The end is nigh - an appropriate phrase to describe the end of the first semester here at Skidmore College. For me, just the first term here at Skidmore has been a long time coming. To use a cliché: it is a new journey that I am excited to start. I have waited almost three years for this. Having gone through the remarkably beneficial national service experience plus eight months of traveling and working (to beef up that all important resume), I was finally in college. I am still learning and meeting new people here all the time. It is truly brilliant, and I also love Skidmore despite some of its “lesser qualities.”

I have looked fondly over these past few months. It has been quite the eye-opening experience. I feel I am immersing myself in the unique American culture here and I am entirely used to the way Skidmore has been abbreviated to pretty much anything. The whole place is littered with either something with "skid" or with "more" and I enjoy it greatly. I would not be surprised if there were a club name committee here called “How to Skid More.” I have also enjoyed some of the excellent amenities here, mainly the gym, the music department, and practice rooms. I have taken great pride in my performing skills as a percussionist within the Skidmore orchestra, and we play rather interesting pieces.

Despite its delightful and beautiful side, I have do have negative feedback about Skidmore. Right now, I am a resident of Jonson Tower here. I have had the great joy of riding in the elevator after it had been “vandalised.” I just have a few words to say to this egregious individual, “please stop, you can make it to the elevator, you can wait to get off on your floor.” I have also gotten used to its “herb-based” notoriety; I do not think much of it now. I have also accepted that the Jonson Tower or “Joto” as we affectionately call it, has the worst elevator in history. It is never there when you need it and when you do need it, it stops on every single floor.

As we come towards the end, the Skidmore calendar is still buzzing away. Just this week alone there are an incredible number of events that are taking place. We see events ranging from concerts to elections to culture shows. It still genuinely staggers me that people can manage this busy schedule during this crunch period. There almost seems to be an event for everyone, regardless of interests.

This semester has been quite life-changing. I have been incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed all my classes (almost all my classes and professors). I have also seen myself much more focused on my work compared to my high school days. I have also had the good fortune to have met some truly brilliant people, some of whom I can proudly call my dear and close friends. I have never felt more genuinely happy than right here, right now, despite the ever-growing pile of work.

While I do miss my family in Singapore, I am happy with my life here. Over winter break I will miss my friends here. Semester two, let’s see what you got.