TAN YAN LIN Class 5C2( 2006)
JUST DO IT!
One girl exemplifies the saying‘ when the going gets tough, the tough gets going’.
On my first day in Clementi Town Secondary School( CTSS), I thought I was merely going through the next phase of my education life with a set of mediocre Primary School Leaving Examination grades. I had no goal in mind and I signed up for Netball simply because it was a requirement to have a Co-curricular Activity.
However, over the months and years of training, the significance of the sport grew in my heart. In order to strike a balance between school work, Student Council commitment and netball trainings, I had to learn the importance of perseverance, self-discipline and time management. There was so much to do – trainings for competitions and school work – that I had to learn to prioritise and keep myself very focused as I tackled my tasks, one by one. Being part of the Netball team allowed me to gain many valuable and essential life skills that would prove to be useful in school and at work.
My school life in CTSS also took a turn when I was given numerous opportunities to take up leadership roles in school. When I was first assigned leadership roles, I doubted my ability to fulfill my duties. Nonetheless, I was determined to overcome the challenge as I did not want to disappoint my teachers who had put so much faith in my capabilities. They saw in me qualities that I had not known I possessed.
When I was bestowed the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew All-Round Excellence Award in 2005, it felt like a dream to me. I never thought scoring straight‘ A’ s was attainable. I never knew that I was capable of juggling the various commitments and leadership roles. Thus, I am thankful to have met many teachers who have encouraged me along the way. Without my enriching journey in CTSS and the inspiring teachers who have helped me realise my potential, I would not be where I am now.
After graduating from CTSS, Yan Lin went on to pursue Accountancy in Ngee Ann Polytechnic and subsequently in Nanyang Technological University. She will be starting work as an Audit Associate at Deloitte & Touche in August 2013.
036 Our Time: Once A Clementeen, Always A Clementeen