Interact.

Geez, I really have to find more appropriate times to be emo.

I'm also rather hungry at the moment.

Well here's the fourth open letter, this being addressed to the Interact Club of the fiscal year 2009/2010.

Truth be told, I didn't really have an overpowering urge to join Interact when I was in Form 3. I saw it as a rite of passage, something every Form 4 student should go through to supposedly "make high school life worthwhile and fun". Bluntly put, I was kinda forced into signing up. Not by my friends and peers, but by my own self-perceived image of the Zhi-Yang who was to be the following year. And I saw myself being in a club. I was actually deciding between joining Interact and Leo, and eventually chose the former, for a multitude of reasons, all of which I shan't mention here, for fear of being flamed!

Anyway, I'll never forget the very first meeting of our service as Interactors. Catherine, the President gave one HELL of a scolding, telling us to leave there and then should we not be willing to sacrifice time, money, sleep and energy for the Club and its many activities. Frankly, I was quite taken aback, until I was told that that lecture was something that was done at every first meeting, to weed out the unwilling and uncommitted. And well, I wasn't about to be categorized as a person of any of those two attributes! So my pride made me stay.

I had NO idea what I had gotten myself into.

It didn't help that I hadn't paid any attention to any of the events held by the Interact Club in previous years, nor did it help that I had NO CLUE as to what the functions of the Club were. But I learnt soon enough. We were soon bombarded with projects both in school and out.

It was a great experience working with others to organize projects and events. I remember my first role in an Interact event was as an organizer for ONE game during our Fellowship event. And I guess that's where it all started.

Being June's assistant (or rather more affectionately known as the ASS) for the Kids' Carnival was a REAL eye-opener. That was when I really realized how much work organizing an event involved, as well as all the details and formalities and procedures and what not that entailed. June just came across as a very cool-headed person who knew all that had to be done and seemed to be in control of the whole thing, so I didn't really do shit =) SORRY JUNE!

When our batch took over the reins, I was fortunate enough to be working with an EXTREMELY able and endearing Board of Directors, and of course Mdm Hayati and Ms Teng. Our board just immediately clicked, though we weren't very close before. Magic happened! I don't know. In my mind, we all felt like we'd known each other inside-out (not in a perverted way) for years. The cohesion (capillary action!) and sense of belonging that we all shared really only added to the awesome experience that was Interact.

The members were incredible as well, with so many able people, I can only imagine how hard it was for the previous Board to select their incoming successors. I could easily name a few people who could take over any post on the Board in a heart beat.

There were trying times, stressful and disappointing. Sometimes things would go wrong at the very last minute, and the given event would suddenly look extremely bleak and screwed up. And amid all the chaos of last minute preparations, that one small mistake can sometimes drive you insane.

But we've never failed to solve, (or at least sufficiently disguise) any given last-minute cock up. And I owe that to each and every member, especially the Board.

Thank you all for the support and guidance you provided for each other; for the shelter and consolation, the occasional shoulder to lean on. I truly loved, or rather love this family. I loved how there wasn't any internal quarrelling or squabbling, no backstabbing and mud-slinging. I love how we never failed to cover for each other, how we all paid for each other's mistakes. I love how we pulled through the thickest of the thick, and still managed to look back and laugh off our screw-ups. I love how every single event we held, always turned out to be a freakin' success! =D I love how all our hard work always paid off, and always with dividends. ;)

As Interactors, we've all sacrificed a lot. Believe me, I know. I let go of the game I love for it. I quit basketball.

It was a hard decision to make, but not one I'm likely to regret; not until this muffin top goes all crazy on me, that is!

So thank you, to Kenneth, Dhivya, Esther, Jon, Giselle, Anisha, QingWei, Karjin, Adrian and Peggy for being the awesome-est Board anyone could ever ask for. And an extra big thank you to June for being the best Vice I could wish for. You really were the person who kept me sane and kept me from crumbling during all the turmoil and chaos that ran rife during our tenures. Thank you. =)

Thanks to Ivan, Jen, DINGSHENG, Derrick, Deborah, Sinying, Stan, JianYi, Kaisin, Laura, Cait, Esther, Suettyng, Chris, Shikhai, Jeremy, Rowena (BIG THANK YOU!), Peiji, Khaiyuen, Calvin, Sekwai, Amir, Weishan.

Oh, and New Wee Cherng too.

One of these days, I'm going to look back and wonder why I was so mean to New. But for the time being, I'm just gonna enjoy doing that.

Forever yours in Interact,

Int. Low Zhi-Yang.

Ps. We were the best Interactors to walk the face of the Earth.

Just saying.