CASNCC/ACIC 2015/16 & CHARMS 2016

Hi my wonderful Internet friends! I'm back again after my approximately eight-months hiatus from blogging. Forgive me, but ever since I competed for CASNCC/ACIC 2015/16, got back from my awesome two-week long trip to Japan in April and a subsequent competition (C3 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) in August, I have been supremely busy and hardly got the time to catch a breather - much less blog about the aforementioned events. 

But FINALLY FINALLY! After the flurry of intense marking, lesson preparation and teaching segments has died down (a little), I have successfully gotten the time to sit down, gather my thoughts and scribe away! *throws mini confetti*

Due to my compulsion of cataloging personal mundane life events, I have decided that I MUST blog about the past two cheerleading competitions and my reflections about them before I move on to (the more anticipated) Japan trip itinerary that I can't wait to share. So for the non-cheerleaders, bear with me on this post and stay tuned for the Japan trip itinerary! (:

CASNCC & ACIC 2015/16

We lost. This is the first time in 6 years that we lost. And what an embarrassing tragedy it was. *sobs*

Thankfully, all my stunts hit. It was the opposite pyramid towers and other stunt groups that struggled and dropped. It started with partner stunts at the earlier part of the routine; my belief was that the drop/incomplete execution of a group caused some of the team members to lose their focus and confidence, and everything went downhill from there. It was like a nightmare in broad daylight. Initially triumphant and relieved that all my hard work, sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears have enabled me to successfully hit a personal ASU (All Stunts Up), I beamed at the crowd with pride and happiness towards the end of the routine as I stood on top of my final pyramid tower. But lo and behold, to my horror, I saw - out of the corner of my eye - the other pyramid tower collapsing. Bodies heaped over each other - the sight was awful and greatly humiliating. When we exited the competition mats, everyone was in tears. I couldn't stop crying. I was so upset. Upset and furious at them - those who caused the collapse. I felt like screaming. How dare they make all MY efforts and sacrifice for the team go to waste. WHAT THE FUCK. (Of course this fall could have happened to anyone, but let's be honest here. Nobody likes to lose. And the blame-game always happens, no matter what. So yes, I blame them for not so much of our loss, but the humiliation we suffered) All the bitchiness, cold shoulders and passive-aggressive bullying that I had endured throughout the season was for naught. I have thought that as long as I endured, I would get my reward or at the very least, a completed ASU team routine. But God has other plans, I guess. Although I wasn't the one that caused the fall - for that, I'm greatly thankful as had I been the one who screwed up - I wouldn't hear the end of it. All the snide remarks, behind-your-back gossips... *shudders*

That's the ugliness behind team sports (or maybe just my team for this specific current season). But that is the truth for what I went through during my last season. My closer teammates/friends had left the team earlier on and everyone whom I told this experience to felt that I was stupid to have gone through this entire season juggling work commitments and tolerating all the less-than-desirable treatment. Upon reflection, I DID wonder what the heck was I thinking and marveled at how I could have pushed through. I guess, my main reason was out of loyalty and giving back to the team. I wanted to make my then-coach Winston proud and also, I wanted to hit all 3 of my basket tosses elements, so regardless of how tough it was, I persevered.

Ending off with this photo. Outside, I'm smiling. Inside, I'm crying as I look at the opposite side falling... *sobs* 

Regardless, I am glad that the season was finally over. I have made a promise to myself that this season was my last and final year. Of course, there was much temptation to go back to help the team win back the title that we had so painstakingly held on for a consecutive 6 years. It would be a great personal pride and honour to help pull the team back up the ranks. But, after seeing all my close friends in the team leaving, I felt no heart to go back. My team has lost the personal touch with me. 

Gaaaahhh. Can't believe I managed to write such a cold and bitter recount of my last and final cheer team routine with this team. Please don't get me wrong. Out of all the 3 seasons I competed in this team, my last season was the shittiest I ever felt and I guess it's just the team during that season. LET ME QUALIFY MYSELF; it is NOT THE TEAM entirely! There ARE still plenty of decent folks around. Like any other team sports out there, there will always be certain people whom you couldn't work with and unfortunately for me, it just ruined my last season.

On a lighter note, let me show a few photos here to take the blues away! I have a few Taiwan friends who came to compete in ACIC 2016 (We have two competitions ongoing; CASNCC was the local category and ACIC was the International category where teams from Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Taiwan came to compete) and they all congratulated me on my great (personal) performance. 

Looking back, I really did manage to achieve my goal of SUCCESSFULLY doing all 3 of my basket tosses hahaha. Really glad that the then-coach Winston encouraged and guided me along, despite my inconsistencies and frustrations throughout the past seasons whilst learning the elements. Kudos to his optimism and patience! As mentioned earlier, he was also one of the main reasons I chose to continue to compete for this last season despite many of my close friends leaving the team/not competing. 

Thank you, Coach Winston (:

And of course, mandatory pictures of happy, smiling photos with other precious people. Because, after all, despite the disappointing performance, one must still celebrate the end of an arduous journey. (': 

My cheer sister, Shuying. Love youuu <3

Me caught eating a cookie hahaha >.<

Wylie!!~ Missing this friend of mine. We go a long way! 

And of course friends from Malaysia whom I managed to grab quick photos with!

Finally a collated picture that I posted on my IG right after the comps (which was a really long time ago)

 Season 2015/2016 - Thanks for the memories. Sigh.

CHARMS CHEERLEADING COMPETITION 2016

My very first time at Charms Cheerleading Competition (C3) 2016

The competition was held at The Curve at Kuala Lumpur and it took place at the end of August. I competed in the partner stunts category with Ruihong as my base. It was our first time pairing up and it was also my first time taking part in C3. Although this was my third time competing in partner stunts, every experience is novel as I pair up with a different base, get used to different 'stunt feel' and hone my technique to suit and adapt to the base. While the novel experience is exhilarating 'cheer-wise', 'career-wise' it was a harrowing time for me because during this period of time, I had just taken over the JC1 Division back at the tuition centre that I am currently working under. Even the day before my actual competition, I was still typing furiously away on my laptop, editing my resources based on my mentor's comments in time for the substitute teacher who was taking over me for that weekend to execute the lesson plan. It was supremely stressful as I had to redo my lesson plan and resources. I started crying and bawling midway through editing my resources as the stress to finish it on time and the impending competition threatened to overwhelm me. It was an absolutely crazy period of time. Looking back, I regretted choosing to go for this competition, especially when I was at a point in my career where there were so many new things to grapple with and I was still learning the ropes. I guess I had too much on my plate and stupidly pressed on. 

My Partner stunt base (Far left) Ruihong and my best spotter (Middle) Vijay.

Thank you you both for this wonderful experience! And thank you Vijay for always being the mediator of us two strong-headed people >.< 

Taking madd selfies. Anything to take my mind off my nervousness that day.

I believe the toll resulted in a lackluster performance on the day of the competition itself. I felt really disappointed in myself. My partner stunt partner, Ruihong had chosen to ask me to compete with him. Hell, we went through a lot of fights and quarrels during our training phase leading up to the competition as we are both equally strong-headed. Regardless, my performance was disappointing and I had let both of us down. Sigh... Regardless, it was an eye-opening experience for both of us as we realised an ASU is the most important criteria no matter what. Also, you can be good at what you are doing, but when it comes down to crunch time, if you fail to deliver, you are considered inadequate and incompetent. Such is the testament to honing our craft. 

Some happy photos!

Please pardon the bloated face and divert your attention elsewhere - like to the other parties in my photos. Why does my face look bloated?? Not because I went to KL and became suddenly damn fat (though admittedly, I am heavier than last season. eheh :P) But, it is because my period came RIGHT after the day my comps ended. Guess it came amidst the high stress levels. Come to think of, that explains the crying feats night before comps day. PMS, ya know. Its pretty obvious as even the then-SP Gusto Coach Pangpang (胖胖) also asked me why my face look damn bloated when I don't look like I gained significant weight. Sad life chose me :(( 

Happy pictures with Singaporean cheer mates, local Malaysian cheer friends and Taiwanese cheer friends from Monster who came to help coach and support one of the Malaysian teams, Cheer Aces. One of the best things going overseas to compete! It is like a mini get-together reunion session heh ;D

Minjui, who came to see me on my last day in KL (which is the day after C3 officially ended). So touched! Got to know her during my Bali Open competition last year with Owen. However, she's from Malaysia. Its pretty cool we got to know each other overseas hahaha :)

All in all, amidst the bitterness and disappointment, I'm truly humbled by these two experiences that I had undergone throughout Season 2015/16. I have learnt that you shouldn't sacrifice your health and happiness for anyone, and anything because ultimately, you are the one who suffers. Yes, I have learnt that in the pursuit of winning the materialistic gold, sacrificing health and happiness is absolutely NOT the way to go. I have learnt putting too much on your plate can cause things to backfire - some battles we can choose to fight, some battles we need to learn to let go. Lastly, I have learnt that no matter how good you are, we must always, always stay humble, keep our noses to the grind and keep honing our craft. No matter what we do or how much we have achieved, there is always room for improvement. 

I shall end off with a decent selfie with My Melody 

(one of the many in my collection heh)

Thank you C3 for this amazing and humbling experience.

And that's all for my reflections. 

xx
Loves,
Nices