About falling short at the critical moment

Currently in: my hut
Currently listening to: Tears For Fears' Shout



Moments after stepping out from a lesson, I asked myself, 'did my students understand the lesson I had taught just now?'

It wasn't an easy lesson; full of hard facts, dominated by my presence and head-on teaching.

It's not exactly the best lesson of the year.

But the crunch was this: it was a culmination of a series of lessons, where I returned the marked scripts to the students, and I did the review with them. Examinations begin on Thursday and I know my teaching time with them is running out.




But the students wavered.

It was only 35 minutes. But some of their attention withered. In the torrent of information, the strong and the steady remained afloat. Some, for lack of willpower, sank.





Back in the Staff Room, I had a brief chat with a colleague. We were talking about the same class, and he was concerned about the short attention spans of some of the students. He expects his students to be able to stay with him throughout the lesson, or at least make some semblance of an effort to do so. But what he sees is that some students fall by the wayside far too easily. They lose their focus on the teacher and precious teaching points are lost.




To achieve consistent good performances in work, play and in school, a key quality that a teenager must possess is the ability to pay attention.

It is not about whether you can or you cannot. It has never been about that.

It's whether you want to do it.

Those that excel, do it, even beyond mental fatigue, even beyond the limits of boredom, when their interest in the subject is already exhausted.

Those that succeed in sport or in studies are unwavering in their attention to the teacher.

There is a close inter-relationship between sports and studies. Students who excel in their sports (for example, in some independent schools) are no slouch in the academics department either.

It turns out that these sportsmen - already keen in the ability to focus in competitions and matches - transfer this skill into the classroom. Their ability to focus on the teacher allows them to succeed in major examinations.




To my students:

I left the classroom today full of doubts. It's just my gut feeling, and like what I had taught you in the past, your gut feeling can be very accurate. I just didn't know whether you understood my lesson or not. I just couldn't figure out if you even wanted to learn.

Maybe you want to tell me what was your takeaway from the lesson today?


There's no doubt, absolutely: today's lesson was meant to pave the way for you towards better performances in your work, when the majority of you have been mediocre, at best.

Those that stayed with me and took down notes, good for you!




However, I know this for sure: my fellow teachers sure are giving their best to you. They are.


Even if it means depleting all our energy for the day, just to be able to teach you and prepare you for the O Levels.



But in return, we want to know, we want to see, we want to feel, we want to be sure about this:

Show us that you are willing to learn from us, every single bit.

Show us that you take school seriously.

Don't judge the teachers. Put aside all assumptions. Quit saying this or that extra lesson is useless. It ain't helping. Not one single bit.





My point is this: To perform well in school and in your workplace in the future, you need to have the ability to pay attention.
It's not whether you can or cannot. It is about wanting to do it and being willing to focus on the teacher.

Teachers all know what are the ingredients of a successful Fajarian.

And, being able to give your full attention is probably one of the most crucial ingredients of all.

4E5, don't falter now.

It has been said by your teachers before: you all have massive talent and potential. It is only with consistent hard work that will unlock and unleash that which is in you.

You can do it.

All the best to your examination preparation. Take good care.

About my boys

It's been almost 5 years since I took over the helm of Basketball CCA.

Before I stepped in, Basketball CCA then (in the early 2000s) consisted of rag-tag, scruffy boys. Training was not monitored, players came as they wished, and they produced no results, save for one year when they reached the last 4 of the Zone tournament. Many of them turned up for training in slippers.

As soon as I took over, it was very clear to me: I had to get rid of the ah-beng culture. I had to tighten so many things. I implemented a slew of changes, centralising control back to the Teacher, changing the coach, developing team spirit, and emphasising the essence of commitment and loyalty to the School.

The Basketball CCA today is much better. Departed coaches have always commented to me that our Fajar team is so much more disciplined and teachable than some schools they knew.

I am also concerned about the fact that our CCA has not produced any results yet. We are not consistent. Yes, we have improved by leaps and bounds in how we have run the CCA. Coaches are closely monitored and evaluated. Players' attendance records are closely tracked. Recognition - in the form of awards and wearing school colours in competitions - is duly given.

An immediate area I need to see more and more is the area of student leadership - capable ones who put the School's interests first. It would be marvellous if I have many Peer Leaders, Prefects, and/ or Class Committee members in our midst.

For this to happen, basketball players must have ambition - the ambition for personal development. Basketball alone cannot provide this. Only by being involved in school events, leadership camps, daily duties - these will strengthen the mettle within each player and allow them to unleash their potential.



I admire my basketball boys. They have an unquenchable love for the sport. This is really excellent, because the constant practice improves their confidence, but it will not necessarily improve their skills.

For their skills to improve, every player must remember and apply the coach's advice and teaching points towards them.




If there's an area that my basketballers needs to improve on, it's their ability to be considered a true all-rounded student.

Don't get me wrong. Their passion for basketball cannot be questioned.

But critically, my general observation (which many of my colleagues agree with) is that these players are sacrificing valuable time to play basketball, when they should actually be studying for the all-important Mid Year Examinations.

Players, I need you to think very clearly - a good basketballer trains very hard during training, and also does his schoolwork on time, pays attention in class, and is gentlemanly to others.

Do you not realise that you cannot study when you're so tired, after playing the sport every other day, if not every day?

Why play so much, when the exams are so near?

Your examinations are far far more important than basketball.

Your examinations determine your future. Basketball doesn't.




If my players produce good results in their tests and examinations consistently, I would gladly call them true all-rounders.

Mixing sport and studies (and excelling in both) is a key life-skill that my players must work on.



Guys - it's time to put away the basketball.

It's time to study.





My life as a Teacher in Fajar is closely intertwined with Basketball. I will continue to do my best for them. They deserve it. They are all boys with massive potential in them.

My vision for these boys is that they become very good in their studies, develop into skilful players, and serve the School as student leaders with a spirit of humility and joy.

If I do leave Fajar, in the near future or in the distant (one never knows for sure), starting my life elsewhere will not be same. I know I will miss Basketball trainings.

About her smouldering dreams

I was walking across the general office lobby area when I came across this student who had just finished her afternoon lessons.

She greeted me, and naturally, I returned the greeting warmly, and I stood there and had a conversation with her.

I asked her about her CA1 results. She shared that her results were quite decent - all passes except for one subject. She added that this time round, she has made a vast improvement compared to previous performances.

But what got me really engaged was her reply, when I went on to ask her if her parents allowed her to continue playing in her favourite sport, netball.

She had told me previously that she struggled to comply with her parents' strict objection to her playing netball, citing reasons like major examinations in her graduating year.

I had advised her to work very hard for her CA1, and if she succeeded, her good results might serve to persuade her parents to soften their stance and allow her to continue the netball club training.

Unfortunately, in spite of her decent results, her parents were still adamant and refused to change their mind.

As she spoke to me, her words were lined with sadness, melancholy and resignation.

I really wished I could help, but the sobering reality is that this is an internal family matter and the School cannot interfere.

I have the pleasure of knowing this student and to be frank, I really think she's a good student. Like so many other likeable Fajarians, she's humble, down-to-earth, sporty and affable.





We didn't talk for long. But I'm glad I took the opportunity to have a few words with her. I know she dearly loves her sport and it must be very hard for her to be deprived from playing in her favourite sport.

I do hope that things will get better for her, and I wish that her old, bubbly self will return.

About my sporty Basketballers and the spontaneous Dancers

Currently in: Pacific Coffee Company, Parkway Parade
Currently listening to: Stone Temple Pilots' Interstate Love Song



Again, it poured.

That meant that we could not commence our annual B Boys Basketball Free-Throw Shooting competition.

I knew my boys were all geared up for it. So was I!

Nonetheless, being the sports-loving bunch that we all are, we proceeded to the Hall, where the Dance Club members were busy practicing their routine for the SYF competition.

I figured that since there was a thunderstorm outside, I might as well have a captain’s ball game with the boys.

Still, I thought I should consult with their beautiful teacher in-charge and check with her if it’s ok to use the far side of the Hall for our game. I certainly did not want to interrupt their dance practice.

She agreed, though she warned me cheekily that the ball must never hit one of her girls. That’s quite a challenge so I instructed my boys go after any loose ball that might threaten to go anywhere near to the dancers!

I also told my boys that we’ll stop the game whenever the dancers get into formation to rehearse their routine. I think everybody in Basketball CCA is very willing to support the dancers.

Moments later , the dancers, in their lovely polite selves, greeted me. So I told the boys to return the warm greetings to their teacher in-charge and say, “GOOD AFTERNOON MS YONG”, and also to say to the dancers, “TRAIN HARD, GIRLS.”

It’s hilarious. The boys stood in the straight line, facing the teacher and the dancers who were at the opposite end of the Hall, and managed to pull off the greeting to the Teacher, but made quite a mess about the second part.

The girls giggled in puzzlement at the apparent mumblings and my boys were quickly reshaping themselves to repeat their words.

Before they could do so, the dancers chorused back, “WHAT?” to us.

Needless to say my boys were quite embarrassed and some were quite bewildered at what to do next!

And before my players could make any more moves, the girls then said, in unison, “GOOD AFTERNOON BOYS,” at which my boys stood up straight again and, for the first time, managed to talk coherently to the girls. They greeted back to them, “GOOD AFTERNOON GIRLS!”



I chuckled. Fajar’s dancers are quite spontaneous. My boys could do with a little bit of that!



We managed to have quite an enjoyable game in the Hall. The elegant softballers and Mr Maran joined us for the game. At 5pm, we dashed to the basketball court to start the free throw competition.

It was nail-biting at times and my boys put up outstanding individual performances. It’s very clear: this competition will remind the players about the importance of having the correct technique in skills. Those with consistently good technique will always score better than those who don’t.

Secondly, and more importantly, this competition will teach the players about how to handle the pressure of shooting the ball into the basket. That requires the ability to focus on the basket and to shut out the peripheral noises and sounds from around. By staying cool and controlling anxiety, a player will definitely perform at a consistently higher standard than someone who is easily distracted and is not focused.






By the time I left school at 7.30pm, it was already quite dark. The school was empty now, except for some colleagues who were waiting for me. We planned to have our dinner at Holland Village.

I felt good. I think Friday was a very satisfying day for me.

It must be because of the students in Fajar.

And, to my boys’ credit, not once did the ball hit the dancers while we were playing in the Hall. The Dance teacher will be pleased to know that!

About this conversation with a student

Currently in: my hut
Currently listening to: Goo Goo Dolls' Let Love In

For some reason, I noticed this student, sitting by a corner, looking into space.

I shouldn't have noticed at all, not when I had my basketball boys reporting to me before heading to Assumption English school for a friendly match at that time.

But one glance at the student and I could sense that not all was right, and so I strode over and sat myself, right next to the student, and we talked for a little while.

From the short conversation, it emerged that this student is almost close to buckling under the pressures of the daily SYF practises. Add in the crippling ACTs and the exhausting homework, and any lesser student would have found it too much to bear.

But not this student. I think this student is made of much sterner material.

To my students in 4E5 rehearsing very hard for their SYF performances: The going is tough but the actual day performance will hinge on the intensive trainings and practises that you attend over this critical period of time.

It may seem all too much, but believe me, this testing time will make you a stronger person when you come out of it.

Keep going and when it all threatens to boil over and you feel like caving in, talk to someone about it. Find someone who can listen. Just let it out.

It helps. Immensely.

Take care. Train hard! I wish you all every success as you move along in this challenging journey.