Via email
Received this via email and felt the need to post it here, even though I know it would be in many other blogs too.
Tribute to the late 2SG Hu Enhuai
(1983- 21st August 2003) from 00S67
Enhuai graduated from Hwa Chong Junior College in 2001. He was an all-rounded student who excelled both in his studies and in sports. I was Enhuai’s General Paper tutor in his second year. His class, 00S67, was a unique one where the gender divide was particularly strong. Without fail, the boys would occupy the left side of the classroom, while the girls all sat on the right side. This was always a funny sight since there were more girls than boys in that
class – the boys had enough space to occupy two chairs each, while the girls always had to contend with the limited space per girl on the right side of the class. Despite my constant coaxing and engineering for greater interaction
amongst the boys and the girls, both were adamant about remaining in their own established territories. I found, too, that they worked best that way – the girls found the boys impish and noisy, while the boys found the girls much too serious for their liking. In their own gender groups, though, each had its own unique working style: the girls, being more diligent, worked meticulously on each task; the boys, being more mischievous, always added a keen touch of humour to their work.
A distinctive feature of this gender divide in 00S67 was the close ties within each gender group. So close were they that several of the girls left to study in the same university in Australia upon graduation. The boys, too, shared
an amazing bond with each other. Enhuai was a part of this group. Most of them had grown up together in The Chinese High School, and though they were too “macho” to acknowledge their love for each other, their words and actions often revealed the depth of their friendship. They defended each other fiercely when anyone so much as voiced an offensive opinion of any one of them. They ate together, studied together, and played together. Intimate moments, both of joy and sorrow, were shared and shouldered by all in the group. As their teacher, I was deeply touched by their friendship and loyalty to each other.What also impressed me about Enhuai and his buddies was the effort and thought they put into their work. Enhuai, in particular, struggled to perform well in General Paper. He often took more time than others to compose his arguments, and this did not always culminate in more encouraging results for him. Still, he pressed on doggedly, never giving up in his endeavour to improve. Though discouragement set in at various points of the year, Enhuai’s persevering spirit always saw him through these low moments.
On the basketball court, undoubtedly one of Enhuai’s favourite places, he was happiest. It was no secret that basketball had been Enhuai’s passion since he was in Primary school. It was in this area, too, that he excelled. I recall
vividly the Finals for the ‘A’ Division National Basketball Tournament 2001. Though our boys did not take home the championship trophy that year, I was very proud of the good fight they put up in the Finals. That day, I found out what inspired Enhuai and what fuelled the zest he had for life.
I remember Enhuai fondly, and I miss him dearly. My memories of him are of a lively young man who was always polite to his teachers and who was very determined in his pursuit of excellence. I remember his smile, and how it always made his already small eyes disappear. I remember his gait, and how his low-strung pants always threatened to slip further with each stride. Most of all, I remember his passion for life and his loyalty to his friends. These define Enhuai,
as I remember him. Words, however, cannot adequately describe him.
To those who knew Enhuai, I pray our memory of him – as a student and as a friend – does him justice.
- Monica Owyong
30th August 2003
