Student Leader Intensive 2007

I'm 18 this year, and when i was 14, i was part of the batch of students who rebuilt the Student Leader Board in 2003. The SLB has come a long way. That said, it means that i am the pioneer batch of the SLB, batch zero if you'd like to call it. And the youngest of the pioneers too. So far i've seen through 5 Intensives. Looking at the young ones make me want to blog a little about it. But first, i guess i can do with some complaining first...



1) I dont understand why people have to classify seniors as "seniors" and "super seniors". I'm only 18 and i'm not even the oldest senior around. There's still ben huang ok? Just call us seniors in general.
2) I'm not old so stop calling me old.
3) I havnt been nagging for a long time. There's more to my life than constantly nagging at you people. So for goodness sake to those who havnt seen me for a long time, i'm a changed man. I have better things to do than making my voice reflect off your ears.





Truthfully, its difficult to put down the board. The batch before mine has moved on already, including some from my batch. Somehow i just cant. It keeps running in my mind (recently), how i used to be an SL, how proud and arrogant i was as the Head of Disciplinary Board. And each time i think about it, tears seem to fill my eyes, even after 2 years, even after telling myself that i (should) have moved on, even now. People tell me im extremely bad at human relations (its a life skill), that im not good at managing my people, lousy at communicating. But to me, my fellow SLs are like my family, the board is like my wife. Like how Mr Chee has put it, if you dont treat it as a family, you wont like it, it'll be like a chore. To me, SLB isnt even a commitment, its purely something that i had to do, wanted to do.





2 years since i have graduated. Its quite a long time. This batch of sec3s would be the last batch of SLs that i handpicked personally in the SL Selection, they would be the last batch of people i know. But looking at the new faces, it reminds me of the old times. My blur face evident in my old photos, my memories filled with the awkward times i tried so hard to fit in (first SL farewell i attended when i was sec1? doing duty at the spiral staircase? receiving orders to clear the SL room from 2 seniors whose names i dont even know throughout the whole session?).





Everyone starts from scratch. There are different types of people, the loud ones who always seem to fit in quickly, the shy ones who open up gradually and the serious ones who seems to shun everything and everyone away. There are several opportunities, projects, committee stuff, duties, CCA roles. There are different people to guide you, mentor, camp group leader, ExCos, comm heads.




And then, there's you. How your road goes and winds up at, depends on what you want. Life is unfair, it never was and never will be. But dont you think your life would be more worthwhile if you think back in the future and you CAN tell yourself, that i've found friends, i've grown, i did what i can, i left the board a better place than when i first join it. I joined the board with no regrets.





And so i thought back. My life as an SL was an eventful one. I really doubt anyone had more projects than me... (or duties for that matter). There were many roads i had to travel through, there were many friends i had to venture these roads with. There i was, standing in the circle surrounding the very very first batch of ExCos, watching the final ceremony going on ( during the first Intensive). The ExCos cried. I dont think i understood. Felt sad, sure. But why i know not of. Then i cried too. I dont know why either. But now, i think i know why. I sure have grown. And to my juniors, you will too, that i assure you. Everytime i come back to my beloved Board to help out, it awes me to no end. My juniors, the most important people in the board, my family members, i watched them grow, and they did. Now i can barely recognise them. Then i recall, i too, have grown up.





This post is getting no where huh?



To be clear, the Intensive is supposed to be realisation. To realise what you lack. To realise you need to grow. SLB is a big family, each of you is required. The board will do for no less.




Venture through this journey with the mindset you picked with your own will, and soon you will find yourself looking back and saying that, "hey, i sure grew up". And to find yourself tearing at the memories of your SL life, is one to be called a worthwhile life.







Dont break my wife ok? I still love her. And each and everyone of you. Dont let me (and you) lose hope of the board. Dont make me (and you) think that the board is no longer deserving of my attention.


Dont make me stop crying.
Dont make us stop crying.







Soar, because the best is yet to be.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Head of Disciplinary Board

The SLB Investiture 2005 (with 2nd batch of ExCo, including myself)