phases of our lives

seeing that the start of the next 40 years of my life is approaching.. i think it's a good idea to view my life in phases, so that life won't be too boring!

Phase 1: the Carefree years

From the time you are born till the time your parents decided to enrol you in childcare where they teach you how to read, write and sing song... (maybe 2-3 years)

Total = 2 to 3 years

Phase 2: the Mugging Phase
pre-school (if any) = 1-2yrs (??)
Nursery = 1 yr
Kindergarden = 2 yrs
Primary School = 6 yrs
Secondary School = 4-5yrs
JC or Poly = 2-3 yrs
University = 3-4 yrs
Masters = ?
Doctorate = ??

Total = 19yrs to as long as it takes to get your doctorate

Phase 3: Working

for as long as you work and longer. The retirement age now is 65 yrs.. Average life span is 77 yrs for a typical Singaporean (from http://www.singstat.gov.sg/papers/snippets/life.html). This meant that there is a gap of 8 yrs before we all "gua le". We take out the money in our CPF by 55 yrs. Most of us start work when we're around 20 yrs to 30 yrs old for both gender. this meant that we spend 35 to 45 yrs working our hearts out (PROVIDED we retire at 65).

but retirement do not necessarily mean not working any more in singapore terms. there are elderly still working till when they past retirement age. because they need to survive. suppose i assume that i OFFICIALLY stop working at 70yrs, the total number of years in phase 3 would be...

total = 40 to 50 years!!!!!!! OMG

Phase 4: Retirement years

after counting the number of years in phase 3, i'm no longer interested in counting for this phase.... boo

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so... i was wrong in the beginning of this post... the start of the next 40 to 50 (!!) years of my life is in 2 days time.... shitified....... so for those still studying.. if you think you are going through shit.. think again.. that shit you are going through is small case (less than half) as compared to what you are going to go through after you graduated.... so enjoy your studies while you STILL can... meanwhile.. i'll try to prepare myself for 40 to 50 years of waking up at 6am every morning and dragging my feet to work.. boo.....