"The habits you form here will be with you for the rest of your life."
My head jerked up, my eyes got big, and I stared at him, letting the
words soak into my half-conscious mind. He nodded, said a gruff goodbye,
and left. I was dumbfounded.
The words reverberated in my mind
for the rest of the day. Years later, they still haunt me. It’s true —
the habits you form early in life will, most likely, be with you for the
rest of your existence.
I've just finished reading an article. And I'm overwhelmed with thoughts. Thoughts that has been swirling in my mind for a very long period of time.
9th June 2012. I completed my internship at GIS. Those 5 months in the beginning of this year, gave me a very comprehensive insight to how a life of a scientist would be like. I was very priviledged to have worked in the lab of a very established researcher, who was once at the helm of HSA, and currently has two research institutes in the states. Mentioning his name in interviews had always placed me in a very favorable position. Most importantly, I was fortunate enough to have an Italian as an mentor and with patience and with wisdom, I was swayed and I actually believe I could function as a researcher again.
10th June 2012. A trip to Philippines. A trip that marked the end of all formal years of education. A trip that marked a new milestone. A new chapter. A trip that many would call a graduation trip. If you asked me, I would say it was a planned and arranged trip to signify the end of my formal years of schooling. Yet it lacked the significance and essence of a graduation trip. Part of me felt there wasn't much to cheer about. I wasn't ready to travel. It was a short cheer. But I knew deep down, there still was a missing jigsaw. Fortunately there were pretty awesome company in the form of 2 buddies and le girlfriend.
2nd July 2012. By a remarkable stroke of luck, I started work at TTSH, as a MA. The last week of June was a whirl. I had four offers. Two from research institutes under A*Star. TTSH MAP. A sales job for a local company selling generic medicine. Was hoping for news from DBS, but I had a strong feeling that wasn't to come. Even on the eve of the job, I wasn't sure if I had made the right choice. This was a structured fast track program. That was all I knew. It promised career progression, compared to all the others. The rest I learnt along the way. Along with the low pay came along other benefits like a reasonable annual salary package, a booming and recession proof industry, and making a difference in the lives of people. And of course, along with the title came the huge expectations on our backs. But that's work. And we just have got to deal with it.
31st July 2012. A trip back to school in a long long time. I wore the graduation gown for the first time. And I hoped I did make my parents proud. I saw her mum for the first time. And it was the third and biggest bouquet for the lovely lady. I hadn't mention much about leaving and graduating from university. Academics aside, I am glad for the people I have met, the friends I have made, the trips I had travelled, and the imprints people had left on me.
The journey began with Sports Camp, of which I thought it was one of the best planned and execution of camps I had been involved. Sad to say, I was spooked away with the crazy programs. I went straight to Hall Camp the day right after Sports Camp, and much of it was overshadowed by it. I was physically, mentally exhausted with only 2-4 hours of sleep per night from Sports Camp and I often found myself dropping out of the activities in Hall Camp. The activities were less intense and it was actually manageable. Anyway, year one gave me many memories to hold dear to and it will remain that day for a long time. I remembered telling myself that I want to find a group of people that I could hang out with. A group that I could call my own. A group that was exclusive to all its members. I channeled my energy to forming that group in Y1S1, and yes we were close to that. In that year alone, I experienced all feelings. Late night europhia, Supper hop adrenaline, intense relationships jealously, Spontaneous scooting off to Aussie the next day without a plan. You name it. I would have felt it. There were two groups in different times that I thought would have filled the tag of the group, what is ironic however, is that neither made it. What made the rest of the uni days awesome was actually my hall OG, and the remaining members that got pulled into the group. I wasn't sure if I was invited to Batam as an act of courtesy because I was that distant away from the OG, but I know that I wanted to join them on trips to Medan and Cameron Highlands. The group really gave me loads of memories which I know made a difference to my stay in hall. To Apus, Delphus or whatever the group name is now, I'm really glad to everyone in the group, especially to the key figures in the group that has been the glue pulling the group together. 1348.5 for the late nights, the many HTHTs and the crazy ____ sessions. I really do hope we could still remain close and tight regardless of what is happening.
Uni gave me a chance to travel, and it's something that I'm very privileged to be able to do so. Apart from travelling trips with Apus, I was able to experience Hanoi and Troyes for a couple of weeks. Unforgettable. And I'm afraid I've caught the travel bug.
A very sensitive topic to begin with, but one that we can't run away from. Love and Relationships.
I couldn't care less about what others think of me, as long as I know that I've done no wrong. We are accountable to ourselves. And many have different expectations and perspectives on this topic. On this note, to the girl who broke my heart, I'm thankful to you for making me a stronger person, to teach me the values of love, to respect the game, and allowing me to find someone who would love me in return; to the girl who confessed your silent love for me, I'm sorry that I gave you the wrong impression. I honestly see yourself as nothing more than a friend, and I sincerely wish we could be friends for a long time to come because I really enjoy conversations with you; to the girl whose heart I broke, I'm sorry. Be it circumstances or by chance, I'm sorry for the way things turn out. There is going to be somebody out there who is going to treasure you more than I do, and I really wish you all the best. That said, I'm glad I found you. Who knew we would be sitting across me playing bridge in year one? Who knew we would actually spend our first summer holidays down under? Who knew that missing Mexico in year two gave us the chance to go Troyes together in year 3? Who knew that you were a Malaysian? :P
And so. A little quote from an article turned out to be a reflection that I wanted to pen down for some time now. I have something else to say after reading the article.
Something. That is life-changing.
