8th August 2005. i thought this day would nv come.

i woke up groggily today. looking at the clock, it stated 6.31pm. i stood up suddenly, how can it be? so late! i felt dizzy all the same. then i saw the award place neatly on the table, "Outstanding NCO.." i slumped back onto my bed, bac to my pillow. Savouring the night before, that one evening that i will never forget, everything kept back to my mind slowly yet enthusiastically...

it started to rain on 8th August early morning when i got up all prepared for the evening. damn. no rain please. no rain. i went to sch to celebrate national day,it was cool, but my mind was elsewhere. second wave of rain came again. i was worried, but better rain now then later.
then things started to speed up, unknowingly it was already 2.30pm (3 more hours), i met up with nigel and godwin and the rest of the Guard-of-Honour contingent members, mostly sec4s. we were to draw the rifle for the coming 153rd Annivesary Parade.. "no rain, so far so good" i thought. i interacted with the other sec4s with nigel by my side, it was so easy tokin to them now.. many of them asked me bout my confidence. i told them it's okay, nothing much actually, but the feelings of anxiety, anticipation nv really go away, even now after the parade.

It was 4.50pm already, dressed in my No.1 uniform, complete with gloves and everything. it's time. let's do it. before i know it 5.30pm, we formed up near the sec 1 chem lab.there we moved out towards the field, greeted by the large crowd of alumni, visitors, my parents, friends, teachers. it was juz like last year. but its juz different this year.

Finally, the parade started, the bugle was sounded. the mace was thrown by gareth, drum major of sjimb. cheers came mostly from the sjimb alumni i guess. just take it like everyday's parade rehearsal. i started to smile, gripping my rifle as steady as possible, come on, today's my day! finally, the GOH contingent marched. every completed march was greeted by the audience's applause. this is cool. after the address by principal and guestofhonour, the command was given for prize winners to come forward. giving my rifle to aaron.. me and julius went forward towards the audience.. even though i had done it be4, i couldnt contain my excitement, i caught a glimpse of jian hao with his spiky hair.. lets do this nicely for him and my other friends, xd and yl man.. then it was the march-pass, i love tht part, it makes us look so grand.. plus tht finish by sjimb's school song when they march pass.. after tht came the part i had waited mayb 3years for.. haha..

"CSM CSM....." i only recognise this two words of e command.. finally man.. godwin and marcus was marching in front, while i came together with jian da and faeliq.. i didn really see kar jun, only until i formed up beside him.. yes, the 6 incoming csm, the other 6 outgoing csm should be there too, as i caught jovian's silhoeutte.. "From NCC (Land)" i thought i screwed up when i gave the timing and ahmad continued with "From MSG Jovian Wong.." damn.. jovian banged and i didnt. i hope no one noticed. finally we were infront of Mr Lui. At this point, i had to hide my smile, tht feeling inside me, with everyone watching intently, i had to keep it inside for the moment. the pacestick was presented to me.. Mr Lui said something like "As this leadership is passed to you, i hope u will do a gd job for NCC.. Congratulations, Kai Chuen." then the sash. finally, i did it.. i got what i wanted since sec 2 i think.. it was my dream to be tht person there, motivating everyone who is part of the company called SJI NCC(Land). this company had really changed my life so much, especially this year, with al the uncertainties and "political" issues. And now, i am the one who will be heading this company. The CCA tht i had chosen since sec 1 without any dreams. Some people may think NCC is nothing, juz some corps that always do push-ups and drills.. i dun care wad u guys think, all i know is tht, it had taught me more than juz leadership, it taught me the meaning of pride and dignity, the real definition of teamwork, bonds tht u will nv find in the dictionary, the allusion of perseverance.. It is not just some screwed-up, slack cca tht build u up only physically. And i will be there to prove it this time.

As the flag is lowered, i became aware of the true significance of "passing on the passion", the phrase always used in LLTC. Jovian had not only pass me the pacestick, the sash, the rank, he had passed me the flame, to carry on burning with NCC, he had given me tht responsibility and trust that nxt year 2006 will be another successful year for SJI NCC.. and I will not fail. As the new csm for sji ncc land, i will do what i can, to the best of my abilities, to improve our corps, to maintain the standard, i hav trust in every single centarinian specialist, and every cadet in my CCA, and yes, i hope i hav all of ur trust too.. this new beginning had already given me that whole new level of confidence again.. Thank you everyone who had given me this chance.

Thanks guys, for comin to the parade too.. :P
xd,yl, rod, jian hao, xav, yi xuan.. and so many others..