This is the most exciting post you'll ever see

Nah I'm kidding

- So bored with life haizz :(

Horoscopes of the Squad

Jannah                      Capricorn

Rachel                       Capricorn

Farzanah                  Aquarius

Hestia                    Aquarius

Angelina                  Pisces

Valerie                     Pisces

Pei Xuan                 Aries

Xin Yi                      Gemini

Karina                     Cancer

Kimberly                 Leo

Kar Wai                   Leo

Victoria                   Leo

Isha                         Virgo

Sheem Yi                Sagittarius

Khin                        Sagittarius

Poorva                    Sagittarius

Aries	Taurus	Gemini
Cancer	Leo	Virgo
Libra	Scorpio	Sagittarius
Capricorn	Aquarius	Pisces

ATC

I am just copying my reflection because i want to say the same thing

I definitely know that I am not one of the best cadets in my unit. It really took a lot of courage for me to go for ATC. I could really feel my hands shaking when the CIs kept knocking us down. There was once during the camp, I was fidgeting because there was a insect on my neck , a Sir asked me if there was a insect I was very nervous and said no and then he scolded me. He said"the rest not sweating is it?" I said no. I was so nervous. A lot of things about camp was surprising. Of course I was delighted to have a squad mate with me. But my group mates were quite nice. They were pretty clueless during tent pitching. I felt a bit mean when I exchanged looks with Valerie during tent pitching because my group mates did not know what to d I heard Hestia saying "you be upright ok?" Then the other schools were like"what is that?" It was quite a pressurizing situation because the CIs from our school were watching and I knew that we have give our 101% of effort. During meal times and all it was quite ok because the boys wanted to cook(weird) and then they gave us (5 girls) food to eat then we just gave them the leftovers(3/4 of what they gave us)and they finished it in like 2 minutes. Also i am sort of an acquaintance with a boy from Maris Stella and ok with the girls. The activities were once in a lifetime experience which one can only experience there(especially kayaking) and i am glad i had that opportunity. When we all finally gathered as an unit at the end of ATC, I was so happy, i really cannot explain it through words, i could feel a wave of emotions flooding me, it made me prideful, happy, relieved and everything. I am glad I went for ATC, I realized that people are not really what they seem to be, it can in a good way or a bad way.Now i feel more accomplished as a NPCC cadet after going through the ‘actual’ NP. I remember the night before ATC, Rachel had sent an encouraging message to the squad, one phrase lingers in my head; “whatever you are going through,just remember all of us are going through the same thing” this really kept me going especially during morning PT. I have always thought that people from other school will be very bad and all but they were fine. After all learning to accept others differences is what makes one mature and I have through ATC.

Isha

ATC 2015

I was quite dreading atc at first, but now that im back, i actually miss it. HAHA
It was raining when we got there and our np tees were wet and then after that was the group allocation and stuff and we started tent pitching. I thought we were going to be very rushed but my group ended up finish pitching our tent quite fast. Then came dinner and it was the only time i ate maggi. Second day was lrc, kayaking and pioneering. But before that we had morning pt. I guess our resilience is very important for this one. Low ropes were quite fun although maze a bit dark ahaha. Kayaking was okay but my arms were very tired i think i need apt. I did almost nothing for pioneering other than to practice my lashings. Then there was campfire and i was actually excited for it hurhur. But we were sort of disconnected from the circle during the friendship dance haha (how did we still manage to do it quite cool). I think the last day was the best because we took so much initiative and volunteered a lot!!
I have learnt a lot through atc, made new friends and definitely learnt to treasure hestia. Even though we got knocked down quite a few times, each time we've learnt to respect our CIs, give our fullest attention, not leave our area mates alone and to have a sense of urgency.
Still quite tired after sleeping for 15 hours straight ahaha but good job hestia we made through atc :-)

Last olympian

Hey hestia

good job for ATC!

Hestia is zeus oldest sister. we are wiser than zeus himslf. but most importantly , we are the last olympian. we are the most important. we must uphold the legacy :)

 "I am here because when all else fails, when all the other mighty gods have gone off to war, I am all that's left. Home. Hearth. I am the last Olympian” 

and i also realise, when all is wrong , what is left for me is Hestia. Thank you all for being here as my squadmates. 

-kid

Heart-felt Words

I shall tell you all something interesting. Yesterday when I was watching the movie, Pitch Perfect 2, I saw how united and how much the Bellas had to go through to gain the trust and liking of the world. Not to be a spoiler, but they really put in so much effort, to climb to the top, and no matter how bumpy the road to success was, they stuck together through thick or thin, and gave each other the support they needed. That was when I thought of Hestia. I proudly told my sister in the middle of the movie: "That's what my squad's like."

Hestia, remember the time when we knew nobody, and we had totally zero cooperation with each other? Ma'ams were fed up with us, our standard only rose like an anomaly; we never actually had a good training that proved our worth. But now, look at what we are like? We can all comfortable wrap our arms around each other, literally and figuratively lean on each other and never having to worry about our squadmates letting us go. 

Honestly speaking, I believe many of us thought that parade was tough and dreaded to go for it, but because we had to meet various requirements, we just pulled ourselves through it. We are not that familiar with anyone there, and we frequently think, "what if I'm the only that does this?"  We keep looking at the time, thinking: is it time to go back yet? But now, is it still this way?

We may have a thousand and one reason to dread parade, and another hundred to hate Cedar NP, but there will always be one reason that makes us never want to leave this happy torment. And the reason is you and me. 

After 1 and a half years, no one will believe you if you said Hestia has not bonded. Every single one of us, played a part in making today's improvement and accomplishment happen. Every single one of us, play a part in encouraging the squad. Every single one of us, played a part in making no one feel she is nobody. 

Perhaps some of you still remember that moment when I thought the affinity between Hestia and me was over. Frankly speaking, I was at the brink of tears when parade ended that day. I could not even bear to face you all and say a proper goodbye before leaving the school. When I finally reached my dad's car, I lost it. It was not just my passion for NPCC that was making me that upset. It was the thought of separating with you guys forever. When I got home, my phone was full of assuring messages by you all. 

"Don't worry, we'll fight for you."

"We will make sure you stay"

"Don't lose hope"

It was then I realised, the impact of being bonded with your squad can be very strong. 

Hestia, this is how strong our ties have become. We are willing to step up to keep our squadmate from going; willing to do whatever it takes to make sure no one gets left behind. This does not need to be said; we all know this, deep down in our heart.

Now, remember the lost NP glory? It is now our turn, to show others our worth. This ATC, which is just 2 days later, are we all gonna put in our best, or just go with the flow? Are we gonna wait for other people to take initiatives, or be the ever spontaneous volunteers?

Remember, no one is alone. Whoever takes the first step, you have the whole squad behind your back. Who cares about embarrassment when you know you'll forever have 14 people supporting you? Don't be afraid to take the first step. Remember what we've been through together; we'll leave no one behind no matter what. 

DREAM HIGH REACH FAR, HESTIA'S THE BEST

~Rachel

Camp Craft: Tent Pitching (Step-by-step)

Hi guys! 

Since ATC is in two days (and I have nothing much to do), I figured I would post something to hopefully help everyone pitch the tent better and also clarify some doubts. Hope this helps!

1. Assembling the skeleton

• The two uprights should align the two vertical poles on both ends of the horizontal pole. Make sure that they are very straight (help each other check if necessary). 
• Place your foot at the end of the vertical pole perpendicular to it. Make sure the peg is facing the center of the skeleton and start pegging!
• When the two uprights are done pegging, bring up the vertical pole so that it is perpendicular to the ground. (Ensure that the base of the vertical pole stays in the same position.)
• Lift up the horizontal pole and slot it onto the two vertical poles.
• While waiting for the uprights to assemble the skeleton, the other group members  should tie the bowlines for all 6 rings of the inner sheet.
• One team member should quickly distribute the pegs for all four corners and give the 3-meter twines to the uprights.

2. Securing the inner sheet

• When the uprights have assembled the skeleton, place the inner sheet over it and slot the two holes at the end over the top of the vertical poles.
• Those doing the four corners should quickly position themselves at the opposite ends of the inner sheet and get ready to pull and measure.
• Uprights should command "2/4 corners ready" (four corners to reply "ready") and "1, 2, pull". Uprights should check the tension of the inner sheet and tell those who are pulling if the tension is good or if they should pull more.
• When the tension on both sides is good, uprights should command "2/4 corners measure".
• Those doing the four corners should immediately place their elbow on the ground directly under the ring of the inner sheet, and use two pegs to measure one length parallel to the tent and one length away from the tent, placing both pegs at a 90 degree angle. They should proceed to peg a peg at the point measured, checking to make sure that it is facing the center of the tent.
• When they are ready, they should roughly gauge the amount of twine needed and tie a tight and small slipknot around the center of the twine at that corner and wrap the free end of the twine around and peg and pull it through the slipknot.
• Uprights should continuously command "2/4 corners ready" to check if those doing the four corners are ready to pull the inner sheet.
• When those doing the four corners reply "ready", the uprights should command "1, 2, pull" and check if the tension is good or not (and tell those doing the four corners if they should pull more). Also make sure that there is a six-inch gap between the inner sheet and the ground.
• When the tension on both sides is good, the uprights should command "1, 2, secure".
• Those doing the four corners should proceed to tie three or four half hitches above the slipknot and secure the guyline with a butterfly knot.
• When the four corner pegs are ready, the other team members can align the middle pegs with the corner pegs and peg them towards the center of the tent. They should then repeat the steps above to pull and secure the twine around the middle pegs.
• While waiting for those doing the four corners to prepare, the uprights should tie a clove hitch around the top of the vertical pole using the 3-meter twine.
• Repeat the steps above for the remaining corners if there are only 2 people doing the four corners.

3. Securing the outer sheet

• The steps are similar to those needed for the inner sheet. However, there will be two more team members helping out since the uprights are not needed any longer. 
• Pull and secure the four corners (commands will be given by either one or both of those doing the four corners)

4. Things to do when you are free (don't give eye power)

• Lay the ground sheet
• Tie all four flaps
• Cut excess twine
• Pull the twine upwards one the peg

5. How to un-pitch the tent

•  (Two uprights should make sure that the vertical pole is held upright while the other team members cut the twine and remove the pegs.)
• When all the pegs and twine are removed, fold the inner sheet, outer sheet and ground sheet:
• Inner sheet: 
1. Untie all the flaps.
2. With the reflective side facing up, fold in the four large triangles.
3. Make sure that the black ribbons are hidden in the inner sheet.
4. Fold in the two rectangular flaps at the sides.
5. Fold in the two ends of the sheet towards the center (but do not cover the triangles).
6. Fold in the two ends again.
7. Fold one end over the other.
8. Fold the shorter ends towards the center.
9. Fold one of the shorter end over the other.
10. Completed!
• Outer sheet: 
• Steps 2, 5-10 for the inner sheet
• Ground sheet:
• Steps 2, 5-10 for the inner sheet
• If there is nothing else to do, arrange the pegs neatly and pick up all used twine to throw away.

6. Knots you should know

• Bowline (15-40 seconds/knot)
• Clove Hitch (5-15 seconds/knot: Micky Mouse Method)
• Guyline (20-50 seconds each)
• Slipknot (5-10 seconds/knot)
• Half-hitch (2-8 seconds/knot)
• Butterfly knot (8-15 seconds/knot)
• Practice whenever you are free!