Secondary school pictures

I was having dinner with Gordon and Sheau Phing last night, and Gordon happened to show me a pic of him in secondary school. Then I took over his phone and found a album for it. o0
Some I didn't even remember when was it taken.
The times when we were still so young. =\
Made a couple of great friends here, some are still hanging out.
But I wonder how are the rest...

Sec 4-1, 2008
Going for a walk with the principle, Mdm Tay.

Went to Bedok Reservoir.

Graduation, last day in school.

At the corridor right in front of our classroom.

Nowadays, when people take fun post, it is usually just a peace sign.

Classmates when we were sec 1 and 2.

Still so young.. T-T

Prom night. Thank God, I'm all the way at the back ^^

Serve your Nation well.

I have been in contact with some of my friends in secondary school.
It's a blessing to know what is going on with their lives.
There is this group of very special people to me.
My best friend and I jokingly call them my band of brothers.

It has been years, since we have graduated.
For quite some time, I was very absorbed with my own life.
School and club took most of my time away, church takes up the remaining.
My guilty consciences ate into me that I didn't even have the time to connect with my very own family.
Much less to say, my band of brothers, my family from when I was in secondary school.
Besides, everyone else were just as busy. Probably.


As I close my eyes and calls up the scene that I crafted into my memory, it flickers like a very old film.
Countless times had I seen them playing basketball in the court right beside our classroom
every recess time and everyday after school.

I still remember them playing, I can still see it with my mind eye.
From a few different views.

In lower sec, during recess time, my point of view would be from within the classroom.
The never changing weather,
the afternoon heat that makes me drowsy,
the height of my study desk that I had laid my head on to rest,
and the rhythm of the basketball bouncing had a hypnotising effect on me.
The peace of the early days lulls me to sleep.
Through the metal railings and glass panels, I hear them laughing, hear the cheering.
And once in a while, I'll open my eyes, watch them for a bit then go back dreaming.
Some of them have yet to undergo their puberty changes,
still shorter than me in height. I think.
But all so full of energy, like little monkeys refusing to waste any time sitting still.

After school was one if my favourite times.
Since if I had went home, I'll be alone anyway, I'll just stay back in school.
Or I'll be waiting for my CCA to start.
My point of view changed.
No longer were I in the sleeping position on my desk.
Classroom is locked, but I got a better view.
It's where usually a coach would sits in a game.
There was a great view of the goal post, and a good view of the entire court.
There, I witness the teamwork that came so naturally between guys.
No words needed as they pass the ball soundlessly and effortlessly.
They were playing sports, but the ball seems to had came alive in their hands.
I just couldn't take my eyes off until the game ended when they got tired,
or until its finally time to go home.

There was yet another view.
This time, I was on a level above, watching the bird eyes view of the entire court.
Trying not to attract any attention to myself, trying not the let them know I'm watching their game.
Although, I must had failed miserably, I caught them looking up once in a while.
My brothers, they don't usually team themselves up against others.
So I would end up having a brother here and another brother there on both teams.
What can I do?
I only had to cheer on both teams.

Though I don't play basketball, it's a big part of my secondary school life because it is part of theirs.
I like watching them play the game.
To be very honest, it doesn't matter what sports it is, it could be hockey or soccer,
I'll probably end up watching them play as they get even better with their teamwork,
their never ending energy, and their sudden growth,
which made them suddenly becoming one or two heads taller than me.
They are my brothers.
The very special people.
The me at that time, really wished I were a guy too.
The bromance that girls will never understand, I kindda envy them.

Gone were the days slacking and skipping in doing home works, and end up sitting outside the classroom.
I was very fond of messing their hair and slapping on their backs hard.
Yes, I used to be way too violent.
Our batch, under the Chinese zodiac is born under the monkey sign.
And everyone of them just like monkeys, skinny and way too playful, way too energetic.

I ruined it, didn't I?

It has really been a long time since I had a decent conversation with any one of them.
Well, once in a blue moon, we'll still see each other.

So I causally texted them asking how are they.
Most are doing well.
That is great to hear.
One replied with 'serving the nation'.
The same monkey I knew?
I didn't know what happened to them over the past few years, lost the chance to know and too late to regret.

Nevertheless, spoke to a few of them.
Oh man!
How much have they grown!
Out of nowhere, I had great pride for them.
They are serving the nation!
The same few jokers who fools around everyday in class.
I feel like a mother whose sons had grown in a few years in just one day.

I'm not laughing at them questioning if they can really do it.
I'm not shocked nor in doubt.
No, that's not what I thought.

I was overwhelmed with pride.
They grew up.
And I feel safer with them in the national service.

Dear brothers,
It's been a blessing knowing you lot.
You people had brought much joy into my life, and I pray for your blessings.
And as you mature into men and grow into adulthood,
I can never be prouder to have known you who are now serving the nation.
I know I am safe in your hands, as would be for every other citizen.
Serve your nation well.
And I salute you, from the bottom of my heart.
Be safe.
God Bless.

A Student Gratitude (A Late Appreciation)

Sometime ago, the topic of educators came up in my church.
It made me remember how I was as a student.
To all educators out there, passionate to teach your student not only what's in the textbook,
but also the character, life, respect for ourselves and the rest of the world.
From deep down in my heart, I take my hats off to you.
*Salutes

I wasn't exactly a good student.
I don't have the habit to do homework.
I hate homework.
I have attempted to sit down and do my homework,
but I don't think I have ever finished one with all questions answered.
Well, even if there is one, the answers are rubbish.
It gave my teachers a big headache. 
Ever since primary school to secondary till poly, right till I graduate with my diploma.
Yup, I wasn't exactly a good student.

I wasn't that bad a student to be involved in fights, smoking, disrespect or other problems.
In fact, I became a student councilor in secondary school (despite not doing any homework).
I'm really a nice person, just one who don't do homework.

At times, I would just try to skip lectures in poly.
Brought a lot of trouble to my friends because the lecturers keep asking them where the heck am I...
(Sorry guys!)
Nevertheless, I became my club's president in year 3.
Well, the leaders and main committee are not chosen by teachers but by the previous leaders and main comm members.
But still... I'm not a bad student.


My teachers, some were good, others not that nice.
Some left a scar and quite a few left an overwhelming gratitude that I don't know how to express.

Let's start with this scar of mine.
It happened when I'm in primary 3 or 4.
As usual, I didn't do my homework. I told this teacher that I didn't bring.
In which, I really didn't.
He gave me his phone to call home so that someone at home will bring it to school for me.
At that time, my house phone number just changed and I had trouble remembering it.
And ended up giving the wrong number.

I guess he thought that I was lying to him, got yelled in a quite awful way, in front of the whole class.
I don't remember what he said, if he had hit me or if it's the whiteboard he hit,
but there are some things that I just can't forget.
That teacher was kind of big in size, deep frown, loud voice. Like an angry bear.
For a primary 3 little girl, I assure you, it is scary.
I think I cried a lot then, till now, I still won't try to approach that teacher.
Although I remember that before that, I quite like that teacher.
This one incident had broke all connection and turned respect into fear.

A pity actually, because he is really a good teacher. =[

Dear teachers, I ask of you to be a little more patient. Teachers are not easy to be, but you choose the job. It will impact many lives and it is up to you to make a difference or you can let the chance go.
Thank you for your continuous supervision on our grades and character.


Many teachers, teach for the sack of teaching.
And ever-so-often, students would be place under the care of a teacher who teach to inspire a change or to motivate them. Those teachers who truly deserve a gold medal.
Thank God, I have met quite a few.

Most memorable ones were in my secondary school.

As always, I was still not doing my homework.
But very very surprisingly, my grades were not that bad.
Sometimes did well, and very often on the border line.

There was this time when I did extremely badly for a social studies test.
Oh man, this teacher called me to look for her during lunch break.
I was freaking scared. She told me to look for her in a you-are-going-to-get-it tone.
So I went, I thought I was going to be scolded and much to my surprise.
She asked me quite calmly what happened to me.
We sat down together and she helped me figured out what is really wrong with me.
And decided that I can't remember the things in the textbook, so she made me buy a notebook and write notes.

I never knew I love writing. Even if it is just copying what on the textbook.
Ever since then, I write notes for all my subject.
I still don't do homework, but I write notes to study for my exams.

What impacted me, is the patience and a heart that cared enough to talk.
It also made me realized that this teacher didn't give up on me.
Thank you, Ms Stephanie Choo.
Although I don't like History or Social Studies, I really liked this teacher. =]

In my family, I am the middle child.
Both my older brother and younger sister did way better than me academically.
I didn't know when it started, but my parents gave up on me in my studies.
They always tell me it will be good enough if I'll just pass.
I thought that it is good, because I won't need to be stress over school.

No, it is not good.
I didn't think so deep into it, and I didn't know how it was actually affecting me.
I can say that it is really bad.
No, It is really not good.

Dear parents, teaching is not just the work of the teachers. Your kids' first teachers are you, yourself.
If even you give up on them, who would they find hope from?


Thank you for my dear teachers, for not giving up on me even though I do not ever do homework.
And thank you for all your patience, although it was already though on you to be facing so many students at the same time, and sometimes also dealing with unreasonable parents.
辛苦了.


Being a teacher is hard work, impacting lives and teach what life is are harder work.