Wednesday, December 28, 2005
The Year in Retrospect
Doesn't the title sound familiar??
I dun usually have the habit of writing the year in retrospect kinda thing, not even in my own diary. Neither do I like to make new year resolution, becos I always end up neva keeping them hehe. But after reading Dr Keck and Samantha's email and Yueheng's blog, I kinda got into the thinking mode since it's now lull period at work when I'm left alone to do a quiet writing that is not very heavy.
2005 has been a memorable year for me, the most obvious milestone being that marking the end of my life as a student and the beginning of one as a working adult.
As a student, the Honours year had been the most beautiful period in my whole undergrad life. While talking to Yvonne last night, I learnt that, if it wasn't becos I decided to go for the 4th year, I wouldn't have had so many frens to congratulate and cheer with during the convo. She told me that she only knew 1 other person at her convo and that her frens in uni are those she already knew from JC or sec sch. I am very blessed to be able to attend the 4th year and get to know so many good, supportive frens as well as cool professors. Indeed the people factor was the loveliest part of being in the Hon year.
I was very grateful to God for giving me my Hon degree too. I came in with much apprehension and self-doubt due to my battered CAP point after having too much fun in hall. The Dean's office sternly warned my cousin, whom I had authorised to help me withdraw my file for grad, that I wasn't gonna make it so it was best not to try. After much praying, agonising and asking frens and family members, I finally decided to go ahead, a decision that at first absolutely horrified me due to the big jump in standard but later turned out to be the most enriching indeed.
I oso took a step towards a more active role in serving God in 2005. Though I felt that the non-year 4s were more suitable to the position, I stepped in as assistant cell grp leader for the last sem. It was a good experience to learn about shepherding bros and sis in Christs instead of being fed as always. I had also learnt about what Tommy Tenney put as "preparation meets potential" in his book about Queen Esther as I do my best in everything and leave the results to God. He has been more than good. Although at times I find it hard to juggle between that and my ISM, God has rewarded me richly and drawn me into deeper fellowship with Him in the process.
A sad note in 2005 was the fact that I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. The impact hit me hard at 1st, esp when I din know wat it was all about. I din tell anybody, but I was close to depression then due to the fact that I din know wat to expect. Esp when the medication gave me gastric at 1 point...I simply couldn't stand the thought of living with that for 2 years. And not being able to take seafood made me upset to say the least. My medication makes my face bloated and I swore neva to take any photo henceforth. But over time, I learnt that the condition is more common than I had known and that I am very fortunate becos it's not terminal and it doesn't hurt. Esp after the doc reduced my medication and so I bec free of gastric. Furthermore, there is a chance of total healing from it. I guess it oso brought me closer to God becos I sincerely prayed for healing and leaned on Him becos of it.
Soon after, I was hit by the case of quarter-life crisis and became a walking wounded for a period of time. A combi of factors was to blame but, as dear Audrey puts it, we always learn from everything that happens to us. I thank God for once again sending faithful old frens as well as new wonderful frens my way that supported me thru all these, taking the trouble to pray for me in the midst of their exams, etc and talking to me to the wee hours of the night. Most of all, thank you for loving me enough to tell me harsh words when I need to hear them. I cannot thank you enough. I am happy that they allow me into their lives to help them when they are down and need support as well.
I am getting more used to working life, traumatising as it was at first. Though I din like where I was put becos they kinda din tell me, I thank God for where I am becos it is a position furthest away from the line of fire. My direct supervisor is a very pretty lady and nice to boot. And my colleagues are simply nice, nice, nice. We don't have politics here...we support one another. But I will move when the time comes to pursue my dreams and experience more of life, which I hope will happen in 2006.
My one regret is not having spent enough time with my family in Jakarta, realising it only when I accepted the job offer. It was a contributing factor to my being a walking wounded, but I suppose sometimes u just gotta learn to treasure things.
I also feel that I cannot talk about 2005 without talking about my church, the Third Place. As I grow more involved there, I learnt the joys of true fellowship with Christians without the pretensions of being holy. I must put a side note here to say that I learnt that through my VCF CG as well! Through them, God is teaching me that what the world calls Christianity should really be about following Him and deepening in relationship with Him and channelling the blessings to other and not about knowing certain things that makes us exclusive, so to speak.
The most important lesson I have learnt through this period is that I have moved to a different phase in life and I must learn to make changes to accomodate. Guess I am a slow adaptor, but thank God not slow enough to be wiped out heh. Once I got this into perspective, things became better.
This is not an exhaustive entry about what I had experienced in the year. Some matters are too delicate to be mentioned just yet and others I prefer to keep safely in my bosom, to take out once in a while to reflect upon privately.
May 2006 be another exciting, lesson-filled year!
I dun usually have the habit of writing the year in retrospect kinda thing, not even in my own diary. Neither do I like to make new year resolution, becos I always end up neva keeping them hehe. But after reading Dr Keck and Samantha's email and Yueheng's blog, I kinda got into the thinking mode since it's now lull period at work when I'm left alone to do a quiet writing that is not very heavy.
2005 has been a memorable year for me, the most obvious milestone being that marking the end of my life as a student and the beginning of one as a working adult.
As a student, the Honours year had been the most beautiful period in my whole undergrad life. While talking to Yvonne last night, I learnt that, if it wasn't becos I decided to go for the 4th year, I wouldn't have had so many frens to congratulate and cheer with during the convo. She told me that she only knew 1 other person at her convo and that her frens in uni are those she already knew from JC or sec sch. I am very blessed to be able to attend the 4th year and get to know so many good, supportive frens as well as cool professors. Indeed the people factor was the loveliest part of being in the Hon year.
I was very grateful to God for giving me my Hon degree too. I came in with much apprehension and self-doubt due to my battered CAP point after having too much fun in hall. The Dean's office sternly warned my cousin, whom I had authorised to help me withdraw my file for grad, that I wasn't gonna make it so it was best not to try. After much praying, agonising and asking frens and family members, I finally decided to go ahead, a decision that at first absolutely horrified me due to the big jump in standard but later turned out to be the most enriching indeed.
I oso took a step towards a more active role in serving God in 2005. Though I felt that the non-year 4s were more suitable to the position, I stepped in as assistant cell grp leader for the last sem. It was a good experience to learn about shepherding bros and sis in Christs instead of being fed as always. I had also learnt about what Tommy Tenney put as "preparation meets potential" in his book about Queen Esther as I do my best in everything and leave the results to God. He has been more than good. Although at times I find it hard to juggle between that and my ISM, God has rewarded me richly and drawn me into deeper fellowship with Him in the process.
A sad note in 2005 was the fact that I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. The impact hit me hard at 1st, esp when I din know wat it was all about. I din tell anybody, but I was close to depression then due to the fact that I din know wat to expect. Esp when the medication gave me gastric at 1 point...I simply couldn't stand the thought of living with that for 2 years. And not being able to take seafood made me upset to say the least. My medication makes my face bloated and I swore neva to take any photo henceforth. But over time, I learnt that the condition is more common than I had known and that I am very fortunate becos it's not terminal and it doesn't hurt. Esp after the doc reduced my medication and so I bec free of gastric. Furthermore, there is a chance of total healing from it. I guess it oso brought me closer to God becos I sincerely prayed for healing and leaned on Him becos of it.
Soon after, I was hit by the case of quarter-life crisis and became a walking wounded for a period of time. A combi of factors was to blame but, as dear Audrey puts it, we always learn from everything that happens to us. I thank God for once again sending faithful old frens as well as new wonderful frens my way that supported me thru all these, taking the trouble to pray for me in the midst of their exams, etc and talking to me to the wee hours of the night. Most of all, thank you for loving me enough to tell me harsh words when I need to hear them. I cannot thank you enough. I am happy that they allow me into their lives to help them when they are down and need support as well.
I am getting more used to working life, traumatising as it was at first. Though I din like where I was put becos they kinda din tell me, I thank God for where I am becos it is a position furthest away from the line of fire. My direct supervisor is a very pretty lady and nice to boot. And my colleagues are simply nice, nice, nice. We don't have politics here...we support one another. But I will move when the time comes to pursue my dreams and experience more of life, which I hope will happen in 2006.
My one regret is not having spent enough time with my family in Jakarta, realising it only when I accepted the job offer. It was a contributing factor to my being a walking wounded, but I suppose sometimes u just gotta learn to treasure things.
I also feel that I cannot talk about 2005 without talking about my church, the Third Place. As I grow more involved there, I learnt the joys of true fellowship with Christians without the pretensions of being holy. I must put a side note here to say that I learnt that through my VCF CG as well! Through them, God is teaching me that what the world calls Christianity should really be about following Him and deepening in relationship with Him and channelling the blessings to other and not about knowing certain things that makes us exclusive, so to speak.
The most important lesson I have learnt through this period is that I have moved to a different phase in life and I must learn to make changes to accomodate. Guess I am a slow adaptor, but thank God not slow enough to be wiped out heh. Once I got this into perspective, things became better.
This is not an exhaustive entry about what I had experienced in the year. Some matters are too delicate to be mentioned just yet and others I prefer to keep safely in my bosom, to take out once in a while to reflect upon privately.
May 2006 be another exciting, lesson-filled year!
// posted by Jenn @ 4:54 PM 
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