It was such a journey, going through PSLE, and then the 2 excruciating years of JC, the interviews and headaches over decisions, and finally I am here, done with my first semester. Well, the semester didn't disappoint.
I guess everyone has this idea about what University life is about. Some say it's about having fun, partying, living while you still can. Some say it should be about studying, about preparing for your future career. For me, I didn't really have a fixed idea about it, but I definitely expected quite a lot in terms of independence and freedom.
There were the downs. I couldn't get used to "communal living", what NUS likes to call it. I'm perfectly fine with people, just not 24/7. And there is this thing about eating with people you aren't close with. The awkward air ruins my appetite, and I can't wait till I get out of the dining hall. Staying on campus was perfectly fine with me, just not the dining part. I didn't like always having to get someone to eat with. I just wanna eat when I feel like it, and when I'm hungry. And then there's the noise level at the dining hall. Gosh, my poor eardrums and internal peace. Basically, my first half of the semester spend in a residential college on campus wasn't the best experience, which led to me quitting it. As in, I lived out the sem, but no more of it man.
I didn't exactly do well for my mid-terms too. I only had two, ACC1002(Accounting) and DSC2006(Operations Management), and while I didn't do bad, I didn't exactly do well either. It was above average, but not top-notch. And ok, I get it, above average should be something to be celebrated. But it's just, thinking about the fact that all your grades count towards your final certificate, it is nerve-wrecking. You gotta do well all the time. It's no longer like PSLE or A levels where you can screw your grades till the final exam.
And then at one point, I was drowning in projects. Actually thinking back, I'm not sure why I got so ...."allergic" to projects. It's not like I had a lot. Compared to my SMU friends who are living the project life, mine seemed tame. But there was just this period where I couldn't stand projects anymore. I was complaining till no end about the amount and intensity of it. But well, I did have quite a number of projects for this semester, a total of 11 projects.
But I got over it, and the point is I don't regret going through them. Some of the projects that I had were...."self-induced", in the sense that I signed up for it. And they are normally the ones that are the most taxing. There was this 2 hell weeks where I had 4 major projects to conquer. 2 were school-based, and they were the "light" ones. The other 2 were an external big-scale halloween event at a community center (where I was the freaking Chairperson) and a national case competition for Conjunct Consulting. It was really....omg I have no idea how I got through it. I was running between NUS and the community centre and actually didn't have the time for youtube at all. I youtube everyday....so for me to not have time for it......
But, I actually liked the intensity of things. Of course I can't keep up with that sort of intensity forever, I will definitely need a break once in a while. I felt so empty after the hell weeks past. Perhaps its because it was time to prepare for finals, and hence it was more dread than emptiness. But well, the 2 hell weeks will always be in my memory, for while it was extremely exhausting, it was such a good experience.
And I guess that's why I say University life didn't disappoint. While there will be tough times where I almost crumble, I start to find the good in it eventually, the fun and the joy. Well it didnt hurt that I got satisfactory results from the 2 major projects XD
Most importantly, I learned to live with myself. I think that was the biggest takeaway for this semester.
No comments:
Post a Comment