JOSEPHIANS | LUMEN
21
“
SJI taught me to hold firm to what I believe in , which is my faith and the Lasallian tradition , and to keep that to heart no matter what .
“
Kevin remembers fondly the days of the Leadership Training Camps – both the Peer Support Leaders Training Camp and the Lasallian Leadership Training Camp ; as well as other memorable camps like the Secondary 1 Orientation , and the Catholic Camps . These were memorable because they created experiences that shaped Kevin to be who he is today , a leader and mentor to the younger ones .
Through the leadership training camps , the concept of service and idea of servant leadership is firmly rooted in Kevin ’ s mind , and it is one he hopes to propagate , even in his future career . Alvin also asserts that the Lasallian Leadership Training Camp helped to ‘ develop [ his ] leadership skills based on service values .’
It was in SJI that Kevin built key foundations which would sustain him in later years . Aside from equipping him with skills which prepared him for his transition to Junior College , and later , National Service , SJI was also where he found true friends and brothers , thanks to the strong fraternity that SJI cultivates . Alvin had similar fond memories of the communal spirit in SJI .
“ I have always felt welcomed in SJI , an experience that I can ’ t say about my previous [ other ] schools . I still remembered how inclusive the SJI community was and how little , if any , discrimination against international students existed . I knew some Indonesian students in other secondary schools who didn ’ t get the same opportunities – CCA , leadership , or academic competitions – as international students in SJI did .”
These Josephians all have a common refrain – their education in SJI has influenced and impacted them , even in years well beyond graduation . SJI has not only provided them with skills and knowledge to overcome the academic hurdles , but more importantly , SJI has ingrained values of faith , service , and community , that last for a lifetime .
While Kevin embodies not just a Josephian capable of academic excellence , he is also a man of faith . SJI has been instrumental in helping him to ‘ truly awaken [ his ] faith and connect with God ’.
Despite his not-so-outstanding results for his ‘ O ’ Levels , Kevin learnt the value of humility and faith . Through this humbling experience , he rose to the occasion , and excelled in the ‘ A ’ Levels .
Inspired by his family of predominantly educators , and the teachers who have made a difference in his life , he has decided to answer his calling to be a teacher by applying for the MOE Local-Merit Scholarship . Bearing in mind the Lasallian ethos of a teacher who is called , first and foremost , to serve , and the Christian principles of compassion and patience , Kevin hopes to make a difference to others ’ lives in the same way that his mentors have done for him . He remarks , “ SJI taught me to hold firm to what I believe in , which is my faith and the Lasallian tradition , and to keep that to heart no matter what .”
To Kevin , Alvin , Timothy and the other Josephians , SJI has taught them not only ‘ to learn how to learn , but also to learn how to live .’
Facing page : The Wong family at the Sec 1 Orientation Camp in 2009 . From left : Jared ( currently in Secondary 3 ), Kevin ' s mother , Jillian Martens ( former teacher at SJI ), Trevor ( currently in Secondary 4 and member of the Prefect EXCO ), Kevin and father , Wilson Wong ( SJI graduating Class of 1979 )
This page : Kevin with fellow councillors at a CJC ceremony in 2009