“I realised that we all have skills and values that are unique to ourselves.” – Marha Syaurah Binte Muhsin
Marha, who is one of a set of triplets, felt a sense of loss and regret as she entered secondary school because her siblings went to independent and autonomous schools. “I was overwhelmed and felt a need to prove myself. But gradually, I realised that we all have skills and values that are unique to ourselves,” she says.
Marha, who found a passion for filmmaking and video-editing in school, says her teachers’ care has been invaluable to her growth.
“Mr Lee, my English teacher, guided me through my application for the Early Admissions Exercise to Temasek Polytechnic’s Digital Film & Television course. He taught me about video editing and even lent me his personal equipment for filming,” she elaborates. She secured her spot in the course, and will be joining the polytechnic soon.
She also cites her teachers’ support for helping her tide over a tough period in Secondary 3. “I was hospitalised for about a month because of a surgery, and it was near the end-of-year exams,” she says. Worried that she would fall behind in her studies, since she was missing classes, she confided in her teachers.
Marha recalls that it was what her Literature teacher, Ms Soh Cheng Wen, said that comforted her the most. “Ms Soh told me, ‘I cannot walk this journey for you, but I can walk it with you.’ It was when I realised that I have this support that has allowed me to discover my skills and walk my own path in life.”
“There are always alternative ways to get to where you want to be.” – Wilfred Wong
Wilfred Wong’s love for racing began with the Fast and Furious movies. In Secondary 4, he decided to turn this passion into a career path.
“I started thinking about different ways to be part of the racing world,” says Wilfred. “That’s when I realised I could combine my love for fixing things with racing by first becoming a race car engineer.”
Wilfred’s English teacher, Mr Lee Guo Sheng, helped him explore options related to racing. “Mr Lee encouraged me to find other ways to stay close to the sport. That’s how I discovered simulator racing,” says Wilfred, who now streams his games on Twitch.
He adds, “Mr Lee always tells me to never give up and that there are always alternative ways to get to where you want to be.”
To prepare for his EAE interview, Wilfred 3D-printed a moving engine with pistons and gears. “I found an online blueprint and started learning how to design it,” he says.
The night before his interview, the engine wasn’t working properly. “But I explained to the interviewers what went wrong and how I planned to fix it,” Wilfred recalls. “They seemed impressed by that!”
As he pursues his dream of becoming a professional race car driver, Wilfred has already started looking into the Mechanical Engineering modules he’ll be taking at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
“Teachers like Mr Lee got me through secondary school,” Wilfred reflects. “They made me feel seen and cared for, which helped me stay happy and motivated.”
“My teachers’ stable presence equipped me to deal with future challenges.” – Vincent Chen
Like most Secondary 1 students, Vincent was overwhelmed by the new environment and subjects when he first entered secondary school. “I felt lost, but Ms Ng Li Ya, my then-form teacher, was kind and patient, and gave us many consults to make sure we were adjusting well to school,” says Vincent.
Ms Ng’s care not only helped Vincent find his footing, but it also gave him the confidence and motivation to pursue the subject combination he wanted.
Entering upper secondary, Vincent found himself encountering challenges similar to those he faced back in Secondary 1. Mdm Quek Shir Ryn, his new form teacher, noticed his struggles. She then reached out and did frequent check-ins with him.
The stable presence of both Ms Ng and Mdm Quek helped Vincent feel more grounded. “They were always there when I needed help or information, so that made me feel more well-equipped to deal with future challenges,” he adds
