28 August 2025
This past Intercol week has been nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster, a mix of exciting highs and crushing lows, of unbridled joy and profound disappointment. Yet, in this familiar spectrum of feelings, I discovered a new, profound emotion that has come to define the entire experience for me. While the individual fixtures, the last-minute tries, the buzzer-beating shots, and the agonizingly close losses each tell their own story, I find myself wanting to speak less about the results and more about the unique, collective experience from my perspective. If I had to encapsulate the entire overwhelming week in a single word, it would be belonging.
There is an indescribable power in being surrounded by a sea of blue blazers, a unified force known as the ‘Blue Army.’ The sensation of having hundreds of voices rise in unison beside you, chanting and roaring in support for the players on the field, is more than just school spirit; it’s a powerful, affirming energy. An immense sense of pride hits you immediately and clearly, telling you that you are in the right place, with the right people, for a purpose greater than yourself. Of course, the victories are sweet; they are the moments we actively chase.
But it was in our response to defeat that our true character resonated most powerfully. On the rugby pitch and on the basketball court, when the final whistle blew against us, something remarkable happened. We all rose to our feet and applauded the opposition. In that moment, I have never felt prouder to wear my uniform. That dignified respect in the face of disappointment spoke volumes more than any victory chant ever could.
Coordinating the musicians to lead the chants offered a unique sense of this belonging. To start a rhythm and watch it ripple through the crowd, transforming into a coordinated chant, felt utterly unreal. My personal favourite was ‘Hey Jude,’ a chant that builds from a simple melody into a soul-stirring crescendo of ‘na na nas.’ But the true magic was in the simpler moments, like when the band would quieten and the entire crowd would spontaneously erupt into a heartfelt, a cappella rendition of “Go Blues.”
In those raw, organic harmonies, I felt an incredible warmth. It was in those perfect, unified seconds that any sense of individuality vanished. It no longer mattered who you were friends with or what year you were in; it seemed as if every single person was connected, thinking and feeling the exact same thing: a pure, unwavering sense of collective identity and home.
As the final echoes of our chants fade from the stands and the blue paint slowly washes away, what remains is far more permanent than any score on a board. This Intercol week gifted us more than memories; it provided a profound lesson in community. We discovered that the deepest victories are not found in outscoring an opponent, but in upholding our unity whether we are celebrating in triumph or standing together in respect after a loss. The feeling of belonging, that irreplaceable knowledge that you are part of something bigger, is the true and enduring trophy we all get to keep, long after the season has ended.
Tiger Liu
School Vice Captain
