Best University Year Ever

Year 2006 is undeniably my best university year ever. I thank the Lord for bringing me here in His beautiful time. I remember feeling disappointed when I was not able to go to Sheffield after my first year. I lamented and grumbled. Looking back, I was foolish. Now, I would not trade this year in Notts with anything.


Although it was difficult to get adjusted in the beginning, it helped greatly when you have friends here with you. I came with a group of friends who transfered together from the Malaysian campus. It was a blast. This one year here, I got to know so many of them better and have indeed found true friends. They have been very kind and accomodative to me, always listening and lending an extra hand. Thank you all. Special thanks to residents of Claude Street, Number 3, Highfield Road Number 28, Windsor St Number 88 and Broadgate Park.

I'm forever grateful for Meira, Robin and Peyying. Living under one roof with you three can be quite a challenge some times but I'm thankful that it wasnt anyone else. I'm sure the Lord brought us together for a reason and I'm very glad that we've had a good year together. Thank you for putting up with my weird mood swings and demanding requests at times. You three have been amazing and the special bond we share, I trust will only continue to grow. Despite some unnecessary rows between us, I hope they'll come to fade and I'm looking forward to keeping in touch even back home. It's really amazing how well we understood each other despite that brief one year here. I've come to learnt that morphing into each other isnt an option, it's a process that happens naturally when we get too close. Haha..

I've also grown to be quite attached to the family that lives down road at Number 9. It's amazing that we all just clicked so well. The chemistry and understanding we had was quite remarkable. Despite some personalities clashes, we grew to become more than friends, more like a family now. The dinners, barbeque, trips and group study we had together was wonderful. I'm really thankful that we found solace and comfort and support from each other. Matt, Mic, Kar Man and Gordon, you were all amazing friends. We left a piece of ourselves in each other. I'm not sure when will we meet again but I trust that that day will come eventually. Any invitation cards, please send to Kajang, Malaysia! I'm looking forward to seeing you all in KL next year, after uncle's graduation!My best year ever.....Thank you Lord.

Graduation

July 14 marks one of the most important days of my life, to date at least. My graduation day. I graduated from University of Nottingham with a Bachelor (Honours) in Chemical Engineering. How does that sound? Haha...Pride aside.

I dont really know what kind of impact was that special day supposed to impart on me. But I know what it means to my parents and family. To mum and dad, it was probably the day they longed to see for years. I wasnt the first to graduate in the family but I'm sure it brings about different feelings each time when one of us graduate. For me, it spelled hardwork and loads of money to send me here. At that particular moment when my name was called, I went numb for a moment. As I walked (stomped, according to my sister) across the stage to shake hands with the Chancellor, all I had in mind was to walk properly and watched my gown to prevent tripping over and make myself the biggest joke in the ceremony. As I hold the certificate in my hands and read the combinations of letters spilled across the paper, I thought to myself, "Is this it?"

In my seat, I read the certificate again and again, took Yanni's and read hers over and over again. What does this mean? Then suddenly, it finally dawned upon me that all my hardwork for the past three years is spelled in those words, "This is to certify that Oy Ling Look has completed ......with a Second Division, Upper Class"














Overall, it was a good day. I could see that mum and dad were proud of me, I know to a certain extend the sacrifice they made to bring me here. I wished my whole family were here. As I showed Ge the cert, I wished Jie was here too. They have been my role models and I want them to know that. The unspoken support they gave were overwhelming. I have kept the tradition and followed the path. I wanted to show both Ling and Yen that they too can be where we are now. It is definitely achievable. I know the silent pressure they felt to perform and I'm sorry they were succumb to such unnecessary pressure.

One day, I'm going to frame up all our certificates and hang them up in the living room. I know that day will come.

Blessing

This picture is taken in some abandoned rail station in Peak District. They are some of the friends I made since coming. Ever thankful for each of them.