Aug 25, 2009 22:02
hwachong sent a standard email to the alumni today, which provided a perfect excuse for me to use as fodder to send THIS. =D
"Dear Mr Chow,
It is very heartening to see the school's efforts in trying to help keep the alumni inter-connected, as well as go to great lengths to provide services to its ex-students. Yet it is extremely ironic that we are intentionally being kept out of the school grounds when it is in this spirit of retaining our roots that we return to Hwa Chong. It becomes ridiculous when we are regarded as trespassers and security guards turn hostile.
Passion for street soccer has bonded a group of us since Secondary 1. Our favourite hangout after lessons, we spent countless hours there playing, talking, relaxing. It is these four concrete walls that have forged our friendship and our common love for this sport that has kept us closely-knit up till today. Despite the busy and different lives that each of us lead now, we all try to re-arrange our schedules such that our Saturday mornings remain available for a dose of weekly street soccer. All was well until recently, when security guards chased us out of school on the basis that the court needs booking before usage, something unheard of in our six years of studies. We compromised - after all a bit of inconvenience on our part to adhere to the school's policy was nothing much. Yet, when we contacted the school administration, we were told that there was no system in place to book the court for usage. This not only affects us, but also batches of seniors and juniors who drop by regularly to engage in a game of soccer and, more importantly, catch up with old friends and relive old memories.
To us, this situation is a deliberate attempt to keep us out. We resent that, because the school has chosen such a distasteful method to convey its message. All of us have contributed to the school in some way or another; some of us are still doing so. To receive such treatment from our alma mater is undeserving, especially when the guiding principle of Hwa Chong is 饮水思源.
Regards
Tay Hao Ran
06A11"
hopefully this works. =/