Friends I : Cheng Yew Song

in no particular order, i have decided to post a series on my friends. Those worth posting up and deserving a short write up. OF COURSE, this is limited by my memory so those who aren’t, don’t feel bad. (it’s just that you didn’t make a substantial impact in my life that made me remember you! )

Anyway, Cheng Yew Song is a fellow i met at Victoria School. He was in my Secondary 1 class, 1I. The supposedly best class. (we weren’t actually streamed then) We weren’t particularly close in sec1, i was too nerdy, and busy. i had French classes at MOELC every Wednesday and Friday, and Cross-Country training every Tues, Thurs and Sunday. My only free day was Monday and then, my mum picked me up from school to go home. (was pretty much a mama’ boy i have to admit)

At end of sec 2, we were reunited by God’s hand at work. We both signed up for the famed Leadership Training Camp, commonly known in VS as LTC – The shiong camp. Basically it was a camp that tested both our physical, mental, and relational aptitude a lot. We were put through various outdoor activites which were commonly used for the sec1 and sec3 orientation camps. The purpose of this camp is to groom “Camp Instructors” who will help to conduct these 2 camps for Victoria School at the start of the year. The people conducting this LTC are known as LTC Instructors. After LTC, we trainees will be “promoted” to “Camp Instructors” and they will become “Camp Leaders”. The difference is that “Camp Instructors” have a distinct red tshirt and “Camp Leaders” have their distinct black tshirt. Every Victorian knows from far, once they see the tshirt, that, hey, this dude is a “Camp Instructor/Leader”. I must say there was a certain level of prestige to be able to last the camp, and emerge strong.

In preparation, i can remember Yewsong called me or the other way as he had experience in such camping stuff. U know, as a xcountry runner, i knew nuts about first aid, knots, mess tins, cooking, etc. Yewsong on the other hand was in NPCC, and VS was big on developing leadership in their students right from sec1 through to sec 4, and much of it was manifested through the uniformed groups.

Anyhow, I remembered that call vividly as he was especially nice and i knew that he never forgotten me since sec1. i was touched and knew this friendship was to be leading somewhere.

We became “Camp Instructors”. Both of us were chosen to be in the same “Category”. We were in charge of “Climbing” if thats what they call it – consisting of both the “high tower” and the “high elements”. Basically we had to be proficient at belaying, knots, karabinas, and stuff, so that when that is done for the sec 3’s in the orientation camp at Jalan Bahtera, they don’t fall and die. It was pretty intimidating i thought.

Nonetheless, i did “well” in the sec 3 orientation camp, and was offered by the Head and Vice Head prefect to join the Prefectorial Board. 4 of us were selected out of the new 48 Camp Instructors. Apparently, its not really cos we are the best among them, it just so happens we were the best 4 who are in the top 3 classes. I was elated, got into prefects, made a speech on that day, (which Yewsong told me at our USA trip as the best among the 4), and Yewsong was a fellow Camp Instructor.

Our friendship blossomed especially in sec3, when we were involved in numerous camps we had to conduct for other primary and secondary schools. It was fun. We were in the “Climbing” section, so we always worked together. Mind you, those other schools just wrote to VS, and requested the help of the “Camp Instructors” and off we went. We were entrusted with the important tasks of belaying, and helping out a professional climber with those “high tower” stuff – like rock climbing, abseiling, and flying fox. We received numberous praises from those pro climbers who were paid for by the primary or secondary school. We were “employed” for free..

Anyhow, we didn’t really keep in touch in JC. Until JC 2. when i think i sms-ed him, and asked if he wanted to go on a holiday in Dec after our a levels. till now i havent kept in touch with him for close to 2 years.

anyway, off we did, to USA. First at New York City (manhattan) for 5 days, and then a 4hr bus trip to Boston where my brother was working, for about 10 + days, and then finally to Chicago for the rest of the trip.

It was fun.

Now, i am lucky to get a medical place at Monash. He couldn’t. But now he’ll head on to Uni of London for a 3-year Biomedical science course. It holds excelllent promise because if he does really well in first year, then he can transfer directly to their MBBS course at London. How cool is that. I really do pray he will work hard, adjust well to life in UK, and achieve what he set out to. and in future, we’ll be colleagues.

Here are some pictures:

Myself, my bro Kahshin, and Yewsong on the ski lift up some mountain.

Yewsong and I at Chicago. We made this snowman! From our bare hands.