PSLE results will be released on this Wednesday, 24th November 2021.
What’s next?
My purpose in writing Part 2 of this article is to help parents and P6 children act with purpose.
You may want to read Part 1 here.
210 was the number that defined me in PSLE 2000.
I started my secondary student life at Seng Kang Secondary School in January 2001. I remember vividly how I struggled through my secondary school days. I wasn’t the brightest pupil in the room. Because of constant comparison, I felt that I couldn’t match up to the expectations which were laid on me. My results plummeted into the red and it didn’t help when I joined the National Cadet Corps.
Being the pioneer batch of NCC in school, we were trained by experienced seniors from other secondary schools. Not wanting to be seen as someone who is “incapable of being a leader”, I volunteered for all the training camps and extra courses during the school holidays.
Things took a drastic shift in Secondary 3, when I became a Quartermaster in the unit. I was disappointed as I really believed that I should be taking care of the men in the unit rather than “just stores”. I did my committee work grudgingly, spending most of my time in the backroom, counting, cleaning, assembling, distributing stores whenever the unit does it.
Hold up, where’s the zero-to-hero part in the story? Unfortunately, there was none.
Parents, what if your children gave their best and yet still remain mediocre in your eyes?
Children, what if your parents gave their best and yet you are unable to go for their desired school posting?
As I reflect back on my milestones every results day, I hold dear to 3 words; act with purpose.
Pain helps us grow more than jovial times.
For our education system, it has been pre-planned in a way which we cannot choose our pain points; PSLE, N/O/A Levels, Diploma/Degree.
But, we can choose the way we respond to the pain and how do we minimise or reduce it the next time we encounter.
During Secondary 4, I had an A Math teacher who used to send me outside the class when I kept failing the subject. I was such an “outstanding” pupil as I kept standing outside the class. One afternoon, I was so tired of finding myself in such a state. I began to ask myself, “What is my purpose?” I couldn’t find an answer to this. I asked my teachers and school counsellors, the answers I got were, “just study, no need to ask.” or “get your O Levels cert and then think.”
During the term break, I decided to give my best shot and “get my O Levels cert and then think.” It turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made.
The point of this experience is not to highlight how well I did, cos I really am below average. But through this experience, I learn that even though we cannot choose our “pain”, sometimes the best way is to go brute force through it, seek that breakthrough and then when you look back, you will learn that there’s another side of you that you did not know at all.
This side of you seeks to push you past your excuses, your “what-ifs”, your “but-then”.
This side of you might not come easy.
This side of me only began to surface in the recent years after a failure in my career.
Parents, what if your children gave their best and yet still remain mediocre in your eyes? The point is, there are so many variables in the examination. Your child would have done their best at that point in time. We need to rise up to be their greatest cheerleader. If we don’t, we might lose them from Team Family.
Children, what if your parents gave their best and yet you are unable to go for their desired school posting? Yes, no parent would want their children to be deemed useless. And yes, they are trying their best to ensure you get that education that you need, in order to carve out a better future than what they are trying their best to give you.
Dear parents and children,
When was the last time you hugged?
When was the last time you laughed?
When was the last time you thanked each other?
As 24 November inches closer, I encourage you to act with purpose.