1. the academic progress from year1 to year2 was quite gradual. apart from the heavier workload, nothing much seemed to change. i guess the most significant thing was the experience of studying my first 2 core mods. it's intriguing how almost every substance/material in this world can be narrowed down to essentially basic structures yet still possess fundamentally different behaviors and stresses, simply by tweaking a few parameters here and there. sadly, the other mod received less rave reviews, partly due to its more vigorous and all-encompassing nature i guess. ask me personally if you want to know more, haha.

2. july gave a sense of closure to abrsm piano. after a decade of playing the black and white keys and completing the grade8 exam, i've decided that perhaps that further specialization (ie diploma) isnt exactly my cup of tea after all. haha. i'm still considering if i should complete theory thou. i still like playing the piano, just that i would prefer playing it for leisure, especially since sch term would prevent regular practice needed for diploma studies. perhaps it's time to move on to guitar. (:

3. the break from the ***** mold in dec through the shift to a new company gave me an insight into research in the defence sector. it's interesting how so many approaches can be taken to attain a certain objective. even if it isnt commonly practised, it's worth a shot as long as your reasoning is sound. i'm not sure how many people knew that i was quite disillusioned about research and the ethical issues surrounding it due to certain issues that occurred early this year. thankfully, the dec stint was quite encouraging and inspired me to explore research further. (: btw if this point on the dec stint sounds vague, that's because most details are confidential and i dont wish to draw any comparisons between this stint and the previous ones i've been on. after all, being just a student, i dont have the adequate qualifications and sufficient experience to judge companies from an outsider's perspectives. if you really want to know, then ask me personally. (:

4. the release of results in dec was a rather disappointing day. there wasnt a fall in cap but it wasnt a marked improvement either. D: in any case, regardless of the current result, i'm determined to reach *** by the end of this coming semester. i can, i must and i will. i'm sure if it's in His will, it will be possible. there can be miracles when you believe (: on a side-note, i'm thankful for my colleague/coursemate who's been encouraging me with work and results. sometimes, when all everyone's worried about is their position on the bell-curve, it's really encouraging to know that people are still concerned about you. i guess it may seem 'idealistic' but i hope that what we take away from these 4years is more than just a certificate but close knitted friendships as well.

5. i've always been hesitant about bringing friends for religious events, mainly because i'm afraid of offending them inadvertently and that i might not be able to answer difficult questions they might have. oh well, last dec, i finally plucked up my courage to ask my friend over for christmas service. thankfully, it went rather smoothly and i'll try to find out his/her response soon. (:

6. my parents' health have deteriorated in the past year so there's a greater reliance on medication now. it's a long term effect and i'm not sure how i can alleviate their condition either. i guess the best thing i should do is spend more quality time with them. given the start of the semester, it'll probably be difficult but i'm going to try. something which my cousin said yesterday struck me. pull yourself back into time and just imagine yourself as a child and wanting that new irresistible toy, your parents were willing to sacrifice that relaxing afternoon/time after work with friends to accompany you to go all the way to the mall to get a single toy. now pull yourself back to 2011, sacrificing that short outing with friends/lecture cramming shouldnt be that difficult after all. it's just a matter of perspective. if they can do so much for a toddler, then i should be able to make that additional effort as well. sometimes when i hear my dad coughing violently, i begin to worry and wonder if i've spent enough time with my parents. old people may not say much but i guess spending that extra evening with them would reassure them that they're not alone in this busy world. just food for thought that's all.

alright that's all for now. anyway i'm not sure if anyone still reads this blog, if you are, thank you for your concern and for making effort to read this blog. have an awesome 2011. it's possible. it's just a matter of perspective and a little more effort. the question is how badly do you want to make it happen? (:

farewell,

the doughnut