"Eight Pointed Cross"

*For confidential purposes, I am using "Eight Pointed Cross" as a pseudonymous name for the actual organization. *

Ever since elementary school years, I have always been stoked to join this first aid uniformed body. The members of this uniformed body would come to our classes annually, wearing their smart uniforms, collecting donation funds from the students and teachers. 

In my elementary school, students were exposed to co-curricular activities in the age of 8. Well, I was of course, not excluded from any of this. I joined the art club, despite my lack of sense in art, if that made sense. This was mainly because the Eight Pointed Cross Society only offered membership to those who were 10 years old and above. 

Failing to Join The Association

There comes my 10th year of being on earth, things took a turn, but I'm not mad at it. In the early months of standard four, co-curriculum was a hot topic among our batch. Everyone was either super excited to enter the band or join the basketball team, or be a part of the track and field squad. I was a tad bit different, my only wish was to join this Eight Pointed Cross association, I wanted to be that cool kid walking between classrooms to ask for donations, and be able to perform fracture bandaging on my own friends. To recall back, I think I was kind of hyped up on being a nerd somehow eh.

Well to my surprise, or maybe anyone else's surprise, I got recruited into choir. Well, technically I passed an entry test, which was singing in front of the choir coach. I liked singing, so it felt good to receive the recognition that I had "potential" to be a choir member (?) .

So, you might be wondering... I thought you could choose 3 co-curricular units (uniformed body, sports, society) as an elementary school student? Alright, here's the thing, in my school, once you are chosen as a choir member, you are the school representative, which means you have to focus on choir solely. Long story short, even if I was registered as a member of the Eight Pointed Cross Society, I did not have the chance to join their first aid trainings. Yep that's it.

I remember feeling bad when I saw my friends who joined the society---- the way they looked super cool flipping their first aid notes about bandaging, CPR and so on... everything about science amazed me, and it hurt me to not do that as a kiddo. However, don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed choir, it was one of the best memories I had in my childhood (not to mention we won Bronze for a national competition weeee)

Innocent Recruit Phase

Middle school, innocent 13-year-old me. Stepping into the new environment, I thought it was a great opportunity for me to finally dive right into first aid. I must say I was lucky enough to join the Eight Pointed Cross association, it was one of the most popular uniformed body in my middle school, alongside with the Scouts Association. I managed to be the first few ones to line up and choose the co-curricular activities I wished to participate in. 

...So I officially became the recruit of the Eight Pointed Cross. And with that, I travelled to school almost every Saturday, just to attend foot drill sessions and to listen to basic first aid lessons given by the school seniors. Good old times eh.

The Smart Uniform

What was next? Ah this...

So one day I was waking at the corridor, the chairperson of the club convinced me to take the first aid exam. I was a bit skeptical at first, well not of the exam, but of my own knowledge and practical skills. "Taking the exam now is better than taking it next year. Being a recruit is so boring; of you pass the exam this year, you'll be able to learn much more things,"

And boy oh boy, she was right. We'll talk about that briefly later...

I remember pouring my heart and soul annotating and studying the lecture slides provided, I wanted to pass so badly hahaha. 

August 2016, I passed my written, bandaging, transportation, CPR, choking, recovery position tests---and failed my fracture assessment. Why you ask, I was given a scenario where the casualty had a left collarbone fracture, thus I should perform an elevation sling on his left upper limb. Nervous me did the opposite instead, tying the sling on the right upper limb, which resulted in failure for the test. 

Fortunately, the protocol that time was that, fracture assessment was not an essential station to pass in order to obtain a first aid qualification. (I made sure to learn my mistakes after that, making sure I passed all the assessments every year to obtain my annual efficiency.)

 

In the end of year 2016, I was officially a cadet of the Eight Pointed Cross association, a qualified and certified first aider.

Happy Newly Passed

Excited to venture into the world of first aid, I, along with a few of my batchmates, were active in all sorts of activities. It did not matter if it was foot drill in school, or duties and camps from the headquarters----as long as we were eligible to join them, we would. 

My batchmates and I used to be super competitive about joining public duties, those were the only times we could brag about being outside treating all sorts of injuries, mainly the minor cases ( cause we only knew very basic first aid stuff). 

Ah and foot drill, we started from zero, and then became the foot drill champions among the afternoon session kiddos. It was truly a thrilling and memorable one, for our batch would reach school early at least twice per week, just to march and annoy the hell out of the morning session teachers lol. The sounds of stomping on the ground and the sharp lines of presenting salutations, those were the satisfying elements that made us consistent in training. 

Responsibility N times

When we passed our basic first aid exams, it signifies that we were practically  "seniors" to the recruits. And there comes responsibility, I was appointed as a committee member, often involved in organizing activities such as interaction day, mock exam and flag day. It was so overwhelming at first, in every aspect you can imagine. It takes a long period of time and dedication to pick up the skills of being assertive, communicative and firm at the same time; and believe me when I say I am still learning how to lead and inspire till this very day. 

If it was not for the Eight Pointed Cross association, I wouldn't have the chance to take up big responsibilities (aka premature adulting). I felt that I was being recognized, and I am forever grateful for that. 

I have no words except a sincere "Thank You" to my batchmates for being my strongest support system while aiding with the administrative and operational works in school, it was truly a hectic (almost chaotic) one. Without them, I probably would have given up in the very early stages.

I have been a committee member for five years, and I've learnt so much from it. 

I have many of my "first times" as a member of the Eight Pointed Cross association...

My first MRT ride

My first meeting minute 

My first formal e-mail 

My first encounter working with adults

My first camping experience

My first first aid standby

My first grand award

Summary, Or Else It Would be VERY Lengthy

Obviously this blog ain't enough to document all my amazing experiences I have had in this association. There were so many things my batchmates and I struggled with, cried of, and argued over...and till this day as of 5th September 2022, few of us are still part of the Eight Pointed Cross association, trying our best to service the mankind (yet to become an advanced first aid practitioner, but attempting to). For me, this association has evolved as a part of my life; it used to be the most important thing in my middle school and high school life; now that I have other priorities, it is a platform for me to connect with my batchmates, seniors and juniors in a good way, reminding me of my roots, how far I've come and grown as a person. Nonetheless, it deserves a special place in my heart.