Back in 2006 in COMPLEC (Combined Prefect-Librarian Education Camp) a year after it was held in SUFES camp site with durian trees and in the middle of jungle waterfall, I tried to proposed to have a night activity for the camp, since it is a 2-day camp so I think why not. But the idea was rejected by the seniors back then. Despite being Camp Commander but I don't have that much power to influence the head of prefect and librarian into this idea.
And so in 2007, finally they have a night activity, a BBQ night. A very enjoyable night indeed but somehow, it was raining the whole session. Although it did not kill the fun everyone was having, and again the idea came back to me to re-propose the idea of having a performance night for the next camp and this time i made nothing to stop me from doing it.
When i first organize Anthonian Night back in 2008 for APLEC (Anthonian Prefect LEadership Camp) - and don't ask why i did not have the suppose-to-be 1oth COMPLEC, the whole idea was to have a night where Anthonians (the guys, the girls, the young, the new) can have fun, be creative, be lame, be crazy, be anything, but at the same time, enjoy it because the night doesn't belong to the committees anymore. It belongs to the participants, they take over everything just for that night. So the success of the night is fully and totally depending on the hands of the participants. And i insisted to make a theme for it as 'A Night to Remember', well, it's not really an official theme or something because i asked the performers to have their performance based on it.
And of course, they never fail you and never will. In fact they will do better than what you have expected them to do at first place. I mean, where do you find such a lame yet entertaining, crazy yet fun, making you "boo" and yet "that was crazy" performances.
Like any usual thing, to get approval for it is ain't an easy job. Teacher advisor Mr Santjit Singh just let us do whatever we want but keeping him out of trouble later while some@most teachers concern about our performance attires, styles and inappropriate this and that. So you see, convincing them is not an easy task. Well in the end, we did it and on 23/7/2011 the juniors organized the 4th Anthonian Night under the name of COMPLEC.
Besides that, what making us that special is that we create the bonding between students and teachers, between the seniors and juniors, between Anthonians and SMK Saint Anthony, where nobody can and could explain how it happens. And when we say we miss school, we meant we miss the teachers, the class, the gang, the noise, the crazy stuffs, everything, including being in the school. It might sounds crazy but that's the fact since nobody wishes they could go back in time to be in the school and enjoy the ride all over again. And it is fair to say Anthonian Night is and could be one of reasons where these bonds are created within everyone.
Another reason why Anthonian Night together with COMPLEC make a good and memorable activity for both committees and participants is that we are given 100% control of the event flow, the food, the games, the talks, etc. So you can imagine how it's like to prepare everything by yourself with little help from teachers. And by the end of the day, you will feel proud of what you had done to make things work perfectly as planned. The best part is that you can plan it how/whatever you think it is suitable for the campers without worrying much about restriction from the teachers. And because of that, the idea of having a night to be remembered, Anthonian Night, is born and get approval easily.
"Let the boys have fun" said Mr Chew. As long as there is no trouble Mr Chew will definitely walk away with a smile. Although he couldn't make it to my Anthonian Night (represented by Mr Santjit, Mr Kumar, Miss Jaye, Miss Chong and Miss Tan) but seeing him being able to attend this year Anthonian Night despite some difficulty do heat up the spirit of everyone, including us the old boys. Do worry, he do enjoyed the night like anyone of us did. :)
Nevertheless I never regret coming back to school to witness another great success of the juniors, despite being one and only from my age since my AJKs couldn't make it (I think). Too bad I don't have the chance to be on stage with guitar again and so 'congratz' to Nuramirul who once again sings Januari on stage. :P
Well, i believe i stepped into my school for the very last time for this kind of thing. I don't know if i could make it for the 5th Anthonian Night, or if there will be the another one, because most probably i will out somewhere having my internship by then and the following years graduation and start working. Yet, i believe a left a legacy that shall be continue for a very long time. I don't know if i wanted to be remember as the guy who started it but for sure, I want Anthonian Night to be remain inside COMPLEC for a very long run.
Just like the song "Anthonian Spirit" written by an Indian senior in 1999 for the St. John but now has become a part of everyone, nobody knows who is the song writer anymore but the song remains in the heart of many. Although originally the song is meant to sing with guitar maybe in a campfire style to build friendship and also the love for the school but still, after 10 years people are still singing it.
With that, I bow out with my hat off. From here, you will take the pride, the walk and the talk.
Anthonian Forever
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