Sat, Dec 13, 2003 page2

• First Girls' celebrates 100 years

  CENTENNIAL Alumni, faculty and current students of Taipei's premier high school for girls commemorated the institution's role in developing outstanding women

  • By Jewel Huang / STAFF REPORTER
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  Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Taipei Municipal First Girls' Senior High School yesterday held an array of gala activities and alumni from around the world returned to join the festivities.

  The centennial celebrations attracted a large and diverse group of faculty and alumni, including nearly 100 women in their 80s from Japan.

  Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), one of the school's distinguished alumni, attended the centennial celebration and gave a congratulatory speech yesterday morning.

  

  Several alumni of Taipei Municipal First Girls' Senior High School gather in their old classroom yesterday to share their memories with current students as part of celebrations marking the school's 100th anniversary.

  PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

  "I remembered the good old days of commuting between Taipei and Taoyuan by train everyday to go to Taipei First Girls' Senior High School," said Lu, who attended the school in 1957.

  "But I never expected to be the first alumnus to enter the Presidential Office," Lu said.

  "I am willing to exchange the office of the vice president for the youth that you girls are enjoying now if I could turn back the clock," Lu said.

  Lu also suggested that the students hold a referendum on whether to change the school's distinctive uniform of green shirts and black skirts.

  "I think our students deserve more beautiful school uniforms," Lu said.

  That suggestion, however, drew boos from some of the older alumni in the stadium.

  "The green uniform was designed to help escape air raids when World War II broke out. The clothing belongs to the martial law era. I just feel that the students can't be relaxed wearing uniforms," Lu said afterwards, adding she did not mind boos because everyone has the right to express their opinion in a democratic society.

  Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was also at the celebration -- and joked that the school's uniform was the "national flag" for his family and something which could not be changed by a referendum.

  Ma said seven women in his family, including his sisters and daughters, were graduated from the school.

  "So I can be counted as an alumnus as well," he said.

  Many alumni, young and old, donned their old uniforms to attend yesterday's celebration.

  As part of the festivities, the school organized an impressive fashion show of the school's uniforms dating back to its founding in 1904 -- from kimono-style uniforms to sailor suits, black suits and today's green shirts.

  From its founding when Taiwan was a Japanese colony to the present, Taipei First Girls' Senior High School has earned a reputation for educating numerous outstanding women.

  "The centennial events also remind us that Taipei First Girls' Senior High School plays a leadership role in many fields and its influence is felt around the country, even the world," said 54-year old Yen Chia-chih (顏嘉琪), a psych-ological counselor.

  Yen was one of the alumni who showed up in her old uniform. She returned to Taipei from her home in southern California, along with 13 friends who are also alumni.

  "What I obtained from the school was lifelong friendships because we had the same exper-i-ences and interests," Yen said.

  "The three-year education in Taipei First Girls' Senior High School was my ticket to the future. It was the best time of my life," she said.
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