gan chiong about it I wouldn't deny.
Was really looking forward to church's Family June Camp ever since the last one. Definitely one of the many things I look forward to yearly. Went to Putra Jaya. Blessed time of spiritual feasting and sweet fellowship. OH. AND I GYMED FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE.
When school reopen, SPSU held this event called Annual General Meeting. Was part of the organizing comm and was my first ever SPSU event! More pictures here.
June was also the month I had quite a lot of internal struggles as I was preparing to get myself reaffirmed but yet there were so many things in my life not right with God yet and I all those expectations I built for myself ever since young such as being the perfect, holy Christian before getting reaffirmed seemed to all crumble. I find myself doubting my readiness to commit to the Lord. But thank God through much reflection and prayer, I realized that I have been relying too much on my own strength and that it is impossible for me to attain perfection. What God wants from me just is holiness and not perfection.
And with that, with much thankfulness and by God's grace, I got reaffirmed on the 7th of July together with my BFFFFFUD. (And my other batch mates of course.) Still trying to be a better Christian everyday in progress.
Then came August where I had to take my End Sem Tests. Was rather stressed out while thinking about the A's that I should get. But thank God for reminding me that whatever happens is all under his control and all I have to do is just put in my best effort and leave the rest to Him. And when I got back my results in September, I must really say that what seemed so impossible to me has been made possible through God's strength!
Went back to Commonwealth the second time this year for Teachers' Day on the 5th mainly to see Mrs Philip and meet up with the friends. Sadly Diana couldn't make it though. Lunched together and had a brief catch up sessions with the 11 burdens!
Went for my first ever YF Outing with Chewie Vanessa and Odelia! So awkward but it was still a blessed time nonetheless.
Became a GL/Facil for the first time in my life during Escapade in November. It was really an enjoyable yet somewhat weird experience for me. Needed time to get used to new people. But they al turned out to be really nice people and through escapade I've made some really good friends from my district! :) More pictures here.
And so we finally come to the month of December that I can recall the best. Was selected to be a GL for next year's FOC! First ever GL training on the 10th of December.
Went for trekking just the day after SPSU Appreciation Dinner! More about my adventures here (includes some brief of GL training, AD and my trek!).
Had YF Camp and met up with the 少爷小姐s after. Here in my recent post, Life Recently. (LOL. I find myself getting lazier. HAHAHHA.)
Went out for dinner at SushiTei after Sunset on the 22nd to have a belated birthday cum graduation from scs celebration for my brother organized by Zexun. Sat in Weiern's car with Tim, Evan, Brother and Ben. The rest squeezed in Danny's car. Headed to Baskin Robbins where there was a last minute decision to surprise Brother with an ice cream cake.
Went cycling on the 28th. Was coincidentally in shades of blue. So how can we not do this mandatory gradient shot?? :P So enjoy some of my favourite picks from the photos taken that day cause the photos are finally up on Facebook! Credits to Luke & Tim teo. :)
Had FCM day on 30th. And Watch Night service today.
Phew. I've came a long way recalling happenings from my birthday till today! And a small confession to make, I made reference to my phone's calendar to help me recall better ever since the month of September. HAHAHAHAH.
So 52 weeks have passed ever since my last birthday. Yet another page 365 of 365. Family, Friendships, Studies and my Walk with God. Four main aspects of my life.
This year has made me realized that I actually look up to my brother a lot and that his opinions have somewhat quite a significant impact on my opinion too. And ever since he has been
People come and go, those who stay are a few. I admit that I'm not a very good friend but nonetheless I'm thankful for those who are willing to stay by me. And especially those whom we don't really keep in contact very often, but once in awhile those texts come in asking how well have I been so far. never fail to hang a smile on my face and warm my heart. I think I have became a friend who tried more, and reaching out to more people, though in another way I have isolated myself from those who try to reach out to me..? It's hard to explain but things are just the way how I say it is. Hahaha. And also not to forget new people that I've met, and to people whom I've known for a very long time but got to know them a lot better this year. Especially people from church.
One moment I rely on the Lord, then the other I get complacent when I get good results. Next thing I see is that I get bad not so ideal results and then I go back to the Lord asking for help. A cycle I wish to break next year; I want to do my best for the Lord, be contented with results and give all glory to Him. Study for Him and not for self. This pride that I have to get rid of.
And lastly, the most important aspect of my life and that is my Walk with God. As much as I hate to admit it, I have strayed from the Lord ever since I've started a new life in a new school. It seemed as though as I was so attracted to the dazzles of the world that I've neglected the Lord. And that was one of the main reason why I felt that I wasn't really ready to get reaffirmed yet. I knew my life wasn't right with the Lord but yet I was not really willing to separate myself from the world. As a result, I guess my spiritual life suffered greatly. Not that I was having a fantastic spiritual life already before, so this fall was probably the greatest. No peace in my soul, a constant empty feeling in the heart and not finding a meaning to many things I did. 2013 was a year that I stumbled and fell so many a times, but yet the Lord has never failed to graciously and mercifully to pick me up and through all the YF activities, I have always found myself back in his fold again.
Have not have a fruitful year of service too. I have often found myself missing out in a lot of YFs on Saturdays and even though I have joined the church membership after reaffirmation and joined the YF membership after June camp, but I think I haven't been doing much for the Lord this year.
Honestly, despite the significant changes in my life that 2013 has brought, I don't think I have done a lot of growing spiritually in the past 52 weeks. In fact, I think I have been further to the Lord not until YF camp about 1-2 weeks ago where I really am thankful for because it helped me set my priorities right again and have my eyes fixed on the right things. A new life in a new school has made my eyes have opened even wider to the world and sometimes it scares me how carnal human nature is.
Though I've got one last term to go before I start another academic year where year 2 will be a crazier year, but nonetheless, this doesn't mean I don't need the Lord any less because it's my final term as a year 1 and it is impossible to do anything without Him.
Resolutions to grow more in the knowledge of God's word, trust in the Lord more and to step up in service.
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience and the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finishers of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)
Soli Deo Gloria.
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