"We will serve and protect the nation, with our lives!" I echoed. That was the last sentence me and the rest of the recruits shouted at the Auditorium.

It was my enlistment day. I was going to be enlisted into Pulau Tekong for my Basic Military Training for two months. After saying those bullshit, I went to have my "last" meal with my father in the cookhouse. One of my loser buddies, Yam Seng, was also there to send me off. Thinking of it now, maybe the reason he came to see me off is because of the free lunch he was going to have. Ha.

After having my meal with them, I knew my time was up. For the first time in my life, I was reluctant to leave my father. But deep inside me, I knew I had to start being like a real man and don't be sad anymore. Thus, I never look back after I said goodbye to him.

That's it! That was going to be the beginning of my two months of hellish BMT. The first day was damn busy. We got enlisted in the morning and I think it was only until ten at night then we were given our last parade. To make matters worse, I couldn't sleep at all during the first night in my bunk. I was turning and tossing around in bed, unable to fall asleep.

I thought to myself, "If everyday is going to be like this, how am I gonna get past these two months?" I just hope tomorrow will be better. It did....