tributes

maybe i should have written this long ago, but the day after christmas is as good a day as any i guess. and it kind of came to mind again after receiving a similar letter from someone else today

these two years in IB have been rather eventful, and most certainly memorable, and it's quite saddening to know that less than 2 weeks from now it'll all be over, once we get our results. some may dwell on past times, that represent so much in the way that we are now. some may just move on and never look back, confident that everything they've been through will help them in the future. some may do neither, choosing to live in the present, for each day as it comes. but we're all bound by the fact that we were the first. ever.

Mark Chua, Justin Chia, and the rest of 5.4/6.4:
i came into this class extremely apprehensively, because i was 'brought up' in a rather anti-GEP environment, so to be put into a class where the majority are of GEP origin, i expected it to be hell. instead it proved to be a wonderful experience, with friendships forged and lessons learned, and the motivation from being in a class where everyone is either brilliant or hardworking, mostly the former. and most of all i'll remember the two jokers who sat next to me, those two whose names are mentioned in bold up there. i owe them much thanks, for tolerating my bullshit for two years, for never giving up on me, for always being there be examples to push me onwards, and for always reminding me of my dearest follies =)

Yuengi, Aaron, and all the Venture Scouts:
if ever there were people that i would trust would remember me years from now, it would be this bunch of people. six years together, going through hell and back several times over, and having the time of our lives watching the world cup in malaysia, has definitely brought us together in ways few other groups of people can achieve. thanks for being a constant source of company these past two years, and damn our good times never lasted long enough. even the problems that we had in making the gangshow were not enough to break anything that had already been forged in the years preceding IB. times have changed and times will change, we may go our separate ways, but should ever i face any trials or tribulations, it would be this lot that i'd want beside me, more than any other people i know.

Slow, Lui and the gang from 3.16/4.16:
the signs were there in years 3 and 4 that this class was more tightly bound than any other in the level, and thus far it has survived the test of time more so than any other i know of, and i am forever grateful to have had the privilege of being in this class, that i'd never ever swap this class for any other. we've also had our good times and bad times, but our strength is that we've gone through all of it together, as a class, never backing down, and without abandoning any single member. we survived those two years of strife, and some of us have gone on to truly thrive in IB (congratulations Alastair), and when we meet for dinner tomorrow night i hope with all my heart that it won't be the last time we meet. i found myself in this class, and i wouldn't have it any other way.

Oliver Tan, Joshua Loke, Amelia Leo and the ACS Philharmonic Orchestra:
first of all i'd like to say that of all the trips i've made with schoolmates and such, the trip to the UK ranks in the top 3 i've ever been on, with the OEP to Bintan and the Jamboree in Scotland in that group. i just can't decide how to rank them. again i've been there with them for 6 whole years (though for some it was only 2 years, but those were enough). again we've been through all the bad times of dealing with certain obstinate members of the upper echelons, as well as having to deal with the annoyances of certain other members, but all in all i've had a great time being part of this orchestra, and helping it grow from a mere school orchestra into one of much higher standards. people like Oli and Losh are people i can have a certain degree of trust in, and when all the world seemed irrational and stupid, there was always the shining light that is Ame, always with a sensible mind to help keep us sane. thank you all =)

Bintan OEP:
i expected this to be a blast, and i was not disappointed. i still remember the generous portions of Indo Mee on some of the mornings, as well as the Indonesian Ronaldinho known only as Dannyho. this was at a time when we were still getting to know each other, in the early months of IB, and the friends i made on this trip would serve me well in the times to follow. not only that, the memories that i took away from there would always be the small spark of light that gave me hope when it seemed in short supply, and i can honestly say i would do almost anything for a chance to go back on that trip, with same people (except maybe minus some of the teachers). i want another chance at that rock wall!

The 'A' Division Hockey team:
granted i came into this team about four years late, but it is a testament to the strength of the bonds between the team, that when i came in, they made me feel right at home, and i apologise here and now for any time that i did not give me all in the game or in training. i loved the sport, and our heroic run to the finals in our debut season will always stay in my mind as what kept me going in that disgustingly dreary period of the year. (okay it may not be so epic, but i like to think of it that way =)). and i could never have asked for a better team to be in, even when we lost in the finals and i let my anguish show itself a bit too clearly. this is a team worth being proud of, and with all due respect to our opponents that day, i say their team sucked and i say our team is the best around. so what if it's a small squad. it's enough. small enough that everyone knows each other intimately, and yet still big enough that we always had a strong team out no matter what. thank you for your patience with me as i learned the sport, as i screwed up so much in comparison to everyone else, and thank you for always having faith in me. i can only hope that i repaid that faith with my work on the pitch, and i say here and now i've never felt at more at home than when i'm on the turf, be it hockey or football

The First IB Batch of ACS (I), Class of '06/'07:
this is just the culmination of everything that has happened over the past two years, and despite early fears of things like male:female ratio and the small size of the cohort, i think such features are what make us unique, and make the IB experience all the more enjoyable. by keeping the ratio rather awkward, it allows us guys to still retain much of the liberties that we had during the prior 4 years. it is also a testament to the stupidity of intact classes, that in the three weeks of study break just before exams i made more friends than in the three months before that. and though many of you may not remember me, i will make sure that time will never erode the memories of people and events that have redefined pre-university education. thank you to everyone i know, whom i've not mentioned earlier, people like Kailun, Orion, Sze, Cheryl Sim, and of course our beloved breakfast club that is there without fail every single school-day morning. This was a great batch, and i thank God that i had the chance to be in this batch. despite all my efforts, there were still many people i did not know come end of the year, but i hope i do justice to those i know, and remember them for as long as i can remember my time in IB. These were good years, and i would love to relive them, if just for the small conversations that kept me alive and sane (or drove me mad and killed me haha). it's all the smallest things that matter, and truly i am grateful.

this probably will seem very superficial and repetitive to anyone reading this, but i hope i have paid a proper tribute to everything that was close to my heart during IB. it will probably never be enough. though there is one left that may be the most meaningless of all, but means the most to me. i know you'll never read this, but i'm typing this out for you...

you, who i've known only for a short while, but it could have been for all eternity, so long ago it seemed since i started studying there. you, whose brilliant mind was always a source of motivation in that final lap to the end of IB, and whose unending quirks would be a source of laughter and joy amidst the dreariness of mugging. you whose ability to sit still and study for hours on end rubbed off on me, a skill i've never been able to pick up in 12 years of studying. you whose mere presence made the world seem such a wonderful place, and when i was alone with you i never wanted that time to end. you who talked so little after exams ended, it ticked me off and left me wondering so much, and till now little has changed. years from now, you'd be the most likely to have forgotten me, but i know i will never forget you. you showed me patience, and focus, you showed me kindness and determination, you showed me brilliance and charm, and nothing will change that. we will likely go our separate ways, but if the Almighty wills it, maybe one day we will see each other again. till that time i wait.

that took a lonnnggg time. but it's worth it. this is one post i won't ever delete. it holds everything about my time, that means anything.