All the best wishes for Hwa Chong JC's 50th Anniversary!

Coming from the batch that moved a few times during my 2 years in Hwa Chong, every campus left its mark on us.

We spent countless hours exploring every new campus. The supposedly haunted Haw Par Building at the original campus; the expanse of Ngee Ann Polytechnic; the countless blocks of unoccupied HDB flats in Woodlands and the many coffeeshops in Bukit Batok.

Somehow we managed to have fun and keep ourselves occupied even though the campuses at Woodlands and Bukit Batok were a bit too small for a JC. We were occupying the premises of an adjoining Primary and Secondary school. The cubicles, wash basins and even classroom windows in the Primary school were all built for kids! That meant stooping down to wash our hands or bending our knees to check out the mirrors. I am sure the 4 batches that spent their JC life there will remember that well

The 2 schools were separated by a soccer field in the middle and somehow we managed to overcome the lack of recreational facilities when some chap came up with the brilliant idea of having push ball games. Really cost effective and efficient with hardly any rules to master and just a single piece of equipment - a big leather ball.

As you can see from the picture, hundreds were involved at any one time, some in the midst of the game while others took their break sitting all round the field and even more under the shade of the canteen watching the proceedings.

I guess for many of us then, life was much simpler. Time spent with our friends and batch mates were all meaningful and cherished even if our activity was just pushing a big ball across a field of green grass.

Distinctive concrete balconies and bollards, uniquely beige and brown paintwork that complemented our PE attire.

The faint lines of the netball court painted on the Central Plaza flooring. The central plaza was where the college netball team would train, smacked in the middle of the main building which would provide much needed shade to the players.

It was a much more compact school compared to the campus today. Just 3 buildings if I recall. A unique horseshoe shaped main building housing most of the classrooms, general office, staffroom, labs, library and lecture theatres. Linked to its right wing was the canteen, squash courts, PE Office and above it the indoor sports hall. A much older building, Haw Par Building which housed the gym and some classrooms, sat just behind it.

The small campus size however made Hwa Chong a very cosy and warm campus. It was very common for us to gather at the canteen after our trainings. Most sports CCAs trained outdoors and we would gather at the canteen for drinks after trainings ended.

I remember numerous post training dinners with friends from different sports such as volleyballers, basketballers, netballers and track & field athletes. Everyone just made more friends from peer introductions.

With our dinner group sometimes numbering up to 30, our place of choice by default usually ended up being McDonalds' at Serene Centre. The manager there upon seeing us coming through the door would quickly usher us upstairs to their party room for kids. A service staff would then be dispatched to take our orders and have them sent up to us. That's how a big bunch of teenagers ended up having regular parties in the party room of McDonald's!

I guess kids not having the habit of celebrating their birthdays at night turned out to be a blessing for all of us.

Just when i thought i could finally attend a school which is nearby (Bt Merah to Bt Timah), Hwa Chong had to move to Bt Batok and the journey everyday was arduous - walk from my block to Redhill station, take MRT to Jurong East, followed by a feeder, SS3 to the Bt Batok premise.

We were in a class where most teachers thought we were doomed. Our Civics Tutor didn't think we could make it to Uni, so she offered alternatives for us - 1 could be a SQ girl, another could help out in her family business, etc. And we did not blame her for her less-than-encouraging prospects for us as ALL of us failed Maths C during our promos, failed to hand up assignments by the deadlines, etc.

One of the things i picked up whilst in school was learnt how to play the guitar and "toured" with the team to schools like VJC, TJC to perform. It was fun skipping lessons and playing the instrument all day in the Guitar Club room!

We were the best amateur volleyball, basketball, football teams 🏐🏀⚽

There's no prize for being the sportiest At the end of the year, we had high hopes to win at Festival of Sports for volleyball as our boys and girls had been training hard and we were led by our star volleyballer - Shimin. Alas, we were knocked out due to nerves affecting our performance and some questionable refereeing (jk😃).

What will forever be in the history books is 05S69, Alvinia, Khai Lin, Seng Kiak, Tse Wei, Daryl, Lawrence, Andrew, Jing Hao and more, won the gold 🥇 for football! It was a nail biting penalty shootout final against our arch rivals and classbench neighbours, but we won.

Forever proud of our team, win or lose, 05S69 forever!

有幸参加《黄城夜韵》96年和97年的演出，在灯光组和音响组服务。那时演出在世贸中心举行，一伙人到了谢幕的时候都十分兴奋，一边唱着《唱一首华初的歌》，一边落下欢欣的泪水。我想，这代表着我们这一代人的共同回忆吧，即使分别多年，每每回忆起来心还是暖暖的。

在华初期间，我也有幸修读两个特别课程，CLEP 和HP，成为全年级唯一一个不修读数学的“另类”纯文科生。在HP课程的同学都纷纷报读英美大学的时候，我却选择了一条此前HP毕业生都没走过的路，到中国留学。我想，这就是华初给予我的独特经验，让我能够游刃有余地穿梭在中西文化之间，掌握双语双文化。

总而言之，感恩在青春年少时期，有缘与华初相遇，邂逅了一群良师益友，为日后的梦想找到了启航的理由。谨以如下文字表达我对华初的感谢：

“我的眼睛是华初教我睁开的，我的求知欲是华初给我拨动的，我的自由意识是华初给我胚胎的。”

Juniors like me spent the next 3 weeks exploring the vast campus of Ngee Ann Polytechnic. We were still enjoying our life like any JC1 students would be in their first few months of junior college life. We canteen-hopped in Ngee Ann, marveled at their modern lecture theatres with carpeted floor and individual seats with flipped writing boards (Hwa Chong's own lecture theatres then had long shared tables and benches where the entire row had to vacate if someone seated in the middle decided to excuse himself to go to the restroom). They even had foosball tables for students to pass time.

Little did we know that within a month's time we would be reporting to the 'wilderness' in ulu Woodlands to spend the rest of our JC1 life. Spending time at the 边疆 was really an eye opener for us. We finally appreciated the meaning of the phrase 鸟不生蛋的地方. Perhaps there was something more than just symbolic when our then principal, the late Mr Bernard Fong, released some birds to commemorate our very first flag raising ceremony at the Woodlands campus. He might have been trying to populate the wilderness with some life!

It was the culmination of a week of fun OG games, mass dances and campus songs. Earlier iterations of the game took place in the school field (not the current artificial turf) and involved lots of water, mud, water balloons, crawling under benches and singing in the flour pool.

The aftermath of the event was usually a badly cut-up muddy field, fermented flour that stank for a week, wet canteen benches and very dirty toilets from 1000 students washing up after the games. The Students' Council would spend much time cleaning up and apologising to all for the mess caused. We would promise the school admin to review the process in our post mortem too.

Come the following year, War Games invariably became bigger, rowdier and muddier! It was just too much fun and memorable for incoming JC1s to have to tone it down!

(Sharing this memory in recognition of the power of the HCJC alumni connection - coming together to make a positive impact!)

We played against our own students during Inter-CT competitions as well as the occasional staff teams from the other JCs. Missing from this picture though is one of our best players, Chong (sorry Nick, Chong was younger and more mobile!).

The name Chong may not seem familiar to most students or staff. He was actually the operator of the chicken rice stall in our school canteen. His brother operated the mixed rice stall next to him while his sister operated the nasi padang stall further down next to the hot drinks stall.

Unbeknown to most Hwa Chongians then, Chong played a very mean game of soccer. He was the 'Roy Keane' of our staff team - the destroyer, who sat just in front of our defenders breaking up the opponents' plays.

I doubt any of our opposing teams (other than our own students) ever found out that he wasn't technically a member of our staff. But then again, Hwa Chong JC was always about being inclusive and we have always embraced him as part of our extended big family!

Other than Kwok Leong, who is now the Deputy Principal in the college section, all of us in the picture have moved on from Hwa Chong. But I am sure all of us retain the fondest memories of our exploits on the soccer field. Those were the days when we ditched our 'classroom' office attire, donned our red and white Hwa Chong JC jerseys and proudly took to the field for our matches but always with an eye on the post-match drinks afterwards!

Couldn't be happier to see my CT, Mrs Cheng, back at HCJC.

So much has changed, but in the best possible way, she hasn't. I remember that as her student, I received counsel and support when needed...and as a young alumni, I was invited back to give a career talk when she was helping the Career Guidance Office.

After almost 20 years, I'm so proud to see that she continues to make the greatest impact on youths and young minds in her current position as Head of Chemistry and at the Boarding School too...and I am grateful that we still keep in touch and updated about our lives and family.

The best teachers transform lives, and I'm fortunate to have met Mrs Cheng. She is the most patient, kind, and supportive teacher...Thank you for everything!

#感恩

#饮水思源

On this evening, thousands of alumni with their friends and family will descend upon the Central Plaza, continuing a tradition in which seniors will return for their annual reunion.

Not many though know that picking a date to celebrate MAF isn't that straightforward. MAF has to fall within the first 15 days of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Too early, you might bump into hungry ghosts (plus you seriously don't want anyone to roll their eyes and comment on why Hwa Chong actually celebrated MAF within Hungry Ghost Festival!). Too late and you will miss the festive mood, the full moon and the mooncakes. It should ideally be after the Prelims, before the Promos and on a Saturday so that most of us are able to partake in the celebrations. Not that easy to pick a date on most years much less when the lunar calendar springs a 闰月 (Leap Month).

Having witnessed 2 decades of MAF organisation and celebrations, I can safely say that it is not that difficult for others to also celebrate MAF, with its performances and decorations but it is virtually impossible to replicate the atmosphere in our Central Plaza and the Hwa Chong spirit at the finale of our unique campus songs and mass dances.

The number of alumni joining in the celebrations for the night far surpass the current student population and that creates a very special and warm welcoming experience for the juniors. Whether it is singing in unison from the balconies or dancing in step in the central plaza with their juniors, it is the seniors' way of embracing them as part of the Hwa Chong family.

If the JC1 Orientation Campfire is the initiation into college life then MAF is probably the final rite of passage where one soaks in the full Hwa Chong spirit.

I would urge those who have not been back since your college days to make a special effort for MAF. Help recreate the same central plaza atmosphere that you experienced as a junior. Make it a memorable evening for your juniors and have a warm reunion with your friends and teachers.

Shaded by the tall casuarina trees (please correct me if I am mistaken) the path led towards the side gate of Bukit Timah Road.

Schools of anglo saxon best

A class of misfits in language and cultures

became a group of happy learning vultures

The time for gentrified nostalgic retreat

Together once more our hearts and minds to meet

Towards progress was our motto then

What of us now? The sword or its mightier pen?

Can you spot our GP teacher, Mr. Chan Poh Meng?

The skit, which was staged at one the Chinese New Year celebrations, premised on 游龙戏风saw me play 正德帝and Mr Chan Poh Meng playing凤姐 was a scream when Mr Bernard Fong suddenly shouted for us to stop not because we were playing 反串roles but only to tell us that we were not playing our 反串 roles well enough. The skits the Science Department staged to celebrate Teachers Day - scenes from Wonder Years, a popular American coming-of-age comedy series in the late 80s and early 90s, and takes from X-Men, the first movie in the X-Men franchise are experiences that the Department colleagues and I reminisce with much joy and laughter.

When Hwa Chong became a little nomadic during the years 1987-1991. the apparent challenges faced then were actually more fun than challenging.  While we had to bring along the microphone to the lecture theatres at Ngee  Ann Polytechnic, we got to eat nice beef noodles for lunch and had a lovely  view of the pool while we worked in the ad hoc staffroom which overlooked the pool.  With one of the Science staff rooms being the kitchen when we were at Woodlands, and so we sat on high stools with no back rest, we got to have our personal sink and a full length mirror to ensure we looked good for classes. 😊 

To raise funds for the rebuilding project, the staff got together to stage the play titled Graveyard Shift.  I played the role of Mr Benjamin Yeo’s wife. It was hard work as most of the rehearsals were done after classes.  To help me remember my lines, I recorded the lines of the actors whom I had dialogues with on a cassette tape and will play the recording whenever I can to rehearse my lines. Looking back, it was an experience I would not have said no to if I were to be asked again!

Hwa Chong has left an indelible mark in my life. She will live on and on in my memories.

Hwa Chong Junior College holds a special place in my heart because it’s home to me in several ways. My sisters and I attended school here. Our teachers inspired us with their deep disciplinary knowledge and dedication to their craft. Our peers worked hard but played harder. I still fondly recall the many nights we spent revising in the library or chatting at the class bench.

All three of us ended up teaching at our alma mater after we graduated from NIE. It was a privilege to teach alongside those who’ve shaped us into who we are today.

Thank you HCJC for teaching me to live with passion and lead with compassion! May Hwa Chong shine forever, her name big and strong, one and all, let’s stand by her, that she may live on and on.

As we celebrate the year of the dragon this year, we also celebrate HCJC 50th anniversary! I would like to wish HCI all the very best and look forward to the next 50 years of academic excellence, filled with fun and laughter and all the wonderful memories that have become so precious to all of us who have walked down the memory path in Hwa Chong!

#自强不息

只愿那爱我愿

愿我能把华初之光点燃 原黄城之爱与心中滋长
原友谊能把你心温暖 愿我有完成心愿的力量

没有瀑布与岩石的阻挡 溪水就没有悦耳的歌唱
不愿途中无波浪无挑战 愈经挫折生命愈灿烂

只为那爱我愿与你同行万里路
只为那爱我愿与你携手向前迈步
生命短暂多急促
既然碰上了又岂能虚度

只为那爱我愿与你同行万里路
只为那爱我愿与你携手向前迈步
黄城两载多短促
既然爱上了又为何不付出

Love you, Hwa Chong! Hope we made you proud! ♥️

I remembered feeling liberated in JC1, as I only had to study 4 subjects and it seemed like there were loads of fun and activities around me. I picked the right combination, S2, as Mathematics and logic were my favourite. But honestly, the real reason was that I did not have to study so hard.

My CT tutor was Mrs Cecilia Thong and was also taught by other teachers for e.g. the late Mr Peter Kwang, Mdm Yeo Lek Hoon, Mrs and Mrs Yeoh Yee Sing, Ms Quek Hoon Khim, Mrs Chin etc.

I must say the HCJC teachers were great and they laid very solid foundation for my college education later in the US. I am thankful for their life dedication and contribution to the many 黄城学子

I enjoyed netball as a CCA and the YLTC trip to Pulau Tekong. And yes, the famous mass dance sessions. These were definitely much more fun than preparing for the A levels. My classmates in S24 were nice and interesting mostly, but sometimes they didn't see me in class as I like to sneak out of a classroom setting haha.

Certainly hope that all our current juniors in school will have a memorable and rewarding chapter of their life here, just as I had.

Happy 50th Birthday Hwa Chong JC :-) and Best Wishes!

Managed to catch up with fellow 95C13 recently and memories flowed!

Will always remember our form teacher & econs terror Mdm Jennifer Tan, who won't hesitate to throw the thick econs book in your face or "open up your skull to see what you have absorbed so far"

Best 2 years of my teenage times,

To another wonderful 50!!

Signing up for the ECA opened the doors for us students to a new world of mountain trekking. We conducted physical trainings and expedition planning in school classrooms to challenge our limits and knowledge of risks, set up "river crossing" and abseiling in Central Plaza under professional supervision, met with Singapore Everest team members for advice, and befriended fellow Hwa Chong students and teachers all the way back to the 1st expedition in 1976. We took long treks across Singapore with army haversacks, did overnight train rides from Tanjong Pagar KTM station, trekked through primeval leech-ridden forests of Taman Negara, slept under the cold stars at Gunung Tahan, shivered and unfurled the school flag and national flag amidst howling winds and rain at the peak of Mount Fansipan, and shared hot tea in Nepal guesthouse and views of snowy Himalayan mountain peaks. This parallel universe existed alongside Hwa Chong JC student life and A-levels, coalescing with typical school moments of classrooms, teachers, lectures, homework, etc, forming a kaleidoscope of memories for my two short Hwa Chong JC years that would stay with me long after I had stepped out of Hwa Chong's school gates.

To honour this unique school tradition and shared experiences, Hwa Chong JC Tahan Alumni came together and produced a book in 2012 "One Mountain, One Passion: 36 Years of Hwa Chong Tahanners". More memories of Hwa Chong Tahanners can be viewed here:

https://hctahanners.wordpress.com

Strong friendships were forged here.

Beautiful are the places we presently roam,

But Hwa Chong JC will always be home.”

Just a short poem to describe my feelings towards HCJC. Time spent here was a dichotomy between stress and happiness. Nonetheless, some of the best times I’ve had in my life were spent within the walls of HC: training with my teammates, having impromptu karaoke sessions in empty classrooms, challenging our PE teachers for drinks, etc.

Cheers to HCJC and Happy Golden Jubilee year!

I also remember fondly my GP Teachers Mr Walter Ng, Mrs Liew and Ms Maha. Our GP class was very fun. The teachers were very analytical, mind-probing and challenging. Mr Walter Ng in particular would throw sharp questions at us and we were expected to bring the class to an elevated level of discussion. Mrs Liew & Ms Maha were kind whilst Mr Ng, humorous.

The two years I spent in Hwa Chong JC were the most memorable times in my life. They are etched in my memory forever.

Fast forward to the present day, 44 years later, these friends have remained by each other's side through thick and thin. What makes their friendship truly remarkable is the decision they made in 2013 to embark on an annual tradition of traveling together. Despite the demands of everyday life, they made it a priority to set aside time to explore new destinations, create unforgettable memories, and strengthen their bond even further.

Their very first journey together took them to Ho Chi Minh City, a city alive with history, culture, and vibrant energy. It was on this trip that they discovered a shared passion for adventure and the thrill of exploring new places. From then on, each annual trip became a new chapter in their friendship, an opportunity to discover the world and deepen their connection.

As the years passed, life unfolded in unexpected ways, leading them to the role of grandmothers for some. Yet, despite the changes that come with age and the responsibilities that accompany it, these friends continued to prioritize their friendship above all else. The laughter shared, the stories exchanged, and the experiences lived together only served to strengthen the bond that had stood the test of time.

Looking ahead, they know that the road ahead may hold challenges and uncertainties, but one thing remains certain - their friendship will endure till the very end. They have created a pact to walk together along the winding path of life, supporting each other, cherishing the memories they have made, and creating new ones along the way.

In a world where connections often come and go, this friendship stands as a shining example of the beauty of true companionship. It is a reminder that genuine relationships, nurtured with care and commitment, have the power to withstand the passage of time and grow even more precious with each passing year.

It followed me to army, to uni… somehow we are identified as “from hwachong” - for good or bad 🤭

Much of the 2 years flew by in a blur and in the spirit of 黄城两载多短促，既然碰上了又岂能虚度 (obviously I got it mixed up 😅):

I can only remember the mega school events like Orientation, CNY bazaar, MAF, Sports Day, FOS, training with my basketball and track & field teammates… skipping lectures, skipping school etc - little wonder I’ve still yet to graduate after 27-28 years!

I’ve often wondered and even imagined, what would I have done differently if I woke up one day and found that I was 17 again 🤔

I would still do the same above but I would be braver and fall in love! 🤗

And yes study harder too🥲

Thank you for the memories hwachong, and thank you friends, if you remember me, for being a part of my life. Hope everyone is well and take care, have a good life!! 🙏🏼😉