I'll just take this chance to reflect quickly on the pass 4 years. During this period, I have made many good friends in the university of Auckland, from all different nations. First year, my close buddies were Edward, Wenqin, Kai Sui, and Yu Sian, all who were smart and kind in different ways. Ed and Wenqin were basically my closes friends during the first year. They were both from Malaysia and had a very good understanding of what was taught in class, so they always convinced me to skip classes with them, promising that they will teach me. Who knew I suffered a little in my assignments and exams during the first year in university.LOL..But the times were always fun with them.We always had sleep overs at Ed house. There was a time when I had a mild crush and couldn't sleep. So I had to go over to his house to chat through the night with a glass of wine to get my mind off things. Another thing that I can remember during the first year was that I enjoyed going clubbing with my mates. It all started out with curiosity, but after a while I gradually stopped going because of the conviction inside me.
The second year, I started isolating myself because I wanted to do well for my exams. I wanted to excel in my assignments. I remember this year as the beginning of conflicts and me getting hurts from a mechanical friend who used to be my good buddy during my first year. I could not stand how he would always put me down and steal credits for some of the things we did as a group. I remembered a time that I was truly upset that I went to lie down on a chair in Albert park, writing down on my diary that I will not depend on Edward for anything, that I'll be relying on my own self to finish assignments and doing my own work from now on. That day marked the day where I started independently doing my own assignments and studying. That year, I realized that I enjoyed a bit of software and electronics. I realized that my interest lie in a slightly different region. Apart from that, though it is secondary, I also wanted to move away from a place where I could avoid Ed. So, I changed from Mechanical to Mechtratronics. It was possible because by a miracle I was doing all the right subjects that all the Mechatronics students were doing. I met new friends and started enjoying even more what I was doing. I was involved in OCF, always playing the keyboard in camps and involved in musical productions like "Hosea". I was also involved in table tennis and competing in table tennis championships.
The third year was the year I told myself I will give it my all to do excel in my work. After all, I wasn't the brightest student, but I believe hard work will pay off. So this year was all about late nights and me being very focus in all the assignments given to me. I remembered my friends realising that hardworking side of me and mentioning how dedicated I am. My efforts were paid off, and I did very well scoring an average of As for all my papers. I was on fire! I also realised this year was the year where I was getting passionate for God. I was hungering for more of Him, and each time as I learned more about him, I was transformed to more like Him! I stopped going clubbing completely and took the word seriously. Spiritually I was on fire too! One of the highlights this year was meeting a girl , whom I met at OCF. We were close and was heading to a start of a relationship. However, it all ended before it even started because of too many advise of friends against it. I ignored one, but when more than two or three came, I ended it...But until today, I believed I made the right move.
The fourth year was the most important year for me in university. I stopped attending OCF and played any table tennis. I was fully committed to my assignments and my final year project. This year was the year that I truly learned the most. I had a really good partner who was smart and capable. But everybody like myself have their own strength and weakness. I believed I discovered my strengths and weakness during this year. I was really good at being calm and working under very stressful conditions. I was also very good at interaction and presenting. Though I can be forgetful at times I discovered I can be also a good organizer. My weaknesses on the other hand was being forgetful and not thinking in detail before executing the tasks. My partner was totally the opposite of me. I believed that there couldn't be a better partner for me than this guy, Dough. We complemented each other really well. In the end we came up with something that earned us a patent for our design. We turned something that was basically nothing to something that can be advantageous to sick neonates in the future.
4 years of tertiary education was an amazing experience. I wouldn't swap anything for it. It prepared me for facing the real world. I want to thank my parents for supporting me financially through out this 4 years. The sacrifices that my parents have to make is something that I will remember and appreciate. I also wanna thank friends for the fun and bad times they have given me that has shaped me into the person I am proud of being now. Finally, I wanna thank the big Guy up there. Without you ,my Father in heaven in the picture, going through university would not be as meaningful as it has been. Thank you for everything that you have done for me these 4 years Jesus.
