The Origins of The Origin*

Written (extra lovingly) by: Victoria (25-O1)

Designed by: De Kuan (26-I1)

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If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably wondered – why is EJC Press called The Origin? How did our beloved mascot, Poe, come about? 

After spending a year in Press, I found myself having the same pressing questions. What began as simple curiosity became a journey to uncover Press’ identity. 

Our Origins: A CCA Within a CCA

Unlike most CCAs, Press did not begin as one. It was originally a part of EJC Media, a CCA where members were divided into different modules: photography, videography, AV, design and press. 

During my conversation with Ashley Ng, the first Editor-in-Chief of Press, I discovered Press’ humble beginnings and our pioneering batch’s unwavering spirit. 

At the start, Press only comprised four members. Despite the odds, these pressies pushed for Press to be a stand-alone CCA—one where they could have greater recognition and autonomy as an independent CCA. 

A Blank Slate: Drafting Our Identity 

As a small and young team, our pioneering batch strived to grow Press. With little manpower, they had to be strategic in what they chose to publish. Back when Press was a small segment of Media, they also faced many difficulties such as having their voices heard and getting J1s to join Press instead of other more popular modules. 

Yet, they pulled through, eventually becoming an independent CCA. Looking back, Ashley remarked that she felt a sense of achievement and really enjoyed getting to experiment with a lot of ideas, especially since everything was up to their own creativity. 

Write Where We Belong

Over time, Press has become a place where many fun and unique stories were born, providing a platform for pressies to unleash their creativity. 

From museum hopping to becoming humanities students for a day, Press allowed members to have fun and create memories along the way. For Ashley and her team, going undercover as J1s during orientation for the “Fake Freshies Alert” article became one of their fondest memories in EJ.

Even after graduating, Press still leaves an impression. Beyond a CCA, Press is where a close-knit family is found. Here is where pressies find comfort in the presence of their friends and where many memories are forged.

Why The Origin?

While many school publications adopt conventional names, Press chose to be original. The Origin reflects our commitment to produce “original content from Eunoia” for Eunoia and serves as a reminder of our humble beginnings.

Likewise, our logo is a part of the name of our publication, The Origin*,

Enter Poe

Then there’s Poe, our mascot, who has undoubtedly captured the hearts of every Press member and even visitors during our Open House. 

Poe was based on the plushie that was passed on through the years gifted by a senior in 2020. Poe is actually the smaller version of another pigeon which our senior frequently brought to CCA. Whenever Poe makes an appearance, pressies often flock over to pet him. Indeed, this endearing pigeon has left an inextricable part of our identity. 

Seeing Poe surrounded by his adoring fans, an idea took flight – what if we created different Poe avatars? Each of the different Poes could represent our various committees, strengthening Poe’s presence in Press. 

The Stories behind Our Stories

Every committee in Press was ignited by someone’s passion for writing. 

Agony Aunt Agatha (AAA), our advice column, was the earliest committee to be established and still remains today. AAA aimed to be a go-to for students, covering CCA spotlights, overseas trips, H3 subjects and more. Today, AAA covers Eunoia Diaries, a Press initiative to craft articles that are unique to Eunoia. Furthermore, students can also send their questions here to receive advice from our AAA members. 

Another committee, Sickbeats, which has since been rebranded to Off The Record, was kick-started due to a member’s interest in music. Since then, it has evolved into a committee focused on covering lifestyle articles covering songs, movies and food reviews. 

Likewise, Periscope, our current affairs committee and Kaleidescope, our fiction committee were created by passionate pressies who wanted to explore other forms of writing.

Every committee has its unique offerings, catering to diverse readers. Yet, at the end of the day, what binds them together is their shared love for writing and passion for Press. Each committee started because of someone’s passion—a testament to how Press has provided a platform for members to explore their interests and express their creativity, writing what truly matters to them.

Keep Calm and Press On 

Now, as my time in Press comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on how far we have come. From 4 to 44 members, Press has grown immensely because of each and every member that chose to be a part of Press. 

As long as each batch continues to write the next chapter, our story will never end. Whether you are simply a reader or a pressie, I hope that you will stay as the next page turns.

Pressing on, 

Victoria