By De Ming
Ever since a time I cannot remember, I would imagine myself standing in front of the prefects every morning, inspiring them and encouraging them. I had always wished (and I still do) to watch as Seafield prefects grow into as Dhaneesh has nicely put it, “The Ultimate Team”, a team which lives up to its motto of being the leading team.
So being a man on a mission, a person who has claimed that if there is anything worth believing in, than it is worth working had for, I had stepped out of that comfortable shell I used to hide in. A shell I threw away on the day I made up my mind to try out to be the next head prefect. Within one month, I had stood up in front of the prefects and stood up for what I believed in, within this one month I had ascended the stage twice, hoping to find people who believed in me and who would stand with me. For two weeks I had stuck posters, distributed stickers and promoted myself. For seven minutes, I had stood in front of the eight administrators of the school and had unfortunately walked away disappointed and discouraged.
There was so much I hoped to share, there was so much I wished I had said, yet none of it came out. I still wished that when I was asked to introduce myself, I had said that I was a determined and a sincere person. Determined for I was not the most talented, nor was I the most intelligent, fastest nor the strongest, but I was one that never gave up of my dreams, the last man found standing. Sincere for I would never lie to the world and myself about who I really am. I wished that when asked the meaning behind the words ELF. I would have said that if ever a group of people came together as one, then there should be a goal they must want to achieve and being examples to follow, leaders who are willing to serve and friends to all in need is a goal worthy to pursue. Though many a words have yet to be said, many a thoughts have yet to be shared, the past is still the past and no amount of whining can change it.
So on the faithful Thursday, as the hearts of nine beat exceptionally fast, the Heads as always sat on the piano chair of the prefect’s room. I had my head bowed and my eyes closed; whispering a silent prayer to let God’s will be done. Thus it was so and my prayers had been answered, though not in the way I had wished for at that moment. For although I did not get the post of the Head Prefect, I believe that this was for the best, for prayers are always answered and so I had been given another post. The post of the Ketua Tugas Khas (the Head of Special Assignments).
As the Ketua Tugas Khas, I was the PR manager of the school; I was the representative of the Prefects Council that will organize interschool prefect games and bonding activities. I was in charge of Teacher’s Day, Hari Ko-kurrikulum , Hari Kecemerlangan, Sports Day, exhibitions and competitions. A job that was a huge mouthful to swallow, yet exciting in nature. On the bright side, I would say that we have four Heads, four PST Leaders, two Treasurers, two Secretaries, but only one Ketua Tugas Khas and only one which had the word “khas” (special) written on it. I was promised a stressful time, yet I have been given this responsibility, therefore I will make myself and the school proud of carrying it out brilliantly.
To me I had not failed nor do I believe that any of the candidates had failed in their quest. But having taken that first step and having had the guts to stand up in front of the school and pour out our hearts, I believed we had already won a huge battle. In fact, I had won so much, for now I see who are the people who actually believed in me, now I know who really are my friends and I have also been given the opportunity to feel that for once, maybe I did made a difference to some people somehow. So I thank all of my friends and all of those great people that had believed in me though they do not know me that well. I really appreciate your support and because of your trust in me I will not work any less, nor with less dedication and spirit then the new heads Dhaneesh, Chee Yan, Ashween and Tze Quan, for even though I was not given the highest of posts, my goal had always been and will always be to build this board of prefects and I believe I am still able to achieve this goal. Though my name will not be printed on the board that is hung in the hall, marking all of the head prefects of Seafield, though I leave not a name behind, but I promise to leave a legacy of an unnamed prefect who had sincerely worked towards the growth of the prefectorial board.
And hopefully, achieved it.
By De Ming
This was the first time taking the train with my friends, it was the first time I had to run around from station to station chasing after one train after another, it was the first time being in Stadium Bukit Jalil since 1998, but most importantly, it was my first time witnessing the Cheer 2008!
That morning I arrived in a very un-Malaysian fashion (early by 10 minutes) at 7.50 in the morning. I walked around aimlessly in the road between Carrefour and Subang Parade and after some time, a black MPV drove up on the opposite road, it was Synna who was early in Malaysian sense (10 minutes later than promised time) and the rest were typical Malaysians in every aspect possible (20 minutes late).
Just a few minutes after Xia Shuen, Ee Suen and Xiau Fong has graced us with their presence, the train was found to be waiting on the other side of the station. So once again, feeling decidedly Malaysian, we grabbed the tickets, choked it into the machine and ran across the overhead bridge. There was an army guy there and his bottle practically flew when we ran past him! Fortunately we were lucky enough to make it on time and seeing as there weren’t five-people-in-a-row seats, I ended up sitting with Synna in the front and the rest sat behind.
The journey from Subang Jaya station to KL Central was really enjoyable, except the part where Synna would turn to me and say, “De Ming arh, my hair very fun-nie larh!” Then of course, seeing as I did not think that way, I had to keep insisting that it was alright. But I guess in some sense, it made the journey more interesting. We arrived in KL Central in around 15 minutes and we then found another train towards Masjid Jamek. At Masjid Jamek, we crossed the road and ate breakfast at McDonald. Sausage McMuffin! From Masjid Jamek, we took a long 10 stops ride to Bukit Jalil Stadium.
When at last we arrived at the stadium, it was already ten and we practically ran there. When Xia Shuen said that one of my step equaled to 2 of Xiau Fong’s, Ee Suen, Xiau Fong and I had a walkathon there and funnily Xiau Fong really did get left behind!
Anyways, upon our arrival inside the stadium, we found that it was crammed to the bursting point. We searched for our school friends and found them at a glance, thanks to the Vulcanz shirt. We ended up sitting on the stairs and every 10 minutes our butts would hurt as we shifted ourselves to the side so that people were able to cross. Ouch!
The competition itself was really quite an eye opener for me as my have not really witness a cheer competition, but after a while we were soon sounding like some veteran as we commented on their technical skills, spirits, dresses, props and the bang! factor.
At last, it was finally Vulcanz all girls team from SMK Seafield to perform! The crowd from our side went ballistic and started cheering, “VLC!” As expected my left ear was half deaf after that, though I’m not complaining, VLC! Our school performance was brilliant, but the others were just as good. Though I dare to say that they were at least the top 10 and if the guy’s flyers did not fall, I believe that they would be the top 5. But oh well, as the cliché goes, there is always next year.
After a couple of other performances, we went for lunch at 12.30. Eugene replaced Synna for our lunch trip and seeing as he as ripped his pants while climbing the seats, we had to occasionally stop and allow him to fix the shirt he used to cover his vanity. He ended up buying a fake Nike pants for RM20 though and after that we were finally be able to search for lunch!
The journey to lunch was a classic as we decided out of pure inspiration to take the train to Sri Petaling to eat and when we finally arrived there, we found ourselves in some desolated area where there were only roads and apartments. Thus the five sesated souls decided to try their luck in the food court near Bukit Jalil, so we went back to Bukit Jalil and we found a taxi, which brought us to SRI PETALING to eat! The food there was definitely worth it though.
We arrived at the stadium late again and we sat on the stairs again, life really is a ritual. We stayed on till 5.15 which, after the results was announced. This were the results:
Champion
Shirtliff - SMK Seri Bintang Utara
1st Runner Up
Dynamitez - SMK Damansara Jaya
2nd Runner Up
Stunners All Boys Team - Sri KDU
3rd Runner Up
Titans - AMC Ipoh
4th Runner Up
Xavier - Convent Bukit Nanas
Best Showmanship
SMK Seri Bintang Utara
Best Cheer
SMK Puteri Titiwangsa
Best Supporter
SMK Convent Bukit Nanas
Best Newcomer
SMK Cochrane (All Boys Team)
Silkygirl Merit Award
SMK Seri Bintang Utara
The trip back to Subang was tiring in a way and as all typical Lick Hung students would end their essay: although we were tired, but we left with a heavy heart. I really enjoyed myself there, the performances was good, the food was good, but I enjoyed the most was being with my friends, running around on trains, eating McDonald, joking around, cheering for our teams and more importantly just enjoying each other’s company, Experience wise, one word can describe it.
Brilliant.
By De Ming
It seemed so far away once, almost a dream in fact and yet there I was standing on this stage adjusting that microphone. To my right are half of the teachers of this school, to my left are the other half including yang berusaha Pn. Teh Seok Im, yang something PIBG, Datin Rosalind, but the most mortifying fact was that in front of me sat at least one thousand five hundred students of SMK Seafield. I began reading the acknowledgements towards the “right-hand teachers” who actually sat of my left and got stuck half way. I laughed guilty for not memorizing those names and continued. Oh well, who wouldn’t be nervous if you stood in front of a thousand plus students, introducing yourself in hope of being the next head prefect. Once again the campaigns for the next head prefect has begun, and this time, I am no more an audience.
My slogan was “ELF”, E stands for an example to follow, L, a leader who serves and F, a friend to all in need. I truly believe that if any prefect could be all of the above, then he is one brilliant prefect and I sincerely want to grow together with the prefects towards this goal.
Although campaigning is honestly uncomfortable and at times demoralizing, it is at this moment of time when I truly realize who really are my friends. For when I had papers to cut, they would be there to help me, when I needed to think of my speech, they were there to give me feedbacks, when I needed ideas for my campaign, they were there with many brilliant ideas and the most touching part was that when Ashween and his people came along shouting “Vote for Ashween”, they were there to shout my name and stand up for me. If there was one thing I can be proud of, it would be that I had the most brilliant friends anyone can have, people who believed in me.
Xia Shuen once asked me what being a leader meant to me and I said that a leader is someone who places the goal of his people ahead and does his best in achieving this goal. For if a group of people come together as a team, then there must be a common goal and the person who leads this team towards that goal must surely be called the leader! ELF is a vision that I have, a vision I want to share with the people, for this vision is not a couple of empty words, not just a slogan for a campaign. But if you truly look into the words example, leader and friend, you will see principles such as sincerity, respect, care, discipline, purity, leadership and understanding. I truly believe in growing into an ELF and I am not here today to shout, “VOTE FOR DE MING”, instead I am here in hope that you would share my vision of building a prefectorial board that is worthy of respect and sincere to serve this school, SMK Seafield and all of the teachers and students that makes up this school. For a school is not a concrete building, but consists of every single one of the students and teachers.
Ever since a time I cannot remember, I would imagine myself standing in front of the prefects every morning, inspiring them and encouraging them. I had always wished (and I still do) to watch as Seafield prefects grow into as Dhaneesh has nicely put it, “The Ultimate Team”, a team which lives up to its motto of being the leading team. 
