i normally wouldn't say this, but i just can't contain this

today i shaved my head and last friday, i pretty much completed and put a full stop to all of the commitments that i've taken on in my pre-national service 9 months.

friday saw me round up my lessons with the girls who i've been coaching for the past few months, inform my supervisor that i'll not be going down to peihwa anymore and that i've going to take a well-deserved rest before i enlist in a week's time, and lastly, i completed my presentation at ncoo.

what a 9 months it has been, and now, i'm almost at the closing of this chapter of my life and even as i wonder at what the future has in store for me, and marvel at all that i've been brought through, i feel both a sense of reluctance to step once again into the great unknown, and also a sense of excitement.

truly, i've been blessed greatly. when i first decided that i was not going to work at an optical shop , i reasoned with myself that money was not my objective in this period of time, instead i wanted to make full use of my time.

what is amazing is on top of the invaluable experiences that i've gleaned, God has blessed me bountifully as well.

my supervisor surprised me last friday with news that she's gotten for me a $200 love gift to thank me for my time there with the children, on top of my pay for my last month there.

and then, at ncoo, despite me struggling to juggle my preparations for the presentation and as well as for my chiangmai trip, i was awarded the best paper, and accordingly, another $200 cash prize. i remember the week before i was to fly off filled with emails, edits, consultations, even as i was tied down with my other commitments at school, tuition, and my chiangmai trip preparations (starcraft 2 too, haha, but i really played very little that week). but really, i'm so grateful for the people who've been placed around me. from my lecturer who is ever so open and willing to give me a helping hand with any of my queries, to a great friend in bingsheng, who despite me being one of his competitors, helped me greatly with my poster, emailing me his template because he knew that i've only just gotten back from thailand, helping me print and collect it, and in general, being a very good friend. and then, of course, all the hard work that had already been poured into the project by my fyp groupmates, all of which i borrowed in order to have been successful.

and at my last lesson with the girls, someting which i said i would do for free, i was given a sum of money as appreciation.

all the money combined probably would still be nowhere near what i can earn in a month at an optical shop, but seriously, how do you even attempt to quantify everything else that i've learnt and gained in monetary terms? i'm just thankful for all that i've been blessed with, and indeed, my cup overflowth.

i'd like to end with a somewhat truncated version of what i said to my students at the end of our last lesson on friday.

i said that after all of our toils, there comes a point when we can only do so much, and that is the point when we simply have to let go, and simply commit everyting to God. and then i asked if i could pray for the both of them.

and this is where i am now, at the cusp of a altogether new and unknown chapter of my life, at the threshold of a great advanture. i can only do so much, my strength is only so limited, and therefore, i simply commit everything into my God's hand, the very God who has blessed me so abundantly. and this is my prayer.