Kaleidoscope of dreams- My time in Zhonghua NPCC Unit


Starting amidst broken dreams.


Having been in this unit for more than 5 years to date. I guess the attachment to it is simply extraordinary. It is the place, which I believe has moulded me to become a leader and ensured that i grew in maturity. But as always, 5 years had so much in store for me, and sometimes i just look back and wonder where would I be I had not trodden this path. While I believe that the true test of my character awaits me when i enlist to serve National Service, I guess there could have been no better preparation than this. Accustoming myself to the kind of regimentation I will one day face in a uniformed group, and learning how to work with and manage people has been a priceless experience.


Backtrack to 5 years ago. I enrolled in Zhonghua Secondary School. Hurt that I lacked the self-belief to place Victoria School as my first choice. My appeal failed. Recalling back, I never knew what I was in secondary school for, other than the fact that I was there to study. I was in Zhonghua because I wanted to join the soccer team. While the then soccer team was mediocre at best, I never wanted to join a uniformed group. Having quit the Boys Brigade in Tao Nan School, I was adamant I would not make the same mistake. Ironic that I stand before many today extolling the benefits which it has brought me.


There was this senior from NCC. He persuaded my parents that it was in NCC where i belonged. My parents decided that with the kind of CCA point structure, that I should join a uniformed group. Soccer, they said, would be a secondary CCA. Anyway, I was to leave secondary school with 2 bonus points. Thus, my dream of playing competitively was dashed. The green ruggedness of the National Cadet Corps was going to be my CCA for the next 4 years. Anyway, the seniors did look extremely smart, and possessed an air of confidence. It did help that they had consistently won the Gold Award. But it was not to be.


I failed the entrance interview.


Until today, I remain baffled at why I failed. By then, I had set my heart on joining them. My dreams were crushed yet again. Thrice in the short period of 1 month. The embarrassment of being the only failure at the interview, in a class where the other 8 succeeded, was unbearable. The blue uniform of National Police Cadet Corps was the only choice I had left. I never really fancied it. I was pretty much forced in because of the circumstances, which had befallen me. Even after taking the oath of loyalty to the Corps, I always envied and wished I was part of NCC. I wonder where would I be. If I had passed that interview. Would I stand before others the same person I am today. It is simply amazing how God worked His will in my life.


Till today, I will never forget the first 2 NCOs who took me. Their names I no longer recall, but I believe they moulded my squad in a special way. Sad that later on one of them suffered from indiscipline and ruined his entire NPCC life. Nevertheless, I soon grew into NPCC and set myself a target of one day donning the rank of Staff Sergeant. It looked magnificent on my NCOs. Another person I respected was our Station Inspector. He possessed such an aurora over the cadets. He was someone I wanted to grow up to be. Yet, under that stern blue uniform, was a senior who cared for us and taught us the important lesson of learning from our mistakes. He has always been my role model in NPCC, right up till today.


It was possibly the worst start one could have had. But it never mattered once I determined within myself to make something out of it. Likewise anyone of us may be stuck in a situation unfamiliar and hostile to us. But its about how we try to fight and make the best of it. Or just remain stagnant and hope for things to happen. Because they never will.