Open day and open thoughts

2004-10-16 11:01 p.m.

Open day. Brings back quite a bit of memories from times that were pleasant and unpleasant. I always have a dreaded feeling when I reenter the grounds of NJC, something that cannot be explained. So why on earth was I there today? Reasons best known to the Lord above, that’s all I can say. Actually, it the plan was never to be there in the first place, but circumstances changed rapidly across the week.

So my entry was made via the bus stop gate, something which I haven’t done for months. Councillors gave me weak smiles and some hellos. I brushed them away, trying to convince them I was an old boy and refusing their pamphlets and leaflets. I wasn’t being rude, just trying to test their persuading powers. Heheh, sort of the same treatment anyone would get. Besides, I wanted to see how fast I could complete my objective. A race for fun really and that was done just as the clock struck ten. Part one finished and many more parts to go.

The hall was my next destination, where I knew I would find the debate booth. I had this urge to bug the juniors and ask them how far they have progressed since my time. Hearing stories from Wee Jian and Company was not enough, I wanted to see the next batch for my own eyes and possibly give them some pointers. Finding the booth was not difficult and it looked distinctively familiar. Wasn’t that the banner we used for Open Day 2002? Nope, there were some differences. The table was lined with a few trophies and a plate of biscuits. Biscuits? What’s the relationship with that and debate? Inspecting the trophies carefully, I found relics from the past, from 1998 onwards to be exact. Not forgetting the glass trophy that I painstakingly carried in 2002—the quarter finalist reward earned from the Junior Colleges Debating Championships of that year. Memories of the time when we bleed so hard for the school and ourselves. Well, thoughts drifted as a junior came up to me and asked in a sweet voice “Would you like to join debate?” No, came my replied, one I was a debater and still am one; I’m your senior from the batch of 2003. Disbelieve appeared on her face immediately. (Well, not common). Convincing her was not necessary though, and we struck up as short conversation. Her name is Wen Si (Spelt correctly I think) and an IP Student from Nayanng Girls’. She mentioned that the IP students were stronger this year and that the J1s didn’t progress that far in the nationals. Ah, same news that I got from Wee Jian. We’re more used to the Worlds school style, she quipped. It was at this point that I noticed their sign, challenging people to make a speech no longer than a minute on any topic. Ah, sounds like my type of challenge I thought. Chatted with her for a while or so, then made my way around, glancing at the other booths. Then off to the air rifle range to chat with Mr. Gilbert Lee, for both official and unofficial reasons.

Ok, time to reveal a bit more on this Saturday’s plans. NS life sorts of creates structured weekends for me. That means exercising on Saturday, church on Sunday and then packing bags for camp. Time to break off from that, and get out I thought, so I planned to watch a movie with CH today. Then the need to return to NJ came and I invited him to meet me there. No, complained the fellow, I’m not setting a foot there for any reason. (Talk about loyalty and the sense of ownership.) Then in the morning, just before my departure, he changed his mind and mentioned that he’s bringing his sister along for a look. Oh, typical you again, I thought. (Very typical CH you should realise by now.) So back to my earlier part, just after completing my first mission, I bumped into Mrs. Yap, CH’s GP tutor who recognized me. (I’m famous with some teachers, due to my attachment with other students, classes and associations.) Trading greetings, I explained my presence. Rather that furthering the talk about me and my present status, she asked “So, where’s Chih Hung?” I almost when huh? Why bring him up? Two reasons, I quickly remembered. One, he’s one of the few scholars the school has and secondly, I’m supposed to be his best mate. Oh, well, I told her he was one his way with his sister. Ah, she replied and that was the end of the conversation. Heh, of all the topics to bring out. Am I myself not worthy of such recognition?

Ok, back to the part after I met Mr. Lee down at the shooting range for both official and unofficial reasons. Ms Ng Mei Sze was the next teacher on my mind. The councillors said she was in Staff room but that was quite inaccessible. Next choice, the library, where teachers would definitely be. Sure enough, Mr. Lo, Mr. Dio and Mr. Whitby were there manning their respective posts. Mr. Whitby was my first target, and quite sometime was spent talking about the UK and its towns and cities. Sussex came up, and he mentioned "It’s a beautiful seaside town.” Ah, I thought, a piece of information worth remembering. Oh yes, must also mention that CH was there too, showing his father and sister around. Mr. Dio looked busy so I didn’t disturb him. As for Mr. Mark Lo, he didn’t seem to recognize me at that moment.The crowd began to thicken at the same time, so I made my exit.

Back to the hall again where the activity was also thickening. Wandered around until I saw some unwelcoming characters. Oh, CH and I aren’t the only seniors here eh? The most irritating and horrid times of JC life crept back. Pooh, life has changed I told myself, they’re just irrelevant specks. Time to call that boy and get some things wrapped up. The fun started at the debate booth as we sort of exaggerated our status as debaters, saying that we were star debaters. Names of the others like Wee Jian and Joseph were mentioned too, and then the usual CH prep talk started, teaching them what to do and such. Bugger it again, there he goes dominating the the conversation as if he the Mr. Know it all. However, I’ll always interrupt with my opinions and shift the focus away from him. Anyway, the juniors seem quite desperate for help and well requested for our contact numbers so that they could gather assistance for training. Deliberations were made and finally CH and I consented, with big boy showing off again by writing his future University down too. Ah, nothing like helping your Alma Mater. It was at this time that CH found that the world was quite small as one of the IP debaters ask my friend “Aren’t you my cousin?” family details were revealed and laughter ensued for some reason or the other. At the same time, the others were trying to convince people to join debate. One mother actually brought her daughter to the booth and explained that she needed help to enter NJ as the academic conditions were not met. Using debate as and tool for appealing isn’t that strong I thought, but didn’t mention it to her. Oh, no one had yet attempted to try the impromptu speech and the juniors were asking us to try it. CH argued that he was of touch while I felt it was a good chance to try my oratorical skills. However, we wandered off, heading for the exit where coincidentally we bumped into Lucas Neo and Grace. Oh my, what a day for get togethers. Lucas complained that his spectacles were broken while Grace had shorter and lighter brown hair. Much more elegant since I last saw her. Well, this A04 reunion, however small, was best left to themselves so after a few words, I moved a distance away. Ventured over to the S&T booth and found Lucas playing with some pinkish liquid and Grace examining toads/frogs. Brought back memories of my sec one days when my group of friends captured tadpoles and reared them in plastic bottles.

Then, somehow or the other, CH and I found ourselves in the library for the second time. He was on a quest to find Mrs. Yap, his favourite GP tutor and mentor. Wrong place to find her, but I didn’t tell him. Instead, I crashed into one my most dreaded individuals. Yikes, I exited as soon as I entered. The atrium was the last stop here CH found Mr. Gerard Yee and thanked him profusely for his aid in Lit S. Now, Mr. Yee wasn’t really on my teachers to talk to list, but since CH was with him, there’s no avoiding Mr. Yee. Conversation focused on my university ambitions and the status on my class. My class? Ho yes, something I also wanted to avoid but in the end spilled as much as I knew to my former Civics tutor. Then he mentioned something about us returning after our Uni studies to spread our experience to the students. To that I said “Well yes, our seniors did that, and there’s nothing better than returning to our alma mater to help out.” Now, I’ve always remained loyal to both ACS and NJC but would I go to the extent I mentioned for that college?

Watched 2046 afterwards with CH. Literal value was something I did not expect out of that film. Basically, it was a multi layered film that stood on the idea of love and relationships. CH mentioned about it being about perfection and being Plath like. Was it now? Have I lost my touch with Literature? Whitby would have my head for this.

What ever the case, quite a lot of thought transpired to day. Firstly, it’s not all the time you return to your alma mater. You’re presence does not equal loyalty or attachment, lest you initiate some noticeable action. Then again, returning is also has nostalgic factor, unless you’re returning due to the convenience of returning. (Which explained the presence of some seniors). The next thing is on service, something which MOE has been emphasizing on in recent years. Service as they always say comes out of the heart. I’ve always promised myself that I’ll return and help the ACS scout troop but there always been vague excuses I’ve given. Now, the request for aid in Debate. Time to shed away all the empty promises and start on something concrete. Would service also mean returning to help the school grow to greater heights? It’s too early to tell, but service to one individual or even one group make all the difference.

The third issue is on relationships. Now, as mentioned in earlier posts, I’ve been chasing past acquaintances and try to hold on old memorable moments. 2046 brings this up pretty well. I guess it can be a useless and impossible venture, but there’s a sort of elation and laughter when you look back at your achievements, follies and toils. It’s human nature to filter moments in your life. What’s done may be done, but how about trying to look back and see what can be done now? The past can control the present, and possibly the future.

Fourth, we stand in the era of ever changing moments and new opportunities. We don’t and shouldn’t limit ourselves to what we can grasp but what we could grasp had we extended out thoughts. So we have a debating society that made it to at least around the quarter finals. Should we hit the semis or the finals? Think about that.

Enough said. Thought filled Saturday out.

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