My Right to Decide

I was a freshman who aspired to paint my high school life with amazing colors. Fuelled with enthusiasm, I signed up for both the school's String Orchestra and the Prefect Board.

However, not long after the commencement of extracurricular activities, my friends and I were summoned by one of the string orchestra's committee members.

“You are not allowed to join our orchestra as a prefect. If you don’t quit the Prefect Board, we will have to kick you out,” he said sternly.

Disappointment, confusion and helplessness clouded my thoughts. It was my right to choose what I wish to join, not for my seniors to decide. My friends who faced the same fate were starting to give up and planned to follow instructions. After days of contemplation, I realised that I cannot live a life regretting my decision of quitting what I wanted to do. I mustered up my courage to seek clarification from the teacher in charge of the orchestra.

To my relief, I discovered that such rule had never existed. The teacher even encouraged me to serve the school in both capacities as it was a noble thing to do. I later learnt that the senior had forbidden us to join the orchestra was due to his personal dislike of prefects. Knowing that we had received the teacher's authorisation, he had no choice but to oblige, albeit rather unwillingly.

Had I not defied my senior’s orders, I would never have such a fruitful high school

experience. Had I not voiced my concerns to the teacher, I would never have found out the truth. Had the soldiers in the Light Brigade did not blindly follow their commander’s orders, they would have saved their lives to plan a better attack against their enemies.

Defying orders from your superior requires bravery, courage and strength. To claim what’s rightfully yours from those who wield more power may seem unnerving, but it’s worth it. Orders are given, but the decision to follow them is ours to make.

This article has been published in The Star, NiE on 15 July 2020 by the same author, Grace Liew. The inspiration to write this reflective piece stemmed from the poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade.