I still remember the day I received my posting into Mass Communication. I was distraught. In the three months prior I had enjoyed a very comfortable and relatively exciting time at ACJC, the only junior college I had ever thought of attending. Naturally, I had wanted to continue the tradition of 12 years in AC, but that door had been shut.

All appeals failed, so while my friends from orientation enjoyed (or rather started fearing) the continuing semester, I waited out the 2 extra months for poly to start.

What ensued from the first day of FMS FOC 2007 was passion in its strongest form. Despite my initial dread and disappointment, I am truly grateful that I was given the opportunity to read Mass Communication and discover a future that I never before imagined. Granted I wasn’t the most exceptional student, but I experienced something in my 3 years that I never had thought possible: I actually wanted to go to school. Most of the time anyway.

No doubt it’s been tough, no doubt I didn’t always know what I was doing and felt like giving up many times, but what a ride it’s been! It started off good but ended up declining. That is, until Wuhan in 2008.

Pioneer batch of 6-Week Wuhan Immersion Programme students at Graduation 2010. PICTURE: Davis Koh

Wuhan was a trip that brought along many challenges, chief of which involved the publication of 2 magazines, Trippers and EXcapades. We were also pulled from the various classes we were in during the first semester of Year 2 to be in a Wuhan class, having done some modules in China already.

All this of course resulted in the formation of factions and class politics, but strengthened the bonds within groups and brought about, among other things, some of the best work and grades I’ve ever produced. Such a competitive class meant going to endless means to stand out and produce excellence, and it was the start of much better things to come.

Having been able to survive 6 weeks in China without parental guidance, I then decided to spend 6 months doing my attachment in Hong Kong, during which josh.nekokun was born. It was this time spent at Panacea Publishing Asia Ltd that cemented my ambition in Journalism and Publishing, and helped me to decide my electives the following semester. An A+ grade also meant my GPA that semester was 4.0.

The time away set my priorities in order, allowed me to find myself (corny, I know) and above all, made me cherish the friends I missed and looked forward to seeing back home.

It seems quick but we’re now on to my final semester in NP. That’s how insignificant my first 3 semesters were in comparison, I suppose.

Trust me when I say it felt much shorter than any other semester, and that I truly enjoyed doing my some-say-crazy combination of electives. Print, Online and Sports Journalism. MASINA and Medlaw on the other hand, those I could do without.

Due to our diverse combinations, I was separated from the group of friends I had grown so close to during Wuhan and the semester after. Ironically, none of them wanted to pursue Journalism so it was a path that I had to take alone. I often doubted myself and my abilities that last semester.

Regardless, I was doing all the things I loved so what resulted was the highest GPA of my 5 non-attachment semesters. To top it all off I was awarded a Diploma with Merit despite having never been in the Director’s List. I still wonder how that happened.

6 magazines, 3 school newspapers, 2 online magazines, 1 specialisation.

So, the culmination of my 3 years ends with a few pieces of paper, thousands of photographs and a plethora of memories, good and bad, that I wouldn’t trade for any JC education.

Me collecting my Diploma from GV Managing Director David Glass. PICTURE: Muhammad Hafiz Rahman

Through it all, I’ve made some wonderful friends who will stick by me and I by them, gotten my Diploma and more, and done many more things than I could’ve done anywhere else. I’d say that’s a bargain.

It is now the 1st of March, 2010, and for 10 years of my life I spent this day celebrating the anniversary of Anglo-Chinese School, the place where I grew up and learned how to be me.

Earlier tonight I spent a significant amount of time reading through the old blog posts on josh.nkN, from entries made while I was in Hongkong to those from the first semester after Wuhan, dating all the way back to October of 2008. It has been an amazing journey.

It has been a long time for all of us.

This post isn’t meant to be quite as sentimental as it is becoming, I think. But anyway, what I hope to do within the next few days is relive some of the former glory this blog used to have (as much as it had, anyway). So just like back in 2008, this will begin with a shoutout to all who still read this page to leave a comment just to say hi. This space is about to get more interesting. I guarantee it.

I must say though that it’s been tremendous fun writing for a youth magazine for a change.

(disappears for 9 hours)

(reappears)

Okay so I’m back! Where was I. Right, tremendous fun writing for a youth mag. Well it was nice to be able to write in a relaxed fashion (which I never do except on my blog) and more or less not have to worry about style or tone.

Anyway, school starts on Monday. I guess I’m prepared. Not much else I can do I suppose, that’s what I mean. I only have a couple days of freedom though, and today’s already over so just one left.

I did a terribly awesome bit of shopping today. Okay it was hardly a bit, but shopping with Mum makes it all better!

It’s a long story though so I’ll cut it short. In a nutshell I ended up buying 3 things: a shaver (‘cos mine broke), a dry cabinet (‘cos they’re awesome and keep my camera stuff dry and HELLZ YEAH) and a voice recorder (as an investment ‘cos well, I’m tired of writing. So there)

On a separate note, may be time to update my wishlist. But no rush on that I guess. Not like I’ll ever run outta things to want.

So yes! I’m all set for the new and last semester. Kickass! The next post might just be the back to school first day post. Not that I’m obligated to write one.