It was an okay sleep (at least better than sleeping on hard ground; I was in a sleeping bag). I woke up at 5.30am. At the same time, some facilitators were getting the NPCC and SJAB representatives to wake up to plan and prepare for the morning PT (Physical Training). I lied down for 25 more minutes before deciding we should really freshen up for the day.
PT was led by Yew Seng. It was definitely tiring (1 set consisted of 3 special push-ups, 10 squats, 10 'Burpees' and 10 Jumping Jacks; we had to do warm-up, 3 sets and cool-down), but I tried to be as enthusiastic as possible by giving timings. After PT, we had a special flag raising ceremony where not only were we having it outside NHSS, the flag bearers, Parade Commander and the person leading the pledge were people who will never get a chance to do those roles in a normal morning assembly in school (i.e. they were not members of NCC and NPCC). Breakfast came after that.
Right after breakfast, the bridge project continued with the collection of the materials for the model first. Our group mainly ordered 0.3m and 0.6m wooden poles, nylon rope (for tying) and a penknife. We were also given a lighter to melt the ropes for better joints. Then, from 8am to 11am, the rest of the team built the structure while I wrote out the presentation. Many changed came along the way, some good ones and some bad ones. What our team really needed was more nylon rope (since we'll never get a saw). When 11.15am approached (all teams were given 15 minutes extension), the other team members decided to give all they could, because they knew our model would fail. We were unable to create the trapezium shape because it was simply too difficult to cut the wood and make the shape. Honestly, what I didn't say in front of them was that while I would have given all my best for it, the reason won't be because it will fail.
All 5 teams in Piranha presented their models and planning processes. Eventually the No Name group and the 7-Up group emerged victorious among the group and would enter the finals to compete against the teams from the other groups. The other Piranhas aided the finalists in touching up their models. I was involved in sweeping up the Hall.
After lunch, we gathered in the Hall for the final presentations. There were 7 teams in total. At the end of the finals, No Name emerged as third and 7-Up second. With that, it was almost time for the Sec 2s and 3s to leave. Before that, our group was given the task of ... cleaning the toilets. Oh well. Service with pride – that's the Student Council's motto.
The sky drizzled lightly as the Sec 2s and 3s slowly moved to the waiting bus. The Sec 4s joined together and proceed to the final programme of the camp: High Element. This was part of what we missed last year when the Secondary 3 Adventure Camp 2003 was cancelled due to Sars. We first learnt how to put on our helmets and harnesses (whatever you call that) from some Softball girls who have been training since yesterday. Then we split into 5 groups and were supposed to do 5 challenges.
My group (Cheng Rong, Veronica, Quan Ming, Bo Yi and I) first attempted the cuboid-shaped balance beam suspended in mid-air. (Okay, all the challenges were held in mid-air.) When my turn came, I was shaking like mad. I took the longest to complete the challenge. Our second challenge was the horizontal rock climbing challenge. It took a while for me to strategise, but nevertheless, that was one of the easiest challenges for me. The third challenge was the log-and-tyre combination. I met with some difficulties towards the end, but I succeeded. The fourth was the log-shaped balance beam. While it was much more stable than the first one, it was a little more difficult. The last one was the one I've longed to try out: jumping from the top of a pole to catch the suspended bar. I managed to hold on to the bar for a second before losing my grip. This section really challenged my guts. I learned that however difficult or dangerous an action or task may be, one should always pick up the courage to try it. For instance, in the fourth challenge, I only dared to take short steps across. It was towards the end that I decided to take bigger steps.
After completing all 5 challenges, I relaxed. Mrs. Lim even tried out two of the challenges to great cheers from everyone present. Terence and another Dance girl also successfully completed the Vertical Climb challenge, a different and extremely difficult challenge.
Finally, we left the campsite on the bus at 7pm for Boon Lay MRT Station. Many vivid memories came back to me as we headed back to civilization. At the end of a day, I felt like a grown man.
PT was led by Yew Seng. It was definitely tiring (1 set consisted of 3 special push-ups, 10 squats, 10 'Burpees' and 10 Jumping Jacks; we had to do warm-up, 3 sets and cool-down), but I tried to be as enthusiastic as possible by giving timings. After PT, we had a special flag raising ceremony where not only were we having it outside NHSS, the flag bearers, Parade Commander and the person leading the pledge were people who will never get a chance to do those roles in a normal morning assembly in school (i.e. they were not members of NCC and NPCC). Breakfast came after that.
Right after breakfast, the bridge project continued with the collection of the materials for the model first. Our group mainly ordered 0.3m and 0.6m wooden poles, nylon rope (for tying) and a penknife. We were also given a lighter to melt the ropes for better joints. Then, from 8am to 11am, the rest of the team built the structure while I wrote out the presentation. Many changed came along the way, some good ones and some bad ones. What our team really needed was more nylon rope (since we'll never get a saw). When 11.15am approached (all teams were given 15 minutes extension), the other team members decided to give all they could, because they knew our model would fail. We were unable to create the trapezium shape because it was simply too difficult to cut the wood and make the shape. Honestly, what I didn't say in front of them was that while I would have given all my best for it, the reason won't be because it will fail.
All 5 teams in Piranha presented their models and planning processes. Eventually the No Name group and the 7-Up group emerged victorious among the group and would enter the finals to compete against the teams from the other groups. The other Piranhas aided the finalists in touching up their models. I was involved in sweeping up the Hall.
After lunch, we gathered in the Hall for the final presentations. There were 7 teams in total. At the end of the finals, No Name emerged as third and 7-Up second. With that, it was almost time for the Sec 2s and 3s to leave. Before that, our group was given the task of ... cleaning the toilets. Oh well. Service with pride – that's the Student Council's motto.
The sky drizzled lightly as the Sec 2s and 3s slowly moved to the waiting bus. The Sec 4s joined together and proceed to the final programme of the camp: High Element. This was part of what we missed last year when the Secondary 3 Adventure Camp 2003 was cancelled due to Sars. We first learnt how to put on our helmets and harnesses (whatever you call that) from some Softball girls who have been training since yesterday. Then we split into 5 groups and were supposed to do 5 challenges.
My group (Cheng Rong, Veronica, Quan Ming, Bo Yi and I) first attempted the cuboid-shaped balance beam suspended in mid-air. (Okay, all the challenges were held in mid-air.) When my turn came, I was shaking like mad. I took the longest to complete the challenge. Our second challenge was the horizontal rock climbing challenge. It took a while for me to strategise, but nevertheless, that was one of the easiest challenges for me. The third challenge was the log-and-tyre combination. I met with some difficulties towards the end, but I succeeded. The fourth was the log-shaped balance beam. While it was much more stable than the first one, it was a little more difficult. The last one was the one I've longed to try out: jumping from the top of a pole to catch the suspended bar. I managed to hold on to the bar for a second before losing my grip. This section really challenged my guts. I learned that however difficult or dangerous an action or task may be, one should always pick up the courage to try it. For instance, in the fourth challenge, I only dared to take short steps across. It was towards the end that I decided to take bigger steps.
After completing all 5 challenges, I relaxed. Mrs. Lim even tried out two of the challenges to great cheers from everyone present. Terence and another Dance girl also successfully completed the Vertical Climb challenge, a different and extremely difficult challenge.
Finally, we left the campsite on the bus at 7pm for Boon Lay MRT Station. Many vivid memories came back to me as we headed back to civilization. At the end of a day, I felt like a grown man.
yours truly, tobias at 9:07 pm
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