Updates Hi everyone, I believe this issue needs no introduction. We welcome our newly-elected 31st Executive Committee and bid farewell as the 30th Exco. Each of us has a personal message to you below. Deep heartfelt thanks to all for journeying with us this year, and all the best for the year ahead. Yours faithfully, Gabriel 30th Secretary ------------------------------ Contents 1. The 31st ICSS Executive Committee <#13d402fe3b751c55_item1> 2. Final words from our President, Ashley <#13d402fe3b751c55_item2> 3. Final words from our Vice-President, Bennett <#13d402fe3b751c55_item3> 4. Final words from our Secretary, Gabriel <#13d402fe3b751c55_item4> 5. Final words from our Treasurer, Zhen Yi <#13d402fe3b751c55_item5> 6. Final words from our Major Event Officer, Hsuan Te<#13d402fe3b751c55_item6> 7. Final words from our Events Officer, Ting Wei<#13d402fe3b751c55_item7> 8. Final Words from our Events Officer, Qian Wen<#13d402fe3b751c55_item8> 9. Final words from our Sports Officer, Kai Qin <#13d402fe3b751c55_item9> 10. Final words from our Liaisons Officer, Xing Kai<#13d402fe3b751c55_item10> ------------------------------ 1. The 31st ICSS Executive Committee Thank you everyone who came down for AGM on the 27th of February 2012! It is with great pleasure that we introduce the new committee! *President: Chew Hong Rui Vice-President: Gabriel Wee Secretary: Chan Siming Treasurer: Tan Wei Jie Events Officer (Major Event): Ho Chuan Khim Events Officers: Lim Yu Zheng & Koh Yi Sheng Sports Officer: Wong Jen Yi Liaisons Officer: Chen Yiliang* We hope that you will give them your whole-hearted support over the next year, just as you have done for us during our term. Now, as we officially step down from our positions, it must be said that it was indeed a pleasure to serve all of you, and we would like to thank each one of you in our individual posts below; those whom we have worked with, or who have supported us the countless times we required it. Our 30th President is fond of saying, "the Exco is not the society, neither is the society the Exco". Indeed, as we begin our handover to the new committee, we are truly heartened by the dedication of those who have stepped-up to the call. The society continues to grow and develop with each batch bringing fresh ideas and rich experiences, having great strength only from the combined strength of its members. It is a unity of purpose and vision that defines us. Thus, although we remember very fondly all the memories made with all of you over the past year, we also remember the reasons we ran for office in the first place, just over a year ago. The vision we believed in still burns strongly in our hearts today, with the torch now passed to the 31st. Farewell! It may be time for the 30th to step down, but all of the ICSS, past, present and future, share in the light of this vision: that is, to build a home away from home. Regards, The 30th Executive Committee ------------------------------ 2. Final words from our President, Ashley Dearest Friends, It has been a really wonderful year and I am honestly at a loss as I try to think of an adequate means of presenting the enormity of the emotions running through my mind at the culmination of our term as an Exco. We have had many ups and downs throughout the year and for me, these memories will probably last a lifetime. As this will probably be the last public message I write for the society, I think it is appropriate that, despite the huge inadqueacy of the mode of expression, I convey my immense gratitude to all the people who have helped me personally through this year in office. First and foremost, I want to thank you, our members for your steadfast support throughout the year, your enthusiasm and smiles have always served as a huge source of motivation for me and I do hope that we have not let you down. Thank you for constantly being the strength on which we could depend to bring our society forward. Next, I would like to thank Esther, for always being there, my one unwavering pillar of support. For being someone I could turn to whenever I needed. I would also like to thank my housemates (Weishi, Arnold, Bennett and Xing Kai) for being so accomodating to our Exco meetings and cooking dinner when I couldn’t make it. Thanks also to my coursemates (Leona, Ziguang, Edmund, Ting Wei, Bennett, Xing Kai, Arnold, Zhi Jie, Lejon, Gabriel and Tze Liang) for helping me to keep up with lectures and schoolwork. Thank you also to all my seniors for the firm support that you have given us throughout the term. Thank you to the senior Excos for providing us with the benefit of your experience as we went about our term. Thanks also to my course seniors who provided me with extremely helpful advice on my course. And to all other seniors, thank you for providing me with the moral support of your presence and kind words that has inspired me throughout the year. Last but not least, thank you to the 30th Exco. It has been a rough ride, but we’ve made it through together. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the cause, but above all, thank you for having my back the whole year. It may have been tough, but despite everything I have never once felt alone. So, as we head into a new Exco term, I would like to wish the 31st all the best and good luck for the year ahead. And to Hong Rui, may you have a fulfilling term ahead. Sincerely, Ashley Ng (ret.) President ICSS ------------------------------ 3. Final words from our Vice-President, Bennett It is with much nostalgia and a heart indescribably full of thanks that I now pen this note to convey the memories and experiences that were a result of a fulfilling year, not as a farewell, but as a form of reflection. At long last, it is my privilege to acknowledge the extraordinary mix of people who form the backbone of the society, who a year ago placed their trust in us to carry forward this family which we had come to respect and love as a home away from home. *"I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks." - William Shakespeare* While mere words would not suffice, I may only offer these meager thanks to those who have provided much needed light during the dark stretches of our journey, and made the bumps and scrapes of our term worthwhile. *Something that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when I am in special need of help, the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom I have no claim. - William Feather* To my batch-mates, the 2nd-years, my dear friends. You have known us the longest, and have been with us through many an event. There is tremendous potential in our batch amidst the myriad characters and talents, and I am proud to know each of you as a friend. May we never cease to work towards strengthening our bonds of friendship, and during the remainder of our time together as the 30th batch of the ICSS, let us be inspiring models of support and unity to one another and to this society which has provided us with so much, least of which are these people we now call friends. To my dearest, most favoured course-mates, the wonderful year-2 Chem Engineers. It must be made known to you the appreciation and gratitude brimming inside of me each time any of you lent your support in any way; the annotated lecture slides meticulously scanned or photographed and shared when we missed (or skipped) lectures, your unassuming presence at ICSS events, constant reminders about deadlines and exams, and many more instances I won’t have the space to mention here. Special thanks to Leona for being an amazing Acad Rep, always on task, ever helpful. I eagerly await future dinners and gatherings and outings with you wonderful bunch of friends! To Arnold and Wei Shi, our longsuffering house-mates. Thank you for your loyal support of the events we organise and for your involvement whenever we asked for it, even when you weren’t obligated to do so by the house-mate agreement. Thanks for being so accommodating of the many invasions we have of our common room and the accompanying noise and of the stores held in various parts of the house. Thanks also for cooking and keeping dinner for Ashley, Xing Kai and me when we could not get home until really late at times. Special mention of Esther, who in addition to providing much-needed help with ICSS work, cooked and delivered dinner to us on occasion over the Major Event period, and who also doubled up as our Exco Welfare Officer, providing many moments of sumptuous delight! To my OGLs (Jason, Chin, Yun Yi, Leck Hung, Li Min). Thank you for shaping my perception of the society from the onset of Sojourn, for showing me that there is tremendous potential to be of great influence in any capacity, and for being a huge source of encouragement when we first took office. I will endeavour to be to my juniors an exemplary figure of responsibility and care as you have all been to us, the spawn of Hercules. To the 28th and 29th Excos. Thank you for guiding us through our initial period in office, for your invaluable words of advice, for your presence when we needed it the most, for the assurance that your experience and assistance would always be readily offered. Thank you for coming to us when we didn’t go to you and for subtly nagging at us sometimes. Thank you for the work you did to make the ICSS the amazing community handed into our charge. To Bryan and Eileen, thanks for being my mentors and for enabling me to dutifully serve the society, and for knowing when it was time to let go of my hand while watching over me like a parent. We will miss having all of you as our consultants and confidantes once you graduate. To my comrades in the 30th Exco. It is this paragraph that I find the most difficult to write. You alone understand. What it means to put members first. What it’s like to have ridiculously critical and long-drawn discussions debating societal issues to the point of personal conflict, yet leave these meetings as cheery buddies. What it feels like to sacrifice time, money, academics, social schedules, while constantly being cognizant of expecting absolutely nothing in return. What it’s like to hope for a treat at The Fat Duck by the boss. It has been an incredible 12 months together with an exceptional team so dedicated to fulfilling a vision we all share, a group of extraordinary people who propped one another up through each high and low, 8 people I am exceedingly proud to call my friends. We invested every fragment of our being in this venture and made it our life over the past year, and I wouldn’t have asked for another team to share this journey with. As “Imperial College Singapore Society” once said (not on Facebook), "Once a 30th, always a 30th". Let us live through to that axiom. It has been my honour to serve with you. To the 31st Exco. Challenges abound in the year ahead and you may lose sight of what brought you to this position, but you will rise above them as you grow to understand your place in this home we seek to build. Always be there for one another, regardless of context and circumstance, and you will catch a glimpse of what the society as a whole aspires towards. You have my assurance that this will turn out to be an unforgettable journey. Treasure it. May you find joy and contentment in the work that you do and in the friendships you will make. The 30th has got your back. As we pass the torch on, we join our brothers and sisters in throwing our weight behind the 31st Exco of the ICSS, to support and uphold them as they strive to continue to strengthen the bonds of family within our society, which is so fundamentally defined by its relationships. May we all enable the ICSS to carry on its legacy: to be a home away from home. Yours sincerely, Bennett Member #003 ------------------------------ 4. Final words from our Secretary, Gabriel I thought writing this would be easy, but really, I don’t know where to begin. Having recently read through all your lovely notes and scribbles on the humongous card, prepared and presented by the wonderful OGLLs, as well as the farewell messages of several other Exco members (which I did not edit! For the most part…), I now realise the enormity of this endeavour. No amount of ink spilled will be able to fully describe what I have to say, but I will try, starting from, if you haven’t already guessed it, none other than the start! To Shun Ying, my predecessor, thank you for showing me the ropes, for your impeccably ordered folders and subfolders, your clear file naming convention, and generally for showing me what it takes and means to be a good, organised secretary. You have made my term infinitely easier, and for that I am really grateful. To Qin Zheng and Joshua, thank you for convincing me to run in the first place. I was afraid initially, but it was really one of those defining moments in life, that have fortunately turned out to be for the better. To Qin Zheng especially, thank you for having been an exemplary music team admin, to have spurred me to take on the very same role (before handing over to Bennett), and for supporting me throughout the year, always ready to dispense a lame joke or two too many. To the floorball team, it’s been a great year playing alongside you all. It was literally the only thing that slowed the accumulation of that little fat layer on my tummy. I hope you all had a memorable WSG and Notts Games – sorry if you didn’t get to play enough. There’s always the coming year to train for and look forward to! Nevertheless, thank you for sharing in this sport that I enjoy very much and we will hopefully continue to play and grow as a team. To my coursemates, thank you for keeping me abreast with the pace of lectures and assignments through your regular updates. Thank you for readily dispensing advice and guidance on coursework and for collecting notes when I am too tired or busy or lazy to attend lectures. Seeing that 5 members of the 30th Exco can proudly call you our coursemates, it says something about the level of support you have provided over this past year, compared to if it had been only 1 or 2 of us in the Exco. I treasure those rare and precious outings that we have had, and hopefully we will get to see each other more often nowadays. To the Major Event songwriters, thank you for your many hours of hard work put into the music. Thank you also for believing in me and trusting that I would lead you all on the right track, despite being strangers at the onset. It is testament to the power of Major Event that I no longer count you all as strangers but as comrades and friends. Special thanks go to Yiheng and Hong Rui, to whom I am extremely grateful for the exceptional amount of time invested in creating the music, and for taking my advice and suggestions seriously and humbly. Few can understand the pain of the multiple revisions (some major, some minor – no pun intended) we each had to make in order to produce good music for Major Event. To the Major Event singing team, it was invigorating, to say the least, to accompany you as Bennett took you through the songs. Your inexhaustible energy and joy kept me going when the rehearsal schedule got really heavy. To the Major Event musicians, I really could not have asked for a more talented and eager bunch. To be honest, that was my first experience conducting and leading such a strange mishmash of instruments. But with all your support and determination along the way, we have transformed from a ragtag bunch of musicians to a proper, cohesive ensemble. Thank you all for allowing me to indulge in my love for music, and for sharing in the joys of making good music together. Thank you for your co-operation and understanding, when I was not always on form or on time. Finally, thank you all for the card you presented to me just before the performance. It was very encouraging to see how my efforts have affected all of you and to have such warm appreciation shown toward me. Thank you for making my Major Event experience so fantastic. We did it! And I’m immensely proud of all of you. I know several of the groups and people above don’t really belong within an official farewell by a secretary, but you guys really shaped my term and I would like to take this final opportunity to express my thanks and to appreciate your efforts as well. For truly, the ICSS would be so much less vibrant without each and every one of your contributions, and it is time to balance the scales of gratitude and recognise 2 very important groups of people below. To all Singaporeans in Imperial, whether you know it or not, you are part of the vision of the ICSS. You are part of the community that roots you in stable ground yet gives you freedom to sprout in all directions. You are both motivation for and result of our efforts, without whom the ICSS would have no meaning. Many of you serve without being recognised; contribute your time, effort and even money without expecting to get back what you have put in. Sounds like what the Exco does? Indeed it is, and we, the 30th, acknowledge all these unsung heroes who put in just as much as us, if not more, in their own way, without getting any public credit. How many societies can say 70 odd members came down for a 9 hour meeting to decide its future? All the little actions matter, your unwavering presence at events, your technical and artistic contributions, your ready co-operation, your words of thanks and encouragement. In fact, the 30th had the informal idea of having a “Member of the Year” award, which became “Member of the Month”, which eventually became infeasible simply due to the overwhelming number of outstanding people in the society. Thank you for believing in us, but more importantly, for believing in the society. Lastly, to the 30th Exco, I know you all need no thanks but a good Fat Duck meal treat instead. Unfortunately I must annoy you guys once again by providing the exact opposite. One of you guys mentioned in your message that the Exco models the ICSS by being a family that always has each other’s backs. To take the metaphor further, thank you Ashley, for being that hearty father-figure leading the committee, whose decisions and guidance we trust and respect, for shouldering the heaviest burdens and for being the big butt of our jokes. The path as been rough and winding, and we just have made it past a significant phase, now older (how true) and hopefully wiser. Next up, thank you, Bennett, for being the emotional centre of our committee, for discussing with Ashley all the large-scale issues, and for always making sure that we were doing all right. Thank you, Zhen Yi, for always being there for me and keeping me in check whenever I got lazy, for enforcing the standards set by myself and for always offering advice or a listening ear should I need it. To the rest of the Exco, it has been a great pleasure working with you all. I will miss having a group of people listen so attentively to my waffling, and those times where we spent hours arguing over stuff ranging from the tiniest of details to the fundamentals underlying what we do. I don’t regret running for office at all. Our members made it worthwhile, you guys made it life-changing. To the 31st, I’m full of pride to see that so many of you whom I have worked with have risen to the challenge, fuelled by the same beliefs that brought the 30th into office. You carry a heavy responsibility, no doubt about that, and it will be difficult, but the load will be lightened by none other than our members, all 217 of them and counting, most especially your batchmates and friends, who will share in the thick and thin of many of your experiences. Eventually, like the 30th, you will come to realise the true immensity of what you all will achieve only after your term. And trust me; it will be worthwhile (I had my doubts all too often). Not forgetting us, the 30th, the 29th and maybe even the 28th, we who have been stewards of this excellent society before, who understand the pains and trials to come, remember that we are always behind you. Regards, Gabriel 30th Secretary ------------------------------ 5. Final words from our Treasurer, Zhen Yi To the ICSS, thank you for providing me with the opportunity to serve you at a greater level. The past year in office was not easy - it was a great test of mental (and sometimes physical) strength, but no doubt very fulfilling. I grew a lot over the past year and learnt a great deal about the world, myself and the people around me. I'm sure that these lessons, memories and hopefully friendships will last a lifetime. Thanks to the 30th Exco, for being such a dynamic, capable and responsible bunch. I love how we learnt to work together seamlessly and play on each of our strengths. It has been a pleasure learning more about each of you. Our term may be over but the memories of our late-night meetings and saikang sessions will forever remain. Now that we are stepping down, we can finally focus on eating dim sum and formulating our kidnapping plans. Thank you Gerald, Esther, Tsai, Arnold, Bao Chen, the Year 2 Chemists, the OGLLs, etcetcetc..., for being there when we needed help. Thank you for helping us take photos at our events when we needed manpower, cooking extra food to feed the freeloaders at potluck events, designing shirts/logos, bringing people down for events so that the objectives can be met... The list goes on. No words can fully express our appreciation for your help. Thank you Gabriel, Ashley, Grace, Bennett, Jaren, Esther, Yi Hui, Arnold, Gabriel Wee, Yen Chen, Cephas, Jamie, Qin Zheng, Leonard, Jia Yun etc. (Sorry I must have left some people out!) for your encouragement during the Major Event period. Your words/acts of concern (whether big or small) kept me going and it really made a difference knowing that people do care. Thanks to the 29th Exco and Bryan Ng for patiently answering all our questions and giving good advice throughout our term (especially my tall predecessor Joel, who is probably the only other guy who understands my pain). I would also like to thank my family (albeit not on the mailing list) for being extremely supportive and helpful all the time, especially over the past summer and winter breaks. Thanks for being patient and understanding when we couldn't spend as much time together as we would like. Thanks for always offering help, being understanding when our home was conquered by giant papier mache burger patties dripping with glue, helping me cut and perforate UKBound tickets, finding the cheapest chocolate coins and angpows, teaching me about bank and finance procedures, and fetching me around Singapore when I had to run errands. Thank you for the immense moral support and unconditional love that you always give. Thanks to everyone else who encouraged, thanked or supported us throughout the year. The idea of "servant leadership" can be really trying at times, and even though we do not expect any recognition in return, it's gratifying to know that our efforts are worthwhile. It's also comforting to know that although some view the society as merely an avenue to obtain deals & monetary benefits, so many also share our belief that what we build every year is a community of Singaporeans in which people support and care for one another. To Wei Jie, all the best! Members will start running away from you and greeting you with "I paid already!" instead of the conventional hello, but do not despair. You will still have friends. ------------------------------ 6. Final words from our Major Event Officer, Hsuan Te Where to start, where to start. I'd begin by saying my term as Major Event Officer has been long, and yet felt so terribly short. I'd speak about my time as the Major Event Officer, but as the previous Excos have said time and time again: "You are an Exco member first, before you are a Major Event Officer". And how true that has been. I'll be quick, because Gabriel is nailing me to get this out by today, apart from the lengthy thank yous that the rest of the Exco have written. I'd like to thank all those who've been with me on this journey, through the open fields, the dark forests and the raging rivers. You know who you are, and if you know me you've already been appreciated, in whatever way I deal with things. To all those who've taken part in our activities, I hope you've enjoyed yourselves, made new friends and had exciting experiences. Remember to pass on the love and devotion that the 9 of us have poured over the year to those who will come in next. There was so much more that we hoped to do but time was not on our side. With that said, it doesn't stop here. I had my apprehensions about writing this, because this "wrap up" or "farewell note" meant that this would be the end of the 30th Exco, and the start of the 31st. But it doesn't stop here. It never does. There's always work to do, people to be brought together and hot dam, Major Event 2014 is just a year away! ------------------------------ 7. Final words from our Events Officer, Ting Wei When elected a year ago, it was with much passion and enthusiasm that I stepped into the shoes of an Events Officer of ICSS. Having experienced the exciting and enjoyable events the 29th Exco had brought to us, I was ready to carry it forward and contribute my share to ICSS. As I finished delivering the Events Report during AGM as my last time addressing the society as an Events Officer, I was hit by a wave of nostalgia as I recounted my entire year working together with the 30th to make ICSS' vision become a reality. Being an Events Officer has shaped my entire second year in university, and all in all it has been an extremely rewarding experience. I have had the opportunity to interact and make friends with most of ICSS, and hopefully you, as members, have enjoyed the events we organised as well. There have been the highs and lows, as with any endeavour, but in the end I'm extremely glad to have run for this position and worked with all the members of the 30th Exco, who have been an exceptional team to work with. I am truly thankful for the people who have supported me in one way or another throughout the year, and it is with gratitude and a sense of accomplishment that I step down to make way for the 31st Exco to further make the events in ICSS a success for the members. To the following people, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for me, and ICSS in my term as an Events Officer. *30th ICSS Exco* We did it, guys. I've always believed that a strong team is critical to achieve success in any endeavour, and I could not have asked for a better team to work with in my time as an Events Officer. Remembering the day when we all were elected and sat together as an Exco for a first time, it is truly amazing how we managed to bond, work together and turn out as the singular unit that we call the Exco now. Thinking back to all the fun times we had in Lake District burning car engines and failing terribly at Easter Egg hunting, the down times we had trying to fit each others' schedules to meet up in Singapore to meet never-ending deadlines, the crazy times we had camwhoring after everyone had left in SFP, and the final emotional bow we took as we were declared officially dissolved, I'm proud to say that I belonged in the 30th ICSS Exco, and I thank each and every one of you for making this year the best time in my university life thus far. I'll never forget the times we shared together, the laughter, tears (mostly Bennett=p), dancing, singing, and all the crazy things we do together. You guys are without a doubt the best team I've ever worked with, and I look forward to all the future moments we'll share together, this time simply as friends:) *To Edmund and Tsai* If ICSS is the 'home away from home', then you guys are my 'home away from home away from home', for when I am not at ICSS meeting or in school, I'm most likely chilling out with you guys at home (the Longridge one):) Thanks for being the most awesome housemates anyone can wish for! The list of things to thank you guys for are endless, and I'll try my best to be succinct, so here goes: Thanks for always being there for me and caring for me, for putting up with my late nights, my little quirks and eccentricities, cooking for me (though I suspect that's because I can't really cook that well either and not because of Singsoc), even tucking me into bed when I crash and forget to turn off the lights or am about to destroy something important by sleeping on it (Thanks Tsai^^). Also, a big thank you for your unwavering support for ICSS and the activities we organise (minus Major Event, still looking forward to your participation in 4th year ah=D), and whipping me back into shape when I slack off sometimes. In short, without you guys, I'd be in as terrible a state as a homeless hobo. Thanks guys, I look forward to more years of awesome shizz living together:D *Chem Eng Coursemates* While I may have been neglecting my academics just a *little* bit this year, you guys have made every effort to ensure that I am not in danger of getting expelled. Which is totally awesome. A huge thank you to all of you who have helped me when I trailed behind in studies this year, for all the note-takers in class who conscientiously post them for the lectures that I happen to miss (more often than not), and all the encouragement and support you guys have shown me, I really appreciate it^^ *Acting Team* You guys are no doubt the closest freshers I know, and I've had tonnes of fun having rehearsals and going through all the emotional, happy, sad, stressed, surprising and plain cheeky moments we all hold dear to our hearts long after Major Event has passed. It's been a rollercoaster ride with you guys, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it=) Thanks for the plaque that I now am certain was not Jimmy's FYP, and I look forward to all the acting rehearsals ahead! *Members* Events fail to achieve their purpose without the members' support, and it is extremely encouraging that all of you have shown heartening support for the events that we have organised for you. The strength of a society is measured by its members, and I would like to thank each and every member for your support, no matter the scale and type. And finally, to a group of people whom I have relied on tremendously, *Ashley, Arnold and Edmund*. Listening to me can sometimes be a chore, but you guys do it without a complain and always give me a clearer picture with sound advice and an objective point of view. You guys have been an absolute rock solid pillar of support, and I would not have been able to survive the year without you guys. Words fail to express the amount of gratitude I owe, thanks 'bro's! *31st Exco* And now as my (rather long) thank you comes to an end, I would like to wish the 31st Exco all the best in their term. You guys will face challenges and difficulties, but as long as you guys support each other fully and face them as a team, I'm certain that you guys will succeed in fulfilling your objectives. We will always be there for you guys, so don't hesitate to ask us for help, or even support when it's needed. Enjoy the year ahead! ------------------------------ 8. Final Words from our Events Officer, Qian Wen It has been 48 hours since the dissolution of the 30th executive committee as I am writing this. As I sit in the JCR wondering how to start this, because there are so many things I have to cover, I look back and realise what an amazing year it truly has been. But before I start, do pardon my writing because I’m not letting Gabriel vet this (heh). My stint as an events officer hasn’t been easy. There have been countless nights of fatigue and stress than I could possibly remember. Some are forgotten because the moment you get past them you kinda just want to forget what you have been through. Some are etched in my mind because they were part of the process in creating something magical. But despite all the tough times together with the 30th, there has never been a lack of motivation nor doubt that whatever we did was not for nought. It was, and has always been, for the wonderful people who have always been around me throughout this year. There are many people I am thankful for, because without them my journey as an events officer would have been utterly incomplete. To my upperstudy *Qin Zheng*, thanks for all the support, advice and help you have provided me right from the start, especially for Sojourn. I am really grateful for them and appreciate the fact that you are always a text/call away if I ever need help. I haven’t forgotten how you told me that if I ever need help I should just ask and help will be provided. To* Team Sojourn*: Sojourn was my first major event and as much as I steady myself into making it the best it can be, I know it would have been impossible without the support you guys have given to me. Thanks for all the hard work and cooperation that not only gave me the drive I needed to continue when things got difficult, but also made Sojourn a success. It has been a delight working with you guys and I couldn’t have asked for more. I hope you guys enjoyed Sojourn as much as I did. Special mention goes to my OGLLs - *Edmund, Cephas, Gerald, Marc, Daryl* and* Yong Qian.* I still remember us meeting late one night at Kallang Macs to make plans and having supper afterwards. Those were some fun times together but more importantly, thank you so much for giving me your full support and believing in me. There were times when I lost faith in my capability but these thoughts were always dismissed when I think about you guys. Thanks for the kind words that gave me strength to make Sojourn possible. To my *ME Dance team*: Why am I Sergeant Major? Jokes aside, it has been so lovely having you guys. Thanks for putting in your best effort in learning the dance steps within the limited time given, especially when majority of you have no dance background. I know I have been really anal about your punctuality, but know that I really do appreciate it when you come punctually for the dance practices. Thanks for tolerating my ‘fierceness’ and keeping practices lively with your bubbly presences. You guys were absolutely brilliant on stage and I am very proud to have seen how far you guys have come and grown. Special mention goes to my capable choreographers *Jason, Larissa, Siming *and* Li Bing*. You guys are the best choreographers I could ever have. Thanks for being so diligent and serious at choreographing the dances and teaching the dancers. I know things were rough at the start but I really appreciate how I never have to worry because I could always depend on you guys to do a great job. To my dearest chemists *Larissa, Estella, Kai Ni, Jaren* and *Yong Yao*: I absolutely love you guys even though I don’t say it out. You guys are always always always there for me no matter what. I am immensely grateful for your presences in the events we organise and always contributing in whatever ways you all can. I remember during SFP we needed people to bring food because it was a potluck, but everyone was busy studying for exams. Yet you guys spent hours making chicken rice because of my request. And that is just one of the many things you guys did. There are plenty more that I can list – helping me to take notes when I skip lectures, accommodating my schedule when planning gatherings, listening to my rants etc. Thanks for being the awesome friends I can always count on. Words cannot describe how grateful and lucky I am to have you guys. You guys make boring lectures and stressful labs so much better. To my housemates *Leona, Kaini and Charlotte*: Thanks for being so considerate all the time, especially during the ME period when I couldn’t stick to our cooking schedule. Thanks for leaving dinner and the heater on for me when I come home really late. And Leona, thanks for keeping my table lamp on when you are heading to bed and I’m not back yet. These may seem like small things but it’s always the small gestures that count. More importantly, thanks for showing support for our events and getting excited over dressing up for Halloween and Christmas party. To *Arnold*: Thanks for being such a dear friend. For always asking, ‘Tan Qian Wen, how are you?’ every time you see me. For the nights we walk back together singing Maroon 5 songs (I’m never gonna leave this bed~). For the help and support you have given the past year, for the intellectual discussions, for the concern and advice when life gets tough. It has been wonderful having you in my life. To the *30th Exco*: I can go on and on but I fear KnT will be too lengthy. It has been such an amazing year working with you guys and I couldn’t have asked for a better team. ‘’*When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.*‘’ Thanks for standing beside me, going through thick and thin together and always putting in your hearts and souls into the job. Thanks for the plentiful laughter, great fun and most importantly, the never ending passion – they bring my fatigue and stress away. It’s been a blast and I love you guys. To *Yi Sheng*: The journey isn’t going to be easy but it promises plenty; the more you give, the more you’ll get. So give your all and know that I am always available to help! To *ICSS*: thanks for the unforgettable experience. It has been a great honour. Love, Qian Wen Ex-Events Officer ------------------------------ 9. Final words from our Sports Officer, Kai Qin Hello Everyone, Having reached the end of my term in office, I just want to give credit to everyone who has supported me in one way or another.* The 30th Exco*

From complete strangers to pals, the friendships that I have built with everyone of you over the past year are among the most precious things that I have gained from my term in office. I vividly remember how Qian Wen warmly invited me to sit with the newly-formed Exco right after I was voted in to office. From that day since, you guys have shown me nothing short of the warmth that I felt from that gesture. It took a while for the introvert in me to open up to you guys but I am really glad to be able to call you guys family today.

It has been a great honour to work with all of you, you are without doubt among the most capable people that I've ever met and I have really learnt a lot from serving the Society by your side. :') *Sports Reps* Augustine, Esther, Daryl, Wendy, Charlotte, Qi Quan and Arnold thank you for helping me coordinate the various sports teams, especially for WSG and Notts. Our success at WSG and Notts would not have been possible without your efforts and I believe the sportsmen of ICSS are extremely grateful too. *Major Event Set Design* Bertrand, Yen Chen and Ken, the Aragorn, Leoglas and Gimli of Set Design. Thank you so much for all the effort that you've put in to Major Event, the knowledge of leaving Set Design in your hands really made life a lot easier for me. The success of Major Event would not have been possible if not for the outstanding efforts of your team. To my Costumes team, in particular Shi Xuan, Esther, Wei Shi and Guan Jie, thank you all for your encouragement and support through Major Event. *My Friends and Housemates* Thanks for cooking and saving dinner for me all the times that I was busy with work. And not locking me out of the house when I came home late :p And my Aero mates, thank you in advance for I will be depending on you guys to catch up work from now on haha. *To Everyone Else* I hope everyone of you who had participated in sports in ICSS over the past year have thoroughly enjoyed yourselves and hope that you all will be able to give the same support that you've shown me to the new Sports Officer, Jen Yi, in the coming year! Signing off for the last time as your friendly Sports Officer. For Smiles, Kai Qin :) ------------------------------ 10. Final words from our Liaisons Officer, Xing Kai At the AGM exactly 1 year ago, I remember telling Edmund with great humour, who was sitting next to me, "What if I got into the Exco?" – the idea of running for any post at all in the Exco never so much as crossed my mind. It is with great irony that later that night, I found myself sitting at the front row of the lecture theatre with the rest of the 30th. Later, as I walked into Southside Social Space and talked to Jun Ying and Yong Wen, only one thought was running through my mind: "What have I gotten myself into?" I will admit my original election was on the wrong premise - I was approached and accepted under the impression that the job involved large amounts of web-coding and technical expertise. The job of the Liaisons Officer is oft-misunderstood as such, and (very slightly) understandably, no one stood against me (the original reason why I was asked to run in the first place; it is a rather specialist skillset) and I entered office without fanfare. It was then to my great relief that I soon came to realize that the job does not, in fact, require any technical expertise (or at least to any great extent; I hate coding with a passion). Much above the duties of the Liaisons Officer are the duties of an Exco member. And hence began one of the longest journeys of my life. It was long not for its timescale, but rather the sheer magnitude of what Singsoc does and what it stands for. And with it came difficulty – the long meetings, the late nights, the sacrifices, the stress, obligation and responsibility. But to quote: * "Oh well, what the hey? Nothing ventured, nothing gained." - **Cookie Monster *And it is what I have gained out of this journey that makes me treasure this experience; cheesy and clichéd as it sounds, what I have learnt about life, friendship and myself. Through trials and tribulations come growth, and this year is a year I believe that has led me to take a big step towards maturity. So now, on to the light-hearted stuff after all that first world problems that don’t really bear whining about, I would like to express my utmost gratitude to these people: To my coursemates, for all the support given; I know I haven't been to many lectures (if at all) so thanks for being so patient and understanding when I needed help in submitting all that last-minute coursework. To the Major Event publicity and ticketing team, who were incredibly enthusiastic from start to end; who all came down in force to help out in the photo shoot and filming, and contributing to the meetings. In particular to Wei Jie, Zi Xiang and Chuan Khim, thanks for all the late nights you stayed up doing the Trailer/Programme Booklet. Couldn't have asked for a more dedicated group of people. To me, our working relationships have developed into friendships that I really treasure. To the design team, who have helped in photography/any other work that needed to be done despite the sometimes tight deadlines; you all have done a wonderful job. To the Retrospect team, Wei Jie, Tsai, Arnold, Cheng Xiang, Estella, Gerald, Kai Qin, Monica and Zestin, thank you so much for making Retrospect a (will be I hope) success. A lot of effort has been put in, and post-stepping-down I promise to put in even more, seeing it through to completion. In particular to Gerald, who has unfailingly covered photography for most of the events in the Singsoc calendar. Who ran all around Singapore with me for Retrospect, from Admiralty to Boon Lay, sacrificing nearly all (if not all) of his very precious few days between the end of his VA and flying back to London, as well as his leave days. Who would be willing to meet at 7 am to go all over London till after dark. Who took nearly all the department photographs and other shots for Retrospect, Major Event and everything in general. No words can express my gratitude for your commitment and support. To Jingles, whose constant support I really treasure and who always stuck by me no matter what, and pulling me through the most difficult moments in my life, be it at 3 pm or 3 am. To my housemates (non-exco ones) Wei Shi and Arnold, for being so accommodating of our sometimes difficult schedules To all my friends who have shown so much support. And to the 30th, what we have put in and what we have sacrificed only we will know. Similarly, what we have gained and what we have experienced only we will understand. Thank you for everything over the last year; it has been quite the journey. Finally to Yiliang, I wish you all the best as the next Liaisons Officer! So my final words: We require photos to add to the Living Section of Retrospect, and will appreciate any and all photos of your travels around Europe and the UK. They do not need to feature any people, just any nice photos of landmarks or landscapes that you have taken over your time in Imperial. You can send them to: retrospect@ic-singsoc.net. 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