Kaleidoscope of dreams- My time in Zhonghua NPCC Unit

Growing into a leader.

Today when we wreck our brains trying to think what makes a leader, more often than not, we come up empty. When we try to formulate a training programme to groom young ladies and gentleman in the unit to become a leader. Becoming a leader has become the cornerstone of educational policies today. With schools giving “leadership opportunities” to every student. On a personal level, I believe that is utter rubbish. How can someone who collects the physics homework be a leader? Or someone who leads the warm-up session during Physical Education. For a leader to develop, there must be followers, and a leader can never be groomed by giving out worksheets or collecting assignments. Period.

I held the post of Internal Affairs Council Chairman in the first half of the year. It was a new committee, and its duty was to manage the discipline and attendance within the unit. As it was new, the council was left entirely to myself to shape the way it would function in future. Along with this came many privileges. During trainings, I essentially had the freedom given to the Unit Head. I could go wherever I wished, and do whatever I wanted. The red sash, which was slung over my blue uniform, became my pride and joy. What better position could I have attained in the unit.

During the sergeant promotions, I emerged top, being the only distinction. It was such a moment to behold. Walking up the podium to receive the coveted three stripes on behalf of my squad. I had always languished among the bottom few in the squad. It was the first time I felt really proud of myself. That I could achieve something if I put my wholehearted effort into it. The moments of becoming the first ever IAC Chairperson and receiving the sergeant ranks would forever remain as a special part of my memory.

However, together with all these cherished memories were many tainted and painful lessons as well.

I remember my first training as an NCO, probably becoming the first and only NCO to ever hand out a changing parade. And in the duration of the following year, would cement my position in the unit as probably the discipline freak. Contrary to popular belief, I never really enjoyed punishing people, but I strongly believed in its positive outcomes. And I hold fast to this belief up till today. Without discipline being established, nothing, absolutely nothing can be achieved. Looking back on hindsight, my year as a Cadet Inspector has seen a much more mellowed me.

The decision I took to not join the Campcraft Team would always remain a debatable one. For I missed out on being part of a team. But nevertheless, it gave me the perfect opportunity to lead the unit with freedom. And I grabbed the chance with open arms. However, with the freedom came trouble. Because my disciplinary measures went overboard, resulting in so much. Not just in NPCC. It was truly a dark period, going through school daily knowing that everyone saw me in utterly negative light. It was the one time in my NPCC life that I would have just laid down everything and given up. My friends and I became the target of hooliganism during our breaks. The pressure was just overwhelming.

There was the infamous name-calling incident back in September. And with the conclusion of that episode, also marked the end of my dream to one day become the Station Inspector of the unit. The night after the barbeque when I missed out on the first Staff Sergeant promotion. The feeling just sucked. It hurt so badly. I had fought so hard for that, and in a moment of sheer immaturity, I ruined my dreams. I regretted everything I had done in NPCC, and wished I had never got that far. Afterall, the higher we hope, the greater our fall. That could not have been more applicable to me. Alas, I have grown so much from that incident. We are great friends and fellow instructors now.

My year as an NCO was such an eventful one- both for right and wrong reasons. But nevertheless, it was an experience I would never give up. Because, lessons are best learnt when they are painful. It is about how we want to pick ourselves up, and make the best of the situations we have been placed in. That one year moulded me into a leader. On our graduation day, we stood in a row on the parade square. As they announced the postings and promoted the next batch of NCOs. For me, I stood there trying to take everything in, the crests and troughs of that one eventful year. Furthermore, I wondered if it was my last goodbye. It was not to be.

Can leaders be taught? No.

They can only be nurtured through experience.