Wrap Up ;

So, 2016 has finally come to a closure and we are now looking forward to new adventures that 2017 will bring.

I'm kinda late to the party (as usual) but December has really been a tough time for me. 

Well now that that's over, i guess i'll just keep looking forward ? 

Alright. Just like the tradition to my previous years, i reintroduce myself to the new people who read this page, and to track the small things that changed for me. 

 

^ an overglorified image of me cos i now have a bad hair cut ugh. 

I'm Joy, i still study the Diploma in Child Psychology and Early Education (Ngee Ann Polytechnic). 

I'm finally year 3 and am graduating in May 2017. 

While some people say that my diploma is really not.. the best out there. 

All i can say is, this course has taught me alot more than just what kids are thinking or how they develop. 

The experience that i actually have with the teachers and children are really enlightening. 

If you have not ever seen children do the littlest of things and feel like crying, i assure you i have. 

Several times.

In the short span of 3 months that i have interned, i have learnt more from the children than ever. 

I see the supposedly "egoistic" children saying things like "DON'T CRY, SEE I MAKE THIS TOY FOR YOU TOO. WE CAN PLAY TOGETHER."

I hear the younger children saying "it's okay! They're busy! I'm okay!" When their parents can't make it for their performances or events. 

I always always get impressed by the children. 

They are the most kind and pure of this society and i want to protect this innocence with the rest of my life. 

They are happy at the smallest things and it makes me want to be part of that too. 

Slowly i find my purpose in internship shifting a little. 

While some may solely focus on getting 4.0GPA, i now find joy in learning from the children. 

I believe they are teaching me lessons that others can't teach me (without acting like a hypocrite in one way or another) anymore. 

I am blessed to be able to be their 'teacher', and i look forward to learning so much more from them now. 

 

2016 may not have been the best year, but that's okay !! 

Many lessons were learnt, mistakes were made and i'll try not to let them happen again ! 

(Of course, when it comes to the heart, it seriously just does whatever it wants so... yea there's that) 

I'll aim for 2017 to be a better year !!!! 

So, let's start by listing out the resolutions (that may or may not start fading out of my brain by the midyears) ! 

1. Drink more water

I've been having pretty badass chapped lips lately and my skin just isn't working out well so i'm just gonna keep downing bottles of water and like hopefully my body is happier. :p

2. Take better care of myself

Other than just drinking water, i hope i get injured less and will be able to do what i love without getting bruises or whatsoever. I need to stop making trips down to TCMs. xD 

Oh and, i have been falling ill quite abit since i'm now working with children (who are constantly exchanging viruses) so i really need to sleep well and like just take better care in general. :c

3. Slow down and enjoy what life throws at me

I want to constantly remind myself that it's the little things that matter in the end.

And that there's always a silver lining to the problem, so instead of focusing on the bad, i should look at the good more. 

This really applies to teaching so i really hope to hone my skills in this area !! 

Reminder to self: WHAT I DEEM TO BE BAD MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY BE BAD AT ALL. 

4. Make the people around me happy

I hope to spread the little joys that i find with the people around me. 

I want to see everyone happy eventually and if by doing the smallest bit of efforts, i can make their days, i hope that i will be able to do so for a long long time and just keep making others happy. 

I don't ever want to find that a chore, and i hope that it makes me genuinely happy to just keep giving.

5. Prioritise myself more

While i aim to give more, i hope that i will learn to prioritise myself more often and just think about myself for a moment. 

Not in the selfish and self-centered way, but in a way that will not compromise my own happiness for the sake of others'. 

I hope to find balance in giving and receiving, or to find a boundary line to draw that will keep me content and not borderline bitter at all. *insert moon emoji*

6. Save up !! 

It's a pretty known fact that i'm not a saver cos i love spending the money on food and people i love. I never find it a waste of money because money is (in the end) something i can't bring to my grave, plus i can always earn it back ! As long as i'm not starving, i really don't mind spending ! (But let's face it, EVEN IF I WAS STARVING I WOULD STILL BUY MY FRIEND A GIFT. COS I'M NICE LIKE THAT.) 

So i aim to spend more wisely !! Not less, BUT WISER. I want to still do as much, but cut down on unnecessary costs! That way i'll save up, but not cut down on my quality. :/

7. Lose weight/Tone muscles/ABS PLS

BEFORE YOU ALL SCOLD ME SAY I SKINNY, I MUST SAY: i gained weight. 

I LEGIT NEED TO LOSE IT :c

I want more toned muscles and i hope i will finally have enough self-control and discipline to train for my abs HAHAHAHA. 

It's been on my resolution list forever but it's never been accomplished (fml)

8. Eat more

Ok so if you actually know me well, you'd know i'm a very picky eater and i've been controlling my diet for way too long the past year so hopefully i will feel less bad about eating this year and just keep eating.

SO FAR I AM ONLY WORRIED ABOUT EATING TOO MUCH BECAUSE I'VE BEEN EATING ALL 2017. :D

9. Explore more

Ehhhhhhh i'm guessing this is something everyone would want to do ? I actually love travelling but never had the time to, so after graduation this year i hope to be able to go somewhere and really just indulge myself in the culture of another place before coming back to reality. I don't really care if the place is near or far, i just want to be able to tavel because i can't wait to have my own adventures.
Obviously, being able to decide my own schedules in another place with my friends is different from having a decided schedule with my parents so i'm looking forward to that.
GRAD TRIP HERE I COME. xD

10. Read more
Finally, this shall be the most important resolution of the year !
I guess being able to read is a privilege and i shall fully exploit this privilege to gain more insight !
I love reading actually, i love the literature, i love the way authors put thoughts into words and i love that these words can just line up in a sentence but yet bring so much meaning to the author and readers.
They can paint the most beautiful scenery into words, and alter the emotions of the readers with the saddest of them.
It's amazing really.
So i shall make more time for this hobby this year and hopefully by the end of the year i can safely say i read more books HEHE.




Ok so now i'm done with my resolutions, i shall now just do my very best in the coming year and see how my adventures this year unfolds.
There are no certainties, which makes it all the more exciting, but i'm just hoping 2017 will be as great for all of you too!
(Even if it doesn't turn out to be as good, let's just make the best of the year and KEEP TRYING OUR BESTEST)
I believe effort will pay off when luck isn't on your side.

2017, please be good and bring it on.

Joy

"A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset.
When you wake up, take a second to think about
what a privilege it is to simply be alive and healthy.
The moment you start acting like life is a blessing, 
I assure you it will start to feel like one. 
Time spent appreciating is time worth living."