Starting over in the new year with a clean slate
By Bong Sze Hui
Many people came to Kuching Waterfront, Saradise, Guang Loong Temple, and other locations on New Year’s Eve to celebrate the countdown to 2023.
The countdown to 12am was marked by fireworks. Guang Loong Temple also had a Lion Dance performance and a Karaoke show to add to the excitement.
This has also resulted in traffic jams on various roads. Parking lots at the previously mentioned locations were all full, making it difficult for some people to find a parking spot.
Five people were interviewed and asked about their impressions of the year 2022 during the New Year’s Eve celebration.
Liew Xing Hui, 15, believes the most significant change in her life last year was her courage to face and overcome challenges. The best thing she experienced was making lots of friends at the Sarawak Secondary School Camp and doing well on her Malay Language Exam. She describes herself as “bitter” because she has faced numerous difficulties.
Priscilla Lee Yee Yin, 23, a final-year student at University Malaysia Sabah, had also encountered challenges last year. She said that she applied for internships in other countries, including Japan and China, and that she was still waiting for a confirmation letter from China because Japan had refused her request. Aside from that, she said that she had finished her final year project and that she and her family had been blessed with good health. Last year “could have been better,” she added.
Meanwhile, Mandy Kho Qiao Er, 21, said her biggest challenge last year was cutting her hair short. She was also disappointed because she did poorly on her Year 1 Semester 2 examination paper. Despite this, she is grateful to her family, friends, and teachers for always being there for her and making her happy. Another thing that made her happy was that she had passed her examination in Year 2 Semester 3 and that many of her college friends had a partnership. She intends to work hard this year while also enjoying life.
Chung Chin Sze, 22, said her biggest regret was not being able to buy the things she had always desired. However, she promises herself that she will get everything she wants this year based on her budget. She is grateful to her parents, teachers, and lover because they have helped her succeed in all of her endeavours. She also said that her lover has always made her life colourful and that her teacher has given her some advice so that her idea can be realised. “Eat, drink, and be merry,” she says of this year.
For Elaine Yeo Yi Lian, 22, she said that she would make an effort to live, grow, and not feel self-conscious. She said that as she began to work and earn money this year, she became more confident in herself and treated herself better. Her parents are equally grateful and pleased with everything she accomplishes. She also expressed excitement about her trip to Kuala Lumpur, receiving a scholarship, and getting a new laptop. This year has been “a lucky year” for her, she says.
Looking back on 2022, I’m glad and grateful. I’m hoping that this year will be less unpleasant and more spectacular. Cheers to the next 12 chapters!
• This article was written by a student from the Strategic Communication Programme at the Faculty of Language and Communication, UNIMAS.
