Wow, it's been almost more than 5 months since I posted something here. These 5 months I've been busy with loads and loads of assignments, preparation of materials/activities for the math learning corner and the implementation of lessons. Looking back at my wishes for the new year in my first post of 2014, I wished that I would worry less and not stress too much. However ever since Semester 1 started, I felt nothing but stress. Especially during the period of time when I was preparing the materials for the learning corner. Printing, cutting, laminating, sewing and the list goes on. But I was so glad that the implementation went smoothly and I had such a nice and supportive field supervisor. Also, the teachers at the centre were so encouraging! Most importantly, the children enjoyed the activities and one of them even requested to play with the materials again when I came back for attachment the following week. :) "Teacher Chong, I want play animal." It's just a nice feeling to know that our efforts have paid off.

One of the activities that I sewed (fishes) with the help of my aunts!

>> Fast forward to Math Party and the last tutorial with Ms. Shai which we designed our own tote bags! Honestly, I am not someone who is good at making conversations with lecturers (because somehow I feel awkward). Even though I'm not one of those outstanding students, I've to say that Ms. Shai is really one of the nicest lecturers who taught us stuffs beyond early childhood context. It was really nice being one of her students!

S.H.E with Ms. Shai

Glad to have them as my group members and friends that I can be totally myself and not act like someone I'm not.

Class photo with Ms. Shai on last tutorial

Back to now which is the end of exams, yessssss!!

Swensen's for lunch with Sujun, Ziying, Kate, Laurel and Holly! So glad that the exams are over and I can finally take a break. Love the feeling of not having to rush for any deadlines and literally having all the time to do anything/whatever I want to do. :)

Salmon 'N' Mushroom Baked Rice

Omg, the photo looks like it's taken from some profession camera!!

Community Service Cluster (CSC) Leadership Camp

Attended the 3D2N camp from 5th - 7th March. :) Initially, I wasn't really looking forward to the camp and wished that the camp ended as soon as possible because it was real awkward to be placed in a group with hardly anyone friends. But I guess that's how friendships usually begins.

Day 1 was pretty much focused on getting to know the other CCAs and also team bonding games to bond with our group members.

Awkward photo with Group 8 on Day 1, haha.

Day 2's main activity was Community Awareness Challenge (CAC). So we had to walk  from station to station, to complete activities/games that allowed us to be more aware of our community? Even though the distance between each station was like a 30-45 minutes walk (under the hot sun, I personally felt that the simple activities/games were very meaningful. Almost everyone got sunburned at the end of the challenge which lasted for 6 hours with an hour of lunch break in between.

After lunch, before heading out on the streets in our garbage bags.

Day 3 was basically group presentation, debrief, getting our camp tee etc ~

Glad to have attended this camp and made new friends. :)

C^3 Camp

Attended mentoring's C^3 camp from 11th - 12th March. Joining camps to make my holiday interesting because my life is boring. Poly camps are definitely much more enjoyable than secondary school camps! :D

End of Year 1 in Poly.

 Finally my exams ended on Friday which marks the end of my Year 1 in Polytechnic. After the end of our paper, the 10 of us headed to Junction 10 for Korean BBQ! :)

 

Goodbye 2013. Hello 2014.

 

Time sure flies. Another year passed and it's already the first day of 2014!

2013 has been a "i don't know how to describe" year. Got my O'level results and was surprisingly satisfied with the results and even got a B4 for math which I've been failing since Sec3. :) Got into my first choice of poly/course which is Early Childhood Education in Ngee Ann. I must say that everything has gone pretty smooth for me. However when poly life officially started, I struggled during the first few weeks. But I'm glad that after spending close to 8 months in my first year of poly, I've managed to make quite a number of new friends and people whom I can be comfortable around! Joining BPNP Mentoring made my network of friends slightly bigger too. Really thankful to have met these people because without them, there's nothing really much that makes me look forward to school. If I were to say negative things that happened in 2013, it would have to be the pressure and stress from the never-ending assignments. Probably it's because of doing my work last minute and also the unnecessary stress that I give myself. Over-thinking and always worrying about the little things.

As 2013 has come to an end, I wish to put all negative things behind and start afresh in 2014. 一切重新开始. I think when I was younger, every new year I just wished to "have this / have that" (materialistic items). But coming to think about it, owning these items are not really that important as compared to other stuffs. As I grow older, it seems like my new year resolutions become lesser and simpler.

In 2014, I just hope:

• that everything goes smoothly (school, family, friends)
• that I can worry less and don't stress too much
• that I can change myself in terms of not being so sensitive and petty (be a better person)
• to be HAPPY

BPNP Mentoring Annual Bonding Camp 2013

Day 1 (11 Oct)

 

 With the Year 1 girls in Redhillies! :)

 

Ice-breakers, lunch, created our group identity, had station games, water bomb (!!), washed up, dinner, discussion for group performance & back to loft! :)

Day 2 (12 Oct) 

Had breakfast in the morning & started the amazing race (outside school compound). The amazing race was so much better than those played in secondary school whereby the different stations are just within the school compound (e.g. canteen to classroom blocks). Headed back to school after amazing race, had our dinner at loft & prepared for the group performance. Night time was the best! Everyone bathed & like went over to each others dorm! Even people whom we don't know came over, haha! Ordered Mac & the bill added up to $101.10. Syafiqa & Rachel came over to our room & we chatted about guys till about 3plus in the morning. (slept on sleeping bags in the living room)

 

 

Ice-cream craving satisfied on Day 2 (:

Day 3 (13 Oct)

 Blue's Clues ♥

Redhillies ♥

Aphrodite

Mentors' Day 2013

An overall fun & enjoyable afternoon spent with the mentors. :)