A former classmate of mine in Year One posted this as his status update on FaceBook today: “we appreciate something, only when we lose something”. To a certain extent, I am sure it holds truth. However…

Forget it. Let’s talk about something less, well, serious to begin with. In case you were wondering why I’m posting this, yesterday was the last official day in school for me, and my peers in the fourth year of Secondary school. With quite a bang, the three-hundred odd students in my school bade their farewell to the school.

Below, you can see a photo that was taken, a few days back, with me and my classmates in it. Courtesy of my form teacher, Ms Thian.

Great times… (of course there were better times, like back in April 29th of last year when Grand Theft Auto IV came out, but that’s another story. :p)

Now, let me first agree with what my former classmate has said. Appreciating what has passed us. Certainly there are a few people with whom I have had the honour of having class, lectures, or tests for the past four years. It is most unfortunate to say that I have not treasured such acquaintanceships, or even maintained friendships, with many of them.

And, that may be the cause of my ambivalence. Now that I am facing the light at the end of the tunnel, I am indeed taken aback by change. Gone will be classes or tests. It is a little disconcerting to find that I will no longer be amongst the cliques of people I am so used to loving or hating. Yet, at the same time, I am glad to finally be able to (almost) put and end to the arduous school routine.

Friends and foes I have made; memories that I will relish, and certain nightmares that I will abhor. Change is apt, and inevitable. Like the sun that shines daily, acquaintances come and go. There will be people that will have left an impression in my mind, and others that have left behind their trails in my heart. Those that truly matter will make their mark in time.

Now, I shall take this opportunity to thank those that have made a mark in my life. Memories are important!

Thanks for the “awe50m3sTzZz!11″ friendship, Sir Ho Zhen Sheng! Brothers for life! You are my brother from another mother! Thanks also to Lee Jun Hui, for being such a trusty companion! And, Jonathan Bek, for being an ever-present companion from year one to four, as well as in all those Chinese classes! Well, and not forgetting, Joshua Tan and your random jokes which proved to be an extremely good sense of humour; Ernest Tan with your quirky personality of being easy-going yet sometimes weirdly emo; Eugene Tan for being who you are! Of course, thanks to Louis Tan too – you’ve been a great listening ear! Last but not least, Meng Xuan, sitting beside me in class and making it less of a bore. And the rest, thanks for the acquaintanceship – Raymond, Kwan Ter, Yang Yang, John Ang, and the iMedia guys!

While the end of school has passed for me, the final battle is yet to be won. The G.C.E. ‘O’ Level examinations will be commencing soon. Finish the fight! And… my nostalgic feelings, in its nascent state? Let it reign over me!

Oh, and for those wondering, my reply to my aforementioned classmate? Here it is:

“We appreciate something, only when we lose something”.

Not quite. It depends.

What I mean is, it will truly be sad if one would have to lose something he has only come to appreciate after its passing. I am sure there are many things we all appreciate, it just depends on our angle; our perspective. When that perspective changes (especially very radically; i.e. you lose something), we might come to discover our attachment, emotionally or physically, is much greater than we may have realised.

That is why, it is important to question the status quo in life, wherever you may stand now. Challenge it. Ask, “What if my life is so radically different now?”, or “What if my life suddenly took a morose turn?”

Only then, you will come to appreciate all the positive things in your life. Sad to say, life sucks. The optimists’ dogma of “looking on the bright side” of life will pretty much apply. I’ve realised it does help. The truth is that we can only look at the light if we are in darkness!

We all perceive “the light” differently. Some may see it as God – and others, as hedonistic pleasures in life. But wherever our faith lies, hope lies therein, similarly. It is so essential to be idealistic, yet so crucial to stay pragmatic.

Also, it’s important to live vicariously sometimes. Live in someone else’s lives; walk in their shoes. Feel their pain. See their dreams. Read a book; play a game; watch a movie – it helps!

For now, my Secondary school life is all but gone. Past. History. The last vestiges I face – the ‘O’ Level examinations – let’s make it happen!

(Also, not forgetting, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars comes out in three days’ time on the PSP! As well as Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City featuring The Ballad of Gay Tony on October 29th! =D )

Music for the day:

Halo 3: ODST OST: The Light At The End