Wednesday, September 03, 2008 . 10:19 AM

mr popular... hah, i wished!

I am finally through my first day of school.... Oh dear, not a very good way to start considering I've just begun my first day and there I go saying, "finally through".

It's been quite a long day actually. Started by day with P-chem, the class most seniors dread when they took it - and now it's my turn to face the full wrath of what Pchem can do to me. :x

"Hi Khian!", X called out to me after P chem class. Immediately, there was a friendly exchange of greetings, which felt a little too overwhelming for me considering we weren't that close, and surely, I wasn't expecting that kind of greeting - that of a long-lost friend - from N. "How was summer?" he chimed.

"Awesome... Can't have it better. I was in Cambridge for 2 months for an internship."

"Wow, that's cool!" X said brightly. "How did you get it?"

So there I was, side-stepped to a corner of the lecture theatre telling him how I got into the program and not long after that, I could feel the one question I dread coming, pouncing on me like a tiger pouncing on a helpless lamb.

"What's your number? Maybe we could work on the problem sets together someday?" X sniffed, as his fingers busily work on the keypad of this slick handphone.

I've known N for almost a year now, and this is the first time he asked for my number. Hm, I wonder why.

Then on my way to Oncology, I met Y, clad in hot summer pants with a new hairdo, curls which made her totally unrecognizable (to me) until she waved at me. I've also known Y for almost a year, took a couple of classes and though we don't usually talk in class, we do exchange friendly smiles whenever we bump into each other. We talked for a while, and when she learnt that I had taken a class which she is now taking, she asked if she could have my reports... and then for my number. Wa, never knew I was this popular.... Haha... Oh wellz.

The highlight of the day has to be lab... I remembered the days, having to drag my feet to lab, no matter how weary I was, I was there. I don't dread lab - don't get me wrong, I do enjoy doing science, but having to juggle school, work, social life, church - and lab, can be really really realy draining. But still, I was there. I spend most of my weekdays outside school in lab, occasionally going back on Saturdays, if I really really have to. I still maintain a "free weekend" policy whenever possible. Occasionally, I am put on 'guilt trips' for I am indebted to my mentor's understanding and kindness. She would grant me time off to prepare for exams on Hell Weeks when I had 3 midterms in a week whenever I asked for them.

Stepping back to into lab gave me a sense of being back "home" again - with genuine welcomes and greetings... even the Professor was happy that I am back... He was worried that "I ran away". I detailed my experience back in Cambridge and we got started discussing my new project. He asked me about grad school plans, and was eager to get me published as he knows how a paper could potentially give one an upper hand, an advantage when it comes to grad school application. And I am ready to learn more new things, take on the challenges, and endure the long hours.... no matter how hard, I know I will pull through - even if it means dragging my feet to the lab. He strode to his shelf, pulled out the latest edition of "TOP US GRAD SCHOOLS RANKING" and insisted I have a copy of it. I felt a gush of motivation, nothing I've felt in quite some time, like how a gust of strong wind blows to keep a door wide open.

I have serious business to do this sem... I've to put other concerns aside, and focus on what God has opened doors, for me to do... to do cheerfully and to do it well.

Then there was PMT meeting which totally, TOTALLY bored me to death... The long-winded woman spoke hours on what it means to be an effective teacher, and different learning styles for different people. I guess it's just formality - and I can't blame them for setting up these kind of orientation meetings, but I really thought it was bollocks. Well, the free pizza dinner was the saving grace. HAHA....

***

I am suddenly reminded of what Jared told me not too long ago, "Trust your friend."

Silly me.

dash