Studies
Comparing the grades I have gotten so far to the time when I first entered university in 2006, I must say that there are significant improvements, albeit not very helpful in pulling the drastically low cumulative average point (or GPA) up. I am still the master in procrastination and I tend to focus on things I have more interest in rather than what’s more important on hand.

Still I am disappointed with the results I have gotten so far this year. Time flies so soon that I couldn’t believe I am already in my second year and onto the third.

Relations
To many of the strangers, I am still a meek, soft spoken lad, but to the other hundreds of people who know me better, I can be a nonsensical joker but I swear I am serious most of the times. Still, lacking confidence remains the key factor why I couldn’t articulate well in front of the masses, and because of that, I still find it difficult to relate to people especially with all the attention I suddenly have on me.

Since commissioning from the army, I promised myself to make time for friends and for more important people in my life. And I am proud to say I did find time for friends when need be. Of course, time is never enough and I hope to continue being that people-person in others’ lives.

The army still induces love and hate whenever I return to unit for attachment during the vacations. From cohesive gatherings and experience earned through mutual sharing to the extremists behaviour from people coming from all walks of lives. I am still the most junior in terms of seniority which entails a severe penalty when people play the infamous art of Taichi.

Spiritual life
Sadly and realistically, this can be the saddest news concerned Christian friends may ever have gleaned from my blog. In a way or another, I felt distant from the Lord. Many friends raised questions sooner or later whether I still attend church services – which seems to serve as a de-facto benchmark that signifies you to be a true Christian only if you attend services.

To provide some clarification, I haven’t been to a church on a regular basis for more than two years. Yep! Ever since I enlisted in the army. I remember attending a PlanetShakers service organized by Faith Community Baptist Church during my first year in NUS. That was the last church service I ever attended since. And no, I’m not proud of that record.

But I never expect God to be that silent. I was beginning to be more convinced that He left me all alone in this journey. I don’t dislike Him, but I am just worried if He’s even listening. I don’t want to speculate. I don’t want to believe blindly. I don’t want false hope and definitely not blind faith. I want solutions and advice. I don’t want cliché answers.

In anyway, perhaps on a happier note, my entire family attended a Christmas service which was organized by the church of my brother in-law’s sibling. As complicated as it sounds, God sure makes things work in His own ways.

New Year Resolutions
Being the procrastinator I was (actually still am, but trying to shed the habit), I know new year resolutions are like plans that are left non-executed. Like what Joan mentioned on her blog, it is absolutely important to get things properly planned out, i.e. pragmatically not idealistically.

Still, I want to get my school work straighten out. That’s the utmost concern now, or at least for the next two and a half years.