# Twenty Sixteen

I can't believe it's 2017 already and this year is really going to be a new beginning for me.

2016's really such an intense year. I have always wondered how my life would be after hitting 20. Fear of growing up? Fear of not knowing what to do? There's so much fear involved whenever I think about 2016 and imagining what life would come to be for me. I used to always make a list of New Year Resolutions every year but I stopped making them as I find it rather pointless. I guess I realise what's important every year is just improving and understanding myself better in order to work towards what I really want in life.

'2016 on Graduation'

One of the best thing that happened to me last year is to finally receive my Diploma (a certificate that's worth for me to at least enter the working force). After 13 years of education from 3 different schools or maybe 5 different schools if I include my kindergarten (I changed school twice and only attended for 2 years), but it doesn't matter as we live our entire lifetime educating ourselves. Anyway I only probably took away 10% of what I've learnt from school. The other 90% are taught through the life lessons that school doesn't offer me but the opportunities that it gave. Friendships, Relationships and much more. I'll definitely be learning much much more till my last breathe because learning doesn't just stops halfway. It's a constant.

Another thing that happened last year before I graduated was launching the i Light which I have already talk about it here. I wasn't complaining or anything in that post, I was just sharing what I felt and what it takes to get a project done, perhaps venting a little. But venting my frustrations ain't the same as complaining. I wouldn't complain and I would say I would never regret any decisions I make in my life because I know that it serves for a greater purpose if I were to fail. But through that project I guess I have concluded my poly life on a good note and graduated knowing that my 3 years was all worthwhile and I'm thankful for the people I got to know there as well.

Another unexpected accomplishment of last year is to finally receive my Driving License! So the reason why I only got it almost 3 years after turning 18 is because I failed my Basic Theory Test by 1 mark when I just turned 18 (sorry I'm retarded failing BTT) and I just kept procrastinating to go to take the tests again. So I started learning my practical in July this year and passed in October on my first try! I was really clumsy at the beginning and I wanted to give up. I always want to give up on everything that I learn... But I keep telling myself I cannot give up especially when I'm halfway through and I paid for the entire process of getting my license myself. I cannot possibly throw away my hard-earned money right? Miraculously, I passed on my first try! The thing is not about passing and getting my license that I'm happy about, it's that I never could have imagined having my driving license in my wallet and driving the people around me out. I just wanted to do something out of my comfort zone and I'm glad I did it before I turn 21. Though I don't know how often would I even drive but it doesn't matter. What matters here is that I didn't give up halfway!

'2016 on Travelling'

Before 2016, I've travelled to countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Japan, China, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Indonesia. Some countries even multiple times but to different parts. I'm so thankful even thought 70-80% of the trips was sponsored by my sister or the government. I may not be able to travel luxuriously but I guess it's a blessing to even be able to travel. I guess for the remaining 3/4 of the year after graduating, I decided to enjoy myself a little before 2017 comes and travelled to 4 countries with the money I have saved during my schooling years.

1. Japan in March with Shimin - Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and Kinosaki.
Revisiting the places I've been to in 2009 and I'm so impressed with my memory of remembering how to move around and walk to certain places. Japan is still my favourite country up till date.

2. Australia in April with my mum - Melbourne.
My first solo-trip with my mum and finally a country out of Asia. I even spent one morning going out on my own to chase the sunrise and had a really great experience getting out of my comfort zone.

3. Vietnam in September with my cousin - Hanoi and Sapa.
It was quite an unlucky trip but I guess I've really learnt a lot too after the trip. It wasn't that bad if I think about it after all from another perspective.

4. Taiwan in November with my mum and sis - Taipei.
Short family trip but it was a good one though. Just sticking around Taipei and enjoying the food and culture. Heheh.

I guess it's been a good year for travelling. I've booked my trip for next year which is to South Korea in April, the only country in Asia that is probably a must-go but I haven't been to before. Probably the only trip next year as of now.

'2016 on Working'

What will I be doing after I graduate? What will I be working as? Will I find a job?

I guess that's something that I've been thinking for almost a decade. Getting a full-time job definitely is scarier than all the weird odd part-time jobs that I've done before. Well, I've been working for 8 months already as a Front-end Web Developer. I'm always too lazy to explain to my friends or people that don't know what exactly am I working as because they don't really understand my job scope. Hahah. I don't exactly love what I'm doing but I don't hate it either. But for now, I feel that if I'm working, then I should put my all in it and learn as much as I can. It's just not right working half-heartedly. In a way, I'm also training myself mentally. Perhaps I'm lost in a way, but I guess 2017 will be a year I find my direction.

But I'm really thankful for just somehow getting into this company and thankful for my boss for guiding me. Probably the other best thing during this 8 months of working is to meet someone that is although 7 years older than me but I never expected there's someone that has so much in common with me! Before the year ended we even found out that we share the same dance teacher in sec school/or perhaps my teacher's teacher. We almost order the same food everyday and now I don't always have to eat alone when I'm craving for something. There are of course still many other things that we don't share in common but I guess we are on the same frequency.

In this span of 8 months I have spent my free time wisely. I can do a lot during my long bus-ride that takes up to about 45-50 minutes and I've learnt to appreciate my friends too. After graduating, it's like how time will tell, you will finally know who are the ones that will stay by your side throughout this lifetime, and who are the ones you never want to let go off.

There's a lot of things that I never wanted to talk about in my blog/social media but I guess I decided to talk about them because 2016 is really a very meaningful year to me.

It's been a great year I guess. 2015 was bad, but I guess because of all the accumulation of the bad things that has happened to me and in the time of 2016 I made many realisation which is why I guess it has been a really good year

Other than travelling, I've also attended concerts of people that I really admire and have always wanted to hear them sing live. I probably will talk about this in some other posts that I'll be posting in 2017. There's so so much I want to talk about and I wish more people will listen and at least have a more open mind towards them.

There's still so much I want to learn, so much I want to try. I have got to spend my 2017 wisely. It probably wouldn't be as eventful and crazily exciting as this year, but it would definitely another year of lessons. There's always bad things that will come your way, but it will all be important life lessons that you'll eventually need to grow up.

I feel 2017 will be a new beginning because I've also reflected and learnt to forget about all the frustrations and hatred I have towards others and learn to let them go before 2017.

I hope that at the end of this year, I can say that I have a clearer view of the direction I want in life. Thank you for reading this post till the end and may 2017 be a great year to everyone who read this post, and don't.