The One With IU Day 2008

I didn't have the chance to say alot of things during my speech about everything i went through in Interact. But since this is my blog, i shall for once - write out a post in plain simple English.

Though for many the Interact Club is just basically the club you sign up for at the start of the year and you do stuff whwhen you're told and la-dee-dah. For someone who wouldn't even expect an extra-curricular activity to change who she was, it snuck up quite sneakily by me. Back in 2006, i was basically just quiet, terrified-of-socialising Esther. I remember that old me so vividly that i honestly wonder what could've made me think that that was a good comfort zone to hide in. When i was installed as Secretary, that was pretty much where i planned to stay till i was form5. Because i know that's what i like - doing work in the background.

Then came DIC '06. It was in University Malaya. I doubt Veena or Karven saw much of how i reacted to all the interactors present except for how psychopathically-fixated i'd been on my newly-chopped locks. In simple terms, i felt like crap. There i was - with what was then a fugly bob, black t-shirt and cargo pants in the sea of - simply put - hot teenagers.

I needn't go into detail of the whole 3 days of the conference cos how i went through them were all identical - me feeling like crap.

When i came back home, i was still numb from what i'd seen and experienced during the conference. I was so small and so bland compared to everyone there. That's when i couldn't stand it and i really wanted to change. Not totally, but definitely get rid of the me who thought so poorly of myself.

The hols went by, 2007 arrived and eventhough i didn't behave very much differently or look different ('cept my hair), i certainly felt different. I started doing things i was too shy to before and the biggest change in me was the time i told Andrew i wanted to be President, i meant it, and i wasn't afraid of it. For most this would just be like ambition or going for what you want. For me, it was more because i was going for something Esther would run away from. The word 'Interact' itself isn't in-synch with who i was.

But now it is. I'm not outgoing or a social butterfly, but if you gave me a mic - i wouldn't twist it in somebody else's direction, like how i usually would. I'd take it and throw away the anti-social side of me. Interact may be just a club to alot of you but for this interactor - it changed her from wallflower to President. I hope those of you quieter ones see that you're not the only one who's overly self-conscious and that you can get to wherever you want to be. Because nobody determines how far you go except yourself.

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Aand the big day came and went. It started off a little rocky, snaps here & there, crying when unnecessary and the like. But naturally, it all ended wonderfully-fantabulously-too-perfectly-that-it-brings-tears-to-my-eyes well. =)

And now - pictures! :

Group Pic #1.

Group Pic #2 : Evil Queen Stepmother (Karven) steps on her peasants to be seen.

Group Pic Take#3 : Raj/Sri/Dev (sorry i can't tell!) yawns.

With YenYen, President 08/09 =) (who's going to gonna take the reins and continue dominating SMKDP huhu).

With Kingsley, VIIC President 07/08 (who got half price off his ticket hmph).

With Karven's Peter, Community Serv. Director (who's gonna be getting the 'make me proud's from now on lol).

With the royal highness Karven (who is responsible for how $$$ rich we are now huhu) herself. =D

With Carrine, Finance Director (who snuck away halfway through the event to do dunnowhaat) & Kathleen, Club Serv. Director (who can count money very well even better than JitSiang).

With Khalis, Publicity Director (who is our very own Picasso/Da Vinci/[insert name of famous artist] all rolled into one).

With Jitty Boo who dressed up as a mad scientist and Kar Heng who *drum roolllls* came as Aaron. Lol. =D

With Nick, the Johanian interactor (who's in a love affair with the SMKDP Interact Club). =P

With Sharon, Past President 06/07 (who deserves a medal for all she's done). =)

With the one who puttered by me through all the stress and worrying and complaining during presidency.

=) =)

And last but not least - J.A.K.E. The backbone of it all. I'm sorry for the times i butted in your work. The fact that we're best friends makes it difficult to be angry at you guys (esp Karven can you please shrink your eyes T.T), but i know i have anyway and i'm really sorry for pissing you guys off every once in a while when that other side of me takes over. Now it's all back to sleeping-in-class, sarcastic Esther. Thank you for making everything a thousand times more memorable and funny.

I love you guys. =)

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To the Board of Directors 07/08, Esther apologizes for everything she's said and done wrong to each of you. She hopes that through all the inappropriate things she's taught you (i.e. wearing your skirts short, flirting to get members to pay up fees, rebelling against authority figures to defend the club, etc etc), you get the subtle message of 'doing all that you can for our beloved club'. She really really really loved working with all of you and no other board could've been more perfect in her eyes. Sure we had our fair share of problems and flaws, but she wouldn't've exchanged this team for any other. To the form4's and Peter, though it sounds very grandma - she's seen you guys grow over the past year and just so you know, you no longer 'have alot of potential'. Now you're simply kick-ass awesome. =D

All the best to the newly-installed board. =)

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And it all ends on a happy note. =)

PS : ESTHER'S GONNA MISS ALL OF YOU T___________T