to my beloved section,

like I said in my letters,
my love for you all is as broad as the sky.
All of you have really, really put in your 300%, and guess what, we really did our best, I could hear it on stage.
and OMG vania said exactly what I felt.
I truly understood what "the award doesn't matter" means.
I mean, so what if we got double silver?
So what if the school/other bands/other people are going to label us as a mere "silver band".
I know I sound a bit harsh, sorry.
But if you look at the big picture,
what does it matter? So my point is, awards are like this misleading thing that have made us all so obsessed over them, but it isn't necessary at all.
Isn't music supposed to be personal?

Think about it-
many people have been obsessed with perfection (I admit I'm a perfectionist, those who know me well should understand) in music, the details must be there and if I don't perform up to my standards, I will become really pissed at myself and sink into some state of depression.
But I asked myself, what is the main purpose of music?
Isn't music supposed to entertain,
to relate to people,
to bring smiles to people's faces,
to make them feel good,
to touch people's hearts,
to convey a certain message,
to foster relationships?
so my main point is,
music need not to be perfect in order for it to achieve its purpose. good music need not be perfect.
ABSTRACT YO. THINK ABOUT IT :)

During SYF 2009, I was really disappointed, because I wanted that Gold or GWH, and I wasn't content with that silver, I thought how unfair it was, and from that day onwards, I told myself, during SYF 2011, we must get that GWH. Now I look back and remember that thought, and I realise how stupid I've been.

Compare the significance of the award with the SYF experience.
We have grown so much. We have become much stronger and bonded as a section, after we have all put in our 300% together. I think the senior-junior relationships are much, much stronger now, we can talk about almost anything with each other comfortably.
And not forgetting character development. Last night I dreamt that after SYF, I climbed one huge step up a really big staircase and I looked down at the world below, then I felt a gush of wind (imaginary of course) that passed through me, and I thought to myself, is that what it feels like to gain enlightenment HAHA.
what a funny dream indeed.

Last night, I cried, not because I felt the unfairness of getting a silver for SYF just like how I felt in 2009.
I cried,
because I knew that as a Sec 4 I would soon miss out the essence of passion and bondedness in NYCB's music. It's like, my heart is in this numb state now and I wanted more of NYCB's music.
I knew that soon I won't get to experience that kind of feeling anymore.
I knew that I would be leaving this wonderful trumpets section soon.
I knew that this was going to be my last SYF ever.

Thank you everyone for being a part of this wonderful journey.
I'll treasure it for life.
<3 xin yi

DAY 12/4/11

LETTER TO YOU FROM DAY 11/4/11

HELLO CATS,

I want to say I love you all to the max k

I think we really did very well, I don't know why we got silver

haha

as Jia yi said, I'll hold my head up high because I really don't mind telling people

we got a silver

it doesn't matter

because other people dont know what WE went through

they won't know since they are not in OUR band

we have lots of passion and not everyone out there can be like that,

it's this nycb character thing

so I think everyone should be happy with what we have achieved so far,

because what we achieved is not just that award

but throughout the journey

you made lots of discoveries

how the journey made you stronger as a whole

all the good and bad times we had together

and to me, somehow ytd's syf really make me understand

what "results doesn't matter" truly is

because as I sort out my thoughts,

I make it a point to reward myself by reminding myself that I've give in my maximum

and if you did, you should too

throughout this whole journey I have put in as much effort as i can

that thr's no more space left to push myself further

and that's when i know, i've really tried my best and that the results don't matter anymore

because we did it

IT WAS THE BEST WE EVER PLAYED

I STILL REMEMBER HOW IT RANG IN MY EARS

it was so grand and beautiful like no other

I rmb how ppl cried before we go up on stage,

in the prep room and while waiting to go UP on stage

I remember saying to someone that

I was really afraid my juniors don't enjoy band

because then, everything won't make sense anymore

and what I'm doing, all the hard work we've all put in

have no point because what no one's gonna care how they do for SYF

but I realise that you all enjoyed what you are doing

how we laughed at KAP

showed me that it was okay

and everyone truly enjoyed themselves

then it doesn't matter what we get

because as long as we love what we are doing

even if we got no award,

it already made a point by itself.

and i love it that some ppl asked if we're having lunch prac tmr

i love the spirit! that's how we do it yea!

the passion lives on (:

we are the best everyone!

<3 VANIA

SYF's over.

hey awesome cats ♥
SYF's finally over.
we did really very well today, i think we played the BEST we ever played.
yes i'm so proud of all of you CATS! ♥

thank you CATS! for the journey to this day (:
thank you for always coming for lunch pracs and after school pracs so i won't be alone (:
thank you for all the section talks, dinners, outings ♥
thank you for all the band pracs that make me so happy :D
thank you for whatever we have done, for this SYF today.

results don't matter.
the school might be angry/disappointed at us, but what matters is the process that we went through,
and only NYCB will feel it.
i love nycb to the core.
yes i'm so proud to be part of this
if anyone asks us about SYF, i will hold my head high and say we got silver/
it doesn't matter anymore :D
cos we know we have done our best.

i can't say much, but
THANK YOU CATS! ♥ ~
you are the most wonderful section ever.

love, JIAYI