🎉 Reflection of my year 1 AY 2018/2019 in NUS

                 Glad and yet sad that in a blink of an eye, year 1 passed. It was a meaningful AY as I had fruitful takeaways and experiences. Initially, before entering university, I was conflicted in either entering engineering or business school. I prayed to God to ask Him to show me a way. In the end, I did not did too well for my A levels, so I could only enter engineering courses. I got into common engineering in the end, as I was unsure of which engineering should I specialise into. I was thinking of going to either chemical or mechanical, but for me personally I chose to go into the mechanical pathway in the end as I realised I have more passion leaning towards the mechanical side.
         
                I also decided to enter the IDP (Innovation Design Programme), a special double major programme that is design-centric focused. This is because initially I wanted to enter a business related course, but I could not. I initially contemplated taking a business minor but when I chanced upon this programme, I realised that this programme/second major might be more applicable because it is specially catered towards engineering students and it equipped us with also technical skills in addition to just some entrepreneur and marketing skills. It would be also very useful in my life because I would love to be involved in start-ups or kick-start my own. It would also help me in networking too.  I loved the content being taught in my first IDP module EG2201A even though some of my friends find it to be fluffed. I also decided to join the IDP student club to serve in the business development committee.

                  I realised that after being enrolled in this programme, God was in control even evidently in my academics life. I wanted to be an inventor when I was young, a young childhood dream. However as I grow up, I have different dreams along the way. After being enrolled in this programme for quite a while, I realised God was fulfilling my childhood dream possibly through this programme.

                  This was my first AY uni year in uni. I came in with few friends and came out with much more. Initially, I took a group of my church friend who study mechanical engineering and created a whatsapp group. In the end, together with a few mutual friends who happened to be Christians too, we became close and studied together and became close. It was surprising as I did not expect God to also move that way through my social life in university.
                 
                    Initially, I wanted to join some other CCAs in uni. However, God still led me to joining CF (christian fellowship), something which I did not plan or expected to happen. I was pretty grateful for this christian community as it is a place where I can truly call home. It is a place where I received comfort and encouragement and love when I most needed it. I really thank God that God have placed me in such a warm and loving group of people who really love God too.

Pic: Engin CF, a group of christian community that really changed my life around

                     I also participated in Innoventure and my group decided to work on a RFID scanner machine that enables tracing and tracking of medicine pills and the medical equipment too. Even though our group did not clinch any awards, it was nonetheless a good and rewarding experience.

                      The facilities and study areas in Engineering Faculty are excellent, especially the IDP studios in which now my clique always study in. Techno edge, our canteen, and MacDonald, was shut down the next semester for renovation. It was a pity as I only got to enjoy techno edge for only a semester. After techno edge went into renovation, there was temporarily takeaway food stores being set up outside the LT 6 area. Even though it was slightly more pricey as compared to canteen food prices (both techno edge and the Deck), I still find it very convenient as I could get my food in  takeaway boxes within minutes that could be conveniently brought to lecture theaters or tutorial classrooms if I do not have enough time to buy and eat food.

                       Most of the lecturers and teaching assistants are very kind and helpful and they are very willing to go an extra mile to help their students. In terms of academics, no doubt the content are more heavier and tougher than what I had learnt in junior college. However, I feel that this is favourable for me in the bell curve. In A levels, everyone has a whopping of two years to study and revise through the content. However in university, given a typical normal module half the content of a H2 subject might be covered over the span of just 4 months. Most people wont be able to master over these content in time as they confirm have other commitments like halls, RCs, CCAs, other activities and competitions and also some of them might be working part time. Thus I feel generally the bell curve was in my favour especially if the module might be slightly tougher. My overall cap after two semester was pretty decent of just 4.17. Not too high up but still I am glad especially with all the SUs in first AY.

                      In conclusion, I really enjoyed my university life and prefer it over my A levels and definitely over my army life due to the toxicity especially in NS. I really enjoyed it due to the fact that the tutorials are very short (just one hour or some even once per two weeks) as compared to junior college where the same content is covered for a few weeks and lots of hours just to cover the same content. In addition, I could wear anything I want and comfortable with, especially a simple plain T-shirt with casual shorts and slippers. My timetable was also flexible and the time I spent in uni is much lesser as compared to junior college. I could really do much more stuffs as I have more time such as giving tuition, investing in my cell group and also my CF. I hope for a better and blessed time in my next semester too.

📄 ANNTIC 2018

               You guys might be wondering what does ANNTIC stands for? Well ANNTIC stands for ANNual Teach In Camp. I am in VCF (Varsity Christian Fellowship) in my school NUS. ANNTIC is an annual bible camp that is being held by VCF. Initially, I did not fully know what the camp was all about. However, when one of my senior in my CF asked me to serve, I felt that the Lord was prompting and challenging me to serve in ANNTIC as one of the committee members. I have not previously serve in my church camps as a committee member at all and I felt I would not have time to serve as a committee member in one of my faculty camps as I felt that I might be doing an Internship for my upcoming summer holidays. I wanted to experience first hand what it takes as a committee member and experiences what it is like behind the scenes. I felt led by God to step up in faith and serve in this camp. Especially in a christian bible camp, I want to also see how God moves in a christian camp.
                I decided to join the committee. I initially wanted to just be one of the publicity member. However, my president for the camp coerced me into serving as one of the logistics member also because at that point in time, there were no logistics member yet. Her reason was that most of the workload as a publicity member would be done heavily before the camp. During the camp the workload of an logistic member would then be needed. So it would not be so physically daunting on me as I would be able to serve freely both before the camp and on the day of the camp itself.
                Even though I was one of the two only year 1 inexperienced committee member and the only engineering member in it and I did not knew any of the rest committee member initially at first, every single of them treated me extremely nice. They welcomed me with love into their community. Even though I was not the one who always contributed the most, they still love me and accepted me for who I am.
                 I am also very thankful for two of my other logistics committee member (Daniel being the logs IC who took charge and Leonard someone who is well versed in the sounds engineer AVA field) who helped me a lot and tanked a lot of stuffs for me. Without them, things would not run as smoothly and get done. 
                The meetings and the workload before the camp itself was not overwhelming, I thank God for it too that these did not heavily adversely affected my studies or grades. We also went to recce the place once. We had a good meal at JB and the food was absolutely scrumptious.
                 Somehow, I became the person in charge of coordinating the bus. At first, I was not receptive towards this responsibility because in charging of the bus coordination meant a lot. If I screwed up, its mean no bus to ferry all 100 plus campers and some facilitators and even the main guest speaker.  I was at first a bit scared as the person who I was in contact with would reply me very slowly and also when I wanted the bus to be initially at staggered timings, she keep taking it to be all the bus to be arrived at the same exact timing. However, in the end, all it is well and she arranged the bus timing at the staggered timing I wanted all along.
                 I kept praying all day long one week before the camp started. I knew I was very inexperienced as I was only year 1 and had not been to the camp once while at least the rest of the other committee members been before more than once.
                 During the first day, all seem well. My group members seem pretty pleasant and coincidentally, one of my close friends was in the same group as me. Glad to have interesting and godly conversations with my group mates and slowly, we became vulnerable and started to share with each other more about our life, insights and also encouragements to each other. During meal times, my group mates were quite caring and loving as they helped to serve each other the food and also with the clean up. We got closer and closer throughout the whole 6 days.
                 On the first day of the camp itself, it was also the release of my results. I was praying very hard because I screwed up the finals for both MA1505 (math paper) and PC1431 (physics paper). In addition, I was also very worried for my CS1010E (computing) as I was super bad at it. I was very worried that I could not pass my CS1010E and will have to repeat that module again. Thank God because in the end, I passed my CS1010E and did above average for the other modules.
                 Almost all of the normal campers slept in the dormitories bunks, whereby they segregated girls and guys. Each bunk got like about 60 plus beds, a double deck bed with a few single bed. However, for the committee, we were very fortunate as our accommodation were the chalets. It was like a hotel experience as the rooms were like in a hotel room. Even though the rooms were kinda small as compared to a hotel room, there were air-cons and blankets and the bed was terrific. The toilet was very clean. There was even a refrigerator in the kitchen.
                 As the day goes by, things went pretty well by God's grace considering that me and Daniel were first year students. Leonard helped to tank most of the AV stuffs given that he had some prior experiences in his church. We had late night meetings though everyday and we slept quite late each day.
                On the second day, we went out to shop to get more supplies, food and necessities. We ate some restaurant which sold delicious roasted meat and duck and we ordered two platters of the roasted meat dish. We also had some meaningful conversations about life during the car trip. Thank God for our driver Vincent who was willing to drive us around and also showed us around JB since he lived in JB.
                It was my first time going ANNTIC and I really wanted to forge meaningful friendships as much as possible with my group-mates. We played ball games during one of the small breaks (meant to sleep). There was one night where we had a heart-to-heart talk regarding relationships. I was low-key sad that I missed the majority initial part of the talk as I had a very long committee meeting. One of the committee member told me to ask everyone who are still loitering around the camp to return back to sleep. However, I knew that my group members were still talking and I also wanted to join in as I felt a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out). So after the meeting, I brought my group mates to other locations to talk which were deeper in. However, only a few of them stayed back as it got quite late into the night. We went into somewhere deeper behind the toilets area to chill talk. However, 30 minutes later, one of my committee members spotted us and we all had to go back to sleep. On the way back I felt damn awkward as I was as fault as I should not have further encouraged my group to continue talking instead of going back to sleep and resting well for the next day. However, it was my first anntic camp and I really do not want to be left out and wanted to really bond with my group mates.
                Time flew by quickly and in the blink of an eye, it was the finale night, second last day of camp. I was very blessed that my close friend led worship as a worship leader during the worship session of the finale night. When the finale night ended, I wanted to help out. However, my chairperson told me to not help out and enjoy the time to be spent with my group. I felt really touched by her kind act of gesture and compassion as she was able to sense I really loved by group a lot and I really treasured the friendship with my group mates. I felt really grateful as it was my duty as a committee member to help pack up right after the finale night, but I was told by my chairperson to just relax and enjoy the time to be spent with my group-mate. I also felt guilty as my chairperson saw how attached I grew with my group and she did not want to ruin that last few moments in the camp with my group being my first time in this camp. I felt extremely blessed and touched by her warm decision.
                During the camp itself, I also learnt a lot of things. What the guest speaker taught about contextualization was quite useful in our current lives. It was also my first time doing IBS (Inductive Bible Study) and I found it to be very interesting. It taught me how to look at the bible from different angles and different perspectives. From then on, I started to read currently Revelations and Isaiah using commentaries to further understand what the passage is talking about. It was something I could also bring back to my cell group in helping them to further understand the bible better.
                 The bus journey from Majodi to JB central also went pretty well. There were not much delays and everything went pretty smooth and well. Overall, I saw how God was very faithful throughout the whole camp. Most of things went pretty smooth and well. Even though it was my first time in ANNTIC and also being part of a committee for a bible/"church" camp, God was the one who kept providing me strength and courage till the very end in stepping into unknown waters. I thank God for giving me an opportunity to serve Him as a logs and pubs member in this camp. 1 Samuel 12: 24 Obey the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Remember the great things he has done for you.

Pic: My ANNTIC group

Pic: My FOC group in 2018 

 Pic: 2 of my church friends

Pic: me and my pal shandon

Pic: me and Engin CF!

Pic: my ever first recharge group in Engin Cf!!!

Pic: went out to eat on say 2

Pic: Me and my comm members

          

🚙 Family Trip to Penang, Malaysia (17 to 20 Dec 2018)

          As currently now I am in university, December would be my 1 month winter break. It was the only time where I could truly enjoy because for this entire 1 month, I have no homework/exams and do not need to study at all. It was something which I was truly looking forward too, especially after enduring so much during my 1st semester in uni. My relatives (my father's side) had already booked a hotel and a mini tour package at Penang, Malaysia. My father asked me last minute whether I would like to go with him for this trip. Sadly, my mother or sister did not manage to tag along. My father wanted to treat me this trip as a birthday present for my 21st birthday.
           Initially, I was not keen in going at all because I have been to Malaysia countless of times. In this December, I was supposed to go to Malaysia two more times. However, one of my mini two day trip was cancelled last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. I got more inclined to this trip since then as I missed out one trip already and would not want to miss another potential overseas trip.
           As my father booked the trip last minute, me and my father took a different airline from our relatives. Our flight was a transit flight and we flew from Singapore to KL and from KL to Penang and vice versa for the return journey. I was slightly worried as I have a fear of heights and this meant that I have to take a total of 4 airplanes. As recently there were two major and serious commercial airplane crashes (lion air in Indonesia), I was afraid that something could go wrong during one of the 4 flights that I will be taking. 4 flights to take, 4 times more the chances that something bad could go wrong... I kept listening to christian songs and praying to God until I felt calm during the 4 flights. All 4 flights were quite short being roughly about an hour each and I just watch only 1/2 episodes of anime during each flights.
            After reaching the airport, my father bought data. As I recently started playing Pokemon go due to the influence of my CCA peers, I was quite happy as I could catch Pokemon on a foreign land. There was also a double candy and Christmas event which spawned much more ice and Christmas related Pokemons than usual and I made the full use out of it through these 4 days!
            Me and father arrived few hours earlier than my relatives so we explored the streets and shop-houses near the hotel. As my hair was quite long and my parents dislike me having relatively "long" hair, my father took me to a saloon to cut and wash my hair. I was quite thankful as I only paid 36 RM for it, which is about 12 SGD. For a cut and wash in a saloon, it is considered relatively cheap as compared to Singapore where a wash and cut could amount to twice the price or more of what I paid. In addition, the haircut experiencing was very soothing and relaxing overall as the hairstylist put in her 100 percent effort in cutting my hair and also massaging my scalp. The haircut experience last about an hour plus and I thoroughly enjoy the whole process. This is one of the most worth 12 dollars haircut ever.
           The real adventures begins on the second day. We went to Penang Hill. It was one of the main highlights in this trip, going high up the hill in the cable car. It was possible to climb up the hill by foot, but there was older adults and a toddler so we chose the convenient way anyways. The view high up the hill was breathtaking and spectacular. Took quite a number of picturesque photos and even saw an eagle soaring high up in the sky. In addition, I on my Pokemon Go app, to my surprise, there were a hoard of starters that spawn frequently without lures or incense.
           I ate a lot delicious food at Penang. The one that was the most memorable was actually an Indian Vegetarian Restaurant. For me particular, I love meat a lot and would definitely prefer a meal with some meat over a meal with no meat at all. However, the meal I had at that Indian vegetarian restaurant changed my mind. Surprisingly, the vegetarian dishes were scrumptious.
           Furthermore, I also grew closer to my niece, my older cousin's young daughter. Usually in family gatherings there will be a lack of chance to interact with my young niece one to one on a close personal level. Most of my relatives will "chope" her first. However, during this trip, I got to interact with her personally as I held her hand while touring around Penang many times and she enjoyed it and was delighted whenever I approached her to hold her hand.
           The only tilting part in this trip was the return flight. Not only it was another transit flight, both flights were delayed. On top of that, the plane did not have space to land on the official landing area so they landed somewhere far else outside. They have to send a private bus to ferry us back to the main terminal. In the end, I was supposed to reach home around 7 to 8 pm but I only reach back at 12 am midnight.
            Overall, still it was a pleasant journey and I do not regret at all going this trip. Initially, I was not very receptive in wanting to go this trip but thank God I did went for it in the end.

Pic: this is an eagle soaring quite high up

   Pic: my hotel

This train was quite fun but scary as it went uphill and I believe it was overloaded

Pics: scenery high up Penang Hill

Pics: Pictures of me and father and extended family from my Father's side