Let us start by turning the clock back to 1998, almost 11 years ago, when I entered Northview Secondary School at the age of 13. In an unfamiliar environment, starting out anew and getting to know new people was rather scary. Believe it or not, I was one of the quiet ones, I kind of dread to meet new people, confidence and friendliness only built up during secondary school. Anyway, Ms Fong, my form teacher then, decided to appoint me as the class chairperson (you guys must be wondering, is he bluffing about being quiet?), and I was like, just because I'm the tallest and biggest/fattest guy in the class means I should be a chairperson? Well, I couldn't say no because I am the type that doesn't like to voice out then. This chairperson thing got my leadership and confidence thing going, I started to learn about responsibility and discipline.
"A numerously commented picture of my secondary school class"
Then came the first Saturday of school. We were all required to go to school on Saturday for CCA (Co-cirricular Activities) open house day, where all the different CCAs, sports club, musical groups, uniform groups came together and try to get us cute secondary one freshies to join them. It was compulsory for everyone to have at least one. I remembered my former CO presenting National Cadet Corps (NCC) (Air), CPT Muhammad, a fierce and scary man. He did a rather good presentation with pictures and things to do in the NCC for the next four years of my life. I thought, hmmm, not bad, but I was reluctant.
I signed up for basketball, cause I loved it in Primary school and it was a without a doubt kind of thing (I stopped going after one session cause I didn't like the coach). It was nearing the end of the CCA openhouse day and as I walked past the NCC booth, 3SG Rina (I think that's her name) gave me a huge smile and said "Come! Join NCC." Now that I thought about it, those three words got me to put my name in the box.
As I stepped into class on Monday, there were 10 people in my class who signed up for NCC! From then on, every Saturday morning was committed to NCC training. We also had to attend camps every year as we got older. The older we got, the longer the duration of the camps became. Fast foward two years later, and now we're in Secondary 3. By the middle of the year, I was a specialist (2nd Seargent/2SG) and very proud and happy to be one. Too proud I guess. Will elaborate later.
At the end of the year, the unit's officers chose five cadets from my cohort to attend the Unit Drill Instructor course. I was one of the five and indeed very happy to attend the course. Eventually we completed the course and we're all promoted to the rank of Staff Seargent/SSG. I definitely remembered who are the other four people that I attended the course with of course, Jason Khoo, Masturah, Zaid and last but not least, my bro Md Ali.
Fast foward again to the following year, Secondary 4. The officers of Northview Air Unit would have by then 2 to 3 months to decide who would become the Unit Seargent Major and the assistant. Both would have been promoted to the rank of Master Seargent. I didn't become one, whether unfortunately or fortunately, depending on one's view. I was utterly disappointed but of course I was extremely happy that Ali became the USM and Masturah was the ASM. But yeah, I had to admit, that it would have been difficult then to decide from the five of us because I believed that if not me, Zaid and Jason would have done an excellent job as well.
At the end of that very year, the graduating cadets would then have the opportunity to join the Cadet Lieutenant (CLT) Course. And it's usually reserved for the higher ranking cadets and usually they will only send two cadets per unit, I was very worried that I could not attend the course. Because at that time, there was Ali and Richard, who was my senior MSG and because he was in sec 5, graduated with my cohort. So I thought of an idea. I decided to work my ass off for my Sec 4 Prelims so that I can get a good score and my officers will consider requesting for a third cadet to attend the course. Not exactly the right motivation to do well for your O levels and prelims, but it worked eh!?
So yeah I did bloody well (I think), and I got a letter in my mailbox one day in November, informing me that I will be attending the 42nd CLT Course. I jumped and cried and laughed. My gosh, I got it! Unfortunately however, Richard didn't attend a course, for what reasons, I am not aware of at the moment. Eventually I attended the course with Ali and we became Air CLTs. At that time, there were already about 8 CLTs in Northview, so Ali and I understood that and volunteered to be CLTs in a new unit at Zhenghua Secondary School.
"Singapore Youth Festival Opening Ceremony 2004"
Ok, I know it's a long post, so you can go have a toilet break, grab another can of beer or go puff a cigarette. But we have come to the main point of the story here, the HIGHLIGHT. The reason why I wrote this post. In a Zhenghua camp (I bet Ali, you are laughing reading at this cause you know what I am going to talk about) probably in 2003, after the cadets have went to bed, I decided to ask Ali the burning question I had in my heart for many years. I asked, "Bro, I wonder why I didn't make it to being a Master Seargent..." And I think, after years of wanting to tell me, he thought the moment was right.
"Bro, the main reason why you didn't become a Master Seargent, was because you were too arrogant/cocky/proud." Ali said. (not sure of the exact words but its close to that). Too proud. I swore I was stunned when I heard that. To me, I thought I was normal you know. So I said, why didn't you tell me earlier? Why wait two years later? He told me that he couldn't find the heart to tell me and that I might end up being angry with him. Nonsense I thought, then again, sometimes, we are afraid to tell our close friends about their flaws, we are afraid that they might be angry with us.
That evening taught me two lessons. Firstly, that I was arrogant piece of crap of a person. I cried by the way, in front of Ali, asking him why didn't he told me earlier. Reflecting from it, I think the effect wouldn't have been as powerful and I might not have understood if I was told anytime earlier. I guess God felt it was time to let me know, so through Ali, got me to be a better person. From that day on, I kept my words, thoughts and actions in check. I would try not to speak too much cause I realise I tend to talk about myself a lot, so I try to ask more about others. And I stopped talking about how good I was as a person or how sucessful I have become unless if it was for a joke or to prove a point of course (Ya right).
About a year later, I was with Mdm Raps (Mama NCC) and Mr Latiff (Papa NCC) in the HOD room during one of the Northview Camps. And I decided to ask them why didn't become a Master Seargent, they looked at each quietly. But I felt bad putting them on the spot, so I offered them my answer, the answer which Ali gave me. And then they smiled at me. Probably in a relief that at last I knew and they didn't had to break it to me (Thanks Ali) kind of feeling.
Ok a little bit of bragging now, but just to prove a point. Ever since then, I've managed to achieve more and understand people better. Today I know I am lucky and blessed for the things I have today and people I know. So yeah, that is my little bit of success and shall stop bragging bout myself.
The first lesson was mainly for myself. The second lesson though is for everyone. Have a close friend that has a really bad point and it is preventing him or her to enjoy life better, to miss opportunities or make the people around them feel awkward? Well my suggestion is, break it out to them gently when you can't take it anymore or to be patient and wait for them to ask, what's wrong with me? They might be upset at first, but if they get what you mean, they will change and forever be in your debt.
"Ali is at the top left hand corner, don't have a proper picture of
him and me cause it's back home and the film type!"
Of all the lessons NCC could have taught me, leadership, discipline, honour, etc. The biggest lesson was humility. Thanks Ali, I'm forever in your debt. God Bless.
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