The bad thing about having a birthday party is when everyone you know for quite a period of time comes to you and say, “Wah, so big boy already. I saw you grow up” and things that revolves just that. Oh, and maybe another thing, “Wah, so big boy already. So leng chai. Got girlfriend ah?”. I think that this was definitely one of the hottest question I was being asked when I turned 21 a few weeks back. I actually so wanted to blog about my birthday itself, but then I thought, let’s make this a little more elaborate than my usual posts. I thought I wanted to really reflect (yeah, big word) on how things have been in my life the past 21 years? Without a shadow of doubt, I am grateful for even just the 21 years of (good) life I have had. And of course, there have been many “highs” and “lows” in my life, but I am actually grateful that I scrape through it all. So, let me go through some bits here and there of my life before turning 21. Been a child, I have always been called “Andy Lau” by my uncles and aunties. Don’t ask me why. I think I was MADE to take this picture. And one of my kindergarten buddy – Dorcas.  And yes, that’s my blur face.Then I grew up slightly older, got cooler and entered a kindergarten. When I took a flash back on all these pictures, I chuckled to myself and say, “Oh, cutenya!” Yes, obviously my SYOK SENDIRI moments. This was when I was 4, 5 and then I went on to be a specky at 6. And yes, I graduated okay. I was a brilliant student. Haha. To look back, I wasn’t an outstanding student back at St John’s – Primary. Nothing amazing I did. Or prolly, just being a nice guy who always gets bullied. Either that, or I was always being punished by my teachers. Yes, I’ve been punished crazily many times. I am not ask good as you think I am lah. And to cut the primary school story short, i was just an ordinary student. Going through life like you did. But life became more interesting when I got into Secondary School. It’s because I finally know how to fought back. Hahaha. In fact, I got more active in my Secondary School years. I had more friends. I had more feelings. I had more emotions. But one thing for sure in my early Secondary School years, I had a crush. Shh. What Where How Who? No gossip girls here. I’ve said it and it ends here. But one of the things I miss about high school? My amazing alma mater and my school mates. We at St John’s, we do everything except studying. Okay, I speak for myself lah. Yes, we don’t care even if we are in the lab. We go all out to fool around. So, who says guys can’t pose again? Yes, when we try to act nerdy. We tend to fail miserably. And yes, I miss wearing my blazers. Yes, we tried to pose AGAIN.. And we obviously FAILED. Chiu and Bryan’s fault! It was Chiu again, and did you spot the headphones wire? 😛 This took us sooo long okay? And well, yes, being involved in DRAMA. I miss being a part of the Drama Team. Okay, in actual fact, I think I actually miss skipping class for 2 months more. 😛 But we had loads of fun. We acted, practised and changed scripts. How amazing is that right?  Yes, we acted champions even though we aren’t champions. Are we over confident or just “syok sendiri”? And of course there were many other memories that happened back in high school. And in this period of time, I came to know someone, and we became like the bestest friends ever. The happy moments flew by in a year. Things were all good, all great, all going the way it should be and until something cropped up. Being someone sentimental, I find myself trapped in my own emotions. I was a slave to my own emotions for quite a while losing this friend of mine. I told myself so many things, I had so many sleepless nights, I did so many things to save the friendship but to no avail. I told myself I would never wanna get so dependent on a friend or on anyone at all anymore. But recently, I think I found myself being in the same similar situation AGAIN. Yes, I’m trying hard. But sometimes, it’s really easier said than done? I wish I could care less. I wish I could brush off these disappointments. I wish I could just say, “Oh, it’s okay lah. Anything. Up to you.”. But you know, sometimes, LIFE IS LIFE. And maybe that’s just my weakness. But I don’t want to be a slave to my own emotions again. It’s really tiring. And life goes on.. Not too long later, a friend of mine, a classmate of a highschool passed away in the Cornell. It was declared sudden death. At that point of time, I did wonder why was life this way. He was the smartest boy in St John’s. He is the one who challenges all the answers from the teachers. And it really came as a great surprise. I’ve came to a point where “Life is Short” sink in. I then of course came out of high school and I knew another bunch of new friends. If you are asking me if I got culture shock, I think I did for a short period of time. Haha. But things got better. I actually thought college life was easier. I met a brand new bunch of apes friends. Cool bunch I’d say. A good mixture of studious and notorious kids. I am of course the good boy la. So the studious kind. Yes, they often much torture me. But yeah, it’s still all cool. No, we’re not nerds. And one of the highlights of my past few years, I thought.. Would also to have successfully brought ADORE up, by the grace of God. A concert which has happened for the past 3 years and has blessed over 1500 lives of the youngster. Truly an awesome thing I’d remember in my life. The team that was behind my back. The team that gave me great support. Yes, they are a bunch of adorable awesome gang that I’ve ever had! :))

I won’t mind working with them again. Like, really. I am excited to see how ADORE will continue to be an event that will bless the youths around. And in the above particular year, DrummerforChrist joined us as special guests too! I think these are just some of the highlights of me before turning 21. There could be more. BUT NEXT UP: My 21st Birthday. It’s gonna be a long long one!