It was vindication beyond words. The moment Mr Yong told me "Mark, you qualified for JC!" I laughed my a** out big time. I never sniffed JC air in my secondary school life, I swear.

When I saw the double A1 for Literature and English, I exclaimed out "WTF!" earning a slap on the shoulder by Mrs Hua.

Then it came. Tears of joy. tears of relief, tears of vindication in the middle of the school hall. I cried like a pussy and a 5 year old girl but I just cried. Mr Yong texted me at 9 plus "I'm so glad to see you cry for joy. For the first time I think you really feel that you have finally made it."

I did it. I sprinted across the finishing line. I began with trips and stutters. My tears show how much I worked. Although it may not seem fantastic to people, to shave 10 points off is absolutely magical stuff.

Najib, we did it. From bottom dwellers to where we stand now. It took 5 exams of disappointment, but the final one was our zenith of form. We proved to people. We proved to our folks. We proved them wrong finally.

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Some teachers said I couldn't make it, some relatives indirectly implied I was hopeless. Some gave up hope on me. The key point was I never gave up on myself. I fought on and I gotten what I sowed.

Mrs Hua told me in the midst of my sobbing "You see, hard work does pay off!"

Vindication. Just pure vindication to all those who doubted me. There are a few chaps I would like to say my heart-felt thanks too.

1. Guo - Bastard if it weren't for you, I would still have been messing around. The day you taught me Oragnic Chemistry was the day you shocked me into work mode. Words cannot express how much gratitude I have for you. Thanks Nigga! =D

2. Mr Yong - Yeah you gave up abit on me, but you never failed to remind me that "The Final Sprint" was there for taking. It was your constant reminding that kept me moving along. You said you wanted to shake my hand on the day I got results, I made sure I kept my word although it was 2 years ago when you said it.

3. Mrs Cheong - My mother's good friend (No joke) was just simply brilliant. To think that my first lesson I was sent out of her class just after 10 minutes, I am glad I got double A1 for both the subject she taught me. Never failed to keep supporting us.

4. Miss Peh - I kept your words. I wrote narrative. I got A1. I did it. I so badly wanted to see your reaction. I knew you could see us from Heaven. Thank you for the words and that fateful scolding on 2005 Mid Years.

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To all those who didn't get the reesults they wanted : It's not the end. Results are a poor way to judge character and ability. Don't let it bog you down! Fight on, with love!

So a parting of ways. We made it, we are undertaking a whole new adventure in a few weeks time. A whole new cycle is going to be in tack. Memories.

Love, Mark

Carrying your name, close to me.
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