We bid farewell to Mr. Cheow, our beloved choir teacher as he has been promoted to be the Subject Head for ICT.
Tears flow freely as we held a fond farewell for him.
Here is his farewell speech for the choir.
Dear choir,
This is definitely not my usual “farewell to the graduating batch” speech, because now I’m the one leaving. 😦
From the first time I stepped foot into MFSS in 2013, being in MFSS choir has been my constant amidst the numerous changes that has taken place over time. I feel deeply honoured to have worked with many awesome batches of choristers since 2013 to 2022, and am deeply grateful for the teachers working alongside. 🙂 Warning – VERY LONG MESSAGE.
To the first team of teachers: Mrs. Tay, Mdm Aishah, Ms. Ess. Words cannot express my deep gratitude to all of you, especially when you receive me as a beginning teacher, to mentor me, giving me so much guidance and encouragement, supporting me in my sometimes crazy ideas (better still, each of us had some crazy ideas at many points and we just happily went along hahaha). I hope I’ve made all of you proud as you all would have watched me grow and develop as a teacher. 🙂
To the current team of teachers: Mr Xie, Ms. Bridget, Ms. Ess, Ms. Shen. You’ve no idea how happy I am to know of this lineup of teachers for choir 🙂
I can already see the synergy in how y’all work together, so much so that I can definitely put my heart at ease as I handover my duties of a CCA teacher to you 🙂
To Mr. Xie. That little talk down memory lane – bro, you almost made me tear again leh. :’)
It’s really cool to see how our journey of development and growth since our Sec 1/2 days have brought each of us to where we are now. Reminiscing our history aside, I’m really happy for you to able to see how the choir has grown under your guidance and direction 🙂 I’ve full faith and confidence that you’ll bring the choir to greater heights – really looking forward to it! 🙂
To the graduating choristers of 2022.
There are so many things I want to thank you for! As I sit back and think about how each of you came to choir, honestly back then I’ve never been able to picture y’all being seniors (sorry ah, sometimes I still see y’all like small kid like that hahahaha)
But what amazed me within each of you is the amount of character, personality, cohesiveness and initiative that is further enacted out as y’all become seniors and student leaders. Even though I didn’t have much opportunities to work with you directly, every moment I’ve worked you all really sparked joy in me. 🙂 But that also made me sad because I selfishly hoped to have worked with y’all more. 😦 Come join me in visiting the choir too ok!
To the alumni (grad 2014 – 2021). Each of you have witnessed slightly different chapters in my growth as a teacher, and partook in the shared experience with me through your own sec school journeys.
Regardless, I hold each of them dear to me, and I am very thankful to have walked this journey with you, starting from Song Fei’s/Zhi Xin’s batch (2014), Sara/Hui Ning’s batch (2015), Vanessa/Erica/Sabrina/JingXuan (2016), the batch of Justine Light (2017), Yar Za’s batch (2018), Faustina’s batch (2019), Cara’s batch (2020), Alyssa’s batch (2021), and now, YY’s batch (2022).
It might seem like me listing off names, but for each name/batch I mention, I reminisce my journey and relive it in my heart. Thank you for the shared memories in choir, and for the extended friendships as you move ahead into JC/Poly, University, and working life. 🙂
P.S.: I actually re-read the messages in the choir comm group – really very nostalgic. 🙂
To the current choristers. I have full confidence that you will have a fulfilling experience in choir, and to grow in the choir family 🙂
Trust me – you really won’t know how surreal it can be until you look back 5 years later 🙂
Even as I step away, from afar I feel excited for the journey that awaits you 🙂
Continue to hone your craft, your musicianship together as a family. Maintain standards, maintain friendships. 🙂
With a deeply grateful heart, thank you everyone, past and present members, teachers and conductors. :’)
Mayflower Secondary School Choir 