One Family Unbroken

Today was the farewell assembly in my school. As I sat in the cultural centre with my classmates, the reality finally really dawned on me. I’m graduating soon, A-level is in 20 something days, and we’ll be parting ways soon. As I said hello in passing to one of my HC friends along the corridor this afternoon, I realized that would be one of the last chances that I have to do the same thing. Those familiar faces will soon be replaced with strangers again. As one of my OGL friends surprised/scared me (it’s his form of greeting to me -.-) this afternoon, I realized that too might be one of the last few if not the last time I get to experience that unique acknowledgement. This all feels too surreal. The last of everything in JC is happening very very soon.  

Pins that more or less summarize my SAJC journey

It only felt like a few months ago I first stepped in as an unsuspecting JC1 student, weary of what the JC would give. Giving out the silver stickman pin to my OG kids, welcoming them to the Saints family felt even more recent than that. And yet today, I was sitting in the CC attending the farewell assembly. How could time fly so fast?

Of course as there are starts we will also meet endings. With no ending, there won’t be new beginnings. It’s as simple as that but letting go of something that you hold dear in your heart will never be easy.

SAJC has a very special place in my heart. The first time I stepped into the college was the first time in forever (read: since I came to Singapore) that I felt so much like at home. The sight that welcomed me to school was the writing at the top of the water feature saying “No one is here by chance” and I could not agree more. I believe the fact that I put SAJC as my second choice instead of TJC was of God’s guidance and not because of any coincidence. Now, I can’t imagine having myself clad in other college’s uniform or even living my life there. Then, when orientation started, I fell in love deeper with the college. The college spirit was so high! Everyone sang the college song and other college related songs so loudly.  Then, when the line “One family unbroken, we join with one acclaim. One heart, one voice uplifting to glorify Thy name” everyone literally sang his or her hearts out. That time, I really felt that I have made the best decision in my life because I have found for myself a new family and won experiences that I will never get anywhere else in the world. 

When I came to school today, I thought that I would not cry. I mean, today wouldn’t be the last day I’m going to school, meeting my friends and eating in the canteen. But I proved myself wrong. I cried when the video from the bio teachers first played, I cried when a band of teachers across the departments started to sing “See You Again”, I cried again when Ms Neo was reading her tribute for Mrs Lee, our dearest principal, who is leaving our college next year due to MOE rotation, then I cried again when we have to sing the college song. I suddenly became aware that this morning was the last time I get to sing the song with the whole cohort, again with vigour almost as much as during orientation. Then the phrase “One family unbroken” from the college hymn got me right in the feels. It is true that we will part ways soon, but deep inside we are still one family.

There are a lot of episodes these past two years that I want to remember till I’m all old and wrinkled but they are just too many to mention here. The point is that SA has become a huge part of my life despite the fact that I only get to experience the St. Andrew’s spirit for 2 years. Just as one of our discipline masters mentioned in her speech today, “His love endures forever” and that is enough reason we do not need to worry for the days to come. Even if this parting is hard, God will guide and strengthen us along the way with the thoughts in the back of our mind that we are still one family unbroken.