Marking another milestone, with much love and gratitude

So I've finally graduated from law school, and this marks the end of 16 years of formal education. This is going to be a long thank-you post dedicated to everyone who has helped and supported me along the way, in one form or another. 

First and foremost, the parents, without whom I'd literally be nothing. To the ones who have always been with me - thank you for your unconditional love, thank you your understanding and your encouragement, thank you for sharing my joy and my tears, and for supporting me in my choices in life. Cliche it may sound, but everything I am, I owe to you, and a million thank-yous would not be able to convey my gratitude. 

To my SN clique (sans rondie in the picture), it's been 8 years, and even though we were not always together in that time, I always feel a little better knowing that we have one another, and I hope we will always stay this way even as we move on to the next chapter in our lives. 

To my law school sisters and 红粉知己s - so much love for the both of you. Days of tedious mugging, spontaneous pigging out sessions, clubbing nights, ridiculous/inappropriate remarks and messages, plain nonsense, hthts, etc etc, the past four years would not have been the same without the two of you, and I'm so glad we went through this together. Law school may have ended, but I think we will continue the same as before, won't we?

Important people who helped / supported / dragged me through law school, whether by lending me notes and muggers, buying me candy and chocolates, treating me to food and beer and coffee, forcing me to go to school to study or listening to me whine, thank you so much, you guys brightened my university days and made the tedious days more bearable.

"People do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." 

Thank you for all the things, big and small, that you've done, thank you for your patience and thank you for making me so happy. 

Of course, there are so many other people to thank, especially my close friends who are not pictured here, but you know who you guys are. Random outings, texts, hthts, etc, I'm grateful to have so many beacons of light shining in my life. 

It has not been an easy journey, and there are days when I was so tired I just felt like giving up, and days when I doubted all the choices I ever made and wondered what the hell I was doing. But I made it through. And so this is the end, but it is also the start of something new. To exciting times ahead!

The end of another chapter

This is a post long overdue. School ended more than a month ago, but before I could pause to catch my breath and sit down to properly reflect on the four years I spent in law school, I had to throw some clothes into the luggage and whisk off to japan with J, where we spent a good two weeks. But more on that in a later post.

So we finally got our exam results for the last time yesterday. Nothing spectacular; I'm just thankful that I've graduated without any hitches. And now we are all scrambling to apply for the bar course and to get everything settled before the deadline next week.

To be honest, I don't really know what to feel about graduation. Or more precisely, I don't know what to feel about the time I spent in law school. Do I look back and think, "Now, that wasn't so bad after all, was it? Maybe even enjoyable?" It's a mix of conflicting emotions, really. I guess all I can say is, it was hard work and I did learn things (although what, I can't precisely say...). Law school also made me age, and I'd like to think I matured somewhat. I also made some really good friends without whom I might not have been able to make it through. Thank you so much for all the help and encouragement, I am so grateful for you all.

I don't know what the future holds, but I'm looking forward to it. 

Law school: almost the end

So last Wednesday we attended the annual farewell dinner organised by the school for the graduating batch. 

The bunch of girls that I sat with in the lecture theatre for the first two years for all those compulsory mods. Feels like a lifetime ago.

With the former dean and friends

Thereafter the bunch of us headed to Aloha Changi, for the after-party (aptly, or ironically, named "The Pursuit of Happiness") organised by some batchmates. Drinking games, crazy photobooth shots and general merriment ensued, as a drunken haze descended on the crowd.

Photobooth with the law school sistas ❤

With the fun OG7 girls

On a random note

Creamier; earl grey lavender and hokey pokey with waffles

So jen suggested a new cafe and we headed there after school yesterday. I haven't seen the busy girl for months. The place sells handcrafted ice cream and coffee and they have such interesting flavours. It's shown on their website here, although they don't have all the flavours available everyday. We each had two scoops of ice cream and two waffles, 'cause we're greedy like that, but I was so stuffed after I couldn't stomach dinner. Yes, dessert before dinner. you have to live life like that occasionally. The cafe has quaint decor, and the art pieces on display are all for sale, including pieces drawn by the post-it man. We didn't try the coffee unfortunately, but I'll be back.

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I've pretty much got my summer planned out all the way till Part B starts in July. As school draws closer to the end, people have been saying that we should treasure our remaining time here, we will miss it when we go out to work, and the like. It makes sense I suppose, and I guess I will miss going to school in a way, after I finally get out to work. But right now, all I can think about is just getting out of here, 'cause the tedium of school is setting in. Happens every semester, and I've been through 7, almost 8 now, semesters to be thoroughly tired of it. You know what they say, you won't miss it until it's gone. Although I've always been one to look forward. I do look back and think of the goods times occasionally of course, but it's no use dwelling in the past. 

Do what you like, like what you do

So we're already into our fourth week of school. How is it that time seems to be zooming by at double the speed in our final semester?? And I'm still slowly getting my engine started. 

These days I've been lacking the inspiration to pen down thoughts, or do anything else for that matter. So many grand plans and thoughts floating around in my head, but it's hard to organize them into anything coherent and worth noting down. 

Chinese new year is coming, and this year it feels different, what with everything that has happened and is happening in the family. I can feel myself drifting away, I can feel a barrier forming. 

Sometimes I think we are such insignificant beings, so tiny, so helpless. Nothing more than a mere speck of dust in the bigger scheme of things. And yet in our daily lives we go about feeling so self-entitled, so important, as if we really matter. Or squabbling over trivial things, as if they really matter. 

“That is why it is so important to let certain things go. To release them. To cut loose. People need to understand that no one is playing with marked cards; sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Don’t expect to get anything back, don’t expect recognition for your efforts, don’t expect your genius to be discovered or your love to be understood. Complete the circle. Not out of pride, inability or arrogance, but simply because whatever it is no longer fits in your life. Close the door, change the record, clean the house, get rid of the dust. Stop being who you were and become who you are.”

- Paul Coelho

Read: The way I am around you

"What is essential is invisible to the eye"

The beautiful sunrise I caught as I attempted to finish my comparative corp governance paper...

Speaking of which, I finally completed the paper after a very inefficient 20 hours. Which consisted of lying on the bed for short rests, compulsively going to the kitchen and eating chocolate, playing with miki, etc.

Portrait shots

Daddy offered to make coffee for me at 5.50am as I was finishing up my paper. And for the first time in my life I truly felt caffeine jitters. My hands were shaking so badly, my heart was racing and I felt like my mind was racing from thought to thought without focusing ('ー'*) Afterwards, I tried to take a nap before I headed out for lunch and wine fiesta, but I couldn't fall asleep so I basically tossed and turned in bed for two hours before giving up.

Wine fiesta! (*^∇^)ノ∀*∀ヾ(^▽^*)

Big thank-you to ms sim, who invited us for the event organised by her company. It was rainy and we took a while to get there, what with Jen and I both having to buy new shoes 'cause our shoes fell apart, but it was pretty fun trying out all the different kinds of wine from different countries (●´▽｀●) (emoji that looks a little tipsy)

今日のミキ (^・ェ・^)

So there was this day we couldn't find Miki (happens very often now that she doesn't wear a bell collar) and I searched high and low. She only answers to her name when she feels like it, even though she knows you're calling her (her ears will flick towards you when you call her, but she doesn't bother turning her head #haughtykitty). Then I opened the door to my parents' bedroom and I see her like this, lying quietly inside the pillow, peering out to see who'd notice her.

For the month of November, I will work hard and I will try to stay happy.

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"So, I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things. And we can try to feel okay about them."

- Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

忘れないだよ：肝心なことは、目に見えない (星の王子様)

Food for thought: things you can change vs things you can't

I put the pro in procrastination.

Happy Halloween~!

"Frightfest...may not be suitable for...the faint hearted, the timid, the scaredy cats, the weak" - exact description of me right there.

And all my creative juices are flowing at this highly inappropriate period of time. My head is full of crafty ideas of things I wanna do and make and all. WHEN I SHOULD TOTALLY BE MUGGING FURIOUSLY AND MEETING DEADLINES. Which is why those close to me have been the recipients of various handmade and homemade things. This is not good.

Cookies and cream cupcakes that I baked late one night

Baby beanie #2 - 'cause Tailin informed me that the first one was too small OTL

日本美媚 Tangtang with her 阳光笑容, wearing the cream-colored beanie I made her. I made one for Jane as well~

今日のミキ

Close-up - cute pink nose and sharp tooth

Favourite Starbucks x'mas drink and cheesecake deliveryｏ(〃＾▽＾〃)ｏ small joys in life.

In other news, I am currently in a shoe craze where I feel like buying up all the shoes I see and everything sets me off. I am a materialistic, superficial girl ( ; __ ; ) I will repent...after I've ordered those shoes.

Food for thought: the peter pan generation

Everyone goes 'round a little empty inside

Before life came to a bit of a standstill;

The annual dance performance that we go to, in support of kittykhoo ♡

Cupcakes from Plain Vanilla at Holland V! salted caramel and strawberry and white choc

Bought them for Kitty and also for ourselves; they only had a few flavours left when we went. I'd say it's really nice, if you have a sweet tooth (^-^;)

After the performance I headed down to zouk to find these lovely girls

Unforch the night did not end very well - I think clubbing during the school term does not agree with me

Why does everything have to be so hard?

Maybe you'll never find your purpose

Lots of people don't

But then- I don't know why I'm even alive!

Well, who does, really?

Everyone's a little bit unsatisfied

Everyone goes 'round a little empty inside

Take a breath, look around,

Swallow your pride

For now

Nothing lasts,

Life goes on,

Full of surprises.

Mid-recess week: project outing at Bedok with the groupmates (:

Don't stress,

Relax,

Let life roll off your backs,

Except for death and paying taxes,

Everything in life is only for now

Law school sistas ♡

Each time you smile

It'll only last a while

Life may be scary

But it's only temporary

OOTD: cream lace blouse from wonderstellar, navy pants from tokyofashion, ribbon shoes from mitju

Jane and I color-coordinated our outfits unintentionally; this is what happens when you are too in sync (;

Avenue Q at MBS with JY! The show was funny and I think the voice actors sing really well and I kept wondering how they make such nasal puppet voices.

Everything in life is only for now;

What I meant, but more eloquently

Thought Catalog: You Vs. Feelings

"Feelings ignores initial red flags and gut instincts, because right now you like Hope, and that’s all that really matters."

"Feelings tells you to relax. To fall. To quit wildly grabbing for something to hang on to, and completely let yourself go. You fall uncontrollably until finally, you land. Hope has caught you. After a lengthy plummet, you’ve found stability. It’s indescribable really. It’s as if Hope has placed you on a solid surface — yet it also feels like your walking amongst the clouds. Feelings tells you that this is what you’ve always wanted – and for all you know, it truly is."

#collegeproblems

When your oh-so-kind prof decides to spring a nasty surprise by giving two days' notice that you have to write a 15-20 page essay in 48 hours. In between classes because why, us students actually have classes to attend. And all protests were replied with a bitchy "Don't give me this shit". Yay to minimal sleep for the rest of the week.

soaring, spiraling, spinning

aseaofquotes.tumblr

Sudden desire to go kite-flying like I used to when I was young. So young and carefree then. Why is it that school has only just started and I'm already so tired?! (_  _")

When things get tough and times get rough, I just have this urge to go on a shopping spree and buy something, anything. And dress as fancily and outrageously as I can. It's like clothes are my armour, you know?

Here we go again

Whether I like it or not, SCHOOL IS STARTING TOMORROW.

Hello again, second home for the next couple of months

I've been whining and moaning, but y'know. I know it's not really going to change anything. This summer has been good and tbh, travelling to KR aside, I think it's going to be better this semester since I'm doing two non-law modules. so I'll be seeing my dear friends in KR more often! 请多多执教! HAHA

Like everyone's been saying, it's the final chapter! Happy? Sad? Anxious? It's a jumble of emotions that I don't really want to examine... I can feel the pounding of my heart, every time the thought passes through my mind.

The big question now is, WHAT DO I WEAR TO SCHOOL?!
Just kidding.
...except not really #hopelessvainpot

Art, food and friends

SCHOOL IS STARTING IN A WEEK *hyperventilates*

I'm so unprepared I feel like booking the next flight out and hiding out the semester somewhere else like a fugitive. Just thinking about what modules to select saps my energy. Somehow I just cannot muster up any enthusiasm for the coming academic year OTL

What I've been up to since I returned from europe: for the most part I've been lying around the house like a sack of potatoes, reading and occasionally getting up to annoy my cat while she naps. The few occasions when I actually gathered up enough energy to drag my lazy arse outta the house:

Tea at TCC with Tang and Jane, and then sushi

Harry Potter and Andy Warhol's exhibitions with Ling and Kitt

We got the all-access pass and went to both exhibitions. Andy Warhol's exhibition was interesting, to say the least. He seems like a weird person, but then again I suppose all artists are weird in some way or other. There was a photobooth in the exhibition hall but it was under maintenance! I was so disappointed ): they even laid out wigs and props for you to take quirky photos.

The harry potter exhibition was okay. The Warner Brothers studio tour in London was definitely more comprehensive (we got to see more of the movie sets, props etc), but the exhibition was more interactive in a sense, 'cause you get to throw quaffles into the hoops, pull up mandrakes and hear them squeal, and sit in Hagrid's chair in his hut. The merch shop at the exhibition was definitely smaller and had less merch than the one at the WB studio, but one thing in common is that the merchandise is equally expensive!! I gave in and bought a tiny chocolate frog for $6. At least the collector's card I got was Dumbledore I suppose.

Miki (taken by Jen); ootd for my movie date with Keetee; mocha and matcha latte

Had a spontaneous movie date with Keetee today, 'cause we were both so bored and I had a movie pass for two free tickets! Watched total recall; it's a pretty cool movie. Had dinner at food for thought, and chilled at Starbucks after the movie.

I do not want to go back to school ;___;

Eat sleep drink like a king

/edit

And i was so delirious with joy i forgot my thank-you speech: #dramaqueen

Thank you to all who made me surviving this ordealsemester possible -

Daddy for ferrying me (& friends) around tirelessly

Mummy for also ferrying me around and taking care of the cat

Mugging buds tang, tian and jane for listening to me whine, bitch and tell unfunny jokes

People who selflessly and generously sent me their notes and helped me along

People who sent me words of encouragement and cheered me up

m(｡-_-｡)m とてもありがとう！m(_ _)m 

/edit

I currently feel like this:

Ahahaha. This is the 卤蛋 THUMBDRIVE I bought off the web one day, 'cause I was so sick of studying. Okay no that's just an excuse, there's no correlation. I buy things whenever I like. Hahaha. Anyway, IT IS SO CUTE RIGHTRIGHT *annoying voice* Tang and Tian have been coerced persuaded by me to order one each too, with different expressions. When they come in the mail I shall take a picture of them~! (:

My summer started with waffles and ice cream at precisely 4pm this afternoon woohoo~ ヾ(●⌒∇⌒●)ﾉ I can't even contain my joy boy am I so glad this semester is over. I actually do not think I've ever worked so hard?! But then again, I think that almost every semester - the pain fades and you always think the present is the toughest. Oh well. I hope hard work pays off *crosses fingers toes and tongue*

Place I do not have to see for the next 3 months! ヽ(*⌒∇⌒*)ノ This is the new study room outside of the library, where I spent my living days and even 1 sleeping night throughout this sem. In fact, I might even have spent more hours here than in my own bedroom. ...kidding. But seriously, the year 1s stay later than me and come earlier than me I wonder why they are mugging like their lives depend on it. 

Miki offering to study evidence for me. I politely declined, because she was not doing a very good job of it. Basically she sat there and stared into space for 10 minutes without even glancing at the notes. Oh wait maybe that was me hmm.

Tiantian 打包-ed this to school for me one day! I was bursting with thankfulness that day if you'd squinted you'd have seen an aura of gratitude radiating from me. This was during the arduous mugging period when I practically lived on the western food stall sandwiches everyday...which was what I did throughout the semester. But y'know. #tragic #firstworldproblems

Miki chillin' like her hobo owner. this is our favourite activity:

Aka lying randomly on the floor around the house. One day my mum found me napping in front of the kitchen door and thought I'd died there. Why is it okay for a cat to sleep on the kitchen doormat but not for me to lie on the floor near the door? #turningintoacat

And this is the fruit of Jen's school assignment and a result of my free modelling:

I know right, I should so totally be a model.