Cheska's 2013 Highlights <3

Heyyyy! It’s 2014 people! How’s your second day of the year so far? Hope you guys are having fun but nevertheless we have 363 more days to go!!!! WOOHOO!!!! So before I really really say good bye to my 2013 I want to share to you guys the highlights and the lesson I’ve learned, so its gonna be an emotional and long one… bear with me, LOL.

When 2013 started I was in the Philippines and on the same day we flew back to Singapore, but that’s reality. I have my life here and my life back home so I guess I just learned how to live with both sides after years of practice, HAHAHA. Anyways first month of the year is my month, coz its my birth month and well nothing grand for the celebration just a simple intimate dinner with my family and friends. Don’t worry I won’t be detailed just an overview.

So moving on, during the first half of the year I did my second internship at Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), Monica also did her internship there but we applied for different departments. Contrary to the fact that I study Chemistry, I chose a department that deals with Biology (Nanomedicine), I really looove bio! And I guess that decision really made me appreciate that area more. I worked on a project that deals with cancer cells, no worries its not a disease that can infect you, I asked my mentor HAHAHA. So nevertheless I want to go back there after my polytechnic days, ohhh graduation! I’ll share more about that later. Anyways, I managed to meet new people during my internship and these people really helped me since I am not really familiar with biology so they really did a great job in guiding me. Thank God for these good Samaritans!

As the school re-opened last April, I was both nostalgic and worried. Nostalgic because it is going to be my last year in polytechnic and worried because I have to start doing my final year project (FYP) and I don’t even know if I am ready to make another life turning decision after graduation. The school year started off smooth and typical but I always keep in mind that whatever I do now its gonna be the last so I had to my best as much as possible.

When summer break came or June Holidays, my family and I went to Adventure Cove. It is a new water park here in Singapore; so acting like the tourist that we are we enjoyed the attractions. That day was fun and memorable coz it has been ages since we went on an outing like this and in addition to that the place was really cool! Minus the long queue of course…

Back to school was kinda stressful with the FYP that we had to do in the laboratory during holidays and the annoying modules that I had to overcome that semester. I wish I can say I overcomed that semester with flying colours, but I did not. I passed but my gpa was not really impressive, but then again another lesson I learned the hard way. I got over it and just focused on my last semester, which I guess I am doing a better job so far. It was also during these times that one of my best friends here in Singapore left, Annisaa went back to Indonesia so yuh, it was sad but then again I kinda got used to it. The friendship is still there an I guess it will stick like a gum. Of course I still have my other bestmoron friend, Tongerz!

For the whole of September holidays the only place I went to was the school’s laboratory, and my part time job at some froyo place. I did go out a few times but seriously, what a life. But I had to endure it for a few more months then I can shout FREEDOM for a longer period of time, LOL. Ohhhh we were also doing the site for like a month! Yes, it was September when the idea dawn to us, we really wanted to have a blog for years but I guess that particular moment was the turning point. Frankly speaking it was fun and tedious but the idea that we will get to share to world what we love about ourlives is really a good motivation.

Our Avenue was born on the 1st of October 2013, that was the first day we shared the blog/site to others, particularly to those who are dear us. Then we did photoshoots for #OOTD, blogging, editing of videos and the rest was history in the making. I have to admit the support from the people around us was really flaterring, especially because we did not really started the site to be popular and all but to just create an avenue wherein we can be our usual self without any pressure. It’s just like doing something voluntarily and yet get rewarded for it, morally and emotionally of course! HAHAHA. I honestly thought its gonna be tough to be consistent but then again both us really put in effort and tried to compromise at every turn. I think that really made this partnership work, more than the friendship that we have.

November and December came, and we are finally in the middle of our last semester. I won’t elaborate much on these months coz I’ve said enough in our November Highlights and December Highlights. Ohhhhh….. I also spent my whole December babysitting my baby sister Lexi coz her nanny went back to the Philippines for vacation, so being an older sister an all. But I have to admit the bonding moments between my siblings and I were really memorable especially because I get to boss them around, HAHAHAHA kidding! I always do that anyways LOL. But on a serious note It was fun working together and doing household chores it has been ages since I last did one, LOL. Ohhh I also enjoyed cooking!

To wrap up this blog entry I want to end it with the lessons that I’ve learned this year. First, I’ve learned how to be a friend that does not measure the frequency of chatting or communication among my friends, especially those who are not in Singapore. I realized that you do not need to communicate that often to remain good friends, you just have to communicate enough, quality versus quantity as what they say. I also lost some of my friends this year, be it indifference or just plain complications that I gave up to. I tried to be loyal to my friends but I guess this year I really understood the meaning of ‘Friends come and go’, some just pass by to teach you some lessons, and rest assured they did. As for my family, I’ve learned how to be more open minded in some situations and I am proud to say that we are closer than before and I have my parents to thank for that. As for myself, I am more open minded now on who and what will I become in the future, besides everything will be done according to His will. I just have to learn the meaning behind every situation and look at the positive side.

I won’t drag this any longer but I hope you guys also made your own realizations in life. New year is just an excuse to start a new but it does not have to be Jan 1st for us to change and do some reflections. Everyday is a new day, so live to the fullest and not to the foolest.

Have a great year ahead!

<3 Cheska

#2013 #highlights #cheskasthoughts #ouravenue