2009 is coming!

说2008年过得快，也不快，说它过得慢，也不是非常慢。Through out the whole year, sometime I wished that time could travel faster but sometime I wish it could have travel much slower.

2008 has certainly been a happening year. =D Let's talk about a few special people that I met in 2008.

The first special person: Theresa Tan Wan Ying.
Haha! I hear you ask why. Haha. Before answering your question, let's talk about my first impression of her. I think she is a chatterbox. I met her in my JAE class. I can't remember how our friendship started. However, not long after our friendship started, I couldn't stand her being naggy. She can talk for hours non-stop. Slowly, I tried to drift away from her. Initially I couldn't. Not long after, we drifted apart. Oh ya, by the way, she is my PW-mate. Honestly speaking, she isn't a difficult person to work with but I have failed to understand her. Actually, she is a nice person. She treats everyone with her sincerity. I admire her always-do-her-best spirit. Throughout the year, I think I have truly failed to understand her. 2009, I would try my very best to understand her.

Next up, is a special teacher. Mr Simon Leow.
I hated him when I entered JJC for the first 3 months. He nags like an old woman on stage. I dislike naggy teachers. Then, sometime after JAE, he tagged people to be Bannister leader. Back then, I didn't want to touch leadership anymore. It was after his assurance that being Banni leader would still allow me to balance both academic and leadership, only then did I take up the role, Banni leader. This was how I entered the big leaders' family in JJC. Later in May, there was a Bannister Leaders Camp II. During the camp, I had my first project with Mr Leow - making 2 enormous banners for Sports Day. I changed my impression of Mr Leow after Sports Day. He isn't as bad as I thought he was. He inspired me to be a leader through this project. From then on, I participated more actively in JJC events. Being part of the big leaders family has certainly changed my life.

I would like to introduce a few special groups of people.

First up on the list: Team Seirios.
This team officially existed on 6th Jan 2008. We started off with about 10 players. Many of us were new to netball. We trained hard, we played hard too. Slowly we built friendship among ourselves. The team size grew with time too. We even went for tournaments. Our first tournament was Netballuxion. Being a newbie team, we weren't expecting much. But, guess what? We were just a step away from 2nd round. Afterwhich, we had our second tournament in August - Pesta Sukan. Another close fight. We missed the second by goal difference again. So close yet so far.

I think our team has come very far. I have grown from the team. I enjoy my time with the team. Those dinners, those birthdays celebration, those good old time. I don't know how long will we exist. Next training, on our 1st anniversary, could be the last training. Or maybe it will not be. No matter, I hope everyone will continue to burn your passion for netball, both males and females.

Next group of people is JJ Netball Team.
I started off not liking them too. I didn't like the spilt-ups in the teams initially. I have a tough time adapting to the team. I even had some conflicts with the team. In the end, I am back with the team after first three months. I was very lucky to be chosen for A Division Netball Championship. That was when I learnt to fit into the team. From acquaintances, we become close friends. A group of people who train together, play together, party together. I enjoyed my time with the team. Also, not forgetting the coaches, Ms Ng Yee Leen and Ms Choo Lay Kien. Without them, the team wouldn't have grown that much.

The most special place of the year award goes to Jurong Junior College. A school that I used to dislike and not believing in their values. But slowly, I learnt to appreciate the opportunities that the school give us. The school has provided us with a lot. THANKS!

Special events of the year...
1. Orientation
2. Bannister Leaders' Camp I
3. Sports Day
4. C Badge Test
5. Leaders' Camp, October 2008
6. House Council Field Cooking

JJ orientation has always known to be special. True enough. "Welcome to JJ. This way please." This is how the energetic leaders welcome the newbie. No other JC would play as much water games as JJ did for orientation. Everything about the orientation is just so unique. Don't be amazed by what a 3 days 2 nights camp can do to you. It can forged friendship that last for months, even years. This is the power of JJ orientation. But, a pity that I only get to attend 1 and 1/2 days of camp.

After being tagged by Mr Leow for Banni Leaders, we had a camp, just for this group of people. I had my first Song Singing Session. (I missed it during orientation.) I still remember how Wei Jie, Yi Hao and Mr Leow made fun of one another.

Next came the Sports Day. I have never tied so many lashes in a day before. I can rest assure you that my hands' skin split after all the tying. I have never construct such huge banners before. Neither did I have ever construct 2 14 by 24 feet banners over a night before. All these were done with less than 10 people. The worst that you could expect was that the structure collapsed when all the tying was done. The destruction was done by the wind. =.= As you know, Banni always has the never-say-die spirit. We repaired the parts that were destroyed. Honestly, I remembered when we wanted to repair the structure, I nearly wanted to give up. We have yet to sleep for the past near 27 hours. Our hands are badly burnt and also we are mentally drained. After repairing the structure, it is finally done by 10am. But the story didn't end here. The letters for Banni Taggie couldn't stay on the board. And also, one of the important letters were painted wrongly. We painted on the wrong side. But, hey, how can we let this minor problem interfere with having the success of our banner. We used cloth tape and we used another letter to replace the letter that was painted wrongly. Finally, 大功造成(All our hard work didn't go into waste.)！I feel so proud of myself for surviving through that tough night.

I had my C Badge Test on 22nd June 2008. I failed the test. With an injured knee and lack of stamina, I had a tough time umpiring the second half of the game. But, I am glad that I went for the test. It had injected a confident-building jab into me.

The Leaders Camp in October was a very special camp. I didn't wanted to go initially. I still remember the tiredness that I feel during the week before the camp. There were many events going on during that week. I never regret going for the camp despite my tiredness. I love the foam pool!

Then, after the Leaders Camp, there was a House Council Field Cooking. Haha! We cooked macaroni with mass tins and solid fuel. Cool stuffs, huh? I love my fondue! This gathering has definitely brought a step closer to one another.

I met special people. I have fantastic netball teams. I am in a wonderful school. 2008 had many unforgettable events. 2008 is definitely a colourful year!

I finished this post at 2am of 1st Jan 2009.