2.0.0.5.

We have arrived. The new year is upon us now. Before work starts getting into full-swing, and school breaks us (and our defences) down, before our lives begin to crowd up with a multitude of new experiences, new people, new environments and new knowledge, I would like to reflect a little on the people who have made a difference in my life during the year gone by.

What a year it has been! As I came back home from niki's house tonight, I couldn't help but marvel at the way my friends have eked out a space for themselves in my heart. Each and every one of them... Some more so than others no doubt, but all just as important and as much a part of me as I of them. To these people I have often bared my heart, shown my ungrram side (shaddup all of you! *glare*), and exposed my moodswings and eccentricities. With them I've shared much laughter, distributed saikang workload, braved the bitter and the bad, and celebrated the everyday and the ocassions. In their company, I have gone from a shy and introverted individual in need of constant reassurrance, to a loud and still introverted individual in need of constant attention. Over the years, the group has been enlarged to assimilate more people, even as cliques are broken and barriers overcome. New acquantainces forged, even as old alliances are renewed. Just what is it that draws all of us together? The love for life or the enjoyment of it? The pain of going through architecture, loving it and yet hating it at the same time? The empathy that can only be shared among fellow architectural (ex and current) students? Whatever the case, I must say that this is one helluva group of people, and I really appreciate them for being totally wacky, cool and out-of-this-world, and for accepting me as I am.

I know I seldom say this, but I do love you guys so much. I cannot even begin to think where I would be right now if not for all of you. I probably would still be stuck listening to bubble-gum pop and soppy boybands, watching Titanic over and over again at home while bawling my eyes out for the millionth time, keeping my hair long and straight like I always thought girls should, and basically not even knowing what T&C is. (I know it finally ming!) I probably would have never managed to graduate, since I never ever made it to lectures and the only reason why I did so eventually, was because you guys took extra lecture notes for me. I would have never passed all my design projects if not for the constant critique and appraisal garnered during informal discussions. I would have never gone to mambo because I simply would not have known what that was! I would have never managed to send out school applications on time if not for the timely advice and external push factor. I would have never dared to dream further than I can see into the future, I would have never dared to be ME.

In this new year ahead, a huge upheaval beckons, major change hovering on the horizon. Many of us will be scattered across the world, in different places leading different lives, pursuing our various interests to varying degrees as we deem fit. This group will be mostly separated at the same time next year, and it almost feels like a bittersweet parting to think that way. To say goodbye is not easy, but letting go is also a sign of love. To each his own, but yet in unity we find strength. Cheers to the new year and come what may, let us grit our teeth, hold each others hands, and face the unknown, together, forever.

To my exceptionally talented aki friends, kudos and ganbate! You all have made architecture worthwhile for me. Muaks.