The letter from September 27th, 2016 (Post National Conscription)

Dear YX of 2018/19, If you waited this long, I cannot believe you misplaced the hard copy... Seriously... Anyway, here is the letter in full, names are replaced with pseudonyms so that it's suitable for the public, "Ahahaha. I'm not sure how I would react when I receive this 2 years later - VS writing paper. I laughed. I thought I'm old. Wait till I see this writing paper 2 years later.. How was NS [National Service, compulsory conscription] though? These are a list of jokes/predictions I made: 1. We are going to die with [due to] the lack of fitness. 2. We count bullets. (Did we really? Omg, I hope we didn't die.) 3. We performed in NDP [National Day Parade] for 2 years because I stupidly indicated "acting" as a skill. 4. We might become this slow, no-skill person... Facilitation skills, applied drama, gone with the wind!! Pity some dreams don't come in gold. (Refer to sour grapes spoken word and the fact 2 Olympians deferred NS.) So what are your plans now? Did we long give up on the NS project? Are we thinking of *not* going into NUS this year (2019)? Just a recap, the plan you told **everyone** was that you are going to finish that NS full so you can enjoy each and every bit of Uni/studying life... But in the meantime, you will get a job and work to support yourself through Uni... So... that was the plan. But things change, people change. I would be so gravely upset if we have decided to give up all these plans, dreams and aspirations. We were so curious and restless and hungry to learn more. But we do what we have to, I guess; Responsible, non-selfish people we are. So, here is me writing this letter reminding you, sign-posting what we planned and hoped for the future. Maybe it will be a good reminder of who you used to be (Yogi warned we might lose ourselves). But I also think an important message came from A.Wong from MOE, "There's nothing we can't walk away from." I believe you would have your reasons to change life courses dramatically and that is... fine. Just remember that you do something that makes you happy and excited. (I'm looking forward to being ever so excited - and then, contented with life - as when we found and chose DADP.) *FRIENDS* Did you make many in NS? Were they really good ones? Or more just friends of convenience? Did you get better at getting over friends who leave you? See.. the thing is, "I" (from 2016) chart our personal growth at socialising as such: A) Primary school: A BLUR??? B) Secondary school: Too selective. We didn't add friends we didn't talk irl. We thought we would never fit in. (We kept in contact with [only] a handful of friends.) C) Poly: Interestingly, I forced myself to make more friends. I tried to make conversation and connection with people. We (I) don't hate people as much. (Although [we] got very despo [desperate for company] as a result.) If you did [make new friends], recall those from years ago. Catch up with Yogi and RX (RX is paramount for the budget trip to Europe ahahaha). How are the girls? Is K now a Hollywood star? Is ST an NAC-artist? Is boss spearheading some drama programme in NIE? Is pau studying overseas and dating just as we predicted (it nullifies our back-up-partner-of-40-yo plan by the way). Don't be mean, catch up. And maybe you didn't become a recluse and have been in contact with them. In which case, good job!! (If not, I'm sure we've been nice enough to survive a cup of coffee/tea in their company.) (Can't believe I missed tanned thou, don't show him this letter!) How about online friends though? Is Europe no longer happening because we have since loss contact with dear [penpal] TTR? How did that happen? Are we still mad? Although, he was such a great person and I'm very sure [he is] on his way to being a great/brilliant/passionate doctor/surgeon. And if it is really just that we *both* got busy, perhaps wish him well the next holiday, ok? (Aug 14, his birthday.) We may not be the closest but still... I don't know why we digressed on to friends... But I think it's because I have come to realise that they are equally important as ambition and all that. Don't lose sight of that. Don't lose sight of that... A good way to summarise this whole letter with the horrible handwriting. I guess I am most afraid that we lose sight of who we are. Please don't. It is alright to be a different person - yes! Baik la, ah-boys-to-men. But I hope you can live with yourself and that you are a happy person. There didn't used to be a need for many things to have a great, fulfilling life, I am now fulfilled (somewhat) with: A) Learning about drama/people B) Having company and friends and conversations about the world C) Dreaming - about that NS novel, NS project, waiter on a cruise, a musical D) Learning Cantonese fluent enough to converse. I hope you are too. Fulfilled, happy. (And if somewhat disgruntled by the whole of the 2 years, that you reconcile with yourself and turn that smile upside down.) Smile. I'm sure you can. We always found a way to make the smallest drizzle seem like the biggest downpour and force ourselves to dance in it. This metaphor is a bit wonky but just get it. Dance in the rain. Life is a party to be thrown. Enjoy it. You are now a free Elf. :) Yours sincerely, with all the love I have, [Signature] (27/Sept/2016) "