It is amusing and interesting that 4 of my friends have asked me about my relationship status this week. I don't usually get the same questions asked of me 4 times in a row. So when this happens, it's an impetus for me to think over it. And I found myself replying with the same answer in all 4 instances lol.

3 weeks into school and I'm already sleeping at around 2pm every night. There goes my new year resolution of sleeping before midnight everyday:( There's a second chance though since Chinese New Year is coming and it's considered the start of a new year too! There's really alot of work to complete. And I start getting all worried when I see the number of commitments I have. Currently, I have modern dance, Chingay practices, alumni dance, PSYSOC Events, PSYSOC SPS, YMCA and Clay Cove.

To all who are feeling stressed,

"Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it's because you've started to think of failure."
-Tommy Lasorda

Jiayous for school!!!

My first week in school hasn't been exactly smooth as I was really troubled over the modules I'm taking this semester. I was in a dilemma, not knowing whether to drop one of my UGC modules or not. My heart says that I should do it and I should be able to manage 4 modules with strict discipline. My mind concurs otherwise. It maintains that the workload is too heavy, considering the number of commitments I have and I will be risking my GPA. Which should I follow? Visceral beliefs or careful thoughts? I realized tossing a coin doesn't work if you don't already have a decision made.

And I pondered long and hard over it and came to a decision finally. Even though I won't be able to take the same modules as my OG mates, I'm not going to regret it and I will do my best for the modules! Go marlene go!!!

I've been reading a self-help book and ziling recommended a web subscription of motivational quotes each day. Let me share some meaningful ones:)

"You can have it all. You just can't have it all at once."
"If we keep doing what we are doing, we're going to keep getting what we're getting."
"We need to move beyond time management to life leadership."

As graduation nears, it feels very intimidating that every single thing related to academia or school has to be geared toward the GPA and toward building up the portfolio. The feeling that you will be thrown into the vicissitudes of the working world, the feeling of loneliness because everyone is busy with their own pursuit of academic success and the feeling that the future is laden with uncertainty only serve to aggravate the situation. Sometimes, we load ourselves with so many commitments that we are so caught up in doing things, we don't even stop to ask if what we're doing really needs to be done.

Will the masters be a pipe dream?

I finally completed the book(I think I took almost a year!) and I'm here to recommend it because it really is a very very good read!! I think it's one of the best novels I've ever come across.

It's humor, suspense, wit, politics, romance and even life lessons all encompassed into one. The plot is very unique and it's crafted in a way that readers will try to put pieces together to continue the story only to find surprises from the multiple twists in the plot.

"A good book holds up a mirror and a window to your soul because it teaches us about who we are-about the communities that bind and define us." - The Shadow of the Wind.