“Mr Anan pointed out my strengths before I could see them myself.” – Garrett Lim
When Garrett was nominated to take on the role of Discipline Head of the prefectorial board in Secondary 3, it felt daunting. “I honestly didn’t think I had the guts for it,” he says.
But Mr Anan, who leads the Student Leadership Development Committee, reassured Garrett. Mr Anan pointed out moments he had observed from as early as Secondary 1, such as when Garrett stepped up to make announcements to classmates about proper attire or haircuts.
“To me, it was very basic actions., I didn’t even think of it as ‘leadership’ at that time,” Garrett says. But that conversation with Mr Anan helped Garrett reframe his thinking and boosted his confidence.
“Mr Anan is someone I feel comfortable turning to for guidance. He’s firm when needed, but always encouraging. He’ll tell me, ‘You’ve got this.’”
“Ms Pradeepa didn’t just teach me what to think, but how to think.” – Edna Mok
Ms Pradeepa once handed out a worksheet listing events in 1930s Germany with deliberately incorrect dates. She then asked students to question the information and check other sources.
That exercise changed how Edna approached information. “As a History student, you cannot just accept one perspective,” she reflects.
“When I ask about current affairs, Ms Pradeep will respond with probing questions instead of answers.”
Over time, Edna learnt to consider perspectives different from her own, and communicate her views more clearly.
“Mdm Yati encouraged me to keep going when things got hard.” – Nur Sofiyyah Fateenah binte Razali
Learning Malay wasn’t always easy for Sofiyyah. Mdm Yati helped her find meaning by connecting lessons to cultural heritage and values. For example, when discussing traditional costumes such as the baju kurung, she explained how Malay culture adapts while preserving its essence – much like how modern food fusion still honours traditional flavours.
“Mdm Yati doesn’t just flip through textbooks,” Sofiyyah shares. “When we have questions, she’ll pause and search for videos or examples to help us understand.”
During a family trip to Vietnam, Mdm Yati’s lessons stuck, and Sofiyyah found herself exploring silk museums, linking what she saw to what she had learnt about cultural preservation.
“Mdm Yati taught us this Malay saying – susah dahulu, senang kemudian. It means, with hardship, comes ease.” For Sofiyyah, it’s a reminder that effort builds discipline and character, and that perseverance matters as much as results.
“Ms Tan doesn’t wait for you to ask for help, but notices when you need it.” – Denzer Chong
Denzer appreciates how Ms Tan notices things others might miss. In the corridors, she checks in to see if he’s getting between classes safely, mindful that getting around school can be more challenging for him due to vision and mobility difficulties.
That same attentiveness carries into her lessons. When Denzer gets stuck on a Maths question, even after several attempts, Ms Tan stays back after class to go through it step by step until he understands it.
One afternoon, after staying back to work through a difficult problem, Ms Tan noticed Denzer struggling with his bags. Without being asked, she helped carry his tote bag to the school pick-up point where his dad was waiting.
“She just notices these things,” Denzer reflects. “She sees when you need support and steps in.”
