2020 has been a fruitful year full of ups and downs.
In January, the word ‘Covid-19’ first appeared to our mind. Not knowing its virality, we live our life as usual.
However on the 16 March, my school had released a notice to go for full online learning till further notice. With that, I bought the first flight ticket after informing my parents to pick me up in 3 hours time. Rushing home with essential items, leaving my uncollected parcels and praying for a Covid safe journey back home. Some of my friends were forced to stay due to the unclear policy and movement order while some of them were afraid to bring home the virus, thus they stayed. The flight ticket was almost tripled than its normal price at that time, but no regret over this.
The first few months were indeed very boring. Hence, I started up a blog and vlog to record down part of my boring life to make it not so boring. XD It was my very first time to film myself in a video and edit it. Quite challenging but rewarding too.
[One of my vlogs in lab]
[One of my travel vlogs back in October]
In March, online learning had started. I believe all of you had the experience of being called up by your coursemates from bed just to attend a 9 a.m. class or to take the attendance. Some parts of me feel that the online learning separates us digitally, especially those who don't have a good network or the working environment. While the other parts of me truly enjoy online classes in which I can have my bacon while listening to the morning lectures or googling for answers during an online test. (I assume everyone did that before XD)
To be frank, I miss those good old times when I can have lunch with my friends after the lectures, queuing up for like 15 minutes to have a plate of Nasi Biryani in Fajar cafe or the Tangyuan from Bakti cafe.
But I guess there’s always some drawbacks when there’s a pros of something, right?
Finishing my fourth semester, I started my final year project with one of my coursemates, MX. Although it was just a 3 months based project, I had met so many fantastic new people who had taught me so much. The outcome of this project is that I have learned to do things I would never have dreamed of.
For example, make a Petronas Twin Tower using around 100+ used agar plates, use a micropipette with correct technique (which I thought I knew the technique but end up no, Thanks to my supervisor!) and also grow bacteria with milk to make yogurt. XD
[Petronas Twin Towers with Used Agar Plates]
[Yeah, it is me recording stupid moment again]
I personally enjoy the process of ups and downs throughout the project. In one of the mornings, we lost our bacterial strains which we used nearly weeks to culture. (Yes and we were blamed for not being meticulous.) Touchingly, the seniors, Hock Wei & Loi were so caring. They came in rush and helped us to look for our ‘lost strain’. (Actually, the strains were just being naughty and fell to the bottom part of the fridge. Damn!)
In the afternoon, we magically found a technique to improve the accuracy of spectrometry result and we named it as ‘pumping technique’. In the evening, our supervisor praised us for our effort and planning. He even brought his homemade cake tho. (It was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!)
All these summed up to be one of the vivid memories from the project back in July - Sept.
In October, a new online learning semester started which means another round of bacon with morning lectures. With that, I become a year 3 student who struggles so hard between sertraline and escitalopram for a depressive patient. (I felt more depressed than he is)
Oh besides, I got myself into an Advocacy Officer position in a local pharmacy student association. Worth mentioning, 1 hour before the online manifesto session I was still enjoying the sea breeze at Pantai Kerachut, Penang. Knowing that there was no line connection and boat to bring me back on time, I ran through the jungle and got on a Grab car to bring me back to my uni. As expected, I reached my hostel and ‘well prepared’ for my manifesto.
FYI, in order to reach the beach you will either take a boat or jungle trek for around 1.25 hours. On that day, my friend, ZP and I ran exactly like Edward Cullen (the vampire) in The Twilight Saga and we managed to reach the main entrance within 40 minutes. (I will call it vampire potential unleashed!) Gladly, I got the position. If not, my poor muscular system will be pretty sad over this.
I am also a person who enjoys learning new things and won't settle down. With the online learning ongoing, I picked up ukulele and aerial yoga as my new recreation activities. As I learnt some instruments before, it isn't that hard for me to pick up ukulele.
[A random ukulele strumming video clip]
But for aerial yoga, it is another story. The starting was bad. Imagine everyone in the class was beautifully posing their yoga posture, yet I was tangled with the hammock, looking like a funny string puppet. Eventually, hard work paid off! After a few lessons, I manage to pose some ‘still not bad~’ yoga posture in the air. Yeahh! XD
[My 'still not bad~' yoga postures]
But, there is always a plot twist when life is getting better.
Recently, I just got to know that one of my close friends was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. Not knowing the seriousness of his disease, I told him to enjoy his every moment and live to the fullest. Sarcastically, I just realise how naive I was to tell someone to enjoy his life when he has just another 5 or maybe 3 years to go.*
*Scientific study showed that the average life expectancy of patients with pulmonary fibrosis is three to five years after diagnosis. (Source from www.lung.org/)
Dear friend, I'm truly sorry for all my stupid words and actions if they hurt you. Sorry!
Life is hard, right?
All in all no matter how cruel life is, don’t look back. We only live once. We are not going that way and once we choose hope, anything and everything is possible!
In a nutshell, 2020 has been a fruitful year with ups and downs.
I believe there are far better things ahead than any we leave behind. So, happy new year and may the faith be with you in 2021.
Thanks all who helps me out in 2020
and I'm sorry if I hurted your feeling by my stupid words and actions.
///Love ya!///
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