Memoirs of a....Ronin
So its been a week since graduation, 9 days since the last day of school (ie. finals).
Writing from Chicago...family's all asleep, and i'm staying up so that i can watch Robot Chicken at 2.30am...which is like 11.30pm in SD...
Been in a whirlwind of activity during the last few weeks of school...been closing many of my unfinished business, and balancing school and friends at the same time.
Completed a Book Drive with Golden Key. Proud of myself for pulling it off with the help from my GK buddies. Decided to finish the run the weekend before finals after shuffling my feet for the whole school quarter, thanks to some down-to-earth advice from Diana H. Thank you! So basically, throughout the whole finals week (read: exams), i was spending my free time tabling and publicising out on Library Walk, talking to administrators, collecting and packing boxes of books. So at the end of the week, i finished three hard finals and one report, while collecting 21 boxes of books. The book drive was more successful than i thought. The books (or the money from books) will be sent to help educational institutions in Africa. Now, isn't that a good cause worth sacrificing exams for???
That being said, i did get back all my grades now. Last quarter in UCSD, and i finally made the mark; i got the 3.7 GPA that i have been working so hard for the last year to regain. Mind you, this wasn't an easy quarter, but i did it. Climbed up from the horrible depths to secure some semblance of respect for myself. This quarter was the most exhilarating, yet also the most frustrating of all the times i have been in UCSD. Took a totally foreign class in computer chemical modelling, and almost screwed that up royally. But some preseverance and BS-ing on my part got my through...I had perpetual cold sweats every night worrying about the simulations that did not work....
So graduation was wonderful, although pangs of jealousy of not being a top student did quell me down some. Was happy to see my fellow friends graduate with me, after the many years we have worked hard to get to this point. Congratulations to all!!!
Then it was worth on Amazing Race: Midwest. 7-day whirlwind tour of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Not exactly smooth sailing, but i hope my family had fun here. Then its back to San Diego for a final swansong before i say my goodbyes to America's Finest City (and i agree whole-heartedly!!!!).
But enough of that. I guess, this end to my UCSD chapter (until my MBA) was highlighted by the friendships i have made, messed up, re-secured and strengthed. I know it is unfair to name names, considering that i will forget a few and not list everyone down, but here i will attempt to do so, in no particular order:
Chew Kai Khen, Koh Fong Ming, Lawrence Ma, Wan Yue, Lin Xinyi, Xu Sangyu, Xue Shifeng, Tanya Ee, Adrian Lim, Chan Kok Lim, Kelvin Kee, Eric Wong, Lim Chin Yan, Jason Kwok, Wong Eetsin, Andrea Pillai-Dinneny, Lyon Liew, Tan Hui Min, Allen Ding, Joy Pang, Koh Tat Yang, James Chua, Dian Putrasahan, Edward Liaw, Grace Kang, Reeti Desai, Sue Ann Lee, Jonathan Lam, Cory Soeseno, Logan Goh...
Zhang Weiqi, Aida, Li Li, Ang Xinying, Stephanie Yeong, Lim Xinyi, Loh Jingyi, Carine Ng, Valerie Wan, Tan Keng Cheong, Liu Siliang, Liu Shanshan, Alanna Yeo, Dennis Ye, Jeryl Teoh, Adeline Yong, Mabel Lui, Cheung Lok Sze, Cynthia...
Sam Soloman, Karen Au, Lei Ju, Nancy Kwan, Sisiley Bao, Binh, Jennifer Chang, Diana Hung, Diana Combs, Charlie Chandsawangbhuwana, George Lin, Jacqueline Robichaud, Shelly Barnes, Kathy Pan, Chris Wright, Kevin Hsu, Chirag Vora, Diana Nguyen, James Hu, Angelina Altshuler, Jessica Hunt, Emily Ertola, Jessica Moore, Samuel Pitak, Andrew Lai (RIP), Raj Moudgil, Phi Le, Jun Ma, Tim Husson, Zack Cloyd, Daniel Luu, Nidta Viyakornvilas, Roas Liu, Vincent Lam, Jenny Hu, Nickey Lee, Pam Pranaiya Oulapathorn...
And this is by no means complete; its just some of the wonderful people i have met and become friends with in UCSD. and no, i didn't just get this off Facebook or Friendster or MSN. I'm not that cheap. these are the people who have affected me tremendously in my 4 years in UCSD and San Diego.
But if you happen to not find your name here, its not that i forgot you...its just that i do not find it fair to put your name there and consider you a friend, when i did not spend the time and effort to truly be a friend...
For those who do not know, this wandering will end soon. I start my new job in mid-July, and will be in Singapore for the next few years. i do wish to keep in contact with all of you, but if all else fails, you have my email (desmond.li.yan.hui@gmail.com) and my contact (+6593854806)...
So that's the sad part. 4 years. All over in the blink of an eye. Is it time for the prodigal son to return, or is it time for the wanderer to lay his hat?
Writing from Chicago...family's all asleep, and i'm staying up so that i can watch Robot Chicken at 2.30am...which is like 11.30pm in SD...
Been in a whirlwind of activity during the last few weeks of school...been closing many of my unfinished business, and balancing school and friends at the same time.
Completed a Book Drive with Golden Key. Proud of myself for pulling it off with the help from my GK buddies. Decided to finish the run the weekend before finals after shuffling my feet for the whole school quarter, thanks to some down-to-earth advice from Diana H. Thank you! So basically, throughout the whole finals week (read: exams), i was spending my free time tabling and publicising out on Library Walk, talking to administrators, collecting and packing boxes of books. So at the end of the week, i finished three hard finals and one report, while collecting 21 boxes of books. The book drive was more successful than i thought. The books (or the money from books) will be sent to help educational institutions in Africa. Now, isn't that a good cause worth sacrificing exams for???
That being said, i did get back all my grades now. Last quarter in UCSD, and i finally made the mark; i got the 3.7 GPA that i have been working so hard for the last year to regain. Mind you, this wasn't an easy quarter, but i did it. Climbed up from the horrible depths to secure some semblance of respect for myself. This quarter was the most exhilarating, yet also the most frustrating of all the times i have been in UCSD. Took a totally foreign class in computer chemical modelling, and almost screwed that up royally. But some preseverance and BS-ing on my part got my through...I had perpetual cold sweats every night worrying about the simulations that did not work....
So graduation was wonderful, although pangs of jealousy of not being a top student did quell me down some. Was happy to see my fellow friends graduate with me, after the many years we have worked hard to get to this point. Congratulations to all!!!
Then it was worth on Amazing Race: Midwest. 7-day whirlwind tour of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Not exactly smooth sailing, but i hope my family had fun here. Then its back to San Diego for a final swansong before i say my goodbyes to America's Finest City (and i agree whole-heartedly!!!!).
But enough of that. I guess, this end to my UCSD chapter (until my MBA) was highlighted by the friendships i have made, messed up, re-secured and strengthed. I know it is unfair to name names, considering that i will forget a few and not list everyone down, but here i will attempt to do so, in no particular order:
Chew Kai Khen, Koh Fong Ming, Lawrence Ma, Wan Yue, Lin Xinyi, Xu Sangyu, Xue Shifeng, Tanya Ee, Adrian Lim, Chan Kok Lim, Kelvin Kee, Eric Wong, Lim Chin Yan, Jason Kwok, Wong Eetsin, Andrea Pillai-Dinneny, Lyon Liew, Tan Hui Min, Allen Ding, Joy Pang, Koh Tat Yang, James Chua, Dian Putrasahan, Edward Liaw, Grace Kang, Reeti Desai, Sue Ann Lee, Jonathan Lam, Cory Soeseno, Logan Goh...
Zhang Weiqi, Aida, Li Li, Ang Xinying, Stephanie Yeong, Lim Xinyi, Loh Jingyi, Carine Ng, Valerie Wan, Tan Keng Cheong, Liu Siliang, Liu Shanshan, Alanna Yeo, Dennis Ye, Jeryl Teoh, Adeline Yong, Mabel Lui, Cheung Lok Sze, Cynthia...
Sam Soloman, Karen Au, Lei Ju, Nancy Kwan, Sisiley Bao, Binh, Jennifer Chang, Diana Hung, Diana Combs, Charlie Chandsawangbhuwana, George Lin, Jacqueline Robichaud, Shelly Barnes, Kathy Pan, Chris Wright, Kevin Hsu, Chirag Vora, Diana Nguyen, James Hu, Angelina Altshuler, Jessica Hunt, Emily Ertola, Jessica Moore, Samuel Pitak, Andrew Lai (RIP), Raj Moudgil, Phi Le, Jun Ma, Tim Husson, Zack Cloyd, Daniel Luu, Nidta Viyakornvilas, Roas Liu, Vincent Lam, Jenny Hu, Nickey Lee, Pam Pranaiya Oulapathorn...
And this is by no means complete; its just some of the wonderful people i have met and become friends with in UCSD. and no, i didn't just get this off Facebook or Friendster or MSN. I'm not that cheap. these are the people who have affected me tremendously in my 4 years in UCSD and San Diego.
But if you happen to not find your name here, its not that i forgot you...its just that i do not find it fair to put your name there and consider you a friend, when i did not spend the time and effort to truly be a friend...
For those who do not know, this wandering will end soon. I start my new job in mid-July, and will be in Singapore for the next few years. i do wish to keep in contact with all of you, but if all else fails, you have my email (desmond.li.yan.hui@gmail.com) and my contact (+6593854806)...
So that's the sad part. 4 years. All over in the blink of an eye. Is it time for the prodigal son to return, or is it time for the wanderer to lay his hat?
imagined by Desmond at
23:03
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0 death threats
