Valedictorian Speech 2022

A very good afternoon to our Guest of Honour, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, our Principal Mrs Tay, our Vice-Principals Mdm Mas and Mr Tay, our esteemed guests, teachers and fellow Woodlanders.

I stand here today humbled to be chosen as valedictorian on such a significant anniversary year of the school. They say life begins at 40. I am not too sure about that because, at a mere 17 years of age, I have much more to learn but I am so glad to have experienced some of the best years of my youth in Woodlands Secondary School. And I would not have it any other way. So, first and foremost, to each and everyone here, I would like to wish all of you a Happy 40^th Anniversary!

Not long ago, I was just one of the many incoming Secondary One students—a student with a million questions, a million doubts, and a million uncertainties as I grappled with the overwhelming emotions of transitioning into secondary school. Just like the many valedictorians before me, who have graced the hall/stage with their presence, reminiscing these moments is sheer delight. While I cannot speak for them entirely, I do know each of them truly attribute their growth to their teachers, who have made their journey in school a cherished one.

During my time in Woodlands Secondary School, what I cherish the most is the interaction I had with my peers, my seniors, my juniors and teachers. I enjoyed bantering with my CCA mates. I relished the chance to converse with my teachers and principals on matters close to the heart. I even found my interactions with the security guards most endearing, especially their warm smiles and dedication as they sheltered my friends and me with umbrellas on rainy days. Undoubtedly, every single smile, advice and encouragement is what kept me going during my most dreadful days. Even the small bursts of hilarious antics by my classmates was a balm to my soul. I felt a sense of belonging from the immense care and support I was showered with.

This, to me, is what a heartbeat is—a pulsation that is only possible because the different components in the system are working together as one.

In the circulatory system of the human body, each component is absolutely essential. Without a heart, there is no organ to contract and relax to create a heartbeat. Without the blood, the body has no access to oxygen and nutrients. Without the blood vessels, the blood simply cannot be transported throughout the body. Every aspect—the heart, the blood and the blood vessels are all required to create the heartbeat. Likewise, in Woodlands Secondary, everyone has a role to play. As the school leaders and teachers provide the necessary support for every student to excel to his or her fullest potential, each student also needs to do his/her part dutifully. This would not be possible without the support of the school’s administrative staff, the unsung heroes, who actually support our learning with the Wifi infrastructure, PLDs, tables and chairs.

Essentially, this school has a system that ensures that no one is left behind, and that every student is given the opportunity to excel to his or her fullest potential.

When I look at my alma mater, memories of my classmates bonding over CCE lessons, moments when we traded secrets during our lessons and CCA sessions—all of these come flooding back to me. Moments of struggle, be it bitter or sweet, remind me of how much I have grown.

When I first arrived in Singapore, taking the PSLE and the O Levels was a huge challenge. I never thought that I would make it. But I did.

Allow me to share with you this particular incident that was a turning point for me as a student. When I was in Secondary Three, my teacher came into our class with all our Weighted Assessment papers – all marked. It was Additional Mathematics, my class first ever Weighted Assessment for this subject. Some of us did not make it. In fact, one lonely person score a very low grade—zero.

Well, that someone was me.

This may sound inconceivable but I literally obtained a complete zero. For someone who would cry over a grade B4, this was an extremely hard slap in the face. For someone who is born into a family of Mathematics experts, it was not just sheer disappointment but also an utter disgrace. Even my grandmother who is in her seventies is still able to breeze through algebraic equations. Honestly, how could I bear the shame? Was I even in the right class? Should I even consider a change in subject combination? These thoughts just clouded my mind and I just could not see clearly.

My grades improved for a while but life, being a roller coaster, took another downturn. My grades plummeted and it did not help that the coup started in my country, Myanmar, in February 2021. The events took a toll on my mental health and eventually on my studies. My L1R5 and L1R4, which used to be in the single digits, increased to a 15 and then climbed to a whopping 29! Forget about being a top scorer, could I even pass my O Levels? I could not help but think what my peers might be wondering: “maybe she had maxed out her brain”, “maybe she is not smart anymore”. However, the most difficult thing to endure is self-doubt, because slowly, I started to agree with the whispers of doubt.

It was definitely not an easy period. We were all greeted with the wave of the Covid – 19 virus. My peers and I had to grapple with online learning. I had to resist the urge to slide into the doldrums. This crisis has brought unprecedented challenges both for us as students as well as the teachers. Yet we were not defeated, we’ve been humbled by the wave of inspiring new teaching and learning ideas. My peers and I overcame this period with the support and encouragement from one another. For me, this spirit of togetherness gave me the confidence to truly pick myself up and forge on. Woodlanders are truly resilient at heart and I am sure that applies to not only students but also teachers who never seem to want to give up on us. To me, that is what sets the school apart from the rest.

I recall how my teachers would remind us that we are more than the number grade on a test paper. It is our next course of action that will determine how we want to write our chapter. These words resonate within me even till today. Indeed, good things do not come easy. If you want something really badly, you will find a way to overcome the adversities. And I eventually did.

This is why I am grateful that our school prizes character development in tandem with academic success. It is the school’s vision, of nurturing Woodlanders to be a gift to society, that makes us special. It emphasises that Woodlanders can be a blessing to society and contribute effectively to the community. This was even more evident to me when I served the school as the Vice-Head of the Student Council board.

Through my journey in the Student Council board, I have come to understand how dedicated the school is. Each decision that comes into fruition is made after rounds of brainstorming, consideration, and empathy for the entire school cohort. The level of synergy is incredible. It is amazing how big ideas can turn into solutions.

As cliché as this may sound, Woodlands Secondary School is my second home. This is the place that pulsates with life, through a number of programmes like VIA sessions and morning talks, where every Woodlander is inculcated the values of GR2EAT and the 3Cs. This is the place where we grow as individuals, where we forge the spirit of camaraderie, where we bond with friends from various races, where we inspire one another to be our very best. Woodlands Secondary School - our home, our haven, our heartbeat.

On behalf of all the students of the class of 2021, I would like to acknowledge and thank all our parents, teachers and principals for their undying support for us. You are our vital pillars of strength. We owe a large part of our success to you.

As each generation inherits the wisdom of the generation before itself, as we honour the school’s heritage of wisdom and truth, as we celebrate the successes of our seniors and peers, let us start a new beginning, let us create new and exciting memories, let us commence on a new chapter of Woodlands Secondary School - Let us beat as one pulse, one heartbeat, one soul.

Thank you.