Well, life has been good.
Lots of things has happened this term that made me proud of being, I guess, an "Old Millhillian". Not that I explicitly want to join the club. Just that I feel I have achieved quite a few things coming to the end of my school career here.
I have learnt a few things about myself and possible the way I should work and live my life at its best. By that I mean, I have learnt to set goals properly for the first time this month and actually use it as my motivation.
Now let's break it down to categories!
School:
Not doing so well in my mock. We got in trouble too! I knew I had a lot to learn a month from now and gosh, I am scared!
My goal this term is to get all my theory down and make my revision note ready for my revision over Easter.
I am getting there. So much to do!
My EPQ has been catching up to me. The thesis was based on the question " What have been the causes of Vietnamese migration and of migrants experiences?" The paper itself is getting up to 15 pages and I have interviewed 19 people. However, the most scary part is actually giving this presentation which I have just done on Monday.
I don't think I was fully prepared for it. My PPT was finished at the last minute. As people were coming in, I realise it was going to be a room full of, well, adult audience! Okay, I am an adult but these were all teachers and only two of them were my friends Hoon and Wang. The head was there too! No pressure, no pressure. I was literally spitting out fear.
Everyone could see how nervous I was 5 minutes in. My hands were shaking! And then I started forgetting stuff I needed to say. I was so relieved when it was question time and people were asking questions because I knew what I was talking about. Damn it! I did the whole paper on it. Anyway, I am glad they were all my favourite teachers of whom I have great respect for and have helped me so much over the years. They all congratulated me and that made me extremely happy.
I have a few days left to polish off my paper and then solely focus on revision.
I have stepped down this term as head of Collinson. I am still a school staff and I believe I do take my "job" seriously. It has been fun being on duty too.
I also went back to the Drama studio and help out with lighting. It was great because that was my dream job. Such a lovely place and awesome for my technical skills backstage.
Swimming and Sport:
Let just say I think it is a bit too late for me to enter the sporting world and really excel anywhere beyond. However, I am still going to try and beat my PB. I can say I wish I had the chance to do competitive swimming or be an athletic child but the fact is it's not going to change. After all it's all about my personal achievement right?
Siena has been helping to run. We have decided to train throughout the week together to make sure we will ACTUALLY do it! I think it works splendidly. After a few weeks, one Tuesday afternoon and I ran my first continuous 6 miles. My awesome swim coach is... well, AWESOME! She is so supportive and encouraging to help me reach my goal.
We had a meet against Highgate at our school. It was my second time at a meet. We didn't have enough swimmers so I was entered for 25Breast, 25Fly, 25 Free and a 100IM, followed by 100Relay. Although I was very slow, I guess I am not that disappointed since my "competitive" career is rather late. Plus the fact that I only learn how to swim properly like 3 years ago, I think I have done well.
A week later I found out I was selected to enter the 200Relay at the Olympic pool. It was a magnificent day. We didn't get through our heat but I cannot believe I was swimming in the beautiful 50m pool where only the very best athlete get to swim in. Come on, it's a life time opportunity! It was also a fun day to talk to Mill Hill swim mate :D Our boys team did rather well, only missing by 2 seconds I think.
I have also decided to join XCountry with the lower school and it has been fun. It is an all boys team and we run through mud. They are awesome and I had loads of fun!
A week after my awesome day at the Olympic, I joined the Lower Sixth to run the Hasting Half-marathon. They all thought I was rather mad choosing to do this. I know I was trying to fundraise for my summer expedition but I also wanted to challenge myself. The course was tough, going uphill for the first 5 miles and then we ran along the beach in our last 3 miles. I did not walk even one mile. Those last 3 miles were the most painful miles I have ever run in my life. As I approach that finish line, eyes closed and I sprinted, making my time of 2hrs5 minutes.
Others:
I have got a job to try and pay for my Madagascar trip. I think I will carry on as I get into University. Not paid yet though because of the NIN issues.
Talking about that, I have purchased my plane ticket and paid my deposit. I received the generous travel grant from Old Millhillian and have raised 400. I am still trying to raise more. Hopefully I will be able to go.
