This week's post is going to be dedicated to someone who was very close to me, so I apologize in advance that this post is sad. On March 4th, 2009 (Wednesday), my best friend here at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Scott Jared Monat, passed away early in the morning at the hospital. Scott was my best friend here in Singapore and knowing that he passed away was one of the most heartbreaking things I ever had to experience. I never lost someone so close to me before and hearing that Scott passed away felt like someone was shredding my heart into pieces.

Scott Jared Monat was a sophmore at the University of Miami studying Neurobiology/Pre-Medicine and Spanish. He is a National Merit Scholar recipient and received the Isaac Bashevis Singer scholarship, the highest scholarship awarded at the UMiami. Scott was such a bright kid and had plans of going to Medical School (he actually wanted to go to Stanford) to become a Neurologist and help people in Asia. He was so smart and had so much going for him in his future.

Losing someone so close to you is one of the most painful experiences I ever had to go through. There was not a time in the day where I wouldn't see Scott, hang out with him, grab lunch and/or dinner, and study Thai with him. We were always together and sometimes I wondered if we were brother and sister (since I treated him as if he was my little brother). Ever since he passed, it has been such a hard adjustment for me because we always called each other regardless and always saw each other as well. Knowing that I won't get to talk to him or ever see him again is so heartbreaking. Scott was always there for me, helping through any problems I was going through, and always believed in me. He was always happy and loved being in Asia. Trying new things and foods was one of his favorite things to do and that's what he always did (every time in dinner there is always something new that he tried).

The hardest thing now is actually saying goodbye to Scott. Yesterday I met up with his cousin and packed up Scott's belongings for his family. Packing up Scott's room the other day for his family was so difficult because it was my goodbye to him. Knowing that I won't be hanging out in his room anymore and being in his room without him there was so hard to handle. Being in his room and saying goodbye for the last time was so hard, but I know that Scott is now in peace and safe from harms way. I am going to miss hanging out with him, singing to him, playing with his hair, and talking to him about everything. Scott, we had some amazing memories and I am going to miss waking you up by yelling through your window to come out. We had amazing memories that I will never forget. There will never be a day that goes by that I won't think about you or miss you. Right now, I just wish you were here to tell me that everything will be alright. I know that it will eventually, but right now there is still some pain.

This post is also for his family and close friends back in Georgia and at the UMiami. I know this has been the hardest for you, being that Scott was here in Singapore. Scott was so happy to be here in Singapore and there was never a time that he didn't mention home, family, and friends. Scott loved you all. His smile and warm presence always lit up everyone's day and he will be truly missed. Stay strong, I know Scott would want everyone to be.

Thank you everyone for being there for his family for support and also I personally want to thank his friends and my friends here at NUS, the University of Scranton, and my friends back home for helping me through this difficult time.

Scott, you will always be my Scotty Baby (little brother) and I will miss you so much. I love you and always will. RIP Scott Jared Monat

- Pattie Vongsoasup