the last word on the matter

before we close the chapter and start the next.

—

We started this with a vision, we ended with the same vision.

We campaigned according to our principles, we made no compromise, we fought a good fight. Circumstances may not have turned in our favor, I know some of you feel injustice on our behalf on how we were eventually represented to be. But most importantly we know who we are, you know who we are, and if we really are everything we are, how we are will speak for itself without us needing to put words to it, as we have always done.

Our supporters have never been particularly vocal. They have been here for us, silent, strong and loyal. Covering our backs.  We got the votes that we did without asking anyone to vote for us, or asking anyone who they’re voting for.

Thank you for believing in us – we still believe in ourselves.

The CI Club is but the most public way to show that we want to do something for the school, but it is not the only way.

We have always been here, we will continue to be here in the capacities that we can.

The most important thing now is that this school has to run behind and support the President that has been chosen.

Our school is too small for politics, for divisions. This is not the United States. To win with such a marginal vote puts a heavy challenge in Sufi’s court, especially when determined on 210 votes.

To the people who believe in me, thank you. I have no doubts about where I stand with regard to my love for this school, for what I have done, chosen to do, and will continue to do.

But yes, now I will go for Instep in Year 2 Sem 2.

Now it’s time to support Sufi, support the Club, support what the club means to this school.

Today I close this chapter at peace with myself. Satisfied that we held our ground and ran according to the principles we laid down for ourselves. Maybe in that way we are traditional, stuffy, idealistic. But I do believe in the grit of a gentleman’s honor. And we came out without getting our hands bloody.

I just want to thank a few people.

The guys, you know who you are. Thank you, even though you blokes always joke about me being almost a guy I know you guys are watching out for me all the time. A large part of me being able to hold myself together is because you are the people who silently nudge me, remind me why I’m doing this, remind me of God’s place in my life and remind me why I still can still stand tall.

The people who explicitly or implicitly ran with us. Thank you. My biggest regret walking away now is that you will stay while Peds and I exit in a official capacity. You have my hands and my heart. Support your President as you would have supported me.

The voters who voted for me because they know my heart, who I am, and what I stand for. Thank you for being able to see me for me even though I am not the best with selling myself on a public platform.

Pedro. We fought the fight we wanted to fight. We lost the way we would have wanted to lose. We were honest. We stood by what we believed in. This was a difficult dream. We shed tears, our hearts bled. I know mine bled. I know I have grown, because I have never bled so much inside while still being able to hold my head up in public.

My phantom pillar of support, Jason. It has been difficult for you to have a girlfriend who is a workaholic. Who wants to do what she does, who hasn’t been what a typical girlfriend should be. Me being different means you have to be different. Thank you.

There are more people, the ones whose support I know I have, the ones whose support I’m not even aware I have.

It has been a good journey!

We end this chapter here. Support Sufi. Support the Club. Support the school.

—

People are starting to ask me these questions – what are you going to do now, what’s next for you?

Quoting what my boyfriend correctly predicted a month ago. “Knowing you, even if you don’t have CI Club, you will STILL find things to do anyway.”

Ya lor.