SCARLET LEONG Class 4E1( 2010)
REPOSITIONING OBSTACLES TO ACHIEVE GOALS
A girl picks herself up where she had left off, and never stopped running since.
Competitive. Stressful. Tiring. These were common words my peers and I used to describe the two years in a Junior College. As echoed by many, the Junior College curriculum is not an easy feat to overcome. For me, it was definitely the most rigorous two years of my life thus far. It was not easy as I constantly felt like I was not good enough for the goals I had set for myself initially. I found myself being defeated even before the battle of the A-level examination began. This was not something I was proud of.
I was reminded of a similar experience that I had gone through in my Secondary School days. I left Clementi Town Secondary School( CTSS) during the fourth term of Secondary Two to study overseas as I followed my working parents there. However, after a period of three months, I was still unable to adapt to the culture and learning environment of where I was. Hence, my parents and I decided that I end my Leave of Absence in CTSS and begin Secondary Three in Singapore in the year 2009 along with my peers. In order to be in the same academic year as my peers, I had to take a re-entry examination for promotion to Secondary Three. It was then that I was overwhelmed by the feelings of inferiority and inadequacy that I could pass the test after missing lessons for one whole term. I saw myself as being pinned below my cohort and felt extremely discouraged. However, with the help of my ex-classmates and teachers, I strived towards my goal of being together with my peers and classmates and managed to join my friends in Secondary Three.
As I recalled, my negative mind set was not serving me in my striving for academic excellence in my A-level examination. In fact, I was sabotaging myself by lowering my own morale each time I faced an obstacle. I sought to change my attitude and hopefully create a different result with my actions. However it seemed easier to fall back into habitual self-doubt during tough times. Fortunately, I had my family and confidants to turn to for emotional support. As I received genuine care and love from the people whom I sought support from during my weakest moments, I was inspired to be strong-willed. I began pressing on to attain the goals I had set. In hindsight, I discovered more about myself and developed personal wisdom that illuminated the important values and relationships in my life.
Today, I am thankful for the stellar results that allowed me to qualify for my desired university courses, and more significantly, for the life lessons about the more important things in life.
Scarlet was a Top A-Level student in Pioneer Junior College. She has been accepted to Nanyang Technological University to study Psychology.
Our Time: Once A Clementeen, Always A Clementeen 033