If you are good, you are really good
Met an old time friend recently. We chatted and talked about our kids. He told me me that his eldest is now in London doing his Masters in Law. In fact, he has already secured a job as a DPP here before flying off.
I remember this little boy. He was with the church Royal Rangers and I could often see him running around in church. That year, when he sat for his PSLE and when the results were out, I was asking my friend if his son was heading to RI. My friend was an old boy of RI. Naturally, I would expect his son to follow in his footstep. No, he said he would let his son decide. His son picked Swiss Cottage instead. I remember asking the boy why and he said, “I just like it.” By the way. he more than qualified for RI.
He has grown up and moved on to study law in NUS and will soon be a DPP.
Did going to a “normal” school stripped him of all the opportunities? Did it stopped him from becoming a lawyer? Look at some parents now, they are doing everything to get their kids to top school and probably, end up being a doctor, lawyer, engineer…whatever. I think this boy clearly showed that if you are good, you are really good. No school will make you good .
Incidentally, Ann came home and told me that one of her closer friends want to go to Harvard. Ann told her, “I just want to go to SOTA!”
Follow your dream, my girl!
Yes, I am a mum. This is a place where I write about this and that.
Snippets
Last weekend, I attended a wake. A friend in church has been promoted to glory land. We have known each other for many years and have served on the church board together. He was truly a jolly good guy. He always giggled. He always has a smile on his face. Actually, I have never seen him frown at all. Sadly, he passed on. Not very old, probably only in his late 50s. I guess, heaven is a more worthy place for a guy like him. Enjoy your time up there, MK!
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At the wake, I met another old pal. He is a professor in NUS. Smart guy with smart sons. I still remember his eldest son, after his PSLE, chose to go to Swiss Cottage Secondary School. He could choose RI, you know. He qualified for it yet, he decided to go for a “non-elite” school. He is now doing his masters in Law and soon to be a DPP. Non-elite school, no air-con, no swimming pool…is he successful now? Need I say more?
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Remember that Scientific Thinking Programme? Well, Kai has been selected. Friday, he will make his way, together with seven other kids to the Republic Poly to meet their mentor. I asked Kai if all these are too much for him. He said, “no.” I guess, when you are doing something you love, it will never be too much.
Yes, “non-elite” school. Bad kids? No opportunities? Failure? Doomed? I thank God for that experience. I now champion P6 parents to look beyond the name of a school!
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The school called and I went for my interview on Monday. I was very surprised at how I handled the interview. I could not even remember when was the last time I went for an interview. More than a decade ago, perhaps. There were no butterflies or sweaty palms. I just took on every question with ease. In fact, it was more of a chat than an interview. I guess life’s experiences help.
I got this in 2000. My employer then did nothing with it. In 2001, I decided to just invest my life on my kids. For these past many years, I always tell the spouse why did I waste my time and money on it. The spouse always said that, it helped to produce smart kids. You see, I was pregnant with Kai when I was in my final year and Kai influenced Ann.
Today, I see the reason for getting that. It paved my way to my next goal in life. Yes, I have been accepted to do my Masters in Social Science. I will graduate in 2016. I will be 50. What a significant year that will be. Kai will be doing his ‘O’ levels, Ann will be doing her PSLE and mama will finish her Masters. I will be the big push, the motivating factor for the kids to study. We will do it together.
There is never a waste in education, in whatever form it takes. Education is life!
Last weekend, I attended a wake. A friend in church has been promoted to glory land. We have known each other for many years and have served on the church board together. He was truly a jolly good guy. He always giggled. He always has a smile on his face. Actually, I have never seen him frown at all. Sadly, he passed on. Not very old, probably only in his late 50s. I guess, heaven is a more worthy place for a guy like him. Enjoy your time up there, MK!
------------------------------------------------
At the wake, I met another old pal. He is a professor in NUS. Smart guy with smart sons. I still remember his eldest son, after his PSLE, chose to go to Swiss Cottage Secondary School. He could choose RI, you know. He qualified for it yet, he decided to go for a “non-elite” school. He is now doing his masters in Law and soon to be a DPP. Non-elite school, no air-con, no swimming pool…is he successful now? Need I say more?
-------------------------------------------------
Remember that Scientific Thinking Programme? Well, Kai has been selected. Friday, he will make his way, together with seven other kids to the Republic Poly to meet their mentor. I asked Kai if all these are too much for him. He said, “no.” I guess, when you are doing something you love, it will never be too much.
Yes, “non-elite” school. Bad kids? No opportunities? Failure? Doomed? I thank God for that experience. I now champion P6 parents to look beyond the name of a school!
------------------------------------------------
The school called and I went for my interview on Monday. I was very surprised at how I handled the interview. I could not even remember when was the last time I went for an interview. More than a decade ago, perhaps. There were no butterflies or sweaty palms. I just took on every question with ease. In fact, it was more of a chat than an interview. I guess life’s experiences help.
I got this in 2000. My employer then did nothing with it. In 2001, I decided to just invest my life on my kids. For these past many years, I always tell the spouse why did I waste my time and money on it. The spouse always said that, it helped to produce smart kids. You see, I was pregnant with Kai when I was in my final year and Kai influenced Ann.
Today, I see the reason for getting that. It paved my way to my next goal in life. Yes, I have been accepted to do my Masters in Social Science. I will graduate in 2016. I will be 50. What a significant year that will be. Kai will be doing his ‘O’ levels, Ann will be doing her PSLE and mama will finish her Masters. I will be the big push, the motivating factor for the kids to study. We will do it together.
There is never a waste in education, in whatever form it takes. Education is life!
Three is never a crowd
I love taking pictures of Kai, Ann and the spouse. It always gives me a warm feeling looking at them from the back. Father, son and daughter. The spouse is an excellent father to them. He hardly has to raise his voice because he is really cool, calm and collected. I always tell Kai and Ann…”if your father raises his voice, you know that you have not made him mad….you have made him very mad.”
Pictures of the trio I have captured…
Look at their height over the years. If only they don’t grow up so fast (so, I won’t grow old too).
真的，很不舍得你长大！
I love taking pictures of Kai, Ann and the spouse. It always gives me a warm feeling looking at them from the back. Father, son and daughter. The spouse is an excellent father to them. He hardly has to raise his voice because he is really cool, calm and collected. I always tell Kai and Ann…”if your father raises his voice, you know that you have not made him mad….you have made him very mad.”
Pictures of the trio I have captured…
Look at their height over the years. If only they don’t grow up so fast (so, I won’t grow old too).
真的，很不舍得你长大！
If only time will stand still
Chinese New Year has come and gone. That was how fast it has been. In a blinking of an eye, it was all over. The special moment was when a group of us met up at my place. These group is very special to me. I have know them since I was 13 years old. Yeap, that long. The friendship of more than three decades. It is rare, very rare. During this time, one has suffered from auto immune disease and is on medication. One had an open heart surgery and has a pace maker implanted...That life. To be able to wake up and breathe again is a privilege.
We don’t meet up often so this time, it was really nice to gather together. Cheers to more good years. This is what Chinese New Year is all about. The gathering of your loved ones, don’t shun it !
Friends
With our kids
Nice one. Aptly describes our friendship.
Chinese New Year family photo.
Ann, as usual, always trying to be funny. Kai has grown a whole lot. He is now taller than me.
Chinese New Year has come and gone. That was how fast it has been. In a blinking of an eye, it was all over. The special moment was when a group of us met up at my place. These group is very special to me. I have know them since I was 13 years old. Yeap, that long. The friendship of more than three decades. It is rare, very rare. During this time, one has suffered from auto immune disease and is on medication. One had an open heart surgery and has a pace maker implanted...That life. To be able to wake up and breathe again is a privilege.
We don’t meet up often so this time, it was really nice to gather together. Cheers to more good years. This is what Chinese New Year is all about. The gathering of your loved ones, don’t shun it !
Friends
With our kids
Nice one. Aptly describes our friendship.
Chinese New Year family photo.
Ann, as usual, always trying to be funny. Kai has grown a whole lot. He is now taller than me.
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