31st Dec

From Leaderboards to Lunch Breaks, and Everything in Between

If I had to sum up 2025 in one word, it would probably be momentum.

It feels like just yesterday I was knee-deep in semester assignments, and now, I’m writing this while reflecting on a year that truly spanned the spectrum of student life and the professional world. It was a year of high-pressure competitions, quiet goodbyes to old responsibilities, and the exciting (and sometimes chaotic) start of new chapters.

The Highs (and the Meaningful Lows)

Academically, the year surprised me. The semester results came back better than I expected, proving that the late nights and the support of a good circle really do pay off.

But the learning wasn’t just in the classroom. From organising “What The Hack” back in September to the intense grind of the TAE Kaggle competition, I learned that the scoreboard doesn’t always reflect the growth. We might have placed bottom few in Kaggle, but the technical lessons in data structures and the resilience built, were wins in their own right.

I also finally closed the chapter on being a House Guardian. That final GM was a sweet moment of relief, letting me put down a heavy set of duties and just be.

The Professional Shift

The biggest shift, of course, was joining Accenture in the Health & Public Service department. The last few months have been a whirlwind of “drinking from the firehose.” It’s been challenging, but getting to work with a team that actually has fun (shoutout to the team lunches at Nosh) has made the transition so much smoother.

It’s been a year of recognition, too. From achieving the SPWU Bursary TFC Achievers Award, it’s been incredibly validating to see the effort recognised. Plus, getting my portfolio site to hit that perfect 100/100. A small technical victory, but a satisfying one.

The Good Life

Outside of the grind, 2025 taught me the importance of downtime. Whether it was sweating it out at volleyball training with Fion and Magenta, hunting for the best Pita at Miznon, or just grabbing drinks with the boys to celebrate birthdays. I’ve realised that it doesn’t matter what we eat or talk about; it’s just about being there. (And maybe squeezing in the occasional TFT matches or SC2 fix).

Looking to 2026

So, what’s next?

I’m walking into 2026 with clear eyes and a full itinerary. I’ve got my sights set on a summer internship at [REDACTED] fingers crossed on that front. I’m also already counting down the days to Jan for the move in with the boys, possibly a solo trip to [REDACTED] in May as well; the budgeting starts now (gotta make that my wallet stretch!).

2025 was about building foundations. 2026 is about building on top of them. I’m ready to learn more, travel further, and keep the momentum going.

Happy New Year, everyone. Let’s make it a good one. 🥂✨

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