May 22, 2004

expectation management.

i surmise it was presupposed i'm bound to say something about nyedc's stint at the syf central judging. and that it is greatly postulated we (or i) would be upset we got a bronze.

well, i'm not.

a thing to learn in life is how much you figure in whatever things you do. why the term 'larger than life'? i believe that in our strive for excellence in the odyssey, all of us did indeed become larger than life, in fact, stronger than we have ever been in our short experience in the club over these two years (five months for me).

people mistakenly think that in order to succeed in life, one has to be credited with papers and certificates of acknowledgement. but i contend, what value do all these carry if one has not overcome himself? the greatest enemy is yourself. your mind and your heart combined bring together the deadliest weapon mankind can ever create. wars and rumours of wars are sparked off by the ambitions and follies of man. yet, enemies do become friends, and nyedc has proven it.

in fighting our impatience, lack of endurance, physical restraints, emotional capacity and personal strongholds, every single drama member has come out stronger, braver and wiser. perhaps for some, this wisdom has become one of bitter acknowledgement, due to certain emotional struggles regarding the idea of friendship. however, in performing our last piece, something collective emerged, broke forth, and captivated.

as i stood on the stage, i felt it for the first time. never even during drama night did i experience such an inner energy and joy, that translated into a pinnacle of raw emotion and truth. and the same went for the rest. we gave our best, not only in our physical acting, but all our prayers, well-wishes, tears, heartaches, pain, sacrifices, and time.

in giving our five months to the production, we gave our lives.

and to me, that is the greatest sacrifice. talent and skill abound in this world, yes, but sacrifice doesn't. perseverance doesn't. camaraderie doesn't. because you guys were willing to give, you are all winners. it's not a gold trophy or recognition which matter, it's the personal and cherished knowledge that you have pushed through, conquered and surpassed your own limits.

you have been larger than yourself.

and isn't this what will really be the force that bring us through the mountains and valleys of life? we will always have added strength to forge through trials and tribulation, because we did ourselves and our beliefs pride and justice during the course of this production. the destination is of less importance than the journey, for it is only during the latter that one learns how to seek new horizons and breach greater depths.

for me, the other reward is knowing all of you as friends & companions. furthermore, i couldn't be grateful enough towards nyedc for giving me the opportunity to realise there exists this soul mate i can connect on so many levels with and bare my heart to. it may seem like another one of those thank-you speeches, but i apologise for not being able to explicate my feelings towards all of you in the written word.

may a thank you be the simplest, yet purest indebtedness.

in a few words..

ms. chew
your enthusiasm and faithfulness.
mr. seah
your passion and love.
mr. tong
your guidance and stewardship.
brian
your vision and direction.
ed
need i say more? my best buddy of whom without i wouldn't know what i would be today. life has never been the same again ever since that december audition.
pups
your talent and single-mindedness were my inspiration!
hasif
nyedc would never be what it is without your leadership and counsel. really!
melissa
sars! your antics never fail to cheer me up! haha!
ain
without our silly interactions backstage during the mother and penelope scenes, i would still be a nervous wreck. thanks!
poppins
you've proven yourself a great vp by your constant encouragement towards me!
gavin
your selflessness and love for drama made a big difference!
ravin
teh neh neh! you always make me laugh! thanks for being a light!
jasmin
your smiles make me look forward to drama rehearsals!
nadiah
you're out of sight but never out of mind! i miss your presence!
mei xian
circe! brilliant acting and incredible commitment!
durga
hey nausicaa & eurycleia! it was fun on stage and off!
heng tin
laughing helps relieve stress! thanks for being so fun and enthusiastic!
jun xian
hey! i appreciate your devotion and passion for the club!
joanne
your presence is what counts! thanks for giving your best!
ying mei
our short but good chats are greatly appreciated!
ramzi
your talent is amazing.
fadzli
thanks for your endless giving!
wan jun
'you led us to our deaths!' haha..our favourite quote!
jane
thanks for giving your time and talents to the club!

not forgetting the back-stage crew..
liu yin
our lame jokes & eyeball-rolling always crack me up! thanks a lot!
peirong
thanks for being so supportive, encouraging and smiling all the time!
reina
you'd be as good on-stage as you are back-stage! great stage management!
shariffah
girl! you did a great job with the lighting and sound! power!
lin li
linlilinlilinli! haha..great knowing you and your witty personality!
heng tow
silent but effective..an amazing combination!

let it be known that in the first half of 2004, members of nyedc took the arts arena by storm and evolved into maestros in their own right.

let it be known the odyssey challenged our values and made our dreams take flight.

and that we gave our hearts, our lives, our best and all to pursue an eternal excellence.
gid posted at 01:58