It took a while to get to me, but how amazing is it that we ended the A Levels an entire year ago? Exactly one year ago I was walking out of the ACJC gates after finishing Lit Paper 2. I remember I had really bad cramps (I know, right) but, in my determination to celebrate my new found freedom, went out with Muriel and Hokes to Vivocity till late. Exactly one year ago, I wore my school uniform for the last time. Exactly one year ago, I ended 12 years of institutionalised Singaporean education. Crazy, isn’t it? Then we had 9 (or 8, depending on the university you went to) months to do anything in the world we wanted to do. Some worked, as waitresses (Ming), or tuition teachers (Cheryl), or even school teachers (Kelly). Some learned to drive (Dee, Grace, Nureen, etc). Some succeeded (Dee). Some travelled all over the world (Jan). Some directed plays (Jasmin). Others performed in them (Me). The boys went to army, and are still in it. And here we are, a year after our A Levels, spread across the globe. A bunch of us are in the UK, a handful are in the US, most people are back in Singapore, and some, in Australia. We’re growing up, doing things we’ve never done before – I believe I can speak for the overseas people in saying that uni life has certainly pushed and pulled us in various new directions. I can almost feel myself grow.
I don’t regret how I spent those 9 months. I went for Trackers – learned about Jesus, went to Cambodia, worked in church. Spent lots of time being involved with XS. Collaborated with good friends in writing and performing in a play. Helped to organise a worship event (and so much more) for my alma mater, MGS. Went to Vietnam. Helped out with The Amber Initiative. Tutored Primary 6 kids. Spent time with friends, exploring Singapore. Rested. And somewhere in the middle of that, learned about friendship, heartache, love and moving on. It was a beautiful time.
And now, I am in my dorm. It’s 12:01am on the 25th of November (which technically makes the A Levels a year and a day ago). My room is in a mess. I need to take my clothes out of the dryer, and I need to pack for New York. I’m well into the semester – it’s ending in less than a month, in fact. Fall is reaching a close, the trees are almost bare now, and winter is stealthily creeping in. In a sense it’s still a period of beginning for me; I’m beginning to find my place in this college, beginning to find good friends, beginning to recognise every corner of this second home. I’ve learned so much in the last 3 months, it’s been amazing.
We really were such kids, weren’t we? And I don’t mean that in a childish way (college kids aren’t so great either – someone stole our common room furniture this morning, for instance. And the other day, some drunk idiots sprayed toothpaste and shaving cream all over the hall. I felt like boxing them.), but a childlike way. The world was so small, its boundaries so clearly defined, its different aspects neatly organised into nice little sections. I remember feeling, during the course of the A Levels, that this was my world. Just study, and get through it, I told myself. I didn’t think too far ahead. I couldn’t. The A Levels seemed like such a monstrous uphill battle. Neither could the rest of the cohort, I think. Then BOOM! It ended, with that last paper on the 24th of November. Suddenly we had nothing to do. We were pretty lost for a day or two, and then we started on post-JC life. Then 365 days zoomed by, and we’re at a completely different stage in life now, growing up. Or at least, trying our best to, and tripping, falling, and getting back up along the way. How mindblowing.
I should go get my clothes out of the dryer before someone takes them out for me.
“The world spins madly on, doesn’t it? Time kind of pulls you along, and you’ve no choice but to follow, like a shackled prisoner, until sometimes you manage to sneak a glimpse behind and you realise that ‘oh my goodness, it’s been a while’.
So, it’s been a while.
.
.
.
We’ll live.”
miss you.
3 weeks!