Come April 2007, AJCAA will be witnessing a shift in her leadership as inaugural president, Miss Peggy Ng will pass the torch to Mr Lau Kiat Meng. Before her exit, Kenneth Goh catches up with her for a few last words.
(K: Kenneth; P: Peggy)
K: Hi Peggy, let’s go back to the beginning, share with us what inspired you to take on the challenging position of being AJCAA’S inaugural president?
P: From an ex-AJCian’s point of view, I’d like to render my service to my alma mater. From a personal point of view, I’d like to pose a challenge to myself in terms of leadership qualities and team management. I felt that the management of AJCAA has improved under Ms Siau’s guidance from 2001 to 2004. However, there’s still much room for improvement.
K: So, what were the challenges that you met while in your term in office?
P: Internally within the EXCO, the age gap amongst the members was wide. As such, there were times when we did not see eye to eye with one another on issues that required immediate attention. Externally, we faced difficulty in recruiting capable and willing members to serve in the EXCO. That was expected as there was insufficient publicity for AJCAA.
K: As for the positive side, tell us about the milestones that AJCAA has achieved under your wing.
P: Internally within the EXCO, the age gap amongst the members was wide. As such, there were times when we did not see eye to eye with one another on issues that required immediate attention. Externally, we faced difficulty in recruiting capable and willing members to serve in the EXCO. That was expected as there was insufficient publicity for AJCAA.
K: As for the positive side, tell us about the milestones that AJCAA has achieved under your wing.
P: Under my leadership, AJCAA has started her first Undergraduate Bursary Award in 2005 to deserving ex-AJCians who require financial assistance for their tertiary education immediately after graduating from AJC. In 2006, we started the Mentorship Programme in which ex-AJCians returned to coach the current batch of AJCians in their academic work to prepare for the A Levels. Also, we have started our AJCAA e-newsletters to keep our members informed of news and events happening within AJCAA and our alma mater.
K: How have former/current AJCians responded to the alumni and its activities?
P: Some active members are very positive and enthusiastic about the activities organized by the AJCAA and very often, provide us with feedback on how we can better improve our activities. Others have given lukewarm responses probably because they are still not very informed about the AJCAA.
P: Some active members are very positive and enthusiastic about the activities organized by the AJCAA and very often, provide us with feedback on how we can better improve our activities. Others have given lukewarm responses probably because they are still not very informed about the AJCAA.
K: Given your experience, what makes an ideal alumni association? Has AJCAA reached that stage?
P: An alumni association is ideal when everyone has the willingness and capability to come forward to render his or her services. The sea is made of rain drops; the AJCians are the raindrops and the Alumni is the sea. Many AJCians tend to think that we are inferior to other more established Junior Colleges as they have deeper history. Yes, they may be older but we will eventually be too. When we are old in terms of history and culture, they are, of course, much older! It is an endless comparison. We should embrace our own history and culture and do less unconstructive upward comparison.
K: How does having an alumnus complement one’s college experience? In what way is it beneficial?
P: An alumnus is a place where graduated AJCians head to. I think when we were students, it gives us a sense of security and belonging to know that we have an alumni association. This is as though the seniors are watching over us and that we are not alone. It is beneficial in the sense that we have mentors who used to be students like us and have studied in the same campus.
K: What do you hope to see in AJCAA in the near future? Any aspirations for the new committee and your successor, in particular?
P: I would like to see the AJCAA as an information hub where past and present AJCians and teachers are well informed about happenings in the AJ family. With regards to my successor and his new team, I would like to see that the EXCO grow cohesively and be more united internally. Externally, we need to position ourselves more positively, in terms of image and branding.
K: What are your plans after stepping down?
P: I will be helping Kiat Meng in terms of administrative matters internally. In my opinion, the Vice-President should handle issues pertaining to the internal aspects of the organization while the President heads the external aspects.
K: Lastly, any words of advice to current AJCians?
P: Many AJCians are keen to come forward to assist their alma mater but they always have this tenancy to ask themselves in what ways they are able to assist. The AJCAA requires people regardless of how much they can contribute. We really appreciate their kind gestures in any form.
P: Many AJCians are keen to come forward to assist their alma mater but they always have this tenancy to ask themselves in what ways they are able to assist. The AJCAA requires people regardless of how much they can contribute. We really appreciate their kind gestures in any form.
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