What I enjoyed most about Hwa Chong was the opportunity to know people of diverse backgrounds, as well as having the honour to be under the tutelage of outstanding teachers, who were also our role models. I am thankful to all my teachers and my mentors for guiding me and being alongside me all these years.

The Hwa Chong environment was one which broadened my horizons. I am thankful to have had teachers and peers by my side who were not only dedicated in their pursuit Growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone. Venturing out at HCI often meant starting from ground zero, but not knowing anything as a beginner in my extra-curricular activities — football and Fac Comm — was a humbling experience, and taught me the importance of continual self-improvement. Today, I continue to take risks and find comfort in discomfort.

I realize how my time in Junior College was important in shaping my beliefs regarding the people I identify with and the things I stand for. I will always be grateful for the friends I made here – friendships that I believe are what will last me for a lifetime – as well as the teachers who have cared for me in my learning and life.

In my six years in Hwa Chong, I made many strong and lasting friendships with both my teammates in Canoeing and my classmates. I also really enjoyed the family culture in JC and am very thankful to my teachers and friends for their support during tough times.

In my formative years, Hwa Chong has provided me with an empowering education, a wealth of unforgettable experiences and - most of all - a strong sense of purpose with which I will chart the course of my life.

Nothing can compare to the community of teachers and friends that I found at Hwa Chong. In their company, I genuinely enjoyed learning for what it was, and they taught me to shun intellectual complacency. Without a doubt, I had the best two years of my life at Hwa Chong, and will miss all the times I had in that campus for years to come.

Thank you Project IDentity and the other many Service-Learning groups in school, as well as my form teacher Mrs Jean Ng, for giving me the opportunity to serve the community and to find joy in lighting up others’ lives in their most difficult times!

The Thinking Programme enabled my classmates and me to be both students and teachers of the class, in learning about philosophy from the East and West.

When I was younger, I used to focus naively on only winning medals. But Hwa Chong has helped me grow and realise the deeper meaning behind every triumph.