this is a long overdue post but i still feel the need to pen down my thoughts.

while being 21 doesn't feel any different, i feel that it is a time to be thankful for many things in my life, particularly the people around me. without them, i would not be where i am today.

i'm thankful for my family. though we fight and argue often (really really often) and at times i feel that they don't really understand me and that we have a love-hate relationship. at the end of the day, i know my mum, dad and brother love me dearly and i do too.

thank you also to all my primary school friends, secondary school friends, poly friends and social work friends. you guys have all been a huge part of my life and i'm glad that you're still a part of my life and was there to celebrate my 21st with me. i hope that even as we journey through our life, we would not leave each other behind. thank you to: eddee, waikit, weeyang, serene, geraldine, sheena, esther soh, esther ng, angeline, tsu hui, melissa, guolian, zhuang wei, teck sing, wei wen, jean, manhong, fas, shao shiuan, jessica, zawiyah, huiwen, juian, ying ting.

there are some people who i would like to specially thank...

i'm thankful for two friends who's been there for me since sec one: Geraldine and Angeline. through these past 8 years, you guys have always been there for me, encouraging me on. i don't think we've ever fought before about anything. thank you for accepting me for who i am! you guys were the first true friends i ever had in my life and it's been a huge blessing!

i'm thankful for another friend who although our friendship wasn't smooth, is someone i know i can always count on now. our friendship has both its ups and downs. i think it wasn't easy for our friendship to get where it is today. Guolian, this is for you! thank you for being a persistent person. if you hadn't persist in trying to save our friendship, i doubt we would be friends today. thank you for always encouraging me and letting me know that i'm not forgotten!

i'm thankful for a friend who's been a huge source of support and encouragement in uni. thank you Manhong! i'm really glad that i got to know you better in uni. thank you for putting up with my perpetual stress and panicky state. thank you for encouraging me and helping me always. although we are huge procrastinators and we cut it really close to the deadline, i really enjoy working with you (though we should probably stop procrastinating :P).

freak exams.

who were always there.

who i hope will always be there.

that gives me the strength even in the darkest of days.

that lets me know that i'm not truly alone even though it may seem that way at times.

it's about the process.

the joy of learning."

totally felt ashamed when i heard that. in the pursuit for good grades, i seem to have forgotten that the most important thing is to learn rather than to be right. we've been conditioned to continually strive for academic excellence, that the true meaning of learning seems to be lost for all of us.

i would like to say that from now i'll just focus on the joy of learning. but thing is it's hard. i still want to be right, i still want good grades.

such is life :/

Fly away