Xinliang: if you are in for a band commitee position, would you prefer to be an SL or be in band comm?
Rachael: i will want to be in band commitee.
Xinliang: why?
Rachael: 'cos being an SL is much harder than in band comm.

Rachael
oh man....my tears came streaming down...not drop by drop..it's lines, rows and columns..
i don't know what other SLs or band comm think but i AM really touched by your words.it came from the bottom of your heart. you just blurted it out.

yes truly. i seriously feel that being an SL is much more challenging than being in a band commitee. i don't know why but it's just a feeling that in a band commitee, there's a bunch of people you can consult your problems with and share the burden. however, being a Section leader has taught me a lot. i was the leader of the percussion section. no Assistant Section Leader or whatsoever. no one to be officially share your burdern. being an ASL was much better during the dorothy's times. dorothy helped me with a lot of things and made decisions for the section. i just needed to ask her and she would solve it for me. that was effortless for me. being a section leader is different. i have never put myself in the shoes of an SL before and thus, never knew the heavy responsibilites that come with the post.

when i received my post last year, i had to start from scratch. first, it's the distribution of the scores. that was scary. dorothy and pris were looking at me, giving out scores. i didn't know how to allocate the parts; is it by level or by ability or anyhow give out and let them try different parts. this comes with experience. secondly, i have to be more alert in the section. i am really afraid of conflicts. in the previous batches, our section had some kind of conflict and i dont wish to see history repeat itself.

bonding the section is another challenge. people from different places and personal histories coming together as a SECTION to play music, to have fun. i really had a hard time narrowing the gap between the juniors and the seniors. it's really fortunate to have a percussion tradition of having section lunches and dinners. this directly brings the section closer.

lastly, the most important of all, it's the people that are in the section itself. without people, we don't even need to have a section not even a band. it's heartening to see people opening up and enjoying themselves during band practices. we laughed about embarrassing times, we took random photos and many more which i cannot recall straight away. all of you became more cheery especially christine!!! the juniors will never know how serious and straight face she was in sec 1 and 2. come to think of it, it was pretty funny. [right christine?]

let me tell all of you something that i am afraid of in band. that is SECTIONALS. you must be very curious as to why would i prefer combines to sectionals. to speak frankly, i can't take people well. i will go off beats and then back to track again...and i don't know how to like give comments.

FORTUNATELY!! thanks [esp: christine and ersy] and the rest of the section for being by my side and cheer one another on. i am sure you still remember the incident where i just broke down. seriously, i wasn't feeling hopeless for the section. the section was well and up. really nothing to worry about except for some coordination parts.

after syf, this 2006/2007 batch of people will be leaving. come to think of it, i have really enjoyed and suffered in band for the past 4 years. seniors' expectations were high and we are oblidged to always be better than the previous batch. we must improve in technics wise and social wise. without a bonded section, nothing could possibly be done successfully. am i right? we have gone so far and now, or even until mid april, it's time for us to pass the baton and let the next generation to continue this long stretch of marathon.

hopes for all of you: i wish that your grades can also improve a lot more better than before. i fervently believe that all of you have the potential to excel in whatever you put your heart into. don't underestimate your ablities and capabilities. help one another in times of difficulty, give on e another encouragement and many many HUGS!!

AIM FOR THE STARS, EVEN THOUGH YOU EVENTUALLY DON'T REACH IT, YOU WILL STILL FALL ON THE CLOUDS.

thank you all of you for everything that you have done for the sectionl. i and the section really appreciate it!! ps: must acknowledgement and appreciation to the band for being always there to help us carry our instruments.

PERC THE BEATERS [i mean rhythem beaters] CAN WE FIX IT?
PERC THE BEATERS YES WE CAN!!!

that's all for today. brain juice is depleting. don't ever be intimidated by the pressure and the consequences, think of today and live it to your fullest with NO REGRETS OF COURSE!!

those who want to give comments or speeches may do so in the new posts. don't do it in the tagboard. let's flood our posts!!

with lots of hugs and kisses,
your most RESPECTABLE,
your BELOVED,

AHMA.