The annual NUS Rag and Flag Event is finally over! I can't express how stressed and exhausted, yet excited and exhilarated I was for the entire week! The screening of last year's Rag and Flag video at the commencement dinner brought back so many fond, yet sometimes painful memories of my EHOC experience. (fyi, EHOC stands for EUSOFF HALL ORIENTATION COMMITTEE.) Yes, I'm from Eusoff and am proud of that.
Eusoff Hall (Won 4 out of 6)
Flag Shield (Highest Collection)
Rag: Best Presentation
Most Environmentally Friendly
Overall Rag and Flag Chancellor Shield
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Basically I was worried sick aabout making history by being the first to lead a Flag team that would not be able the bring back the Flag shield (Highest collection for the 20 beneficiaries adopted by nus). I'm just very glad and relieved that the entire Flag team worked so well and my working relationship with both my co-head and my vice head was extremely cordial. To think we started off with so much uncertainties and we managed to get through those obstacles and survived well. In fact I enjoyed working with them so much that I was so sad that it's now all coming to an end. This must have been one of the best committee I've ever worked with. The intensity of the bond and chemistry that were built up during the last three months was beyond my expectation.
Witnessing the success of all the mechanism for our float brought tears to my eyes. I could so vividly remember how the cans were being "stripped" and using the templates, we cut out the parts we want, before mounting them onto structures. All these took many nights, many sacrifices. Therefore even before the results were announced, I knew very clearly that we were all champions in our hearts. In front of us was the best float that we had for the past few years and we could smell the shield. It was so near and there was no way that we'll let it slipped through our fingers.
By the way, in case you are wondering, I am not part of the Rag Team, but because we are all a family, under the EHOC umbrella, we all worked very close together. Indeed, many of us renewed our pre-existed bonds and further strengthened them..
So we were really hopeful about the Rag shield (Best Float) and it became very apparent that everyone else seemed to share the same sentiments. Not being biased or what, but our float really and clearly stood out from the rest. The shield was so near.
But wtf! (Pardon my vulgarities, that was the best phrase I could use to describe it) Our friendly neighbour Temasek Hall not only managed to secure the Best Float Design, but the Rag shield as well. Our win for most environmental friendly (35%) and best presentation (25%) were not good enough for us to bring the shield back! WTF!
Perhaps for the Best Float Design category, I can understand the fact that taste for designs and style is entirely objective and somewhat intangible. It is just unfortunate that the judges did not fancy our interpretation of the theme and the design of our float. But as for the Rag Shield (Best Float), WTF! A float should be not only visually appealing to the masses, but at the same time,
attractive and possesses certain artistic elements. This is not the best definition, but at least it covered all the essential components! A float, in mandarin, is known as
hua che, which can be loosely translated to flower float, which means that my definition of a float falls nicely into the definition.
Anyway do you seriously think that an octopus with six legs is cool? What about those tentacles that resembles the bad guy from Spiderman 2? I really question the decision of the judges. If the eventual winner is indeed deserving, I have nothing to say because it's only right for the best to win. But how could this be?!
I just can't believe how ONE decision by the three judges would make sure a big difference to many pple. Basically, everyone, especially those from the Rag Team, were heartbroken. This was, afterall, what they had worked on for months. This was, afterall, what they had made many sacrifies for. I could feel the intensity of the heartbreak, the disappointment, the frustration. We all could not understand why we lost.
What I would want to let the Rag Team know is that maybe in the end, even though we didn't managed to get the recognition from those judges, we know in our hearts, that we are the champions. Its inevitable that in a competition, some would win, others would lose. The important thing is that we know we've tried our best. Rag shield aside, at the end of the day, we know that through this EHOC experience, we had been truly enriched in many ways. We bring with us invaluable lessons and unforgettable memories.
I hereby salute the Rag Team, all of you are heroes.
