OK. I'm back. Have not been blogging for the past few months... Too busy I guess... like a busy bee... buzzing here and there, everyday in school until 5/6 o'clock, even if I leave early, I'll be somewhere out there in Singapore, buying stuff for choir. Not that I'm complaining.. but now's the time for me to rest... BEFORE my exam papers come in.
So. The past few months have been eventful. First there was Sec 2 camp. Almost went crazy with all the planning, everything takes so long to get settled, and there were so many llooonnnggg meetings. The activity that I planned was too rushed for time, and we couldn't finish what we planed to do in the 2 hour slot. Then, for two afternoons, until 9 plus at night, we stayed back for the activities, and I had to stick to my class like glue, babysit them and follow them around everywhere. We even went to Snow City, where I was almost buried in snow by the students. My class
nearly went to NEWater plant, but I knew they'll be terribly bored there so I insisted that they should be brought to Snow City instead. Resulted in some changes in timetable. Actually also because I want to go Snow City too hehe... Those two days were physically and mentally draining. But above all, we had lots of fun, and the class spirit now is so much better than last year.
On top of all that, there were choir practices. Although there're supposedly three teachers to rotate around, I'm somehow still around for all the practices, either becuase the teacher on duty is on MC and the other teacher cannot take over, or I've things to tell the choir, or I've matters to discuss with the instructor, or I just felt that I had to be around to 'jaga' those kids. They can't seem to get themselves settled down without someone nagging at them. It was only nearer the competition that they were more motivated and disciplined.
The choir looked fantastic on stage that day. It made all the hard work well paid off. As one of my colleagues said, our girls 'make heads turn'. Aesthetics is about cultivating this passion for performing and the self-confidence in themselves. Quoting from another colleague, to develop an 'addiction to applause'. These cannot be taught explicitly, but learned through experience and development of their inner self.
The judges awarded us a Bronze. The students were disappointed. We went to BK after the announcement of results and they stuffed their stomachs with all the food they can. My colleagues gave varied responses. Some showed concern and comforted the students and me. Some gave very blunt responses like 'it's expected'. Even students from other aesthetics groups who knew about our results sent us messages of comfort. This brings me to wonder, why is it that a 14 year old student can tell me, 'it's ok, there's always two years later to try again', but a working adult can tell me' it's expected, at least one event down now'.
To me the medal is not important. It's performing arts we're in, not competition arts. When they stood on stage that day, it was already my mission accomplished. Seeing some of them from the 'can't be bothered' look to the 'enjoying the moment' look, and from the 'I can't make it' attitude to the 'let's go for it' attitude. Through the months of intensive practices and singing the same songs again and again, even during eating, sleeping and dreaming. They had gone so far from what they were. And they had this spirit in them that they never had a few months ago. The spirit of 'YES, I can do it'.
