Definitely having a hangover from orientation and I don't think it's something that will die out in a matter of days. But yes, Zekotoi is finally over and I feel so so so empty now. No more waking up at 5 in the morning and rushing to school by 7 and having meeting in the LT (the LT was practically our home for the entire 2 months journey). And no more cheer battles and practicing our dance with our strawhats. I'm really thankful for the opportunity to be part of something bigger for the school and this sounds so cliche but it was such a great experience and I don't regret it at all. So what if my holidays were burnt and so what if I had to rush all my homework and feel so screwed? It was all worth it to see the enthusiasm ripple through the crowd at the end of orientation and it was so so so nice.

Participating in orientation really means stepping out of your comfort zone. I like the idea of being valued here in the orientation committee, where people really take your opinions into considerations when we do debrief. It's like you can literally see how everyone just wants to deliver the most perfect orientation experience to the Year 5s. And I hate dancing but I had to dance onstage and I'm always so afraid to be alone with people but I had to lead my OG around alone on the first day. And there were so many people I didn't know but I had to work with them to make everything successful. It meant challenging myself to do the things that I never had the courage to do, and I'm glad I did it (: The kind of friendships you forge here really depends on your attitude towards everything I guess. They can remain merely as working partners if you let that happen. But what I'm most thankful for, is that Homa is really a family and even among the few of us as OGLs and the House Comm, we really sit down to talk about the things going through our heads and open up to everyone. I met people whom I'd never imagine meeting. And those late nights where we spent trying to perfect our performance, or just sitting there and eating; I don't think I'll ever forget those times. To the people that I've spent 2 months with, really, I have seen you guys nearly every day during the holidays and I can't believe it. But what really touched me was the dedication that each and everyone of you had towards orientation. It wasn't just about the responsibility and the fact that we had to fulfill our roles, but the passion that burned in your eyes because you wanted your OGs to experience something that will give them the strength and courage to go through the rest of their Senior High life. Something for them to look back on, and something that wouldn't make them regret coming for orientation. And I admire all of you so much. 

I joined as an OGL for a simple fact that I hoped that being busy with something during the holidays would speed up the process of getting over someone and that I wouldn't have time to think about things that would make me go insane. But I was wrong. I still think about things now, and it doesn't really matter that much anymore. Simply because I have happier memories within me and that I've gained so so so much from it. I remember telling a few people when we were waiting for a ride home, that I was so afraid that people won't appreciate all that we've done, and they just think that it's all stupid. And then I realised that you can't please everyone and that no matter what you do, there will always be people who end up not agreeing with you. But the only thing we can do, is to focus on those who are glad that you are there, and think about what more can you do for them. And I guess one good thing about being such an emotional person, is that I really really really wanted to know each and every one in my OG so much better. And even though time didn't allow for it to happen, seeing the smiles on their faces when I walked into their class on the morning of Day 2, I really cannot be more thankful that these are the people who are glad that I was there to see them through orientation. And that these are the people who said thank you to me and hugged me on the last day of orientation. There were things that I wish could turn out differently, and if only I had more time with this bunch of people. But I can only say that since things can never change and time will never rewind, I'm glad that 5C24 welcomed me into their class despite me being a stranger. 

You can never feel too much love or too much warmth but suddenly when the entire circle of Homanites surrounded us with a group hug, I was thinking that the love and warmth radiating from us could probably make this place explode. And to see them follow us to run around the track and have their arms around each other even though they probably didn't know the person next to them and chanting "HOMA HOMA HOMA"; I really really really couldn't imagine this to happen when I first started off as an OGL. And in the canteen when we bowed to thank them, I really couldn't stop the tears from falling because it all ended too quickly and it was too much to take, seeing how they appreciated everything they did for us even though we could have given them so much more. Some people might ask, how is it possible to feel such a strong bond to your class and to your house in such a short period of time. I'm not sure about anyone else, but for me, it's the sincerity that moved me. It's the fact that these people barely know you, but here they are, willing to step out of their own comfort zone; willing to burn their time; just to give you the warmth of a family. And that's what touched me. It's the sincerity. 

On a sidenote, yesterday I found out that one of my primary school mates was pregnant and now she has a child. And even though I don't know her personally, it was still shocking to find out. To think of it, she's the same age as me and while I'm studying my ass off here, she's starting a new journey as a mother. I guess it's a common misconception that we pity these people and we think that what they're doing is a mistake. But yesterday when I was thinking about it, I realised that they are the same as us. And maybe they don't express themselves as well as we do, but they have feelings too and they're aware of them as much as we are. And even though I'm still against the idea of having a child before birth, but I guess some part of me admires her for taking on the role of a mother at such a young age. Perhaps some people just meet the right one earlier in their life. To know how to love someone unconditionally, and in her case it's loving two people unconditionally, is such a difficult concept to grapple with but she got it and soon she'll see more than just herself. And that's so admirable. 

Definitely having a hangover from orientation and I don't think it's something that will die out in a matter of days. But yes, Zekotoi is finally over and I feel so so so empty now. No more waking up at 5 in the morning and rushing to school by 7 and having meeting in the LT (the LT was practically our home for the entire 2 months journey). And no more cheer battles and practicing our dance with our strawhats. I'm really thankful for the opportunity to be part of something bigger for the school and this sounds so cliche but it was such a great experience and I don't regret it at all. So what if my holidays were burnt and so what if I had to rush all my homework and feel so screwed? It was all worth it to see the enthusiasm ripple through the crowd at the end of orientation and it was so so so nice.

Participating in orientation really means stepping out of your comfort zone. I like the idea of being valued here in the orientation committee, where people really take your opinions into considerations when we do debrief. It's like you can literally see how everyone just wants to deliver the most perfect orientation experience to the Year 5s. And I hate dancing but I had to dance onstage and I'm always so afraid to be alone with people but I had to lead my OG around alone on the first day. And there were so many people I didn't know but I had to work with them to make everything successful. It meant challenging myself to do the things that I never had the courage to do, and I'm glad I did it (: The kind of friendships you forge here really depends on your attitude towards everything I guess. They can remain merely as working partners if you let that happen. But what I'm most thankful for, is that Homa is really a family and even among the few of us as OGLs and the House Comm, we really sit down to talk about the things going through our heads and open up to everyone. I met people whom I'd never imagine meeting. And those late nights where we spent trying to perfect our performance, or just sitting there and eating; I don't think I'll ever forget those times. To the people that I've spent 2 months with, really, I have seen you guys nearly every day during the holidays and I can't believe it. But what really touched me was the dedication that each and everyone of you had towards orientation. It wasn't just about the responsibility and the fact that we had to fulfill our roles, but the passion that burned in your eyes because you wanted your OGs to experience something that will give them the strength and courage to go through the rest of their Senior High life. Something for them to look back on, and something that wouldn't make them regret coming for orientation. And I admire all of you so much. 

I joined as an OGL for a simple fact that I hoped that being busy with something during the holidays would speed up the process of getting over someone and that I wouldn't have time to think about things that would make me go insane. But I was wrong. I still think about things now, and it doesn't really matter that much anymore. Simply because I have happier memories within me and that I've gained so so so much from it. I remember telling a few people when we were waiting for a ride home, that I was so afraid that people won't appreciate all that we've done, and they just think that it's all stupid. And then I realised that you can't please everyone and that no matter what you do, there will always be people who end up not agreeing with you. But the only thing we can do, is to focus on those who are glad that you are there, and think about what more can you do for them. And I guess one good thing about being such an emotional person, is that I really really really wanted to know each and every one in my OG so much better. And even though time didn't allow for it to happen, seeing the smiles on their faces when I walked into their class on the morning of Day 2, I really cannot be more thankful that these are the people who are glad that I was there to see them through orientation. And that these are the people who said thank you to me and hugged me on the last day of orientation. There were things that I wish could turn out differently, and if only I had more time with this bunch of people. But I can only say that since things can never change and time will never rewind, I'm glad that 5C24 welcomed me into their class despite me being a stranger. 

You can never feel too much love or too much warmth but suddenly when the entire circle of Homanites surrounded us with a group hug, I was thinking that the love and warmth radiating from us could probably make this place explode. And to see them follow us to run around the track and have their arms around each other even though they probably didn't know the person next to them and chanting "HOMA HOMA HOMA"; I really really really couldn't imagine this to happen when I first started off as an OGL. And in the canteen when we bowed to thank them, I really couldn't stop the tears from falling because it all ended too quickly and it was too much to take, seeing how they appreciated everything they did for us even though we could have given them so much more. Some people might ask, how is it possible to feel such a strong bond to your class and to your house in such a short period of time. I'm not sure about anyone else, but for me, it's the sincerity that moved me. It's the fact that these people barely know you, but here they are, willing to step out of their own comfort zone; willing to burn their time; just to give you the warmth of a family. And that's what touched me. It's the sincerity. 

On a sidenote, yesterday I found out that one of my primary school mates was pregnant and now she has a child. And even though I don't know her personally, it was still shocking to find out. To think of it, she's the same age as me and while I'm studying my ass off here, she's starting a new journey as a mother. I guess it's a common misconception that we pity these people and we think that what they're doing is a mistake. But yesterday when I was thinking about it, I realised that they are the same as us. And maybe they don't express themselves as well as we do, but they have feelings too and they're aware of them as much as we are. And even though I'm still against the idea of having a child before birth, but I guess some part of me admires her for taking on the role of a mother at such a young age. Perhaps some people just meet the right one earlier in their life. To know how to love someone unconditionally, and in her case it's loving two people unconditionally, is such a difficult concept to grapple with but she got it and soon she'll see more than just herself. And that's so admirable.