I was so tired yesterday I slept for a while during maths lecture. After the lecture, a teacher announced through the PA system for all J1 students to gather in the hall. It was strange as it was supposed to be PW lecture next. At first, I thought the principal was going to talk to us about our midyear exam results.

The principal then announced with deep regrets and sadness that a J1 student passed away the night before. Everyone was shocked at the point, the girl's close friends cried, the members of her CCA and her class gathered at the iSpace to mourn for her death. At that moment, there was a solemn atmosphere in the hall. Even though I do not know the girl, sadness filled my heart. You never know what will happen to the friends around you. They may be chatting with you now, but may never be the next moment onwards. During Chinese lesson, the teacher gave us three composition topics and the chose the one about treasuring what you have only after you have lost it.

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In the evening, I met up with my friends for the NJC Chinese Orchestra concert at Singapore Conference Hall. I reached there 30 mins early so that I could have my dinner. I did not know that the Tanjong Pagar area was a total business district with no food centres at all. Thus I had to make do with a meal at a cafe cum bar. I ate prawn noodles which was not filling at all. I then came across StarBucks and bought a cup of strawberry frapucino to fill my stomach.

The concert was great, but I didnt fully enjoy it as I was really tired after a long day at school. Wei Long played the Gu zheng, and my primary school mate Wei Xiang played the Er Hu. The sound was superb, it beats hands down, listening to mp3s at home haha. Bao Yuan was one of the MCs that night, and he said one really catch phrase in commending one of the performances. "I've seen flying sauces, but flying symbols? Wow!" After the concert, we were teasing him with "Wow!" We went to Lau Pa Sat for supper and chatted for an hour or so.

I reached home at around 12 midnight and dropped flat on the bed after a quick refreshing bath.

Gosh, project work is such a chore. It unnecessarily takes up time which can be used to revise other subjects or play some games. My group had to re-do the project proposal 3 times before it was finally accepted by the teacher.

I had PE today and the teacher taught us the badminton smash. I think it's my wrist movement which hinders my smashing process, the shuttle just won't go downwards! I'm going to try again next week, hopefully I can get it. After the PE lesson, my shirt was totally soaked with perspiration. I think its even more perspiration than running 4km.

My group member forgotten to bring one of the project work documents which was due today. Fortunately, or not, I live nearby and could rush home to print it out.

After lessons, a few of my classmates went for a jog, but I did not join them because I left my PE shirt at home. At the same time, there was the 3on3 basketball tournament organised by the basketball cca ongoing. There were many good players, and some exceptional ones. Two of my friends took part but eventually lost by 1 point to their opponents, how unlucky. I actually wanted to take part in the competition but I lack the confidence, and I could not find teammates too.

Time for Friends later on Starworld. :D

PE lesson today was fun! I finally get the hang of gripping the badminton racket and doing overhead hits. I'm going to play badminton for every PE lessons until the promos, I think it'll be very fun.

Lessons ended late today at 5.10pm. After a long and tiring day, a few of my friends and I decided to go for a jog. There were Alicia, Bee Hua, Doreen, Jamie, Jin Zheng, Weiss and I. As it rained during the afternoon, the weather in the evening was cooling and it set the perfect conditions for exercising. I ran 4km while the rest ran almost 5km. It was fun running together and I hope for more of such sessions. Perhaps we can gather to play other team sports like basketball and badminton.

I feel that I'm adapting to NYJC's lifestyle and the people around me. But there're always teachers around reminding us that we're studying in a mid-ranked college and we'll have to work extra hard to achieve our desired results. This immediately makes me regret my decision not to appeal back to NJ. But well, there are still NYJC graduates with straight distinctions for the A levels. I hope I'll be able to suit into NYJC's slow but steady teaching pace to achieve greater heights.

Woke up 30 mins late today because the clock stopped. Blarh. Fortunately I was not late for school.

I feel that I've been eating a larger portion of food lately. I don't feel as fit as before, I cannot run 4km with ease like I could months ago. I wonder whats happening to me... Maybe school work's getting into me, causing me tire out easily. Maybe this is the type of fatigue all JC students experience in their 2-year college life. I'm beginning to mug more. I'm beginning to set expectations for my A level exams. I'm beginning to dream about what I want in the future.

I'm working hard to brush up my Chinese language, aiming to get at least a B3 for the CLAO exams this October. I guess the E8 I got for Chinese this midyear exam really hit me hard.

Weilong rang me up this evening, asking if I'd want to attend a CO concert which he is performing at. NJC's band concert was of high standard, their CO concert would definitely be great - so I agreed. I'd get to meet up with my friends again, very happy.

PE tomorrow, playing badminton. I've always love PE lessons, cause the games are fun! Even if its running around the track, doing it with friends is great fun!

I read an article in today's YOUThink section of the Straits Times about materialism. There were 2 different views, one taking a stand that materialism should never be above social relationships, and the other being materialism is a societal norm and take precedence against socialism. What I notice is that the latter views were made by undergraduates from Singapore Universities (NUS and NTU), and the other two by overseas undergraduates. Probably studying overseas will help you mature and treasure the right things.

Youth Peace Culture Festival 2005

I got tickets to the Youth Peace Culture Festival 2005 organised by Singapore Soka Association. It was held at Toa Payoh Sports Hall. I heard that this event is held every five years, sounds more prestigious than the Olympic games, haha!

Many youths performed, from kindergarten children to University graduates. I
actually thought that it would be a boring cultural show, but it was much better. The music was contemporary, and I thought that the lighting effects were great. The performance was based on a theme related to stars, so it started out with a young star born, and in the end becoming a cosmic blast.

SSA recently won the Singapore Youth Award too. I think it'll become a really reputable youth organisation, and I'd join it if there's a chance.

School today

Nanyang JC's 28th Student Council Investiture was held this morning. It does not really affect or interest me as the student council does not really do much to impact the student body. Student leaders from various Secondary schools and Junior Colleges such as Deyi, Pierce, National JC, ACJC, Temasek JC graced the investiture as well. It was quite exciting seeing the NJC uniform again, but too bad I did not know the two student representitives.

After school, I played basketball with several of my classmates. The game was quite alright, though I did not play well. After that, I jogged 10 rounds the track with Jin Zheng and Weiss. I'm targetting to complete 12 rounds under 2 mins/round with ease so as to prepare for next year's cross-country. My standing broad jump is still as bad, I really need to attend afternoon PE to train for it.

Nothing else really interesting happened today. I hope for a better day tomorrow!

Doubts about myself

I am beginning to doubt my language ability after getting disastrous results for my General Paper and Chinese exam - F9 for Chinese and C6 for GP. It's the kind of thing that can deal a huge blow to you even if you did well for the other subjects.

I've received the results for all my subjects. So far I'm most satisfied with Economics after getting results that were way beyond my expectation, and most disappointed result is Chinese.

The recent defamatory lawsuit that NKF filed against SPH has raised many doubts upon NKF's organisation and usage of funds. The non-profit organisation pays its CEO, Mr TT Durai, $25,000 of monthly salary and gave him 12-months bonus last year for his "good performance". I reckon half of his yearly salary could be used to fund a patient's dialysis treatment for a year. Previously, my parents donate $10 monthly to NKF, but not anymore. Who knows how many more secrets about NKF's organisation would be uncovered if they continued with the lawsuit.

I need to brush up on my Chinese language, maybe I should memorise 10 phrases from the Chinese handbook before I go to bed every night.

This week seemed to pass very slowly. I got back a few of my mid-year exam papers and the results were dismal. I got B,C,D for Phy, Math and Chemistry respectively. I'm not at all happy with my Math results though, several careless mistakes and not showing of necessary working caused me more than 10 marks. I've been quite poor at Chemistry since Sec4, so I guess my Chem results is pretty much justified for. I'll probably get back Econs and GP tomorrow, and Chinese later on. Those are the subjects I do not have much expectations for.

Tomorrow is my Chinese AO level oral exam, hope I'll be alright and not screw it up.

I've been feeling very lethargic lately, most likely due to the exam results not meeting my expectations, and also because I seem to have lost my focus on school work and activities. I don't know whats happening to me, I need someone or something to change it.

Sentosa Class Outing

I had lots of fun today. I had the chance to go for both S10 and S6A class outings today as both were at Sentosa.

At 10am today, I took the NEL to HabourFront station. Upon alighting the train, I met Yoke Teng and Ian on the escalator. They came for the S10 class outing. I then met Mao Rui and Genial just outside the exit gantry and I joined them. We waited for about an hour for everyone to arrive. There were only 13 out of 25 people from S6A who joined the outing. The MRT station was packed with many teenagers who also decided to spend the Youth Day holiday at the beach and have some fun.

Mao Rui, Doreen and I went to Cold Storage to buy snacks and drinks for the trip. Everyone including myself were very pissed off with Jonathan for not only arriving the latest, but also for not bringing any balls when he said through the phone that he would bring 4 balls. Blerh! I ended up being the only person who brought a ball which was a basketball.

We decided to go to Siloso beach to play. As we did not have any 'kick-able' ball, Doreen and I went to buy a volleyball which cost $18! But since the cost would be shared out among everyone, we thought it would be alright. When both of us reached the beach, they had already started throwing people into the seawater. When I reached, I was thrown into the water. Later on, we played the game Monkey in the water, it was fun. We also played beach soccer using the volleyball, it was fun too.

At around 4pm, I met up with Yoke Teng and Ian to discuss where to have dinner. They then decided to have dinner together with the class at Sakae Sushi and invited me to join them. We had Sushi buffet and everyone was very full after the meal. After that I actually wanted to join Doreen and the rest of the class at the Musical Fountain but I was too tired to do so. I went back together with Yoke Teng and Ian taking the NEL.

I'm lucky to have a day off tomorrow as there's still Art exam ongoing. My skin is now very tanned, and I hope it'll not turn into pain when I wake up tomorrow morning.

Unexpected ending to gathering

1 July
I met up with my TRP clique yesterday evening for a gathering to celebrate Tess's birthday. I thought that it'd definitely be fun as there'd be lots of jokes and chit-chatting. We met up at Jurong East MRT. I was wondering if Jinghang would join us, when she suddenly appeared as I stepped out of Popular. Yoke Teng and Bao Yuan were at NTUC, so we met them there.

Yoke Teng was not in a good mood as she was sick and was upset as the others were late. I actually thought we were going to buy a birthday cake, but the band members told us to buy titbits instead as they already had cake during their band practice in school. After lots of deliberation, we ended up buying two bottles of sparking juice and two packets of chips.

We reached her house at 8pm. Tess's dad prepared fried bee hoon and snacks for us. Bao Yuan then jokingly said that it was Jiamin's fault for being so late. He said something like "It's not your fault... but it actually is" That sentence was the turning point to the mood of the gathering. Jiamin was very sad because of those remarks, but well he cannot take back what he said. I felt awkward as I didn't know what to do.

Yesterday was the first time I witness a trp gathering going so bad. People say that quarrels can test friendships, and I sure hope that we would have closer friendship within the group after yesterday's incident.

2 July
I played basketball at Deyi today. I had already played basketball yesterday morning, and was quite tired even before today's game. I think that I still need to brush up on my shooting techniques. We practice our shooting during every basketball meeting we have, we each have 30 shots and have to try to score as many as we can. I was 10 for 30... that's only about 30%. We later had lunch at a food centre nearby the school.