Turning a year older is always a season of reflection for me. I often say that the last 2 years were the best that I’ve had, possibly better than the ones prior. Here’s why:
I graduated with my diploma, and officially from the typical Singaporean education system.
The education system in Singapore is great, and I’ve been blessed to receive formal education in my formative years on this little red dot. Somewhere along the way though, it got a little stifling. I was never a top student, just an average B+ (and occasional A’s) student. Pursuing my diploma instead of doing an A level’s cert was a breath of fresh air for me and one of the best decisions I’ve made, being around like minded people to create great stories together.
I’m very thankful for the friendships I’ve forged and connections I’ve made while I was in school. It’s so heartening to see where everyone is now, and will continue to be in our own paths! That said, I was also really relieved on the day I graduated — I could finally take a break from formal education and just… do things I want, even if for a bit.
I took 1-turned-2 gap years.
Probably hands down the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. When I graduated, I just knew deep within me that whatever I knew back then wasn’t it. There has to be something bigger than the world that I knew back then; there has to be something else that sparks a bigger fire in me. And so I set out to explore. I first dived deeper into the world of marketing, then stumbled upon industries and roles I would have otherwise never known if I had continued doing things the way I knew how.
I was (am!) hungrier than ever for knowledge. Hungry for what was “out there” (whatever that means), to know what I could achieve outside of school, to get a taste of how far I can go. Taking the time off helped me get in tune with myself, thriving in ways I didn’t know I could. I’ve made so many new friends and unknowingly built a network of like-minded individuals who inspire me through every conversation we have. I was also blessed to have travelled around and experienced different cultures, all of which played a part to shaping who I am today. Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned to date happened in these 2 years, and I will always be thankful for this season of my life.
I started forming foundational habits.
As I started to have more time for myself, I started gaining more control of how I wanted to steer my life. I threw out what didn’t feel right by me — things I might have done or known because it was “normal” to — and set out to craft how I wanted my life to look like from an almost-blank canvas.
I noticed habits of colleagues and thought leaders I looked up to and picked them up. Overtime, reading & writing found blocked times of their own in my calendar, and Sundays became sacred rest days where I don’t do anything work-related, but instead have some quality me-time or with the family at home. Taking breaks became less of a “waste of time”, but more of a productive recharge. I learned to ask better questions in and out of work. I was more aware of mental models I had and consciously unlearned and learned new things to continually shape it. I’m still trying to include more regular exercises in my schedules though, gotta work harder on that! And since I’m now earning an income, I became more financially independent, though it is still a work in progress. Bonus is that I can now buy gifts or meals for my loved ones or spend a little on myself without thinking too much about how much to ration for the rest of the month, as I did when I was schooling. (I still think about that of course, but it’s just not as stressful.)
I formed smaller but tighter social circles.
My priorities shifted from grades + social life to starting my career right + putting myself first. With this came smaller but tighter social circles, which I am incredibly thankful for. I guess when growing up you realise the time you have to socialise is precious and so you get selective on who you spend this time with. I am so blessed to be surrounded by the best support system I can ever ask for, and to be with people who push me to think different and be better each time.
Intentionality is everything.
My biggest learning and growth has to be around intentionality. Taking charge of my own growth was my mantra. Intentionality at the heart of everything we do is so important, from personal habits, to interpersonal relationships, even our career. When I started to do things that were intentional and aligned by me, I felt like I was finally stepping into my own spotlight, away from anyone’s shadow. I set goals and actually achieved them when I might have barely saw them through previously. I turned my self-consciousness (focusing more on my surroundings) to self-awareness (pulling that focus back to myself), focusing on my growth and calling myself out to right the wrongs when necessary. With intentionality came clarity in the things I did, and I find myself growing ever since my mindset shifted.
I took a couple of days to deeply process how the last year was different from the year or two that preceded it, and I guess I have come a long way. I’m not the same person I was 2 years ago, but rather a New and Improved version. And I’m only going to get newer and more improved with each chapter I pass in this book that is my life. The road ahead may be uncertain but with my support system, learnings & faith I now have in myself, I am ready to tackle heads-on what’s to come in this next chapter!
Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts or just chat further about our experiences, be it similar or different. DMs are open, or you can tweet me @tanjychloe (I’m more active there!).
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
