Flashback
Just saw a picture posted by a friend from Poly days, and it spurred me to recount back all the brief moments of my past...
Temasek Business School was the picture posted. The ground floor entrance of our business school looking into the long hallway, where most of our lecture theatres are, brings back fond memories. I remember every single detail of TP, where I have spent 3 years at. I remember the canteens in all the schools - business, ITAS, engineering, design... I remember the library just right next to the business entrance. I remember where the retail shop and marcom labs are on the second level. And I also remember the basement where the computer labs are.... So many things that I can recall, right down to all the nitty-gritty details of how the stairway looks like.... I'm sure many things would've changed by now... I vow to go back to take a look the next time I'm back Singapore...
Looking at pictures like this makes me feel really old... It has been 8 years since I've graduated from Poly, 11 years from Secondary school... and then already 2 years since I've graduated from my Masters degree. What am I doing now? How old am I now??
My little timeline:
1983 May -- I was born
1988-1989 -- Kindergarden K1 and K2 at Marine Parade. Remembered the school buses that come to fetch me every morning, and drop me off at home every afternoon. Started piano classes in K2. Remembered Linda Chia, who taught us the organ. Remembered Hua Zhen and Ivory, 2 of my closest friends Losing things in the school bus all the time... ETC
1990 - 1995 -- Primary 1-6 at Qiaonan Primary School. I believed I did PSLE without a lot of stress... Started wearing glasses since 8 years old. Lots of streaming took place then... P1-P2 I had the same classmates. Another streaming in P3 led to different class in P4. Then change again for P5 and P6. I must say I've met lots of different friends then... Ambition was to be an actress before... Mum always sent me to school and then back again when I was in P1 and P2. Fully independent when I was in P3. Remembered the huge and heavy school bags. Crayons were forbidden in P2 by mom because it was considered 'dirty' so I wasn't able to submit my art homework... 5 minute walk between school and home. Remembered hitting my head and didn't even know I was bleeding whilst playing at a void deck with Willy and Wenmin... They sent me home afterwards.... ETC ETC etc
1996-1999 -- Secondary 1-4 at Tampines Secondary School. Sec 3-4 were probably the best times of the whole sec sch education. Sore 'O' Levels which I did under stress. 10-year series. After-class remedials. After-class Twisties. Failed accounting all the time. Cheated during accounting tests, always with Xinni and Kaijia. Loved Macbeth and Joy Luck Club. Enjoyed home economics classes for the food-sharing session afterwards. Had a crush on a PE teacher in Sec 2. Skipped Chinese classes to go shopping with Xinni. A few precious friendships were formed which lasted til now (my sisters Amelia and Vanessa, 4E3 Malay girls, Simin, KJ etc). Assemblies. Silent reading. Entering school through a fence hole because I was late. Great choir days. Performances. SYF. Mr. Zainal, the fierce discipline master. Everything else 'green and gold'. Had a huge crush in sec.4 and it's my first experience of unrequited 'love'. ETC ETC... TOO MANY TO PEN DOWN.
2000 (March) --0 'O' Level results released. Then subsequently chose which Poly I'm going to, and which course to take. Application. Enrolment. Rotted at home. Nagged by Mom.
2000 (July) -- 2003 (May) - Poly days in Temasek Poly. Business in Year 1. Chose Marketing in Year 2. Chose to specialize in Marketing communications in Year 3. Lots of computer lab hang-outs, especially with Syu. Marcom lab hang-out in Year 3 with May and other group members. Lectures and Tutorials. Never skipped any class cuz I was too good a student. Different project groups. Spaghetti in ITAS was really good. Heaps of presentations (formal ones too). Attachment at Breakthrough Financial Group (AIA). Buses 8, 23, 69 and 518. Sore fashion sense (I really can't believe what I was wearing back then!). Projects with McDonald and Cineleisure L1. Hangout with friends after school freely without our uniforms. Always out eating or hangout with one of my besties Andy. Always looking for snacks more than stationary in the book shop. ETC ETC
2003 (July) - 2004 (Jan) -- Continued working as a full-time at Breakthrough Financial Group. Didn't really like working there. Just a simple admin staff but so many things to do... Had trouble getting my head around insurance stuff. Didn't even pass the insurance tests... Was quite dumb and too young then, I suppose. A couple of mean colleagues whom really gave me a hard time. And I hated what I was doing... Workplace was in Queenstown, but I was staying in Tampines (>45 mins journey). I hated the early mornings. Always settle my own dinner out by myself after work. Worked with a couple of celebrities who were also insurance agents with the company (e.g. Benedict Goh and Wang Yu Qing). Remembered only Madeline and Janice (PA to bosses) who were always nice and patient to me.
2004 (Feb) - 2005 (Dec) -- Arrived in Melbourne. Started my bachelor degree course at Monash University (Peninsula Campus). Stayed on Lardner Road in Year 1 and Student Village in Year 2. Room got broken into and all valuables got stolen. Lots of fun even though Frankston was a really boring place. Did most of the traveling to all the different attractions then. Lots of parties, and hangouts. Great to experience life in a different country. Started working part-time in a restaurant (yoyogi) in the 2nd year... Lots of free sushi. Learnt how to drive and got my licence. Seahorse tavern. Student Village Residences. Heaps of MRS activities for students staying on-campus. Weekly badminton session with friends (Eva, James and Reinhard). Cooking for myself, a first. Frankston Beach-one of the best beaches here. Living life all by myself and sharing a place with people. Lovely housemates Daniel, Corinne, Hayley, Alice and Naomi on Lardner. Continued staying with Alice at Student Village, and with Queenie, Claudia, Andrew Edwards and Tom Clift. Always over at Estee's for dinner. ETC ETC.
2006 (Jan) - 2006 (June) -- Masters in Practicing Accounting at Monash (Caulfield campus). Moved to stay in Clayton with Sharuen and Eemei. Start work part-time in the city. Depressed mode. Loathed what I was doing. Forcing myself to study. Skipped lots of classes. Worked all the time. In the end failed 2 out of 4 units. Time to give up and move on.
2006 (July) - 2007 (Dec) -- Masters in Media and Communications at Monash (Clayton campus). Met fantastic friends. Did what I could to excel. Loved the course. Did quite well. Only 2 units per semester, and not much classes, but the rest of time were devoted to research and writing up assignments. Loved the tours to radio/TV stations. Loved the presentations and theses. Loved the fact that there were no exams, only assignments. Great lecturers. First experience broadcasting solo for radio. Writing thesis in the postgrad room with YC. Thank u YC for always listening to my woes. Heaps of library hopping for research with a Caval card. Always heaps of library books stacked at home for my research. Started work at Singapore Chom Chom. Made many friends there and had lots of fun together. Met him and fell in love. First time dating and having a bf. The feeling of heartbreak and looking at someone's back all the time. ETC
2007 (Sep) - 2010 (March) -- Present -- Went into the workforce. Worked at Bevilles from a Christmas casual, to a part-time, then to a full-time. Tried almost everything in the company, but majority of my time was spent managing the silver safe and as a Jewelry purchasing assistant. Didn't like the company, but I did learn a lot over there.
Then in May 2008 I've decided to work 2 jobs. Second job's at a Japanese restaurant, which I still work at til now... Gave up my full-time in March 2010 when I go traveling... Still awaiting a new opportunity...
Experienced breaking up, not moving on. Massive heartache, started alcohol binging. Most painful experience which has lasted for so long now, and perhaps I am already starting to learn now on how to move on.
And now I am 27, still in search of a brighter future, but seemingly still stuck somewhere hoping a new light will come up soon. I wonder what I will be doing 10 years down the road? What will the list look like in future when I do this 'time-line' thing again??
Temasek Business School was the picture posted. The ground floor entrance of our business school looking into the long hallway, where most of our lecture theatres are, brings back fond memories. I remember every single detail of TP, where I have spent 3 years at. I remember the canteens in all the schools - business, ITAS, engineering, design... I remember the library just right next to the business entrance. I remember where the retail shop and marcom labs are on the second level. And I also remember the basement where the computer labs are.... So many things that I can recall, right down to all the nitty-gritty details of how the stairway looks like.... I'm sure many things would've changed by now... I vow to go back to take a look the next time I'm back Singapore...
Looking at pictures like this makes me feel really old... It has been 8 years since I've graduated from Poly, 11 years from Secondary school... and then already 2 years since I've graduated from my Masters degree. What am I doing now? How old am I now??
My little timeline:
1983 May -- I was born
1988-1989 -- Kindergarden K1 and K2 at Marine Parade. Remembered the school buses that come to fetch me every morning, and drop me off at home every afternoon. Started piano classes in K2. Remembered Linda Chia, who taught us the organ. Remembered Hua Zhen and Ivory, 2 of my closest friends Losing things in the school bus all the time... ETC
1990 - 1995 -- Primary 1-6 at Qiaonan Primary School. I believed I did PSLE without a lot of stress... Started wearing glasses since 8 years old. Lots of streaming took place then... P1-P2 I had the same classmates. Another streaming in P3 led to different class in P4. Then change again for P5 and P6. I must say I've met lots of different friends then... Ambition was to be an actress before... Mum always sent me to school and then back again when I was in P1 and P2. Fully independent when I was in P3. Remembered the huge and heavy school bags. Crayons were forbidden in P2 by mom because it was considered 'dirty' so I wasn't able to submit my art homework... 5 minute walk between school and home. Remembered hitting my head and didn't even know I was bleeding whilst playing at a void deck with Willy and Wenmin... They sent me home afterwards.... ETC ETC etc
1996-1999 -- Secondary 1-4 at Tampines Secondary School. Sec 3-4 were probably the best times of the whole sec sch education. Sore 'O' Levels which I did under stress. 10-year series. After-class remedials. After-class Twisties. Failed accounting all the time. Cheated during accounting tests, always with Xinni and Kaijia. Loved Macbeth and Joy Luck Club. Enjoyed home economics classes for the food-sharing session afterwards. Had a crush on a PE teacher in Sec 2. Skipped Chinese classes to go shopping with Xinni. A few precious friendships were formed which lasted til now (my sisters Amelia and Vanessa, 4E3 Malay girls, Simin, KJ etc). Assemblies. Silent reading. Entering school through a fence hole because I was late. Great choir days. Performances. SYF. Mr. Zainal, the fierce discipline master. Everything else 'green and gold'. Had a huge crush in sec.4 and it's my first experience of unrequited 'love'. ETC ETC... TOO MANY TO PEN DOWN.
2000 (March) --0 'O' Level results released. Then subsequently chose which Poly I'm going to, and which course to take. Application. Enrolment. Rotted at home. Nagged by Mom.
2000 (July) -- 2003 (May) - Poly days in Temasek Poly. Business in Year 1. Chose Marketing in Year 2. Chose to specialize in Marketing communications in Year 3. Lots of computer lab hang-outs, especially with Syu. Marcom lab hang-out in Year 3 with May and other group members. Lectures and Tutorials. Never skipped any class cuz I was too good a student. Different project groups. Spaghetti in ITAS was really good. Heaps of presentations (formal ones too). Attachment at Breakthrough Financial Group (AIA). Buses 8, 23, 69 and 518. Sore fashion sense (I really can't believe what I was wearing back then!). Projects with McDonald and Cineleisure L1. Hangout with friends after school freely without our uniforms. Always out eating or hangout with one of my besties Andy. Always looking for snacks more than stationary in the book shop. ETC ETC
2003 (July) - 2004 (Jan) -- Continued working as a full-time at Breakthrough Financial Group. Didn't really like working there. Just a simple admin staff but so many things to do... Had trouble getting my head around insurance stuff. Didn't even pass the insurance tests... Was quite dumb and too young then, I suppose. A couple of mean colleagues whom really gave me a hard time. And I hated what I was doing... Workplace was in Queenstown, but I was staying in Tampines (>45 mins journey). I hated the early mornings. Always settle my own dinner out by myself after work. Worked with a couple of celebrities who were also insurance agents with the company (e.g. Benedict Goh and Wang Yu Qing). Remembered only Madeline and Janice (PA to bosses) who were always nice and patient to me.
2004 (Feb) - 2005 (Dec) -- Arrived in Melbourne. Started my bachelor degree course at Monash University (Peninsula Campus). Stayed on Lardner Road in Year 1 and Student Village in Year 2. Room got broken into and all valuables got stolen. Lots of fun even though Frankston was a really boring place. Did most of the traveling to all the different attractions then. Lots of parties, and hangouts. Great to experience life in a different country. Started working part-time in a restaurant (yoyogi) in the 2nd year... Lots of free sushi. Learnt how to drive and got my licence. Seahorse tavern. Student Village Residences. Heaps of MRS activities for students staying on-campus. Weekly badminton session with friends (Eva, James and Reinhard). Cooking for myself, a first. Frankston Beach-one of the best beaches here. Living life all by myself and sharing a place with people. Lovely housemates Daniel, Corinne, Hayley, Alice and Naomi on Lardner. Continued staying with Alice at Student Village, and with Queenie, Claudia, Andrew Edwards and Tom Clift. Always over at Estee's for dinner. ETC ETC.
2006 (Jan) - 2006 (June) -- Masters in Practicing Accounting at Monash (Caulfield campus). Moved to stay in Clayton with Sharuen and Eemei. Start work part-time in the city. Depressed mode. Loathed what I was doing. Forcing myself to study. Skipped lots of classes. Worked all the time. In the end failed 2 out of 4 units. Time to give up and move on.
2006 (July) - 2007 (Dec) -- Masters in Media and Communications at Monash (Clayton campus). Met fantastic friends. Did what I could to excel. Loved the course. Did quite well. Only 2 units per semester, and not much classes, but the rest of time were devoted to research and writing up assignments. Loved the tours to radio/TV stations. Loved the presentations and theses. Loved the fact that there were no exams, only assignments. Great lecturers. First experience broadcasting solo for radio. Writing thesis in the postgrad room with YC. Thank u YC for always listening to my woes. Heaps of library hopping for research with a Caval card. Always heaps of library books stacked at home for my research. Started work at Singapore Chom Chom. Made many friends there and had lots of fun together. Met him and fell in love. First time dating and having a bf. The feeling of heartbreak and looking at someone's back all the time. ETC
2007 (Sep) - 2010 (March) -- Present -- Went into the workforce. Worked at Bevilles from a Christmas casual, to a part-time, then to a full-time. Tried almost everything in the company, but majority of my time was spent managing the silver safe and as a Jewelry purchasing assistant. Didn't like the company, but I did learn a lot over there.
Then in May 2008 I've decided to work 2 jobs. Second job's at a Japanese restaurant, which I still work at til now... Gave up my full-time in March 2010 when I go traveling... Still awaiting a new opportunity...
Experienced breaking up, not moving on. Massive heartache, started alcohol binging. Most painful experience which has lasted for so long now, and perhaps I am already starting to learn now on how to move on.
And now I am 27, still in search of a brighter future, but seemingly still stuck somewhere hoping a new light will come up soon. I wonder what I will be doing 10 years down the road? What will the list look like in future when I do this 'time-line' thing again??
Comments