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I thought I have attended enough camps. This camp was made compulsory to all students, so I had to participate also even though I know I would be the oldest among all the freshies. True as it was, but I didnt regret participating in this orientation camp.
It was a rather frustrating Mon morning as I had to wake up at 5.45am, because I was required to arrive in NIE (Boon Lay) by 7.30am. I miss going to HSS every morning taking only 10 mins. But I have to look forward, because Im a student now. The registration was fast relatively, but the icebreaker a little boring. If I were to take over, Im sure it will be much better. However, again I told myself, "Im a student now, no longer Mr Law the Humanities teacher". The lectures were all informative but dry, majorly due to the early wakey. Can barely keep myself awake and yes Hendersonians, Mr law understands how some of you struggle in class now. It was an agony!
The wet station games after those long lectures served as good icebreaking and warm up. We did very well in all the games, but, we sucked in cheers. I know many cheers, but I didnt want to contribute as yet, because I wanted to lie low and let the younger ones try to lead. But, as my character did not allow me, I stepped forward to take up the control over my OG (Orientation Group) "Apollo" when I realised that no one was able or willing to do so. This is when the "old man" comes in handy huh?
Fright Night was not at all frightening. It was instead hilarious as I heard the screams from other groups & also the corniness of the "ghosts". Haha, kudos to the "floor sweeping army boy" and "where is my bottle lost soldier". They rock, though more funny than scary. Throughout the night activities, who knows whether we were touched by the real "brothers" or not....... By the way, girls can be scarier than ghosts when they are in a state of shock and fear.
The 2nd day brought us out of NIE and to City Hall. Amazing Race as usual, now a commonplace for most camps, though it has somehow lost its originality. Apollo rocks to the core! We set the record for 3 stations and we truly were such a team. Though tiring, but the group made that great difference. Night came the "Finale Night". I was disappointed with the behaviour and also the words spoken by some teachers-to-be. I was sad and angry that they even chose to do teaching when they themselves had not learn how to be civilised and logical humans. Hercules, you are such a disappointment because of your unsportsmanship, and no thanks to your "Pamela version of Hercules". Some boys who just came out from NS can really be still so immature and dirty in thoughts. Mr Law wanna say "wake up and grow up boys".
I was chosen by Apollo as the best camper, something which I had unexpected, because I really really wanted to keep a low profile and just go to this camp to participate. Due to the lack of good leadership in the group and family, I was "forced" to take the lead and I realised that if you have really got what it takes (talents and abilities), you wont be able to hide them however you may want to. God gave us talents so that we can make full use of them. I believe I did in this camp.
In a nutshell, I was very honoured and glad to be in Apollo. Although we did not win any honours, those were merely material. I knew this group had teamwork, coooperation, direction, patience, enthusiasm, passion, drive and also youth. I feel so young in this group all because Apollo did not treat me as an 26 years old "uncle", but treated me as their equals. It is such an irony that most of those seniors who planned this camp were much less experienced and much younger than me, but I still had to listen & follow their instructions.
I realised and learnt that in this camp, I could simply choose an easy path: to be arrogant and not listen to these juniors. I was thankful that I didnt. I was proud that I managed to continually remind myself to be humble, to be cooperative however good I think I may be as compared to them. It is not easy and I must say I felt a little pissed when some of them talked to me real rudely.
"Hey com'on, im 6 years your senior and planned more camps than you participated. You are telling me to what? Please dont put up that airs of yours and display your smug face. You have not even tasted teaching before so please dont act as if you are a great teacher liao. Teaching is not as simple as you think it is, juniors."
But I shall forgive them. I shall teach them how to show people respect, like how I did in HSS. I will have to continually remind myself to forget about my seniority and experience, but learn to be like them and study with the most possible positivity.
HSS & Apollo reign.