Musings of an Old Boy

Every year around the middle of the year, there would be a minor surge in memberships to the OBA. A fair number of these would be old boys wanting an added advantage for their son when applying for Primary One registration. For many old boys there is really no question that their son must follow in their footsteps. And quite rightly so! And ACS old boys, being a determined and vocal lot, would do whatever is necessary to preserve the family tradition of an ACS education. So this is also the time of year when we get calls from our Principals for help. Our old boys can also be more than a handful! In a way, these are ‘happy’ issues for us to deal with. It shows that old boys highly value the ACS education and wish the same privilege for their children.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, an ACS old boy himself, recently remarked in a speech to RI boys that ACS boys, even after leaving school, would proudly proclaim that they are ACS boys. He is right. We do wear our ‘badge’ with pride and honour. Our strong unexplainable loyalty to our school does bind us together. How often have we heard the remark ‘must be an ACS boy’ because of certain distinguishable characteristics unique to us. The ACSian in all of us seem forged for life. When I left Pre-U 2 the first thing I did was to join the OBA. I wanted to cement my ties with my school, a simple enough reason to part with a not considerable sum of money for a NS recruit in 1975.

So why are there not more old boys joining the OBA if we feel so passionately about our school? It cannot be because we don’t care. When the clock tower was slated for rebuilding, old boys came together to lobby for its preservation. When it was felt some years ago that our ACS schools were changing beyond recognition of our days in ACS, we voiced our concerns. Put old boys together and the talk will be about ACS, our teachers, our friends, our childhood memories.

Could it be costs and the lack of tangible benefits? Well, it is true that there are no frequent flyer miles to earn, restaurant discounts to enjoy or a multi-facility clubhouse to bring the family to for the $500 lifetime fee. There is a view that we should offer better value to make membership more attractive. Admittedly, it would be tough trying to compete with social and lifestyle clubs. Has it really come to this? Do we need material enticement to be a part of a very special association that binds ‘our hearts, our hopes, our aims’ as one? Is there a price for our pledge of loyalty and belonging to our ACS, whose anthem we have sung daily as youths that ACS will be forevermore?
I worry for our membership or perhaps the lack of. ACS now consists of 6 schools. Through the years, thousands leave our system. Every boy and girl leaving has evolved with the policies and circumstances of the time and the ACS experience imprinted are different depending on the experiences, memories and traditions that vary with each cohort. The answer from a loyal young ‘old’ boy is typical (when I asked if he was a member)…..’I did want to join OBA when I left school but didn’t. Maybe later.’

Don’t wait! The OBA needs a continuous infusion of ACS ‘old boys and girls’ from each graduating cohort. We need to be relevant and in touch with our old boys in order to better serve and be a useful resource to our schools. One ACS conceived by Dr Ang Peng Tiam, my predecessor, is not only about the uniting of the present schools but also the reconnecting of old boys. We are not just tools for fund raising but collectively form the foundation for ACS to link our past traditions to influence our future direction.

For all those groups of old boys who meet regularly and the many younger ACSians who link up through various chat rooms, I appeal to you to take the next step, join the OBA. Make a stand and commitment that we can be counted on when our school and fellow ACSians need us. In joining, we close the loop from being a student of the school to a useful member of the ACS community. The OBA represents all old boys and girls and if we are really proud to proclaim that we are from ACS, we should do so knowing that we are part of the association whose very mission is to ensure that ‘The Best Is Yet to Be’.