By Ng Dawin (25A01D), Peh Zhi Ning (25A01B) and Tan Yan Qi (26S06M)
A lot of people will tell you that the happiest day of an exam is when the last paper ends and a lot of people are wrong. Either they hate studying more than anything… or they are just inexperienced, and have never had to wait three months for a test result before.
That was exactly what the Y7s had gone through. Sure, you had no papers to worry about and all the time in the world to do everything you ever wanted; but without your A levels, there was no way your education was moving forward.
It then came to be, as the Y7s sat in a cafe in Tokyo or a MHA printer room or some savage jungle in Tekong, that their minds started to wander. Just wistfully reminiscing about the past—which you could not go back to; and looking vaguely into the future—which had not yet come…
So the happiest day of the A levels was actually on the 21st of February, results announcement day, when the Y7s came down onto the school like a great wave that had crashed against the breakwater.
There was electricity in every corner, at any instant. If not the NS recruits swiping at each other’s buzzed heads, then the girls with their dyed hair, passionately embracing each other. Couples exchanging flowers in the canteen; teachers laughing with their ex-students in the corridor; juniors hanging out with seniors by the benches… You could feel the sparks flying everywhere.
Perhaps much of this excitement came down to relief. Twelve years of studying and three months of waiting had come down to this moment, and amongst all Y7 alumni, there was a fantastic feeling that whatever the results, it was one they had worked for. “Two years of hard work has come down to this moment,” says Max Chee (24S06P), “ I’m just glad that I also get to spend it with my teachers and my friends.”
Indeed, nostalgia was also a factor. After all, this was the last official time the Y7s would ever be in the school — and another whole list of ‘lasts’ that deserved to be celebrated in their own right.
“Today officially marks the end of JC officially. I guess I’ll just have to accept whatever outcome because it has all come down to this.”
- Lee Chun Hei (24S07A)
“It’s kind of a bittersweet day, seeing everyone for the last time… There’s a lot of people I don’t think I will ever talk to again.”
- Chloe Ong (24S06N)
But it was not to say that the Y7s’ anxiety had been completely absolved. It certainly seemed to be the case—with all the cheering and hugging—but maybe it was just a front to mask the fear within. “I brought a plastic bag in case I throw up”, mumbled (Wong Xingle, 24A01A) nervously as her friends stood beside her. “I’ve talked to a lot of people but I’m still sweating about it”.
The Y7s’ sense of excitement dropped as they shuffled their way into the MPH. They sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, forming a messy phalanx that stretched from one end to the other room. No one said anything—and if they did, their hushed silent whispers could only betray one feeling.
Even the Y5s and 6s observing from the gallery above could feel the tension in the air. “It’s scary to imagine myself in the same position next year,” says Elizabeth Ong (25S03C), her Dragon Boating teammates nodding affirmatively behind her. Beside them students in house tees leaned against the railing, feverishly watching the crowd below.
“I’m not too worried about the A levels now, because we haven’t even finished the curriculum” says Jose Cheong (25S03Q), “But ask me again this time next year, and maybe you’ll get a different response.”
Strangely enough none of the teachers seemed too concerned about the results. It was a queer mix of having gone through too many results days in the past to be affected by the students’ nervousness, and a complete faith in their own teaching methods to bring about the best results possible.
Of course, they were reluctant to credit themselves; “We’re proud of all our students every year,” says Ms Mok Hoi Nam (Y7 Math tutor), beaming with pride, “Doesn’t matter where you started—if you work hard enough, you’ll eventually be on the same level as the rest.”
My Patrick Wong (Y7 GP tutor) also expressed the same sentiment. “Regardless of their results, I’m proud of all my students because they have all put in the effort,” he says. “Besides, it’s not about the score on your paper, but whether it can get you into the university course you desire.
These conflicting feelings certainly made for a very feverish countdown to “Judgement day”. Yet, when the time came, no one seemed to be in a particular rush to grab their results.
Groups of friends and classmates huddled together as the firsts of the cohort sat down in the chair of doom. Tense smiles were exchanged between student and teacher, both hoping for the best. The maroon red file, holding the future of their next few years within it, was passed from one pair of excited hands into another, more clammy one.
A peculiar observation could be made about how the Y7s chose to receive their results.
Some, upon receiving their results, navigated their way out of the growing crowd forming around the teachers’ tables, moving to a quiet, secluded corner of the hall for some privacy.
Others chose to wait a little longer, keeping it tightly closed in their grip—whether out of fear of reality coming true, or a promise with friends to share their results together. Having waited for months since the last paper, a few more minutes couldn’t hurt.
But regardless, the A Level results collection was not for the Y7s to experience by themselves. It was a collective experience – with classmates, friends, tutors, family, and juniors. Many phone calls were made that day. Tucked away in quiet corners, students updated their family on their grades to share the news. On the 2nd floor of the MPH, Y5s and Y6s stood peering over the edge of the barrier to look out for their seniors. Waiting as nervously as the Y7s, the Y6s from Dragon Boating could be seen cheering and waving excitedly when their seniors signed to them their As from below, as if they were the ones receiving their grades.
In the trying times that were the A Levels, camaraderie shines the brightest. 21 February might not have been the best day for all, but they certainly brought out the best in relationships. Wistfulness and longing was evident in how the Y7s lingered around in the campus long past 3pm.
That fateful Friday would not just be remembered as a day of collecting results, but also a day for many to see their friends and teachers for one last time before they parted. If they had been too anxious to socialise before collecting their results, after was the time to do so. In the MPH and ISH, small groups of students huddled around their tutors, sharing what they had been doing in the past months or their plans for the future. Similarly, the canteen was packed with Y7s staying back to chat with their friends.
Sure, the collection of results was the main event, but after the anxiety had worn off and relief settled in, any thoughts about the A Levels were pushed all the way to the back of their minds. Because while the exams were a huge part of the JC experience, there was so much more worth remembering than that. With grades out of the way, friends could finally reminisce about the time spent in JC—the fun, the not-so-fun, and everything in between.
The two years that had felt so agonisingly long, yet so short in retrospect, finally came to an end on this fateful day. 21 February 2025 marked the final full stop to their journey in RI, to the end of a chapter, but also to the beginning of a fresh, new one. And as much as there was excitement for the next chapter of their lives to begin, there was also reluctance to let go of a huge part of their lives.
But before truly waving their last goodbye to Raffles Institution, many Y7s had advice to impart upon their juniors. For many of them, a main theme was, fittingly, not to waste your time. Having experienced firsthand the speed of these two years, most of the seniors we interviewed followed this common thread.
“Have fun, and explore everything RI has to offer.” said Ryan Chia (24S06G). No doubt, RI has plenty of opportunities for you to claim. Brand new subjects, Wednesday Enrichment Programmes, H3 Subjects, CCA, Students’ Council, Raffles Academy, the list goes on. For the new Y5s, many Y7s expressed their hope that they would take this (relatively) less busy time to deep-dive into their interests and try new things.
However, all of them were still keenly aware of the importance of academics, which, considering the reason they were in school once more, made sense.
“Don’t cram last minute.”
- Yew Ke Yi (24S07A)
So, if you’re procrastinating watching that lecture or finishing that assignment, don’t. Keep on track, but don’t forget to take breaks too! As Fong Jun Er (24A01B) said, “Don’t burn out too early in the year.” JC is a marathon to the A Levels, not a sprint. Keep plodding, but remember to take breaks and pace yourself.
For our graduating Y7s, Mr Aaron Loh had some advice for them as well. “This is only the beginning. Life is very long, this is not the end. There are many more doors to open, and many more mountains to climb.” While it may seem insurmountable now, the A Levels are merely one hill in a series of peaks and valleys. As Mr Loh put it, “have hope, and have resilience.”
After two, or even six years within these green, black and white walls, between pages of lecture notes and amongst the lyrics of the school song, our Y7 batch bring with them memories and experiences unreplicable anywhere else. Congratulations to the 1,153 students in the class of 2024, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
photos by: Raffles Image Art Collective
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