Graduation!

Finally, after close to 20 years of formal education (12 years in Indonesia and 8 years in Singapore), the whole of my education journey was officially closed on July 13, 2008.

Pride? Yes!
Satisfaction? Yes!
Joy? Yes!
Sad? Yes!
Disappointment? Yes!
Scared? Yes!

There were mixed feelings...feelings that i cant really describe in words. The smile that u saw in the pictures would have been a happier smile if i could get what i had been dreaming of 2 years ago: getting First Class Honours. I missed my dream by 0.02 points. I made a promise that i would never regret whatever the last result was as i had really done my very best - I worked my ass off for my Final Year Project, I took extra module just for the sake of pushing my CAP, I mugged days and nights, I put in my very best in everything - projects, tests, assignments, and exams, I submitted examination review when I was not satisfied with the result of one module and appealed to my Professors - yet on the day of my graduation i still had the biggest regret of my life, the regret that i couldnt be the only girl in that group of First Class Honours Graduates. Yah, i always dream to be the only girl in this...the only girl in that...looks like this has been my long-life ambition,haha...
I got the grade that I wanted for my FYP, for Engin Prof, but not for my elective - just a one grade jump would have changed reality...but well, that wasn't the reality!

Nevertheless, I am still grateful for everything...

I have a loving family, who has been supporting me all this while, especially my parents, who have moulded me into who i am now and who are always there to listen to all my complaints in NUS, to cheer me up every time i cried over exam results, to encourage me to stop studying so hard ( I never listen to them though!)...and not forgetting all the things they did when i was still studying in Indonesia...I simply cant list them one by one. Till the day i officially graduated, my dad still cheered me up by saying,"I still think you are the best girl in ME!" He knows me well...he knows my dream...he knows my ambition...and he knows how to make me smile! Thank you so much, Dad! Thank you so much, Mom!

My brother, once told me that Mechanical Engineering suits me well, simply because i could solve his mechanics problems, which he and his friends couldn't solve. Taking the same course as me but in other university, he always consulted me for his assignments. Initially i could help him, but as time passed by, more and more of my brain cells were killed due to sleep deprivation and all the problems that he asked me to solve, I couldnt solve at all. He always scolded me for forgetting all that i have learnt in the previous semesters...but too bad, i couldnt beat nature! Just chatting with my brother every day, talking about all non-sense could really brighten up my days in university. Thank you, Bro! Btw, i think my bro looked really handsome on my graduation day,haha...

I am very thankful that my grandma could attend my commencement as well. Unfortunately, i couldnt get extra ticket for her to watch me inside the hall. Look at the smile on her face...i think it looks happier than mine! She has been attending her grandchildrens' graduation and mine wasnt the first one! I am really grateful that she could be with me on this very day.

My boyfriend has been very supportive all this while...There were several times when i felt like giving up the dream of pursuing that First Class Honors, but he was the one who encouraged me to push on and work towards that goal. I would never forget the times when we did community service together, studied in the library after lessons, had dinner together after long day of lectures...and the daily Skype calls during my last semester in NUS. Those calls were what i looked forward to each and every day. Thank you for patiently listening to all my ramblings, my complaints...for all the advice that you have given me and for believing in me! And lastly, thanks for the biggest bouquet of pink flowers on my graduation,haha...

My best friends in NUS - Evan, Lysia, and Diah...Every day i would always have stories to tell and i couldnt keep all the stories to myself - it could be stories abt what happened during the day in school, gossips about people, and many more other interesting stories...and these 3 ppl would be the first to listen to all my stories. Pity them, they had to bear listening to me for the past 3 years...They also know abt all my love stories - my crushes (btw, every year there's at least 1 crush, except for the last year in NUS, haha...).They were the ones, who always accompanied me mugging in PGP study room, who would bring laughter into that boring study-room scenes. Hopefully, even after graduation, the bond of friendship between us will still remain as strong as ever ;) Thank you,guyz...

My Rotaract gang...these are the group of people who share my passion, who spice up my university days, who always make me smile, whose companions i always look forward to. The club has watched me grow throughout my 4 years in NUS...I have become a better person, thanks to the people whom I had been working closely together in the club. It was really heartening to see them in my commencement, thanks a lot guyz! Thanks for your presence and for the gifts!!!

There are so many people that i would like to thank, but i cant list them one by one...My ME friends, my Indo friends, and all other friends that i have made throughout my NUS years...Thank you so much for crafting a memory in this NUS chapter!

Btw, after going through all the hassles of job applications and surviving the waiting period during which I was very unsettled, finally i took up the job that hopefully will suit me well. I will have the chance to work as a consultant, my job will require liaising with lots of parties, I will get the chance to wear nice clothes, and most importantly, it's a male-dominated field!

So that's how the NUS chapter ended...I'm in the process of summarizing my 4 years in NUS! Beware of very long entry next time!