Throwback to A level Results Day
Day 3 of the personal 30 day content creation challenge. Today I decided to rekindle this moment, so one last time (I need to be the one who takes you home~). After meeting up with my closest JC friend (let's call her Qiu) yesterday. Humongous ginormous shoutout to Qiu for hanging there and teaching me about tech terms at MTX and about life <3
1 month prior to results day, I went to CDC Ubi and completed my BTT!
1 week prior to results day, it was Chinese New Year. Wishing yall 马到成功 (immediate success) !
5 days prior to results day, Ateez concert came to Singapore. They ate and left no crumbs.
Less than 24 hours before, my procrastinating ass was rushing farewell gifts. Folding paper stars, writing cards, packaaginggg. Honestly I head empty and was not thinking much about results as I was partaking in an internship and recently picked up baking again.
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Then lo and behold, results day came… Like a whiplash.
I summoned Qiu to meet me for lunch before heading to school to supposedly eat our final meal within the compound. We decided to nom nom at the secondary school canteen since our JC is connected to it. (Sajc food sucks so.) While crossing the bridge into their canteen, a female cleaner (naming her C) was at the end of the bridge staring at us. Look, I know I am wearing outside clothes. Luckily Qiu was wearing school clothes and this is our results day so it would be fine right?
Deadass got stopped by C. Not because of my clothes, but because of… When we eat there, they clean more, we give them more burden. When we eat there, they clean more, we give them more burden. When we eat there, they clean more, we give them more burden.
C was talking in broken Chinese with dialects mixed in it, repeating her mantra almost 10 times to us. Just let us be free after 2-3 man omg T^T. Even as the one with a bigger appetite, my appetite legit shrank to zero. What the helly was going on. I had to pull a move as the more extroverted one but THIS was something that legit BLEW MY MIND. THE AUDACITY !!!
Even weirder was 6 guys from our JC wearing their half-u waltzed in behind us and did not get chosen by C. On top of that, they left with plates of steaming hot food. Then C started saying “Did your principal not tell you not to come here?!” THIS IS FRYING ME OMG
My short-circuited brain could only compute flight, as fight seems utterly useless as there was no end to C. (Haha get it?). Alas we ate some sad cold popcorn chicken from our sad old school drink stall as all the food stalls closed by then. Idk whether we were eating straight up flour or chicken as it was hard af.
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That experience with C legit left a foul taste in my mouth. I feel incredibly disturbed when thinking about this experience. We only started going there to eat after one of our longest stall owners who sold chicken rice closed during Prelims. Not enough food to come around for students, matched with the stress to cook faster for stall owners led to our principal encouraging us to go to the secondary school for food. (our school has liaised with them about it.)
Luckily I was soon preoccupied with handing out my farewell gifts for friends from cca, student interest group and many more lovely experiences~
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Heading into the hall, there was certainly anxiety and stress. Heart beating, palms sweating and the usual bodily reactions. As per usual my class is one of the closest to the screen and stage. (0-0) I guess it made me a bit more stressed as they were announcing stuff at a closer proximity.
I still remember my other friend giving the idea of using results akin to playing baccarat. Of which I instantly agreed to, this creative idea gleefully shook me out of the gloomy atmosphere. (Grateful for you babes.) All 3 of us were holding hands and shaking until it was time to face that slip of A4 paper.
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Another stunned moment was the person in front of me was sick so i was the first few to get the slip. My mom somehow managed to zoom from the witnessing zone from the back to my class at that moment. Aftet telling her to keep the results a secret (baccarat), I opened the file to reveal the slip to her. Womanz “Oh OH!” and started tearing up??? Aiyo I was so tempted to sneak a peek but gotta stay true to my word (baccarat).
Qiu couldn't wait for the baccarat and opened hers immediately upon getting it. (Which is the usual response, unless for my school if you kena 70rp they call you up on stage.) Her face turned to a :( and she showed me her results that did not improve from her average performance (she in honour roll ok). So yesterday I had the chance to ask her more about her feelings and opinions about that day. “It already happened. Just think about what you can do. Crying can't do much.” Qiu was undeniably saddened and her way of coping is moving on to the solution.
Qiu honestly raised me up to stand on the mountains of cannot teach teachers. (Will cover that tomorrow). I admire her, especially for her perfectionist traits, putting in 1000% effort for anything and everything. Lamentably, previous results day has never met her expectations.
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So we went out of the hall (baccarat), using our testimonial paper to cover and revealing our grades one-by-one. Never in my life have I seen As in so long 😭 , last time i saw them was O levels 🤡 i kid you not. So yep drumroll please… 🥁🥁🥁 I got the most popular number that every Gen Alpha kid knows, till the fact that it transcends languages and became universal. Now it even has hand actions. Six sevennn~
Reflecting on my own A Level results day experience, I truly understand how intense and nerve-wracking that time can be. The blend of excitement and anxiety often makes every moment memorable, and like the author, I recall how unexpected situations—whether it’s a funny incident or a supportive friend’s advice—can deeply impact our mindset. One thing I found helpful during my results period was treating the process with a bit of humor, much like the comparison to playing baccarat mentioned here. It helped me detach from the pressure and reminded me that results are just a step in the journey, not the destination. Additionally, the experience of being judged or misunderstood, like the encounter with the canteen cleaner, highlights another important lesson—learning to navigate tricky social dynamics with grace. Maintaining composure amidst such situations not only builds character but also creates a more meaningful understanding of people around us. I also resonate with the author’s mention of receiving support from close friends, such as Qiu, whose practical advice and positivity can be a real lifesaver. Sharing feelings openly with trusted peers or even family helps in coping with disappointment or stress, reinforcing that nobody faces these moments alone. Finally, balancing the anticipation of study results with engaging in other activities—like internships or hobbies—can be a great way to ease the stress. These distractions provide mental breaks and keep the focus on personal growth rather than outcomes alone. In conclusion, A Level Results Day is more than just the grades; it’s about personal growth, resilience, and the connections that help us through. Embracing every part of that day, even the awkward or challenging moments, shapes us into stronger individuals ready for the future.
