"It's goodbye, but we lean towards the next crazy venture beneath the sky".
I don't have any pretty way to start this particular post, actually I haven't written in so long that writing this feels awkward. But it also feels right. So I'll just go out and say it, THANK YOU.
I received my A level results today, and lets face it, it's not all that good. But what I received is probably more than I'll ever deserve, and definitely impossible if not for everyone around me. And because I don't have the guts to post it as a status, I'll just use this (regardless of this ending up in Facebook as well) because I have to say something. I'd also like to come out and confess right now that this is partially the post that I had for graduation and never dared post. Because I haven't yet made my peace with goodbyes.
In no particular order, because my brain never works with order, I'd like to thank my beloved friends and family that have been there for me through thick and thin in the journey that is A levels. Honestly, two months from now, I'll forget this feeling when I look back at my results. Hell, I'll give two weeks for that, because honestly even now I have no idea what I'm feeling. And in two years, the results won't matter. No matter how good or how bad. It just won't. Because life has bigger plans for us, and definitely much more interesting than the mere existential nature we had as school students in a system.
But I'll never forget those glorious moments in the past two years. From the devil may care outings to the quiet moments where you feel..... satisfied. Just pure satisfaction of knowing. So I don't know if I can verbalise all of it, much less put in any particular list, but I'm going to try. Because it's a memory worth reading when I look back ages from now, and it's a memory that'll never fail to put a smile on my face.
So (and if you have a cup, glass, mug or something beside you, you are invited to lift in a toast, though I feel obliged to point out that the "toast" will go on for quite some time)...
Here's to my classmates that I'll never forget. For accepting the weirdness (to put it mildly) that I come with. For encouraging me to study even if you're slacking your asses off. For being completely jaw-droppingly honest about everything. The conversations we had (and are still having) is something I will always cherish for more randomness sluiced together I will never find anywhere else. For choosing to work together. For all the stomachaches I've had due to the retarded laughs. For the Dominoes-Deepavali and the Free-Food-Fiesta and things I'll never dare reveal here.
And for being a family. If friendship is an involuntary reflex, this one I wouldn't mind getting knocked on the knee for. Repeatedly.
To my seniors that are always there to give an encouraging word. Those weird nicknames we gave random people were priceless. For all the surprise visits, for all the crazy basketball matches, and for all the laughs behind which you guys are the reason. For the retarded stories, for the sobering stories and for the stories in the making. Some of you I've known for really long, some for not so much, but the thought of you guys are enough to make me smile. Uni's jam-packed and busy, but here's to all the times we talked despite that. They say respect those that find time in their schedule for you, but love those who never have to look at their schedule. Here's to facing the storm of uni next year together. (:
And to James Franco, for always being there.
To HC, we had some of the most wicked times together. Work hard, play harder, eh? Joining HC was one of the best things ever, and people like you guys, can never be forgotten. Despite all the work, we managed to pull through, so kudos. Thanks for all the shoulder lent when needed. The world is your oyster, so let's go put that in a really good restaurant and run a kick-ass life :)
To my friends, in Singapore and in Penang - you guys are the best thing that happened to me. Oh, retarded for sure, but my kinda retarded. From the clairvoyants who can figure out my mood from a single text, to the owls that stay up when I have assignments to finish. You guys may be miles away, but it's always nice to know that there is someone out there that is that understanding. And of course, to the nutbags that are willing to wake up at as early as 4am to check if I'm up just because I let it slip that I'll be trying to wake up to get some stuff done. They say napping for an hour at 3am and getting back up to finish the work is never going to happen. With you guys around, it's more than possible. (:
Let's not forget the awesome movie buddies that are always willing to go catch a movie with you, even if they've watched it a couple of times. Those who are up to anything and will come meet you at a moment's notice. Friends who despite living far will meet up with you for a cup of coffee whenever possible. Crazy morning people that wake up at 6am for Macs or a walk in ECP. Friends you can have a conversation with without uttering a single word.
And the kingdom. If all kingdoms were like ours, I doubt the existence of any kingdoms in the past.
And people who, despite ages of not meeting up, are able to convince you that sometimes, things don't have to change.
To my juniors, who stay lovable despite all the bullying you extended out to me :P. College is a lot of work, but a lot more fun. Find your pace, find your niche, and you're on the path to finding yourself. That journey may not end anytime soon, and it's gonna be one hell of a ride, but it is totally going to be worth it. When life flashes in front of your eyes one day, make sure you have one hell of a movie to watch.
I cannot possibly end this without a special shout-out to my beloved roommate who was forced to put up with all my shenanigans for not two, but four years. You're an awesome person, and my journey in Singapore would have been a lot different without you. We're definitely not cut out of the same page, much less the same book, or even the same library, but the fact is, we had what we needed to get along, and get along splendidly. We were not the same, but we had our eyes set on about the same direction. Well, figuratively. You know what I mean. (:
And to all the movies and TV series (yes I thank inanimate objects as well, get used to it) that thought me random lessons at the right time, and for all the avenues you provided me to step back from life a second and reevaluate my life.
To teachers, who had to put up with that silly conversations we had in class, participate in and finally find a way to put the knowledge through this thick skull.
Lastly, to my family : for all that and more.
But this is no end to a book or a chapter, not even remotely. This is just a rest-stop for the rest that is to come.
~G
oodbyes mark a change in the status quo, but that does not mean we'll never meet again. Because despite the popular opinion of people being straight lines, we are actually mere squiggles. Till next time then (: