Born on 21st September 1991, I was the second child of the family. Shortly after my birth, I was sent to live with my aunt, as both my parents had to work.
Just like any Singaporean child, I had to attend kindergarten. At first, I dreaded having to do work. However, I found out that work was very little. I often finished work fast, so as to watch television. Life was all about watching Popeye beat up Bruno, or Scooby Doo comically solving mysteries. Before I knew it, I had spent 3 years doing work and watching television. It was then time to return to my parents' house to stay and study in the nearby Changkat Primary School.
I was an atrociously spoilt brat in primary school. I often quarrelled and angered my parents, as well as my grandmother, over the smallest things. From the purchase of new crayons to demanding instant noodles for lunch; there was nothing I could not throw a tantrum over. Now that I look back, I am appalled by my behaviour. Fortunately, I matured and grew up as I took up the Gifted Education Program.
By luck, I had passed both screening rounds for the GEP in P3. Not wanting to leave my primary school friends, I had purposely put down wrong answers for the tests. However, I still got in. My parents managed to persuade me to go for the Program, and, at first, I was sad to leave my friends. But I have never regretted this choice once, for being in such a competitive environment helped me to mature a lot more.
The next three years in GEP were enjoyable and fun, and at times intellectually challenging for me in terms of work. My only regret was not to have studied earlier for my PSLE. People around me started preparing as early as the start of P6, yet I only started studying the day before. I believe I could have scored higher if I had started studying earlier. Scoring 264/300, I chose, and fortunately got chosen by, a prestigious secondary school in Singapore; Raffles Institution.
As time went by, I realised that secondary school life is a road of self-discovery. As we move along, we grow up, we change, and we discover new things about ourselves. I made new friends, and together, we faced difficulties in work and in life. Pulling ourselves as well as each other through, we foster strong human bonds, as well as know our own strengths and weaknesses.
Starting my third year in RI now, I still have a long way to go; a long road of self-discovery to travel. The future reveals itself to no one. Embarking on the road of self-discovery, we have no one but the people around us, and ourselves.
But as can be seen from my life so far, growing up and becoming more mature, will always take time; things will take its due course, and cannot be rushed.
(495 words)
recounted dreamily!
at 9:21 AM, on Thursday, March 09, 2006
