Just as I was celebrating Racial Harmony Day(which is today), I was remiscising about my past experiences connected to racial harmony when I suddenly recalled about a field trip whichI had attended a long time ago. How long I do not remember now, as the passage of time had erased most of my memories of the trip. But, time failed to erase my experience gained during the expedition, and the time spent during the field trip was certainly memorable and interesting.
It happened around when I was still in Primary Three. My form teacher took the entire class out on a discovery field trip. Basically it was a tour around Singapore River, to find out more about Singapre's history, and to tell the truth, I wasn't exactly enthusiastic about it. But the time during the field trip changed my mindset soon enough. The statues of coolies and laborers, and the history of Singapore fascinated me and that made a great impact on me. During the field trip, there were a few foreigners in my class attending it, Matthew, and Hafiz. Due to their different skin colors, they were continually teased by the other classmates. But I decided, that I would stand up to help them fight for their rights. Certainly the field trip on Singapore history, especially the lives of the locals during the Japanese Occupation, had inspired me much. Thus, after the field trip, I felt that I had grown to be more matured, to be more like a true Singaporean.
Maybe that is the reason why I still recall the field trip after all these years. But there is one thing that will not change, and it is that the purpose of Racial Harmony Day is to embrace unity and be, a true Singaporean.