On officially graduating

If there's anything the last 16 years of formal education in Singapore has taught me, it'd be working effectively and efficiently under pressure and time constraints. Just think about all the examinations and essays we've had to complete under 3 hours – that's no easy feat but we did it because we were are conditioned to do so.

We've gone undergone years of classroom training and, as creatures of habit, we got used to the grind. I used to hate it but I suppose if I had to go through that same drill again, I would be more equipped and less anxious.

Time management is something I've always heard the adults talk about but now that I'm considered a grown-up myself, I can testify the importance of time management. Something that used to sound and feel so unfamiliar has become one of the pillars that holds all my life together.

As the congratulatory messages and well wishes continue to pour in since I conferred on Tuesday evening, I am reminded that I am no longer a self-sufficient undergraduate, that my status has been upgraded to an independent adult.

Thank you to the kind people who cheered for me

The word adult itself comes with many unspoken responsibilities and here I am, staring at my new plate of commitments wondering if I'll live to see the end of the tunnel.

Over the last 1 and a half years, I've chosen to tread a path less travelled. And I sure have no regrets but now that my circumstances are changing again, I can't help but let uncertainty creep it and sway my confidence to do well.

I've always told my friends that internship wasn't the best experience but I owe it to internship that I landed myself a freelance writing position. I continued to freelance while juggling my school commitments and teaching duties at the same time.

Back then, I almost crumbled under pressure but I managed to convince myself that all was worth it as long as I was contented. And I was truly satisfied with the way life was. I felt too blessed and that, in turn, made me feel lacking sometimes.

The fact that I somehow managed to graduate with a decent degree is once again a firm reminder of the value of time management. Who knew that I'd be able to freelance, teach, study and focus on Final-Year Project at the same time?

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A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about finding my dream job.

I define my dream job as challenging, exciting and most importantly, fulfilling. Although I must admit that the money is almost equally important, I don't believe in sticking with a job that just pays well.

As I was searching for this dream job, I got offered a 9-month engagement at a government agency. I've been to about 10 to 15 interviews and, sadly, I didn't make the cut for any except this one.

Albeit, it's a temporary position and I will most likely end up jobless again come May but I don't have the luxury to sit around and wait for a more permanent job. Of course, that doesn't mean I stop trying. It just means I continue to try while taking on a new assignment.

Next week would mark the start of my 9-month stint and truth be told, I was beyond excited. Right now, I'm so exhausted that I don't have the energy to feel anything else but tired.

I look back at the last 3, almost 4 weeks we survived without our helper and actually feel proud of ourselves for finding back our independence. It's tiring and trying and sometimes we get so worn out that our senses become heightened and we unintentionally attempt to kill each other but the entire experience was very eye-opening.

It doesn't change the fact that we will need help when I start working because there'll be no one left to do maid duties. But in the meantime, we're improving day by day and that alone makes me very happy.

On top of maid duties, my sister put me in charge of her little business. 

When I finished all my papers, my sister came up with this ingenious idea to sell, specifically, ColourPop lipsticks. (You can find us on Carousell @/poppincolours.) She decided I ought to use my spare time more productively so she roped me in.

I've been liaising with customers, meeting buyers, mailing parcels; all in all, I've been a very dedicated slave to my sister.

Knowing me, I won't be satisfied with just teaching tuition every Sunday morning, selling lipsticks and house chores.

Back in March, I took up a private tuition assignment. I thought, "Why not?"

I would meet Mel for lunch and then go off for tuition from school. It was just an hour every Monday evening and I would take a walk home after that. I enjoyed every single moment of it – from the teaching, the small conversation with my tutee's concerned parents and the walk home. 

I was usually home by 7, had enough time to prepare for class the next day and be done for the day by 9PM.

Now that things are changing, I've rearranged my schedule to accommodate tuition on Friday evenings instead.

One good thing about working for the government is I get to end work slightly earlier on Friday. I've never been one to party on Friday nights so being the workaholic I am, I shall work. (The good thing, however, is my tutee doesn't have tuition during the school holidays so I get a break too!)

So far, I'll be working 5 days a week with tuition on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings. That's definitely not all.

My uncle called me up last week and asked me for a favour. He asked me if I could help my cousin out with his studies. Of course, I said yes!

It's temporary, just until his papers are over, which means to say my Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings will be occupied for the next couple of months. The good thing is, it's just a couple of months.

When I thought I was busy enough, I bravely took up a new freelance writing assignment.

I haven't been freelancing since June because I wanted to give myself a break before embarking on a lifelong journey in the corporate world. I don't know what made me accept the offer, though.

It definitely isn't the money because I don't know how much I'll get paid. It definitely isn't the experience either because I don't have any intention of entering the medical industry. It definitely isn't because I have a lot of free time to spare (because I don't.)

If I had to justify my choice, I'd say it's probably because of the interest. As an aspiring writer, I've always wanted to try my hand at different genres. Unfortunately, I grew accustomed to lifestyle writing and didn't dare venture out of my comfort zone. But life is about venturing out of comfort zones.

There goes: I'm working full-time, freelancing, teaching, running a business all at the same time.

I will get tired. I will burn out. I will break down and curse the world as I do. I will feel like giving up but I will stand up and do it all over again.