hey everyone, (disclaimer: long post)
i am suddenly inspired to post because i juz finished reading our senior class blog. the two latest post there basically debunks and discusses the issues and reasons why hc is facing a lack of school spirit.
since i was in high school, this problem has been rather evident. for example, the high school would cheer our guts out for our athletes during any competition. my personal experiences had been at the track and field finals and the squash finals. last year, the b div finals was simply remarkable. one of our players was facing a national team player and it was with certainty that our player would face defeat. however, the immense cheering during the 3rd set of that match allowed my teammate to win the acs player and go on to the 4th set too although he lost the 5th. but the important thing was i saw the power of cheering. it was intimidating that day. our hci supporters were on their feet cheering for every shot that the ac guy screwed up and for every shot that my senior won the point. despite being a national player, that guy stumbled. on the other hand, sitting right next to us were the ac supporters who looked at us as if we were freaks coz they were sitting down as usual, posing like they always do. only their prefects cheered the heart out for their team. it lead me to feel how incredible hci is. even though the supporters didnt even know the name of the player in the court, they juz cheered like crazy for him simply because he was part of our hwachong family.
the previous blog post in our senior's blog mentioned that "Hwa Chong Institution" is simply "incorporating The Chinese High School and Hwa Chong Junior College". "mere incorporation, not integration." it was also cited in the post that some of the main reasons of this problem was due to the excessive red tape in hci college as compared to hci high school. having studied and studying in both systems, i have to concede that the high school has a superior system as compared to the college coz the administration there is much more open and receptive to ideas from our own students. although i have only studied in the college for around 4 months, the amount of red tape and the obligation to always do what is politically correct so that the higher ups will not frown upon our actions, is immense. this, i feel, has greatly impeded the development of real talent and capabilities in the college. for example, i chose not to run for council simple because of the terrible load of obligations and rules i have to observe as a councillor of the college council. it has nothing to do with sai kang or not. seriously. the amount of sai kang i did in high school is nothing you guys can imagine as i was at the bottom of the hierarchy for 3 years as compared to more capable councillors like yuanchang and zhiguang . but at least i didnt feel stifled or restrained. at least the sai kang didnt felt meaningless. even during the council elections, candidates had to be briefed on what they can say and what they cannot say. this is so stupid. the whole event then becomes a well orchestrated drama instead. this is the main reason why people feel the elections are rigged. simply because of the interference and influence the administration has and not the integrity of elections committee.
however, i feel that the merger is not without its advantages. the main advantages is that i am still in hwachong, the school which i so dearly love, the school which i am greatly indebted too. i also get to study in the same institution with all my friends for at least the next two years before we all take on our separate paths. i am thankful to ip too for the amount of time it freed up for students like me who simply cannot thrive or live in a system which is obsessed with preparation for a single exam. it has given me research work, sabbaticals, council, classmates, cca, exchange programmes, attachment programmes, internships, field trips, service learning projects. how am i suppose to repay this programme in a manner most fitting? by becoming the best product of this process =)
Knowledge is power only if applied with insight
