Mohahamed

Sunset on Farewell Assembly, 15th October 2010, taken at Chinese Garden. Like my friend said: Even the most beautiful days have sunsets. The days spent at AJC have been beautiful.

& I’ll not forget who I spent the sunset with.

 Yesterday mark’s the official end of my official school days in my College.

In these 2 years, I’ve learned many things that books and notes can never teach. In these 2 years, I’ve developed both academically, physically and mentally. And it is these 2 years I know I will never forget. Here is what I’ve learned, presented not in point forms, but snippets of life cut out.

Never had I have a wonderful bunch of people traverse with me through the demanding school syllabus. I would not name any special people (nor will I send hate-mails to the opposite), because people whom I think are special to me may not be reciprocated and people who think I’m special to them may be short-changed.

You may know many people, and you may care for many, but not as many may care for you. I am used to saying a hundred ‘Hello’s as I parade through the College compound, and I can easily mix with people of differing behavioural styles – nerdy, quiet, noisy, expressive and the occasional “mugger”. But I should never confuse acquaintances with friends. When I’m down, it’s easy to differentiate those who wouldn’t give a damn from those who would serve to care. But it’s is less easy to know who would ask me “Are you okay?” and those who would ask me “You want me to help you?”

On another note, I learned never to be too picky about whom I know. No one really knew that their first friend in College would be their best one. No one really knew that the random stranger bumped into while queuing for food would be even better. The nondescript friend that I made while playing Soccer could have been the only one helping me up while the one following me like an escort might be the first to run away. I was very happy to have some who helped me up during the difficult times leading up to Term 3, 2010. Know everyone that I meet and love people even before you know them.

In the college I’m in, there exist tons of non-schoolmates saying that the school I’m in is a mugger school. Generalization is rampant throughout students in their youth. A few students’ wrongdoings can mean that the whole school is made up of monkeys. People based their views too much on first impressions, and the majority innocent must bear the consequences. Sadly, some are too impressionable and will eventually behave like botnets spreading viruses throughout the population. When the masses gave negative comments through hour-long gossip sessions regarding a person, take them, but don’t see it as hard evidence. I will always try knowing them and seeing their behaviour first-hand. I’ve learned to see the world through unstained lenses, so that what I perceive is reality and not mocked-up fantasy.

That also brings me to another point. What many rumoured about a person may be true: a deceptive liar, one who cheats people’s feelings, etc. But those can be true, but only towards them, and not to you. A criminal could be someone undesirable by many but a persistent donor to the chosen few. A person may be a devil to everyone else, but not to you. Therefore, friend someone not because he is friends with many, but because he will be someone great to you.

I have a number of unwritten guidelines that paves my life as I meander through it. Some are as simple as ‘Expect nothing in return when I give’. Some are simple, but are non-mainstream, just like how I don’t usually celebrate birthdays. Those were rigid and unchanged, and were obediently followed. As tens of students sing birthday songs to each other, I would be the only one keeping my mouth shut and smiling away. Things change as time passes by. I’ve learned to compromise my ideologies and open up to foreign ideals. Sometimes it’s better to feel satisfied allowing others to be on top than feel satisfied from being above others.

Those were just some lessons out of the many I can’t remember now I learned that will hopefully bring me and many others further in their lives, including you. You may have known about all these before reading this, nevertheless, it’s been my pleasure learning them and sharing them.

Before I forget the main events that occurred to me in my College life, let me write them down here in chronological for my reference in the future, you may choose to ignore them. Thank you.

2009

Orientation Camp

Inter-House Drama Competition

College’s 25^th Anniversary Family Day

Alpha-Bravo Camp, Camper

Mixed-House Cheerleading Group

Student Forum Panellist

2010

Orientation Camp as an Orientation Group Leader

Track and Field Meet

Cross-country Run

Alpha-Bravo Camp, Student Instructor

And not to forget these people I spent the most time with in AJC: the students of 1609. My life with all of you has been one, huge, great event.

& that’s all I can remember now, see you.