arf arf arf.

The CounSeal officially stepped down at approximately 2000 hours, 6 March 2015 at HGH Convention Centre, Sentul, during the Orientation Ball. We're relieved of our duties, and:

I ain't writing minutes no more. (cue chorus of angels)

But that's pretty much where the 'relieved' part ends. We're all already missing how it feels like to be a member of the Student Council, to enjoy the luxuries of the SC Room (a.k.a. the Black Hole. Leave something there? Don't expect to find it ever again), to be given the privilege to plan, organise and host College events and be given the honour to serve the students of MCKL. We're all a little worried about having to sit alone in the canteen after having ditched our friends over the past 7 months. Now there's no SC Room to take refuge in. How now?

CounSeal's sleepover @ The Platform KL

Jokes aside, I want to bring up the blog post where I first mentioned being in the Council. I was excited, I was shocked (when elected secretary. Still am shocked), and I didn't know what I was getting myself into. Being in the Student Council seems glamorous and all, but if you even got a glimpse of what the Council members had to go through, you'd be shocked and probably, hopefully, appreciate them even more. 

Note that I spoke about the Council members as if I weren't a part of them. And this is how I truly feel. On the outside, everyone, including my parents and closest friends, everyone thinks I'm so close to the rest of the Council. Everyone thinks I'm so busy all the time to fulfill my Council duties. Everyone thinks I put in so much effort to serve the College and no one, except probably the Council itself, knows how untrue this is.

Yes, I write minutes. Yes, I make duty rosters. And yes, I was in charge of the whole election process with the Vice Secretary, Sara. But do these things really make my time in the Council worthwhile? I don't think so. These were part of my jobscope. I was supposed to do these things. Besides all this, I felt like I was hogging a space in the Student Council by literally doing almost nothing that required real sacrifice.

Us at the beginning (not full)

From the start, I promised my commitment. I promised to give my best and I assured the people who interviewed me that I would prioritise the Council. I really can't believe I was so blind and so careless. For goodness' sake, I have students to teach. I'm involved in church. There are so many commitments that really require my presence, my effort, my time. I even ran for President, and I'm so thankful that I didn't get it, because what sort of president bails out on every single Council activity? But I was so caught up in the fact that I got past the interviews that I didn't think twice.

I shouldn't have been in the Student Council. 

I should've pulled out before things started rolling.

Our official SC photo, for the last time.
(+ Ms Esther)

To all my CounSeals, I am sorry. I guess it's a little late to say this now, but I am sorry for ditching you guys so many times during preparations. I am sorry for not helping out much before Spectrum Dash and Orientation Ball. I'm sorry I didn't even attend SDash (I was at camp... But that's a story for another day ;D). I've tried to make up for it, but I felt like it wasn't enough. I am also sorry for being irresponsible, for being insensitive, for being inconsiderate. I'm sorry for taking up a commitment that I actually wasn't ready to handle, considering I had other commitments. And most of all, I'm sorry that I didn't give my best. 

Dance practices... without me in them. I'm sorry Abi & Jia Wei T_T

Dance practices were something I hardly attended. I had work. There was no way I could shift my classes around to accommodate after school activities. And that is the reason why I completely blame myself for being so irresponsible. For saying 'yes, I will do it' and completely not do it at all. 

But if there's anything to learn and to be grateful for, it's family. I'm grateful that you guys are so understanding. For saying, "You have work? Sure, we understand." I'm grateful that even though a bond had already formed during all the prep days and overnights, you all still left a little space for me to join you. And I'm grateful that no matter how many times I mess up your shifts and forget things, you all still understand. 

There isn't much to say about how we bonded, because honestly, all that stuff about bonding with me was through work as Council members. I feel like I didn't get to know you guys the way you all know each other during all the times I wasn't there. You're all so close, and sometimes I felt excluded. But that's normal in such a big group, I guess. I know it's not intentional, and it's not really easy to be so close to someone you hardly see. That someone is me.

Before this whole thing becomes a blog post of self pity, I really want to appreciate all those who took the effort to update me on things, who make sure I know what's going on, who ask me if I need help. A special shoutout, for the last time, to Sara for really having my back every time something went wrong, for helping me pull through datelines and basically making my life a little less burdened. I could never have asked for a more efficient, more organised vice secretary. Also, I'm sorry for the time you felt you were doing everything and I was being MIA. Really, really sorry.

One of our first Pre-U meetings, a farewell for 2NT5

Orientation Ball 2015 was the last chance to commit myself completely to the Council. I put in extra effort, and, even though I know my work won't match the amount of effort everyone else has put in, I hope the results were satisfactory. To Mr. Stage Head, Abel, thanks for filling me in on everything I missed out on, and I'm sorry if I disappointed you in anyway before & during the event. I hope my efforts met your expectations. To the entire OB team, you guys are seriously amazing. The event was your brainchild and it grew up to be an impressive event. Kudos to every single one of the SC members, old and new, for making it a success.

Despite all these 'negative' things, I really enjoyed this. Many memories have been made in that tiny little office of ours, what with Family Feud sessions, Thinking Out Loud being played hundreds of times, making too much noise and getting kicked out, witnessing Marcus' terrific dance skills, chilling on the sleeping bag, complaining about the mess, having too many red pens, fighting over what music to play, writing nonsense on the whiteboards... the list goes on, and it will go on forever.

But you know what? I'm glad I stayed through it all. I learnt some pretty invaluable things as a seal. Being in the CounSeal will always be a very important chapter of my life. It will be the greatest highlight of my College life, and it will always be remembered as the time I grew up the most. And I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of it.

Our last ever general meeting.
Mondays, 5pm

It was a joy dhoom-ing with you all for the past 7 months, and I hope our friendship deepens into something that lasts a lifetime. I hope the existing bond between you all still has a little more space for me.

Our first day of being the Council... and our last.

And as Marcus once said:

  "Arf, arf, arf."