My Dearest Class,

We have done it. We have passed as a class.

I could hear and see from all of your faces when I said, "The good news is, everyone passed!"

Cheers of joy and jubilation could be seen on your faces.

However, after seeing your results, some of you started to feel disappointed. You must have wanted more. You must have expected more. This is natural. If you are satisfied with your results and wish for nothing more, then something is not right.

It is this hunger for more, this hunger for even better results that will cause you to improve yourself in secondary school.

There are 2 things that you can do with your disappointment. You can choose to feel discouraged and give up, or you can choose to make a determined fight for a better result in secondary school.

I know of a boy, long ago. He was very good in his English, Math and Science. Everyone told him that he was destined for Raffles Institution. Even his own teacher said so. His uncle, who was a lawyer said that he would one day become a top lawyer!

He scored 216 for his PSLE. 216 for PSLE in those days was a very low score. He barely made it to Boon Lay Secondary School. Boon Lay Secondary in those days was a gangster's school. He promised his parents and himself that he would work harder. Later on, in his O Levels he didn't do to well and could not make it to a Junior College. He did a 3 year A Level course in Jurong Institute, instead of a 2 year A Level course in a JC.

He got his A Level grades. Once again, it wasn't too good. But he didn't give up. He carried on with his studies. Today, he is working in a bank earning a very comfortable salary.

This person is my elder brother. He did not give up. He pressed on. Even when things were hard, he faced his difficulties. Even when he failed, he tried again, twice as hard as before if he needed too.

All of us passed! That is the important thing here! We will live to fight another day in another school, in another exam.

I've never given up on any of you and you shouldn't either. If you are not happy with your PSLE results, then do something about your Sec 1 results next year. If you are not happy with your Sec 1 results, then do something about your Sec 2 results and so on and so forth. As long as you don't give up studying, there will always be an exam or a test that you will need to take. That means another chance to prove to yourself, your friends, your parents and I, that you can make it.

Do you realise that besides 6C4, 6A3 and 6B3, we are the only other class without anyone staying back? That is quite an achievement!

Take with you what you have learnt. Not just your subjects. Please take with you, discipline, integrity, hardwork and confidence into your secondary school life. I am no longer your teacher after this December. However, I remain your friend always.

Best Wishes In Your Future Life In Secondary School.


Mr. Mike Tan 10:30pm, 20th November 2008