A Letter to the NUSHS Graduating Class of 2018

Dear Class of 2018,

I believe that this word has been thrown a lot in the last 2 days, but congratulations. Congratulations, as I have told some of you, cannot do justice and cannot accurately summarize the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears you guys have shed over the last 6 years, but it is the least I can wish for all of you as your senior. 

A graduate from the Class of 2016 mentioned that one is normally closest to the batch above and below them. I was not very close to the Class of 2016, but I tried (and I hope I succeeded) to get close to the Class of 2018. I have had the honour of working for y'all in many ways, such as my (unsuccessful) Student Council Application and SEP Inbound from Ritsumeikan, through Math Interest Group, MUNs and SDYC (yes I wasn't in OT, I know, but still loved interacting with you guys), Japanese Class, Drama Club, SEP to John Monash, and as a Boarding Leader just last year. Your batch has struck me to be one that is very hardworking, driven, intelligent, but not forgetting passionate and big-hearted.

Your batch has also provided me with some close friends, who our relationships go beyond senior-junior and became a friendship. These friendships are even closer to some friendships that I have in my own batch. If I were to name all of you and thank you individually, this post would be too long, and I'll risk forgetting some of you. That is why I wrote cards to y'all. You know who you are, and thank you.

Allow me to share a few thoughts to you guys, as a senior, and as a friend.

All of you will soon be feeling the withdrawal of school soon, slowly, but surely. I hope most of you will soon be working on your university applications. Many of you will soon take on a higher honour of wearing a different set of uniform, be it for the SAF, SCDF, or SPF. The girls will soon be starting on the next chapter of their studies in university. The transition may be tough, as these may be unchartered waters for all of you. But I would like to remind y'all to tell yourself this, remember the nights you spent mugging for Bio, planning for an event, dealing with a poor test score, or just feeling down. You thought you couldn't make it, but you did. Remember that you are capable of more than you imagine, just put your heart and determination to pursue what you wish.

When you step out of NUSHS and pursue whatever comes next, the onus is now on you to show the world what is the NUS High Spirit. But wait, what exactly is the NUS High Spirit? Honestly, even after 6 years in the school and 1 year as an alumni, I still cannot answer this question. The NUS High Spirit cannot be verbalized, but rather it shows through our actions and interactions. It is true that we are very different from other schools, but don't let that inhibit who you are. Let yourself shine through, don't be afraid to stand out.

However, while you are eager to show the world what NUS High has taught you, you will be surprised at how much NUS High has NOT taught you. Remain humble and remember to make friends to enlarge your social circle, you never know who can help you in your time of need. In particular, for those going to NS, do not look down on those who may not have gone through IP or JC. These guys can teach you something many others don't have, fierce loyalty and street-smartness. In my unit, I am the only NSF who is a JC grad. However, I always look up to my comrades who are from Poly and ITE, because they have the ability to get the job done with speed and efficiency. That is why we should open up to people of different background and learn from each other. It'll also give us a taste of what the real world is like.

When times get tough, remember what our school song stood for. I know many of you barely sing the school song during morning assembly, but after I graduated, I came to know that the school song is a rallying anthem for us to continue to do our best and strive for excellence. Let faith, hope, and foresight charter you through the darkest of hours and stormiest of seas. So arise young minds together, for the seeds have just been planted. May you continue to fly the school flag high, and scale greater heights in one big stride. 

For NUS High We Fight.

As you all go your separate ways as we seniors have and continue to soar, may we continue to remember our roots at where it all began. Remember to come back to visit your teachers and thank them for all their guidance and support. Remember to also pay-it-forward to the school by helping your juniors, be it with their studies, school life, or uni applications. We will all soon represent different organizations and schools, but may we all keep NUS High deep in our hearts.

To end off, I would like to use the school mottos from 2 other JCs. Having come from the MUN circuit, I know that these 2 JCs may "trigger" some, but it is important to grow WISER with Humility and learn from others. The mottos are from RI, Auspicium Melioris Aevi (Hope for a Better Future) and The Best is Yet to Be from ACS. Even though many of you are sad that one chapter in your life is closing, remember that another chapter is just beginning. Continue to work hard to give a better future to yourselves, your friends, your family, and the society around you. And during unfavourable times, remember that good days will come if we work towards them, for the best is yet to be.

But most importantly, above all, may you all continue to Experiment, Explore, and Excel.

Happy graduation.