Yes, We, Can.

Let's fly high.

There we were, live sized characters out of the DreamWorks studio. Freshed faced and green all over. And there followed the many tests, we traversed swamps, braved the wild beasts, endured through the storms, fought valiantly at each others side. We took aim, fired. Ran for cover, hid. Frolicked under the sun. And then there was November, I was twelveth. We put what we believed on the line, survived the test of time. We too trudged on the beaten gravel path, through the muddied tracks, up the grassy knoll, down by the meandering stream. We cheered when we reached our destinations. And cheer again we do, as now we separate only to venture into the paths we have been entrusted to, to fulfill one and every role that we are tasked to.

The piece of realization, that all's just but another phase of life one has to go through. Like a labyrinth, we too cross many convoluted obstacles and brave adversities and the unknown to reach before the door to the next room. It's a test, of faith, determination, courage, character and ability. Can we meet the benchmarks, reach the checkpoints, clear the course?

Yes, we can.

 ---

"And remember, if everyone else before you can do it, so can you. Be strong."

To Lead, To Excel, To Overcome.

Face the setting sun, wave goodbye to the old, and welcome the new. Tomorrow's a new day. Goodbye.

To say that the day was the run of the mill, so very alright-normal-average would be the very understatement of the year, to each fresh faced private barely out of the sunny island of Tekong. And personally, the honor goes to the lovely mixture of trepidation, excitement, apprehension, fear, exhilaration that made the day, whilst the troubled heart attempted to reason and piece coherent thoughts together, to map the route ahead, unfortunately to no avail. For with the elation follows the anxiety, the excitement, worry, though not overly incessant.

Yet for every clap on the back, every word of congratulation; it was yet another form of acknowledgment that one would have to live up to, another milestone to achieve. Many have done it, traversed the beaten track, lived the precipitous climb, lived to see the next day. So will we. So will I.

To lead, to excel, to overcome. I can do it.

---

"For the simple fact that everything you will go through will test your mettle, in every area. And if you are not up to it, you will suffer. It's as simple as that. And it's even tougher after you pass out from OCS, that's when your responsibilities really begin. Being an officer is not about wearing that rank; the two pieces of cloth you wear on the shoulder will NOT automatically earn you the enduring respect of the men who will depend on you to take care of them. You will be constantly under scrutiny, from your superiors and the men you are leading. You must have the right attitude and disposition, and the ability. They augment each other, but they must add up to make you worthy of holding command. Enjoy the process, make friends, help each other. Be yourself."

"Are You Close To Them?"

How many survive the ravage of time; how many of these last?

The Couldn't-Care-Less. (02)

Tomorrow's a good day, 'cause it's a new day;
Everything is fresh, everything is new.

Everyday we look into viewing glasses, mirrors, windows; and we see a reflection of ourselves. How much does that change? On the outside, probably. And in the inside? Do we live day by day, biding our time in ways comparable to that of the reclusive hermit in fairy tales; are we apathetic, very much so self centered and self indulgent at times? Are children today overly spoilt by their parents?

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Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

What We Stand For.

It's not about what we lose out in the process, rather, what we gain at the end of the day

It would not do anyone justice to come to the presumptuous conclusion that no one had anything worth to fight for. What at the end of the day propels one forward, provide one the very source of inner strength and mental guidance to weather even the toughest of storms. For the sole breadwinner the urge to lay food on the table, for the computer junkie the exhilaration that follows from the birth of a programming software, for a photographer the capture of a breathtaking picture. Everyone would, ultimately have goals that they would strive for, altruistic or self-oriented, it wouldn't matter. Yet as any other person would say, we only come to realize what we are standing for in the very face of adversities. What we fear to come to lose, only then we bare our fangs and rise to the fight.

What would you fight for?

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That as people steadily grow disconcerted, we only grow stronger;

That as people slowly grow jaded and weary, we embrace grow in mental and physical fortitude, progress in leaps and bounds;

That as people gradually grow disillusioned, we envision what we value dearest, and hold it to our hearts, a lighthouse in the stormy seas ;

That at the very darkest hours before dawn, we tell ourselves to soldier on, that everything would then be alright, that all would be well, that we would only grow stronger than before.

Thirthieth Percentile.

 For the good that wasn't good enough. We deserve more than that.