(This post is part of a series. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.)
Advisory: This is going to be a very long post.
This post was supposed to be uploaded last year but I realised that it will be more appropriate if I post this after my graduation. This will somehow briefly document my past three years in Ngee Ann Polytechnic as I was embarking on the journey to attain a Diploma in Chinese Media & Communications (CMC).
While I was considering my future after Promos in 2013, I had a dream in mind – that is, to be a film director. I used to imagine myself being nominated for the Golden Horse Award (the Chinese equivalent to the Oscars) – either as an actor or as a film director. I was hoping that one day, I will have my own feature film, filmed according to those storylines that interest me.
During the Joint Admission Exercise (JAE) the following year, I stuck to my dreams. As much as I wanted to be a filmmaker and a media personnel in the Chinese-speaking world, I opted CMC as my first choice. As to my other 11 choices on the list, I couldn’t remember much about them.
I was accepted and I arrived at NP for the first time to purchase my laptop and install the software which I would develop a love-hate relationship with eventually.
DRINK IT: One of the lunches we had together outside of school.
I am thankful for all of you – Huiqi, Peiyi, Reb, Yoke Yeng and Jon – to be by my side for most part of my Poly life. No other group of people in my circle would have able to tolerate by childishness, stubbornness, moodiness and my unpredictable personality. You guys have made my Poly life interesting and given me memories to take away from from this phase in my life as I hit 20.
I couldn’t be more appreciative for all the fun we had over the short span of time we’ve known each other for.
I took part in CSOP 2015, helping with the introductory video (both as a cinematographer and the narrator), as well as a skit during induction – which gave the freshies a rough overview of what to expect during their next three years with their respective course.
It has been a fun time working with these bunch of people, as well as HMS Society. A few collaborations with HMS Society, especially during Orientation, allows me to contribute to HMS in a more ad-hoc manner. My stress level is lower in comparison, which allows me to contribute fully and with enthusiasm.
The skit marked my brief return to stage and theatre. It was also during this time when I returned to SRJC to help out with Thespian 2015. In 2014, I moved towards acting on-screen but it didn’t really turn out well for me. I was disappointed with all my actings to be honest. Maybe I am still suited for theatre plays.
We had roughly a month to work on the plays before putting up a show in front of the hundred-odd audiences in LT5. I eventually helped co-direct the remake of “Seven Deadly Princesses” with Kheng Yin and Zhi Rong (of course, also with the help of other alumni at times as well).
It turned up to be a very successful performance. I always believe in one thing:
After Thespian, I also took up a calefare role at Love 97.2 21st birthday play. (Don’t bother finding me in the photo below because I was doing other stuffs when they took the photo HAHAHA)
I wasn’t exactly my past self, or I should say, I wasn’t exactly myself at all. My mood disorder exacerbated as the days passed by, it was to the point when everyone around me was so cautious not to trigger me. No one knows when I could transform from a jovial person to an irritable and petulant person, neither do I.
I eventually returned to running in search for a better self. I thought, maybe taking up sports will help me to regenerate my cells and makes me feel better overall. Eventually, I ended up participating in 4 runs (3 10km runs and 1 half-marathon). I trained whenever I had the time to and every time I see progress, I would feel extremely satisfied. I somehow used that sore and pain to divert the attention away from my mental health-being.
2016 marks my first overseas trip (not counting Malaysia) since 1998, and my first trip to Hong Kong. I was at Hong Kong for a school trip and it wasn’t a relaxed one. I’ve got an integrated project awaiting to be completed. And for that project, my team and I basically had to rush all over the place and made a few visits to the Legislative Council Complex to conduct our interviews and filming.
We really worked very hard towards our final group project in our CMC life. I always tell myself this one thing: As long as you’ve given your all, there will be no regrets. You will embrace whatever results that you are given because you know, it’s the experience and life lessons that count.
On 23 October 2016, I finally reached the big 2.
