20
LUMEN | JOSEPHIANS
Junior Josephian 2013
By Koh Hun Yi and Gareth Wang
Junior Josephian : smart , polite , charismatic , exemplary , Lasallian and ... Who wouldn ’ t have such a mental picture of the recipient attaining the most prestigious award in lower secondary ?
Upon interviewing the Junior Josephian of 2013 , that impression changed . Somehow , it became one that was more human .
Junior Josephian Moses Law , from the class of Michael 201 , did not provide the usual cliched speech about himself being so honoured to receive the award . He was also frank , sociable and jovial .
A gamer who counts the League of Legends as an avenue for relaxation , Moses enjoys physical activities too such as frisbee or soccer with his friends , and relishes the opportunity to bond with them . During holidays , he will go on class or Co- Curricular Activity ( CCA ) outings with his mates . It can be a movie , sports or even a simple meal to catch up with ex-classmates . Even though he admits with a laugh , his organizing skills may not be perfect while underscoring , “ I still try my best to develop this invaluable relationship with my wonderful friends !” When quizzed about how he views friendships , he opines , “ I try my best not to offend [ my friends ] and I just try to build bridges and not burn them . Some people just end their relationship with [ their ] friends after they separate , for example , after primary school . I try my best to catch up with them .”
Another common misconception of a Junior Josephian awardee , is that he is very physically active , and is most probably a sportsman , or has strong interests in sports . Contrary to that popular belief , Moses has a keen interest in the cyber world . In fact , Moses joined Robotics in primary school , and actually aspired to join the Micromouse CCA in Secondary One . However , he was allocated a spot in the SJI Military Band ( SJIMB ) - his fifth choice . Though he was not enthusiastic about the placement then , his feelings towards SJIMB have since changed in the two years he has been a bandsman .
Now , he views computing as an interest of his past , while his “ passion for music is growing .”
As the interview progressed , it became evident Moses will live up to his biblical namesake . Like his predecessor , a firm believer in God , who tried his best to live up to His teachings and developed an intimate relationship with his Maker , the only thing this Junior Josephian cherishes more than his pals , is his relationship with God . He attributes his being chosen as Junior Josephian to the fact that he is “ committed to God and the Lasallian values ”. Now , he has a new goal for 2014 , he stated unequivocally : “ Strengthen my relationship with God and be ready to help my friends .” He adds added , “ If I see my friends in need , I will go the extra mile to help them .” Moses certainly has an intent to live the Lasallian values of Faith , Service and Community .
Recalling the moment when he received the award onstage in front of the whole school community , the feelings of nervousness and stress not the only things that were quite overwhelming . The indelible image - “ many eyeballs staring at ” him - and a sense of “ all the expectations getting higher ” were also intimidating . But he quickly stated that stress is good as it would help him develop his potential and improve his performance . With that , he appealed to the SJI communityv , “ I hope that they will treat me as an equal - a fellow Josephian and friend .”
It is apparent Moses does not want to be placed on a pedestal but wants to remain approachable to his juniors , peers and seniors ; after all his philosophy of “ being a leader is not just about leading . It is also about following and you have to learn to do both . If you want to be a leader , be a servant leader .”