32nd Company Boys' Brigade
Damai Secondary School
Testimonies From Our Boys
I have been a member of the Boys Brigade for 2 years now and have enjoyed nearly every moments I had in the CCA. Despite having plenty of disciplinary training such as drills and exercise and much more, there is also a range of fun activities in BB. Through our CCA, our Boys can experience foreign activities that we might have outside BB, like handling air rifles and to rock climb and develop qualities like leadership and having discipline. Also not to forget, we also have a monthly event called "Youth beat", As you know we are a Christian CCA, this is an event whereby they show to us about Christianity and teaching us the values of it. But I think it's a really fun activity that allows us to make new friends from the church youths and also to learn it through many different themes each time. Some may go to Youth beat because it is compulsory but personally I go to Youth beat because it gives me an opportunity to have fun and hang out with friends outside school and the games we play in Youth beat are also really unique and hilarious as we watched my fellow friends doing the forfeits. Yet besides all the fun and games you can also be educated. I have learnt a lot about Christianity through Youth beat despite not being a Christian. To summarize I feel that Youth beat is really enjoyable and it has a comfy environment to hold us. Last but not least, throughout my years in BB, my seniors have often looked out for me ever since I joined it and even becoming good buddies, they are definitely a terrific batch of seniors and officers we have to support and teach us as well, who will also make staying in the Boys Brigade enjoyable.
-Glenn Tham of 3E3
Sergeant
(The one holding the cake in the centre)
Sometimes I look at my friends from other CCAs complaining about their torture in their CCA, I feel sorry for them as I have such a great time in BB. From the day I chose BB as my CCA, I knew that it will be the life changing choice of my life. Why mess up the one choice of choosing the right CCA and regret for the rest of your 4/5 years here? This choice I made was the turning point of my life. BB exposed me to life skills and opened up my life to the amazing and adventurous side of life that I would have never seen if it wasn't for BB. It brought many of my fellow friends together and has been equipping us for almost every kind of condition; to be able to endure an expedition around the South-East region of Singapore during our annual adventure camp, to learn about tying knots, building a basha and much more adventure stuff we would learn in the camp and able to apply what we learn in our daily lives. I'm confident now after just 2 short years in this CCA that I am set for army. Till this day, I am still proud to be a member of BB.
-Lee Theng Don of 3E1
Sergeant
(The one in the centre)
The Boys' Brigade to me is a CCA that transcends all CCAs. It is not just a CCA for me, it is like a family. In BB, we grow and develop in our maturity, we may suffer when we are facing hardships but it certainly united us together. My CCA mates and I have developed throughout these years and we have grown to be more responsible, more empathising, more caring and a better person overall. We have bonded through numerous activities, including our normal CCA days, camps and even outside CCAs. The officers and teachers are very wise and supportive, and do not hesitate to help us when asked for, that their kindness to us really touches our hearts whenever we may fall short on our responsibilities. Although they can be reprimanding that some of us do not like it, but ultimately these scolding are for our sake, to teach and help us to develop our character to be a better person. The BB also equips us with skills in various ways such as through drills, adventure and first aid skills. These skills are useful throughout our lives, such as drills improving both our endurance and discipline. The Boys' Brigade is an excellent CCA which makes me feel very privileged to be in it and I treat it more than just a typical CCA. It's more than that. It let me to take away many great values and also making brothers that support me throughout my life. I definitely have not regretted taken up this CCA as my choice.
-Wang Poh San, 3E1
Sergeant
(The one holding the gun)
Personally, BB has really changed my life as before I am in BB, I was constantly not handing in my homework, treating it lightly and I realised it was very irresponsible of me as a student now. From joining BB has made me a better person and this CCA has taught me many great values such as being responsible and taking charge of my own education. BB also isn't too stressful for us as it is only 1 day per week and the activities aren't too vigorous, in fact some of the activities are fun and interesting, such as the time when we went as a company, to Fort Siloso and we actually got the chance to play Combat Skirmish. We also have many fun and interesting camps such as the adventure camp where I got the chance to rock climb and it was really challenging and exciting! To be honest, it is a decision that I wouldn't doubt back where when I was in secondary one.
-Tan Jun Rong, 3E3
(The one in the centre)
The Boys’ Brigade has a great impact in my life; in fact I started to join it since I was in my primary school, Fengshan Primary. I always thought it brings colours to my life as well as the friends we had in primary school as I was a quiet and had little friends in the school. Up till when I chose to take it up again in secondary school. I was rather reserved, an introvert and a passive person in secondary one even though, in my heart I wanted to see what can I get from this CCA. To think about it back then, it was rather a rash decision to just choose it without checking out other CCAs during the exhibition. Through the years I have experienced in The Boys’ Brigade, seniors that I once had who experienced hardship together under the rain for example, made unconditional sacrifices of their personal time to support us, help us and to nurture and teach us what is to achieve our “badgework” that is needed to get us badges on our uniforms in the CCA. We tend to focus on it, so as to look smarter each year. The unconditional care that I received from them was during my secondary 2 & 3 years. It was my first year of taking part in the “National Day Parade” to be part of the marching contingent. It really felt like multiple test of endurance each time we went for training as we have to stand still for a considerable amount of time that made me kind of dislike it from the start. Much to my surprise, my seniors made the journey much enjoyable. The various events that we partake together such as BB Share-A-Gift and BB Blaze yearly from secondary 2 onwards and also learning to kayak together that really moulded me with them. Their words to me along the years have inspired me to think and act differently, to even to aim to score well for my studies. To be honest, without my seniors I cannot imagine how will it be without them. Not to forget the officers, teachers or people I have meet along the course in my stay that is yet to finish in this CCA. They have been there during my ups and downs. Personally, I dare say that this kind of friendship; I cannot find it other where except to be in The Boys’ Brigade.
Liew Jia Yu of 5A1
Warrant Officer
(The one on the right)
(The one on the right)
BB is one of the best CCAs out there. You might be thinking that I'm just exaggerating, but no. Being a considerably busy person with my studies and chores, having a CCA is tiring. However BB has lessened the amount of stress I have. It is a CCA that is only once per week making it one of the least frequent CCAs which provide you with the most amount of CCA points for just attending it. Due to this advantage I have so much more free time to either study or relax. Time and CCA points aren't the only ways I have benefitted from joining BB though. It has also made me a good leader after years of being taught in this CCA, with it teaching me the proper morals and values to go through life. It ensures that the Boys know proper discipline and have good endurance. My first friends made in this entire school were from this CCA. BB is filled with a lot of friendly people. It allows young boys to interact with each other freely and to make friends with each other which allows them to improve on their social skills. BB is definitely one of the best CCAs in this school and perhaps in the world. This choice will affect your entire school life from now on until Secondary 4. If you are going to make a choice which benefits you in the long run, you should definitely go for BB.
Joshua Koh of 4E1
Staff sergeant
I think that in my life in BB has been a real fruitful one. With teachers to support me but without being pampered is a different experience. This year is Singapore's 50th in my context now when I am writing this. All because of BB I am honoured and pleased that I am able to represent not just Damai Secondary but BB SG as a whole in NDP 2015, an experience which I would remember till the rest of my days. I mean who wouldnt be ecstatic to be part of an anniversary, literally any type of anniversary.
Through I am also able to pick up new skills and knowledge of different varieties from knot tying to managing friendships which may be able to help me in the long run.
The friends that I have made in BB is like no other ordinary friend you make in primary school but like a comrade and partner through life. However this friends I made in Damai BB32nd are not the only the only friends I have made but like I said the people i meet in NDP is a whole other story like they are like long lost family. Friends are what makes a life interesting and fruitful as I started off with be it with the Officer or the Primers life in BB will never be boring as long as you give your best!
Joshua Soo of 3E3, 2015
Platoon Sergeant of Platoon 1
(The one on the left)
The Boy's Brigade has taught me many things which are important key points to our life. One example is discipline. It has taught me not to be distracted by little things that are not important to us and not to be tempted by the stuffs that's around us. The Boy's Brigade has also taught me teamwork. Which is also very important, because without it nothing around us could be done. Leadership is also another key point we must take note of. As not to be a mindless follower like the sheep which follow each other in a group. And when they think they are in danger but they are not, one would run mindlessly and the rest would follow. But we all would want to be like an eagle, which soar high above the clouds by itself with no one to follow and knows what it's doing. I've made many new friends from the Boy's Brigade in my Company and other Companies during camps like LDC 2 which we must have teamwork with other boys we never met before. I joined BB not because to get some respect from people but to learn new stuffs, the way things work in BB and the people I've met. I'll never regret joining BB.
Darrell of 3T1, 2015
Sergeant
"In Boys' Brigade, we develop sure and stedfast characters. I've also come to learn that planning is merely one part of the equation of carrying out an activity. The manner of its execution is equally important. For example, it is crucial to delegate the roles to responsible individuals to complete the task. The experience I've gained being a leader in the [Boys' Brigade] company' will be extremely useful in the future, especially in my work life."
Yang Mingyan of 4E2, 2016
Company Sergeant Major
