CJC NEWSLETTER ISSUE ONE 2014
PASSING ON THE
FLAMING PASSION SHARING THE
COMMUNITY SPIRIT THE START OF
SOMETHING NEW
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principal’s message We bid a warm welcome to the JC1s, new members of the Parent Support Group and other new stakeholders of the CJC community. By now every JC1 student has embarked on the journey to be a “Thinker with a Mission and Leader with a Heart”. It is a journey designed with activities and programmes for a fulfilling and memorable experience. It will be an adventure and marathon marked with strategic challenges and transit stops for intrapersonal and interpersonal reflections and connections. This is none other than the CJC Experience. One objective of the CJC Experience is to develop the “Thinker with a Mission”. This thinker pursues knowledge with a sense of purpose and searches for Truth in the disciplines of study. This individual demonstrates and upholds the intellectual traits and values of Humility, Courage, Empathy, Integrity, Perseverance, Faith in Reason and Fair-mindedness. The “Thinker with a Mission” is a selfdirected student who will always question assumptions, make thinking visible, display conceptual understanding, generate new ideas and make reflective thinking second nature. This student-thinker has to strive for accuracy, precision, relevance, depth, breadth, logic and fairness when interacting and doing assigned tasks in the classroom. The same holds true when the student participates in the college’s Student Development, Leadership and Co-Curricular Programmes. Complementing the qualities of the “Thinker with a Mission” is the “Leader with a Heart”. This is a servant leader who discerns, appreciates and empathises fully with the issues of the different members and sectors of society. This individual internalises the learning and understanding into a powerful motivation and drive to lead, advocate and serve the cause of the needy and the disadvantaged. Many CJC alumni members have, through their CJC Experience, ventured to leave their indelible marks in society. They serve and lead many sectors of society, each displaying the traits of the “Thinker with a Mission, Leader with a Heart.” This issue of the Flame provides nuggets of the CJC Experience and insights into the college mission. It reflects the vibrancy of the college and the intensive interactions every CJCian can have by being involved and engaged in the community. We hope these reflections in the Flame will spur every JC1 student to be fully immersed into the CJC community and strive to be a “Thinker with a Mission, Leader with a Heart” for the greater Good. God bless.
Mrs Christine Kong president Editors
vice president
Nadia Arianna Bte Ramli Suzie Yanti Jumadi Sng Mee Lian
Ershen Kaur
Hazel Boon, Sai Krithika J, Ashley Tan, Ershen Kaur, Janessa Tay, Anne Wong, Cindy Ho, Aaron Chan, Ang Si Jia
PHOTOGRAPHERS
DESIGN
Aaron Chan
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CONTRIBUTORS
Abraham Low, Yip Feng, Xavier Soh, Chia Shan Jin
A creative point, by JAB www.jab.sg
Welcoming New Beginnings
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Passing On The
Flaming Passion Text by Hazel Boon (2T22) and Sai Krithika J (2T35)
Ask JC1 students about their most memorable experience in CJC so far, and their answer will most likely be: IGNICULUS 2014. Aimed at giving the newly posted JC1s a glimpse of JC life and helping them integrate into the CJC culture, the 2014 Orientation was also an event where the JC1s made new friends and memories that will last a lifetime. All this would not have been possible if it was not for the Orientation Group Leaders (OGLs), who put their hearts and souls into making IGNICULUS 2014 a success. The Flame spoke to Constellation Head of Phoenix, Bradley Goh Zheng Xian (2T23), Apus OGL Ngoh Ping Xin (2T04), Constellation Secretary of Noctuna, Sim Wei Min Stephanie (2T35) and Noctuna OGL Deanna Nabilah (2T35) on how they felt about their roles as ambassadors for the college, as well as to share some of the most memorable experiences and most trying times throughout the planning and execution of IGNICULUS 2014.
What encouraged each of you to take up the role of OGL?
What were some of the difficulties that you faced during the preparations?
Stephanie: The primary reason I became an OGL was because I was inspired by my OGLs during my Orientation last year. Their hard work and dedication in making us feel welcomed and more comfortable in CJC served as a model for us. We wanted to be like our OGLs.
Deanna: We faced constant rejection of our proposals during the preparation. Even though it was frustrating at times, we knew we had to pull together and think of better ideas and ways to improve on the existing ones so as to ensure that the JC1s would have the best Orientation experience.
Deanna: As a Student Councillor, I was also tasked to be an OGL but I would still have volunteered to be an OGL even if I had not been a councillor. I wanted to relive the memories of my Orientation days and share the fun with a new group of students. Ultimately, our hard work, dedication and sacrifices all culminated in the friendships forged.
As ambassadors for the college, how did you fulfil your roles? Deanna: We delivered our roles as ambassadors by being on our best behaviour and actively upholding the college’s mission of “Thinker with a Mission, Leader with a Heart.” Stephanie: It was a huge responsibility because as ambassadors, we represented the college and what it has to offer to the new JC1s. Hence, how we conducted ourselves would have a huge impact on the new JC1s as well as on parents and prospective students. We had a huge part to play in upholding the college’s image and promoting the CJC culture in a positive light. 4
Ping Xin: We struggled a lot with the skit for our constellation. As Apus is the guardian of vibrancy, we wanted to add a few short dance routines into our skit to emphasize our theme of vibrancy. However, as most of us were not dancers, we had to spend a lot of time learning the dance, on top of rehearsing and perfecting the skit. We stayed in college from about 5pm to 10.30pm to practise, not including the time spent out of college and on weekends.
What kept you going throughout the difficult times of the planning process and even Orientation itself ? Ping Xin: Throughout Orientation, my belief was that although it was the JC1’s Orientation, it was also our journey and that really spurred me on to try my hardest to make their Orientation as memorable as mine. Looking back now, it was also all the late nights spent with my fellow OGLs in rushing out
proposals, brainstorming ideas and encouraging each other that made the difference and helped to develop us into stronger and better leaders.
Stephanie: I kept going in the hope that my OG juniors would enjoy the activities that we had planned for them. Furthermore, the smiles on the faces of my OG during Orientation and their words of encouragement through their texts on our Whatsapp group motivated me to persevere.
Bradley: The main factor that motivated us was the fact that we wanted to give the JC1s a memorable experience, like the one that our seniors had given us and hopefully inspire them to become OGLs themselves.
How has working closely with the council teachers and your peers helped you to develop as a “Thinker with a Mission, Leader with a Heart”? Bradley: The Council teachers’ constant reminders to review our entire work at the end of each planning session were very beneficial. They helped us to spot any mistakes we might have overlooked during the planning process before they developed into serious problems during Orientation. Peer leadership was useful as it taught me to be more altruistic and more aware of my surroundings and the people around me.
Stephanie: It helped us learn to coordinate and take responsibility as a team when any one of us failed to complete a task or made a mistake. Furthermore, the Council teachers, having had so much experience with Orientation and Council events, helped us in the earlier stages of planning because they knew the key elements in planning a successful event. Thus, working with them helped us to improve our event planning skills, as well as learn how to work better with others.
Pres
Lastly, what was your most memorable experience during Orientation Week? Ping Xin: During our last constellation meeting, the dedication and enthusiasm of both the Apus OGLs and the JC1s really struck me. Even though constellation meetings were held in the late afternoon when the weather was blistering and everyone was exhausted from the previous activities, every single person continued to give their all. I was touched to see all our hard work, preparation and brainstorming for the cheers come to fruition. It was also heartwarming to see some of the JC1s stepping up and taking the initiative to lead the whole constellation in a cheer.
Bradley:For me, it was the paper plate/ Mandela activity I conducted with the help of my other OGLs. As we were worried that some might not take the activity seriously, we tried our best to keep the mood solemn, yet at the same time, create a comfortable environment for everyone to reflect on what defined them as a person. The success was mainly due to everyone’s honest contributions, and the outcome was better than I had hoped for. Orientation was definitely a huge success as it turned out to be a fun-filled and unforgettable event for not just the JC1s, but also the OGLs, without whom IGNICULUS 2014 would not have been possible. Nonetheless, the preparation for the Orientation was not a bed of roses as they faced many difficulties along the way. Yet, their perseverance, dedication and most importantly, their passion to serve, enabled them to overcome these obstacles. Andre Malraux once said, “To command is to serve, nothing more and nothing less.” If this is so, the OGLs have proven themselves as leaders by serving the JC1s and the college.
entin
g th and e guard ia the v illain ns of th e , Cy gnus Constel la and his m tions, inion s
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Sharing the community spirit The Flame caught up with some of our JC3s who returned to help out with Orientation. They shared the motivation for their involvement and some of the best memories of their experiences as facilitators in this year’s Orientation.
Octavian Tan
1. Why did you decide to help out with the JC 1 Orientation? I went back to help because I believe in giving back and helping others. Also, it is nice to return and see old faces again. I was also keen to meet new people.
(T36, 2013)
Angelica Wong
1. Why did you decide to help out with the JC 1 Orientation?
Sakina Nomanbhoy
(T09, 2013)
(T29, 2013) 6
I decided to help out with Orientation because I absolutely love CJC. CJ has given me so much and I can’t think of any other way to help but through Orientation and sharing my love for this college with the JC1s. I am blessed to have had an amazing experience in CJ and so desire to show the JC1s how wonderful this college is. We, the JC3s, are living testimonies that it is an amazing college that can offer so much and all they have to do is to participate fully.
1. Why did you decide to help out with the JC1 Orientation? CJ was more like a home than just a college to me, a place where I felt infinitely happy and comfortable. It provided me with the opportunities and the room to grow into a confident individual, someone who is not afraid to share her opinions and thoughts. Therefore, the main motivation for me in helping out during Orientation this year was to share my experiences with the new JC1s so that they can fully optimize their time in CJC. I had the opportunity to bond with them, as well as the chance to pass on lessons I had learned as a former Student Councillor.
(Top, Right) Water ga mes added a dose of fun and challenge by the Bay for our JC1s (Bottom, Right) Team building games on the groun ds of Gardens
2. What was one memorable moment of the Orientation?
It was fulfilling to see the JC1s having so much fun and creating new bonds with one another. I found the cooperation and mutual support shown by the JC2 OGLs also very heartening and encouraging.
2. What was one memorable moment of the Orientation?
I think the most memorable experience I had was at Gardens by the Bay at my game station. It was really fun to interact with the JC1s through the game and the OGLs were helpful in encouraging their groups. My game was charades and it was really encouraging to see the JC1s stepping out of their comfort zone, working as a team and having so much fun. Seeing some familiar faces of JC2 OGLs at the station was really nice too and I felt so proud seeing them putting in so much effort. I enjoyed myself so much that day.
2. What was one memorable moment of the Orientation?
This incident may not have been the happiest of the memories that I have of this year’s Orientation, but it has definitely made the biggest impression on me. During the water games, the JC3s were tasked with getting the JC1s wet. Things were going smoothly until a JC1 student expressed his unhappiness when he realised that our plan was to get him soaked. Initially, it frightened me, but I realised that perhaps he was not as comfortable as the rest, and I attempted to see it from his point of view. We explained our rationale to him gently, and offered our apologies. I think that experience definitely reinforced what it meant to be a CJCian to me – a welcoming, thinking and empathetic community.
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THE START OF
Something New TEXT BY Ashley Tan (2T18) and Ershen Kaur (2T18) As the JC1s were officially welcomed into the arms of the warm and vibrant community during the Commencement Ceremony on the 24th of February, FlAME spoke to two JC1s - Lucian Wee (1T34) and Marc Osbourne Koong (1T31) who shared their thoughts on the CJC experience thus far and their initial motivations behind their choice.
t the What are your thoughts abou Commencement Ceremony? Lucian: I believe that the Commencement Ceremony is a fitting way to usher the JC1s into a new phase of their education. This is because it signifies their induction into the CJ family. In my opinion, the most memorable part of the ceremony was the unveiling of the new college flag. It is an important part of the new positive direction that the college is taking. Marc: It was a new experience. I’ve never had a
iculation What do you think about Matr Week, which is special to CJC? Lucian: Matriculation Week was an eye opening experience for me as it gave me a preview of what is to come in the next 2 years. Marc: It is a great help to those who are unsure of what subject combinations to choose, especially since the curriculum is different and independent learning is crucial.
ceremony to welcome me to a school before. The most memorable parts were definitely lighting the candles and prayers for the various communities in college.
What drew you to the Ignite it so far? Programme? How do you find
been How have these three weeks for you so far?
Lucian: I joined Ignite as it is a programme that is unique to CJC. I also was drawn to the fact that it offers more interactive learning with a large group of students. I find it very engaging as it offers a different way of learning that appeals to me.
Lucian: These 3 weeks have been a memorable experience as I have had the chance to make many new friends through events such as Alfresco and Matriculation Week. The CCA Bazaar has allowed me to have a taste of the many different CCAs that CJC has to offer, and has made the process of choosing my CCA much easier. Marc: Extremely fun filled! The activities – the CCA Bazaar and Alfresco - were well-planned. 8
Marc: Yes, my sister most definitely did influence me!
have What are some surprises you C? Has CJC encountered since entering CJ tions of the changed your opinion/expecta college and of JC life? Lucian: I was pleasantly surprised by how warm and receptive my OGLSs were. I did not expect them to be so comfortable in interacting with over 20 unfamiliar faces. Marc: The students here are very warm and welcoming. I look forward to coming to school every day.
fact that What drew you to CJc? Did the uence you in your sibling attended CJc infl your choice? Lucian: Many seniors from my secondary school (SJI) told me that CJC was a good JC in terms of both academics and school spirit. Their comments largely influenced my decision to come here.
e to What movie title would you us so far? describe your CJC experience Lucian: “Band of Brothers�, as it has an emphasis on camaraderie.
Indeed, both Marc and Lucian shared similar takes on their CJC experience, with their appreciation of the lustrous CJ spirit of Truth and Love. With the completion of the Commencement Ceremony, CJC looks forward to nurturing and growing with them as they set their course through JC life.
s to the family rk the new addition came together to ma , old d iors (Bottom, an jun g ir un the yo (Top) CJCians, of the collar pins for ng ssi ble the ait ning of the aw 2s symbolised by the pin (Bottom, left) TThe JC ng on the Flame is ssi pa of ion dit tra right) Our CJC collar pins
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ROCKAFELLA X Exhilaration Amplified Text by Janessa Tay (2t02) & Krithika Joshi (2t35)
It’s official – CJC has rock legends walking along its hallways. Not only did these rockers treat CJCians to a solid night of music, they did it all for charity. Into its 10th year, CJC’s annual charity rock concert was initiated by the CJC Student Council to raise funds for the CJC Needy Students Fund and OSLP Fund through the sale of tickets and merchandise. The concert is a platform for CJCians who are passionate about music to “rock their hearts out” for the community. As the lights grew dim, cheers punctured the air when the emcees for the night, Daniel Sidhanand from 2T07 and Michael Philip Dimalaluan from 2T35, kicked off the event. The first band to take the stage was Rocket Jellybeans with “Red” by Taylor Swift and “Young Volcanoes” by Fall Out Boy. Within seconds, the crowd was on their feet. Following closely were the Tainted Wings, who gave a great performance of top hit “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus. Next up was BBMV who adopted a more acoustic approach with the assistance of an acoustic guitar instrumental in their performance of “Fix You” by Coldplay and “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz. During their interview onstage, the band elaborated on their humble beginnings and expressed their gratitude to the college for providing them an opportunity to participate in Rockafella. Chaos Jedis was the fourth band to rock the stage with “Bring Me To Life” by Evanescence and “Locked Out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars before transiting smoothly to the all-time favorite “Titanium” by David Guetta. Chaos Jedis indeed captured the hearts of CJCians who were captivated by their harmony and vocals. #Simplemen gave a far from simple performance, being the first to emerge with an impressive beat-boxing 10
element in their performance of “Just Give Me a Reason” by Pink and “This Love” by Maroon 5. The sixth band to perform was Carpe Diem who owned the stage with their unique touch of incorporating a violin instrumental in their medley of Linkin Park’s “Numb” and “Jetlag” by Simple Plan. The last band, and top favorite, Astro, brought the house down with an adrenaline rush of guitar shreds and soaring tunes. Closing the students’ line-up was the teachers’ band with their medley of Maroon 5 songs and rock classics by Bon Jovi. Cheers of encouragement pierced the air when the Vice-Principal, Mr Eric Lee, stepped onstage, together with Mr Vincent Yu, to perform “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi. As the event drew to a close, the judges, Mrs Kong, Mr Desmond Chia and our CJC alumnus, Trevor Wong, were invited onstage to announce the winner of Rockafella X. Applause and eruption of cheers resonated as Chaos Jedis emerged as winners. Shanice Hedger (2T35), the lead singer of Chaos Jedis, revealed how she did not really expect to win with bands like Astro and #Simplemen, spending “way more hours” rehearsing as compared to them. In fact, they barely made it through the auditions. However, the auditions were “a real wakeup call”; it made them realise how far off they were from the other bands in terms of preparation and dedication. Hence, it served as the impetus for hard work over the March holidays, enabling them to clinch their victory. Indeed, Rockafella X: Exhilaration Amplified was a thrilling night of a successful charity event pumped with excitement and rich notes.
EVENT
Highlights 1
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(Top) Shanice Hedger, lead singer of Chaos Jedis (Below, clockwise from top - left) 1. The enthusiastic audience were treated to a medley of rock songs 2. Amsyar Jailani from Astro gives a guitar performance of a lifetime 3. Mrs Angela Tie on drums 4. BBMV ‘stripped down’ rock songs with the use of an acoustic guitar 5. #Simplemen wowed the crowd with their surprise beat-boxing element
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Nourishing the Spirit Embarking on a new academic journey requires more than hard work. These JC1s learnt to take a breather and find their spiritual centre before running the academic marathon. Our family, from all walks of life and faiths, helped out with the JC1 retreat. The CJC alumni, JC2s and staff members came together to lavish care on our new family members. The JC1s reflected on their spiritual journey ahead and stories of faith from those who came before. As the retreat came to a close, the JC1s left with renewed strength and greater commitment to their development of heart and mind.
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(Top) Mr Aaron Rajoo, was one of the many teachers, who came to journey with the JC1s during the retreat (Bottom, left) Everyone’s hopes and dreams were written down to form a community collage (Bottom, right) The retreat left everyone in high spirits and a renewed sense of community
Working with Others TEXT BY Anne Wong (2T23)
Truly a Thinker with a Mission and a Leader with a Heart, a CJC alumnus returns to his alma mater to share his work with migrant workers. Nurhisyam Noorzailan, a second year Economics student at Singapore Management University (SMU), is a CJC alumnus (Class of 2009). He juggles his commitments to academic excellence, SMU Students’ Association and serving the wider community. Currently, he is in the midst of organizing a Service Learning Project (SLP), which will be a collaboration between CJCians, and the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC). Our students will take on the roles of ‘policy makers’ to analyse the merits of the existing framework and the ‘National Labour Union’ and to discuss the feasibility of integration. Through the engagement with migrant workers, the students hope to gain a deeper appreciation of the social and economic issues faced by them. Students will also develop an understanding of the limitations of policy making, as well as gain more knowledge of the regulations put in place by the Ministry of Manpower. Nurhisyam exudes passion, confidence, sensitivity and intellect. It is heart-warming that our CJCians continue to excel in their academic pursuits, carrying with them the college values. It does not stop here for Nurhisyam. He hopes to share his passion for service with other colleges and make a difference in society. In this issue of the Flame, he shares his journey towards making a difference.
Were you previously involved in any service learning projects in CJC? I graduated in 2009 and did not have the privilege of being involved in any local SLPs. I was, however, involved in an overseas Community Involvement Project (CIP) in Batam with my class.
How similar was it to the programme you are managing now? How has CJC helped to foster a sense of giving back to society? I would say that the programmes then and now have the same underlying purpose of contributing to society and deepening our understanding of the community around us. I think the fact that my home tutor intervened minimally and allowed us to run the project independently left me with an impression we could actually do something.
Tell us more about your upcoming project with CJC? Our CJCians will be interacting with migrant workers through the visit to the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) and interviewing frontline staff. There will also be visits to workers’ dormitories, where students will speak to migrant workers directly, and visits to Health Serve to interview their frontline staff and gain a different perspective on the migrant worker community. They will also be assisting at a soup kitchen for distressed workers and have a meal with them. In addition, there will be friendly sports matches at a recreational centre and CJCians will get to attend cricket lessons and culinary workshops. In return, we will conduct conversational English lessons for these workers.
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ganizing this project?
What is your motivation in or
During my internship with MWC, I had the opportunity to listen to very real cases when workers visited our centre to seek advice on the problems they faced. I was also able to visit dormitories and a soup kitchen. This experience brought the news to life. Reading the news is important because it gives you some background but an immersive experience allowed me to put myself in their shoes.
That experience has motivated me to try to design a project that encourages students to have a deeper appreciation of issues faced by our society and apply that to what they are learning in the classrooms.
Lucas Chua (2T19) pr Community Laborator
rnt What is one thing that you have lea thus far? Knock on as many doors as possible. During the planning stage, I constantly shared my ideas with friends, SMU staff and a couple of professors. Talking to so many people about my ideas allowed me to refine the project and it was a way to constantly receive feedback. The people I spoke to also raised concerns that I could not have thought of on my own. A very good example is how, at the very beginning, I shared this idea with Mr Aaron Rajoo, who then directed me to Mr Leong Chun Keong. Without that sharing, we would not be at this stage of the project.
How do you think you can promote greater awareness beyond the ed? boundaries of the students involv I will be pleased if greater awareness is achieved through the students sharing their experiences with their friends and families. Beyond that, I have an idealistic plan in which I reproduce this project for other schools but tailored to their respective levels. So, I am looking beyond a junior college level to see if it can be applied at a secondary school level.
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What potential problems do you anticipate in getting CJCians to run the project? My main concern is the potential language barrier between CJCians and the migrant workers. I will be able to help with this difficulty for the class that will take up this project. I am fortunate also to have friends who have offered to teach the basics of different languages such as Bahasa Indonesia to ease this problem.
CJC Open House pre social issues in Singa
timately What is one thing that you ul the hope to achieve by the end of project? It is for CJC to say, “Yes, we would like to do it again next year.� That will then be a good indicator that all our mutual goals have been achieved.
Project 4650’s makes interim housing.
ject at the resented CJC’s advocacy pro ium pos Sym t Eas th ry@Sou
the word out on esented an opportunity to get apore to the public.
Service Learning Project
for Ignite Programme
2013-14
TEXT BY Ashley Tan (2T18) CJC’s Ignite Programme established a partnership with South East CDC, headed by Mayor Dr Maliki Osman, for its Service Learning Project (SLP) last year. The CDC started the initiative named “Community Laboratory” to provide marginalised Singaporeans with rental housing and life skills so that they could graduate from this programme to live independent lives. Students from 2T18, 2T19 and 2T20, with the guidance of their home tutors and teacher coordinators, Mrs Sandra Tan and Mr Leong Chun Keong, worked with the grassroots leaders of the CDC on “Project 4650”. This project focused on the social issues surrounding the young people, single parents and former residents of two blocks of rental flats Block 46 and Block 50 in the Bedok estate. The students had the opportunity to interact with and hear the stories of these residents. Our CJCians presented their ideas on how to improve the lives of these residents to Dr Maliki at last year’s Ignite Residential Programme. The students also took on the challenge of working on an advocacy programme for these residents during our CJC Open House in January this year. The three classes combined efforts to do a mock-up of a rental flat and did a role-play to enable a larger community to visualise their plight. Regina Wang (2T19) observed that "this SLP journey has opened my eyes to the things I wouldn't have noticed otherwise. Being a foreign student, I believed that Singapore is very well-run yet this journey has made me realise that there are these hidden communities, whose stories have yet to be heard." In addition, three students, Lucas Chua (2T19), Thaddeus Lim (2T20) and Aaron Sim (2T20), with the support of students from 2T18, represented CJC in the inaugural Community Laboratory@South East Symposium, which was held on 15 February at Nanyang Junior College. With the theme “Life as a Vagrant”, our CJCians captured their audience’s attention with their engaging account of their SLP journey. The entire SLP process from concept to reality left a deep impression on many. “This SLP was a unique experience that truly drove home the reality of hidden communities. For us, the key was to find a way to help these people in a sustainable manner, but what was more remarkable was the lasting impact they had on us. We truly grew from the Residential Programme targeted at helping us understand the concept of hidden communities, to the actualization of the project in the advocacy component. We were amazed by their [migrant workers] unbeatable optimism and hopes for the future,” said Alyssa Tjioe (2T18).
living conditions of shift replica of the cramped
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Igniting Passion TEXT BY Anne Wong (2T23) Finding the right career path is all about being passionate about what you do. These students share their Work Attachment and Shadowing Programme (WASP) experiences over the holidays. Creative Communications Upon hearing that I had been posted to the radio division of MediaCorp, and 938 LIVE, I was thrilled. On the first day of my attachment, I was extremely apprehensive and did not know what to expect. However, my workmate, Shiyin and I, were greeted extremely warmly by the staff. After a tour of the offices, we immediately got down to work, writing scripts. Throughout the course of this attachment, not only did we have to write scripts for Fun Facts, a periodic short length feature which is exactly as its title suggests, we also had to screen listeners’ calls during the ‘What Say You’ segment of the evening show. In writing fun facts, I realised how pivotal research is in preparing for radio programmes. I learned to be discerning in choosing relevant information, as I realised that with a 200-word limit, not every single piece of information could be included. However, where language use is concerned, the biggest learning point and inspiration for me were arguably the DJs. With much poise and grace, they set about their job without fuss, and spoke eloquently on air. In particular, I had the opportunity to see first-hand how the hosts of the X & M Show, William Xavier and Michelle Martin, just used language to make even the most mundane topics engaging and interesting. Undoubtedly, this attachment has been a great learning experience, and the skills that I have learnt, particularly the use of language as a hedging device and as a persuasive tool, as well as to engage others, will come in handy no matter what career path I choose to undertake.
Jeremiah Sng (2T35), MediaCorp 16
Starting Small I think what made me enjoy this work attachment so much is that I had read a lot about startups and had an interest in business and entrepreneurship in the first place, so this was precisely what I wanted to do. After this experience, I would like to join a startup in the future, or perhaps even start one, hopefully through a programme such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) Enterprise. Singapore needs more Singaporean entrepreneurs: for every 5 startups, only 1 is led or founded by Singaporeans. Through meeting these
entrepreneurs, I now have some inkling of which university I want to attend. I would like to thank the teachers who organized this work attachment as it was an extremely eye-opening experience for me. I would not have otherwise found the wonderful world of startups in Singapore.
Donald Lee (2T21) Bilpin
Building Dreams I had the privilege of assisting in one of SAA’s current projects, which is to construct the tallest building in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. I was given the opportunity to help edit the site images and construct styrofoam models that the designers at the firm used to visualise the whole concept of the project. The overall experience was truly a unique one. It allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and experience what reality in the workplace is like. I learnt that a positive attitude, effective communication and being sociable are very important skills I will consider this industry in the future as it is really interesting, challenging and could excite me for a long time. Furthermore, learning from SAA, one of the leading architectural firms in Singapore, has contributed to my knowledge regarding today’s dynamic working environment.
Ng Ye Dong (2T15) SAA Architects
(Top) Sarah Lim (2T02) benefited from the soft skills that she picked up during her work attachment at The Cocoa Trees (Below, left) Ye Dong and Jeremiah benefitted from the life skills they picked up from their work attachment. (Below, right) Donald Lee at a homely office of a startup
Personalising Service This experience has taught me the importance of good interpersonal skills, which I think will be very useful in the future. I have also learnt to be more appreciative of how hard my parents have to work to support the family, because the hours put in can really be quite tiring, and I was not even in a very intense job. I have also learnt to be more patient and polite towards salespeople in general, now that I have walked a mile in their shoes, and finally understand that the job can be more exhausting than it looks. When I get a job after my ‘A’ levels, I will definitely consider going back to the sales industry. If I have juniors who are curious about going for WASP, I will definitely recommend that they do so.
Sarah Lim (2T02) The Cocoa Trees
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Leading
the Way TEXT BY Cindy Ho (1T05)
Dear Me, Do you remember how you groaned when you looked with bleary eyes at the luminous numbers of the digital alarm clock - 0530? Of course you do. It was the Class Management Committee (CMC) Training Workshop– a leadership workshop aimed at modelling the way and inspiring a shared vision. One experience that struck you the most was probably how you and your fellow CMC members explored the various possible class goals that you wanted to achieve. This shared experience has helped all of you create a common motto that can be used to inspire any classrelated activity, and this is something that will direct you in your leadership journey. All those self-reflections – do you remember them? Some of them were simple but they still made you ponder. For example, why should you be a PCC rep, rather than other people? But you were pretty sure, weren’t you? You wanted to nurture that special bond linking everyone in class together. It is a class that will be together for the next two years, and helping them certainly gave you a sense of satisfaction. Throw in the invaluable experience of learning to resolve conflicts peacefully? It’s a win-win situation.
You wondered if leaders were supposed to be unobtrusive, cold and aloof. But do you remember your secondary school friend, Alvin Chan, and how confident and levelheaded he was? In spite of everything, he was friendly and reachable. He earned your admiration, and he is definitely going to stay in your exclusive “People I Really Admire” list from the workshop. As Arnold Glascow once said, “The respect of those you respect is worth more than the applause of the multitude.” Leading is not about getting the praise and applause of those around you. It is about the sense of satisfaction you get when you see how your actions, no matter how small they are, can change someone’s life for the better. Dear me: waking up at 0530 in the morning, in exchange for all of these new insights – it wasn’t so bad, was it? Love,
Me
(Inspired by Sean Frois Michel’s account of his CMC Training Workshop)
ht) At the lass (Rig c e th r . vision fo eir class and their ke a home for th C M C to ma 1T26’s Hu with arnt how CMC le (Left) Mr e th y, a ed end of th
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Under the Stars:
Alfresco 2014
Text by Ershen Kaur (2T18) A Friday of good music, good food, and good company – Alfresco 2014 was an evening organised by the 39th Student Council for CJCians to unwind, relax and take a break from studying. The piazza was transformed into a carnival of colourful celebration and laughter as CJCians, young and old, united under the stars. The event began with a preconcert at the piazza, featuring student bands such as “Rocket Jellybeans”, “Attack of the Alien Fungi” and “Lightning Alert”. The music livened up the piazza and set the upbeat mood for the evening. Churros, hot dogs, crêpes, bubble tea and red velvet cupcakes were among the snacks for sale. Specially designed Alfresco merchandise, such as badges crafted by Wynona Au (2T05) and Indu (2T01), were also on sale for students who wanted a memento of the event.
energetic performance by CJC Dance and a flash mob by the JC1 Orientation Group Leaders. Many students were still in high spirits at the end of the performances and the electrifying atmosphere still lingered on. As the sky dimmed, CJCians sat down under an outdoor ‘theatre’ at the piazza, where Monsters University was screened. It was a perfect end to a day of fun and excitement, with a finale under the stars.
Dressed in their casual attire and with their stomachs filled, students sat down and enjoyed tunes played by their fellow schoolmates and sang along heartily. Senior students from the previous batch also returned for the event, testifying their love for the CJC community. A lightning alert failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd. The audience were redirected to the school canteen and continued listening to and cheering for the student performers. The haunted houses, “Asylum” and “The La Luna Circus”, were another interesting highlight of the evening. Set up by 2T17, 2T09, 2T02 and 2T07, the classes transformed the Training and Development Centre (TDC) into a dark and eerie dwelling, supplemented by a variety of intricate and creative costumes. There were snaking queues for the haunted houses, as many students sought the thrills and scares that the bloodcurdling publicity posters promised to provide. As the skies cleared, the crowd moved back to the piazza, where they enjoyed an
(Top, right) A riveting and energetic performance by our CJC Dance Club (Middle) Dark figures from one of the haunted house, Asylum (2T09, 2T17), looming around to welcome visitors to an evening of horror (Bottom) Lightning Alert wows the crowd with their impressive musical talent
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THE ONLY WAY IS UP ’A’ Levels These CJCians rose to the gruelling challenge of the 2013 ‘A’ levels. We share their dreams, laughter and tears.
KRICHELLE TEO People are easily drawn to the enthusiastic and welcoming smile of Krichelle Teo (2T26). Krichelle was extremely delighted and surprised to discover that she had performed exceptionally well in the recent ‘A’ levels. When questioned about her accomplishment, the previous Captain of CJC Floorball and Pastoral Care Councillor of 2T26 mentioned that her “success can be attributed to consistent hard work” and “efficient time management”. “Since CCA sessions only start at 5pm or 7pm, we have a two hour break between the end of lessons and the start of training to complete our work for the day. I try to finish all my assignments and revise my work during this period as I will be very tired when I reach home after training. Since it is not productive to complete assignments when I am exhausted, I try to finish everything whenever there are pockets of time during school to avoid a heavy workload when I go home. By maximizing my time efficiently, I have a lighter burden when I go home and I use the time at home to consolidate my work and recap what I have learnt that day.” Despite her numerous commitments in college, Krichelle has managed to establish a balance between her academic studies and enrichment activities, something which we all should try to achieve. Although she was jubilant over her stellar achievement, Krichelle humbly expressed her gratitude for the support she received from her parents and friends during her journey towards the ‘A’ levels. “I couldn’t have done it without my family and friends,” she added. Krichelle now intends to enrol in the National University of Singapore, where she hopes to study Medicine and specialise in Surgical Studies in the future.
JULIAN RETNAM It was more than just an aspiration; it was “proving to (himself) that (he) could get a perfect score.” Julian Retnam (2T34) is direct, straight-to-the-point, and clearly focused. Though interested in Law, he was frank about his “practical Singaporean” mentality, which led him to settle for the Science stream. He chose to do the Sciences and Mathematics, subjects that he found easy to score in, unlike the Humanities subjects, in which he did not always do well. Since he was a strong believer that studying should not be just for the sake of the ‘A’ levels, he only chose subjects which he truly enjoyed. This could have been why he found it easy to focus in tutorials and lectures, a tip he passes on to his juniors struggling in these subjects. Justifying this, he said, “ You really need to absorb the material during these lessons, so when revising you’re just recapping what you’ve already learnt.” Not only must one study hard, but one must also study smart. This commitment to his goals, and careful, clever decision-making led to his fantastic grades. With 90 ‘A’ level points, a perfect score, Julian has done the college proud. 20
JOSHUA JARED GAN YI CHIANG Joshua Gan (2T37) felt very pleased and proud upon receiving his result slip, for he had excelled in every single one of his subjects to achieve a perfect 90 ‘A’ level points. Despite having achieved something so admirable, he has retained his modesty and amiability. He reveals that he is a practical and realistic person, and, having been subject to the same tribulations as every other student who took the ‘A’ level examinations of 2013, advises that buckling down to study was key. He even decided to go to a relative’s house to study in the months leading up to the ‘A’ levels to get away from the temptation of video games and other distractions. He is a model for all those who are easily distracted by gaming- anything is possible if you put your heart and mind to it.
KELVIN LEONG CHEE FAI Kelvin Leong (2T36) certainly had a trail to blaze as part of the pioneer batch of CJC’s Ignite Programme. He explains, “Being in the Ignite Programme has stretched me in the sense that you get stretched as a critical thinker. You don’t only do rote-learning, but you also go deep down into the theories behind the things that we do. For example, in Economics, we studied behaviours of firms and examined the case studies in-depth, and we made sure we dissected everything and understood it fully. So in the ‘A’ levels, we found it easier to give a value-added answer.” He has far exceeded expectations, as well as graduating with the title of Cross Country Captain under his belt. With his admirable ability to juggle work, play and other commitments, he is definitely one to ask for some advice on how to be a high achiever during one’s JC life. “Tough times will end, definitely,” says Kelvin. “Keep telling yourself that you need to push through no matter how challenging it may be and slowly you’ll be moulded into that resilient figure” - a figure just like himself.
TERESA ANN PEREIRA It was a dream that kept her going even in the toughest of times - a dream of getting into law school. And now, having achieved a perfect 90 ‘A’ level points, Teresa Ann Pereira (2T02) is closer than ever to achieving that dream. Clearly someone who knows her own mind, Teresa Ann believes in putting 100% into everything that she sets out to do, whether it is honing her fighting spirit out on the floorball court or engaging in intensive revision. A true blue Humanities student, she is a self-confessed enthusiast where Literature and Psychology are concerned. Driven and disciplined, Teresa Ann exudes a youthful sophistication that makes her hard to miss. When asked about one piece of advice that she would like to leave her juniors with, she replies without hesitation: “Give your 100% - after that, have faith and don’t fear.”
OLIVIA DEWI CINTA HIGGINS A formidable opponent on the track, Olivia Dewi Cinta Higgins (2T02) applied her seven years of running experience to her academic life, saying, “When you’re on the track and looking at your goal, everything else is immediately out of focus. If you translate it to your life, it works really well. Like during an exam, everything else is out of focus.” She used this determination and concentration to power through every obstacle in her way, from pushing through five years in secondary school to overcoming the disappointment with her Preliminary Examination scores. Swiftly and tenaciously picking herself up from her disappointments, Olivia managed a rigorous timetable and constant consultations with her teachers, ultimately emerging from the ‘A’ level race victorious.
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CROSSING Boundaries TEXT BY Aaron Chan (2T29), Hazel Boon (2T22) and Cindy Ho (1T05)
told me that Singaporean Mandarin was so different from the Mandarin he spoke back home because of our frequent additions of English words. I learned a great deal about the Chinese language and culture as well.”
We know it is a shrinking world when our Around the World: Bangalore Exchange international friends are no longer across Programme the waters, but seated across the desk International Friendship Week coincided with the arrival of a from us. Here are some of the highlights of group of students from Christ Junior College, Bangalore, on an programme aimed at strengthening bonds between how CJC celebrates unity in diversity with exchange participants from both colleges. our international friends. Together with their CJC buddies, the Bangalore students were A Chinese Chapter Lu Yaman “fell in love with CJC” during the CJC-JXP week-long immersion programme. This is perhaps a testament to the unique CJC Experience. In March, a group of fourteen Chinese students visited CJC as part of the annual programme organised by our Mother Tongue Department, in collaboration with the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Bridging Programme. The programme aims to improve these Chinese scholars’ proficiency in the English language and gain insights into student life in Singapore. Accompanied by their CJC buddies, the Chinese scholars immersed themselves in the college. A shared experience of “surviving” arduous Physical Education lessons and attending lessons on niche subjects, such as English Language and Linguistics (ELL), brought them closer. Tong Wen Bin stated that “the JC subjects, especially General Paper, are unique. The tutorials are very engaging as they constantly require discussions and voicing our opinions. Even the lectures are interactive as the teachers illustrate concepts using models and demonstrations.” Learning took place outside the classroom as well. One of the CJC buddies, Julian Lim (2T29), recounted a memorable learning point during dinner. “When Wen Bin came to my house for dinner, he was speaking to my mother in Mandarin, most of which I could not understand. After our meal, we watched a bit of the local Chinese television programmes. This was when he 22
brought on a tour of the college’s facilities and even sat in on a few lessons such as Knowledge and Inquiry, one of the niche subjects that CJ offers. They also found Project Work very interesting. They were very impressed by the wide range of teaching methods here. Vijayamand S, a Year 2 student at Christ Junior College, commented, “Back home, we only get to learn from textbooks, but over here, you have varied methods of learning, such as PowerPoint slides and videos, which make the class more attractive and interesting.” The exchange students were taken around Singapore to experience the city’s sights and sounds for themselves. Vijayamand S was especially amazed by Singapore’s cleanliness and efficient transport system, which he described as ‘perfect’. “It is the perfect model every country wants – it’s just very efficient. People here also follow traffic rules, and also the city is very clean. ”Throughout the week, the Bangalore students certainly got to form strong bonds with their companions in CJC. One of the students, Shirisha B Reddy, a second year student at Christ Junior College, celebrated her birthday in a foreign country for the first time, and the warmth and camaraderie of the CJC students made her birthday an unforgettable one. Ryan Lee (2T02) noted that despite the obvious cultural differences, both groups of teenagers shared the same interests in music, particularly mainstream pop and K-Pop.
Regardless of Race, Language or Religion Arriving in Singapore near the end of 2010, Indonesian scholar, Daniel Pranajaya (2T17), has many memories of living in a foreign land. “I was able to live independently away from home, giving me a taste of what freedom is like. It
ALL IN THE FAMILY New Additions to the CJC Family Ms Aster Goh I-Mei (English Department) was a particularly bittersweet experience but it really opened up my mind,” he related. So far, Daniel has enjoyed his experience in the college and feels very much at home. “Coming to CJC is one of the decisions that I’ll never regret making. A special thank you to my class, 2T17, for allowing me to redefine the meaning of friendship and camaraderie,” he beamed as he shared about the friendships forged among his classmates. CJC has also taken steps to cultivate bonds between the scholars from ASEAN, to understand each other’s cultural differences and create mutual understanding. For instance, there is a steamboat dinner for the ASEAN scholars each year so that they can bond over a meal. Daniel recalled that last year’s steamboat was a really good icebreaker, enabling him to “know more about other scholars who are studying in CJC.” It truly cemented his view of CJC as a “college that believes in truth and love”. He has also taken up a leadership role in his CCA, as part of the Fencing Executive Committee, showing that ability can transcend ethnic boundaries. “Being a leader teaches me how to make decisions decisively and also to care for those that I’m leading,” said Daniel. “The most precious friendships I have forged in CJC are, of course, with my home tutorial class, 2T17. They are a special bunch of people, who always brighten up my day and make me look forward to coming to school. I have also built up good relationships with the sailors that I met during my OBS Sailing trip to Batam and Bintan and the other fencers from CJC Fencing team,” said Daniel. He continues to cultivate many friendships in this new place he calls home.
How have you found the CJC experience so far? I like it a lot. I feel very suited to it, and after just a few weeks at CJC, I found myself telling other NIE friends who are teachers at other schools that it was in God’s plans that I was posted here.
What made you join the teaching fraternity in the first place? The two main reasons are to spread the love of Literature and to be a light for young people, especially for our students.
How do you think CJC will develop you as an educator in comparison to your previous teaching experience? My previous teaching experience was quite minimal because it was on a contract basis. I taught in secondary schools. Coming into a JC has increased the intellectual challenge, which I thrive on. The community has been very helpful in developing my pedagogical skills. Its values also align with my own philosophy in life.
What is your favourite quote and why? “The journey between who we once were and who we are becoming is where the dance of life takes place.” Based on my own experience, I know that we are never finished products and it is really that journey between who you once were and who you are continually becoming that makes life worth living.
CJC is celebrating its 40th anniversary NEXT YEAR, How do you feel about that? I feel proud to be part of this legacy, especially because of all the things that CJC upholds. I hope that it continues to better itself as an institution and as a community.
What does our college motto, “In Truth and Love” mean to you? It resonates with my life philosophy. “Truth” here refers to integrity. “Love” is about the purity of the heart. Everything that we do must come from the heart. If not, it will not bear any fruit.
Any final thoughts? I am really excited to begin my journey as a teacher, and I really thank God that my journey begins here in CJC. I hope that I can be here for a long, long time. 23
IN FOCUS Student Contributions 1
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1. Helix bridge (Abraham Low 2T16) 2. Wonder (Yip Feng 1T19) 3. Passion (Yip Feng 1T19) 4. Simple fun (Abraham Low 2T16) 5. Christ be the light (Abraham Low 2T16) 6. Freeze (Abraham Low 2T16) 7. Speeding across neon (Abraham Low 2T16) 8. Alfresco’s valentines (Abraham Low 2T16)
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129 Whitley Road Singapore 297822 Telephone: +65 62524083 Fax: +65 62537267 E-mail: catholic_jc@moe.edu.sg Website: www.cjc.edu.sg