Currently it states 10:51pm on my laptop and in about 1 hour plus or so, 2012 will end and all of us will transit into 2013. Another year ends so quickly, how time really transcends!

I would say that 2012 has been really great year of gaining new knowledge, life experience, overcoming life challenges, knowing more people and last but not least, discover more about myself.

2012 marks the real beginning of my term as a Specialist in the army, on top of which highlights the peak of my so-called career as an instructor in training school. It's quite amazing to realise how much I have learnt over the span of these 12 months. From  newcomer who knows nuts about the wing (the office), its operations, the superiors and the people in training school at the beginning of 2012, I now can acknowledge myself as one of the experienced NSF personnel in training school who will serve finish my term in 3 months time.Honestly, the learning curve has been a steep one throughout the year. From technical soldiering skills to working with and managing people to handling administrative or logistical work to values in life, I would say that my time throughout training school has been an enriching and fruitful one. There's always something to learn each day, be it about work relations, people, character, attitude or the little things that serves as my job scope as an instructor. Not a day has been really wasted.

Besides, as an instructor in training school, I have seen quite a number of trainees so far and getting to know them has been also an interesting part of my NS life. You would probably think that the trainees are the ones who benefit from the learning of skills and such. As an instructor, I have talked to many trainees I have come across. From many of them, there are day-to-day perspective that I have got to know and learn from them. Besides, it's also an avenue to think about values, character development, well-being of how one should behave, not just in the military but also as a person in life. These experiences are invaluable and it's something that is personal, since different interactions between different people brings out different learning points and experience.

While the main bulk of my time in 2012 is about serving the nation, it doesn't mean my personal life has been neglected. Well, some of it, yes, but for some aspects of my life which I fall short in the past, I've managed to make up for it.

My physical fitness, like I mentioned in my previous posts before, would be at its peak since this is the time of my life when I kinda of take a break from studies and have time for fitness. I promised to myself that I would train up and achieve to run finish a 42km marathon this year. I'm proud that I lived up to it and finally ran an official 10km, 21km, 30km and finally a 42km during the Standard Chartered Marathon on 021212. It really feels good to have finally completed something that seemed impossible for me. Donning on the 42km finisher tee (while typing this blog post) is really a symbol of my efforts to run finish the marathon.You may say I'm superficial or something but I would acclaim that this is runner's pride, or rather the pride of a leisure runner, since I run because I like it. Not for merit or applause but rather a personal glory. Congrats to See Ting and Ami on completion of the 42km, my 2 running buddies that took part with me in this running trail. Okay, one day I shall post a picture of these running achievements so far.

Also, through 2012, I had thoughts about my life, what I would want to achieve and redefine my goals. Through the various experiences and people I have come across, I'm now in a better position to make more informed decisions which may greatly affect my future. Guess the time in army has been a good opportunity for some self-reflection huh.

I'm glad that I still keep in contact with my friends, from jc, army section mates during course, colleagues in training school and my trainess too. For that, it's good so it keeps me sane from all the busy work in camp.

More importantly, I am glad that I still have some time with my family since I spent like 3/4 of my life in camp instead of home. While I haven't really got the time to settle down things at home (my things are like messy everywhere while in camp, everything is at the fingerstips), I've at least managed to pack up some of my things today before the year ends.

Okay, seems like I have spoken enough for this post. With 2012 ending with a heartwarming and satisfying closure, I look forward to 2013 and hope that it will turn out to another great year ahead. 2013 will be another phase of my life when I will start to embark on my tertiary education. Seems exciting but tough ahead. Nonetheless, tough times don't last but tough men do (a quote which I constantly see in the toilet cubicle in camp), I'm sure 2013 will be an awesome feat! Look forward to the future and have a great year ahead! All the best!