Just received the good news that my ex-tutee Shawn Lim, the first needy student under our free tuition scheme, has received a scholarship from the ITE for his outstanding N Level results.
I still remember the day when Shawn first arrived. He stood at my door smiling and I made a guess that that was the student my series of email exchanges with a social worker and a lady (his aunt) was referring to. He smiled while even talking to me, such that I couldn’t guess his life story, so I was almost moved to tears (guys don’t cry right?) when I learnt that he lost both his parents while in primary school, and for a few years after that his life was a mess; living alone at times, missing school many times due to not being able to wake up on time, not having enough money and food at times etc. Just listening to him for 20 minutes made me realise that I’ve not suffered at all in life. In fact, by the time his stint at my place ended, he has taught me more than I could ever teach him.
Many students out there complain about their parents, their school, their teachers, their friends and so on. Some are not even happy that they are posted to a good school; they want a brand-name school. I think such students should spend just a few minutes with people like Shawn to learn a thing or two about life.
Shawn is not the first student to have made me proud, nor will he be the last.
Ilyasa