Image Credit: Ryang Ho Sung

forty-eight hours ago,
a solemn, ceremony
ended an epoch.

I believe what I wrote above counts as a haiku? But in saying that I digress, so back to my point. It is interesting to hear the assortment of reasons that were given when people were asked why the would want to join Council. It is not the coolest CCA, nor is it the least taxing (in fact, it is perhaps the complete opposite). Yet, if my memory serves me correctly, there were close to a 120 people who expressed their interest in signing up for council. How odd. I was one of them. Their reasons ranged from wanting to try something different, or seeking personal growth, or merely because they were enamored with the prospects of being an Orientation Group Leader. But I was pragmatic; I joined for the sake of my SGC.

A little something from my election campaign, dating back to March 2010. Gosh how time flies.

Heck it was just a year ago that I was still in JC1, and fresh out of Orientation (for which I must interject here to say that I think the 32nd Student Council did quite a good job at organising), that I found myself trying to find a niche for myself. One that I felt safe, and secure in - one with people whom I was familiar with. Incidentally, I had just recently got to know Ashley back then. Ashley, Benedict, Donovan and I signed up for Council. Ashley and I had decided to campaign together during '10 Cross Country, and we distributed stickers with a somewhat cute/cheesy (you decide) campaign slogan - "Vote for S.A.", with S and A being initials for our names. Anyway to those who bothered to help with that campaign - be it in wearing the stickers, or simply by voting, thanks.

There was an interview prior to the campaigning, and in some ways, I think I got it easy - well it was interesting to say the least. But it was nothing too memorable, of which the two camps were the reverse. I still remember the two camps that we had at the start - the Selection Camp, as well as the Leadership Training Camp; they linger on like faint images in my mind. It was hellish, and I chickened out on the second. Well somewhat, I went for only two out of the four days of the camp. Allow me to enlighten you on a few events/occurrences/happenings of these camps that I find unforgettable (perhaps at least till dementia or senility hits me). 1. The innumerable (hyperbole) push-ups we did/had to do - the number that we did in that 1 day + the other 2 days was definitely more than what I had done in my whole life prior to entering JC. It was close to a thousand. Perhaps its my brain that is embellishing this figure, but it was definitely no paltry number. 2. The eggs we had to babysit during the second camp - this was most definitely something that, in retrospect, I find really hilarious. 3. The beans we had to clear up. This was really one hellish firetruck we had to deal with, picking up beans that literally littered the floor of a lecture theatre with our bare hands. Oh, and did I forget to mention, it was done in complete darkness? Actually, in retrospect, as tiring as it was, I do remember there being moments worthy of sniggers and chuckles. So you know what, as bizarre, stupid, draining and seemingly pointless some things in those camps may have seemed to me back then, as I recall them now, they don't seem as bad compared to JC life itself. And in addition, they are really memorable - things that have strangely acquired a certain endearing attribute to them. I wonder if I will think the same of my NS experience in my later years.

In the weeks to come after the 2 camps, as school work started to take its toll, as my mood began to sour, I started to question my decision to join Council. Up to this point, I make it sound as if my experience with Council was entirely negative. It was not. But rather than just leave it at that and sounding barely conciliatory, I'll illustrate my point to show that there were in fact good moments which I hold dear. The cheering season of '10 was one of such moments. Sure, it was tiring (I do get tired easily, don't I) having to do this after a day of school, but it was equally interesting and in most cases, exciting. You see, sports isn't my forte, so naturally my perception and understanding of it would be decidedly narrow. I wouldn't go so far as to say that the cheering inculcated in me an infatuation for sports in general, but it helped me gain a better understanding, and definitely a greater appreciation of the various games we went for - soccer, rugby, bowling etc. I suppose it made me a little less myopic in my view towards the sports.

Image Credit: Tan Zexun

I think I really owe a lot to my classmates for being so supportive of me throughout my term in Council. They are ever so tolerant of my ramblings about Council (I am a critical person, and I believe that as with everything, there are failures and pitfalls). I suspect that it is only with their explicit, or more commonly, implicit encouragement, that I found strength to carry on (Grad Night was quite a taxing planning process), in addition to the strength that came from knowing that there was a God who was also there for me. I really appreciate it that my class, 10A04 never fails to cheer loudly (albeit occasionally embarrassingly) for me during council events that they are a part of.

The first significant Council event was a Teacher's Day concert. I wasn't in the committee, but all councilors were involved in the Council dance item. Well, let's just say that dancing is, just like sports, not one of my fortes - I am ridiculously stiff. And the practice hours were arduously long, just like Commendation practices, there were nights where we ended at 10pm, only to have to arrive back in school the next day at 7+ in the morning; this went on for about 2 weeks. I kid you not when I say that that was draining. But I shall not delve any deeper into this, but rather, I will let the end results speak for the amount of time devoted.

There were some other side projects that in my opinion aren't significant enough, and as a result I don't quite remember them, but Grad Night was not one of these. But as significant as it was to me, I shall not delve too deeply into it, as I have already done that some time ago. With that being said, I'm truly glad and thankful to have been given the opportunity to be an I/C of this event. More importantly, I thank God that it went smoothly. Sure, there were regrets, but I guess the fact that it went smoothly was a blessing in its own right. But one thing that I cannot forget from my experience with planning Grad Night is, well the need to plan. That should be a useful learning point, right? But honestly, besides that, I guess I was reminded about the value of friendship - I got to know some really nice people in the process of planning Grad Night 2010, and its definitely nice to know that there is an outcome far greater (and less perishable) than the event itself. I sincerely hope that I had made a similar (i.e. positive) impact on those who have so wonderfully impacted me.

Perhaps of equal significance to Grad Night was Orientation (though in the eyes of most other councilors, Orientation was of a greater importance). Everyone was part of 2 committees during the planning process, and it was indeed quite stretching. Gosh that sounds like some form of old-folks exercise (picture them stretching with some elastic band), but it is not. Again, I digress. Returning to my point, I must say that out of all my council committees, the most enjoyable would have to be the Amazing Race planning committee. So thank you, Shuli and Joey, for making meetings so delightfully easygoing, for making things so efficient. As for the actual even itself, I'll (may) eventually come to making a complete post on Orientation 2011, but in summary, it was a really magical experience, especially the time with OG29, and Sandy.

I'm definitely getting increasingly tired as I type this (I mean, it's approaching 3am, that's understandable), and that's the main reason why the last bits of this are mostly just glossing overs. As self-centered this post may seem, I guess my main point is this, that I will ultimately miss Council because of the friendships that I have forged within it. I make it sound as though things will change, but and it arguably wont, but I'm a pessimist. As much as it may seem (to my class and some others) that I'm in jubilation now that I'm no longer in Council, the end of this epoch is something that I find bittersweet. Yes, I am glad that I am freed from the stifling rules. And I find equal joy in the satisfaction of having accomplished so much because of the opportunities provided by Council. In many [unexpected] ways, Council has really been a chance for me to grow and learn. I've learnt to lead, plan and execute a [somewhat/rather] major event - Grad Night, learnt the necessity of teamwork and delegating work (perfectionism or whatever form it manifests itself in can be quite a hindrance), as well as an assortment of other miscellaneous learning points like emceeing a "casual" event or. I suppose that it is from ending my term that I fear losing touch with those whom I have grown to love and appreciate in Council, I fear a recurrence of what that has happened to those whom I held dear in the past.

So now that I have stepped down, officially, an epoch comes to a close. And with that, is satisfaction and remorse, joy and sadness, blissful memories and trauma. But life is more than just one battle, and the next to gao dim is the A-Levels. That'll be a challenge.