i decide to post for i did for my APEL 3 here. hehe. so enjoy guys.
"My life journey in Temasek Polytechnic (TP) has been full of both happy and unhappy times. Sometimes I asked myself if I had made the right choice to join TP, which doubt has always been with me until recently, one of my tutors told my class that there is no right or wrong answers in choosing your education path. I was woken by that sentence, now I feel that whether it is right or wrong, I can only find out by finishing the journey and everything actually depends on myself alone. Thus, now I would like to share my ups and downs in TP together with the things that I have learnt.
I used to be one of those naive and gullible type before I entered TP. In short, I trust people easily. I had no problem with this character of mine until I entered TP. However, I learnt it in the hard way that not everyone can be trusted easily. In my two years in TP, I had seen how friends betrayed one another and had met people who could not care less about other people's well being. Slowly but surely, I have learnt to be more alert with the help of a few of my close friends and I really keep my sane with the help of some tutors indirectly when I am involved in one of those so-called political problems within a clique. Hence, I have learnt that loyalty and honesty are very important when you are living in the society where we are depending on each other.
On the brighter side, I do feel that I am more responsible, matured and more aware of the happenings around the world in my journey in TP. For example, one of the events that I had participated is the Twinkle Project in which we brought a group of orphans to sentosa for a day of fun. I was assigned as a mentor to one of the young girls. I learnt a lot from a young girl like her, firstly, I am more grateful to the fact that I still have both of my parents with me and secondly, it was slapped to my face that I am no longer a kid. it is time for me to grow up. It was sad to say that when I saw how childish and selfish this young girl was behaving, I realized that at time, I was like that. Therefore, from that one activity alone, I told myself that I should be ashamed that I was behaving in such a way towards my family.
One of the nicknames I had acquired in my secondary school is "chatter box". However, when I first started my journey in TP, I was kind of a bit shy and dare to speak up for my beliefs and opinions because during that time, I feel that the people I was spending my time with are more matured and I should listen to them. I realized that I was starting to lose myself. I can not speak up and was afraid to do so due to fear of losing those friends. One day, a close friend of mine told me and asked me if I am happy with who I am now and true enough, I could not answer that question.
Although I am faced with this difficulty, I decided to slowly move out from this group of people and slowly, I regained the old me. I am happy that now I am able to speak up my opinions without feeling controlled by other people and I can confidently say that now, I am able to stand up for my own principles and beliefs. From this incident, I do learn that by being myself then I can see the people around me more clearly and the mentioned group of people are still friends with me only this time, I am more confident about myself. I do not need to be hypocrite just to get friends.
Therefore, in terms of successes that I have gained in my journey in TP, I feel that I have gained alot. My grades are not exactly excellent, but I do believe although grades are important, it is not the everything, as long as I have tried my best I can give a pat on the shoulder to myself. I have increased my awareness and start to cut down on my bad attitudes which my family are definitely happy about. Sensitivity, honesty, loyalty, hardworking and be humble are things that I would not be able to learn had I not started on my journey in TP.
In terms of failures, I often told myself, if I had reacted faster to events around me, I would not need to spend so much time on unnecessary conflicts. However, I feel that I still need to work on my interpersonal skills, be more independent and of course my studies.
My dream is actually to become a family law lawyer so I will try my very best to get into NUS to pursue my dream which I do not intend for it to stay as a dream but it will be a reality. However, in the event if I can not make the cut, I have considered pursuing my studies on law in Australia after I completed my studies in TP.
I would like to end my reflection by saying that although there are unhappy times during my journey in TP, the happy times sure surpass the unhappy times. Therefore, now i can proudly say that, coming to TP is not to bad after all because I do gained some true friends, meet tutors who are helpful and I feel that I have upgraded myself. I am no longer the naive, selfish and gullible kid. I have learnt to be a more matured individual. "
I would like to credit my sanity to socks, suraiyah, eric, sakinah, yolanda and my family. Had u guys not been there for me...the old santi will not be able to come back. instead of me here, it will be the hypocrite santi here. hehe. touched? fine. go cry. haha.
