Daro Tan

Daro Tan

Head Student Council

Jurong Junior College 2016/2017

Head Prefect

Juying Secondary (4E1) 2015

Before I started my school life at Juying Secondary, I could be described as a happy-go-lucky person. I would spend each day with little motivation, waiting for every other day to go by aimlessly. However, upon starting secondary school life at Juying, things started to change for me. I began interacting with my seniors and peers, and gradually began to learn that there is more to life than just preventing myself from being bored on a daily basis. Over time, I started to find new meaning in life, and that there was much to be done to make a positive impact on others.

My parents shared that “Time is Gold”; every minute, every second is to be treasured and spent wisely. I became more motivated to study harder, and also to make important decisions that would ultimately affect my future in a positive way. As Head Prefect, I was in turn able to positively impact my peers and juniors.

Teachers like Mr Chen, Mr Mustafa and Ms Sonia are some of the teachers who have taught me invaluable lessons beyond the textbook. When I was in distress or feeling discouraged, their doors were always open for me. Mr Chen, in particular, would never fail to lend me a listening ear. He would listen to my problems patiently and point out to me that making mistakes is a normal part of life: “To err is human”, he would say. I learnt that we should learn from our mistakes, so that we can improve our future.

My prefectorial board teachers Mr Surya, Mr Chuah, and Ms Huang also impacted my life significantly. From them, I learnt that being a prefect is not an easy task; however, having the courage and perseverance to press on, and to assist others in need, is what makes a true leader.

I love the holistic environment provided in Juying Secondary. The school provides students with equal opportunities to showcase their talents in multiple ways – through CCAs, academia or leadership programmes. A memorable moment for me was last year, when my class and I visited other countries to carry out our Values-In-Action programme. Through the process, I was able to apply the values that I had learnt at Juying Secondary, such as teamwork, humility and hard work. The overseas trip also enriched my appreciation of other cultures, and widened my horizons.

The core Juying values of Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Integrity, Graciousness, Humility and Teamwork have helped me to grow in my secondary school life. They have allowed me not just to improve myself, but also to make positive contributions to the lives of other JYians.