The Legacy of the Unnamed

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.