Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
The top students of 2011 are as follows: Han Swee Yee (12/10) is the Top Science and Top Chinese Student, with a whopping 8 distinctions. Chan Jian Da (33/10) who attained 6 distinctions is the Top Arts Student. Anisha d/o Premchand Primalanimohamed (27/10) is the Top Indian Student with 6 distinctions. Muhammad Fariduddin B Mohamed (27/10) who scored 5 distinctions is the Top Malay Student. LinkAJ would also like to congratulate the many CCA leaders of the 2010/2011 cohort on their stellar performance and ability to handle both their academics and CCA commitments well. We wish the 2011 batch of seniors success in their future endeavours!
Academic Excellence
Time is of Essence
Student councilors Sherry Lee (23/10), Toh Chin Foong (29/10) and Eunice Chua (01/10) shared with us some of their tips on achieving As in the recent A level examinations. They stressed that time management is very important, and are grateful for the help and support they had from teachers and peers. Q: Did you study many hours a day? S: I studied so hard that I mostly only got 3 hours of sleep a day nearing the preliminary exams. We really had to take time out to study and do things that were necessary like completing our homework. Most importantly, dont sleep in lectures! E: Sherry is right, we needed self-discipline to make sure our priorities are sorted out and had to sacrifice a lot of leisure time, but it was worth it. Q: Did you listen to any music while studying? CF: I like listening to classical music; it really gets me in the mood to study. S: I always blast loud music while studying so that I wont be distracted by the environment around me. E: Im the complete opposite (of Sherry). I always study in complete silence so I dont get distracted. (laughs) Q: How about food? Any specific snack you much on while mugging? CF: Almonds. S: Almonds? Thats so weird! (laughs) I drank a lot of water. E: I kept eating junk food, but yet I didnt put on any weight! Must be the stress. Q: Is there a favourite place to study for the As? CF: The library. S &E: Yeah! Woodlands library. CF: I was referring to AJs library S & E: We would always go to Woodlands Regional Library to study. It is always crowded, so since it opens at 10am we would queue at 9.45am to get seats! See, timing is very important. Q: So what are your plans for the future? CF: Most probably Business in NUS. E: Accountancy in NUS. S: I want to do Dentistry. Sherry, Chin Foong and Eunice scored distinctions in all their 4 H2 subjects.
It wasnt easy for Soccer captain Nguyen Thai Duong (28/10) to balance the demands of his CCA and studies, but he managed to emerge as one of the top scorers in the recent A Level exams, with distinctions for 3 H2 subjects Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics - and GP. Though Duong admitted to some cramming he claimed he did it in a smart way, tackling his weaker subjects first before revising his stronger ones. He encourages juniors to strike a balance between CCAs and studies, committing their time and effort to their CCAs, yet not forgetting to focus on their studies as well, and to persevere no matter how heavy the workload. Duong is grateful for the holistic education from AJ, which has given him the opportunity to both study and play, and also the chance to forge strong bonds with his close friends. He aspires to be involved in the field of Aerospace, which he has been fascinated with from a young age. Studying is just one part of school life, said Duong, reminding us that hard work and play are important aspects in the two years of JC education.
When asked for one word to describe his feelings after receiving his A Level results, Top Arts Student Chan Jian Da (33/10) paused for a moment. Awesome! he grinned from ear to ear. With the outstanding result of six distinctions, Jian Da said that he was most pleasantly surprised by his Mathematics grade, because he had struggled with the subject for two years. His advice for his juniors is to work consistently and never give up, because you reap what you sow. He also said that during his revision, he would often listen to songs by famous singer Adele, and that his favourite was Rolling In The Deep. In the future, Jian Da plans to pursue a law career, and after serving his National Service, he intends to obtain a Liberal Arts and Law double-degree at the National University of Singapore.
Academic Excellence
Those who have struggled with the demanding JC curriculum can now take heart the same guy who scored a whooping 5 distinctions and is the ex-captain of Wushu barely scraped through his J1 year. Initially, Shaun Seah (18/10) found it hard to adapt to the demands of PW and CCA. In his JC2 year, however, Shaun was committed to his studies. There was an air of quiet pride about him when he went on to reveal that he topped his class in the mid-year tests and preliminary exams. Success, of course, did not come easy. Shaun believes that his focus set him apart from the rest. He set goals for himself both in studies and CCA, and worked to achieve them. He is a very independent learner. Not surprisingly, he is a self-taught guitarist. Shaun does not believe in staying up late or sacrificing recreational activities. He also believes in maximising his learning experiences, such as participating in Paradigma and International Service Learning. Shaun plans to get into NUS Medicine through early admission.
Anisha d/o Premchand Primalanimohamed (27/10), our Top Indian Student of 2011, scored an incredible 7 distinctions - to her very own surprise! She believes in a holistic education and quality studying rather than quantity studying. Her journey to success is an inspiration to us all as she shows that one can work hard and play hard as well. This mindset is evident when she advised her juniors to study hard, take part in school activities and have fun! When asked whats next after Junior College, she shrieked happily, I am going to University!
When he knew that he scored 5 distinctions, Muhd Fariduddin Mohamed (27/10) was so overcome with joy that when LinkAJ first approached him, all he could say was, Im very happy, Im very happy Although Fariduddin claimed that he had always been a mediocre student, his classmates disagreed. Instead, they pointed out his competitive streak and his ability to juggle studies and CCA well. Fariduddin had previously swept awards in the group category of AJ Idol. When asked what was one little thing in his daily routine that made a big difference, he said he prayed everyday which relieved stress and made him more fired up to study. Fariduddin has always drawn his strength from his strong drive to succeed. Fariduddin is still exploring the university courses he wants to enroll in and hopes to win a scholarship for his tertiary studies.
Han Swee Yee (12/10) made history as the colleges Top Science and Top Chinese Student with 8 Distinctions and a rank point of 90. How did feel when it was announced you topped the A Level this year? I was really happy, elated; I didnt expect anything like this to happen. Whats your secret to success? I believe in consistent hard work. You really have to know what youre doing well and be thorough. Any gaps in understanding will be difficult to fix later on. How has your family helped or motivated you? My family members always were very supportive of me. Whenever Im in the study, they made sure no noise reached me. What did you do in your free time? Pretty much everything others use, I like to Facebook, surf on 9GAG and waste time on the Internet! What do you want to be when you grow up? A transport engineer, I want to help improve Singapores transport network. Do you have any advice to your juniors? Be clear in your revision goals and make sure you do all tutorials. Get your fundamentals right before moving on to the advanced stages.
Student Achievements
AJChess
Date 11 Feb 2012 3 Mar 2012 3 Mar 2012 12 Mar 2012 13 and 15 Mar 2012
Here are the AJChess Club 2012 Competition results: Game/Competition 1st SMU Transfer Chess Tournament 2012 Team Award/Position 1st placing (International Chess) Aaron Tan Kwang Yang (34/12), Daniel Seah Rui (03/12) Benjamin Loo (09/11) Dexter Lau and Richard Goh (25/11), Wang Riwu and Goh Meiling (24/11), Zheng Zhicheng (06/11) Dexter Lau and Richard Goh (25/11), Wang Riwu (24/11), Xi Qixiang (03/11) and Zheng Zhicheng (06/11) Goh Meiling (24/11) Chinese Chess (Boys and Girls): Wang Riwu (24/11) in 3rd position, Liu Yin Zhi (08/12) in 5th position. International Chess (Boys and Girls): Benjamin Loo (09/11) in 3rd position, Caleb Yeo (18/11) in 5th position, Jocelyn Cheong (30/11) in 6th position. Aaron Tan (26/11) in 8th position and Adeline Lo (30/11) in 10th position (Girls Category): Jocelyn Cheong, first placing, Adeline Lo in 2nd placing Dexter Lau (25/11), Liu Yin Zhi (08/12), Wang Riwu (24/11) and Zheng Zhicheng (06/11)
Northland Primary School 1st placing Individual Rapid Tournament (Intl Chess) 3rd Pioneer Junior College Challenge 2012 Team 2nd placing (Chinese) 2nd placing (Chinese)
6th Hwa Chong Cup Chess Team and Bridge Championship 17th Char Yong Cup Students Xiangqi Championships
18 April 2012
Individual
18 April 2012
Team
2nd placing
SDMA
The following students participated in the Schools Digital Media Awards (jointly organized by MOE & Ngee Ann Polytechnic) on March 22nd, and achieved a Merit Award.
(From left to right):
Angelica Ng Poh Ying (09/11), Shirley Goh Hseuh Li (09/11), Jonathan Sam Weiyi (08/11), Pang BiaoJin (24/11), Seah Yan Ling (33/12) Congratulations!
College Updates
People Developer
NZ GP Symposium
Held on January 18th, the North Zone GP Symposium is an initiative by the four North Zone JCs to share best practices in the teaching of GP. It aims to provide a platform for the professional development of GP teachers form the North Zone JCs and enhance collaboration amongst the community of practitioners. The Guest of Honour was Deputy Director, English Language and Literature, Curriculum Planning & Development Division, Mr Ang Pow Chew and the event was attended by 80 GP tutors.
People Developer
Seek.Sprint.Strike.
The Post-Promo Character Developmen t Programme (CDP) 2011 at East Coast Park was held on November 17th and 18th with the theme Seek.Spring.Strike. The theme draws a parallel between the hunting process of big cats and AJCians pursuing goals and achieving success as a class. Objectives of the CDP: Build relationships through fun and play Reflect on challenges through an unusual and memorable experience To understand and align learning with school values and character building
The festival mood was very palpable despite the absence of the J1 cohort. The Chinese New Year Celebrations on January 20th this year were laden with extraordinaire acts. Our lion dancers pranced to the beats of the drums while CLDDS gave us an attention-grabbing performance. Im really impressed by the well-drilled paces of the wushu performance, said Daniel Stephen (10/11). Rejuvenation (performed by our Modern Dance girls), left us awe-struck, added Zainab Yasin (15/11). She was also mesmerized by the Chinese Orchestras wonderful melodies. This year, we were also privileged to have senior citizens from the Lions Befrienders join us in commemorating the New Year, thanks to the AJC Interact Clubs initiative. Our Principal, Mr Lee Seng Hai, had a pleasant surprise too when the audience voted him for Best Dressed Prize. He said he was really happy since it was his first college event and he wished everyone prosperity and good fortune this Dragon Year. Gong Xi Fa Cai, everyone!
An Assembly of Goodbyes
The JC2 Farewell Assembly, held on October 14th, was not too melancholy an occasion, but was one filled with happy good-byes and remembrances of better times. The event was graced by none-other Ms Ng Pui San, an ex-AJCian who was also an ex-Economics tutor in AJC. She shared with students her experiences in AJC and those gained from work, and proclaiming her proud roots in AJC. Another highlight of the assembly was the Korean-pop dance videos made by the Mathematics and Science subject tutors for the JC2 students. It was indeed a sight to behold their favourite teachers dancing to the catchy tunes!
The event started off with a bright burst of yellow as Open House Facilitators, all brightly clad in matching yellow t-shirts bustled around school placing final touches and ensuring everything was ready for the visitors to come. AJC saw 2800 visitors this year. Many parents were very pleased by the charismatic Open House Facilitators who showed them around the school and took them to see the various CCAs booths. When asked about why they chose to visit our college, Nowell Nga and her friends from Paya Lebar Methodist Girls School said, The people here are very personable and I like the school culture. Mr Barry Wan, who had come with his wife and daughter, commented, The students presented themselves well and the facilities are good. Finally, Mr Ong who had also come with his daughter said, I am very impressed by the A Level results of this school and also by the Science faculty here. With most parents and secondary four students impressed by our school, Open House 2012 definitely ended on a high note.
Orientation 2012
Welcome JC1s! Look at your excited smiles and joyful faces during Orientation 2012 (Feb 6th 8th)!
The finals for AGNI 2012, the biennial event organized by our Tamil Literary, Drama and Debating Society (TLDDS) held on February 25th, saw participants from 16 junior colleges vying for awards for the following categories: Singing, Dance, Impersonation and Oratorical. Tampines JC emerged the winner but our very own AJCians stole the show as they wowed the 500-strong audience with various upbeat dance and intriguing drama performances.
AGNI 2012
Held on March 26th, the annual Festival of Life saw a flurry of activities and workshops such as graffiti art, juggling, vase decorating, drumming and necklace making. It was a day of learning, catered to our interests in a wide range of aesthetic activities. The JC1s thoroughly enjoyed themselves!
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Synergy
Synergy
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Student Opportunities
SIMUN 2012
From March 15th 17th, Lyce Franais de Singapour (the French School of Singapore) played host to the 8th annual Singapore International Model United Nations (SIMUN) Conference.
18 of our AJCians were a part of this intellectual gathering of students from junior colleges and international schools. Two of our students represented AJC in the student-led organizing committee. Diamanta Vania Lavi (33/11) was Co-Chairperson of the Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) and Bhat Swathi Damodara (27/11) was the Secretary General of SIMUN 2012.
The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) 2011 was held from November 15th 19th 2011. 14 AJCians participated, forming two delegates, one representing Sierra Leone and the other Cameroon. Training sessions were held in school, but nothing could prepare us for the engagement and excitement during the actual conference held at the Student Activities and Leadership Training (SALT) Centre at Hwa Chong Institution. We were put through our paces learning to handle the lobbying process, as well as the format of debate (terms like Point of Information were mandatory). It was a revelation watching how resolutions got approved and how the international delegates handled questions. The Dinner and Dance added a cultural dimension to the conference. We made new friends from different nationalities and backgrounds and Facebook makes it easier to maintain that bond until even today! We encourage anyone who is interested to participate in THIMUN, to be part of a conference that genuinely cares about global concerns through listening to the voice of the youth.
Choir Jubilate V
25 AJ Choir members attended the Choir Jubilate V - Festival of Choirs held in Shah Alam, Malaysia from November 27th 30th, 2011. The festival comprises a few masterclass choral workshops with 3 internationally renowned choral clinicians and choral assessments by our very own Artistic Director, Nelson and the Clinicians. There was also a Friendship Concert and an SYF Presentation Concert by the participating choirs.
Over 80 students from the St. Michaels High School visited AJC on their annual exchange programme on January 12th. They were accompanied by 4 teachers and a Vice Principal. AJCians involved during their visit included those from Wushu, AJChoir, Volleyball, Badminton, Table Tennis, the Student Councilors and the Photographic Society. The Japanese students we interacted with were good-natured and had a tremendous appreciation for the arts. They were grateful to us for our hospitality towards them and commented that Singapore was a nice place to be. Here are a few common phrases that they taught us:
Social Conscience
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Nothing is Impossible
In February 2012, 19 Interact Club members and teachers made a trip to Malacca, Malaysia, for community service. The trip turned out to be a real eye-opener. At the Happiness Centre for the Mentally Disabled Children, the sight of bed-ridden patients rendered us helpless and uncertain as to how to interact with them. It dawned on us that sometimes community work is not about the manual activities, but about bringing the simple human touch to console those in need. Visits to the Mentally Disabled Children Centre Melaka and The Salvation Army Melaka Hopehaven also left heart-warming memories. The childrens determination in learning skills to support themselves earned our admiration. As we were constantly showered by friendly handshakes, hugs and happy, innocent smiles, we felt that what we gained was more than what we gave, because the children had brought hope that nothing is impossible.
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National Education
LIVE ON AIR!
On January 27th, AJC hosted the show Campus 938LIVE, organised by Mediacorp. Around 60 JC2 students participated in the live radio show which was centred on the topic: Are Singapores youths more politically-aware today? How will they shape the future of Singapore politics? Two of the five panelists for the show were from AJC: Sharanya Pillai (29/11) was the student representative from the college, while Mr Leon Choo, a General Paper teacher from the English Department, was the teacher representative. The other panelists, brought in by Mediacorp, were Mr PN Balji, Political Analyst and Media Consultant, Mr Soh Yi Da, President of the National University of Singapore Students Political Association, and Mr Wilson Foo, a member of the Workers Party Youth Wing Executive Committee. Each of the panelists shared their opinions on the topic first, followed by questions from the audience. Many students raised pertinent questions which reflected the growing awareness of and interest in the political scene among our youth. The panelists answered the questions and shared their own experiences and sentiments with the students freely. This open atmosphere led to more informal discussions with the panelists even after the session had ended!
By Audrey Tay Hui Yi (PDG 24/11) and Tay Renjie (PDG 22/11)
National Education
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This year, the college sent the whole JC1 cohort on a Learning Journey (LJ) to one of two places offered by MINDEF: the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) and the Specialist Cadet School (SCS). Organised by the National Education Committee, these LJs gave the boys a glimpse of what to expect of National Service (NS) and the girls awareness of what NS is. Over two Wednesdays, all JC1s had a close up look at physical training, accommodation, food, and even had a go at some of the weapons. They were taken around by guides, who were themselves officers, for the duration of the whole visit. Overall, the students found the visits beneficial and an eye-opener on the little joys and sacrifices that need to be made when one serves the nation.
Budget Day 2012 was a refreshing experience for us. Being there personally at the Parliament House, listening to the presentation, was really a far cry compared to listening to it on the news or reading through the press! By enhancing our knowledge on how Parliament operates, Budget Day 2012 has engaged us in understanding the rationale behind some decisions and policies. We would like to thank the teacher i/c, Ms Maggie Quek, as well as AJC for giving us this wonderful opportunity.
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Science Excellence
On March 14th and 15th, 2 teams from AJC battled in an intense competition cum science fair at the Singapore Science and Engineering Fair (SSEF) against teams from top schools such as Raffles Institution and Hwa Chong Institution.
SSEF 2012
From left to right: Gomez Hannah Guia Santos (30/11), Gabriel Thorai Ravindran (10/11), Samantha Tan Yan Lin (19/11), Cheng Dao Han (12/11) and Tay Ming En (25/11).
The members of the teams were Tay Ming En (25/11), Low Hao Jie (21/11), Tan Wei Heng Benjamin (03/11), Barry Tee Wei Cong (23/11, The Su Zin (27/11) and Phyo Shyo Yee Win (26/11). Both teams showed excellent resilience and teamwork under pressure throughout the event. Despite not being winning any awards, the enriching experience in itself is a valuable lesson learnt.
The Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) Student Outreach Programme consists of a 2 -day workshop conducted during curriculum time in the Outreach laboratory at Proteos, Biopolis. Each week, a different group of students attend the workshop for the duration of the programme. The workshops provide students the opportunity to carry out experiments in a research laboratory, attend talks, be exposed to discussions on topical issues as well as present their experimental results. Through this experience, students will have a glimpse of life as a scientist and be encouraged to pursue future careers in the Life Sciences. This year, the workshops are focused on zebrafish developmental biology. Developmental biology is currently an important research area with implications in cancer, congenital syndromes and other applications, and the zebrafish is a popular animal model for developmental studies.
Science Excellence
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H2Olympics 2012
On March 23rd, 4 teams from AJC squared off against other teams from Dunman High, Saint Andrews Junior College and Hwa Chong Institute in the inaugural H2Olympics 2012 hosted by Dunman High and supported the Public Utilities Board (PUB). This competition took everyone across Singapore as participants learnt about the Active, Beautiful Clean waters (ABC Waters) Programme while being challenged physically by travelling long distances in short time frames. Despite these obstacles, 2 AJC teams have claimed the 1st and 3rd positions! These 2 teams were representatives from Project Eureka, consisting of 13 JC1s and 5 JC2s. Well done Eurekans and fellow AJCians who have participated in the event!
Can metamaterials bend light backwards? Is it possible to engineer a lightsaber. Are these just pure fantasy? I used to think so. However, this 5-week research attachment in 2011 (November 14th December 15th) made me rethink everything I knew about science. I not only learnt a lot on nonlinear optics, in the process I also learnt that science is not a realm exclusive to geniuses. My project is on the solutions where I simulations on the important takeaway a scientist. self-focusing of gaussian beam in conducted mathematical and beam propagation. I feel that from this program is the feel of dielectric graphical the most becoming
REAP at TLL
I had the privilege of participating in the REsearch Attachment Programme (REAP) sponsored by Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL). During the 8-week attachment (November 14th 2011 January 6th 2011), I was exposed to new experimental techniques and new scientific developments, which I had never imagined possible. After every single day spent in the lab, I went home looking forward to the next session. The programme made me realise that what I learn in school is just a very much simplified version of the whole process, and I feel the need to want to learn more. I am really thankful for this experience, as it has given me a clearer sense of the path I want to pursue in the future: it is certainly not even and easy all the time, disappointment and uncertainty are sure to come, but the whole process of learning and uncovering is, in itself, a reward.
I could remember the spirit of perseverance and the commitment in completing the project quite vividly. There were a multitude of challenges, from cracking the literally mind blowing helmholtz equation (which took me 1 week) to ensure the computer simulation tallied with the physical experiment done by my teammate. What Einstein said is so true: a person who never made a mistake, never tried something new. Even though I made many mistakes in the research process, I certainly did not make any mistake in taking up the challenge of science research.
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Global Outreach
7th 20th August 2011 14 students, accompanied by two teachers from Anderson Junior College, attended a two-week immersion programme in Cambridge, which aims to broaden the students academic and cultural perspectives. Lessons were mainly held at Trinity Hall and Downing College. After a long journey, we were overcome with the excitement of finally touching down at Londons Heathrow Airport. Upon our arrival in Cambridge, we were greeted by quaint shops and lush greenery. The gentle breeze coupled with the warm sunshine made our day even better. As we toured the town of Cambridge, we were enthralled by the many stately museums and monuments. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Grantchester, with its idyllic and genteel setting, where the famous and charismatic war poet, Rupert Brooke, used to reside. Another highlight of our stay in Cambridge was certainly the memorable experience of punting down River Cam during which we indulged in the beauty of Cambridge and the magnificent colleges surrounding the river. On one of the nights, we were treated to Shakespeares play - Much Ado About Nothing. It was staged against the backdrop of the scenic gardens in Kings College and was undoubtedly one of the most inspirational experiences we have had. The performers were captivating and we were mesmerised by the marvellous show they put up. The academic programme was rigorous and the lessons helped us gain a deeper understanding of key concepts as well as sharpen our perspectives on global issues. We also went on subject-related field trips to the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, the Institute of Astronomy and the Fitzwilliam Museum. Towards the end of the two-week programme, we visited some interesting places in London which were relevant to our respective courses such as the Bank of England, Shakespeares Globe Theatre as well as the Natural History Museum and Science Museum. The two weeks have indeed left us some wonderful memories that will last us a lifetime.
Global Outreach
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Japan Bound!
By Kor Zhen Hong (28/11) and Chua Hong Chuan (33/11) The exchange programme to St. Michaels Senior High School in Kobe, Japan, on December 9th 18th 2011 was a fulfilling one. Throughout our 10-day stay, the greatest challenge we faced was the language barrier. Nonetheless, this challenge motivated us to learn some basic Japanese phrases. We experienced learning in a different culture through lesson observations and through living in a foreign environment. Some things that we learnt from the trip: many Japanese are appreciative of life and feel that every single day of our lives should be treasured. If we are able to have such a positive mindset, we will certainly benefit by becoming happier and also more resilient in trying times. We are filled with utmost respect and admiration for the Japanese. At the same time, we learn to better appreciate what we have in Singapore. The trip has been most memorable and enriching.
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Global Outreach
Adventure Challenge Taiwan, organised by Outward Bound Taiwan (OBT), took place from 28 November to 8 December 2011. The overseas programme aimed to help us gain an international perspective and appreciation of other cultures. It also brought us out of our comfort zone and challenged our personal limits. For instance, we hiked through unfamiliar terrains (and braved icy-cold water during river tracing. We learnt to look out for one another to surmount the many obstacles faced. The highlight of our trip was the trek at Syue Mountain () which stands at 3,886m above sea level. The five-day trek through unfamiliar terrains was tiring yet fun. The temperature dropped to below sub-zero degree nearing the summit as hail literally rained
on us. Despite the cold and the high altitude, our team spirit remained high and all of us supported one another. Then came river tracing - braving the icy waters of Taiwan was harder than we thought despite our dry suits and boots. However, the constant shivering did not deter us from working together and we literally ended with a splash! Goodbyes are always difficult, especially after having spent 11 days with one another and the OBT trainers, not knowing if we will ever see one another again. What we do know is that OBT has developed us into more independent individuals who also care for others before ourselves and are willing to take on challenges. We have developed a Passion for Challenge! As long as we press on, even in the face of adversity, we will be one step closer to our dreams. After all, the most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
Photo credits: AJC Photographic Society and all other individual contributions.