They say no one starts off being excellent. Only through hard work and determination can someone master their passion and refine it into their expertise. The current Zion seniors of MGCNL have blazed a trail that no batch has ever gone down. The pandemic hindered all bonding to take place among members, yet the current grade 12 students were intentional in fostering a supportive and caring family-like dynamic in each team as they transitioned back face-to-face.
From their humble beginnings as shotis and shobes when they first joined the varsity, to becoming inspiring and influential leaders, it is no doubt that they have left a lasting impact on the MGCNL sports community. Let us see what the seniors have learned along the way and recognize the legacies that they leave behind.
There’s nothing like face-to-face training when you can hear the skids of basketball shoes, the ping of a shuttlecock on a racket, the bounce of the volleyball, or the splashes in the pool. Though a lot has changed, the seniors revel in and remember physical training sessions with fondness.
Swimmer Klee Que reminisces as he recalls when teammates would cheer “Go, go, go!” from under the water. Que shares that the fulfillment of being an ahia has prompted him to push his teammates to always keep improving themselves.
Although hearing the actual blow of the whistle or shouts of his teammates signals another exhausting day of training, Basketball Team Captain Enzo Chua finds this all the more invigorating. Chua jokes that being an ahia, he can no longer show up late to training.
“Keep training, keep working hard, I know sometimes nakakatamad or nakakainis but you have a really good future so keep trying your best and always remember to be a family to each other and encourage one another,” encourages Chua.
With these also came the stressful challenge of transforming from a mentee into a mentor. Even so, this obstacle combined with the return face-to-face conditioned the grade 12 students with the ability to guide their teammates through their own hardships.
Observing the hardworking achis that always seemed so calm during high-pressure games, Jamina See struggled with similarly displaying these characteristics as the Volleyball Team Captain. Through her desire to positively help her juniors, she reconciled the differences in behavior and values that newer batches of players possessed through her friendliness and liveliness.
“As the seniors sign off, we all hope that we made a lasting impact on these girls as much as they did on us. We hope that they remember to do their part, learn to adapt quickly, and to keep their heads up even when things aren't going their way,” See says affectionately.
Erin Co adds that she hopes that, more than becoming the best volleyball players, the girls would be able to glorify God as the best version of themselves through their shared sport.
Current Badminton team captain AJ Ching also remembers the times when elementary and high school were mostly divided. Having to train separately due to scheduling conflicts, it was difficult for the team to bond altogether. As the current team captain, Ching realizes the responsibility and joys that come with being one.
“Without a voice standing out in the team, it would be almost impossible for that team to get anywhere. For a team to go places, not only is a voice needed, but also a strong sense of belief and hope. As a team captain, it is your duty to motivate and strengthen the team's hopes, no matter how impossible it may seem,” states Ching.
Now that the Badminton varsity is much smaller than in previous years, all members, no matter the grade level, effortlessly bond with each other. Fellow Badminton player Rickson Tan adds that team-bonding events and Christmas parties made their time together all the more enjoyable.
Whether it be teaching them how to use a microwave and fake a cramp or empowering them to do their best, the students of batch Zion have shared their accumulated wisdom with their fellow teammates. Andrea Reyes and Riley Hui share how their seniors taught them the importance of leadership and not using their young age as an excuse not to give their very best. Meanwhile, Gabriel Gaw and Adrian Wong, along with Alessi Chua, wish the graduating batch all the best as they open up a new chapter in their lives. Dominic Wong expresses his gratitude to his senior, who he not only sees as his ahia, but as a friend.
Through all of the hurdles that the student-athletes had to endure, the graduating batch of 2023 left their own personalized marks on each of the sports. Even though they will no longer be studying at MGCNL, their legacies will continue to motivate and inspire the members they’ve mentored and cared for in the years to come.