Secondary 3 camp - A Sense Of Belonging.

                The Secondary Three Camp was a great experience for all the participants. It was a once in a lifetime experience for all of us as we were never going to be Secondary Three again. Although tiring, it created an opportunity to bond with our class.

                The camp started with the hour long bus ride to the campsite with our instructor, Omar sitting in the front seat and keeping quiet. He didn’t say a single word to us in that hour. Everyone thought he was strict and what we would call Guai Lan.

                After the bus trip, we all had to fall in under the scorching sun. Our class, especially, had to wait for the rest of the classes to arrive which was another hour as we were the first to arrive. After the assembly, the instructors guided us on packing our day packs, which were the essentials.

                Time travelled at light speed, and before we knew it, it was time for lunch. Anything edible was heaven to us. No matter how bland the food might be, we all finished it in an instant.

                Activities resumed after lunch and all the way until it was time for dinner. Dinner was a great time for us especially when we knew that after dinner, it was going to be bedtime. After a cool shower, we all proceeded to our tents, no matter how squeezy, we all had a good night sleep.

                The second day was a fun filled one. It started with the KungFu Panda Morning Exercise. Everyone enjoyed it very much. After breakfast came the low element activities. They were all activities that allowed us to trust our peers as our safety depended on them.

                After lunch came the dirty activities. The nature rumble which we all knew was coming and feared. As we made our way to the mud infested jungle, we all feared the worst that could happen.  What might have seemed to be an awful, disgusting and uncomfortable time, was a joyful time as we depended on each other for help. Omar decided to bring us on a different trail, which involved walking in a brown river. After getting out of the river, we faced a huge problem. We were lost in the jungle. While walking, we met a group of girls, who were walking slowly. Thankfully, it was a ‘scenic’ wait.  It would have been worse if it were a group of screaming boys.

                After walking 3 rounds, we finally made our way out, leaving the girls in the jungle. We then proceeded to build a raft. We had the opportunity to test it, and we were all proud of it.

                We went for a nice, cool bath after the mud therapy. And it was time for the long awaited campfire. We all had great fun singing along with the songs that were playing, completed with cheers and games.

                After the campfire, we all went to bed.

                The last day of the camp was here and we were all half hearted to leave, knowing that there was school the next day and that there was no more fun and games for us.

                After the debrief, we all cheered for Omar all the way until we boarded the bus back to school and bid farewell to the campsite.

                I guess we all had our part to play in the camp for it to go smoothly.

Advantages and Disadvantages of living in Potong Pasir

            Potong Pasir, an estate, although small, everybody’s needs are met. Under leadership of Mr Chiam See Tong for the past 27 years has seen much growth. The estate which is the home of the Saints and its residents, has many facilities ready for use by the residents.

            Situated in the middle of Potong Pasir stands the Potong Pasir Community Centre, where there are facilities such as basketball courts, archery range, a multi-purpose hall, and many more.

            Food is also of abundance in the estate. There are common fast food restaurants, McDonald’s and KFC, 2 coffee shops which have been there for at least 20 years and a bubble tea shop. There are also provision shops such as 7-11 and ABC minimart.

            The lively saints have also been part of this estate for a long time. They have organized activities to help the community such as giving canned food to the elderly and cleaning up of the Kallang River.

            Despite the pros of living in Potong Pasir, there are still cons. One of which is the lack of shelters. The roads are also a problem as they are narrow and thus causing a jam almost every morning outside the Saint Andrew’s Village due to parents dropping of their children. The bus stops within Potong Pasir have only 1 bus going to most of them.

            Potong Pasir, with all its pros and cons, is still a beautiful place to live in, and has the potential to grow in the years to come.