Doing my research for this article, I came across a number of blog posts and comments protesting and grousing about certain issues regarding the YOG and almost immediately I was irate. The list of complaints ran from the bad quality food, forcing of students to volunteer, MOE helping to fake ticket sales by buying and selling them to schools, as well as the rising concerns surrounding the bloated YOG budget. Fair enough, their concerns are not unreasonable but simply kicking up a huge fuss, pointing fingers and shooting mere criticisms that aren’t constructive is just not the way to go.

            Honestly speaking, before the games started, I wasn’t even interested in the YOG at all. It wasn’t that I loathed this whole event; I was merely apathetic towards it. I had to come back to school on a Sunday to cheer on the torch-bearers. Initially, it just meant spending time with my friends. However, when the bus of athletes went past and watching our very own schoolmates holding the torch and running, I remember cheering loudly and running along with everyone else, the whole time feeling a huge sense of pride and excitement.

Source: http://www.nanyangjc.org

 As corny as everything sounds, I could feel a common spirit shared by all present at the torch relay. The surge of emotions is what one will probably only feel during their school days or maybe while watching a soccer match, something that someone sitting in front of his laptop reading the news will not be able to understand or feel. After all, it is known that you get the most out of something only when you actually take part in it.

Source: http://www.nanyangjc.org

When the Games started, seeing my friends come back to school from volunteering and relating to us their experiences, not once did I see someone lament about food or their allocated jobs. Instead I heard about the new friends they made, about more games they wanted to attend and support and about the electrifying atmosphere that could be felt in the stands whenever a Singaporean individual participant or team was involved. (… and every now then, someone would mention the glut of good-looking youths that hailed from around the globe participating in the Games).

        Source: Hu Jiayu

    Citizens online say it’s not worth it sending students because we don’t understand the games but then again, I see friends who volunteered and went to cheer, coming back and saying they plan to learn a particular sport. It’s true that our number of professional sportsmen will not increase significantly in the next month or near future, but all changes start from somewhere.

On the issue on MOE helping to clear tickets by selling them to the various schools, I must point out that most students weren’t forced to attend. It wasn’t like there were enough tickets provided for every student in each school in the first place. Most students had a choice whether they wanted to attend and which events they wanted to go for. Unreasonable rules like paying a $5 deposit to ensure students turn up or forced volunteering were carried out solely at the discretion of the schools themselves, and should not be used as an excuse to cast aspersions on the event itself.

All in all, I just believe that these Singaporeans shouldn’t grumble so carelessly and callously in public online. Of course these faults and problems still exist, but with every ‘firsts’, mistakes are always inevitable. It is all we can do to give our support, if not to the government, then to the athletes. We all play a part in hosting this event just by being a citizen of this country, and if the hosts themselves cannot have fun and take everything in their stride for what has been done, how would the guests feel?

Even The Philippine Star (online) has said: “Certainly, hosting the YOG was not without its problems for Singapore, whose citizens are known more for their concentration on commerce and industry…It is therefore not surprising to hear that the YOG has not attracted the interest of the population.” How does it feel to read this in an international newspaper? As far as I am concerned, I would definitely feel embarrassed; a classic case where washing dirty linen in public has led to self-humiliation. Do we really want to just be purely known to be good at business and money-making? Then again, times are changing, and these youths are our leaders of tomorrow. Our forefathers had to concentrate on nation-building and achieving prosperity so we could survive. Maybe now we can finally afford to diversify and expand our interests starting with making changes to our collective attitude towards events such as the YOG. We must allow youths to experience times like these so that they will have passion in whatever they do and learn to adapt to future changes and I believe that as long as we show them how to enjoy something with the spirit of sportsmanship, they will be able to embrace what they are put through.

Caroline Chew, Equestrian

Source:  XINHUA/SYOGOC-Pool/Duan Zhuoli

Right now it just seems to me that those people who are complaining are like children who feel neglected by their parents who have given the guests more attention at the moment. It is okay though because when the party is over, they will be free again. Then we can complain if we don’t get their attention. But for now, it’s best to keep our manners while the guests are still in the house.

This match was organized not only to let students and teachers to have some fun; it is also to raise funds to provide financial assistance to students in NYJC under NYJC College Pocket Funds.  “The significance of education among our youths is indisputable as they carry society’s hope for a greater future. Unfortunately, circumstances dealt to a portion of society may impede our youths’ pursuit of proper education. The purpose of the NYJC College Pocket Funds is to allow them the opportunity to pursue their academic career in NYJC and beyond,” said Dr. Swee Yong Peng, Chairman of NYJC Alumni and honorary President of Kampung Senang organisation in Singapore. With this match, the alumnus hopes to raise $20,000 by the end of 2010.

The match was one anticipated by every student in the college with a large turnout of students. Not only were the seats in the grandstand occupied by our own students, ex students of Nanyang JC come back as well! The close fight between Team Nanyang and Team All-Stars was an eye-opener for everyone. Throughout the match, the enthusiasm from our students could clearly be seen through the loud and catchy cheers led by our Student Council and House Exco. Comical moments throughout the match made it all the more engaging and memorable. There was the dropping of a wig by one of the players in Team All-Stars, which is a moment I’m sure most would have been remembered. Furthermore, I am sure many would have noticed a man jogging nonchalantly around the tracks, oblivious to the match going on. However, there were also many moments where the crowd gasps as one, especially during times when exceptional tactics and skills were showcased as goals were prevented and soccer balls stopped.

Regardless of the score, all the players played well in the match. I’m sure the spectators of the match enjoyed the match tremendously too! This will definitely be a match many will remember.

 There never fails to be one of them in every class:  the quiet girl or boy who sits alone in a corner, their presence so imperceptible that they almost seem to wear a cloak of invisibility. At social outings, they linger at the edges of the chatter; should an opinion be raised, it’s nothing more than a ghostly sighing through the nearby trees, lost amongst the clamor of everyone else. And when one looks back at a class photo, there comes the inevitable question: “Just who is this person?”

 It’s not uncommon to ostracize certain members of the class; in fact, I daresay it is an inalienable trait of society at large, or perhaps (if I may be so bold to claim) even a part of human nature. One only has to look at the Holocaust, the recent ethnic riots in Kyrgyzstan and the countless other acts of discrimination that has besmirched human civilization throughout history to note the irony that surrounds Racial Harmony Day. The act of discrimination is not solely based on our prejudice against another person’s race, ethnicity, religion or nationality; it could be just that you don’t like the face of the person just standing beside you. People are not praised for their individuality; in fact they are condemned for their lack of conformity.

Of course, the word to be used here might not be that harsh, but the evidence remains. If you do not ‘click’ with the group, you’re ‘out’. It’s as simple as that. “That’s the way society works, has always worked,” one could easily say, something that (I regret to admit) is true. Naturally, the choices left to the unfortunate ones are few, that is, either you try your best to imitate the ‘in’ crowd and hope to fit in or let the situation stay as it is. However, even then there are obstacles. Try to act too chummy with them too soon and you’ll be labeled as ‘pushy’ and your efforts will be met with open derision and rejection. Be too afraid of talking to others and you are called ‘anti-social’; eventually no one will make any effort to invite you to join them. The only legitimate way is to be ‘invited’ to the clique, something that has no guarantee of ever happening. Loners walk this tightrope daily with the ever-persistent threat of slipping. Then there is always the icing on the cake: outright bullying and the more recent trend of cyber-bullying.

The future isn’t entirely bleak though; there are always kind souls (few as they may be) who are willing to take these people under their wing. In some cases, it may even be a matter of one’s fault for not being open to them, and not vice versa. Of course, let us also not forget the important people who are always available: our parents, siblings and even teachers who are always willing to lend an ear or comforting shoulder.

Some people are also actively seeking a solution to this problem. A recent article featured Ms Esther Ng, who won the Singapore Woman Award 2009, for her new book on bullying.  Apparently, she started campaigning against bullying after a survey in 2006 revealed that half of the 4000 primary and secondary school students surveyed were called names, laughed at or teased. Her attempts are certainly worthy of applause and it is encouraging to see that something is being done.

However, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease. Yes, bullying is certainly a major issue, but isolation from society and its effects can be equally harmful … is it not? Perhaps it is high time to start acknowledging this different breed of black sheep, before it is too late.

By: Wong Shu Min

Holland will win. The Octopus told me. The octopus I ate last night is telling me from the inside.

For an entire month, this had been our lingua franca. Even though I couldn’t comprehend the fuss over twenty-two players and a ball, I made it a point to get second-hand information and display the image of an ardent fan of Brazil and Germany. If you didn’t know anything about World Cup, you were either deemed irrelevant; or, very irrelevant.

Held in South Africa, World Cup 2010 took the world by surprise when newer teams triumphed over many of the all-time favourites. While Japan and South Korea did Asia proud by qualifying for a place in the Round of 16, many were disappointed when teams like Argentina, Brazil, and Germany didn’t enter the final (though it was interesting to note that in their match against Argentina, the Germans scored a goal within a matter of five minutes!). The ladies were also very indignant when Kaka was given a red card (I was told that men watched soccer matches and ladies watched soccer players).

As such, when it came to the Final, people like myself did not know which team to support. According to Paul, supporting Espana would be the right choice. In any case, I went ahead and took the side of the Dutch, seeing that it was time they reached the pinnacle of the footballing world, having failed twice before already in 1974 and 1978.

What a relief, all that’s over! As we bade goodbye to the late night family gatherings (and the heaving of heavy eye bags in the morning after), it was comforting to know that more than entertainment, these soccer matches brought families closer together thanks to technology (as well as the KFC and Pizza Hut meals). Such an experience is essential for family bonding especially in today’s context when everyone claims to be too busy to spend time with our families. For the first time, I can safely vouch for the belief that a higher standard of living does lead to a better quality of life.

Gee… I ate the wrong octopus. No wonder it predicted wrongly. Looks like the Salty Soothsayer lives on…

By: Lim Sok Min

Sound familiar? The strains of the classical Disney favourite, ‘Tale as Old as Time”, filled the Victoria Concert Hall on Saturday, 22 May 2010, courtesy of NYJC’s own 80-strong choir. Christened “In.HarmoNY 2010 Beauty and the Beast: An Adaptation”, the Choir mesmerised the audience which was made up of family, teachers and friends. The concert comprised a 2-part performance; a series of choral pieces performed in the first half, separated by an intermission from the highlight of the evening which was the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ musical.

The choral pieces performed included: Iddem-Dem Mallida (by composer Elmo Q. Makil), Lok Sui Ten (Zechariah Goh Toh Chai), Sik sik si Batu Manikam (Budi Susanto Yohanes), O Magnum Mysterium (Francis Poulenc), Mamayog Akun (Fabian Obispo) and Sleep (Eric Whitacre). During the musical, 9 songs were performed: Belle, No Matter What, Home, How Long Must This Go On, Be our Guest, If I Can’t Love Her, Something Here, Human Again and of course, Beauty and the Beast.

The interesting mix of Asian and Western numbers in the first component (performed to resounding applause from an appreciative audience) was artfully arranged. The harsher and more colorful tones from Asian pieces such as Iddem-Dem Mallida, Lok Sui Ten, Siks sik si Batu Manikam and Mamayog Akun contrasted with the slower more elegant Western pieces such as Sleep and  the haunting O Magnum Mysterium - a responsorial chant from the Matins of Christmas. The overall effect was an exciting blend of sounds and the clever use of sounds like stamping feet (in Mamayog Akun) gave the performance a dramatic, almost tribal feel.

As the audience filed back into the concert hall after the intermission, I noticed a palpable sense of excitement and expectation. Well, I must say they were certainly not let down by the grand opening: the song Belle and the sight of friends and classmates dressed in costumes of varying hues and colours drew loud whispers and even whistles of admiration as the lead actress emerged dressed in a stunning white gown during her waltz with the Beast. Throughout the performance, the scenes were narrated by Olivia Djawoto with Gabriel Chew Wen De accompanying her on the piano.

The main cast did not disappoint and played their roles well. The audience laughed at the carousing of the castle’s cutlery in Be Our Guest and wistful sighs could be heard during Belle’s (Ng Jin) and the Beast’s (Asaph Leh Hao Yi) slow waltz in Tale As Old As Time. The villains in the show also took centrestage with Gaston’s (Zeng Zhuohong), Monsieur D’Arque’s (Brandon Pua) and Le Fou’s (Koh Jinyang) plotting to place Belle’s father in the sanatorium. There were a few moments when the singing was not too clear but overall, there is no doubt in this reviewer’s mind that the concert was a roaring success and deserved the plaudits it dutifully received.

For now, the Choir will be heading further a field as they head towards Olomouc in the Czech Republic to compete in the International Festival of Songs. Well, after watching their performance tonight, I daresay they’re more than up for the challenge … Bon Voyage and do NYJC proud!

It was only in the later part of my primary school life that I found myself going to the library more often. In fact, in a good month, I would be able to finish reading a total of 27 books. Admittedly, most of those books were taken from the Berenstain Bear series but in my defence, I must confess that I did read the works of Judy Blume, Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton (These were the Stephenie Meyers for eleven-year olds).

In secondary school, I found myself hooked on Mitch Albom’s and James Patterson’s books. On days when I had to travel home by myself, I would be hunched over a novel and would never alight without the same book in my hands. On the bus, I was always oblivious to my surroundings. While other students nodded off to sleep, reading always sustained me and I almost never succumbed to the attack by the ZZzzz … monster.

Since the start of my junior college life, I have picked up many books from the library but never got to read any of them as a result of the distraction from piles of undone tutorials. However, when my tutor assigned the class to read ‘The Kite Runner’, I found myself rolling back the years to my secondary school days again.

The question I find myself grappling with these days is: what is it that makes this generation of youths believe that reading meant you were a geek? … Well, I for one, believe that it is cool to read. The act of reading a newspaper was something unfathomable in the past but these days, I would find myself discussing world issues with my friends and family. It has gone a long way to help me in my studies and is a boon to my social life. I am still as chatty as before but these days, engaging in intellectual discourse has become second nature to me.

An adult once told me that youths today dislike reading. I agreed, but wished I didn’t have to. Books made me come alive with the author’s vivid description and clever use of pun. I guess I don’t mind reading them but just don’t make me memorise the contents of any book. While they may be useful sources of knowledge, books also feed the soul as they do the mind.

Photos courtesy of the Photography Society

Since early in the morning of 8^th May 2010, Nanyang Junior College was a hive of activity, as the school made its final preparations to celebrate College Day later that afternoon. Members of the Band could be seen in the College practicing on their instruments in their final rehearsals before the commencement of College Day. Guests were seated at 2.45pm in the Hall where a slideshow featuring key College events was put up on-screen, symbolizing how another fruitful year had passed in NYJC. At 3pm, the Guest-of-Honour, Major-General (MG) Neo Kian Hong, the Chief of Defence Force in the Singapore Armed Forces arrived to warm applause from the staff, guests, parents and students in attendance.

Guest-of-Honour, MG Neo Kian Hong addressing the College

Even though College Day was a day to celebrate the achievement and success of its students, members of the College community nonetheless, took time out to observe a minute of silence to mourn the passing of one of our own students – Toh Zheng Xuan (0924), who passed away in a car accident recently. 

During the Prize Presentation Ceremony, the 2009 graduates who had done exceptionally well were all smiles as they received their awards in recognition of their commendable academic results in the ‘A’ Levels. But they were not the only prize recipients. Current students who had done well in other areas such as their Co-Curricular Activities and Service-Learning projects were also recognized.

A performance put up by the Symphonic Band was followed by the singing of the College Song by the Choir, which brought the formal proceedings of the College Day celebrations in the Hall to a close. 

Guests and students mingling at the reception area in the Atrium.

Photo Essay by: Eunice Lim

Is being proud a thoughtless action? While some would naturally assume this is the case, I prefer to see it differently. Pride takes on many guises, one of which would be the assertion of self-worth. Some genuinely believe that possessing a high opinion of themselves would invite a corresponding degree of respect for them. Such an assertion of self-worth is especially evident in children. For toddlers, playing with building blocks is a common pastime and being able to build the tallest tower would arouse their pride and send them running to seek compliments and approval from their parents.

Pride is also a form of self-assurance that one is in control. Being prideful in this sense would be to show disregard for others who try and undermine their self-worth. When interacting with others, people do have some measure of pride when they retort and judge what others say.  In a sense, pride is an instrument that enables one to exert power and influence over others. That, in essence, is one of the functions of pride.

 However, pride also means to lord over others. “He does not have that shiny toy, that newest novel, that cool gadget, that sporty car, that luxurious apartment – but I do.” Because of their pride, some people find cause to elevate themselves and place others beneath them. This form of pride in their material possessions is equivalent to vanity.

Yet, all that is pride is not wholly a sin. Having pride in one’s work goes a long way in ensuring that the end results are one of quality. Luxury watches are made with utmost pride and precision to produce the perfect timepieces. These, in turn, are regarded as priceless and can serve their purpose for a long time. Similarly, when applied in the context of a student’s academic life, having pride in one’s assignments would mean that every piece of work is done with meticulous care so that greater credit can be achieved. In this context, pride is a positive driving force that propels us towards excellence.

Having pride in one’s country is equally desirable. In international sporting events, it is of importance that the participants have pride in their country. In this way, they are spurred on to do their best so as to bring glory to their country. Pride in this sense is nothing to feel contemptuous about.

Pride is an ambiguous attribute. It lies in the heart of the individual to decide what they want to do with it. So remember, pride pervades through our society; we should not avoid it but instead take it by the horns and tame it so that it becomes an obedient pet that brings about good rather than evil.