Ok. The purpose of why am i even blogging about this is not because I want to tell the world how smart I am.. but I just want people to know what I DID NOT accomplish this on my own.. I want to make sure that 10 years down the road, I would always remember to remain thankful to God and for everyone around me who helped me in a way or two.. 

My life in SIM-UOL havent been the easiest one. I chose UOL because I hated projects in my polytechnic life and also, its one of the "cheapest" degree in SIM. (FYI. I am paying for my own university's fees. For those who dont have to fork out a single cent for their university education, you will never fully comprehend how expensive a degree is and that is why I dont believe in splurging $60k for the "almost" identical piece of paper from SIM.) 

I didnt start my university expecting a first class honours but I told myself to do my very best just to make my degree worth it. Since young, I have always been an average kid in school. I am the youngest in my family and I have siblings that are way smarter. So, really, getting first class have never crossed my mind. 

I remember my family and I attended my sister's convocation when it was 2 months before my Year 1's exams, my mum told me "Bing, I will come back here to attend your graduation ceremony of you getting first class" I was thinking to myself... "Siao ah. You dont know how tough the papers are" 

Year 1 went by and by God's grace, I did extremely well given the circumstances I went through during examination period. 

So came Year 2 and my brother set me up to a challenge, "Get First Class Honours and I would fly you to New York" I was like... "ALRIGHT! I will do it!" hahas I told myself to start studying way earlier and be more consistent but failed so terribly. I was still working 3 days a week and in addition, took on a tuition job as well. year 2 modules were WAYYYYY harder.. and when I first opened my books 2 weeks before the prelims, I realized the amount of stuff I didnt understand and how useless my notes were. I realized I needed to read the textbook before I can fully understand my notes and I didnt even buy a single uni textbook. hahas I was so dead. In addition, there was this undue pressure on me to get the first class because I have been confessing to the people around me that I am aiming for first class so I can fly to NY. In addition, my boyfriend had so much faith in me that he went around telling people that too. hahas 

I mugged really hard for 2-3 months leading up to my main examinations but I felt more and more discouraged as days went by. I didnt understand at least 30% of what my subjects were talking about. I didnt feel that same kind of confidence I had when I took my exams in Year 1. I knew I can pass all my subjects but I was 0% sure on whether can i get the first class honours. Also, the papers I took this year didnt made me feel any better because out of 4 papers, 2 of my papers came out REALLY TOUGH and one of the tough paper was supposedly my must-score-A paper-so-can-get-first-class. My dream of going NY ended the moment I flipped open my papers and read the questions. 

I stopped telling people about first class. I told them I would be very happy if I could pass my degree. 

When I checked for my results on that fateful friday night, I was alone at home. I was shivering when I keyed in my particulars... When I saw the website, tears of joy started streaming down my face. I actually did it. 

I went to look at my results and the subject that helped me to get first class was the paper that I was just aiming to pass. I was shocked because I rmb I calculated that I would have lost 25-30 marks by me half answering all my theory questions that took up about 30%-40% of my entire paper. To get an A, I can only afford to lose 30 marks. So up till today, I really have no idea how did that A happened. 

If its not God, I dont know what is it. really. 

So when people asked me how did I do it, when i say, "Its God's grace" Please know that I meant it with every single fibre of my being. I am not trying to be flaky. I did put in my own fair share of effort such as studying at least 6 hours on a daily basis 2 months before my examinations. But it is still God that provided that supernatural miracle. 

I am blessed. TYJ. 

(FYI. Some people may belittle UOL's degree because our passing mark is set at 35 but if you did not try a single paper from here, you will never fully understand. Till you walk a mile in our shoes, I believe you have no right to comment. Esp when you yourself only hold an overseas degree)