About Brenda
Oh hai! I’m Brenda Nicole Tan. Just call me Brenda, because um … people don’t refer to one another by their full names, don’t they?
The name ‘Brenda’ means ’sword’. Violent meaning, methinks. But I don’t see myself as a violent person. Aggressive, perhaps. The most I do is punch a few pillows and kick a few walls. Not to mention the fact that I curse and swear too much for my own good. But I’d never lay a finger on people.
I live in Singapore – the country so humid that you are literally swimming in hot air. (Think a giant sauna.)
I was born on the 6th November 1986 which makes me 23 years old. Although I like to think I am older or younger, depending on the situation. I don’t quite look my age. I’ve had people mistaking me for a 16 year old or worse, a 14 year old before. And I let them bask in that reverie until I opened my mouth and the first expletive slipped out, which was when they decided I was much, much older.
I suffer from a multitude of autoimmune, respiratory and cardiac illnesses which I document regularly on a separate blog here. Sometimes, I cope. Sometimes I can’t. But I’m thankful for having a small group of close friends and family members supporting me every step of the way.
Oh, hello up there!
I’m a perfectionist. In fact, I’m one heck of an anal arse (pun intended) who ensures that every little stray ink dot on her notes is whitewashed away, writes in a straight line, have my books arranged on my shelf according to author and size, and my clothes arranged according to colour. One speck of dust on my floor and I scream. One object out of place on my desk and I’d yelp. It’s little wonder people are afraid of stepping into my room. The same perfectionist tendencies also apply to life in general.
I have a problem with authority, and an ego too large for my small frame. I take pride in – and am highly protective of – my individuality, and I don’t appreciate people trying to change me. I am one of the few who is happy with the way she is and the direction her life is going, and people should respect that. Likewise, I don’t appreciate people preaching at me just because I am an atheist – religion wise, or lack of.
I’m unusually quirky. I break into random facts, quips or toilet humour as and when I feel like it. These may either be witty, corny or just ‘too much information’. You can either say that I brighten up your life, or that I drive you up the wall. It can only be one way or the other. No in-betweens.
I do silly stuff, like crawling under tables as if they were tunnels, doing work under the table – in the office or in school – and making crazy faces when having photos taken. Also, I like wearing bright yellow raincoats and jump into puddles during heavy rainstorms.
I challenge social norms, because I always believe the human race has to re-evaluate how we do things. Just because a habit or a practice is generally accepted, or has become ‘a part of the real world’ doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. I see a lot of flaws in human society – particularly its stiffness and strong adherence to social ‘rules’ – and I intend to make a difference to that.
I’m highly driven. Once I set my mind on a goal, I’d do everything within my means to achieve it. (Hear! Hear! This sounds like a line out of a resume.) Well, apart from the goal of getting out of bed each morning on time, that is, considering how I snooze my alarm clock on average six times a day.
I love spending time with my close friends and family – the two groups of people who can identify with me and keep me laughing all day long. I don’t like watching movies as I believe that spending quality time together does not constitute spending two or more hours in a dark cinema with the only form of contact being hands brushing against one another in a box of popcorn.
I’m the girl clearly distinguished by my ponytail and spectacles.
Generally harmless. But warning – I do bite when provoked.
I salute you if you’ve read this far.