A second chance
A Second Chance
Have you gotten a second chance before? Most of the time, you get second chances because other people see a lot of potential in you. If we get a second chance, we should make the most out of this second chance and try our best to succeed. We should not be discouraged and continue to persevere. Momo was given a second chance after she failed her audition. She remained resilient and she overcame her challenges. This is her story…
The cold wind brushed against Momo’s face as she walked home after a long day at school. She gazed at the lush greenery of the trees ahead of her as the bright golden sun slowly sank lower. The beautiful scenery calmed her senses and took her mind off her school work. Just then, Momo came across a bright, colourful poster pinned on a tree.
“Hm? What is this?” Momo muttered under her breath. Curiosity got the better of her and she stood rooted to the spot. As Momo scanned the poster, she realised it was a poster from an entertainment company. The words “Audition Now!” stood out in a bold red colour.
“This must be the audition Sana told me about!” Momo said to herself. She remembered the words her friend, Sana, had said and they echoed in her mind. As she walked back home, the audition was the only thing that lingered in Momo’s mind.
“You should audition!” chirped Sana’s cheerful voice from Momo’s phone. The two friends were on a phone call. Filled with confidence, Momo exclaimed, “Yeah! Maybe I should!”
Day after day, Momo practised her singing and dancing skills. She practised every dance move she knew until the ground shook. She did not rest until she was satisfied with her progress. Every day, her mother could hear her belting out a high note just from outside her room. Thinking her practise was enough, Momo decided to stop practising for a few days before the audition.
On the day of the audition, Momo walked into the company’s building. A blast of cool air from the air-conditioner relieved her from the humidity and warmth of the outdoors. In the building, she saw posters of the company’s most famous singers and bands. Momo gazed in admiration as she saw her favourite girl group’s photo hung proudly on the wall. Since it was a walk-in audition, the waiting room for the audition was flooded with other young hopefuls. All of them wished they could pass the audition. However, that sight did not make Momo lose her confidence. After waiting for a long time, it was her turn to audition. She walked into the judges’ room confidently with a big smile on her face.
“Good afternoon! My name is Hirai Momo and I’m here to audition,” Momo exclaimed as she smiled from ear to ear. Immediately, she went on the audition. As the music for the song started to play, Momo tried to recall the different dance moves and the steps she had to take. Momo started to dance with such power and sharpness in her moves. She still maintained the huge smile plastered on her face. When she finished dancing, she went on to sing her heart out in the next part of the audition. She tried her best to hit every note and sing out every lyric. At the end of the audition, she bowed to the judges as a way of saying “Thank you for your time”.
“We’ll call you to tell you whether you fail or pass the audition,” one of the judges said in a monotonous voice. Momo nodded and walked out of the room. “I think I did well!” Momo told herself. She skipped out of the building with a big smile that looked like it belonged to the Cheshire cat.
A few days passed and Momo still had not received a call from the company. “Maybe they’re still deciding?” she questioned. She did not know whether that was a good sign. She hoped for the best to come. Just then, Momo heard a ringing sound coming from her phone. Immediately, she picked it up and found out that it was from the entertainment company. Momo’s heart was pounding hard against her ribcage. Sweat was dripping down her forehead.
“We’re sorry, Miss Hirai Momo,” the woman on the phone mumbled. “You did not pass your audition.” Those words completely saddened Momo. Tears began to fall down her cheeks like rivulets. She could not believe it.
“O-oh, okay” Momo sniffled. She put down the phone. She tried to wipe her tears away but they kept falling. All her practices seemed wasted.
“Did I try my best? Did I do good enough?” she asked herself. Everything felt so surreal. Nevertheless, Momo tried to keep her spirits up.
“There are other chances out there,” she told herself. Each day, she practised her dance moves until they were up to standard. She also sharpened her singing skills by practising every high and low note. These helped her regain her lost confidence. “There are other chances,” she told herself again and again.
A few months later, Momo’s phone began to ring. It was not her friends, but from the entertainment company.
“Hello, Miss Hirai Momo!” a cheerful woman’s voice chirped. “We’re pleased to tell you some good news! After some consideration, the company has decided to recruit you to be our newest trainee! We saw a lot of potential in you.” Momo could not believe it. How did this happen? Tears of happiness flowed down her cheeks. “Thank you so much!” She exclaimed. With this second chance, she was able to work even harder to reach her goals.
From this incident, she learnt to persevere in tough situations. With this second chance, she was able to make the most out of it. She learnt not to take this chance for granted as well. She tried her best to succeed and reach her full potential.
Written by: Rhiann Gabrielle Lustestica
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
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Language
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35 ½ / 40
A Second Chance
“It is time for the next singer to come onstage!” the commentator for the National Singing Competition Auditions announced. “Mariel!” Mariel’s trembling hands gripped her chest tightly as cold sweat trickled down her forehead. “How is it my turn already?” Mariel asked herself in shock. Mariel tried to walk out from the back of the stage but her legs felt like lead. No matter how hard she tried to walk forward, an invisible force tried to pull her back. Mariel could not stand the pressure anymore and bolted out of the audition venue through the back door.
Mariel sat on the floor outside the auditorium with tears rolling down her cheeks. “Why did I run off?” she asked herself. “If I had spent so much time preparing but why am I still so afraid?” Mariel heard footsteps of someone approaching her. Mariel’s eyes widened and she was startled to see one of the judges walking towards her. “Why are you crying, young one?” the judge asked as he smiled at Mariel. “I ran out of the auditorium when it was my turn to sing because I was too nervous,” responded Mariel,\. “I spent so much time preparing but I am defeated by my nervousness.”
“Don’t worry,” the judge assured Mariel, “I happened to hear you sing before the audition started at the corridor.” Mariel’s eyes widened in surprise. “Your singing was amazing and we think that you have potential,” the judge continued. “The judges and I have already decided to give you a second chance. Come to the second audition a week later.” Mariel was filled with gratitude for the judge and she thanked him profusely. From that day on, Mariel began to practise singing as hard as she could.
One day, Mariel’s family asked her to sing in front of them during dinner. Mariel agreed, thinking that she had practised enough. Mariel stood in front of her family and began to sing when something caught her voice. Sweat trickled down her forehead as she struggled to let words out of her mouth. Mariel gave up and gasped for air as she apologised to her family for not practising hard enough. Mariel’s mother smiled and said, “Mariel, it is not that you have not practised enough but it is because you are too nervous. You have to learn to calm yourself down.” Mariel realised her weakness and decided to work on overcoming her nervousness. Mariel soon began singing in front of her family members. Once she was confident enough, she tried to sing to her classmates and gradually sang in front of more and more people.
The day of the second audition was finally here. Mariel sat at the back of the stage singing to the other singers. All of the singers applauded as soon as she finished singing. “I have practised for so long to try and overcome my weakness,” Mariel thought to herself. “Today is the day when I will show the judges what I’m capable of.”
“Mariel, please come onstage!” the announcer said. Mariel stood up and walked towards the stage. As she was on stage, she started to feel nervous again but Mariel saw the bright and warm smiles of the judges and strength surged through her. Mariel began to sing with a voice as beautiful as a nightingale and the judges were impressed. After finishing the song, the judges applauded her and told her she passed the audition. Mariel was over the moon as she whooped with joy, “I did it!” Mariel exclaimed, “I overcame my weakness!”
Mariel eventually went on to win second place in the competition and was really proud of herself. A wise man once said: There will never be second chances again if you don’t treasure them. Through this second chance, Mariel overcame her weakness and became a better performer. Mariel promised herself to always treasure second chances as it could change everything.
Written by: Chen Zeyu
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
19 / 20
Language
18 / 20
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37 / 40
A Second Chance
Have you ever wished you could turn back time and fix a mistake? Have you ever wished for a second chance to redeem yourself? Not everyone is lucky enough to get a second chance but Sally did. She cherished the opportunity given dearly. This was her story…
“Mom! Mom! The results of my singing audition finally came!” Sally squealed in excitement while jumping up and down like a rabbit. In her hands was a crimson red envelope, sealed with a golden sticker. She admired the letter in her grasp, thinking happily to herself, “Maybe I passed!” Sally carefully lifted up the envelope flap and the shiny white paper was peeking out. She pulled out the letter cautiously and unfolded it. Upon looking at the printed words, her previously bright grin dropped. On the first line of the letter were four bold words, “You did not pass.”
Sally’s eyes widened in shock as confusion, disappointment and sadness clouded her mind. She thought about the audition the previous week and cringed. During the audition, her voice cracked on multiple occasions and she forgot the lyrics halfway through as well. Shaking away the horrible experience, she focused her attention back on the letter. She continued to read the letter again and another sentence caught her eye. “You will be given another chance because the judges saw potential in you.” She read the line out loud. Sally paused for a moment just to digest what she had just read. “Hold up, what?” she questioned with visible question marks around her head. Then realising the second chance she was given, she let out a deafening scream. She quickly checked the letter for her second audition before dashing back to her room to prepare but this time, she was going to work much harder.
Over the next few days, Sally was crammed in her room with printed song lyrics, her laptop and cups of coffee surrounding her. She knew she could not waste this opportunity offered. In her room, she sang and sang, only stopping for water breaks. “And when I felt like I was…” Sally tried to maintain her pitch while singing but her voice cracked once again. She huffed in frustration as she glared at the lyrics. She wondered to herself if the judges had chosen the wrong person but remembered what she had told herself. “I cannot afford to let this second chance go to waste! Stop thinking so negatively and get back to work!” she reprimanded herself, slapping her cheeks lightly.
Just then, her older sister, Sarah, opened the door and cupped her hands around her mouth and taunted, “Do you really think you can pass with that voice? Keep dreaming, Sal.” Sarah then closed the door, leaving Sally annoyed, eyes twitching in irritation. She knew her sister was not the most supportive person so she wanted to prove to Sarah that she could do it.
A week later, the day of Sally’s second audition arrived. She was standing backstage, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. She bit her lower lip, eyes trained on the wooden floor as she recited the lyrics to the song repeatedly. The judges suddenly called out her name from outside. “Sally Johnson, please proceed to the stage,” avoice called out from the speaker. She inhaled deeply and exhaled to calm herself. She was ready.
Stepping onto the platform, she introduced herself, struggling slightly to maintain eye contact with the three judges at the table. The microphone held by her clammy palms shook violently but her calm expression managed to hide her nervousness. Another judge smiled warmly and told Sally to start whenever she was ready. Sally readied herself while waiting for the music to play. She opened her mouth and a melodious voice sang. During the song, she hit every note perfectly with emotions as well. Her eyes lit up like fireflies as she poured her heart out. The judges’ smiles only grew wider and wider by the minute. Sally finished the song and looked at the judges expectantly. Her heart was racing and her face almost shouted the words, “Please let me pass.” To her surprise, all three of them applauded her cheerfully and threw in many compliments but the last phrase caught her off-guard. “You have passed!” one of the judges announced. Happy tears flowed out of her eyes as she bowed, thanking them over and over again. Sally grinned widely, thinking back on how hard she had practised for this moment. She was truly grateful for the second chance given to her to redeem herself.
After this eventful experience, Sally learnt that she should cherish and treasure every chance offered. That second chance might just be able to flip the results around. She knew she still had to work hard the first time but given another chance, she should work even harder. Maybe failing her audition the first time was not as bad as she had expected it to be…
Written by: Chong Chuan Le
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
20 / 20
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19 / 20
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39 / 40
A Second Chance
It was a bright and cheerful Sunday morning as I got up and went to brush my teeth and take a shower. Then, I skipped merrily into the living room, and sat down at the dining table. The fresh aroma of buttery waffles wafted into my nose. Soon, I picked up the newspaper and began to scan through it, while savouring my honey drizzled waffles. I noticed the usual crimes committed and their sentences. I also noticed that the people involved had no second chance. One thought led to another, and soon, I found myself pondering over the time I had been given a second chance, that day…
It was a rainy, thundering afternoon, and the weather was gloomy. The class’ lively atmosphere changed and matched the weather the moment our English teacher, Mrs Chia, walked into the classroom holding a thick stack of papers. It took the class no time to figure that that was our Preliminary Examination Papers. Mrs Chia began to give the papers out. She put my paper face-down on my table. Many of my friends erupted in cheers when they got their papers. I held the paper with a shivering hand and flipped it over. “67 percent? Mom’s going to end me!” I dreadfully thought.
Not even Mrs Chia’s lively teaching could grab my attention as I thought of what was to come. Soon, school ended and I dragged my feet, sulking, all the way home. The moment I entered the house, my mother was waiting for me and she told me that Mrs Chia had sent a message to all parents to inform them that the papers were returned. She had read my face and could tell that I did not do well. I hastily handed over the paper, looking extremely upset. My mother reprimanded me and told me one last fact to end the scolding. She said, “Your only next chance is the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). Guilt-stricken, I reflected silently and I realised that the PSLE would determine my future, and it was just a month away. I went into my room and sat on the floor, depressed. Try as I might, I attempted to hold back rivulets of tears.
I got up minutes later, determined, changed my clothes and walked past my gaming console, which I would spend hours on after school. I stopped and stared hard at it. “No,” a voice at the back of my mind advised. I took the console, locked it in a cupboard and grabbed an assessment book. I began to do it, not knowing how to do majority of the questions. I burned the midnight oil, and slept exhausted. After school the next day, I stayed back after school, went to the staff room and asked a torrent of questions, answered by my various subject teachers. Then, knowing that I did not have many assessment books, I went to a nearby local bookshop and purchased three thick books using my pocket money. I did not want to let my second chance slip out of my hands, so I worked hard. As my parents always told me, “No point crying over spilt milk.” I did not want to cry again after my PSLE results. I was satisfied within the few days as I could do most of the questions. My parents, after seeing my interest to learn, bought me more books to do. The PSLE were nearing.
On the exam day, I could do every question and could finish all the papers at least fifteen minutes prior to the end of the paper and had more than sufficient time to check. After my exams, I decided to reward myself to video games. Soon, the day when the PSLE results would be released came.
I was shocked to learn that I had gotten three ‘A-stars’ and an ‘A’ for my subjects. My score was 265. I had topped the class and did not have to be upset! I skipped home with joy and showed my mother my results. She almost fainted as she exclaimed, “Your father and I will reward you!” I knew my hard work had paid off and I was extremely grateful.
“Cena, eat your breakfast!” my mother’s voice jerked me out of my reverie. I gulped down my food and pondered over what my second chance had taught me. I remember the cries of regret after the Preliminary Exams and I remembered how I put in hard work, hoping that I would do well for my PSLE, which was my second and only chance. I learnt never to give up and that I had to believe in myself. As the saying goes, ‘When someone pushes you down, you get back up and show him what you are!” I learnt to never fall down and give in to sadness, but instead, get up and plan how to cash in my second chance.
Written by: Nithush
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
17½ / 20
Language
18 / 20
Total
35 ½ / 40
A Second Chance
“G-good morning, everyone!” Jane mumbled nervously through the microphone. She had signed up for a chance to join the School Choir. As a result, she had to go for an audition to prove her worthiness. She was onstage and about to sing.
“W-wow…” Jane thought. “My heart’s about to pop like a balloon.” Looking at the judges, she had butterflies in her stomach. She knew she only had one shot at this, so she had better not mess this up.
“I’m starting to wish I had backed out of this sooner,” Jane thought. “Just get this done and over with, and you’ll be able to sing to your heart’s desire, Jane…” At home, Jane was restricted from singing by her parents because they found her too loud. She did not enjoy singing softly. That was the reason why she signed up, anyway.
Jane mustered her courage and started to sing, after she had greeted the judges appropriately. Jane could feel her heart beating out of her chest as she saw the judges looking at her with intent. Every time one of the judges jotted something down on their clipboards, Jane would think that she had made a mistake. She sang confidently on the surface, but she was terrified.
A few minutes later, Jane was done with her performance. After the judges invited her to take her leave, she nodded and exited through the back door. She heaved a sigh of relief. She could not wait for the next day to pass, as she would be told whether or not she managed to earn a spot in the School Choir.
The next day, she got out of bed early, prepared herself and zoomed to school. She wanted to ask her Music teacher, Mrs Lim, whether she had nailed the audition or not.
“Teacher! Teacher!” Jane called out for Mrs Lim in excitement. “Am I in?” she asked. Mrs Lim responded with a moment of silence. Jane was worried. Had she done something wrong?
“I’m sorry,” Mrs Lim apologised. “You’re not in.” The moment Jane heard those words, her heart sank. “You need to sound more expressive.”
“O-ok…” Jane replied sadly as she walked away. She walked into her classroom and collapsed to the floor, curled up in a ball and leaned against the wall, sobbing. She felt like a failure.
All of a sudden, the leader of the school choir, Jon, approached her.
“Are you okay?” he asked politely.
“Go away!” Jane struck back. “I don’t need anyone to console me.”
Jon sighed. He ignored her and told her, “Look. The main reason I’m here is that I wanted to tell you that you are getting a second chance at the audition.” Jon gave Jane a pat on the back.
“I’m not telling this to everyone who didn’t make the cut, you know,” Jon told her. “You’re special. At least, that’s how your Music teacher feels about you.”
“She knows you have a beautiful voice, and so do I,” he complimented Jane. “We’ll all be rooting for you.”
After Jon told her the details of the audition, he walked away. Jane felt alive again. She had one more shot at it to redeem herself. She continued with her lessons, thinking about the “second chance”. After she got home from school, she made sure that she memorised the lyrics. She could not screw this up.
The next day, Jane was onstage again. She had prepared thoroughly for this moment. This time, Jane sang her heart out, free of paranoia and fear. The judges were impressed this time. She had more expression in singing the song.
Later on, in the afternoon, Mrs Lim told Jane that she had nailed the audition. Jane was elated and bounced up and down in the room. She could not stop smiling from ear to ear. She was proud of herself. She managed to join the School Choir and could sing to her heart’s desire. She had truly succeeded.
From this experience, Jane had definitely learnt something. She learnt that even if you fail the first time, you must learn from it and try again the second time, improving those mistakes. “When you fall down, you get up. When you fail, you try again.” A second chance was all she needed, Jane had truly succeeded.
Written by: Dexter Ng Hong Da
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
19½ / 20
Language
19½ / 20
Total
39 / 40
A Second Chance
“Will you please give me a second chance, Ms Lim? I promise I’ll do my best...” my voice trailed off as I looked at Ms Lim’s face, which was filled with fury. “Fine! But this time, you can’t just hide and refuse to come!” she replied.
The first rays of the sun shone through my windows. The daily birdsong began again. I woke up groggily and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I got ready for school just like any other day. It seemed like any other day. As I headed off to school, however, I began to have a feeling that much was about to change.
“A singing competition?” I gasped at Ms Lim, the choir’s instructor at our school. “Actually it’s an audition to go for a nation-wide inter-school singing competition. I’m certain it’ll be a piece of cake to you,” Ms Lim replied. I began to feel sick. I suffered from stage fright. I would not be able to sing in front of the school, much less three stages! “Aren’t there any others? I’m certain they can do better than me…” I protested. Ms Lim shook her head. “You’re our best choice,” she stated firmly. I sighed. Being a good singer was a gift, but it felt like a curse this time. Mrs Lim added, “You’d better get prepared. The audition is in two weeks”.
The days passed and it was getting closer to the day of the audition. I had practised in front of the mirror. However, it was a far cry from singing in front of three complete strangers. Finally, it was the big day. I could not focus on lessons. There was only an hour left before the audition. There was no way out of it.
With merely ten minutes left, I decided to lock myself in the toilet cubicle. Half an hour passed before Ms Lim found me. She had never been this mad, even when Jack put a lizard in her pencil case. I was beginning to have second thoughts about what I had done. “Jane…” she growled. “Y...Yes?” I managed to say. Ms Lim began to shout at me. That was when I asked for another chance.
I decided to change my way of practising. I called my friend and attempted to sing in front of them. It has worked, just barely. I was not sure if I could do that well at the audition.
It was the audition. The one that I had to take part in. I had done my best, and was waiting for the results. After what seemed like an eternity, I was called in. “Congratulations,” the man, who called himself Mr Ford, said, “You have passed. Be sure to go for the competition. It will be in a month.” I did not know if I should be happy or sad. This was a far cry from hundreds of people watching me.
I prepared for the first round of selections. I had tried different methods, but singing in front of my own classmates proved to be the most effective. “Jane Lee!” My name was called. I steeled myself and walked to the stage. I began to sing.
I passed the first round with ease. The second round was of no difficulty. However, the semi-finals was challenging, but I still managed to pass. I was standing on the stage, waiting for the results to be released. “Third, Emma Jacks. Second, Jane Lee…” I had won second place. I felt a ping of disappointment. I had hoped fervently for first place. However, at such a big competition, second place was a great honor.
Off the stage, I came face-to-face with Ms Lim. “Congratulations,” she said. With a serious tone, she continued, “Do you remember the chance I gave you for the audition?” I nodded, slightly embarrassed. “I think that’s the best decision I have made to give someone a second chance.”
Written by: Wonho
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
17½ / 20
Language
18 / 20
Total
35½ / 40
A Second Chance
Have you ever had a second chance to fix your mistakes? Well, John was lucky enough to get one. Not only did this second chance give him another try, it helped him to overcome one of his greatest fears.
John’s legs trembled as he nervously waited backstage for the teachers to call him to the stage. He had signed up for his school’s talent show and was going to sing. However, he had to go through the audition first where the teachers were the judges. Even though there were only a handful of teachers watching him, he still had butterflies in his stomach. “I should have thought twice before signing up for this,” John muttered to himself nervously. Before he could say another word, he was called onstage by the teachers. He walked up with trembling fingers and legs, knowing that there was no turning back now. “Um, hi.. my.. my name is John and I’m going to sing a song…” John stuttered as he greeted the teachers nervously. He then began to sing, but just then, his mind went blank. “Oh no!” he thought to himself. He could not even sing a single word. Not knowing what to do, he ran backstage and felt his eyes getting wet. He immediately picked up his school bag and ran home.
Before long, he had arrived at his house. Seeing that John was not the usual bubbly boy he was and did not even bother to greet her, John’s mother immediately knew that something was wrong. “What’s wrong, John? Aren’t you supposed to be at your school’s talent show audition?” John's mother asked him in a gentle voice. “I… I could not even sing a single word,” John said with a lump in his throat. He had a passion for singing, but was always defeated by his worst enemy: stage fright. John’s mother smiled and consoled John, trying to ease his feelings. However, John still could not get over the incident and ran to his bedroom crying.
The next day after school, John was still in the same condition. He tried to talk to his friends to make himself forget about the incident, but it just made him more anxious when he thought about the possibility of his friends making fun of him after that incident. When he arrived home that day, however, he was in for a surprise. He saw his mother holding a picture of a girl singing in her hands. Aroused with curiosity, he asked his mother what that was. His mother told him to sit down and listen to her carefully, “When I was about your age, I too had a passion for singing. However, I could never sing a single note correctly due to my stage fright.”
“But… you were singing in this photo!” John exclaimed. “That’s right, John! After enough practise, I was able to overcome my stage fright! So, would you like to practise with me?” John’s mother asked John with enthusiasm. John sighed and thought about his mother. If she could do it, so could he! Finally, he agreed. For about a week, after school every day, John would practise singing in front of his mother. His mother would cheer him on every time John managed to finish a song without stuttering. Soon, John’s confidence increased and he learned to smile while singing! After a week, John felt that he was ready and called his form teacher. He knew that he would not pass the audition from the last incident, but was hoping that his form teacher would give him a second chance. After dialling her number, John felt his hands getting sweaty. “Um… hello, this is John here. Um, may I have a second try in the audition?” John asked, both hopeful and nervous. “Ah, I see, I understand why you want a second try, John. However, it is already the last day for the audition tomorrow. You will only have one last chance,” his teacher answered. “One chance is enough! I just need one chance!” pleaded John, his voice getting more and more hopeful. “Alright then. I guess it is possible. Best of luck, John!” his teacher replied before hanging up. John was ecstatic and did multiple pumps in the air. He finally had a chance to fix his mistakes.
Before long, it was the last day of the audition, John was again waiting nervously for his name to be called. “John Tan! Please come to the stage!” a loud voice announced. Sighing, John hurried onto the stage. “Um… hi, my name is John from Primary Six Integrity.” John could feel butterflies in his stomach again as he stuttered to greet the judges. He then started to sing, and hit the perfect note this time! After singing the first note, John could feel his confidence coming back. It was like the butterflies flew away! Soon, John finished the song with confidence. At first, the judges did not say anything, causing John to worry that his singing was terrible. However, they all stood up and clapped for him! He was getting a standing ovation. With the second chance, he had finally defeated his worst enemy, stage fright.
From this incident, John learned that in order to overcome our worst fears, we must first face it. It was all thanks to his mother who had helped him to practise and his teacher who gave him a second chance. To some, a second chance may simply be another attempt. However, to John, it was a chance to face his greatest fear and to overcome them. He would never forget the day a second chance changed his life forever.
Written by: Goh Jun Le
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
19½ / 20
Language
19½ / 20
Total
39 / 40
A Second Chance
“Give yourself a second chance.” Those were the words Tang Ning said to Huo Jing Jing as they stood by the seaside, the smell of saltwater all around them. Their hair flew behind them as the wind blew. Suddenly, Huo Jing Jing looked up. “You’re right. I’m the victim here. Why should I hide?” With a determined look on her face, she turned around and walked back to the car…
“Huo Jing Jing,” scolded her very own mother. “Huo Jing Jing should die. Huo Jing Jing, you unfilial child. Huo Jing Jing sent her mother to the hospital.”
“I don’t believe this. The anti-fans and keyboard warriors are the ones who should die!” Tang Ning said, with a look of disdain on her pretty face. The cameras and microphones that the reporters stuck in her face were pushed away by her bodyguards just as she had finished speaking. She visited the hotel that Huo Jing Jing stayed in. Everyone else was crowded around her house. She was on the bed, weeping, with her brightly lit phone beside her. “Come on. Let’s go to the seaside”. Tang Ning said gently as she led her teary-eyed best friend away.
After the drive to the seaside, the heavily disguised Huo Jing Jing and Tang Ning stood side by side on the wooden platform built there for visitors. “I… I think… I think that I should end my life… the reporters… my fans... have all turned against me. I… I can’t… I need…” Huo Jing Jing choked and she sobbed. “Shhh… I understand, but we can make things better, I promise. Take out your diary and let your manager post it on Instagram. Show them your scars. Let those people decide who the victim is,” Tang Ning said, staring out to the sea. “Give yourself a second chance.” Those were the words Tang Ning said as she stood by the seaside, the smell of saltwater all around them. Their hair flew behind them as the wind blew. Suddenly, Huo Jing Jing looked up with her red swollen eyes. “You’re right. I’m the victim here. Why should I hide?” With a determined look on her face, she turned around and walked back to the car. “My mother abused me and tormented me, when I didn’t give her my money. This time, she told everyone that I didn’t care for her. Then, after faking a heart-attack, she wants everyone to pity her, letting them attack her own daughter. Ha,” Huo Jing Jing continued. “What a fake. It’s about time we let her have a taste of her own medicine,” Huo Jing Jing said with an evil glint in her eyes.
The next day, the news headlines changed for once that week. “Mother Faked Heart-Attack: Huo Jing Jing’s Sad Past. Sorry, Huo Jing Jing, Mother Abused Child. Great, She has finally stood up,” Tang Ning said to her manager with a wide smile on her face as she scrolled through the news. Huo Jing Jing walked into the camera frame as she said this. She smiled as she said into a microphone held up in front of her, “I guess I made the right decision to give myself a second chance. Now, the tables have turned. This press conference is for me to tell you this. I am no longer the weak Huo Jing Jing I once was. This is all thanks to Tang Ning. So, thank you, Tang Ning,” Huo Jing Jing looked straight into the camera right before she continued answering the reporter’s questions, smiling like a lost little child who found her parents once again.
As Tang Ning listened to Huo Jing Jing, she gave a gentle smile. The tears in her eyes threatened to spill. This was not about what she did. It was about Huo Jing Jing’s decision to stand up for herself. To give herself a second chance. A wise man once said, “Give yourself a second chance. Things may take a turn and change for the better. No matter what, never give up on yourself. Always remember, you have family and friends who will be rooting for you wherever you are, and whatever you do.”
Written by: Hannah Yin
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
18½ / 20
Language
18 / 20
Total
36½ / 40
A Second Chance
Have you ever been given a second chance? I have, and I believe everyone should be given theirs too. Here is how it all happened…
“Argh! This is way too hard!” I tore the script and tossed it into the bin. Then, I took a fresh, new piece of paper to start anew. Preparing for the stand-up comedy audition was harder than I thought. To add fuel to the fire, the competition would be taking place tomorrow! It was already late into the night, and I was like a cat on hot bricks. Just as I took my pen, my mother burst into the room. “It’s nine thirty! Why aren’t you asleep yet? Go to bed!” my mother bellowed, arms akimbo. “But…” I tried to explain.
“No butts! Do you know you will get kidney failure if you don’t sleep early?” my mother suddenly disrupted my explanation. I walked to my bed, sulking, knowing that arguing with her was of no use at all. As I tossed and turned in bed, I thought about the topic of the audition: My family and I. Eventually, I gave up and fell asleep.
The next day, I was woken abruptly by my alarm clock. Just then, I realised it was the day of the audition. Panic-stricken, I decided to write my script on the MRT.
When I arrived at school, a prefect led me to the waiting room. In the waiting room, I could already hear thunderous laughter and applause coming from the audience. Armed with a hurriedly-written script, I was called on stage, and I greeted everyone. “The audience expected much from me, the all-time winner,” I thought. I swallowed a lump in my throat and started, “When I was young, at about five, my parents had already sent me to tuition.” Not a single bit of laughter. Not giving up, I continued. “However, I have learnt absolutely nothing there.” The audience still kept mum. My fertile mind went wild and my heartbeat escalated. After ten minutes of me mindlessly babbling about my family, the timer rang and I stopped. None of the judges had hit the buzzers. Just as I was about to run off the stage, Mr Thomas, one of the judges, had hit the buzzer. “I would like to give you a second chance, as I know you can do much better.” As long as one of the judges hit the buzzer, I would not be disqualified! Tears welled up in my eyes as I hurried off the stage, I made a promise to myself that I will not take this chance for granted. The moment I reached home, I sprinted to my room, determined to write a better script this time round. However, it wasn’t a bed of roses. I had to approach my mother and teachers for some help. After a tiresome week, I arrived in school with a neatly typed-out script.
“Let’s welcome Nick Yeo, whom I’ve given a second chance to last week. Let’s observe his performance today! A round of applause for Nick Yeo!” I could hear the announcement through the loudspeaker. I knew it was my cue to go onstage. “Good morning, everyone! Today’s topic is ‘jobs’. When I was young, I always wanted to work at a fast food restaurant as they offered free food to employees.” Some laughter came from the audience. At the end I could see the audience letting out sporadic fits of laughter and even the judges clutched their stomachs, laughing. As all the judges pressed their buzzers together, I felt a sense of pride and I was sure I would be the winner of that day’s audition.
I learnt a valuable lesson after I was given the second chance: We must put in our best effort in whatever we do, no matter how big or small, it is. I was grateful to Mr Thomas, who had given me this second chance.
Written by: Huang Han Cheng
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
17 / 20
Language
18 / 20
Total
35 / 40
A Second Chance
Have you ever made a wrong choice? Have you gotten a second chance? Well, I have…
Ding-dong! Ding-dong! The school bell rang and everyone, including me, leapt out of our seats. I rushed down the stairs, unable to contain my excitement.
“Folding contest?” I whispered as I stared at the poster next to the canteen. I burst into sporadic fits of laughter, oblivious to the stares around me, “I’ll definitely win!”
After school, I noticed my friends practising for the contest. They had bought several pieces of paper and are folding animals, such as horses, pigs and cows.
“Hey Jack, come join us!” Jon exclaimed when he saw me. I shook my head, expressing that I did not need to practise, and walked away.
The Folding Contest was just around the corner. and I could not sleep when I thought about it, fidgeting constantly in bed.
“Are you ready for the contest, Jack?” Jon questioned me as the school bus arrived at the school. I nodded without hesitation.
During the contest, I had beads of perspiration trickling down my forehead as I struggled with many of the rounds. In the end, I was placed last out of almost a hundred people. I wanted the earth to open and swallow me whole.
Disappointed, I did not talk to anyone that day, fearing that they would laugh at me. I knew that I could do better and I should have practised.
By now, everyone knew I was very upset about myself. Several days later, I saw something that caught my attention instantly.
“Another Folding Contest?” I exclaimed. “This is my second chance!” Once again, I signed up for it. This time, I gathered my friends after school to practise when I had time. Slowly but surely, I was folding everything faster and better.
“Are you ready for the contest, Jack?” Jon asked me the same question as the school bus arrived at the school, I had my heart in my mouth and I nodded confidently, determined not to do badly.
During the contest, I sped through most of the rounds without struggling at all, which seemed to be impossible at first. Practise definitely came in handy and helped me climb from last place to first place. Holding the trophy in delight, I grinned from ear to ear. Jon looked at me with pride.
“Last time, I came in last. When I saw that there was another contest. I knew that this was my second chance,” I told everyone gleefully.
Memories of this incident remained etched in my mind till this day. I learnt that practise was important and decided that I would always practise for the contests to come. As a wise man once said, “Practise makes perfect.”
Written by: Wu Dihui
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
18 / 20
Language
18 / 20
Total
36 / 40
A Second Chance
Have you ever been given a second chance? I have been, and I could still remember it vividly…
Tears cascaded down my reddened cheeks as a molten shaft of sadness engulfed me like a powerful tidal wave. My heart was shattered into smithereens. My pimply face was grave, with sadness written all over it. My eyes were as red as tomatoes. My parents' raucous screams and friends’ hateful comments invaded my battered mind. My sadness turned into anger and eventually, self-loathing. Were all these figments of my imagination? Unfortunately, no.
It seemed like I could not run away from a terrible string of failures. I did it. I failed my English examination! Anger and doubts besieged me. “Why is it only me? Why did I fail?” I muttered to myself in a trembling voice. I had no idea what to do other than sitting in the corner of my room, sobbing my heart out.
Out of the blue, my winsome mother entered my room. A look of intense sympathy washed over her. She knew that something had cropped up. As swiftly as a coursing river, she sprinted towards me and asked, “What happened?” as she shook me. I told the truth and gave her a tight embrace.
“Dear, you have a second chance at your end-of-year paper. You can do it! Work hard!” my mother whispered in a sonorous voice and went away.
I realised that I still had a second chance. I knew that I had to use it meaningfully. I wiped my tears and composed myself. With a determined heart, I zoomed to my pristine white table. I pored over all the English tips with eagle eyes. I scanned every word with paramount attention. Next, I did many assessment books. I searched up on tips and ways to excel my English examination. I took down many notes as fast as a cheetah. I put my nose to the grindstones and studied.
Multiple days passed. It was the day before my English examination. I was lulled to the rhythmic and soothing sound of the rain. As I was looking at the window, I spotted my friend, Amy, playing jocundly in the rain, jumping on puddles. She was beaming exuberantly, full of the joys of spring. Amy was bantering animatedly with her friends.
“Should I play with them? Should I study? I have come so far. This is my second chance and I have to use it meaningfully,” I thought deeply and decided to study for my examination.
The next day arrived. I was well prepared.
“Students, you may start doing your examination,” the invigilator said in a booming voice that seemed to shake the earth. Instantly, the class was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone sat hunched over their desks, scribbling furiously, anxious to ace their examination. To my pleasant stupefaction, I knew the answers to almost all the questions! Confidently, I did the exam.
It was the long awaited day. The results were going to be released. Like a cat on hot bricks, I waited with bated breath. I bit my lips anxiously.
“Congratulations, Lily! You have gotten the highest mark in class! You have gotten full marks!” my teacher exclaimed. My eyes widened and I was wreathed in smiles. There was a perceptible delight on my face. I could not believe it! My hard work had paid off!
I knew that I had used my second chance meaningfully. After all, a second chance is a precious one, a really precious one. A second chance should be used meaningfully.
Written by: M.Madhuradhani
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
18½ / 20
Language
17½ / 20
Total
36 / 40
A Second Chance
I turned over the envelope, carefully tearing it open.
I could not believe what I was seeing. It was another invitation from Princeton University to attend its Mathematics Holiday Programme. I had failed at the selection test the previous time, so I was utterly surprised that I had been shortlisted for the selection test. Again!
I could not tell if I was glad or disappointed. I had lost much faith in passing the test ever since I failed the previous time. I could not bear the thought of failing one more and destroying my crumbling self-esteem even more. It would be adding oil to the fire. On the other hand, I thought of how this could be a second chance at entering the programme. Maybe I had outgrown my old abilities and would get in! I carefully weighed the pros and cons of the two paths. It seemed that the selection test would do me good. Therefore, I chose, once again, to go for it.
The training period at home by myself was not a piece of cake. There were ups and downs, slowing down my progress, while the thought of failing would randomly enter my mind, then cheekily exit. However, the past is water under the bridge, so I decided not to care about it anymore and focus on preparing myself for the selection test instead.
Soon, the selection test came. My heart was banging against my ribs rapidly and adrenaline was pumping through my veins. As the online selection test platform switched to a page full of mathematical theory and questions, my blood froze. I started to panic as I could not solve any of the questions. Even the notes I was permitted to bring into the test could not help a single bit. Cold sweat formed on my forehead but my mind was blown on the inside. I could not help but to think that the decision I had made was a horrible idea and it would be yet a second opportunity to damage my confidence to a greater extent. After the selection test ended, I felt empty inside. It felt exactly the same as the first time. However, even worse. It dawned upon me that I was truly, not good enough for the holiday programme and I was silly enough to accept the invitation once again. What hurt me the most, was that I had such faith and optimism in the beginning, and they were crushed. A second time. I had worked so hard for this, and yet my determination was probably going to bring me none other than shame and disappointment.
I immersed myself in grief and embarrassment. Just then, a voice jolted me out of my miserable world.
It went, “Hi Jenson! This is the interview for the Mathematics Holiday Programme. Would you like to introduce more about yourself?” I looked back up at my computer screen. It seems like I had been invited to a video conference! I looked at the name of the meeting and it was for the holiday programme.
I sheepishly smiled and introduced myself, “Hi! I’m Jenson and…,“ I shared about my passion in Mathematics and why I wished to get into the programme. I thought it was the end of the conference but it was apparently not. The teachers asked a few questions relating to my passion and two questions that startled me. They asked if I had gone through challenges, more specifically, disappointment, recently, and what had compelled me to try out for this again. I was hesitant about sharing my experience with them at first, but I eventually realised I needed to answer them truthfully so I could somehow be selected for the programme. I took a deep breath and I shared my story with them as they listened to my story intently, nodding their heads.
After the two questions, the interview ended. They thanked me for my time and dismissed me from the meeting. I was extremely worried that I had messed up the interview, but not long after, I realised that it was over and there was no point worrying about it.
Only a long while later, I could properly think and reflect on the events that had just taken place. I felt that it was weird for an interview as I did not have one the first time round. The results were to be released through email two weeks later, so I waited impatiently for it to arrive.
Exactly two weeks later, I received the email from the University. Expecting a “We’re sorry to inform you that you are not selected for the holiday programme”. I was in disbelief that what I saw was a “Congratulations!” Joy and ecstasy filled me as I jumped around my room like a child on a sugar high. I was so happy about the fact that I had passed after so long! It boosted my confidence by a tremendous amount. I was so excited to be part of the programme, finally!
As I read the remainder of the email, I found out that they had chosen me because of my determination and strength to come back for the selection test the second time. They saw potential in me and therefore chose me to develop it in their programme.
Through this incident, I learnt that I have to let go of the past events, whether success or failure, and work with determination to improve ourselves. I also learnt that I need to jump on second windows of opportunity despite failures in the past. This experience is etched into my memory and I hope I will be able to apply what I have learnt through this incident to my daily life. I was so glad that I was given this golden opportunity and I got through using my values. I would definitely treasure this programme and also, any other second opportunity to redeem myself after failure!
Written by: Liao Yichen
Class: 6 Integrity
Content
19½ / 20
Language
17 / 20
Total
36½ / 40