Soon, it's going to be the end of the semester. How fast time flies.. it's unbelivable that i've already been in Perth for almost 1.5 years. Thinking back, so much have changed - my thoughts, perspectives, etc. I remember my mum telling me before i left for Perth in July last year. She said that coming to Perth would be a turning point in my life. Indeed, it has been. Coming to Perth has opened up my eyes in so many ways and taught me many many lessons.

When i first came to Perth, i only had one goal in mind - study and graduate with my commerce degree and then return to Singapore to work. That's it. I never thought more about it. But now, my mindset has changed completely. Of this 1.5 years so far, what i've gained is so much more than just a degree. The life experiences, the different challenges that i've went through, learning how to be independent when you're far away from home, how to make the best out of whatever situation i may be in, stepping out of my comfort zone, getting to know different people, making friends that i know will last for life. There's just so much that i've gotten out of this whole "overseas study experience".

I am thankful, utterly thankful, for having the opportunity to come to Perth to study, and for having to the opportunity to be in St.Cats. This year has been amazing. Coming into St.Cats is probably the best thing ever that has happened to me in this 1.5 years. The different experiences that i've gained, the different events i've attended, the different people that i've met, and those special few close friends who have now become my family in Perth.

Just the other day, one of the girls in college was reading my palms (not that i believe in palm reading.. but for the fun of it.. why not?) and she said that i'm a blessed person. There was one thing that she said that stayed in my mind til now. She said "You're blessed, though in life, you may meet with difficulties, but you always make it through somehow, either because you have the strength in you to push yourself through, or you've got a strong support system."

This, i do agree with her. I do know i'm blessed. God has blessed me so much indeed. Wherever i may be, whatever circumstances i may face in life, i know that somehow, whether the circumstance is good or bad, God will bring me through. And God always places some "angels in disguise" in my life to help me through it.

When i meet with difficulties, rather than thinking that i have the strength in me to push myself through, i actually think it is more so because i have a strong support system in my life - my family and friends. To be honest, who i am today, how i've come thus far, it is because of them. Even when i'm in Perth, God has given me a family here too, my family of close friends and i wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. They can turn my bad day into a good one. They are always there whenever, in good times, bad times, happy times, sad times, etc.. and you don't have to have a reason too, they are just there. There really is nothing more that i can ask for. And i really do hope that God blesses this friendship of ours, that it will be one that last, no matter where the 4 of us may be, Perth, Singapore or wherever.

I really do think i'm blessed, very much so. I don't mean that my life is all smooth-sailing. But as much as i am a worrier (yes, i do tend to worry quite a bit and i do tend to think too much at times...), i know that in every situation, in every thing that happens, there is a reason behind it and it is always for the good. For example, before coming to Perth, i thought that maybe it is a bad thing for me to be coming to Perth, somewhere that feels like it's so far away from home. But then, if i never did make that decision to come to Perth, and if i didn't decide to stick to it, then i wouldn't have gotten to know my amazing friends here. As what one of my friends back home said "If going to Perth was a wrong decision, then God wouldn't have let you go to Perth in the first place." And yup, i'm glad i didnt give up halfway :)

I feel that i sound like a broken recorder or something.. But truly, coming to Perth, being able to experience all these and getting to know some of my close friends here is one of the best thing that has happened in my life.