18 LUMEN | INTERVIEW teachers and my father but sometimes teachers might say , “ if you don ’ t do your homework , I ’ ll tell your father ”. Of course , I knew it was a joke and everyone took it lightly but there are instances where it might have come off as a threat and I felt hurt . Fortunately , most of the teachers are very kind and understanding , and my friends are also very supportive .
Joan : I do not think there were any significant challenges but sometimes I felt like I didn ’ t have my own identity . I was often known as ‘ Jude Tan ’ s daughter ’ or ‘ Luke Tan ’ s sister ’ but in a way , because of that , it was easier to talk to some guys ( some of whom are my good friends now ) when I first met them since we had a mutual friend .
Luke ( in red , seated , first from left ) - with his classmates from MN401 at Cross Country in 2019 .
visit him at work and we would walk around the staff room and talk to the other teachers . We would attend events held in SJI such as Mass or certain celebrations . He would also organise year-end gatherings at our house and invite the other teachers over ( some of whom would become my teachers when I became a student ). It was interesting to already have a deep connection with SJI even before becoming a student and it made me excited to start my own journey in SJI .
Joan : I don ’ t think he shared many stories but I recalled going on a tour of the former SJI campus at Bras Basah when I was younger and my father was so excited to tell us about his secondary school life . I had very fond memories of going to SJI as a child with my brother during the school holidays . We were meant to help him clear his table and do homework but we always ended up exploring the school . I recently went to his table and noticed all the drawings my brother and I drew in the staffroom as kids and gave to him . Seeing them made me feel like I also grew up with SJI , despite knowing nothing about the school back then . He also always made the effort to include us in anything that was SJI related - events , celebrations or gatherings that he would organise for his colleagues at our house .
Mr . Tan : Besides bringing my children to the various school events , they would also join me for gatherings with my extended SJI family such as my seniors , classmates or colleagues . There are also quite a few Josephians living in my estate , and some of them have become close friends . The most senior of them would be Mr . Patrick Mowe from Class of 1954 . In this way , my children would also hear about my SJI story .
Q : When all of you are at home , do you all talk about your school experiences ?
Luke : Just like any parent would talk to their child about their school day , my parents would ask how my day went in school . I was also often asked if my father is strict at home , and I would always reply “ He ’ s just as strict as any parent would be .” If I didn ’ t do well in my exams or if I had done something bad , of course I would get scolded but if I did well then I would be rewarded . It is just like how any parent would treat their child .
Joan : Yes ! Even though my older brother and I did not attend SJI at the same time , the experiences we shared are so similar it sometimes almost feels as if we did . My father and brother played huge roles during my time in SJI and I felt more connected to them than if I had been to another school . My brother always checked in on me , making sure that I was up to speed with my studies and he would help me whenever he could , although we would usually end up talking about school life and work for an hour instead of actually being productive . Our conversations during the car rides home from school would always revolve around what happened in school that day .
Q : Did you encounter any challenges in school , because you had a parent in the same school ?
Luke : The most annoying thing was that news travels very fast . Sometimes , my father would know my test results before I did and if something happened in class , my father would know about it before I even had the chance to tell him at home . Most of the time , it was harmless news and banter between my
Q : Would you like your own children to join SJI in the future ? Why ?
Luke : Yes , I would . My dad and his brothers went to SJI ; so did my sister and I . I had a great time in SJI . I made great friends , had lots of fun and did some amazing and crazy things .
Every experience made me the person I am today . I would want to give my children the opportunity to be part of the SJI experience as well .
Joan : I would ! My brother and I went to SJI and the memories we had will definitely stay with us for a long time to come . SJI played a significant role in shaping me into the person I am today . Having a sense of belonging to a community in SJI is an integral part of my life and I would wish for my children to experience it as well .
Q : When you see your children in SJI , what do you think has changed from the time you were as a student ? What do you think has remained the same ?
Mr . Tan : The young today are blessed with numerous opportunities and do not have to worry about the necessities of life . They are also surrounded by technology where things happen almost instantaneously . Therefore , the challenges they face today are vastly different as compared to the time when I was a teenager where life was much slower and simpler . What I feel is ‘ timeless ’ about SJI is the fact that the generations of Josephians including my children and myself , will continue to hold onto friendships that span decades even long after we have walked through the school gates . I have been blessed to have met with generations of Josephians who have also shared with me their SJI stories . Josephians past and present will always remember the friendships they have forged and how they are challenged to make a difference in the lives of others .