[[ ___ + LOVE MAKES THE WORLD TURN ROUND& ROUND + __

Monday 27 January 2014

Happy 19th Birthday Jermia! ^^ Hahaha another year with a blessed birthday spent with so many awesome people :) As the years past, I realised that what makes me happy isn't my birthday itself, but the fact that my birthday gives me an excuse and opportunity to gather so many people whom I cherish and love in a single day, just to spend time together, laugh together, and share with each other the happenings in our lives :) More than the gifts all of you gave me, what makes my day is just simply the fact that yall were here, and that each and every one of you put in so much thought and effort to make my birthday a happy one, and I really feel so loved! :D

First and foremost have to thank my beloved F4! Really didn't expect all of you to come down so late at night to celebrate my birthday, especially when most of you have school or work the very next day! Thank you for really making the effort to come down to celebrate with me, and singing to me my one and only 19th birthday song (OMY I JUST REALISED!) Thank all of you for making my 19th birthday so 热闹 hahaha, the liveliest birthday celebration my house has ever had :P! Really so touched by all of you, and feeling so so so blessed for having yall in my life. Excited to grow up and grow old together with all these awesome and lovely people! Hope yall had fun looking at Elton's, Amelia's and my childhood photos :)

And thank you my 408 babes! This is the 5th year yall have celebrated my birthday :D I'm so grateful to have all of you with me every year, making my birthdays so heartwarming and so filled with sisterly love ^^ Thank yall for never failing to spare many thoughts for what I need, like every year yall will buy me birthday presents to meet my 生活中的需要s HAHAHA xD Also want to thank yall for specially coming down to celebrate my birthday and have birthday dinner with me, when most of yall (except one :P) have work tomorrow! Even though the surprise was quite fail because Weihui, Shumin and Kaixuan took turns to divulge things, it was a truly happy night ^^ Thank all of you for your unconditional love for me, and for your cards! Be it you wrote it a night ago, or just an hour ago, your cards really brought smiles to my face and warmed my heart :D And for my babes who couldn't make it for the celebration, I know that yall love me too! Looking forward to seeing all of you again next Monday for our 408 reunion dinner :)

Thank you Lee Yilin! For your very very pretty birthday presents :D Love the portrait you drew of the three of us meeting up 50 years later ;D Although we may not be able to be physically beside each other to celebrate our birthdays together after this year, we must still remember each other's birthdays and keep in contact kay! And thank you for the coolest 音乐盒 I've ever seen!

Last but not least, thank you Aunt Erica for your birthday presents this year! She has been giving me birthday presents all the way since my very first birthday I think! ^^ Still remember when I was a kid, there's a particular year I wanted colour pencils very badly because I really loved to draw and colour. And that year she bought me colour pencils for my birthday present :) Really grateful for a sweet auntie who never forgets our birthdays :D:D

Thank God for all these people in my life! And for my family too :D Kay need to sleep liao, need to work tomorrow. Thank you for making my 19th birthday such an awesome, happy and lovely one!

Jermia hopped off at 23:59

Wednesday 1 January 2014

Happy new year everybody! It's another new beginning, and for many of us who have just graduated from our junior colleges, 2014 really holds so many exciting possibilities and opportunities! Here's wishing you a fruitful and happy 2014 :D

Looking back at 2013, within this short span of one year, I've experienced exponential growth spiritually, emotionally and ya... biologically too -.-ll I've aged sooo much! On a Sunday after our Graduation Day, Laoda was telling me that I look very different now compared to the start of the year, because he watched our class graduation video too and he saw the photos of a more youthful Jermia xO Trying to be nice, he told me cheekily that I look more "mature" now, but I know he really meant that I look older!!! Dx

Must blame this on A levels right. I remember during a mock interview session conducted by Fang Lao, I was sharing with the people present that what I learnt the most during these 2 years' journey towards the A level is the importance of consistency, persistence and discipline. Still remember those times when we scurry to copy down notes and highlight phrases during lectures, pinching ourselves and friends beside us to help each other keep awake, sharing snacks and sweets with each other during CSC lessons, and struggling to complete every tutorial question before our tutors go through them. That expectation we put on ourselves to make sure that we did not neglect our studies despite our heavy commitments in our CCAs and other activities. That discipline to pull ourselves out of bed in the middle of the night to complete our assignments and study for lecture tests/quizzes although we were so tired after a busy day in school. Not so much the information and knowledge I've learnt over the past 2 years because even though A's ended only a month ago, 该忘掉的我差不多都忘掉了。I think that spirit of not giving up and pushing ourselves to do our very best is what will enable us to overcome challenges and uncertainties in the future.

During the A level period, I was really amazed and proud of all of us, of how strong we can be! People coming to school early in the morning to study all the way till 9/10pm. Really thankful for the Reading Room and the library because they enabled all of us to mug together hardcorely in a common place, so that whenever we were tired and really stressed we knew that we were not walking alone! So many other people were working hard alongside us and it really motivated me to continue running. Thankful for the Malaysian gang in the Reading Room also for their loud conversations and silly actions that provided us our much needed entertainment HAHAHA xD There was this time a few of them spammed deo in the reading room LOL whyyyyy the whole room smelled so floral xP And thankful for friends too, for always being there for me :):)

But the biggest part of 2013 for me, and the biggest lesson I've learnt wasn't about A's but my friendships. Learnt how a single decision can bring about so many changes and unexpected consequences, not only to myself but to my loved ones too. Learnt the importance of 三思而后行 and not just take things into my own hands especially when making major decisions like this. While running towards one I unintentionally left and hurt another, one who has gone through thick and thin with me for the past few years. I think it was during the after block test 2 before prelims period, when everybody was so stressed up and busy with studies that I realised I couldn't do much for her and couldn't even be there for her when she needed it most. That realisation pained my heart a lot but I was so helpless and clueless then that the only thing I could do was just 哭啊哭, which only made things worse because the babes were already so busy studying and they had to worry about my emotional wellbeing also xP It got so bad that I just had to cut my access to Twitter to avoid over-thinking, thinking that all her emo tweets were because of me, so that all of us could really just concentrate better on our studies. Concluding this whole episode, I think it will stay as a regret for the rest of my life even as I've already put down this emotional baggage, knowing that during that period of time, I've failed as a friend. But at the same time I'm grateful for this because it really taught me to not take my relationships for granted, to cherish my loved ones more, and to not leave the ones I love and who love me easily again. I'm sorry dear, and thank you so much for not giving up on me! :) And to another, please don't blame yourself for this! It's not your fault and what makes me feel better about this whole thing is that at least I was there for you :) Thank you for being there for me too! Thank you all my friends who were there for me during that period of time to help me get over myself hahaha ;D

2013, I have so many people and so many things to be thankful for! :D

For 2013, I think the thing I'm most thankful for is to have become a member of the HOGC and F4 family! ^^ Grew stronger in my spiritual walk with God, and my faith in Him has really helped me cross many hurdles this year, giving me the strength to make positive impacts in the lives of others despite the pain in my heart. Thankful for HOGC, as well as awesome pastors and leaders who have helped me grow into a better daughter of God and motivated me to love others. God spoke to my heart so many times through pastors and leaders, enlightening me about my walk with Him, and about my relationships and studies so that I could go back to the right track again! Thankful for pastors and leaders who have given the best years of their lives to God to impact and change the lives of thousands. And F4! Laoda, Xinning, Desmond, and Erntian for being great leaders and great family members who are always thinking for us! Hahaha during the A level period they were always found loving others, even out of their own means, with study packs and notes of encouragement and faith. Thank you for helping me pull through that difficult period of time! And Chunshan, Claudia, and Cheryl for always bringing me such simple joy and motivating each other in our walks with God and in our studies too! Love you sisters! Thankful for these people whom I'll grow up and grow old with! ^^

My laopo Kaixuan! For always withstanding my nonsense (like how I withstand yours HAHAHA) but my nonsense is obviously of a higher level lah :P I don't think I can find another friend who can stand my nonsense and blur-ness as much as you can! ^^ Thank you for having the same 飞蛾扑火 spirit like me, as evidenced from us going for MAF which was just a few days before Prelims, and having enough courage to go on an outing with 流氓小弟! Even though we may not spend as much time with each other this year as compared to other years, our memories together this year are so precious to me! When we tour guided for HC open house, the times when we shared our thoughts with each other when we mugged together at AMK library, and the boarding school incident which became the hallmark of my JC life ;D Was so thankful and touched that you didn't abandon me there and then, and you didn't even blame me or scold me for it. Didn't tell you before, but I was really touched that day when I went back to the CSC room cos I forgot my jacket, and you were standing outside the AVT waiting for me so that I won't be lost when everyone else had already gone in ;D Thank you for always being so understanding and for loving me, I love you sooo much too! :3

Chiaying my fellow noob gang member! Hahaha love how we always moaned and groaned with each other after we got back our results because our grades are kind of sama sama! ;D So thankful to have you sitting beside me when we got back our papers and before our papers started because you have this amazing ability to make me feel less nervous :D Thank you for being my study buddy who would ponder over questions with me, 散步 with me to keep awake, and tolerated the weird noises I made when I was about to fall asleep (eg my endless complaints and whining that day in the reading room with the other babes) Thank you for all the silly things you said and did, and your noob-ness that never failed to make me laugh and brighten my days leading up to the A levels! Wouldn't have pulled through without you!

Shumin my 女儿 who's like my 老妈 instead! :P Thank you for taking care of me and being my motherly figure among the babes :) Ironically, you're retarded too! HAHAHAHA 2013 really widened my horizons on how retarded you can be, laughing at your own jokes and entertaining yourself for a long period of time! Thank you for always tickling me with your autistic behavior (I don't know why the look you gave when you played with Leaky keeps flashing in my mind now) and making lessons a lot more fun this year with your weird questions and random bouts of laughter! Thank you for giving me practical advices and insights about things when I need it too, all the best for 2014 大忙人!!

Limin my very lovely 老公公! 2013 was a very tiring, stressful and difficult period for you but you never failed to amaze me with how you continued to take time out to love the people around you :) The birthday gifts, encouragement notes and snacks that you gave all of us during our birthdays and exam periods really warmed our hearts and made us feel so loved! Thank you so much for staying up to do all these when you could be using the time to do other stuffs :') You've really brightened up the days of many, including mine of course! :D And thank you for really being always there for me, even past midnight to just talk to me and listen to my rubbish xP So so so thankful to have you with me, for looking out for me and being concerned about me (and many other people too!). Continue being lovely babe! "It's your heart of gold I love the best, and that will be your crowning glory your whole life through." :)

Liyang the sheep! Memories of you are always filled with joy and laughter. My favourite memory of you in 2013 is that time when Xiu and I smsed you to bring us some biscuits from the biscuit tin in the reading room and you were so reluctant to do so. But in the end you still came with a few biscuits on a piece of tissue paper! HAHAHA xD Was super touched that you braved through judging stares in the reading room to save our poor stomachs ;D Really thankful to have you as a bus mate too! Those times when you couldn't stop laughing, and also those times when we niao-ed each other and how you always won because Xiu would be on your side xP Thank you for always being there to teach and explain stuffs to me too! :)

Xiu my pilloww! Thank you for filling my every school day with fun and so much things to laugh about ^^ Thankful to have become so much closer to you in 2013, and giving each other encouragement and support during the A level period. Thank you for making the journey so much more enjoyable and less tiring! Still remember that day after our CSC paper and before our Chem MCQ, when the three of us were revising together in a semi-lepak mode HAHAHA ;D It was truly the most fun but yet fruitful revision session I had, and thank you so much for being so unselfish in correcting our mistakes and enlightening us with your knowledge :) Love your comfortable (and sloping) shoulders! Thank you for showing me that at our age, we are still able to have a very simple friendship whereby we just enjoy each other's company and presence ^^

Thankful for my family too! They have always been my pillars of support, always understanding and loving :DD But 2013 especially so since it's my A level year. And creating a conducive environment for me to study at home had caused them inconvenience. During the days when I was lazy to go out to study, they would sacrifice their TV time so that I could focus on my revision. I'll have to apologise to them for the tantrums I threw too :X 2013, really thankful for having a supportive family that always tolerates my nonsense and goes the extra mile to love me!

Weihui! Despite 2013 being a busy year for the both of us, I'm thankful that we didn't grow apart! Thank you for thinking of me whenever you have stories to share, and making 2013 another happy year for me :D Love you babe! Thank you for always jio-ing me in most of the fun things you do! And Yilin my heartbreak buddy to whom I'll share my deepest and innermost thoughts and feelings with :) Thank you for always taking time out to listen to me and really being able to understand what I'm going through. Thank you for always encouraging me and giving me the best advices! Must really keep in contact even after you go back to Taiwan!

Perry for being the closest guy friend I've ever had HAHAHA thank you for being my auntie friend! Even though our conversations are mostly made up of us squabbling and niao-ing each other, they always bring a smile to my face because whenever I suan you I feel so intellectual :P Thank you for your lame cold jokes and random silly rubbish that made 2013 so much more bearable for me! Still remember that time when you wanted to exchange 50cents with me then I was like, are you going to use the toilet paper dispenser? HAHAHA which made Liyang laugh like mad again ;D And Hilary and Guanming for being my favourite couple! So glad to have become my good friend's boyfriend's friend! Hahahaha yall seriously 程又青 and 李大仁 leh (Y)

12S72! All these lovely individuals who have accompanied me in my A level journey and giving me the support I needed, both academically and emotionally :) Will remember those times when we had lessons and lectures together, when we were laughing at inside jokes together, how we looked like as a class being hardworking muggers, eating hotdog buns/sandwiches/many other food that Mrs Tay prepared for us, and even those times when we were dozing off during lessons! Hahaha xD Thank you for the memories created in the past 2 years that I'll look back and smile at :)

Last but not least my Xuanchuan 宝贝s for giving me the best few months I've had in HwaChong! Thankful for every single day of kaigong with a group of awesome people that laughed at a $10 note together with me for super super long xD! Those days when we stayed back til super late at night to paint our banner that all of us were so proud of, and finally during bump-in when we really gave our 100%! Thankful for the best (and craziest) batchmates and juniors that I could ask for, for showing me that even if a project seems super tiring and tedious, it can be fun when we work as a team! ^^ Looking back, Huangcheng gave me the biggest sense of satisfaction in 2013, not really A levels! Surprisingly hahaha. I really put in my very best for A levels already and I have no regrets, but the sense of satisfaction I gained when seeing everybody's hardwork and sacrifices transform into something tangible is just indescribable and incomparable :D

I have many many more people to thank for making my 2013 such a great and fruitful one. I may not have mentioned everybody here but I really appreciate all of you for being a part of my 2013! Thank you for being beside me and helping me grow during this long and tiring, but satisfying and fruitful journey :)

Looking forward, 2014 sounds so exciting already! Taiwan trip in a few more days with 408 babes, working together with Kaixuan, Limin and Weihui, and most of us will be going to various universities to pursue our dreams! Indeed, the future holds infinite possibilities and opportunities, it's going to be exciting! There will be changes we have to learn to embrace and adapt to, many of us will be going to different places with different hopes and aspirations, facing a different set of challenges, meeting new people and learning many new things! But I pray that as we all 各奔东西 (Dong is China and Xi is UK/US, as Weihui puts it), we'll really keep in contact, and when I write my reflection at this time again next year, the names I mentioned above will still be there :) All the best everyone for 2014, it's going to be great!

Jermia hopped off at 23:35