Chingay 2012 Timeline

August September October November

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Are you my cinderella? Participants trying out for their shoe sizes

Learning the basic stances

Playing games to get to know each other

Trainers and participants learning to perfect the ninja pose

Chingay 2012 kick off meeting!

Having dialogue with group members

Listening intently to Ying Jie, our Chingay chairman

Our very first media brief

Trainers welcoming participants to kick-off meeting at HQ

December January February

Love and Passion is in the air

Holding torches of passion

Here we go SSA!

Forging camaraderie, enjoying every single moment

All soaked, but very happy!

Finally have our own training at F1 pit!

Practising in the water!

Going all out for our first combined rehearsal

Dancing with our cape on!

Our SSA float!

Learning the dance steps for finale.

This is my third time participating in Chingay, yet the very first to take up a leadership role in such a grand event. I recall how Wen Qing, the SD Vice Chief called me in June about being the Block IC while I was in the bathroom answering an important nature’s call! I thought, what better way to maximize my SD life in my last semester of my undergraduate days in NUS, than to be able to contribute in Chingay? My life motto is that “as youths, we must challenge ourselves” so without batting an eye I agreed with a super loud “YES OF COURSE!”

With that, it was the start of hectic engagements, as the choreography team and block ICs had to meet three times a week: trainer’s training, participants’ training and our very own review and updates meeting! Traveling to Tampines from the West thrice a week was definitely the first challenge I was presented with. Throughout the months, there were several changes and problems that we faced in Chingay, especial-ly the choreography and also other issues. We had to also handle obstacles that were unforeseen and this can be demoralizing at times. But it all boils down to one’s faith and conviction: the only thing we can do is to WIN. Fortunately, we overcame all our problems!

Personally, I have benefitted a lot from Chingay, with the most solid actual proof be-ing that I got onto my faculty’s Dean’s List last semester, of which only the top 299 students in my faculty got awarded based on meritorious performance in academic results. It was also yet another achievement as this is my Honours year, and the aca-demic competition was more intense. In addition, I felt that my academic victories and great success of Chingay was also something in honour of my second elder brother, John, who had passed away in January 2011. Facing all these tribulations and challenges along with Chingay commitments, I am glad that I had Daishonin’s Buddhism as my anchor in life andSensei’s guidance as ammunition as I trudge on. Throughchallenges in life, we learn to grow and become more resilient.

I am the kind of person who loves to stick inspirational quotes all over my surroundings, so let me share with you one of my favourite by one of the best mentors around, as I end off this little piece.

“In Buddhism, we either win or lose- there is no middle ground. Now and the future, let us ad-vance, determined to win in every sphere of our lives. By winning in our lives, we advance kosen-rufu; and by advancing kosen-rufu, we win in our lives.” – Daisaku Ikeda - ShuLi NUS SD

Late last year, although I was in the midst of preparing for my O levels, I still joined Chingay. People around me were skeptical or reluctant to join due to their exami-nations but in my opinion, it was Chingay that pushed me to study harder so that I would have time to attend trainings. It was also Chingay trainings that made me feel refreshed and elevated my life condition to a higher level to prepare for my O’levels.

Just before receiving my O levels results, I was worries that I might score poorly. Fortunately, the results turned out to be better than I had expected. I scored 11 points which was good enough for me to apply to study in Junior College or polytechnic. In the end, I decided to pursue business studies in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. The most significant gain I received from participating in Chingay wasn’t the straight A’s for O level but it was really the joy of giving my all to kosen rufu, the joy of fighting along-side with my comrades in faith and Ikeda sensei to conquer this challenge. The hard work, the joy, the laughter and the struggles during Chingay will forever be etched in my memory. That is where the value of my life exist, the meaning of my life as a soka member.

Chloe Moo Ke Xin FD

SSA 31st year of participating chingay

12years old.

Youngest participant: Highest educa-tion qualification of a participant:

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long stage called theWater Runaway of Love

2M

Channel 8 viewers is-landwide

111daystaken by the props group to make 900 pieces of capes

85sets of siblings

Hand in hand, strong we stand!

100M < Internet TV viewers

13TV agencies including Reuters, European Press Agency, Associated Press, Xinhua news agency and the Central News agency taiwan. TVAT pro-duction KBS news, Channel A, CZtv, West Java Tv, Zhangji-ang tv, Macau Tv & NanJing TV

150,000the number of chingay audi-ences on the 2 parade nights

who were participants

Testimonial

Chingay by numbers

1007participants the largest SSA Chingay contingent in history.

2560