The Story Begins

Since the start of the final semester of my diploma studies, I have always wanted to start a Blog to record the tough and happy times that I had encountered. This is especially so when I had passed through the toughest period of my life thus far and that is to complete the ever-important Process Engineering Design Project. A period filled with tears, anger, frustration, pain and joy. Yet, I had no written record of what I had endured through due to the fact that I had been tied down with things that I have to do and prioritize. Then, the idea of blogging seems a tad impossible.

Today, I have finally found a reason to blog. An entry for the sole purpose of giving thanks. Hence the first entry of this blog. So before I begin, I want to emphasize that this entry is dedicated to my Scouts from Bukit Merah 23 Eagles Scout Group, a group of teachable teenagers who got the potential to change the history of BM Eagles Scout Group.

So the long story goes...

After my O'Levels, in 2005, I had made a decision to leave Scouts. A tough decision it is, as New Town Eagles Scout Group then, was a group which had given me unbounded opportunities to shine. It is a CCA which gave me my first Leadership Recognition award, my Eagles Award, a chance to participate in National Patrol Camp 2003 and of course my First Class Scout Standard.

I was then schooling in Anderson Junior College (AJC) upon waiting for my O's results, and was engaged in some Venture Scouts Program which I had no interest at all (partly the reason why I chose to leave). After the release of the results, I went on to Ngee Ann Polytechnic and I had told myself that I should not be involved in Scouts activities again.

However, some day in 2006, I received a call from my Scout Leader. In his call, he asked of me if I can make it down for a meeting to help Bukit Merah Secondary School as he wanted to start afresh for that school which had some problems in setting up due to the shifting of the school compound. I agreed and dragged Edmund along.

The first meeting gave me quite a scare as the number of students who turned up can nearly occupy the entire classrooms' seats. Furthermore, the number of girls outnumbered the boys and this scene is unusually different, considering the fact that we are Scouts. At first instance, I thought that BM Scouts can finally see their beam of light, and I was rather excited at that point in time. However, something REALLY bad happened during the meeting and it had undeniably damaged all our hopes of 'reviving' the group. For that, I shall not elaborate further. Subsequently, attendance became REALLY bad and I had in a point in time blamed myself for that. Worst of all, the poor attendance continued for a year.

Indeed, it seems almost impossible to save the BM Scout Group and no one seems to be capable of helping in anyway. However, at this critical point, I would say that they are truly blessed to have SL Willy to return from his National Service. Appointed as the Group Scout Leader, he has Edmund and myself as his right and left hand man. Discussions were held and changes were made. Thinking positively, all of us are now committed to serve and help them and the choice is now on they themselves whether they want to make their correct decision in life.

Every year is a chance for us to start afresh and 2008 marks the year for a full-scale makeover. Though it started rather rocky for us, I would say that the year was a year when we see our plane slightly taking off from the runway. Skill learning, appropriate punishments, games, footdrill and lectures. Whatever we can bring forth to them, the Leaders are always commited to do our best.

In this year, the Leaders and Scouts have worked hard and suffered together and I believed that it is through this pain we had endured, that we learn to progress on in life. Personally, I believed that soon, it will be time we reap the results of our hardwork. Judging from the great performance that the Scouts contingent had given on their 40th Anniversary Celebrations, I would say that the Leaders are really proud of all of them. Weeks of footdrill training finally paid off as they don proudly in their Full Sea Scouts Uniform, marching off the Merahan's Square with pride. Most importantly, we are really touched at seeing their great leap in terms of their progress as well as their personal growth and development, but of course not to the extent of having tears rolling down our cheeks.

Unfortunately, the time has come for Edmund and myself to serve the nation and that means that we will no longer be able to attend the normal Scout meetings in school. It is truly heartbreaking for myself especially when I am unable to see the Scouts reach the summit of their Scouting life.

Many thanks for the 'farewell' gifts that you have prepared for us out of all your busy schoolwork and we are very very appreciative of what all of you have done. Do continue to work hard in Scouts and of course in your academic area. Always remember what I had constantly reminded all of you.

'Do not neglect Studies because of Scouts, and Do not neglect Scouts because of Studies'.

All the best!