diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f90f63a..fc70fb8 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1 @@
-
-*.toml
 .streamlit/secrets.toml
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 02e6a2c..60f58e3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # chergpt-basic: custom chat assistant
 No login, vanilla ChatGPT-like interface with scaffolded code for immediate deployment 
-
-<img width="1283" alt="image" src="https://github.com/String-sg/chergpt-basic/assets/44336310/5be6253c-5de6-402a-8d47-b37c52154d65">
+Test deployment for IMH education office
 
 ## Features
 - [x] Set custom instructions to guide student interactions <br>
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index cd2b2b4..6e4f41d 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -5,6 +5,14 @@
 
 st.title("CherGPT Basic")
 
+# Initialize session state for admin
+if "is_admin" not in st.session_state:
+    st.session_state["is_admin"] = False
+
+# Initialize variables for custom and existing instructions
+custom_instructions = ""
+existing_instructions = ""
+
 client = OpenAI(api_key=st.secrets["OPENAI_API_KEY"])
 
 with st.sidebar:
@@ -63,9 +71,9 @@ def update_instructions(new_instructions):
     try:
         with conn.cursor() as cur:
             cur.execute("""
-                INSERT INTO instructions (content) 
+                INSERT INTO instructions (content)
                 VALUES (%s)
-                ON CONFLICT (id) 
+                ON CONFLICT (id)
                 DO UPDATE SET content = EXCLUDED.content;
             """, (new_instructions,))
             conn.commit()
@@ -96,6 +104,7 @@ def get_latest_instructions():
 
 
 existing_instructions = get_latest_instructions()
+custom_instructions = existing_instructions
 
 
 custominstructions_area_height = 300
@@ -132,8 +141,11 @@ def get_latest_instructions():
         st.markdown(prompt)
 
     # Prepend custom instructions to the conversation context for processing
-    conversation_context = [
-        {"role": "system", "content": custom_instructions}] if existing_instructions else []
+    conversation_context = []
+    if existing_instructions:
+        conversation_context.append(
+            {"role": "system", "content": custom_instructions})
+
     conversation_context += [
         {"role": m["role"], "content": m["content"]}
         for m in st.session_state.messages