College

How frustrating can it get, seeing that cursed differential equation in the dead of night, every single time I closed my eyes, only to wake up at 7am, feeling like my neck snapped into half. All on the day I was supposed to have a good night's sleep after exams are finally over. FINALLY, after my fair share of blood, sweat and tears. Blood from my progressively more eczematous hands, sweat from the weather and tears from cutting up onions. Jokes aside, it's finally time to rest.

18 months of college zoomed past, and ended abruptly. While it took us months to warm up to each other, farewell came so suddenly, and all there was to our graduation was a 30-minute video. How do you fare, knowing that the daily routines, things that were ever so trivial, now a mere memory? Perhaps it's how short it was that makes it so precious.

I've grown a lot in college, especially now that I have graduated with a degree in culinary science. Okay just kidding, but I feel like the most useful knowledge gained in college was my cooking skills. I guess my brain expanded more during the past months than it had for 5 years of high school. So much math, just so much math. Considering the amount of time we spent stuck at home, college wasn't too bad after all.

I miss studying in school. Studying in school was like unlocking boss levels. From the freezing library to the foyer, atrium, then the connector, to the newly renovated grad centre, and finally to the gigantic toilet that became history. Huge shoutout to Sunway's speedy renovation workers and SOP man. To my study buddies, I really miss those days. With jokes to neutralise the stress, exams weren't as bad as it seemed. And to the gang/ whatever weird name we have, shinzou wo sasageyo and thank you.

Moving on to our dearest lecturers. Despite my certain disregard for classes, I feel so grateful to have lecturers who reply to our questions asap. Just pointing out something about a famous quote all our G14 peeps know, "eat well, rest well, and study well". It has never actually crossed my mind how hard that is to achieve and how much I yearn to do so. Thank you to the lecturers who cared for us more than exams.

To my ALSCO peeps, without whom I'd have lost it during the 1st MCO. I'm glad my A-level hasn't been all study. Surprisingly enough, I think the extra curricular activities kept me going. It was the only thing I was doing that wasn't a preparation for my future. it reminded me of the current life I had, that college wasn't a mere stepping stone, but had much more to it than just math, essays and interviews. The friends I made throughout our term, thank you for making my life much more interesting.

Though out of tune, campus piano was such a life-saver. Shoutout to the guy who requested for Chopin and the couple who liked my playing of 'Pure White' at 11pm in the foyer. I know my playing didn't sound too good, and perhaps pissed off one too many students who were in academic desperation. Sorry about that.

As we walked campus grounds for the last few times, I couldn't help but reminisce the time I spent here. From as early as 8am to as late as 2am, even spending a whole day alone in the library was an enjoyment.

We grow very differently at different stages of our lives, at various speeds. Youth, the longest lesson and purest journey, should we cherish. Amidst the chaos in this world, I'm glad I met you.

~Carpe diem~