I still remember how affected I was during my first week as OCT, and didn't really gave a shit about all these postings. keeping things to myself, and simply riding through the first week without making much efforts into knowing people.
Then comes second week, when we're supposed to choose our positions. those IC/heads positions with more than one volunteer would have to fight among themselves Chair & vice chair would have to wait till week 3 for interviews and election. I also heard that the chairman spot would be pretty busy. Hahaha, ain't no body got time for that! all I wanted was just a small position, didn't really care which department i would be in either. As days pass, I notice those malays are starting to form a 'group' in a sense they speak in their mother tongue and living in their malay world. Well not that i didn't notice it from day 1.. It's just that it's now affecting many of us. Just so happened the squad IC(changed weekly by register number) for that week was a malay, and he decided to happily use his malay to discuss about the committee positions. So one day while we were having our lunch, i heard that many of the chinese didn't get a fair chance in choosing their committee positions.
'Why?' I asked.
'Well, IC said the post is already taken'
'I thought the volunteers have to settle themselves and not first come first serve basis?'
'dunno leh, apparently xxx took it'
Then, I was a bit annoyed, so i decided to try for the Events In-charge position. When I approach the IC, he told me that it's already taken by A. So I mentioned about the fact that we should settle with the volunteers and not who-find you-first-gets-the-post. He just told me that I'm too late. The next day, I realised that the Events In-charge changed to B. so I asked the squad IC again why they can change, he told me that A agreed to change with B, so change lo.
To summarise, Squad IC (malay) just want to prioritise the slots for their fellow malay friends. ~.~
Also before i booked out, our commander instructed those who were interested in chairman will have to write a letter for submission. At the same time, i heard that there are quite a number of malays interested.
'oh well, GG to the committee..' I thought. Still i didn't really much bother afterwards and continue to think about my past.
Week 2 ended, I booked out, had dinner with my fellow secondary school friends and went back home. As usual, my mind flooded with memories and thoughts again. The fact that i just broke up, the fact that i got into OCT, the fact that I don't earn recognition from my friends. Most of them still see me as some failure, or at most just some average boy.. Well really cannot blame them, because that's really the image I presented in secondary. Sleeping in classes, getting marked by teachers, hogging the last few positions in whole level. The only time where I actually perform is during NCC, which apparently they did not get the chance to see. Anyway, there's something called body language, your eyes and your actions speaks. I do have an idea how people regard me. Also thanks to this, I suddenly have a strong resolve to be successful, to be 'up-there'. This is when I decided to go for it, the chairman. Mainly for 3 reasons.
1) I want to challenge myself, i want to know if i am really more capable
2) I cannot stand the thought that a malay will be in-charge of us for the next 9 months (Chinese will suffer)
3) I want to keep myself occupied and motivated so to not think about the past.
And so week 3, I handed up my write up, and went for interview with course manager, and with coy commander with a few other competitors which i totally excelled. I was really confident that I would get it, until the election from all squad mates. Reason is because i spent most of the free time in my bunk, and give little efforts in bonding with my squadmates (which other applicants were busy doing). I was like the 'quiet/anti-social/non-existent' dude there whom people wouldn't even realise if I disappear.
Anyway, all the contestants are supposed to give a 3 minutes speech to them. Most of them used up all the 3 minutes, so much things to say, talking about their past achievements and experiences in chairing, how motivated they are, how much they want to serve us, how humble and et cetera. Seriously their English also uo-there one.. they phrase their speech so beautifully that even I want to vote for them lol. And then comes my turn, I prepared quite a couple of things to say at first. However when I turned and faced everyone, I decided to drop all that and say something else on the spot.
Anyway, all the contestants are supposed to give a 3 minutes speech to them. Most of them used up all the 3 minutes, so much things to say, talking about their past achievements and experiences in chairing, how motivated they are, how much they want to serve us, how humble and et cetera. Seriously their English also uo-there one.. they phrase their speech so beautifully that even I want to vote for them lol. And then comes my turn, I prepared quite a couple of things to say at first. However when I turned and faced everyone, I decided to drop all that and say something else on the spot.
'I'm a man of little words, but I get things done. I don't have as much experiences as those previous guys, but trust me, I will serve the squad well for the next 9 months.'
I have completely no idea where did those words came from. After I was done, as expected, i only received little appaluse, as compared to the previous speakers. So yeah I expected myself to not even get a vice already. meh~ yolo
Then comes Friday again, while we were booking, our course manager held us back for awhile.
'I've counted the votes, the chairperson has been choose. By you guys, not by us. The chairman will be Lai john hiong. The second highest vote is a tie, we will conduct another voting next week.'
For a moment, I was wondering who is the 'John' as i still don't remember everyone's name. it was only until everyone turned to me and congratulate me then only I realised I was the one. ;P
After thoughts.
It really came as a surprise for me. I did not expect that I would win them over when I didn't even actively befriend them, get them to like me. Not to mention my 30 seconds speech received a rather cold response. One thing for sure though, if my squad mates are like those people i know in BMT, i will definitely not get chosen. Fortunately this is OCT, where the better people gathers. Which means people who are less shallow-minded, who only look at the surface. I talk to people in BMT before, they way they determine who is good and who is bad are hilarious!
'oh.. i put him first cuz he everytime very friendly'
'cuz he's the only one who come and talk to me'
'cuz he was the IC before ma'
'he last time scouts leader leh'
All the above are true accounts and replies I got from different people. NO JOKE
No criticising them or what, but I think some people may need more time than others to really 'know' a person. And some people just cannot see the big picture.
Anyway~ i was saying i'm glad that people here are not as shallow. Maybe the malays are not as bad~ they're just cannot help it speaking in malays, or maybe there're only a few malay individuals who are actually biased. Either way, now i'm ought to know them more.
Now that I got elected, I have great responsibilities. For now, I wish that I can put down the past more effectively, and focus on training and studying! I will definitely keep my promise and serve the squad well :)
It really came as a surprise for me. I did not expect that I would win them over when I didn't even actively befriend them, get them to like me. Not to mention my 30 seconds speech received a rather cold response. One thing for sure though, if my squad mates are like those people i know in BMT, i will definitely not get chosen. Fortunately this is OCT, where the better people gathers. Which means people who are less shallow-minded, who only look at the surface. I talk to people in BMT before, they way they determine who is good and who is bad are hilarious!
'oh.. i put him first cuz he everytime very friendly'
'cuz he's the only one who come and talk to me'
'cuz he was the IC before ma'
'he last time scouts leader leh'
All the above are true accounts and replies I got from different people. NO JOKE
No criticising them or what, but I think some people may need more time than others to really 'know' a person. And some people just cannot see the big picture.
Anyway~ i was saying i'm glad that people here are not as shallow. Maybe the malays are not as bad~ they're just cannot help it speaking in malays, or maybe there're only a few malay individuals who are actually biased. Either way, now i'm ought to know them more.
Now that I got elected, I have great responsibilities. For now, I wish that I can put down the past more effectively, and focus on training and studying! I will definitely keep my promise and serve the squad well :)
