To Jie Lynn

School facilities was one of the reasons that contributed to my decision of choosing Juying back when I was a Primary 6 student in 2015. The facility that stood out to me the most was the Chillax Room. There are many games and movies there waiting to be enjoyed. It is a room specially designed for students to hang out with their peers and teachers. This leads me to my second point - the bonds that the teachers and students have in Juying really surprised me. Now that I have been in Juying for more than three years, I understand how such bonds have been forged. The teachers in Juying are not only warm and compassionate, they are also very understanding and would go out of their way to help any student in need, be it academic matters or about needing advice on things other than their studies.

Another thing that stood out to me in Juying that is not common in other schools that I have visited is the confidence that the student leaders who brought my friends and I around the school campus had. One of them was really sincere when she explained about the school curriculum and when she talked about all the fun experiences like the camps and numerous interesting yet educational learning journeys that she was able to experience because of Juying. She also told me about the programmes and opportunities like the Speakers’ Corner that Juying provides for its students. The Speakers’ Corner is located in the Juying school canteen and is a place where all JYians are given a chance to stand behind the podium and talk about the topics of their interest during their respective recesses. This opportunity gives every JYian a chance to develop their public speaking skills and become confident speakers. I was also told that Juying provides many growth opportunities for student leaders by providing them with fun and engaging leadership trainings and workshops. By the end of the tour, my friends and I were very impressed by both the school and the student leader who brought us around the school.

Not long after joining Juying, I joined the Prefectorial Board, which has since transited into today’s Student Council. As part of the Exco 2018, leading the first batch of Student Councilors, I can proudly say that the Student Council is a group of tightly bonded leaders led by our teachers-in-charge whom are always there to provide us with advice on how we can improve. The Student Council has also given me a chance to be able to work with people from different cohorts and streams to plan and organize events, be it inter-council events or school events like our annual Teachers Day Celebration and the Student Conversations. The Council is truly a place where I feel like I am motivated to step out of my comfort zone to try new things. For example, all Councilors are given the opportunity to facilitate and lead the Student Conversations. During my first year in the then Prefectorial Board, I remember how nervous I was when I was given a task to facilitate and lead the discussion of a group of people whom I did not know. However, after the encouragement from my seniors in the Prefectorial Board and the teachers-in-charge, I was finally willing to step up to facilitate the discussion. It is only after I had challenged myself with such opportunities that the student council and the school have provided me with, was I able to gain confidence.