Some memorable moments

In a span of nineteen years, I've gone through many memorable moments that cannot be forgotten. Some of these moments have made such a great impact in my life that sometimes I cannot reminisce without either laughing, shedding tears or further reflecting.

So let us start with the school production of Flower Drum Song back in my Form 2 days. My involvement with the 2002 school drama was entirely unanticipated, until I was summoned (yes, you read it right) by the music director to meet her after school in the school hall. Totally oblivious to what was coming, I was immediately asked if I was interested to join the school drama production. If I was, I was required to ask my parents about it. However, she still gave me the music scores after I met her. I remember that I didn't tell my mother about it for fear of being disallowed from participating in the event, and I was indeed eager to be part of the drama team.

The whole drama team had gone through many bitter sweet moments together. There were those moments of frustration and moments of comedy. But in the end, we made it through together and put up a splendid performance. Of course, my mother eventually knew about my participation and she was quite happy about it. At least I wasn't in any bad company, right?

Then comes Form 4. Form 3 wasn't very eventful, except my PMR results where I scored straight A's, as well as 98 other students (so we had 99 straight A's students - the best record in the history of my alma mater). In Form 4, during the mid-semester break, my whole class had a field-trip in the ostrich farm in Sungai Siput. It was my form teacher, Pn. Leela's idea. We had a nice night of barbecue and a sharing session there. During the two or so days there, we really fostered a close bond among classmates. And we had those mischievous and naughty ones to swear an oath to be good in the class. It was a comical moment, but being mischievous and naughty, would you expect them to be sobered by an oath so easily?

Then comes Form 5, one of my worst years. Yes, I was struck by depression for the first six months, which saw a big drop in my examination results. It's hard to believe, huh? I had never experienced depression due to loneliness before, and it was depression which made me started this blog which I have kept till today. Fortunately, and I thank God, that my depression lasted only for the first six months, in which after that I caught up as fast as I could. It was not easy being me at that time, and it is indeed difficult, even for me now, to believe that I was depressed for six months (it is the same type of depression which struck me in December last year).

At the last half of my Form 5, I was busy attending tests for the ASEAN Pre-University Scholarship and also the PETRONAS EduCamp in UTP. Actually, before the EduCamp I was supposed to attend my graduation ceremony in getting an Associate Diploma for Piano in Melbourne, Australia, but I had to give it a miss and asked them to send over the certificate to me.

During the EduCamp, I had been able to make some new friends (among them Gary Choy, Leong Chew Meng, Sangari and a few more). It was during this time that I experienced a mild culture shock (too early, I know) and was rather reserved, which was why I didn't get to know Josiah or Yeo Hann at that time. Get it, Joe?

After 2005, it was 2006 for me. A new year in a new environment. I was accepted to be a PETRONAS scholar in PETRONAS Technological University! My first few months in 2006 were rather reserved moments. Back then, I wasn't very close to my coursemates, let alone other university mates. I don't know why and I can't make it up either. Perhaps my bond to my alma mater, St. Michael's Institution, made me feel that I wasn't going to enjoy my life in UTP. I couldn't be more wrong. Assignments, discussions and those nights in my room chatting till past midnight helped me foster the bond between my new friends and I, and the next six months in UTP made me more attached to my group of university friends. In fact, I would be wrong to say that I am not enjoying my university life.

I remember clearly that on April the 7th 2006, my friends knew that my birthday was approaching (in fact, my birthday is on the 8th). I decided to have a game of tennis with Brian. Unknown to me, all the rest of my university mates had a plan of giving me a "surprise" birthday gift when the clock strikes 12.00 midnight. Therefore, they asked Melissa Chong (poor you, Mel) to conduct a plan which was to divert my attention to her completely, while the others would sneak behind me in an attempt to have a "ragging" on me. She was trying her best to have me focus on her, and she kept saying that she was so "stressed" so I suggested that we should go jogging (because she goes jogging to "de-stress"). That was the last straw.

She couldn't take it anymore, and therefore asked why didn't anybody take action. I looked behind immediately and saw the whole group of friends behind my back. I was wondering why couldn't they start giving me the "ragging". It seemed that I was too "innocent" to be given a "ragging" and they thought it rather mean. So, instead of having that ragging, off we went to the nearest "mamak" stall for supper. The next day (8th of April), I brought Joe and Ivan back home because my parents had a birthday celebration for me.

Will 2007 see a more eventful and memorable moment? That I couldn't tell. Let time decides.