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Autobiography -
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BA_COMMunications
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I went back to Ngee Ann Poly today to clear my pigeon hole, and boy was I overwhelmed with nostalgia. I saw many freshies-to-be happily lugging their newly purchased laptops all around the campus, examining displays and signages to find their way around. This sure brings back tons of memories during Matriculation 3 years back.
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Talking about "3 years back", I've experienced a great deal throughout my course of study. It wasn't all smooth sailing, as the journey was filled with all sorts of extremities. From exhilarating moments to downright depressing realisations, I think there are enough on the menu for you to choose from. I believe many of my counterparts would share the same sentiments.
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Therefore I shall begin to pen an online version of my autobiography. I will share with you various aspects of my poly life, like my academics, friends, and of course my non-academic activites. I shall begin with BA_COMMunications. What's that you ask? Read on.

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I could remember the joy and excitement I felt when my advisor told me that the management wanted us to do a short skit for an award ceremony. It was so funny how something so small really brought so much happiness to me. The skit centered around the theme "Dreams do come true". We practiced so much, over at Judette's home and in the classrooms of block 72. Eating down-to-earth food like beehoon and fishballs with them never felt tastier as I experienced an all new bond in creation.

Together with Erika and Glenn (yes Glenn Choo my classmate), we did a weirdly interesting play about Prince Charming (Clarence) and the maid (Catherine), and Alex was a good friend. Erika was the narratorish person and Glenn was the priest who ordained the union of the Prince and his maid. The performance ended with Jude and me doing a horrible (my part) rendition of "At the Beginning" by Donna Lewis and Richard Marx. Trust me when I say that it was horrible. I tripped over wires, sang the wrong lyrics (repeatedly) and sang badly on the whole. Urrgh. Nevertheless, I thought we managed to convey the message "You must dare to dream for dreams to come true" to the audience in a very simplistic and heartfelt manner.

Chapter 3 - First Chalet

We went Pasir Ris for a little gathering. Most of us got real drunk and we had to walk out to buy more alcohol. Even though there were so few of us, I really enjoyed myself doing all the silly stuff together. Listening to them spout nonsensical phrases in drunken stupor for the first time was such an experience. If I didn't say so then, the chalet gathering truly started giving me the sense of belonging I'd never ever felt elsewhere. It was also after this chalet that I told myself I'd try my best to add value to these people who I'd love to call family one day.

Chapter 4 - First Intake

Within the first few months, we managed to involve many of our friends in this endeavour. From a mere 6 we grew to 20 in a very short time and I could remember all of us getting all excited about getting bigger. Allow me to list these people.

ContactList_281105.xls (In alphabetical order)

01. Chian Yuchern
02. Choo Joon Wei Glenn
03. Clarence Foo Yun Hao
04. Goh Kaixin
05. Kang Ping Song Marvin (yes that's my dialect name!)
06. Khoo Evern
07. Lee Jin Feng (Catherine)
08. Leong Mi Juan
09. Lim Shu Li Evelyn
10. Lim Yan Sheng, Melvin
11. Loo Meiho
12. Low Qiu En (Jennifer)
13. Neo Kin Mei (Erika)
14. Poh Xue Er Cheryl
15. Soh Lay Peng Natasha
16. Tai Zhi Han (Alex)
17. Teo Hui Ying
18. Teo Li Lan Judette
19. Teo Yifang
20. Toh Siew Yee Jane

The names in red belong to those who have for one reason or another drifted away from the interest group. Some wanted to focus on school work, some preferred other CCAs, while others simply joined for no apparent reason in the first place. A few probably felt it was a mistake for them to have joined BA_COMM in retrospect. It doesn't take alot to sense some bitterness in me, but that's for another post in the near future.

Chapter 5 - First COMM Camp

After the initial list of 20, Melvin, David, Gabriel, Shawn, Iwan amongst others joined us. To help bond everyone together, we did a camp for the 20+ of us. Mind you, this was no ordinary camp. It was the first of its kind, and by COMM Camp we mean Communications, like duh. Apart from camp staples like dirty games, treasure hunts and discussions, we had the unique element of BA_COMM within, which means all participants got a chance to act, sing and talk in the camp.

We acted like idiots, literally. Shawn Seet crossed genders to play a very alternative Snow White and the girls were pigs rolling in the mud. We played mind games like nobody's business.
And, we also had our first play as the finale in this camp titled "Campus Idol".

I must admit that the camp was the smallest one I've done. It was for less than 30 people, of which more than 5 were in the planning committee. While it may sound quite hilarious, it was one of the best camps I've ever went for. The feeling of going through a camp both as a participant and as an organizer was weird but fun. I guess the biggest joy came from seeing everyone so much closer thereafter. I would always remember how we labelled Clarence as our "Dust Indicator". He has quite a sensitive nose so if he were to go into the dorms and start sneezing very soon, the room would be deemed very dusty.
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We played games like murderer for so long even after the camp has supposedly ended. I didn't want to go home. I didn't want to leave them. Neither did many others. I suppose that was truly the love we started to have for one another.





- Marvin