-Christopher Morley (1890 – 1957)-
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Happy Happy Happy!!
The days leading up to the first day of school were nothing but fun, refreshing, and exciting!
Finally, on Wednesday, a proper training! Felt so good! In fact, it feels great! Whoot! It was a really enjoyable training! I am, at long last, learning something! What a sense of achievement. Ahh.. The bliss of it all. If only this could happen more often, but I’m not complaining! IHG is coming! Good luck to everyone involved! Do not get disheartened. Just train hard, and most importantly, have fun! No stress, yeah?
Many people find that there is absolutely no use in going for training if I won’t be playing for IHG, and I find that really strange. If one really wants to learn and improve, isn’t it better to go for training? I mean, humans have this tendency of copying, and imitating others. Why do you think some people alter the way they talk according to the people they are conversing with? Why do you think people can get influenced by culture? As such, watching is a good way of learning too. Isn’t that the way baby learn things?
Haiz.
I don’t think I’m wasting my time. Being an umpire is a good way to learn the game too, though a lot of people find my role redundant and useless. It’s okay. Everyone has to start somewhere.
Thursday was great! I got to head to town! It’s been ages since I last went there. I think the last time I went there was like months and months ago!! It was super super fun! We embarked on this movie marathon, and watched 2 movies in the row!
National Treasure is a must watch movie! It is really terrific. Thrilling, yet comical. It really sets your adrenaline flowing. You’ll laugh till you cry, and yet be positioned at the edge of your seat most of the time. It is that good! I loved it! Highly recommended!
And, I got a new handphone pouch which I truly adore! It’s so handy and useful!! I just love the sight of it! It’s now sitting right beside me. I love every detail of it. The colour, the design, the material, the intricate design. Oh man, it is just perfect! Sweet!!
On Friday, we had the long awaited cast outing! Ah, the nostalgia. We had lots of fun reminiscing the fun moments we had during rehearsals in the dance studio. The screw ups we had on the actual performance days. The long hours we spent awake at night, trying to catch up on school work. The ups and downs we had together. Oh, it was so so fun! How I miss those days. If I could turn back time, I would do everything all over again. Even if the end result is the same, I wouldn’t mind. Love concert! Citizens of Carpatia!! =P
Saturday was much anticipated as well. I got to meet up with some of my secondary school friends! Finally, the first few friends that I actually meet up during the holidays! Dinner was splendid! Ate till I felt like bursting, but the food was good! Delicious! If I had the budget, I would go there again! Atlas, such delicacies can only be afforded once in a blue moon. Haha.
Sunday was busy. That’s all I can say. Busy, but fun as well! Finally returned to hall on Sunday. I felt really happy to meet all my friends again, and of course, my room mate!! It’s sad to think that some of them might not be staying next year anymore. Sad sad sad!!
I enjoy hall life. It makes me busy. It gives me a purpose. Otherwise, I think I’ll just head back home after school, which means no life. I’ll just play my games and that’s it. That’s the end of my university life. Hall life actually enriches my life! I love the activities I’m in. I don’t find it a dread, which is weird seeing that everyone else thinks that it is.
Haiz.
I’m also confused now.
I know exactly how he feels. Of course I know. I understand the frustration, the anger, the helplessness and the irritation. Who wouldn’t? After having put in your utmost effort in something, it is only natural that you would expect to reap something from it. The more effort you put in, the higher the expectations. It is even worse when you realise that no one appreciates your efforts. It’s like, everything that you have put in has simply flowed down the drain.
I know.
We understand.
I feel so useless. I can only stand by and do nothing. It’s not like I have the capabilities to help. I would play. Seriously, I would, but I cannot guarantee that I will play it well. And, I think everyone knows it. Why else do you think everyone laughed when he even suggested that idea? It is such a ludicrous idea that I, myself find it laughable.
I would help.
I really would, if only I could.
If only I wasn’t so useless.
If only.
Alright! The issue has been settled. I don’t have to play!
Whee!!
That saves the hall from further embarrassment!
I’m glad everything turned out find in the end.
Not to worry, I’m sure that despite all that has happened, we will do well in the end.
The morning began like any other Saturday morning. She lay awake on her bed as she pictured the events that would soon occur. Her roommate slept on the bed beside her, seemingly oblivious to what is to come. She stared at the ceiling, counting the seconds, waiting for her alarm to ring. She tossed and turned, and willed herself to return to dreamland, but wide awake she already was.
“Clara!! Are you awake?” drifted a voice from outside her window.
She immediately jumped out of bed and rushed towards the window.
“Yeah, but I thought we’re meeting at 10:15a.m.?” she enquired, trying to ruff down her hair at the same time so that she would not look as dishevelled as she thought she looked.
“Let’s go for the IHG opening ceremony as well, ok?” came the reply.
“Okay! Give me 10 minutes!” she chirped and immediately ran about the room, grabbing her towel, her toiletries, and her swim suit, making the least sound possible and rushed to the toilet.
Within minutes, she was ready. She snatched the pair of goggles hanging in the closet, dumped it into her bag, and left the room. As she closed the door behind her, she heard her roommate wishing her good luck in the event to come. She smiled, opened the door, said her thanks, and closed it again. Quickly, she made her way to her friend’s room.
“I have a really bad feeling about this,” her friend started.
“Yeah, me too,” came her reply.
“This is the first time that I am doing something with which I have no confidence of,” continued her friend.
“Yeah! It’s like going for the competition knowing you’re gonna lose anyway. What’s the point? I don’t see any point in doing that,” she lamented.
“Never mind. Just do our best. At least we do not have a walk over!” her friend said with an encouraging smile.
She smiled back and nodded. What else could they do?
Though it was fighting losing battle, fight on they will.
It took a really long time for the events to proceed, but the moment it did, she could feel her heart pulsating rapidly. Although they only know of the events that they would be taking part in a few moments before, it did not make any difference. Unprepared they still felt.
4 events!! That was the number of events she was involved in. Still, she tried to give it her best. Winning no longer seemed important. Surpassing her personal goal became her target.
“Ready, swimmers, on your mark,”
The horn sounded.
There were only 2 swimmers for her first event.
They plunged into the pool.
Keeping in mind that this was non-competitive event, she treated this as a warm up lap.
Surprisingly, her timing was.. well, better than expected.
Her next event was 10 minutes later, and it was competitive. She could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her pulse started racing as she tried to imagine what was to come.
The guys swam, and boy! Were they fast! She stared in amazement, and her jaws dropped. Recalling what one of her senior said, she felt her heart plummet. ‘The girls swim about the same speed as me..’ Oh no, hope seemed to have dwindled.
Soon, it was time for the girls to take their position. The whistled was blown. Tentatively, she took her position. She was so nervous that she could hear her heart beating. ‘Relax,’ she told herself. ‘Listen to the command, and relax.’
“Ready, swimmers, on your mark,”
The horn sounded.
Everyone plunged.
Her muscles felt tight. Everyone was zooming past her under her very eyes.
‘Swim faster!’ she urged herself. ‘Swim faster!’
Soon, the other end came into view. She touched the wall. Her team mate took the plunge and swam on. As she climbed out of the pool, she was totally disappointed with herself. She could have very well done better; much better. It seemed quite obvious that they were losing. They lagged behind by so much. She felt as though she could have kicked herself a thousand times, but it was over.
Smiling, she cheered her team mates on. The race must go on, no matter what.
Her next event was much much better. Instead of the first swimmer, she was now the last swimmer. Competitive it was, again.
“Ready, swimmers, on your mark,”
The horn sounded.
Her team mate plunged into the pool and swam with all her might. She was fast! Her heart raced as she behold the sight before her. They were not losing! They still had a fighting chance. Her hands started to sweat despite everything.
Quickly, the second swimmer plunged in, and raced on. Her heart raced faster and faster. They were not last. They were not last!! Everyone was screaming. She felt queasy in the stomach. The third swimmer plunged in. They were still not last! Goodness! They might actually have a chance. Reality seemed to hit her as she realised that she was the last swimmer.
As she took her position, she thought her legs would simply melt below her. Taking a deep breath, she stared at her team mate. ‘Alright Clara, this is it,’ she told herself. Her team mate touched. She jumped. She swam, and swam, and swam. She could sense that they were catching up. Oh no. Was she just not fast enough? No!! This was their chance! She was not going to let it go down the drain. She swam on.
‘Don’t slow down!! Continue swimming!’ she urged herself on. ‘It’s gonna end soon. Keep swimming faster. Faster!!’ She could not hear anything, but somehow, she knew everyone was screaming. She took larger breaths, pulling, and kicking. Finally, the end came into view. ‘Quickly!!’ she screamed silently to herself. With one final stretch, she reached out and touched the wall before the girl swimming in the lane beside her.
As her head bobbed out of the water, she could vaguely see her MM screaming. Smiling, she could not help feeling a sense of achievement. The euphoria felt simply cannot be penned in words. Penning it in words would simply do it injustice. Everyone was screaming. Her team mates were all laughing and smiling. Finally! They were not last!! Is this an achievement or what?
Everyone screamed and hugged each other. Her MM was jumping up and down. Everyone was smiling. Wow. It was simply amazing.
Sweet.
Everyone did really well during the events. Everyone surpassed their own personal record which speaks a lot, seeing that we seldom train. She was just so proud of everyone! Despite being put down by nearly everyone, they still went on and did their very best.
This simply portrays the fact that everyone has a fighting spirit of their own. Even though they knew that it seemed highly impossible that they would not end up last, they still gave in all they have got. I guess the MM did a really good job too. Although everyone kept saying that they would lose, the MM still had faith in everyone. This boosted everyone’s morale and allowed everyone to have that shimmer of hope.
Actually, in nearly everything we do, we derive our strength from our team mates and friends. Their words of encouragement and actions propel us forward when we least expect it to. Without such strength, I bet the world would be such a lonely place where solitude becomes rampant. The potential of each individual might just not be realised, and imagine what a sad place this would be!!
Again, I am so glad that I have picked this path I am threading on now.
No regrets.
Definitely.
“We think having faith means being convinced God exists in the same way we are convinced a chair exists. People who cannot be completely convinced of God’s existence think faith is impossible for them. Not so. People who doubt can have great faith because faith is something you do, not something you think. In fact, the greater your doubt the more heroic your faith”
-Real Live Preacher-
The stars twinkled on Faith @ 9:03 PM::
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