30/5/2020: 2020 Vision and 1080p Resolutions

While the title is technically a dated reference by now, I thought I might as well revive this post.

This post was intended to be a summary of all my memories of 2019 and some New Year's Resolution at the beginning of the year. But since we're almost halfway through the year, I thought to give an updated perspective on the post that it could have been.

Here are a handful of things that had happened last year, although I mostly remembered things that happened in the later half.

1. Internship: doing daily reflections, my colleagues, the actual work I did, and my final presentation

2. Hans Staying over for 3 months: going home together every day, staying up till 3.30 am to play mahjong, him joining me in choir

3. Mission Trip to Battambang: doing spiritual prep and facil training, the gala dinner, and the trip itself

Other things that happened:
- My school Catholic community celebrating my birthday lmao: I remember being asked if I was coming for campus mass, since my birthday fell on a Thursday, I just knew what was gonna happen. But, I'm glad it did anyway)
- Volunteering at the Science Centre
- Got onto the Dean's List: When I first saw the email, I legitimately thought they sent it to the wrong person, but no, they didn't, so yeah, that happened as well.
- Said goodbye to Joc for good ;-;
- Sang the sequence for Pentecost
- Continued going for CG even while being at work haha
- Actually bothered to exercise

These were the ambitions I have for myself the year. While I guess they still are, I might as well update on the progress, if any.

1. Write on this blog regularly: Ah, we know how that turned out.

2. Write in my reflection journal regularly: Sorry Jesus, I haven't been checking in daily, I know. I definitely will, but for the days I don't, I'll probably be blogging instead lol

Ah, we also know how that turned out. But hey, I still do write, just not as much as I hope to. Still should, though.

3. Learn how to drive: in 2019 I may be baby, but this year, it's time I adult.
tbh, this hasn't been on my mind lately, although that's mostly because I'm currently thinking of finding work first. And there's COVID-19 happening, so.

4. Improve my embroidery: I think I definitely have improved since 2018, and my hoops look a little more polished (and shinier with better thread lol). But I'm still not satisfied with it yet, nor have I come up with an aesthetic or style that I'm happy with. I guess I'll have to just continue experimenting and trying new things. Until then, I have my parents' hoops and a wedding hoop to do. I also have like, overdue hoops for last year's seniors, and I intend to make some for this year's too ;-;

Instead of finding a style, I think it's more important for me to just be happy with what I make, even if it doesn't "fit in" with everything else I have (although I think none of them fit in with each other, really.) Still, I do think I have improved both in skill and design, and it's just a matter of making more that I can happily display on my notice board.

5. Be more sociable and hang out more often: Yeah, this is kinda vague, but I do hope that I get the chance to hang out with people one on one, or at least do something like eat lunch with other people. I haven't been checking in on friends as often as I should, and I've been avoiding getting to know people in general in school, so yeah, I don't want to do that anymore, especially if I'm trying to be more open this year. I also don't know how well I can sustain this, but we'll see.

Again, COVID-19 put a damper on this one. But earlier in the year, I did try to make an effort to reach out to a handful of people, especially in school. Still though, as I leave university, the major source of my social interactions, I think it's time to invest in those that I'm still regularly in contact with.

6. Go on holiday with friends: I really wanna go on a grad trip, man. I think I'm the only person who still hasn't gone overseas with friends, and visiting Hans by myself doesn't count.

Ah, COVID-19, really shot down half of my resolutions, huh?

7. Get a job in medical/scientific writing: While the pickings are slim, the opportunities are still there, and I do still think I'll get a job doing what I think I'll enjoy. I think the bigger challenge I have been facing, is getting the impetus to apply and put myself out there. I also struggled with some major anxiety about this, particularly about whether people would want to hire me with what I think is a small amount of experience, and generally not feeling confident enough to submit an application and put myself out there. But as per my latest post, I'm getting there. I just need to make an application that I'm proud of, and I'm set.

So yeah, I guess that's where I am right now, at this midpoint in the year. There's still so much that can happen in seven months, so we'll see where it takes me.