Raffles Trail

Dear readers,

much has happened recently with the reopening of school, and it has been a long time since theokwek has had the time to sit down, think, and write. Here is an essay about the recent Raffles Trail or CCA day in school. Though it may be a little cliched, you're invited to take a read.

Yours exhaustedly,
The Straight Times Editor

Raffles Trail ’08 – Starting the CCA year with a bang

In less than a flash, a year has passed: there is this strange, weird feeling as I pace leisurely along the corridors and see Secondary 1 students using my old classroom, eating during what had been my usual recess time, and to our consternation, breaking every rule in the book even before they have even received their memorable green-black badge.

At the same time too, the first few weeks of school have heralded the re-opening of CCAs – for my sporting friends, the extra load of a tennis racquet or a hockey stick adorn their backs, and for those in musical CCAs like myself, we find ourselves carrying our instruments through those whitewashed gates once again.

The integral event that kick-started a year of competitions, concerts and trainings for us occurred on the first Saturday of school, also the last day of the Secondary 1s’ Orientation Camp. Raffles Trail, which has been running for longer than some of my seniors can remember, entered a new ‘era’ this year, with colourful booths all around the school sporting creative banners and splendid photos, and melodious performances by the five musical groups in the historic Atrium. Every CCA did its best to draw in a fresh new lot of gifted pupils – Rafflesians who would, through the course of rigorous training and sharp talent-spotting, inherit the fierce school pride of their passionate seniors and fight, with all their worth, for the glory of the school; Rafflesians who would, after undergoing countless unimaginable escapades with their CCA mates, would garner an unbreakable friendship amongst themselves; Rafflesians who would eventually emerge victorious from 4 passionate ‘whirlwind’ years and spread the much-touted Rafflesian Spirit to those in their wake, keeping the torch of honour aflame.

Different emotions must have coursed through the hearts of the boys in different levels on that fateful day. Without a doubt, uncertainty and curiosity manifested themselves in the Secondary One boys that day as every group went all out to stamp the best possible impression on each and every one of them. We Secondary Twos, on the other hand, were quietly reminiscing about our own Orientation Camp a year ago, remembering the fast bonds that fell into place during those four intense days, and basking in a new sense of superiority as our new juniors greeted us mechanically. The Secondary Three guys, hyped up before OBS, threw in their all to assist in manning the booths and conducting last minute rehearsals, while the Secondary Four seniors, now the oldest of the lot, exercised their new leadership positions justly and discreetly, marshalling us into formation.

The performances in the atrium, definitely the highlight of the day’s happenings for the musical groups (RIMB, RISE, RICO, RIGE and RV), by no means came easily. After a break from the eventful concert season of 2007, our skills had definitely fallen to the rats and we spent a hectic afternoon polishing details and adding dynamics. Soon, though, the long-instilled sense of camaraderie in us came to our rescue, and we managed to put up a decent performance. This was when I realized that though the personnel present had changed – we were without the guidance of our guardian seniors, and were a much smaller ensemble than before – the spirit of the CCA held through, injecting our practices with the same gusto that the graduating seniors left in their legacy.

And this synergy was the same across the board for all the CCAs. As we watched the other performances, every drum-beat fell solid and resounding on the taut surfaces; every bow-stroke flew left-right, left-right in unison; every pitch-perfect note blown in undoubted harmony. Energy noble and unbeatable revealed itself to the hearts of the parents and juniors present, proving that no matter what degree of ‘sibling rivalry’ might exist between the Chinese and English CCAs, the Sports and Musical groups, the 01 and 02 scouts, or for that matter, between all the CCAs, the same strong Rafflesian Spirit was at the heart of all of them.


Very quickly, the day drew to a close, leaving us seniors exhausted but joyous, knowing that we had done our best in attracting the crème de la crème in each field, and leaving the juniors spoilt for choice but on the whole, very impressed. The Chinese have a saying, “Push out the old and bring in the new”, and on that day, though we didn’t push our much-loved and well-remembered seniors out of the way (for their presence is ever with us), we did begin the year on a high note (literally), an unforgettable event that told of better things and higher glories to come, a day of renewal that kept the hope of a better age alive.

Before I end, I would like to leave my dear juniors a word of advice: Whichever CCA you join, whatever interest you pursue, put your best in it for the sake of your school, and never turn a cold shoulder to those from different groups, for they, too, have experienced and interpreted the Rafflesian pride in whatever they have chosen. So choose well, and good luck.