Diagnostic criteria for internet addiction.

Found this on BBC news, browsing around for some bits of strange news.

Do you feel preoccupied with the internet?

Yes, yes I do. Always, constantly, the Internet is the very essence of my soul.

Do you feel the need to use the internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?

Yes, but sometimes no. When I can sneak a glance at Twitter, I do, but sometimes when I stop using the Internet I don't for many days, like a hermit escaping the world.

Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop internet use?

Yes.

Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop internet use?

Yes, but only when dealing with hostel Internet limitations. When I'm at home, I'm completely fine.

Do you stay online longer than intended?

Definitely yes.

Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the internet?

Thankfully no, not yet.

Have you lied to family members, a therapist or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the internet?

Also no, not yet.

Do you use the internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a distressed mood (eg feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety and depression)?

Sometimes, but then again it makes me even more depressed when I read news about terrible people doing terrible things.

Participants answering yes to questions 1 to 5 and at least one more answer were classed as suffering from Internet Addiction Disorder.

Source: Young's Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet Addiction adapted by Beard and Wolf.

In short, I am an addict.

Like, please, first thing I did when I found out about Internet addiction was to post it on my blog, Tweet about it, and then almost post about it on Facebook. Help.

The thirteenth.

It's official. I love being in the pantry for wifi. It's not as private as being in my room or anything like that, but it gets me good, strong wifi connection and that's what I need most at times.

How sad is it that my mood lightens when I see that Twitter interface? Man, I need to seek professional help.

Also, I can't post on LAN Internet connection either, so like, I have to find some wifi to get my posts online.

I need my social networking. I swear it. It's quite sad, really, but I like to come back and get online. Twitter, Facebook. I think I need it to feel alive again. Call it addiction, but that's how I get on with life sometimes.

Haven't posted for a few days, and I feel quite behind in my updating and talking about things that have happened recently. Had our first Physics lesson yesterday, where we breezed through three and a half ridiculously simple chapters (for Physics), along with our first PE session, where we desperately tried to lost some weight and gain some height last minute so it wouldn't look to bad on our records.

Going to jump around for a bit because my brain can't process information in chronological order right now (because I'm high from laughing too much at Mr Xie's epic post on our Media Club Facebook wall, amongst other things).

Only one lesson on Wednesday, which was an hour of Math (major, which I can't stress enough because it's so slack compared to the honours class it's quite awesome indeed). Played pool until ACE, which doesn't count as a lesson because it's, well, Affective Character Education. I really do quite like my class at the moment. Still missing the old 05 but this one is great too.

All three sciences yesterday, so had Chem, where I felt really stupid, followed by Animal Physio, where I found it hard to follow because I spent most of my time trying out that ridiculous finger movement thing Mr Seoh challenged us to do (and then said I wasn't a musician because I didn't have the "precise finger control of a pianist", which really offended me), then Physics, then PE. Which might be a science, too, who knows.

Math-ed and English-ed today, and during English I found out that I really do know nothing of the world. I care nuts about politics, and sometimes I think I know things, but honestly I don't. I need to seek enlightenment, but instead of embracing asceticism like Buddha, I'll probably just hang around more news websites and stuff.

Then had CCA, which I love. Oh, CCA, I love CCA. It's going to be an awesome year for Media, and I swear to you we will make it so.

Had dinner with Bruneians (Fatinn, Fatin, Yee Rou and Faiz), talked about new junior, talked to new junior because then we met him at the bus interchange. He's a nice guy. I like him.

Okay, going off now.

Night.

P.S. Oh finally, weekend again.

P.P.S. I miss not having Malay. How strange is that?

Set Fire to the Rain.

It's a Tuesday. Oh yes it is.

Only two classes today, which was like yesterday, except that now it's repeated it's quite very the awesome. I mean, compared to the packed-ness of Year 4 this is complete heaven. I feel as if I'm getting enough sleep, too, since we can now go back and nap in the afternoons to our hearts' content.

Mentoring first thing in the morning, so Ms Dass brought us out to the canteen and draw things that represented us on sheets of paper and so she could have some coffee while she waited. Drew a stick figure and labelled it "yawen" and then doodled Spiderman because I really couldn't think of anything (and since I started on Ultimate Spiderman a few days ago it's all I can do to stop thinking about it. I'm afraid I've turned quite obsessive).

Come to think of it, I realise I got the uniform shading partly wrong and the webbing was too fine. But everybody learns from mistakes, and practice makes perfect. Besides, I'll probably never be able to reach the perfection that is those professional graphic novel artists.

Anyway, trying to read as much Spiderman and The Avengers as I can before the movies come out, so I won't feel so ashamed when I call myself a fan.

After mentoring was Math, so we made our way to 01 (because the Honours people get to stay while we leave) and did some stuff about limits. Oh goodness, hope it doesn't get too complicated. It usually starts off like this, where you think you can follow the lesson and a bit of hope blossoms in you, but then it gets all asdjabdahksdbansd and then you're all like lost and confused and in danger of flunking.

English was great, except now I realise I know absolutely nothing about politics and I don't give a damn, but if I want to pass this module I have to at least try. So doomed.

Went back and slept after class, then had an uneventful dinner session (actually all dinners are eventful, but since they're eventful all the time, they become uneventfully eventful, if you know what I mean).

Okay, off now.

Adieu.

P.S. I miss M11405. No lie.

Finality.

Reading this right now and it's reinforcing my love for Daniel Handler and his lovely genius with words. And his quotes are so true. You can't deny that, even though they sound atrocious at times and make you want to shake your head in disbelief, but they are true.

So like yeah, first proper day of lessons today (CCA fair day did not count because we only had one class and it was like, diagnostic test-y). Spent my weekend walking around the Orchard area because my mum and aunt were over to do some pre-CNY shopping (CNY good, shopping not really) after rushing off after our CCA fair.

Oh yeah, CCA fair 2012 was awesome. Our banner was brilliant. Here's a picture. Thanks to all the people who helped out to paint it over the course of orientation and the hours counting up to the event. One of the best so far I think, because our poster is awesome too, and we totally shamelessly advertised. So much pride for Media right now. I love how we love our CCA to bits (unlike some of the other CCAs where people feel like crap every CCA day because they know they have to show up), and I love how we take so much pride in being in Media. We work hard and we know it. It doesn't matter if people think we're slackers or that we do nothing. Because by the end of the day we're the ones who've had the most fun doing what we do.

Anyway, back to first day of proper lessons. Managed to wake up on time, thank goodness, but then reached the track way earlier than we usually do. For years we've sat at the concourse waiting for the bell to ring, but today we were there before the bell rang and everyone was all confused because we were amazingly punctual and did well.

Had a Chem briefing right after morning assembly, where Mr Murali told us about expectations and such, because since we're Honours students we aren't allowed to do that badly. And no, no Olympiad for me. I don't want to kill myself.

Then had the actual Chem lesson with Dr Li. Yeahey, Dr Li. Pin, Daryl and I wrote "Media <3" on the name list she asked us to pass around, because we really do love our CCA.

Not bad, but have managed to forget everything from Year 3, all the way from hybridisation to nomenclature. Uh oh. Thanks to Jia Hong for helping me recall things.

Molecular genetics was quite uneventful. Have this Korean exchange teacher, so his accent was a bit off (but not incomprehensible), but honestly, hardly anyone could catch anything, because this is a bewildering topic meant to confuse young minds.

Then had no class, then hung around the Fibo room for a while, then collected O-level results.

I will never have to take Malay in school ever again. Oh goodness. I feel accomplished. Back when I came here, I thought I didn't have to deal with Malay, but I did, and now it's over. Heck that was fast.

I am so thankful I passed. So, so thankful. Aisyah and I were practically prepared to cry.

Shocking results, and I feel sad because a lot of people were quite badly affected by the results. It's a terrible day.

Okay, going off now.

Good night.

P.S. Still no sign of new junior. I'm starting to doubt he's even coming.

Orientation day 3.

Orientation 2012 has just ended, and I must say although the mass dance wasn't as great as last year's (no mass dance will be better than last year's, I think), it was epic and memorable in its own way.

Skipped the post for day 2 because I was sunburnt and tired and had to do this photo montage for our finale event today and watch over banner-painting for the CCA fair tomorrow.

The Sentosa trip yesterday was awesome. My class is quite cool, really. And so's our mentor. She let us slack and eat at Mac's when we were supposed to meet the other classes for lunch. Also wanted to "accidentally" head over to Vivo and "accidentally" watch a movie, but couldn't. It was scorching hot though, and everyone ended up dying (especially the teachers, who had to follow us around as we walked around the place trying to look for stations).

Have plenty of pictures, so maybe when I've uploaded it I'll post a link of the montage. Who knows.

Spent most of my time today working on the montage, but also watched the Year 5s play some game with hoops and sponges. Skipped the mass dance running errands and then had lunch. Oh goodness, I've missed the food from the Muslim food stall. Sometimes food just perks you up, especially when you're starving.

Then joined in for a bit of fun on the field, where we built forts out of cardboard and other things and then bombarded each other with bags of water and stuff. 506 won, but like, ours was still standing by the end, too, so achievement. And it felt so good to get wet under the hot sun.

Finale was great, because the Year 1s were so adorable and the Year 3s from Fibo put on an amazing, flawless performance that brought the house down. It was sad because we placed last in the Year 3 performances category, and it kinda shocked the whole school as well, because it was so good (I'm so proud of Hafiy, because he was right there on stage dancing like the boss he is). And the reason why we couldn't win was because it was too "suggestive" for the school to want to promote in front of Year 1 parents.

It was a bit of fun, and most of us loved it, but because there was this part where 'James Bond' emerges and sort of kisses another dude on the cheek (like a real Bond would do to a hot chick), they wouldn't allow it. But it brought the house down and that's what matters to us.

After the performance, Facebook sort of blew up 'cause a lot of Fibo people were outraged. Terrible.

But as long as we know in our hearts our Year 3s were the stars on the night, any position they award us makes no difference.

Okay, sleepy.

Night.

Orientation day 1.

The first day of orientation has just ended, and I'm tired.

Officially met my new class today. Not bad, considering the number of people in Media and a few ex-classmates here and there. We also have the council president and vice-president, which is cool.

Went down to the canteen before school started to try and meet our new junior, but (disappointingly for us) we found out he isn't even in the country yet. How on earth is that possible? Why on earth would you have him miss the first week of school? It would be so much harder getting to know people without orientation (although my batch didn't have orientation either).

So yes, we were all baffled. This is the most mysterious junior yet.

Assembled in the hall, where we listened to people talk for a while, and then went off to hang around in the canteen 'cause we were ahead of schedule.

Met mentor, and she's quite awesome already. Topped up school's pizza fund and allowed John Huang to have like, ten slices.

House meeting-ed, mass danced (I'm still a terrible dancer, and hardly enjoy it), then went on to play these random games where we had to do these random things in order to earn things to sell for money, which we had to use to buy other things to play this other game with. A bit confusing at first, but then we managed to pull through and earned a lot more than a few of the other classes.

Now my body kinda aches, though.

Then went totally behind schedule, so we cut the game short.

Had the first hostel dinner of the year. Finally returned to normalcy, except familiar faces are still everywhere and that's kinda creepy.

Then went out with Wai Yin to buy cloth and paint for our CCA fair booth.

Came back, had our rooms checked by Ms Kong, then went downstairs to play pool with a bunch of other people. Yeah, busy day, what with trying to cram in as much hostel fun as possible within the week before school really starts and kills us all. Sigh.

All right, going off now.

Night.

P.S. Oh, and we're the only Year 5 class on our floor without air-conditioning. That's so sad.

So it begins.

Would've posted yesterday, but didn't because I couldn't seem to get wifi in my room (still can't, actually, so I'm sitting by the door, trying to leech off the weak tendrils of wifi here).

The thing is, LAN Internet connection is quite fast and pretty adequate, but it blocks many things. Like posting a post on Blogger, and accessing Twitter, and questionablecontent.net. And it makes me sad.

So yes I'm now back here, after having left the comfort of home behind me (many kilometres behind me, in fact) in order to pursue a better education and hence stretch my potential and stuff. Whoa.

It's the second day of the new year, which means we're two days closer to the apocalypse. Also, I've managed to pack my bags, catch a ridiculously empty flight, arrive safely, move boxes around, unpack, meet up with friends again, et cetera.

Spent all last night unpacking, so could sleep in a bit late as a reward. Then went out to Clementi Mall with Fatinn to buy essentials like shampoo and detergent and stuff because that's the way we roll.

Then came back and TV-roomed with a bunch of people from my year and then ate then played pool.

It's so weird having to see familiar faces all around. Previously, the hostel really was a place to get away from school (albeit partially and even though we were still within school compounds), but now it's like, whoa, total school five days a week, day and night. Must need some getting used to, this thing.

Orientation starts tomorrow, so then I'll start talking about things in full.

Night.


P.S. Oh no, hostel food begins again.