Brenda Ng
“The Sleep-In Day contest
is here once again,” STUCO’s Peter Lee announced in chapel on the 6th of
November, 2015. All students, especially those with dark, heavy eye bags,
cheered. They rejoiced with appreciation that STUCO has finally noticed and
attended to their dire need for sleep. As long as each student contributes 10
Ringgit, sacrificing a few sweet treats at the Junior Class Store and Zach’s
Shack, everyone would get to sleep in for one, two, or three blocks. Who would
not appreciate a few more hours of sleep?
When
the Sleep-In Day contest commenced on Monday, the 9th, only a few eager
students, mostly sophomores, dashed into the office to drop off their 10
Ringgit. As Friday—the deadline of the contest—drew near, an increasing number
of students made their way to the office to give their share. By Thursday, the hallways,
cafeteria, classrooms, and student center were filled with the question, “have
you paid 10 Ringgit?” Though the seniors were in the lead on Thursday, they
eventually lost to the juniors on Friday. The junior class was the only class
who attained 100% participation, thus earning 1st place. The senior
class came in 2nd place, followed by the sophomore class. When the
results were announced Friday after school, the winners celebrated, while the
freshmen reprimanded their classmates who did not contribute.
It is true that students do
not get to sleep-in every day. This is indeed an once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity. However, did this fundraiser contest encourage school and class spirit as
intended? Christina Kim, STUCO’s vice
president, said, “It is a good idea to encourage class spirit, and it really
gets everyone pumped up.” The reward to sleep-in really did motivate students to donate to
the annual fund.
But are the students contributing to
the annual fund out of love for their school or out of fatigue? Felicia Teoh, a
junior said, “I think most of it is out of fatigue.”
Many students, however, expressed that
they gave neither out of love nor out of hate. Instead, they participated in
the contest out of pressure. “I think this encourages peer pressure. Many
people are reluctant to give but their friends are hunting them down, so they
feel pressured to give. I don’t think it is love for school,” said Cheryl Yeap,
the senior class secretary.
Nevertheless, there were other students
who contributed to the annual fund out of love for Dalat. Courtney Soon (a
freshmen) stated, “Personally, I wasn’t pressured to give because I love this
school, and I have enough pocket money to spare. Therefore I want to give a
portion of my money so that I can see this amazing school expand, grow, and
become better in the future.” So this contest did boost some students’ love for
Dalat.
Despite whether students participated
in the Sleep-In Day contest out of love, fatigue, or pressure, they surely did
earn themselves extra time for rest.
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