Sing, Laugh and Talk

PCGHS was, and still is, the best Chinese girls school in our state. It's notorious for its crazy rules but well-known for great exam results. Our hair are to be no longer than 5 centimetres down from our earlobes. They measure our hair every week with a tape! The face of our watches must not be bigger than a 50 cent coin. We're not allowed to bring combs or hairbrushes, CDs, any pictures of the opposite sex or any paper than contains song lyric or anime pictures. We have a book of these asinine rules that we have to memorise because we tested on them during the first and third term exams. I could prattle on about rules but I think I'd be a waste of time.

So, that was one of the worst memories I have of that school. Despite all that, my three years at PCGHS were the three of the best years of my life. It's all thanks to my four best friends: Christina, Megan, Myra and Jessica. I've known Chris and Megan, the two inseparable best friends, since primary school. Although I didn't get along extremely well with them up till second year of high school, I have to say that our differences have taught me a lot of things. Chris's and Megan's frankness helped me correct myself and eliminate my short-comings. They are the wittiest people I've ever known and I believe that some of their wits have rubbed off on me.

I sort of met Myra before but we never talked to each other because we were from different primary schools. We were put in the same form class for three years. During the first year, I had many different best friends. They came and went, leaving both good and bad memories. It wasn't until near the end of the year that the friendship bond between me and Myra really strengthened. We were the girls who spoke good English and we constantly impressed the teacher and class with our fluent dialogues. Besides that, Myra taught me to love music. I was never really into music until she introduced pop and rock songs to me. She also recommended good chick flicks, ones that I'll always love watching.

Then came, Jess, who I don't know very well because I was never in the same class as her. And yet, we managed to hit it off. Like Myra, who she was best friends with since primary school, she has great taste in music and movies. She never cease to amaze me with her beautiful and mellifluous singing voice. She's a natural at singing and I always will envy her.

It was during the second year of high school that the five of us really came together as sort of a gang. I was somewhat the medium that brought Chris and Megan, Myra and Jess together. Being in the same class as Chris, Megan and Myra meant a lot of laughs and fun. We'd sing, laugh and talk our way through the school hours. Myra and I amused our classmates by performing a funny but not very pleasant to the ears version of High School Musical Soundtracks. It was a very "in" thing to able to sing HSM songs back then. We had a fun time teaching Megan how to sing and act lady-like. Chris was simply the best at laughing and pulling sneaky tricks.

Chris, Myra, Jess and I worked, at the school book/uniform shop before class and during recess. During our duty sessions, we'd sing when there are no customers or chat endlessly about the latest cycle of America's Next Top Model or about hot guys like Wentworth Miller. Occasionally, we'd smuggle food into our station and eat whilst the teacher was on duty was not there yet. Then, we'd put on the most innocent face as possible when we got caught.

Those three years went too quickly for me, both the good and bad times. Now, Megan has replaced me at the shop. The four of them are the top committee members of the co-operation. Whilst my life changed drastically during and after migrating to another country, their routine has not changed too much. They continue to sing, laugh and talk like we used to, except without me in the picture. However, I'm still grateful for the three years that I got to spend with these very special people.

This was submitted for a 17 Again writing competition titled "High School Flashback". Let me know what you think of it. ^^



Awesome movie! A must-watch! Two thumbs up from me!!

"When I met your mom-" Mike (Zac Efron)
"My mom?" Alex (Sterling Knight)
"Uh... Is your mom hot?" Mike (Zac Efron)

もって がんばれ！

もって　がんばれ　means try harder. It's pronounced as mot-te gan-ba-re. I had my exams the week before and on the Tuesday that just passed. It was a bit of a disaster. First time ever doing Year 11 exams.

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. -Jim Ryan.

My first paper, on Monday, was Maths B paper 1. I walked out feeling a bit confident. I knew how to answer all the questions. But I also knew that I wasn't getting a 100% like Myra did for hers. Tuesday, Maths C paper 1, still felt pretty confident. I did know my stuff after all.

He that would have fruit must climb the tree. -Thomas Fuller.

I had to do two papers on Wednesday. Maths B paper 2 and English paper which I had to stay back to do (because we usually get to go home during lunch instead of doing sports for Wednesdays, Senior Privillage). Maths B, still okay. English? Uh... Not so sure... The standard here is so much higher (duh! It's an English-speaking country). if I were still in Malaysia, I'd have aced English easily. But I'm not in Malaysia now, am I? But I do know that I did include whatever important information that I was supposed to include in that essay. I have my fingers crossed.

One must learn by doing the thing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try. -Aristotle.

Then, on Thursday, I had my Maths C paper 2 and Physics exam! Worst exam day ever!!! I froze on a question in Maths C. There were only 4 questions in the whole paper. So you can imagine how important it is to score on every single question. I spent ages on the problem and I coouldn't figure it out! I panicked. And by the time I walked out of the classroom, I was ready to kill myself. The solution was somewhere in my head, niggling at the back of my mind but I couldn't get it out. I wasn't in any mood for another exam paper. Earlier in the morning, my Physics teacher, also my form teacher, told me not to worry about the Physics exam and that it's gonna be easier than I thought. He was NOT true to his word! I fricking studied all the unimportant things! It's like Buffalo from PCGHS has suddenly appeared in Craigslea and written the exam paper! When I handed in my paper, I told my teacher that I gave up.

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do. -Russell C. Taylor.

Then, on Tuesday, I did my Biology paper. I walked out feeling pretty confident. Biology is was my fave subject! I'll tell you why later.

Okay... Results.

For Maths B, I got A for paper 1 and A+ for paper 2. Yay! *applause*

For Maths C, I had a fricking heart attack! Well, close to... I thought that my results had gone down the drain!! I got an A for paper 1 and an A- for paper 2! Hurray! But I can still work on it.

For Physics! Omg! The humiliation! I got an A- for part 1 and a B+ for part 2! I wasn't the top in class! Ryan's been going on and on about it. Rubbing it in my face that he's top. Sam, a new guy, from China, came in second or more or less tied with Ryan. I tied with J R. It was really annoying! And I was pretty disappointed in myself. I failed to answer the questions on household circuits! Things we've been learning about since Form 1! I looked so emo and depressed that my Physics teacher checked my wrists the next day, just in case I slit them. It was funny and nice of him.

Nobody's a natural. You work hard to get good and then work hard to get better. -Paul Coffey.

I haven't found out about English yet because our English teacher is away on holiday in New York for her birthday (I'm assumming 50 something or 60th). So, she hasn't marked our papers yet.

Now... For Biology... Fricking hell! My dad was right. He told me that bio was hard to score. I got a B and a B+!!! I was super annoyed because I liked bio and I understood what the teacher was teaching!!! I guess it was my fault for not writing in the good bits at that point in time. I vowed that I'd do better. I had the highest marks I think. Well, I tied with Noel. Which really irritated me because he was this annoying boy who falls asleep in class and thinks that he knows quite a lot!!!

He who labors diligently need never despair; for all things are accomplished by diligence and labor. -Menander.

I certainly hope that I'll be even more motivated and hard-working for my next exams. They definitely won't be easier than these ones!!! Still waiting to find out about my chemistry assignment result. Apparently, my teacher likes my assignment. I dunno what grade that's going to land me. *shrugs*

I'll have to もって　がんばれ!!