By Camillia Anum Mohamad Ashraff (24S03B) and Glenda Hua (24A01C)
After the entire student population left school early on a Friday morning, a throng of familiar faces began to trickle back into the corridors of RI—this time, no longer as students. The air was thick with anticipation on 23 February 2024, as Year 7s returned to their alma mater to collect their A Level results.
The canteen was abuzz with conversation as Year 7s reunited with their fellow schoolmates. Many were now sporting eye-catching hair colours, while others were sporting baseball caps to make up for their recent lack of hair.
Despite the laughter and excited greetings, there was still an unspoken tension in the air. No matter how much they may wish otherwise, these results would still be a big determiner of their near futures.
“I’ve had a lot of mixed feelings the past week, but I just hope it goes well,” said Raiha Haris (23S03M). Many Year 7s share her sentiments, sharing that they were unsure how to feel before receiving their results. “I think I’ll only feel something when I see my grades,” Esther Ng (23A01B) remarked.
Some Year 7s returned with a changed perspective on life. Raffles Press talked to a Year 7 who decided that they would be retaking their A Levels in 2024. “Today, most of my energy is dedicated to my friends, because I have the privilege of not worrying as much about my results.”
The Year 7 recalled how difficult it was to come to this decision, but emphasises that they are in a better place since making the decision. “There’s a stigma around repeating Y6, but I want to assure my juniors that it’ll all be okay.”
“At the end of day, people need to realise that everyone is on their own path. Some people just take a bit longer to reach the end.”
–Anonymous
A few more “nice to see you”s and “good luck”s later, the moment for the official results release was finally here. The air of the vast Multi-Purpose Hall felt saturated with the hopes and fears, anticipation and agitation of the thousand-over fresh graduates it hosted. The tension was so tangible it was as though one could reach out and grab it with bare hands.
Beneath the tension lay also a sense of nostalgia; this was the last time the Class of 2023 would gather together as a cohort within the walls of Raffles Institution. The uncharacteristically full-throated rendition of the Institution Anthem reflected this realisation—it was the final time they would be singing it altogether.
To add on to these feelings of sentimentality, the Year 7s were taken on a visual journey back in time via a montage showcasing various highlights of their time in RI, including the monumental RI200 celebrations.
Prior to announcing the much-anticipated exam performance for both the cohort in general and for each individual, Deputy Principal Ms Ng Mei Sze shared some opportune advice with the jittery Year 7s:
“Win with humility, lose with grace, and always hold your head high,” she prompted them, “As long as you have fought a good fight, be proud of yourself”.
“Win with humility, lose with grace, and always hold your head high”.
Ms Ng Mei Sze
As Principal Mr Aaron Loh stepped onstage, silence descended upon the hall all at once as trepidation mounts to a crescendo. Although the Year 7s had never personally met Mr Loh before, they knew what he was going to announce next: the cohort’s results.
He announced with pride that the cohort did “absurdly well”, with the number of three H2 passes and a pass in GP or KI increasing to 98 per cent, and the number of 90 rank-point scorers rising to 30 per cent (detailed statistics can be found here). A cacophony of applause and cheer broke out amongst the crowd, reverberating through the two-storied building. It was gratifying to see the cohort’s hard work be reflected in the fruits of their labour.
Mr Loh ended his speech by telling the cohort to remember three important things:
- Be considerate;
- Be proud of oneself, no matter how well one has done;
- There are many options—one can always look forward.
He also reminded the cohort to thank their teachers, parents and friends who have supported them along the way.
And with that, the Year 7s rose to collect their own results from their teachers, with half the cohort staying in the MPH and the other half heading to the Indoor Sports Hall.
There were tears of joy and disappointment alike, whooping and high-fiving audible from every corner, and embraces both celebratory and comforting. One feeling that was shared by all at that moment was that of relief––for no matter the results, it was all over.
The tide of tension that had engulfed the crowd slowly retreated, and the atmosphere began to feel airy and liberating once more.
Academics was not the only area in which the Class of 2023 excelled at. They also brought home 33 medals at the National School Games—including 14 Gold—and 5 Singapore Youth Festival Distinctions and 1 Accomplishment. They also launched 118 student-initiated Values-In-Action projects. As Deputy Principal Mr Brian Ang said, the Year 7s have indeed “truly done great as a school”.
Congratulations to all 1,145 students of the 2023 cohort; we wish them all the very best in their future endeavours!
