This week has been another great week for me. I just came home from Fullerton Hotel, a six-star hotel which is located at the centre of the CBD area and apparently rents out its room at rates of thousands for a night. Basically, we were invited to attend a talk graced by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr George Yeo, he's an old boy of SJI too. It was a first for me. I was placed in an environment that I've never experienced in my life before. The chandeliers, wine glasses, chairs covered with posh white cloth, a ballroom half filled in fact fully filled with people of high intellect and brains. Allow me to muse a little on my experience.

The first group that was present at the 'lecture' included the big shots- the minister himself, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of our school was there, I wasn't surprised to see one of Singapore's most influential lawyers present at such an occasion either. The next group was the y-gen, the young adults- people with the brains ready to learn the ropes of those they're filling in the shoes for in the near future. There were a few that were from Lee Kuan Yew's School of Law or something I couldn't catch. But you get my drift, learning the ropes of a former political leader of that standard of calibre, one will know how big the shoes they'd have to fill. Then there were the younger ones- US! Secondary students who have just gone through puberty and have probably only seen, I would say, 5% of what the world and life has to offer in reality. I knew from the start that this was going to be a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity to rub shoulders which people from such walks of life.

Getting to meet Minister Yeo was a tremendous privilege. And this week was great in the sense that it has taught me two important lessons. One of which was to be more responsible and consistent, not only in my relationships with others but also in my school work (what could be more important this year than doing well for O Levels). And the other taught me how important it was for me to start thinking ahead for the future.

On this blog, I am my true self so I'm not intending to hide anything. I can comfortably claim that I'm not as fortunate as you think I am. And I've come to realise how vital it is for me to do well in life, firstly scoring well for my O levels and entering a credited JC/Poly. All I can say is that my own career lies in my own hands and the future of my family also lies in MY hands. I know I need to work hard this year and I intend to do well. There is no other way. So therefore, I'm sharing this with you (yes you whoever's reading thanks for reading I love you alot the fact that you're reading up to this life shows that you really care for me hahaha) is just so that you will understand why I'm acting in certain ways or why I'm so concerned about work now. It's because this has become my main responsibility. It's also here to spur me to greater heights. In future, I wish to look back to this blog, the words I've typed in this post and reflect on how far I've grown or succeeded after I've proclaimed the aforementioned lines.

Lastly, I believe and know that God is in the work of all these, He's speaking through the words I'm typing even right now, and by His trustworthy grace I WILL RELY on His strength and be the light He wants me to be for Him. 

2010 has started on an amazing note for me. This is my final year here in SJI and I'm having mixed feelings about being a senior in the school. I'll be 16 this year already and time sure flies. Cheese IsStill remember my lower secondary class antics and fun, a part of me's still hanging onto that playful and free of stress lifestyle. Yet, I know I have to face the inevitable- GROWING UP. Haha. School life is totally different now, much tougher I would say, but I'm embracing every challenge and every obstacle that is being thrown at me with faith in the Lord that He will provide and surrendering each and every aspect of my life to Him, every night I pray.

Last week itself, the class had accomplished two amazing feats. Now 434, the class is bonded like never before. And it showed clearly during the Inter-class games where we were CHAMPIONS for Touch Rugby (the team led by Joavan and Wira). On that very day, we were the only class that had almost three-quarters of the whole damn class come down to provide support to the team! IS THAT TRUE CLASS SPIRIT OR WHAT. Two days later, I led the soccer team to a credible third-place finish. Many of us have never gone that far in the inter-class games with our Lower Secondary classes but this year, WE OUTDID OURSELVES and though the dismay over the loss of the semi-final match over penalties, we know we gave our best to this class.



And over the past two days, Camp 1 of the Secondary One Orientation Camps was ran well. A peer support facilitator myself, I saw how the sec ones were orientated into the school community and it was certainly a joy for me to watch them play their games, lead them in the singing of the school songs and the time I spent fellowshipping within a few of the classes. Three years have passed in the blink of an eye, I still remember my days in OC fondly.

Now, a Prefect exco member, a captain of my Michael house, a committed contributor to my CCA, student and class, a faithful friend, son and brother, I can finally say the future is looking bright and I keep praying Jesus be the leader of my life. God bless everyone here on xanga and sorry for not having the time to post for so long, will be catching up with you guys real soon! 
 
For this is His promise: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." - Jeremiah 17:7-8

Faith is a huge aspect of life. At the very moment when you see your close ones taking that step forward to search deeper into their faith by faith, it gives you the warm feeling because you see the Spirit working in their lives and inspires you yourself further to draw closer to the one and only God. I would love to share this note typed by one of my close friends, Sean:

"Find your freedom in the music
Find your Jesus, find your cupid
You will never fall apart Diana
You're still in our hearts
Never let you fall apart
Together we'll dance in the dark"
- Dance in the Dark by Lady Gaga

I like you people to focus on "Find your Jesus". I'm not sure whether Lady Gaga is Christian, Catholic or a freethinker, but she has made a point in this song: We all want to be free. Free from darkness, free from sin, free from the fiery pits of hell.

If you haven't realised, this is a religious post. A post I rarely do, and forgive me for sounding awkward. But I have but a lot of thought while I wrote this. What do I want to feel at this point? Confirmation is 12 days away, the dress rehearsal is in 5 days and I am still confused. And I am afraid. I don't want to stand up on 5th December not believing the words I say. And when the Priest confirms me with "Nathaniel", I want to feel different. To feel new. To feel special and that I have received the grace of God.



Here I am, reading the Tumblr of my friends. One in particular is not even a Catholic, and yet he can visit the Stations of the Cross and not feel awkward. And he felt the pain Jesus did as well. There he is, more ready to be a confirmed Catholic than I am, with 15 years of Cat class, bible sharing and singing the songs. There is a hint of jealousy, more so that I thought I put in more effort trying than he did. I obviously, did not consider the grass on the other side. Not many non Christian would get up to go to mass like he did, while I idle in bed, not caring about the Sabath day.

Now again, I ask myself, what do I want. What do I want to feel at this point. I don't think I know yet, maybe I will through prayer and guidance. To my fellow L9s receiving confirmation, ask yourself what do you want. To this non-catholic I speak of, you should know who you are, I think you are more ready than I am to receive Christ, but ask yourself that question as well. To all my Christian friends, do the same. Thought our goals are different, the road we walk is the same. We still carry the cross on our backs.

And of course, remember. "I am God's Masterpiece"

Response

Being a big brother to the next generation of leaders is never easy.












BUT! You have the choice of making this learning journey one of their bests.

Well it has been a rather cooling and cosy Saturday morning. It thundered a little this morning but that kept me snuggling in bed for one hour or two. I still have to study for 4 papers which are spreaded over 3 days next week sooo yeah, but 'hell week' has just passed and I'm glad I did competently for this week's papers, or at least I thought I did. I kept others in prayers too and I hope we'll all do well, if not score excellent results that was the specific supplication I prayed for. We're all just dreading the exams to be over and once we're done with them, we can finally return back to our favourite pasttimes and play.

I've been itching to return to photography and the joy of bringing life and thought to my photos. My sister too has been taking plenty of photos, while I'm away at the library studying my butt off... Here are a few of theshots she captured during one of her photography outings.




Snapping away at the Esplanade

This was part of Chinatown

The lady was asking for directions








Great aren't they?