Hey guys,

you would have noticed by now that our comps is just 6 weeks away. YES. 6 WEEKS. Just two weeks ago it was 8. Look how time flies. Like what Pete said, these 6 weeks will pass really fast, just like how 3 years and 3 months of our schooling life already has.

Of course, all of us had our beginnings. We weren't always this strong, always this fit. We started off just like how any average Sec 1 would have. We strived for a goal initially given to us but we pushed together and forged friendships along the way and by Sec 2, we made a pact that the goal would be ours. And it did.

That, was how many of the stories would have ended. For us, it almost did. Sec 3 posed as the most challenging year, where we had to maintain our bonds while striking a balance in our academic work. Sounds familiar? Well, for many of us, we did what we were called upon to do. But along the way, some fell out, while some, who weren't initially enthusiastic, got pulled in.



Having said all that, let us have a look at the present. Ask yourself, Am i contented with who i am now? If I could just rewind time, would things be better off now?

My answer to that, is NO. It wouldn't be.

I believe that everything happens for a reason. All you have to do, is find it.

Scoldings and cold shoulders i got from Jiao lian- what good came out of that?
For me, it brought me down to earth. It made me humble. I wasn't as great as i thought. Sometimes, success gets to your head and it raises you up high. Thankfully, i didn't go to high. His scoldings served as a reminder of the big room of improvement i had. Had i chosen to ignore them, i wouldn't be who i am now.

What about all the quarrels i had with my teammates?
They served as wake up calls. It made me realise that you can never be too good to learn from others, and never be too wise to listen. Everyone has their faults and strengths. So do I. That's the reason why we're put together. We make up for each other's faults. And if we choose to combine our strengths, we'll succeed. For example, you don't see me leading P.T. , coz i'll be blindly spamming push ups and pull ups without having a clue of how it would help. Instead, Fen Yit and Joel help out in this area and train us in a more effective way.

So guys, take every failure as a lesson. Experience is a tough teacher, it gives the tests first, then the lessons. Don't give up on yourself. Once you have, even the team can't help you.

In any case, Actions speak louder than words. Giving ourselves a chance is one thing. But what we do next really determines the outcome. It's just like a farmer planting his crops. Without the daily dose of water after the sowing of seeds, there would be no fruits. For most of us, we speak of the things we can do, or will do, but ultimately, it's whether we effect our words that really counts.

Similarly, we should lead by example when getting our juniors to do something. Don't expect them to be what you are not. In these remaining 6 weeks, i hope that we as seniors ( be it sec 2, 3 or 4) can really set an example for our juniors. As we all know, we have limited time during training. Since we can't make time, we'll just have to manage it. One way is to move faster and minimise time wastage so that we can do P.T. after rowing. As Seniors, we'll have to do it first before the rest can follow.

6 weeks left is all we have and lets make the best of it! Like what Fen Yit said, for many of us, it'll be our last chance to fight for our school and what we believe in. In any challenge, it's those who push through the last lap that emerge as winners. SJI Canoeists of year 2009, let us make history by giving our very best and fight without regrets!

ONWARDS SJI!!!!! ONWARDS!!!!!




ps- there's this new programme on chnnl 5 called "School Nationals" and they will feature every school nat finals, including canoeing! So smile for the cam before passing the finishing line ;D