I’ll Still Be Around

Tags: emotional · friends · girl · letters · memories · school

Dear FADU, ex-SPSU members and all that I have met from union,

Many may have been expecting it, some may have been surprised, few may even be shocked. But it is true nonetheless.

I cannot say that I am quitting. Quitting makes me sound like a total loser. I’m not one, am I? I was just simply advised by Mr. Tan to lay of my duties as a committee member for awhile until I feel like I am able to handle my workload.

Some folks simply just think that that is equivalent to quitting. I admit, I do wish I could. Quit, I mean.

When I first entered SP three years ago, the first batch of friends I made were from SPSU. I enjoyed their company, humour and the family-togetherness that attracted me from day one. I loved the way how things ran in the union.

Even though I got the ax a year later, I was still involved with SPSU, helping out with the Freshmen Orientation Camp every year. I was disappointed to learn that major changes have been made. Also, half of my friends left union because of internal unhappiness.

Despite that, I believed that things would go back to the old times. Oh, how foolish I was!

This year, after being accepted into SP and into SPSU‘s council, I was determined to gather manpower to help change the whole system back to the old days.

But it was not to be.

I find that no matter how much effort I place into the change, it results to nothing. I am a small fry in this organisation with no powers or influence. A Nobody.

I was warned beforehand. I related my eagerness to my friends, seniors and juniors. They were nice and kind, but did not believe that the old days would return. I was disappointed, but stayed strong. It was not until I experienced the “new” SPSU for myself, then did I realise the reality of things.

You want to change union, not that easy. You need to change their mindsets. Look at them, do you think they’ll change? They had this mindset when they entered Union, and they’re passing that mindset on to the next batch. Do you think you can change that?

Puwen was right. I should have listened to him.

It’s not that I’m proud because I’m the senior (where age is concerned) of the council. I have never felt that way before. Don’t accuse me of being proud and assume that I cannot work with my peers. You just don’t know what I’m going through. And you may never understand.

I see traditions being changed. I see modified versions of how things should run. I see the first years suffering while the second years push their duties to them. I see unfairness where positions are concerned. I see all work and hardly any play. I see the warmth and togetherness of the family gone. I see all these and I am deeply saddened.

What happened to my beloved SPSU?

I loved union. Mother believed that union was a bad influence on me. I argued and fought for union with my parents. My innocence was destroyed because folks whom I thought were my friends were backstabbing others in order to secure their positions. History was being related to me and it hurt to hear.

Union was a great place. But not anymore.

I still love SPSU, but a lot lesser. I love union from the old days. Not now.

I want to thank friends that I’ve made during the camp. Your fun, laughter and lameness made me feel at home. Thank you Terence, Shafiq, Ghalid, Geraldine, Nicole, Juliet, Amanda, Kent, Yong Xuan, Alwin, Justin… We should have stuck to FADU *small fond smile*

I’ll still be around.

Take care,
Nadine

14 Comments »

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jer commented

September 7, 2005 @ 19:32

i empatise with you. you are not alone in your struggle to change fucked up organisations and all that, and have failed.

Queenie commented

September 8, 2005 @ 1:38

To change something big like the union requires teamwork. I dont think just one person can make a miracle. At least you’ve tried your best and gained alot from this whole experience. Cheerios (: Those friends you made and memories you have will always be there despite the changes in the union (: -bigbig hugs

uncle sha commented

September 8, 2005 @ 2:55

well good luck handling the SP bigshots!

yami commented

September 8, 2005 @ 3:04

You have tried. It isn’t your fault, or something within your control. People change, things change, everything change. Perhaps the best solution now is just to accept whatever it is and make the best out of it eh. And the very least, you still have those fond memories in you.

Trinnah commented

September 8, 2005 @ 23:33

It sucks being a ‘small fry in a big organisation.’ You try to change things, but there are always going to be those who are fine being stagnant.

Chau commented

September 9, 2005 @ 4:17

Wow, good luck with it all!! *hugs*

Silver commented

September 9, 2005 @ 15:57

At least you tried. It’s better than to wonder or regret if you have not tried. You did your best, and maybe someone did hear your tries but it is not easy to change the situation. but as long as some people know the purpose; heard that cry, even if it seems like a rather near impossible feat and you get this this shitty feeling, at least there was some possible minute changes; an impact on some minds. Things are never the same, at least you still have the good days. And one day when you think back, as much as it hurts, that you did try hard to salvage it. On a side plate, maybe it takes more than one small fry but huge packets of fries with too much salt.
=)

Chelsea commented

September 10, 2005 @ 12:39

The other commenters are right.. especially Silver. At least you tried, and you’re able to leave knowing you did make an effort. Sometimes the old just wasn’t meant to be changed for the new. *hug* I hope you feel better and less lonely soon!

Dani commented

September 10, 2005 @ 22:05

i’m proud of your efforts nadine 😀 putting all your effort + hard work and being disappointed is a bummer :/ queenie said: “To change something big like the union requires teamwork.” and i think she’s right – being a small fry is no fun, i get that feeling all the time. working together is often key to success 😀 i’m sorry the union has changed like so – hopefully someone can revert it back to what it was orginally. but don’t be afraid to embrace change, good or bad ^_^

Joyceline commented

September 11, 2005 @ 11:28

I smell a revolution in the works!

imee commented

September 11, 2005 @ 17:33

quitting can be symbolic of being a loser, but you’ll be a bigger loser if you don’t when you already know your efforts are not recognized. i hope everything’ll turn out for the best, and just because you’re gone doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with them anymore right? (=

Brenda commented

September 11, 2005 @ 21:10

Well, it will be very difficult if just one person attempts to change the whole Student’s Union for the better. And from what I see, this appears to be a one man show since the other members don’t seem to be contributing anything on their part to make SPSU back to the way it originally was.

I understand how you feel. Ah well, I just hope things will get better soon. At least you tried your best. 🙂

Marz commented

September 12, 2005 @ 17:14

To want to make a difference is a really big job but the fact that you wanted to create something and take on all that effort is a really good thing on your part, and I applaud you for that. Although it may not have worked out to the intention that you were hoping for, it goes to show that you at least have some credible show that you tried. That is the real mark within you. =)

I empathize with you. There are many things that I want to change and have taken upon myself to try and do something. Most of them have failed and a lot of people have lumped me for even trying. But I think that trying is a good show on your self dignity. You tried, you worked and although it didn’t work out to what you wished for it to be, you still had that spark of hope that triggered it all.

Justin commented

November 17, 2005 @ 23:49

well.. i bliv things are beginnin to change… because of the fact that union year 1s are capable ppl of workin n playin at the same time.. by the time we’re year 3.. look out for the changes this batch has made to the following batches.. we will strive to make the diference… =]

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