2013 is the first year since I was born in which the numbers of the year don’t repeat. It has also been the year of many firsts for me. For most part of the year, I was jobless and living hand to mouth. To think that I was going to end the year with nothing to show for, it was really depressing. But things changed and just when I thought I’d sunk to the lowest, my fortunes reversed.

I started my first job and ended up in a sector where I didn’t thought possible. So far, work has been fulfilling and surprisingly, I found at least one aspect of work which I enjoy and find challenging. And although the learning curve is steep, helpful colleagues and the year-end lull have made life a little easier.

Earlier on in the year, in the midst of my slump, I also officially graduated and bade farewell to more than a decade of formal education. It was the first time I had a mortar board and graduation gown on since kindergarten. And to celebrate the end of 15-odd years of studies, together with a few friends, I scaled one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia.

It was my first time back in Malaysia in a long time since another climb a couple of years earlier. In making the recent climb, I realised for the first time that I suffered from severe altitude sickness. It was a terrible experience though ultimately rewarding when I finally made the summit.

Rewinding to the start of the year, this Lunar New Year marked the first (and hopefully last) where I was in Singapore but failed to do any house visiting. The cause – a rare instance of insomnia and the first of many that continue to recur occasionally throughout the year.

Looking back, 2013 turned out quite alright. Although it started off on a bad note, things lifted slightly in the summer before turning the corner as the year drew to a close. I don’t know how the next year would pan out but with luck, this positive momentum will carry through to 2014. Now that’ll be a first.