Was checking my school email account... Stumbled across my values reflection that I had to submit for some subject (APEL). Just thought I'd post it for memories sake...

Throughout my twenty one years of my life, I have experienced many things and met many types of people. While participating in all these activities, be it in school or organized by my church, I have found out that there are many different types of people with many different types of characters. In addition to this, I have also gained much experience in working with these people. Through these activities, I have also learnt more about myself and the things I am good at. For example, I now understand that in doing projects, I am apprehensive of trying things that are new. But at the same time, once I have had experience in doing these things, I become more confident and I am able to experiment new and better methods of doing them.

I believe that my journey in Temasek Polytechnic has been one that has changed my way of thinking as well as the way I view the world. When I first came to Temasek Polytechnic in the year 2000, I was still immature in my thinking, naïve in my thoughts and confused about my purpose in life. Being the way I was, I found it difficult to study and do my work without the constant 'hounding' that I would usually get in secondary school. This was due to the new found 'freedom' I had in polytechnic. Whether I wanted to learn depended entirely on myself.

Unfortunately, I did not realize this quick enough. I failed my first year miserably because of my lack of motivation and discipline. I almost could not even repeat the year because of how badly I did in the exams. But after sending in a letter of appeal, I got my second chance. Through this experience, I feel that I have not put that chance to waste. I started to work hard and tried my best in everything I had to do.

Through serving in my church, I have realised that I don't get same satisfaction of giving through any other means. Whether it be organizing events for the youth or serving in the music ministry, I know that people can only be truly happy if they are giving. A clear example was when I was in the organising committee for a youth camp. Working under a deadline and tight budget required us to be innovative and imaginative in coming up with an attractive camp programme. It also required all of us to exercise patience with one another. We also had to chip in to help one another in areas that were not under our list of responsibilities. But because of the willingness to help each other, the camp was a success.

I find the following verses from the bible really meaningful. It speaks of seeking for wisdom and what it can do for you. I feel that in everything that I've done, whether for my studies, for my church, for enjoyment or just for fun, that deciding to do the right thing is the most important. And that it will be the single most important factor in the decisions of my life.

If you turn your ear to wisdom... ...Then you will understand what is right and just and fair as well as every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. [Book of Proverbs Chapter 2 verse 9-11]

I think that I will continue to learn much more after I graduate from Temasek Polytechnic. I look forward to more experiences like the ones I have gone through. Even the ones that were not so pleasant because its true when they say, 'What does not kill you will only make you stronger.