The countdown has started! In less than 48 hours, I will be heading to Korea for my holiday! Woot~!!

3 months of learning, 28 lessons attended, 6 hours per week, 3 hours each session, with 1 motive in mind; to attain a degree for self-improvement.

My first life cycle change at the beginning of year 2012 is to take up a degree course at Kaplan, and study for Murdoch University’s Bachelor of Commerce – double major in Management and Marketing. I initially wanted to take up RMIT in SIM (Singapore Institute of Management) but due to various reasons; distance, convenience and flexibility.

Distance
Due to the unforeseen situations that I faced during work, I had foreseen myself to be late for class every week. Hence, to minimize the duration of lateness, Kaplan is the nearest institute to my work place. Thank goodness, it was a wise choice as I’m always late, as usual.

Convenience
I would not want to run the entire Singapore just to balance my work-study-home life every week. That is tiring and it will kill my body by the end of the year. I maybe Ultraman but I am not Ultra-Ultraman. Hence, city is better than west side.

Flexibility
Unlike SIM’s RMIT which I had to take 3 modules per semester STRICTLY, Kaplan offers the number of modules you wish to take up per trimester. This means, you could take 3 for one trimester and if are too exhausted, you can take up 1 module the next trimester. I really need the flexibility of modules in order to cope work and studies, to offer my 100% effort in doing both. I mean, who wants to get bad results by paying at least $5K per trimester?!

The beginning of the learning phrase was a tough one. The awkward feeling of reading a study material after more than 2 years of working had made me get in touch with education again. Unlike in Polytechnic, this learning phrase is a whole lot different. I had to juggle between work and studies. Although the assignments are not weekly reports, the duration spent on each assignment could squeeze my brain juice till my brain cells exhausted.

Luckily, I managed to get to know a few classmates, who became my group mates for this trimester project. It was a good attempt as we get to learn from one another. My English isn’t that good but I guess I’m improving lately, especially the forming of appropriate sentences to my reports. At least, I am proud to say that I had not forgotten what Ms. Lee had taught me during my Secondary school days due to my weak English. =]

During the last phrase (exam/study period), I discovered that my capability of absorbance in bundle of information had weakened. In the past, I have no worries in memorizing 3 to 4 chapters per day. However, today, Uncle Nicholas had to study up to 2 chapters or sometimes, 1/2 a chapter each day. Demoralizing effort from me, I guess.

Regardless if it’s the age factor or the brain-get-smaller theoretical analysis, nothing could save me from the torture of passing my exams. Each week you gone through your projects and assignments, you have that feeling that your grades are suffer (cause you have no idea whether what you had done is correct or not), your getting restless (do not have ample time to rest) and you feel like giving up (Oooohhhh its damn true!). Yet, friends and even your self-conscious mind keeps reminding you, don’t do that.

Now, I had just finish exams. Whether the paper is screwed or good, I just gonna take my next 2 weeks break at Korea – fun-filled relaxation, before I go back for round 2 of my education. School; a place of fun and terror, a place to socialize and learn. I did once missed the love for school. Now that I’m back, I will strive to become better.

The following results are based on the Weston Premier Futsal League that is held at East Coast Park - Sports Planet every week, between November 2011 to February 2012. Below are the final goal tally standings of the team: Livewire FC.


1st - Yang (Nino Tan) - 15 goals

2nd - Jimmy - 11 goals

3rd - Eugene - 6 goals

4th - GJ Ragendran - 4 goals

5th - Hsuan - 3 goals

6th - Jeremy Khoo - 3 goals

7th - Wei Teck - 2 goals

8th - Sebastian Khoo - 2 goals

9th - Afiq Mohammad - 1 goal

10th - Joshua Koh - 1 goal

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Winner in Livewire FC: Yang (Nino Tan) (15 goals)
Runner-up: Jimmy (11 goals)
2nd Runner-up: Eugene (6 goals)

This post serves as a reminder for me; to stay focus at all times for this week (in order to complete my assignments) and stay away from soccer or gaming for now.

This sounds harsh to eliminate the entertainment in my lifestyle, temporary, but I have to do so to complete these assignments.

Pushing on fellow, do the right thing to be a man. X_X

School has been hectic these days as the list of assignments piled up in such tight schedules. I could be struggling with the project deadlines this week and coping with tests on the following week.

I sometimes felt that the workload that I’m doing at present caused me to have lesser time spent with my loved ones, with the things I enjoyed and goals I wish to attain. For instance, my choir practices with Singthesis had been neglected as I had too many commitments. I love singing but commitments prevent me from doing so. I guess the next commitment that will be dropped out of my lifestyle would be helping out Damien at the diving meets. =/

On the other hand, the inclusion of studies has been a fruitful experience for me lately. Imagine, every day is a learning journey, which you learn a lot of things, from life-changing skills to reality-check facts. All these information has made me to be a… knowledgeable person I guess.

Of course, the learning journey never stops when you stopped schooling. I admit that I’m learning my school modules in collaboration with time management. Other than work-related, I had social-related issues to learn. My relationship with Shu Yun had been ups and downs though we don’t show much to others. I know how she feels but the inner self of me are showing vice versa actions.

I did neglect her feelings lately but I hope I would still try my best to do what it takes to be her best man. However, what lies ahead in the future is still an unknown. Probably, all I had to do is do the right things, and doing things right, one at a time like baby steps, to improve the situations or enjoying the happy moments that I missed.

The future – a black hole that hangs its existent in the Universe; no one knows what it is or what lies in it. Yet its acts like a suction that brings no return to the present.

Gosh... What am I crapping when I had lack of sleep. Nonsensical thoughts of mine.

Some call it an "enrichment", some classified it as a "burden", a few even mentioned it is an "investment" too.

I define it as a necessity. Yes, what I was referring about was studies. At the age of 24 (this year) I'm taking up my part time studies at Kaplan - Double Major in Management and Marketing under Murdoch University. Amazing!

School has been fun but it's been a while I'm into this studying mood since I had started working 2 years ago. It's about more commitments, more challenges, packed timings and lots more.

I wonder could I handle the stress or not, especially when my attitude is yet to tune into the schooling lifestyle. 2 lessons each week and projects and assignments piling, not forgetting the tests and exams. ~.~"

Well, let's hope I manage to deal with everything peacefully and getting my goal of achieving good results. Praying hard for a 3.0 GPA if possible.

Who says the university is a easy job? Yet, who has dare to take up the challenge to enhance your capabilities in time management and self-enrichment? I did. =]

Pressing on...

It's always difficult to pen down my feelings whenever I received a sudden depressing news.

Jeremy Ng Wei Chong; a primary school friend of mine; lost his life during an unfortunate accident during the week of Christmas 2011, which his motorcycle collided with a cab.

Reports were shown on the papers and news, Facebook entries were placed but I didn't notice it at all. Maybe I was busy at work, maybe I was engrossed with soccer, maybe I was just mad about my Playstation3.

I felt guilty. Guilty for not paying a little more attention to the friends I missed out. Paying attention to their replies of "Hi" and "Bye".

I could say, we had great times when we were young. Recess was all about fun - visiting the library, playing catching at the canteen and many more. We attended Scouts together and went to door-to-door for donations.

Once in awhile, I do have the chance to visit his house for some games and relaxation and I still could recall the whole collection of balls, literately balls (for soccer, netball, basketball, tennis, ping pong, etc) and list just go on and on. His family members are nice and it's always been fun whenever I visit his home to play.

Time past. Secondary education splits us to different schools and there was no way of contact point till Facebook appears. He managed to add me and talk to me but it was all short conversations.

We have grown, and yes from missing a friend till founding a friend yet I lost another instantly. I felt rather worried for his family as his elder brother was the only one left in the family to take care of all matters.

Thanks Mah Chin Wah for telling me what happened and I really wish to pay my respects to him, one day, of course.

I felt the pain when I heard the news but I didn't tear. I was much braver, calmer than before. I had learn to grow up as a young man, to control myself from these hurt.

I thought being extraordinary could make my heart, filled with steel, no pain, no fear. Yet, the news just reminded me that I'm born human after all.

Till then, my dear friend. Rest in peace as the gods will guide you to a better place.

十一年过了，我们却没机会对彼此问候。
但四年之间的友情，我会深深的记住，无法难忘。
再见了，朋友。

"The beautiful game", as it's mentioned and described by many soccer fanatics, is a game that can't be expressed by words but actions of the feet.

At the start of mid-October 2011, it is a group of teenagers, with some young adults involved, to form a team for a Thursday soccer league that is held weekly at East Coast Park.

It wasn't easy to form the perfect team, as no one knows each other, especially their strengths and weakness in the pitch. Training begins and each week, the bits and pieces are merged together, yet the only concern still exist; so much talking but will we defeat our opponents?

The first game begins, against the leading Champ; Dorset Boys; who has a good reputation of their players way of playing soccer. Mistakes made the team to lost a huge upset of 18-3. Problems were voiced out from there but we decide to hang on.

The next fixture; Steady Joes; a mid table group which we believed we could beat on. Leading with a 3-1 at the first half was a good sign but lapse in the defense once again caused the team to lose by the final scoreline of 5-4. We cried foul but the referee resumes the play, and the opponent continues to slot the ball into the net though the ball was out of the line when witnessed by many. A painful defeat.

The following matches against Red Stallions (16-2 lost), Los Santos (12-3 lost) and Street Boyz (3-11 lost) had been a big hit on our morales. Problems raised as players within the team faced problems such as injuries, commitments and others, causing disharmony.

The turning point of the league came when we staged against Gunners FC, a matured team who are im-par to our standards of play. We won our first match, of 5-2 and lifting us out of the bottom, and be 6th of the 7 team league. A relief but more work is to be done.

Second part of the league season shows more improvements in the game. Losing our next 3 games to Dorset Boys (8-11 lost but still we improved), Steady Joes (8-2 lost which was depressing) and Red Stallions (6-4 lost) had build up our understanding of our opponents play.

The remaining 3 fixtures before we conclude the league is important and we are hoping that we could gain 3 points from Street Boyz (5th in the league, leading us by 1 point) and Gunners FC (last in the league with a point).

I wont be there to commit in the remaining games but I wish the team luck in getting their required victories, and attaining the team's aim of getting a mid table finish.

Signing off, from a member of Livewire FC

Lin Jun Jie has released his new album; 學不會; today. I had pre-order the album and will be hoping to hear new compositions from him.

This album will be his first album under Warner Music. Previously, JJ Lin was from Ocean Butterflies Music since the start of his music career. Probably its called greener pastures, the new move to a new company may help him in broaden his music career.

Let's just anticipate the realease of his album and hear what's new from his compositons, to determine whether a brand new JJ music is out for us to hear, or not.

It's chemistry that we met.
It's destiny that we know one another's existence.
It's fate that brings us together. 
It's chance that allows us to work out on everlasting obstacles of each other's life from now on.

With all said, this special date brings 2 person out of loneliness in this world, all because of "L.O.V.E".

 世界少了两个寂寞的人,因为爱.