First off, NYConneXions would like to say a big and warm welcome to 2009, and to the new JC1s. From the 7th to the 9th of January, NYJC opened its doors to 270 students waiting for their O Level results, to give them an insight into life as a JC student.

Dedicated student leaders taking time out to explain a game to two teams of participants.

This pet project of NYJC has been in the works since the end of last year, with NYJC being the only JC in Singapore to offer such an intricate insight into JC life. Hence, throughout this JC Immersion Camp, which has already garnered national media attention, NYConneXions will be fielding reporters for all three days to give NYJCians a brief rundown of this camp.

The JC Immersion Camp was designed with the intention of familiarizing new batches of JC1 students with life in a Singaporean JC. Going hand in hand with the slow abolishment of the three month PAE period, together with the much earlier release of the O Level results, new JC1 students would have an extra month of vacation time upon graduation from their secondary schools.

Take a Bow, E-Bestfriend! Yida from the Student Council taking time out to entertain the participants…

NYJC hence launched the JC Immersion Camp to serve as a bridging gap for new JC1 students between the end of their secondary school life and JC life.

NYConneXions has spoken to some of the participants and organizers of this event about their thoughts regarding their experience so far. One of the students interviewed, who personally aims to get into NYJC, finds the campus’ environment homely and appealing. When asked what she has learned about JC life so far, she says: “I’ll be expecting a lot of stress from the change in environment and lifestyle as compared to secondary school, but I think I can also expect a lot of fun with more involvement with what NYJC has to offer.”

Besides the participants, we have spoken to some of the people facilitating the event, such as the student councilors to find out what they think will make the Immersion Camp a success. “Apart from coordination between CCAs, attendance, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude from both participants and helpers play an important part as well,” said a student helper who declined to be named.

On that note, NYConneXion signs off on the first day of the JC Immersion Camp, promising you more updates on the camp daily, for the next two days!

Done by Keng Daniel. Photos by Farah Ismail.