It was coincidence which led me to PSB. It was not something straight forward. There was some sort of search before I finally managed to find PSB. I was channeled to LTC but due to some concerns on my parents’ part, I had to pull out from LTC and hence, that opened the door for me to PSB – and that was how the fun all started.

The PLTC’04 that I attended was one that I did without a tiny bit of regret. While it equipped me with the necessary skills and techniques required in peer support, what I felt more strongly was that I suddenly realized that I was given the opportunity to be a leader; to be a counselor; to be someone whom people would go to for help and support. This was when I realized that I was going to be someone useful; someone that was somebody; someone that could inspire people. Moreover, it proved to be the platform for me to meet and get to know the other student leaders in this school. This gathering of then-future student leaders was the highlight of my December holidays in Sec 2.

After PLTC’04, my fellow camp mates and I emerged proudly as official Peer Support Leaders. We received our red shirts from Mr. Oh at the end of camp and attained our greatly anticipated Peer Leader Badges on the very day we were to start our duties as Peer Leaders. That day, we were to meet the parents of the people whom we were to support - it was Sec 1 Registration. We had to take care of administrative stuff and be the first people those fresh Victorians and their parents meet, and to greet them with wide smiles, welcoming them into the Victorian family with open arms.

After Registration, it was Sec 1 Orientation. I had to, in the capacity of a PSL, bring my sec one Peer Leader Class1F around the school to familiarize them with the new campus and also to assist them in picking their CCAs. It was the first time I had a look at them as a class on a whole and while having to bring them around did cause some headaches along the way, I enjoyed every bit of it.

I was getting used to being mentor, friend and brother to 1F and hence when the seniors were soliciting for PSLs to go for the Sec1 camp, I pounced at that opportunity. The camp gave me the chance to understand the entire sec1 population better and also to gain a better comprehension of 1F. That was truly vital to my work as a Peer Support Leader. Being a senior at the camp showed me how different it was to attend a camp and to facilitate a camp, and my obvious choice would be the latter. Facilitating the camp made known to me things that I wouldn’t have been exposed to and you really learn so much more from facilitating rather than merely attending the camp.

When we got back from camp, it was on to the very activity we were prepared for-Peer Leader Sessions. I spent time with my sec 1s, who thankfully were persuaded to stay back beyond their curriculum time to allow me to conduct these sessions with their welfare at heart. We discussed topics ranging from CCAs to fitting into Secondary school life and the occasional BGR. However, the other peer leaders in charge of 1F felt a little left out as they didn’t get to go for Sec 1 camp and hence weren’t very close to them. Nevertheless, we took turns to conduct the sessions and eventually, everyone got to know everyone and everyone was part of this very loving, very supportive family.

What came along next was to change my entire perspective of PSB. I had the honour of getting my application to go for the Peer Support Convention passed and hence I attended this congregation of PSLs from all over Singapore to share, learn and spread the spirit of peer support. It taught me how big a difference I could make as a Peer Leader.

Soon after, we as PSLs were all called to go for Exco interview. It wasn’t exactly nerve-wrecking but still there was still a certain amount of nerves present. I didn’t go in hopeful as I was already contented with the leadership position entrusted to me by my CCA, and hence thought that I would be better to give this leadership opportunity to other just as deserving leaders. However, the seniors felt that I should be given a role in the development of PSB and therefore I was to be a Committee Member (Treasurer). Honestly, I wasn’t very content with this result, although I did mention earlier that I wasn’t very hopeful, as I was naïve to think that being just a committee member would restrict my ability to contribute, but I managed to grapple with the initial disappointment and to tell myself that what I do is up to me and not merely a rank or position.

After we got picked, it was time for us to do the picking. For the first time ever in ‘Red Shirt History’, the red shirts from LTC and PSB came together, with the notion that closer working relations between student organizations was beneficial for all, and decided that we should interview the entire group of sec2s that were to go for one of the leadership programmes. Unfortunately, I was not around to interview those fresh sec2s but I understand that selection was one that was filled with controversy and contention. When the grueling process was completed, we agreed upon who was more suitable for the different programmes. From the looks of it, this move was clearly an intelligent one as the talent pool was much bigger and the quality of the PSLs were definitely far more superior.

When that was done, it was down to planning PLTC’05. I had a blast planning for it and obviously executing it. From the workshops to the Amazing Race (which Nic Lim and I planned by the way), from digging in the sand pit to filling up a bucket with whatever ‘liquids’ that were available, from ‘bumming’ from chair to chair to sharing an apple with a best bud without using hands, from night walk to bbq, it was truly a great experience. What’s even better was that I got to know the future student leaders of VS better and I’m glad to say that VS is in good hands. They came in as awkward khaki-panters but emerged as Peer Support Leaders, all grown up.

Having molded those PSLs, it was then time to commemorate the efforts of all the student leaders in VS and this was manifested in the form of the Inaugural Student Leaders’ Investiture (SLI). PSB chipped in too and offered our services in the organizing of this meaningful event together with the other student organizations like MC and PB in a bid to foster closer ties between the student organizations. It was a wonderful event and it was encouraging to realize that the school recognizes the efforts of all student leaders.

Up next was Peer Support Convention ’06. Again, it was sort of a coincidence. It just so happened that I got to know the Chairperson of RGS PSB and hence we attempted to invite her and her team to give a short sharing session during PLTC’05. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, that did not work out. However, when Convention time came along, they called us and invited us to co-organize PS Convention ’06. Naturally, we were extremely excited about holding the event with them, due to obvious reasons. (And I’m talking about being exposed to how other boards are run and how we can learn from them.) Like someone once said, “Convention is like Christmas in the PSB calendar!” That pretty much summed up the initial excitement.

We gathered both our manpower together, mixed them up a little, called ourselves the OC (for Organizing Committee) and was time to get down with all the planning and organizing. From Prog to Log, from Publicity to Admin and of course not forgetting the Adco, we all had fun. When convention itself finally arrived, we savored all the happy moments and relished all the fun times. There we also unveiled our first board song “You Never Stand Alone”. We inspired, we aspired and we acquired.

As Convention drew to a close, we had to go back to do what we were called for, being there for the sec 1s. Hence, we decided that a concrete lesson plan was needed to facilitate better PSL Sessions and so therefore we agreed on the themes for each session and picked different PSLs to draw up the lesson plans under the supervision of the Curriculum Head.

Now that we had contributed to the school, we felt that it was important to the development of PSB as a board to attain a room. Therefore when we received news that the Camp Instructors’ room was going to be vacated, we drafted a proposal and sent it to the Principal. He agreed to our proposal but as complications kicked in, we had to make a compromise and share the room with the CIs. I have faith and am assured that the two organizations will be able to live with each other and have each other as room mates.

This room is a gift from EXCO’0506 to PSB and we hope that future generations of PSLs and SPSLs would cherish this small but cozy space in VS just as how PSB will be all cozy in our hearts and the memories would be cherished.

Finally, it was time to pick our successors and we did engage in heated debates and vociferous arguments but it was all in the name of PSB. Ultimately, we managed to come to a conclusion and EXCO’0607 was formed.

I trust that EXCO’0607 will do an excellent job and have faith that they will serve the school with all their hearts and have fun in the meantime too.

The journey for me ends here but the memories will live forever and when I look back to my VS days and ask myself what I’ve done, I’ll think of PSB and I’ll think of EXCO’0506 and I’ll think of the Sec3 juniors, who made it all worthwhile and taught me lots as well, and also I’ll think of Sec 1F, my PL class and al the things I’ve done and accomplished in the name of Victoria School Peer Support Board. And a big thank you to everyone that played a part in my PSB experience.

You just never get to ever stand alone.

It’s all about support.