I just came back from Anderson St.John Ambulance Brigade Camp yesterday. I must say I really enjoyed myself a lot and never once regretted going back to help out as a teacer-in-charge. It is different when you attend the camp as a student, whether cadet or senior, and as a teacher-in-charge. I was feeling quite awkward and out of place initially as I do not really know the juniors or cadets, other than some of the secondary one students who were my students. Other than them, I sincerely do not know who are the others, which includes the secondary three students who are the organisers of the camp. I am very sorry for this but I made an effort and eventually managed to get most of the names of the secondary three students. I also am not used to having students greet me as Mdm.. I will feel quite paiseh having make them drop everything they have on the floor and get into sedia position just for the sake of greeting me. Thus, I will try my best to avoid bumping into them whenever possible. I know they greeted me as a form of respect or maybe just because they were forced to do so. I guess if I really go back to Anderson Secondary School in the future to be a full-time teacher, and becomes the teacher-in-charge of St.John officially, I will learn to accept the greetings in grace de. This is again something I must learn when I do become a teacher. :)
During this camp, I once again experienced the great and wonderful feeling of being appreciated for things that you do voluntarily without hoping for any payback. During the social night, I got a pleasant surprise when Mr.Yong presented a box of chocolate and card to me in front of all the cadets. I was totally taken aback as I never expected that they will treat my departure seriously, I mean I thought I will just leave St.John quietly without any ceremony whatsoever. Haha, and to think I even accompanied Mr.Yong to buy the chocolates as he said he do not know how to choose. He bought 3 boxes, 2 boxes for the security guards and the last one for me. I was very touched but thankfully I did not cry.. I guess I have already come to terms with having to leave Anderson Secondary School le ba.. I mean it is inevitable that I will feel sad and may even tear a bit when I think of it in the future. But I guess they will be safely kept in a corner of my heart to be treasured, all this memories and experiences. Then after the whole thing when me, Mr.Yong and Ms.Zaleha went back to staffroom, I was given another gift which is a cute garfield soft toy from the teachers!!! haha, the toy is so cute! cuddly too~ haha, the teachers were afraid that I will lose whatever image the students have of me if they gave me the soft toy in front of the cadets as my reaction will be to shriek "SO CUTE!!!", which is so not teacher like lohz, haha. I must say, when I volunteered to go back St.John and help during my relief teaching period is because St.John has given me lots of memories, has taught me lots of things and has blessed me with a lot of wonderful people(seniors and juniors and him)I feel a lot for it. I just wanted to do my part and contribute back after taking so much from the CCA, even if whatever I do will not be appreciated I am also okay with it, I have learnt to deal with it. But in the end it did not turn out that sad as my efforts and contributions were deeply appreciated. :)
At the end of the camp, I asked time from the cadets for a farewell speech as I feel that I should say something after being through so many different types of identity.. from a cadet to a sergeant to an ex-NCO and finally to a teacher-in-charge.. I have been though so much.. seen so much.. I was hoping that the cadets will be able to leave this camp with some of the things I have said. And seriously, hopefully they will be able to get the message and strive to become better and make St.John a much better CCA! I have to agree that the kids nowadays are no longer what we were in the past, thus some basic rules of being in uniform group may not go down well with them like the No ABCD rule. No Argueing, No Bargaining, No Complaining and No Dilly-Dallying. This may sound ridiculous to the kids nowadays, having been able to get what they want and do what they want. Now you want them to obey some people without any doubt or hesitation is almost impossible, they will just show the bu shuang look on their face openly in front of you. Seriously, I do not give a damn on how kids behave or are nowadays, so long as you are in uniform groups, whether willingly or forced to be in, you have to obey. Some may say that other UG are not doing so which I also do not care as you all are in St.John, not NP or NC or Girl Guides. Trust me, you will learn and gain optimum-ly when you have experienced both happiness and sadness, fun and suffering in the CCA.
Also, the "One for all, all for one" team spirit. This may again sound ridiculous as people are punished together whether or not they do wrong as some people of their group did wrong. The cadets now may feel wronged, feel damn unhappy, but this is part of bonding the whole group of you all together. Unless you all went through torture together, if not the bonding in the group wont be strong. I have been through, it is true so if you want to gain the most out of St.John, be prepared to give in all you have and listen to whatever is being said with a good attitude. Once again, attitude is the key~ haiz.. lastly, ASJAB rawks on man~!!! :D I will be back de~!
10:16 AM
Yours Truly
A little girl
learning to live in a big big world
and trying not to give up things she believes in despite everything
