Today I’ve matriculated and am a proud student of the National University of Singapore. Looking back, God has really been faithful, while I have been really lazy. You could say that I have been extremely phlegmatic about where I would end up studying in, which I do not totally deny, but I would like to say that I’ve been trusting in the Lord for allowing me the chance to study in NUS. All honour really goes to Him!
But that is not the main story. I went to matriculate on my own, not because I’m a loner but because I really had no idea who else would be studying there. (Ok maybe I am a bit of a loner..) But as it turns out, I bumped into 4 different friends that were from 3 different times of my life.
Friend 1: Keith Tan
Keith Tan and I were from the same squash team in JJC. He was the captain and I was one of the lousiest player they had. We were worlds apart. He was popular and well liked, while I kept a pretty low profile in JJC. I recall meeting him once again while I was serving as an usher at SAF day just last year. I had just commissioned not too long ago and he had passed out as a commando man. It was interesting to have met him then. I of course had much pride being so far ahead of him in terms of rank, but when I look back, he is indeed a remarkable person.
Friend 2: Yao Qianying
Qianying was my band junior and if I’m not mistaken, just one year my junior. I was wondering through the matric fair and walked into her stall. Though it has been, at least, 4 years since I have last seen her, she still looks the same – Big wide smile that makes her eyes disappear. We had a short chat about how our lives progressed and it was very nice to have met a band junior once again. We both concluded that it is awkward that she is now my senior when she was my junior in school.
Friend 3: Kenny Low
Kenny Low was another friend in squash. Unlike Keith (Tan), he was not amazingly good but still, better than I was, or ever will be. I’m not melancholic by the way, just stating a truth – that was how bad I was. (Thank God I’m alright when it comes to tennis.) Anyway I recall him to have always had an air of a gentleman. Really nice guy to be around. It was nice to bump into him again while I was exiting NUS.
Friend 4: Daniel Ng
Daniel Ng was a character that I met in OCS while I was in Echo Wing. He OOC (Out-of-course) pretty late into service term and as I recall, was going through a tough time. I cannot remember the full details but I recall that it somehow had to do with wanting to complete OCS but not being able to because of some spine issue. I remember that we had a few good times chatting about many things, even his relationship with his girlfriend. But the one thing I vividly recall is that I tried to deter him from smoking. Having not seen him for the last, close to, 2 years, I have no idea at all how he is doing. I was heading out of NUS and had only the sermon on my mind and as such only waved to him when we walked pass each other. He saluted me, out of respect, I hope.
These are the impressions of the 4 friends that I bumped into. It was nice to know that ALL of them called my name out and wanted to converse with me. When they had all called me, I sincerely could not remember ANY of their names, even Keith’s. I believe that I have a really bad memory when it comes to names. But beyond that, this got me thinking of the impressions that they have of me – Could it be that I have made a good impression to them while I had spent time with them throughout my 3 different phases of life? Well I wish I did. I really do. And if I had not, then I really do regret it. But this I would not know until I get to know them better.
Did they make an impression on me? Yes they did. It just needed a little bit of jolting. I am proud to say that it took me only 3 hours to recall ALL their names.
I want to make good impressions on the people that I will meet in future. I don’t want to just be known as the nice, short, well-mannered, pretty good looking guy. (Ok, yes to a certain extent, yes..) I want to really be known as the guy who really cares and is a really awesome christian. Just that and I know that I have been good and faithful to my Lord.
