Reflections on 2013.
2013 has been a hell of a year, especially with A Levels. As were my primary concern, of course - boring life of a typical JC student. But like all other years, this year has allowed me to mature in my character and my thinking as well. But before going into that let's look at the 2013 resolutions I set in the beginning of the year:
1. Finish reading the Bible in 1 year
This didn't pull through, unfortunately (As is my excuse again). But this year my parents got me a study Bible so perhaps it'll spur me on to read and understand the Bible next year.
2. Share the gospel with at least 1 person I am close to
Managed to share with PH recently and he has become a child of God :) So eternally grateful to God and His wonderful grace because I really did not see this resolution going anywhere close to achieved for the most part of the year. The joy of having someone you love and cherish becoming a child of God is really overwhelming and tears literally filled my eyes when he said the sinner's prayer with me.
3. Do QT consistently everyday
An ongoing struggle, because of so many distractions around me. QT for me this year was an on-and-off thing, with me doing devotion for days on end before stopping for days or weeks.
4. Forge a closer relationship with God
I would say I have achieved this, personally. Though it may not be the best relationship I can have with Him yet, but it's definitely become closer.
5. Memorise 1 Bible verse every week
Didn't achieve this for obvious reasons HAHA.
6. Grow close to at least 1 sheep
Taking a class of high school sheep really isn't easy, I've realised. And maybe I'm not particularly sociable, but I found it really hard to get close to even one sheep.
7. Eat more healthily (i.e. less junk food and more vegetables)
Still eating a lot of junk food, but at least now I'm consciously eating more healthy fruits and vegetables in proportion.
8. Exercise at least twice a week
This didn't really work out, get it? LOL.
9. Keep up to date with news and current affairs
This was necessary for GP especially, and I have really tried to stay in the loop of current affairs this year.
10. Study consistently throughout the year
I suppose this worked out somehow, with A Levels and all.
11. Get through A Levels confidently and without regrets
I can't really say "without regrets"; knowing me there'll always be some little thing I regret after every exam. But I was confident (I think).
12. Set my priorities right (God above all, work before play)
Sadly :( Still need to work on this.
13. Use Twitter less
I deleted my Twitter and then regretted it after a while and created another one but now I don't really use it much as compared to before which is GREAT.
14. Forge a closer relationship with my closest friends
I don't really know how to define a "closer relationship" here, but we've always kept in contact throughout this year, which is great. :) Hopefully this can continue on to next year and beyond even as we take our own paths.
15. Take pride and strive for the best in everything I do
YES. Even though sometimes I was just pure lazy.
16. Practise piano everyday (even if it's just for 15 minutes)
This didn't pull through, probably the reason why I failed LTCL huh :(
17. Attend more concerts
Oh my, I think this year I only attended maybe 1 concert? At most 2.
18. Do at least 1 self-initiated project related to music
This was a complete fail HAHA. But with the long break after A Levels I hope I'll be able to do something with my life with regards to music.
19. Find out and confirm which area to study in university
Music, definitely. Without a doubt.
20. Make decisions rationally, not by impulse, and with Godly intentions
Some impulsive actions are hard to eradicate... need to work on this.
10/20 achieved; better than last year's resolutions where only one-third were achieved.
2013 was a year that I really just wanted to be over, because of A Levels. A Levels was such a large boulder standing in front of me, and I had to leap over it in a single jump. I thought I was alone, but then I realised that there were people all around me struggling with the same fear and trepidation, who were going through the exact same thing. And we supported one another, bringing everyone through together. It was a necessary stress each one of us had to go through, and through the experience we gained not just knowledge, but wisdom in knowing how to prioritise, who our real friends are, and how to tackle problems quickly and accurately.
Now that A Levels are over, it is literally a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I'm still having nightmares about it, but right now there isn't really any need nor any point in worrying about it any longer, because all that should and could have been done has already been done.
This year, I grew closer to a friend who I hope to be able to keep for the rest of my life. Amidst all the exams and stress, without this friend I would never have been able to make it through JC2. Life in school this year became a lot more fun and worthwhile when academics isn't the only thing being focused on. I've realised that what is more important than academics and exams is friends. Genuine friends are really hard to come by, so don't let go of them, ever. They strengthen and bring you through your toughest times, and they let you know that you are not walking alone. It's always better to let them in than shut them out - that's one of the most important things I have learnt this year.
Academically, there were both ups and downs. Managed to secure 2 As - Chinese and PW. But I failed my LTCL exam by just 4 marks. A pity, but that didn't get me down. This year I've learnt to look past the failures and work harder for the future.
In YF this year I took on a class, and it was much harder than I thought it would be. With little experience in handling and teaching teenagers, I found myself struggling a lot but as the year progressed and with people helping me along the way, I have grown to be more humble and to persevere with God on my side.
This year wasn't really an eventful year, to say the least. Most of the time was spent in school or at home, studying. Next year however, is going to be filled with tons of mysteries. I don't know where I'm headed, don't know how I'm going to get to wherever I'm supposed to be. But I will trust God to do what is right and to work out everything in time, like how as I look back on this year in retrospect, I see His work in my life. So with that, here are my 2014 resolutions:
1. Read the Bible consistently
2. Put God before anything else
3. Be responsible for all my actions
4. Practise the piano everyday
5. Grow close to at least 1 sheep
6. Stop spending unnecessarily
7. Save up at least $1000
8. Make decisions based on practicality and not on impulse
9. Get involved in a (self-initiated) music project
10. Step out of my comfort zone and be more interactive
11. Stop being late for appointments/meeting people
12. Exercise at least once a week
13. Attend more concerts
Have a great 2014 everyone :)
Reflections on 2013.
2013 has been a hell of a year, especially with A Levels. As were my primary concern, of course - boring life of a typical JC student. But like all other years, this year has allowed me to mature in my character and my thinking as well. But before going into that let's look at the 2013 resolutions I set in the beginning of the year:
1. Finish reading the Bible in 1 year
This didn't pull through, unfortunately (As is my excuse again). But this year my parents got me a study Bible so perhaps it'll spur me on to read and understand the Bible next year.
2. Share the gospel with at least 1 person I am close to
Managed to share with PH recently and he has become a child of God :) So eternally grateful to God and His wonderful grace because I really did not see this resolution going anywhere close to achieved for the most part of the year. The joy of having someone you love and cherish becoming a child of God is really overwhelming and tears literally filled my eyes when he said the sinner's prayer with me.
3. Do QT consistently everyday
An ongoing struggle, because of so many distractions around me. QT for me this year was an on-and-off thing, with me doing devotion for days on end before stopping for days or weeks.
4. Forge a closer relationship with God
I would say I have achieved this, personally. Though it may not be the best relationship I can have with Him yet, but it's definitely become closer.
5. Memorise 1 Bible verse every week
Didn't achieve this for obvious reasons HAHA.
6. Grow close to at least 1 sheep
Taking a class of high school sheep really isn't easy, I've realised. And maybe I'm not particularly sociable, but I found it really hard to get close to even one sheep.
7. Eat more healthily (i.e. less junk food and more vegetables)
Still eating a lot of junk food, but at least now I'm consciously eating more healthy fruits and vegetables in proportion.
8. Exercise at least twice a week
This didn't really work out, get it? LOL.
9. Keep up to date with news and current affairs
This was necessary for GP especially, and I have really tried to stay in the loop of current affairs this year.
10. Study consistently throughout the year
I suppose this worked out somehow, with A Levels and all.
11. Get through A Levels confidently and without regrets
I can't really say "without regrets"; knowing me there'll always be some little thing I regret after every exam. But I was confident (I think).
12. Set my priorities right (God above all, work before play)
Sadly :( Still need to work on this.
13. Use Twitter less
I deleted my Twitter and then regretted it after a while and created another one but now I don't really use it much as compared to before which is GREAT.
14. Forge a closer relationship with my closest friends
I don't really know how to define a "closer relationship" here, but we've always kept in contact throughout this year, which is great. :) Hopefully this can continue on to next year and beyond even as we take our own paths.
15. Take pride and strive for the best in everything I do
YES. Even though sometimes I was just pure lazy.
16. Practise piano everyday (even if it's just for 15 minutes)
This didn't pull through, probably the reason why I failed LTCL huh :(
17. Attend more concerts
Oh my, I think this year I only attended maybe 1 concert? At most 2.
18. Do at least 1 self-initiated project related to music
This was a complete fail HAHA. But with the long break after A Levels I hope I'll be able to do something with my life with regards to music.
19. Find out and confirm which area to study in university
Music, definitely. Without a doubt.
20. Make decisions rationally, not by impulse, and with Godly intentions
Some impulsive actions are hard to eradicate... need to work on this.
10/20 achieved; better than last year's resolutions where only one-third were achieved.
2013 was a year that I really just wanted to be over, because of A Levels. A Levels was such a large boulder standing in front of me, and I had to leap over it in a single jump. I thought I was alone, but then I realised that there were people all around me struggling with the same fear and trepidation, who were going through the exact same thing. And we supported one another, bringing everyone through together. It was a necessary stress each one of us had to go through, and through the experience we gained not just knowledge, but wisdom in knowing how to prioritise, who our real friends are, and how to tackle problems quickly and accurately.
Now that A Levels are over, it is literally a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I'm still having nightmares about it, but right now there isn't really any need nor any point in worrying about it any longer, because all that should and could have been done has already been done.
This year, I grew closer to a friend who I hope to be able to keep for the rest of my life. Amidst all the exams and stress, without this friend I would never have been able to make it through JC2. Life in school this year became a lot more fun and worthwhile when academics isn't the only thing being focused on. I've realised that what is more important than academics and exams is friends. Genuine friends are really hard to come by, so don't let go of them, ever. They strengthen and bring you through your toughest times, and they let you know that you are not walking alone. It's always better to let them in than shut them out - that's one of the most important things I have learnt this year.
Academically, there were both ups and downs. Managed to secure 2 As - Chinese and PW. But I failed my LTCL exam by just 4 marks. A pity, but that didn't get me down. This year I've learnt to look past the failures and work harder for the future.
In YF this year I took on a class, and it was much harder than I thought it would be. With little experience in handling and teaching teenagers, I found myself struggling a lot but as the year progressed and with people helping me along the way, I have grown to be more humble and to persevere with God on my side.
This year wasn't really an eventful year, to say the least. Most of the time was spent in school or at home, studying. Next year however, is going to be filled with tons of mysteries. I don't know where I'm headed, don't know how I'm going to get to wherever I'm supposed to be. But I will trust God to do what is right and to work out everything in time, like how as I look back on this year in retrospect, I see His work in my life. So with that, here are my 2014 resolutions:
1. Read the Bible consistently
2. Put God before anything else
3. Be responsible for all my actions
4. Practise the piano everyday
5. Grow close to at least 1 sheep
6. Stop spending unnecessarily
7. Save up at least $1000
8. Make decisions based on practicality and not on impulse
9. Get involved in a (self-initiated) music project
10. Step out of my comfort zone and be more interactive
11. Stop being late for appointments/meeting people
12. Exercise at least once a week
13. Attend more concerts
Have a great 2014 everyone :)
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