Chin up, beautiful

生活不容易过，忙忙碌碌挫折很多。

但是不管生活上发生多少不好的事情都是为了要让你变成一个更加坚强的人。

所以，不要放弃生活，不要放弃梦想，也不要小看自己的工作小看自己。

让自己的生命去影响别人的生命让整个世界变得更加的美好！

还有，不要错过任何一个拥抱，不要吝啬说声 “加油”!
 

This has never been more applicable; the road to As has only a short runway of 97 days left and the pressure's definitely on. I've really hit rock bottom this time and time's running out - but this ain't gonna stop me from giving it my all till the end. Whatever it is, I've endured and gone through six years of this, and i'm not going to let it go to waste nor let anyone down, anymore. 

But before I go on my long blog hiatus for my exam preparation in these 97 days, I just really wanna take a pause and dedicate this post to all of you out there.

_____________________________________________________________________

 

Dear you,

It's been such an arduous and stressful journey, hasn't it? All the hard work, all the sacrifices and all the time spent. I hope things have been going well for you.

If you're having good grades and balancing life well, I'm truly happy for you - keep it up, and keep going because you know you can do it :) Shine bright, and don't forget to reward yourself.

On the other hand, if you're feeling down, feeling useless, worthless, or even on the brink of giving up; I just want to let you know that you're not alone, and that it's okay to feel this way at times. You could be breaking down, feeling as though things aren't gonna get better, or even not finding any hope or meaning anymore, but just know this: you are loved, and you are better and stronger than you think. No matter how much it hurts now, just know that you'll get through, and that one day you'll look back and realise that this has made your life more fulfilling and meaningful.

Find something to fight for - be it yourself, your family, your friends, your teachers, or even just for the sake of life - but remember never to lose yourself in the process. Who you are will shine from within; it'll shine brighter than any certificate or testimonial that you may get or have gotten. This may sound a little cliché, but truthfully, what defines us is not our failures nor our brokenness. It's the way you pick yourself up despite how hard things are, the little acts of kindness or kind words you've bestowed upon people, and it's so much more than any bad feelings about yourself or about life that you may have now.

It's a tough period, but it won't be forever. You've already gone through these many years in your life, and this ain't going to break you. But even if it does, it's not permanent. Know that you have the capability to mend yourself and pick yourself up - with a little help from the people in your life, of course - so start, because it's up to you to find beauty in the ugliest of days, and because

 

You matter.

And remember, even if you feel as though the world has turned their back on you, you're definitely not alone, and not unimportant. The feeling of loneliness comes from within you, and no one is ever truly alone in this world. All you have to do is to step out again, or let people come back into your life. (Pst, by the way, just to let you know; no matter who you are, or whether we've met - just know that I care, I empathise, and that you've got a friend in me!)

Whatever may come your way, jiayou, and hang in there! You're beautiful, you're amazing, and you're worth so much more than you think. Chin up, cause you deserve it!

Love,

Me

Tribute; A Man Like No Other

It's been 2 days, and i'm starting to feel the need to write (or type, in this case), to find peace and to find closure. This post is dedicated to one of the strongest and bravest person i've ever known, and i'm really hoping he's in a safer and painless place now.

Though i'd not had the fortune nor opportunity to be a good friend to him, he had always been in the vicinity, igniting laughters and joy in his former classes (Helea and Deja Vu), both of which had been just next to my former classes. He was truly a ray of sunshine, giving in his all for his friendships and being a true brother to many of the guys in our level. I've had only snippets of memories of him, but i guess the one that got etched the deepest was one during a badminton training that i sort of chanced upon. He was (and would probably always be) a source of motivation and support to his teammates, and he was an incredible sportsman in skill, in spirit and in determination.

We often lament and complain that life isn't fair, and it really isn't. Getting diagnosed with cancer in Year 4, the restrictions and pain being put onto his life must've been unbearable. Chemo and treatment disrupted his academics, his love for sports and he was seen less along the corridors. Yet, he held on to his unyielding, fighting spirit, and continued to give in his all despite everything. His determination and strength was truly respectable, from the start of it all.

I guess as time passes, we start to take things for granted, believing in the notion that "everything will be alright in the end". He was better, and though it was obvious that he struggled through the demons of the disease, he returned to school and entered Senior High with us, as a family. Seeing him back in school with his tired but contagious and genuine grin, i guess many of us took for granted and believed that he'd have conquered the illness. Belief was good, but seeing all the guilt and the regret from many of us, it struck me on how much we took for granted in life. My heart aches for his family and his closest friends, on the endless desires to say a proper goodbye, and on the fact that we all lost a friend - one whom left behind a true legacy.

So Ervin, here's to you. Here's to your strength, your courage, your sincerity. Here's to being a true man, a true hero who chose not to give up despite all that's been unfairly put in your path. And here's to your abbreviated but meaningful journey which had impacted us all. It's truly more than words could ever say... Thank you so much for showing us what it means to be a true warrior, a true fighter and a true man.

I truly hope that you're safe and rested, wherever you may be. You are loved, respected and dearly missed. May we meet again, someday, somehow.

Truly a blessing to all of us.
200495 - 180912, but remembered and cherished for eternity.

--

Ephesians 1:16 (ESV)
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

& to his family, his closest buddies and classmates; stay strong, and live well without regrets. May you all be blessed by him and the Angels with good health and happiness..