HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
That was a pretty old photo from 2013, actually. I still haven't adjusted to right now being 2015. I still feel like it's 2014. But oh gosh, looking back 2014 has been one helluva rocky roller coaster ride.
Just feel like going through the highlights:
Of having my own classroom to decorate. The mess always drove me crazy because I hate mess and doing this single-handedly was not easy. But, I made it! With the help of family and friends and boyfriend. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to get my classroom setup prepared in time.
& of course I have to feature my form class of the year. I didn't know them well when I first got them, so they were testing my waters in the first couple of months. My first Korean student was among them. But as the year went by, I grew closer to them and eventually loved them for every good and bad thing they did. My blood boiled everyday, my throat hurt everyday from raising my voice over their 20 voices, but my heart melted whenever they told me they love me. I will always remember them as my first bunch of graduating students. T.T (P.S. I miss Ern Kang so badly.)
The first time in my entire life that I had to live without my sister. The first week was really hard without her. I didn't have anyone to rant to when I returned from work. I didn't have anyone to talk to in our room. The whole period while she was away really sucked, especially when my stress levels started increasing and I had no one to burst everything out to the minute I got home. But it was a good learning journey for my family as we learnt to work as a team. Especially after...
This one left. The house was in chaos. We had to take turns doing chores, and there were some days that my part of the chores were left undone because I was spending almost all my time at work. Thanks to SPARK. But, Alhamdulillah, we got by.
And then, the first cucu/nephew from my mum's side of the family arrived! Muhd Khilfie! Super cute lil bundle of joy! He arrived just in time for Hari Raya but kesian the mum, got pantang cannot leave house. Hahahah. I was so excited to have him in my arms. I kept telling Abang Fazli and Kak Fatila that they did a good job. Ya know wha' I mean, ya. Hahahaha. So now, I've already chopped a place for my wedding's flower boy. :D
We celebrated our 5th year together in 2014. Everything that we went through to get to where we are today, right now, right here. I'm thankful and so blessed that I have a partner who accepts me as I am and understands that my current passion made me the busy person that I was last year. As we move forward to 2015, we both understand that our personal commitments would make us even more busier but as long as we keep the trust, we'll stay strong for each other. I pray for many more years with him, and that we'll eventually get to where we wanna be. InsyaAllah. That 5 year plan. I love you, Ahmad. :3
My only Gamelan production of the year. Yes, I had mini shows that I did, but this particular show was juggled between work and degree. It was crazy! The best part was getting to be on stage again. It felt so at home, so right, as though I never really left. Unfortunately, in 2015, I decided to take a real break from doing shows so that I could concentrate on work and degree. Full time teacher, part time student. All for the sake of a better future, I'm willing to make some sacrifices. :)
I must not forget to mention this bunch of Coralites. 10 years of friendship, 10 years since we met in 2004 as nerdy teens fresh out of Primary Six, teens who were still finding their own identities. Now, look at that. All grown up. And our teacher, Mdm Norul, now married with two boys! She really kept her promise of having children after we graduated. The year after we left, she did! Hahaha! To many more years, guys. InsyaAllah.
October was a stressful month for all of us teachers. The team worked extra hard for our SPARK (Singapore Preschool Accreditation Framework) assessment and we made it! Alhamdulillah! With a score of 2.5/4! That ain't so bad because at least when we re-cert, it's not too high of a score to build on. :D It was a stressful week, that assessment week. I was the junior teacher to be interviewed and boy, the stress that was on me! I embarrassingly cried before the interview, the pressure was that intense. Anyway, we made it and that's all that matters. I'm looking forward to 2015 with my new Nursery children. :)
The week before the SPARK assessors came, I graduated with a Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education - Teaching. It was one of my proudest moments, especially because of the things I had to go through in class while juggling work at the same time. I owe it to my boss, my principal, for her understanding throughout the whole 19 months of the course because she gave me her support and tried her best to lessen my workload so that I could concentrate on assignments. And my parents were so happy that day, and I know that I've done them proud. :') Looking forward, I would be continuing my Bachelor in Early Childhood Studies with Monash University at Kaplan Singapore. Looking forward to more knowledge so that it can be applied at work. :B
To wrap it all up, 2014 had been a struggle, with me trying to cope with the sudden changes and expectations of me. There was so much crap that I went through and it was not even funny. Losing and making friends, chasing work deadlines, dealing with difficult parents, planning curriculums and lessons, choreographing the graduation dance, dealing with uncooperative teammates and gosh, the list just keeps going!
It wasn't easy on me. Still, I came out stronger through it all. I learnt many lessons in 2014, lessons that I would never repeat or commit against another person. 2014 made me a better person and I hope 2015 makes me even better.
So there! May 2015 be a better year for all of us! May we be blessed with good health and success in achieving the dreams that we've been chasing! Amin, InsyaAllah!
See you in my next post! (This is the longest post since so long! :p)
You got that James Dean day dream look in your eyes
And I got that red lip classic thing that you like
And when we go crashing down, we come back everytime
Cause we never go out of style
We never go out of style
