Reflection

In 1987, I was born.


Judging from the pictures, I was playful,

not photogenic (my sis is)

and heavily influenced by superheroes and anime.
(I was opening my shirt, transforming into Superman)

A recent trip to my school made me thankful than I previously was about my upbringing and path in file. My teacher confessed that students are now harder to control than ever before. Normally, out of 6 classes, the first two consist of good students while the third and fourth can still be saved, if you know what I mean.

Today however, even the second class starts giving headache.

"What is going to happen to our future leaders?"
"Our school's performance and discipline are going down...slowly but surely."

Those were exact words from Pn Zura and Mr Oon respectively. Apparently, this phenomenon is occuring throughout the whole country. A random thought hit me: are they to be blamed entirely? At their ages, it's so easy to ignore the importance of education. But then again, how else are they going to spend 6-7 hours of their day? When I pray, I wish for a one-year exchange programme between a say 13-year-old and his 21-year-old self. That way, perhaps they will know how much difference a strong foundation of knowledge can make.

Also, I recently found out that three of my friends tied the knot with another two on the way. How scary...being tied down at such young age with no steady job, income, still so much to achieve before bachelorhood closes its chapter.

In the environment I was brought up in, I've experienced a normal childhood in a small town. With both my parents being teachers, I was raised with strong values. Everything seems right but still, there's so much to be thankful for: a healthy circle of friends and family, scholarship, achievements, life path, etc.

I could've been a smoker, furniture seller, a full time worker in Genting Highland Casino. I could've studied Form 6, pursued Engineering in UTM or Mass Com in Taylors. The principle of Butterfly Effect suggests that a minor change in specific turning points of our life can potentially carve different endings. Upon graduating from secondary school, our common highway branches out to countless exits. Some dark, some bushy, some crowded, some...less taken. I'm glad mine led me to ANU. It all boils down to the choices we made in life I guess.

I may not be the smartest but hey, that's not the end of the road. As long as I can be there for my family, friends, and help develop a country that has so much potential with as much birokrasi, my life has found its meaning. Couldn't have expressed that in a more cliche manner.

In a nutshell, growing up in Taiping made me appreciate the development I came across in INTEC and ANU.

Growing up with a closely-knit family rewarded me with fond memories I will forever cherish & inherited me with family values.

Growing up with so many types of friends made my realised how cruel but most of the time, how amazing the world is.

I never wish to be brought up any other way.