CHARIS KING

Coming from a primary school that placed a huge emphasis on grades, academics were something that I focused on the most as a student. I placed little thought into the other aspects of school life, such as co-curricular activities and other school programmes.

Hence, what had intrigued me the most about Juying Secondary School was the focus on their students' character development through their different programmes and initiatives. From PASSION modules, to Positive School Culture Awards and the Applied Learning Programme aimed at developing JYians into confident speakers, Juying provides a wide range of different opportunities to allow us JYians to become better versions of ourselves.

Besides all the opportunities and platforms mentioned, leadership is also something that JYSS places great emphasis on as well. The school provides many different leadership roles that JYians can take up to develop their leadership skills. Besides CCA leaders and Chairpersons, they have other roles such as Technology Champions and Sports Leaders. This allows as many of us to step out and up in order to equip ourselves with life skills, such as communication and collaboration. 

In this area, Juying has developed me in many ways that I could never imagine, whether it was the relationships I have formed with my teachers, the programmes I have participated in or being a part of Student Council. Being a shy and introverted person by nature, I often lacked self-confidence and did not dare to speak publicly . However, this changed when I decided to join Student Council. Wanting to step out of my comfort zone and to improve my public speaking skills, I joined Student Council because it offered that and many more opportunities. Through the exclusive leadership trainings we are able to participate in, I, and my fellow councillors, were  able to grow, develop and learn. I was about to learn more about myself and become a better leader. I also thrived from the various ways I was able to contribute to the school, the most meaningful of which is through my role as the President of Student Council. I am grateful to the school leaders and my Teacher Advisors for entrusting me with this responsibility and privilege and guiding me along the way.

The other reason I was drawn to JYSS was that the teachers and student leaders that I met during Open House in 2019 were extremely supportive and encouraging. They were always ready to answer any questions that I had and were extremely enthusiastic. Looking at the school’s culture and the different opportunities they had, I believed that I would welcomed as a part of the Juying family and thus selected Juying as my first choice. 

The teachers in Juying put in a lot of effort into guiding their students in terms of their academics. Many of them will go the extra mile just to help their students achieve their desired grades. They would often encourage their students to seek consultation from them, even if it means that it would take up their time. During our CCE periods or when we collect our report books, they would point out our weaker subjects, ask us to reflect on them and motivate us to try to work harder. 

However, the teachers in Juying do not merely focus on our academics, they ensure that we are values-driven and have the opportunity to develop ourselves. They would also remind us that although our academics are important, our values and who we are as a person are just as fundamental as well. Without the nudge from the teachers and school leaders in Juying, I know I would not have had the confidence  to participate in any of the programmes offered. 

Beyond their focus on our character development, the teachers in Juying are always constantly on the lookout for our mental health. With constant reminders to take a break and to look out for our friends, our health is one of their top priorities. Not only that, they will constantly check-in with all JYians, even if the student is not from their class, and ensure that everything is alright. 

My Teachers (Character Building)

While Student Council attributed to my character development, the teacher advisers also played a major role in my growth as an individual. One teacher that goes the extra mile to support the councillors emotionally would be Ms Maybellina Lim. She was the teacher in-charge for my cohort of councillors and she has helped me overcome many challenges by helping me to realise what is important and how I should approach setbacks in life. She makes the conscious effort to check in with her students and many of them would certainly share the same sentiment of her being a supportive teacher. 

My Teachers (Academic Pursuits)

Besides having teachers who support my character development, the teachers in Juying Secondary School also assist us in terms of our studies. One teacher that has really aided me to attain exemplary results would be my upper secondary form teacher, Ms Yeo Yee Teng. She was also my Mathematics and Additional Mathematics from Secondary 3 to 4. I was not particularly adept at Mathematics in my lower secondary years and I barely made the cut to take Additional Mathematics but under the guidance of Ms Yeo, I managed to attain high distinctions for both subjects.