Hi everyone!
I'm Belinda Ong and I'm from that very little red dot on your map - Singapore! :)
I'm 18 years old this year and I write everything from zero to epic!
For starters, has anyone heard of Singapore before? Well, if you haven't, it's not too late to ask Mr. Wiki! Haha. One thing to make it clear is that, no we are not part of China, nor are we situated in Malaysia, contrary to many beliefs.
I think that because we are studying in an international school like Bellerbys, we get to meet people from all over the world and be exposed to so many various cultures, so it isn't very surprising for people to mix up your nationality and country of origin. More about Singapore if you haven't known...
Well, Singapore is made up of four major races, namely Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians.
Singapore stresses on a bilingual education policy so apart from English (which is the main language we use to speak, learn and a medium for communication between the different races), we also have to learn our Mother Tongue language which is in this case, it's Chinese for me.
For me, growing up in such a cosmopolitan country has taught me the virtues of tolerance and understanding as we all learn to appreciate each other’s different cultural practices. And this is probably the main driving force that has ultimately urged me to come to the UK to pursue my studies.
Well basically, having been in the UK for a year already (currently in my A2 year now), I think the most important lesson that life has taught me so far is Independence.
I could still remember vividly the very first day where I came to the UK all by myself, from a country that is practically half way across the globe. Of course, unfortunate events usually strike us at the moments when we least expected them to be. So in a way, my first couple of days wasn’t exactly very smooth sailing, but fortunately, it did take a turn for the better and I’m very grateful for that.
I think that I’ve gotten the best of both worlds because I have experienced home-staying for a month, and then I shifted to the college residence for the rest of my AS year. And now, I’m out of the residence and living in private accommodation with my Korean friend! That’s a whole lot of experience for me because I see myself slowly adapting to this new environment and finally, being able to actually venture out on my own.
Honestly speaking, A2 year now can be rather overwhelming for me at times. I find my daily schedule more hectic than before and the humongous workload that I have now, has conveniently made my AS year seem like a breeze for me. True enough, I did have much fun during my AS year.
From visiting Cambridge and London during my first mid-term break...
...to going to the University of Nottingham for the Medlink Conference in December... (haha see the stethoscope I'm holding? ^_^)
...and going to Rome and Venice during Easter Break with my brother
... and going for MIKA'S concert! *screams*
... and even learning how to windsurf right before the summer exams :) ...
... and finally the Summer May Ball which ended my AS year perfectly! :P
So a note for all AS students, enjoy your year whilst you can!
Other than travelling, I also do take part in other activities, like the college Medics Group, being part of the Student Council and also doing voluntary work during my spare time.
So far I have spent some time in Age Concern for the elderly before the summer and I’m going to start my voluntary work soon in a children’s ward at the children’s hospital too! I’m really looking forward to it!
I feel that the good thing about being in Bellerbys is that other than concentrating on your academic work, they also encourage you to develop your other non-academic self so as to make you a more all-rounded person. Besides, it’s always good to have some other life out there besides college life!
My other passions range from bowling to drawing and painting. I’ve been bowling for 6 years already, taking part in the school nationals and all that, but I haven't had the chance to bowl in the UK yet. I've always been wanting to check out the bowling alley at the Marina though...
Wow I didn’t expect my first post to be such a lengthy one but I think I’ve yet to talk about the most important thing about myself: I’m currently studying Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and History in Bellerbys so…
I’m an aspiring doctor-to-be!
Till then guys!
BO
Belinda is studying A Levels at Bellerbys Brighton
