I think the title of the post speaks for itself. Thought I'd do a bit of reflection on my life as a Rafflesian. How its been an utter miracle, and a great joy and privilege. Not forgetting those encounters with God along the way as a Rafflesian.
Lets go all the way back to P6 Prelims. At that point of time I was a total slacker. I was smart, yes. But not hardworking enough. I tried my best, and ended up with a 243 for prelims. I was preparing myself to go to AC for best case scenario, but even that seemed a little bleak.
Then came a miracle. 4A*s. I was seriously doubtful about chinese, the maths papers was tough (thats what they say every year huh), and the english paper made me a little uneasy. But as always I was in slacker mode. I still don't know how it happened. I thought it was a conspiracy of sorts. Perhaps they were targeting half blood GEPs like me?
I made it to RI. Life there was as slacky as ever. The occasional project, sheets of homework came in. Some were finished on time, some not. Friendships were forged, and I became the resident nice guy. Heard of stripping cases in RJ before? I was never targeted despite my thin and small stature.
I was friends with the scariest of ruggers that no mugger would I ever go near to. I was friends with those hardcore bookworms that no slacker would ever want to be associated with. And I blossomed.
After a serious meeting with God after my Sec3 year, I came back to school in Sec 4 somewhat changed. I was looking to do something that would make a change in school. Suddenly a civics lesson about talents came along, and I offered to share. That year my stint at bass playing was just beginning, and thats what I told my class about. How I was slowly learning in church.
And that was the start of something new. A three man band approached me. Those that were there included Joash, Guoren and Gabriel from my class. He'd heard about my church stuff and bass learning during the sharing. We'd spend recesses, and days in the morning praying about it, and eventually, Eden-Sol was born. (I came up with the name whee!)
Sec 4 ended... And the trip to Spain with RIGE came. It was seriously ultra fun. Sharing rooms with Yu Sheng (sakana), Chin Heng (alexian), Yu Zhuo (yzyz) was great, and playing games with Jeremy and Hyqel made the trip totally enjoyable. Got my first glance of the Atlantic Ocean at Cadiz.
J1 came. I was a little apprehensive; I never liked change. X'PEIA was the name of my OG. Orientation Z'Kardia was better than expected, and I fit in better than I initially imagined. S03H was next, and I was definitely apprehensive about that too.
But great things happened one by one. PW came and went. Birthday celebrations came and went. Some class outings were organised. We were growing together as a class. Exams were perpetually around the corner. There were emo moments. And thats where the class shone as one.
Who can forget the amazing double quadruple golds RJ had? Who can forget the amazing SYF experience? Who can forget the Eden-Sol concert? Who can forget playing in front of a live crowd and rocking like crazy? Who can forget playing as an ensemble to the sounds of applause? And who can forget the glimpse of glory I've found each and everyday of my life? I won't forget it for a long time to come.
As. It came and went. And on the last day, I stepped out the exam hall and tore my entry proof in half. A symbol of the end of my tenure in Raffles, but also a symbol that the memories of it all when I was a Rafflesian had already been ingrained in my heart, never to fade away.
With one last look at my locker, I popped the lock off it, strolled out of the gates, feeling victorious, never looking back but to the future.
And these places and these faces are getting old...
So I'm going home.
I won't ever forget anyone that I met on the way. Our paths may have crossed in a fleeting second, but we remain with each other for eternity. Cliched but thats what I believe.
***
Next post: NS blues + Random outings ~ Prata, Pool and BBQ
Lets go all the way back to P6 Prelims. At that point of time I was a total slacker. I was smart, yes. But not hardworking enough. I tried my best, and ended up with a 243 for prelims. I was preparing myself to go to AC for best case scenario, but even that seemed a little bleak.
Then came a miracle. 4A*s. I was seriously doubtful about chinese, the maths papers was tough (thats what they say every year huh), and the english paper made me a little uneasy. But as always I was in slacker mode. I still don't know how it happened. I thought it was a conspiracy of sorts. Perhaps they were targeting half blood GEPs like me?
I made it to RI. Life there was as slacky as ever. The occasional project, sheets of homework came in. Some were finished on time, some not. Friendships were forged, and I became the resident nice guy. Heard of stripping cases in RJ before? I was never targeted despite my thin and small stature.
I was friends with the scariest of ruggers that no mugger would I ever go near to. I was friends with those hardcore bookworms that no slacker would ever want to be associated with. And I blossomed.
After a serious meeting with God after my Sec3 year, I came back to school in Sec 4 somewhat changed. I was looking to do something that would make a change in school. Suddenly a civics lesson about talents came along, and I offered to share. That year my stint at bass playing was just beginning, and thats what I told my class about. How I was slowly learning in church.
And that was the start of something new. A three man band approached me. Those that were there included Joash, Guoren and Gabriel from my class. He'd heard about my church stuff and bass learning during the sharing. We'd spend recesses, and days in the morning praying about it, and eventually, Eden-Sol was born. (I came up with the name whee!)
Sec 4 ended... And the trip to Spain with RIGE came. It was seriously ultra fun. Sharing rooms with Yu Sheng (sakana), Chin Heng (alexian), Yu Zhuo (yzyz) was great, and playing games with Jeremy and Hyqel made the trip totally enjoyable. Got my first glance of the Atlantic Ocean at Cadiz.
J1 came. I was a little apprehensive; I never liked change. X'PEIA was the name of my OG. Orientation Z'Kardia was better than expected, and I fit in better than I initially imagined. S03H was next, and I was definitely apprehensive about that too.
But great things happened one by one. PW came and went. Birthday celebrations came and went. Some class outings were organised. We were growing together as a class. Exams were perpetually around the corner. There were emo moments. And thats where the class shone as one.
Who can forget the amazing double quadruple golds RJ had? Who can forget the amazing SYF experience? Who can forget the Eden-Sol concert? Who can forget playing in front of a live crowd and rocking like crazy? Who can forget playing as an ensemble to the sounds of applause? And who can forget the glimpse of glory I've found each and everyday of my life? I won't forget it for a long time to come.
As. It came and went. And on the last day, I stepped out the exam hall and tore my entry proof in half. A symbol of the end of my tenure in Raffles, but also a symbol that the memories of it all when I was a Rafflesian had already been ingrained in my heart, never to fade away.
With one last look at my locker, I popped the lock off it, strolled out of the gates, feeling victorious, never looking back but to the future.
And these places and these faces are getting old...
So I'm going home.
I won't ever forget anyone that I met on the way. Our paths may have crossed in a fleeting second, but we remain with each other for eternity. Cliched but thats what I believe.
***
Next post: NS blues + Random outings ~ Prata, Pool and BBQ
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