What goess around, comes around

Arts Camp 2015

Saturday, June 27, 2015; ( 6:12 PM )

Arts camp 2015 - Avatar, Revolution

22nd - 26th June 2015

It's been a memorable one. One of those things in NUS where I'll always remember. Here's my full experience of arts camp 2015. From accepting it, to pre-camp, to arts camp & post arts camp.

I remember the very first time that lx wa me to ask if I wanted to do an internship for T house as the house I/C. I was excited at that point in time and yet, a little hesitant about it also. Being through 2 arts camp and 2 Oweeks, I know how it was like to be a house I/C & the standards that comes along with this title. To tell the truth, I was afraid and I didn't really dare to step up and lead the house. I felt like I wouldn't be able to live up to my predecessors and can't be as zai as them. I consulted alot of people before I gave lx an answer & that answer was a nope. A part of me regretted it after telling her; a small part of me wanted to do it because it will really be fun and yet I couldn't let go of the times that we all could have if we all came back to T2 together. It was ultimately a choice between T house v.s. T2. And at that point in time, T2 felt like a better option!

After much persuasion and a lunch talk, I took it up the position. Ultimately, I guess what really got me to accept it was after reading a thought catalogue article of letting things go. T2 @ 2014 will never be T2 @ 2015. It's always hard to hold on to something that matters to you but does not really matter to some of them & it's difficult to let go but it's better that way. I'll always remember how it is like back last year but I know that an attempt to recreate what I've felt last year will never be the same. As such, I decided to move on with my life & hence, accepted the house i/c position. Anddd the excitement began!

Presenting my other house I/C - Frances Winata

Me and Frances were to be honest, barely friends?! I only got to know her during oweek 2014 where she was the OGL and I was just hoboing around trying to find my freshies and talking to random people here and there. The only actual thing I've ever said to her was HIII FRANCES along the walkway but that kinda ended pretty fast. After that, we didn't really meet or see each other. As such, we had alot of things to talk about. How we wanted the house to be like, whether our goals for the house is the same, what do we wanna achieve and such. Alot of things had to be iron out. Throw in the admin work that was required and the planning of the logistics, it was really alot of behind the scenes work. I never knew how much work was involved until I took up this position. I guess that's when I appreciate what my previous house i/cs have done for us and that spurred me to do more for the coming batch. We had a hell lots of ideas & we tried to leave our legacy behind. It wasn't easy and that's what made it so memorable!

Presenting my OGLs for Arts Camp 2015

Back when I was an OGL, I felt that the initiative of doing a photoshoot to introduce the OGLs and AOGLs to the house was a good one! It gives T House a sense of who the OGLs are and who to approach should they require assistance or help. It also gives the OGLs a newfound sense of belonging to the house. Furthermore, it gets things going on after 2 semesters worth of studying and no camp stuff! It sets things in motion, slowly builds up the hype and the best part, we get to finally see each other faces so that it will not be so awkward anymore. The organization of the photoshoot was not easy. We had to come up with a theme, get the props needed to take the shots and all. It was a worthwhile effort though! After taking the shots and editing it, there was really much laughter going on too! We had a super long talk, the kind that is serious/entertaining with the OGLs on our house direction and ensuring that all of us have a common goal before the camp starts, followed by my most awkward lunch ever LOL. Thanks Phoebe for helping us take the photos and editing it & Arthur for coming down to help out!

House I/Cs at filming

For some odd reason I really love this shot, us the house I/Cs attempting to pose for a bash photo. As per every arts camp and oweek, there will always be videos that us house I/Cs will have to act out just to hype up the mood before every activity begins. This was us towards the end when we have almost finished filming all the videos. Filming has been an exciting and us complaining about the same thing made it even better. Here's where we got to know each other better and that really improves the dynamics of the camp! I used to worry how awkward I would be during the filming of the videos. But then i realised it doesn't matter, cause we are all awkward and unique in our own ways. LOL.

T House at Pre-camp

Pre-camp was initially extremely intimidating for me. Nobody knew me and that added even more pressure on me. The reason being that I wasn't there during Oweek, I was a nobody back then, just a senior coming back to T2 and being part of something that I thought could have been magical back then. Hence, it was extremely hard for me to get to know people, to earn their respect and for them to know me better. Being a house I/C didn't really help my situation too as I soon realise people do not really talk to you. I could roughly understand how they feel though. Back when I was a councillor/OGL I rarely spoke or had a conversation with the house I/Cs also. I really had to step out of my comfort zone to talk to them and get to know them better. Ultimately, what ended up was a picture like that, where we are no longer laoslaos/Seniors/House I/Cs/OGLs/AOGLs/Councillors, but just a happy T house family that can joke, have fun and laugh with each other. I used to really dread pre-camp, especially the mixing up of the OGs. But after being through so many, it really helped me to get to know other amazing people from other OGs that played such a significant part to the house spirit. During beach day, I especially enjoyed the time where we, seniors gathered and have a simple meal near 7-11. T house, for that hour, didn't have house I/Cs! LOL. We were just having our own fun with the seniors and doing crazy things and having a hearty laughter which I've missed so much during the entire camp.

Tug O War Pre Camp

I guess I really have to thank the people who came back to teach us how to pull tug O war. Tug O war has always held a special place in my heart ever since I was a freshie. I was really disappointed that for the past 2 camps, everything has ended off with a draw. I want the freshies to know how is it like to tear over a rope & a camp that no one expected that they will. Although pre-camp was just for fun, Tug O war really helped the house bonded as 1. Never will I forget times where they chanted chicken breast when i was pulling & A house shouting over whether T house was really pulling. After this moment, I think the whole arts pre-camp recognised me chicken breast. It was funny! But most importantly, for me, I felt accepted or being accepted into the whole Arts camp spirit.

Meet the Freshies

A tradition that will never die - Meet the Freshies. Meet the freshies did not just happen miraculously. It took us time to plan for the food and when our space for the caterer at central forum was being taken up due to construction, we had to find another place to place our food. When I was a freshie, I didn't attend my own one because I was in BKK, so I never knew how it was like to be in there. Subsequently, the seniors and laolaos showed me that meet the freshies is a tradition in T house where we all gather and get to know each other in an informal way. It is also a time where the freshies meets their OGLs and their councillors. It is also a time where everybody meets the house I/Cs. Prior to meet the freshies, we had a meet-up to teach the everyone the cheers that we have and those that we have come up with. It's also the first time that the councillors actually met us too! So to us it was a whole new get-to-know-each-other session again! It was again, abit scary at the start but it got better once we got to know them on by one. One of the largest fear I had during meet the freshies was the judgement that fell on me and Frances inevitably. We already know that this will come sooner or later. Since MTF is a time whereby seniors/laolaos come back and welcome the new freshies, it is also a time where they come to see us and the OGLs that are going to lead the house this time round. On my part, it has also been a daunting experience for this to happen. But I guess standing there infront of the crowd, with my partner house I/C and the other OGLs gave me alot of courage. It's not easy. It was harder than I thought and we probably screwed up a little here and there but we hoped it turned out well. We did a 6 min cheer and our usual sampan cheer which we adored so much. I would say MTF was one of the defining moments for me because I was really forced to step out of my comfort zone to get to know the freshies and actually, everyone. But I'm glad I've gone through it! Not only did it help me to know the people better, but I improved on how to hold a small conversation with people too! So here's to MTF - Huat ah!

The pillars of support

Here's the people that everybody did not see, but they were the ones working so tirelessly and effortlessly, especially on beach day to present what we have. Thank you everyone for being there for me, for telling me that everything is going to be okay, for telling me to be myself when the time calls for it, for dedicating your time to decorate the T house banner and all the logistical effort that you all have done. Honestly, I am really nothing without the house and YOU GUYS. Thank you so much for all the time & contribution. I really wanted to spend time with you guys, to laugh and go crazy but my role kind of forbids me too. Forgive me but Oweek I assure you all, I'll be there with yall! I cannot wait for it to happen. Thank you for being my pillars that gave me so much support throughout my journey.

To go into detail of every part of arts camp is truly impossible because there are just so many things that was fun and entertaining. Everyday was memorable, everyday we left our legacy. So photos and phrases will sum everything up. I can't seem to put in words, the magical moments that happened.

It's legendary.

Arts camp 2015 - Day 0

One of the legacy that we leave behind. We even made a cheer out of it! Cannot be more proud being in T house than having this here! Thank you See Min for the design and everybody who came down and help to paint this! Even rag also lent us their paint for this. I remember us flagging this out outside LT11 and everybody is just woah T house had something and the smiles on their faces is something we wouldn't forget!

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 1 (Mass Icebreakers)

This photo was taken with so many people photobombing and us holding up the whole of arts camp just cause of this shot. But it was necessary and good also cause it's our very memorable photo during the first day of camp! We didn't play protect the king this year but instead, changed it to something different where T house just improvise and kept going on about the thrust cheer. Heh it was damn fun and interesting though!

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 1 (House Opening)

I'll never forget the times where we stayed back during pre-camp just to practice this house opening for awhile. It was amazing and we had so much freaking laughter and fun during that time also. It was super impromptu our house opening, with me and Frances adding in so many words that shouldn't be said. So here's us doing the dance that only seniors and all can understand with everybody going WTF?! But we enjoyed it alot, like really alot alot heh.

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 1 (Spiritual Walk)

As usual T house always gets to walk later and we end very late after that also. A bad situation actually appeared here though but it was resolved already! I particularly like this photo of us. This is us, being US. Like we are usually crazy and all, and this picture really depicts us for actually who we are. LOL. Sorry I digress from T house here, was scrolling through my photos and saw this!

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 2 (Wet and Dirty Games)

So this year for wet and dirty games, Frances came up with a brilliant idea of having water guns and spraying people with it. I mean it's wet and dirty games right and from past experience it seems like freshies dun really get wet and dirty. So this time we got like waterguns from tembusu to spray them all! And of course the Ocomm too. Shit it's damn fun just that we got to keep refilling it which is quite a burden heh.

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 3 (Beach Day Opening)

As we move along we know we have to quake! One of the best cheers that T house ever have imo. I really enjoyed this cheer alot as we all quake into the sea. It was quake, followed by thrust cheer and the traditional sampan cheer and running man up the beach again. IT WAS DAMN SHAG. Towards the running man we alr no voice but lucky the OGLs were there to help us through! I like how T house is united when we quake into the sea, and the un-cheerable sampan as we hit the water. Good-times man. The best part is that we WON! Makes things even better HAHAHA.

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 3 (T-Dunkers)

This is what me and Frances left behind, our own legacy of T dunkers which hopefully will be passed on to generations to come. This was such a pilot idea at the beginning. It was tough finding a supplier for the shirt but we still managed to do so with the help of some strings. Thanks Jazreel for recommending the Econs shirt supplier and we finally managed to come up with this. Thanks Phoebe for designing the singlets. All this would not have been possible without them! Everybody knew about T dunkers, the ocommers, the other houses and everyone. It was one of the best times I've had in beach day!

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 3 (The seniors/laos)

Thank you everyone for coming down to remember how it feels like for beach day, for showing support to me and the other T2 members. Sorry that I didn't had much time to entertain you all, to be part of how it feels last time. I really appreciate your presence there and hopefully we get to see each other on beach day and bring the beach down together and laugh, play games and talk and all. 214 to all of you all!

Arts camp 2015 - Day 3 (Tug O War)

Tug o War has always had a special place in my heart ever since I was a freshie. This year was another whole new experience for me. Being the tactician was intense. Everybody is watching you, whether you make it or break it's your decision and your decision alone. Everyone relies on you, whether you want them to move left/right. It's so crazy and imo it's worst than doing finals! We had 2 draws again, which is much to our disappointment because we wanted to have the feeling of tearing and all that. But oh well, I guess I'll just have to do that during Oweek. The non-stop cheers were as loud and clear as the sun sets. Being infront, I've finally experienced how it's like to hear the house behind you. If they dun stop pulling, you dun stop cheering. 1 T house family

Arts camp 2015 - Day 3 (Kong Ming Deng)

Much mixed feelings coming back to T2. It feels like I belong there and yet I do not belong there at the same time. Being a house I/C, I cannot be always coming back to where I came from. I have to show my face infront of the other OGs to show the freshies that I'm around. This time for arts camp, I feel I'm here but the person behind ensuring that things will always be okay for you all. There isn't a need to be in the limelight nor being in the centre. Seeing how the new freshies bond and my old freshies working together towards something is enriching and comforting for me. Thank you seniors for coming back and I know they may not feel as attached before, but the fact that they are here means something. A feeling of not being able to fully let go and wanting to experience something is in a way, refreshing yet insecure.

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 4 (oneARTS)

I cannot believe that I dun have a photo with me being in any OG so this is the best one that I can come up with! But this photo is great also because I'm with my other house I/C whom we spend the entire day roaming around like some hobo kid without anybody with us since all the OGs are being split up! And also with Amanda who is one of the craziest friends that I ever have. I've never liked the idea of splitting the OG, especially after beach day when everybody is close together and back but I guess for the sake of oneARTS they didn't really have a choice also. It was at least, much better planned than last time! So I guess that's a plus point & it's nearer to school. House I/Cs forever driving everywhere cause too lazy to take bus/walk. Oh I remember I had to go back to grab hou sheng and an injured freshie and when we were driving back we were behind a lorry which is the ocomm lorry! It was super awkward cause we kept laughing and they kept laughing but idk what we are actually doing. Should have been a good photo moment actually!

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 4 (Pre-drinking)

This is another tradition left behind by me and Frances with the idea being inspired by Nicholas! There were some initial worries to this pre-drinking idea. OSA was coming down hard on us with the alcohol and the ocommers were constantly telling us not to do it. But this idea was so epic that we cannot have it lying down! So we decided to go ahead with the plan & I'm so thankful that we decided to go with it. The execution wasn't perfect but the OGLs did a good job hyping everybody up during the drinking portion! The alcohol wasn't strong and we added alot of mixers to ensure NOBODY gets drunk! It was great, the atmosphere, with T house once again being in the limelight. I heard from my friends that other houses the freshies just awkwardly walk away from that area. It's like T house owns that area that night somehow! And we probably saved alot of awkward sp couples. The ocommer decided that they want to help us finish up the drinks and they even washed it for us! Thank you so much ocommers!

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 4 (Social Night)

Ever since last year, T2 & T5 have always been getting closer together. This is a picture for social night, our pillar of supports that are always helping us at the sidelines and helping us to get respect from everybody. Thank you everyone in this picture. We are nothing without yall! Social night was another experience being a house I/C. I didn't had to worry about what drinks to get for everybody, didn't had to worry about being drunk and all. I was driving so I didn't really drink much! But all was good until halfway through the night when HALF of T house was literally outside drunk. As a house I/C I cannot be more happy/proud to be their house I/C. They really showed me what it's like to be crazy and to party without giving hoots about the world! One of the most memorable thing was of course when a freshie of ours drank too much and collapsed onto the floor. An ambulance had to be called and she was brought to the hospital. Alcohol intoxication they said, and damn I was freaking worried but I'm glad things turned out well in the end! We took a drive back after that and almost crashed into a freaking tree homg it was damn scary! Timely reminders never to sleep and drive man. Social night was amazing but I was so freaking tired. I'm glad that they didn't have any party games or what on stage, I would have died with the alcohol. it was a great night, seeing people get drunk and KO along the corridors. It was good!

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 5 (War Games Briefing)

BOOM SHAKALAKA BOOM SHAKALAKA BOOM SHKALAKA WOW FANTASTIC BABY. So I apologise for not starting this trend earlier cause I kinda totally forget about it and there isn't enough LT time for us to show too. But T house decides to impromptu-ing bring it back during War games. And to me it's okay because to the other houses they will think oh it's T house again! And we kinda love it, the vibe of telling other people hey we are damn freaking cool and that's all we really are. So this picture is preparing and leading a boom shakalaka with the OGLs all getting ready too & the freshies laughing behind. Times like this are times I really miss. Times like these we are really a T house family.

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 5 (War Games)

This is my happy face before I got smashed with water bombs by the other houses HAHA. I've finally experience how it feels like to be up there being smashed with waterbombs and all those flying into your face. It's a crazy experience and a rather painful one at that too! We had a strategy with R house for this, the RT alliance and it was awesome at the start! Until things started to change and we just decided to heck and play ourselves. It's quite a good sight to see T house protecting the house I/Cs after my partner kinda drop a tear or 2 cause it was really very painful and the freshies were aiming for her instead of the shield. Nonetheless T house also had their own war games after everything was over. Like just T house and round 3 all by ourselves. I guess the freshies really appreciate that!

Arts Camp 2015 - Day 5 (Prize Presentation)

& as usual we never win arts camp. This year we won the happiest house award! Imo I truly think that we deserve this happiest house award cause we have done so much. So what if we didn't win Arts camp, we won arts camp in our own very special ways. We didn't win the war, or more like I've never thought it was a war. We won friends that will be with us throughout our uni years, we won in our ways that other houses never could imagine themselves winning. We did so many things to surprise arts camp because we are T house, and we never stop trying to impress the other houses. So if you think that T house didn't win, look around you and see all that happy faces we all have. We won smiles, admiration, pride & most importantly, a family.

Arts Camp 2015 - The OGLs

I remember the times where me and Frances were anxiously waiting for each OG to get us the OGLs. We were excited and curious who are the ones that are going to step and lead T house together with us during Arts Camp 2015. After we got our team, the chat was so quiet that we thought that they didn't like us. I mean it's weird how the OGLs are so quiet in the chat. So we were worried for awhile but soon came to realise that this worry was unfounded. Through pre-camp and arts camp 2015, on the last day, this is a shot of us, after war games where we are really being ourselves. Gone are our awkward selves, our awkward conversations. 5 days felt like 5 week or 5 months or 5 years that we have known each other, sharing so much laughter with one another and just being ourselves. We helped each other when times were low, when we felt down and the energy level just wasn't there. Now that I'm moving on to Oweek (unexpectedly), a part of me wishes that I could have done Oweek with the rest of you here. Here's another foolish attempt of me trying to recreate a memory that would totally be different from the one at arts camp. So thank you Arts Camp 2015 OGLs, for everything and every memory that we shared, the fuddapness in every OG, the drinking sessions, the hearty laughter we have and most importantly, a family we created. Till the next time we meet (OGL outing), Arts Camp 2015 OGLs HUAT AH!

Arts Camp 2015 - T House

I particularly like this photo where we shouted HUAT AH into the camera. Seniors were around, freshies were around, OGLs were around, councillors were around. Minus away the red colour people who (actually wanted to be in T house) were extras and wow we got a full T house photo here. I took a closer look at the photo and realise that everyone is smiling and truly feels happy to be in T house. As a house I/C, I cannot be more proud than to see all their happy (tired) faces on the 5th day. They have fed me with so much energy, so much vigor that kept me going on everyday. And because of that, I will never stop doing even more things for them, to constantly give them the best Arts Camp days they will ever have. T House has been amazing and I can never ask for another house like this one. Action 214!

With that, Arts Camp 2015 has come to a bitterSWEET close.

One Arts

T house

Tecktonik 2015

Live ;D