LESTER QUEK Class 5B2( 2011)
LESTER, THE WINNER
A wayward boy changes for the better.
Clementi Town Secondary School was my first choice. I was playful, defiant and hot-tempered and as a result, I was always creating trouble for my class, the school and myself. I remembered how I would get into fights during my lower secondary years and made a number of trips to the Discipline Master’ s office to get my beta form signed.
I had a new classparent when I reached Secondary Three. On the first day of that school year, my friends and I climbed and jumped over the balconies that were outside the classroom. We were caught by him. Immediately after recess, he called me to his office to have a chat with me. He told me he wanted to change the class, which was notorious for being playful and disruptive, and he wanted me to be part of the change, and alter the childish and silly acts that we were committing. He then gave me the position of Discipline Head, to maintain the class’ orderliness. Things did not immediately go the way they should, and I continued being rebellious. I soon got into trouble with the police and my classparent was immediately informed about it. He was very disappointed in me. I remember my lack of remorse, and my blatant bragging about getting myself into trouble.
My classparent then asked me a very important question which set me thinking.“ What would your parents feel about what you did?”
I cried. Suddenly, it hit me that before me was a teacher who had cared so much. He was a teacher who was always trying to help me and I returned such kindness with more trouble for him. I suddenly felt that I had to change myself, and I decided that I had to work on my anger management issues – which were the roots to my frequent fighting.
Every day after school, I would meet my teacher at his office to help him with little tasks so as to keep myself occupied and to learn patience. He also coached me in my studies. He always told me to“ raise my head high” and be confident in what I was trying to change about myself.
I felt that he had begun to trust me again and I felt good about it. It was him who made me who I am today, a better person, and still changing for the better. I went on to pursue a Diploma in Psychology. Now I have graduated and am waiting to be enlisted into the SAF Commando Formation. I would not have attained all these if not for such an amazing teacher that I had met in my alma mater.
Lester had attained a Diploma in Psychology, and was a key leader in the Scouts troop when he was in CTSS.
030 Our Time: Once A Clementeen, Always A Clementeen