Every prominent blogger on my Blogroll has written their own take on the 130th celebrations held just a few days ago. Like many of my seniors, who described the affair as a "wayang", I thought of it more as an observance. A passe ritual that was to be repeated over 5/10 years. In 5 years to come, a 135th Anniversary would be celebrated- not so grand and conspicuous of course but nevertheless a focussed on event. And when 140 brushes pass, the whole school will be in a reign of excitement and almost chaos again. Of course, no one's complaining.
Free bottles of sparkling juice, lesser educational workload, time off school, special commemorative yearbooks, big figures arriving, more CCA points, more CIP Hours, more boasting rights, prestige, honor. Why not?
Although so, this entire celebration has been an awakening to what I might say as our dwindling Victorian Spirit. I mean, sure, it's amidst our CCAs, but as I glance pass the cohort and the back of the hall while standing on the chair snapping shots of the Spelling Cheer and VS Unite, more than half of our school's hoi polloi were standing awkwardly bemused at the other "more enthusiastic" half cheering their hearts out.
And a not too far away event- our National Cross Country Championships. I remember a time where we as Victorians all enjoyed the presence and atmosphere, continued cheerings and rants. But this year was totally dismal. Even the clip in our Corporate Video showing off our so called "Victorian Spirit" was just but a pathetic Kallang Wave of wimpy Sec 1s unenthusiastically waving their hands upwards.
Is this our esprit de corp? Our Heritage? Our tradition?
Whatever happened to the strong protests against the addition of females in our school population? Whatever happened to the fact that other schools could view us with a school with strong spirit? Whatever happened?
Perhaps, it is just the seniors that are so into this warped hype. Perhaps the little ones have not decided to follow suit. Perhaps, the revival was not to be.
I still long for that camaraderie. Victoria, we are something more.
Free bottles of sparkling juice, lesser educational workload, time off school, special commemorative yearbooks, big figures arriving, more CCA points, more CIP Hours, more boasting rights, prestige, honor. Why not?
Although so, this entire celebration has been an awakening to what I might say as our dwindling Victorian Spirit. I mean, sure, it's amidst our CCAs, but as I glance pass the cohort and the back of the hall while standing on the chair snapping shots of the Spelling Cheer and VS Unite, more than half of our school's hoi polloi were standing awkwardly bemused at the other "more enthusiastic" half cheering their hearts out.
And a not too far away event- our National Cross Country Championships. I remember a time where we as Victorians all enjoyed the presence and atmosphere, continued cheerings and rants. But this year was totally dismal. Even the clip in our Corporate Video showing off our so called "Victorian Spirit" was just but a pathetic Kallang Wave of wimpy Sec 1s unenthusiastically waving their hands upwards.
Is this our esprit de corp? Our Heritage? Our tradition?
Whatever happened to the strong protests against the addition of females in our school population? Whatever happened to the fact that other schools could view us with a school with strong spirit? Whatever happened?
Perhaps, it is just the seniors that are so into this warped hype. Perhaps the little ones have not decided to follow suit. Perhaps, the revival was not to be.
I still long for that camaraderie. Victoria, we are something more.
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