First Week as a Cheer I/C

In case you didn't already know, my voice is hoarse now.

With my sexy and husky voice, I can mimick A-Do so well now that I could easily substitute him during his concert when he's sick or something.

And no, it didn't help much when I caught the flu bug that's going around in town these few days.

I should have avoided those mud pies at NYDC on last Saturday. I think that's what you call karma when you insist on getting someone to give you a treat.

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Monday (8/5/2006)

My first day as the 33rd Cheer I/C for Hwa Chong. First event was the girls' basketball match against RJC. The councillors were very supportive and cheered loudly when I ask them to cheer for the playing team. Being a greenhorn, I thought we could cheer at anytime we wanted to. But alas! I was told that we ain't suppose to do a cheer when the coach is speaking to the team about strategies during "breaks" (what do you exactly call them? I am not sure if you call those "breaks").

During the boys' match against TJC, the challenge came when "normal students" (who are usually cynical about cheering) arrive at the venue to watch the match. More than half of them refused to cheer, despite the fact that some of the seniors personally asked them to cheer for the playing team.

Lesson learnt: Cheering is not just about being able to cheer damn loudly and enthusiastic at all times. You have to engage the audience, lead them to cheer, and must, most importantly, know when to and when not to cheer.

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Tuesday (9/5/06)

Girls' volleyball match against SAJC. The venue (CCAB Volleyball Court) was stuffy. Fans do not exist in that place at all. Neither do windows. And I wonder did the management ever know of this thing called "ventilation".

Anyways, during the match, my senior Cheer I/C, Kailing, came up with a few cheers on the spot. Some proved to be effectively, which is determined by whether our team scored after we did the cheer. Lame way of determining the cheer's effectiveness, but sometimes things just cannot be explained using science.

Yes, at seventeen, we still believe in "superstitions".

And oh, I brought along my train whistle (that will produced the "choo-choo" sound when you blow into it), much to the amusement of everybody. Unfortunately, it wasn't loud enough to stun everyone that is present at the venue.

The funny thing was that at the last set, both of the playing teams have to switch sides, but some of the SAJC students either refuse to switch sides to stand next to their own team to support team, or they are just simply unaware of the change (which I don't think is the case. I mean, who doesn't have eyes to see the teams changing sides?)

So, those pathetic souls who are still standing on our team's side were surrounded and trapped by our councillros and we started cheering behind them. Cheering for Hwa Chong, that is.

Mark went in and thanked them for supporting Hwa Chong.

They rolled their eyes.

Lesson learnt: You need a lot of stamina to cheer. I was pretty much out of breath during the fourth set of the game. And oh, enclosing the students from the rival school is a effective method in lowering their morale. They would feel intimidated and hence not cheer, or cheer less loudly for their own team.

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Thursday (11/5/06)

Combined Sports Meet with Chinese High and Nanyang Girls' today.

Cheered like crazy for my own faculty. I carried the drums and hit it and moved into the crowd asking them to cheer. It's physically exhausting, in case you didn't know.

Cheering makes you sweat a lot. Even if it's only a simple one of asking people to cheer for the team, without carrying the drums or moving about aksing people to cheer. I guess it's the adrenaline rush that makes you perspire.

For the past two cheering events, my shirt was literally soaked. It was as good as playing the game itself.

After the Sports Meet, it's another cheering session for hte boys' softball match against VJC.

I tell you, softball is a darn complicated game. Basically I just cheered when I see the softball team cheering.

Too bad, taunting wasn't allowed as the coach for our team wanted to play the game "gracefully". Sigh, I did a perfect job in taunting those RJC players the other time... :P

Lesson learnt: Know how every game is played so that you can cheer appropriately.

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Next week would be another hectic week for the Cheer I/Cs. There are matches on everyday except for Thursday.

Wish me good luck and good health.