University Life Part 7: Towards Betterment

I cannot believe that I am going home in 2 weeks. I do so badly want to be back in a familiar locale, in a place where I feel like I belong culturally, in a place where my family and friends are. Yet at the same time I cannot believe that I am nearly nearly 1/9th of my way done with my Oxford experience – has it been that long already, or has time flown that fast?

I sometimes feel like I don’t push myself hard enough when I’m here – that maybe I need to structure my time better, spend it more prudently, and engage in more things. But no matter.

I was enlightened today on how much I have changed since I started university here. It is indeed a real blessing to be able to do something you love, something you feel passionate about.

I go for lectures because I want to know more, and I listen with an intensity like never before because I truly want to engage in the subject matter and understand. I anticipate tutorials because I look forward to dissecting new insights and unearthing even new ones yet. I do my readings and turn pages with wonderment because it amazes me that I am engaging with the text in hand. I think about life now, in the past and into the future with great excitement and contentment because I know this is something I honestly want. I write my essays and I enjoy the process because I love the effect writing essays have on my thoughts.

I honestly, honestly, love school. For the first time in 12 years maybe, there is absolutely nothing in my course of study that irks me, nothing that feels vaguely like a chore, nothing that makes me feel like I’m not progressing, fast.

And I know this will help me move closer and closer to that ideal I lust after.

University Life Part 6: Growing

5 weeks on, just 3 weeks to go till I’m home-bound! Looking forward to the end of term as a moment of breather from the deluge of information and work that’s been presented to us in the last 5 weeks. And of course being home-bound is good. I’m never really homesick while I’m here, but deep down I know nothing beats the familiarity and comfort of home.

Just finished a reading of JS.Mill’s On Liberty, and I must say I have really grown since I started my course here. Maybe not so much physically or interpersonally, but definitely grown leaps and bounds mentally. I can feel myself growing as a thinker, as a student, as a learner.

Just reading my Pol. Theory texts alone is enough evidence. I am truly in awe of and amazed by how I can feel my mind literally growing; the neurons furiously making connections as though I were a newborn child taking in sights and sounds of the physical world. Well, indeed I am, a newborn child into the world of academia. Just 5 weeks on and I realise I do retain what I read and what I think about those readings – and I couldn’t be more grateful. That I have a chance to be here, to learn about these thinkers, about what they have thought through, to engage critically in their ideas, this experience is truly breathtaking.

Besides this, my speed of learning as also spiked tremendously, evident by Logic problem sheets (though not the recent ones yet), and by Mathematics problem sheets from Microeconomics.

It’s a nice feeling, to be mentally stimulated constantly and being kept on your toes, and feeling yourself grow mentally.

I’m pretty sure in the 4 weeks of vacation while I’m in Singapore, I’m going to miss this feeling of being kept on my toes during termtime, though I will of course only return to it all too soon come Hilary…

University Life Part 5: Things to Do, and Things to be Thankful For

Just did my second Official Load of Laundry since I arrived in Oxford – the rest of weeks I cope by just handwashing stuff I need. Which works, since I have a brilliant radiator both in my bathroom and in my room itself, so there’s never fear of things not drying and becoming stinky.

Warm and nice-smelling laundry always makes me happy. Just sorted out my laundry and packed my room a little. I CANNOT BUY CLOTHES AND SHOES ANYMORE and I haven’t even really been shopping that much if you consider that I didn’t really shop proper in Singapore for wintry stuff.

Anyway I am going to shower in a while’s time, and settle down to write my essay. And sort Whiz out.

Yawn.

University Life Part 4: Satisfaction is…

- playing handball on Mondays and Tuesdays (or at least valiantly attempting to learn)

- getting encouraging remarks on your essays

- not failing your Logic problem sheets

- understanding mathematics

- going to dinner with your coursemates

- finding time to keep up with people back home

 

Feeling positive today! Thanks to people who tried to inject positive vibes )

University Life Part 3: Chugging by.

Life has been pretty alright of late.

Just got back my first essay – feels good to know at least I didn’t screw up that majorly.

Life is just chugging by now, which I’m grateful for. Hope it’ll be this way for quite awhile yet!

Alright going to bed now. Bye!