Andrew Chua and Camy Cheng
From Third World To First World: The Past, Present And Future
Andrew Chua:
Born in 1952 in Bukit Ho Swee Village. No electricity so we use a pressure lamp for lighting. No water so we collect water from the public tap. Toilet was shared, public toilet using bucket system. Home was an attap house, which went up in flames in 1961.
Relocate from kampong to modern high-rise homes. We have electricity in our homes. Every house had its own toilets and water piped into the homes.
Went to school in Delta West Primary School and thereafter, entered Raffles Institution. From there, entered University of Singapore. Graduated and went to work in a bank.
Worked hard and grew with the nation. From a poor village boy, became a senior banker and then a middle-income family.
Built a family of 3 kids with 3 grandchildren now. Made good contributions to the community. Now my youngest daughter is also doing her part contributing to the community. And the wheels of life roll on!!
Camy Cheng:
I was born in 1999 in Clementi West. Since young, I was fortunate enough to have a loving family that provides me with all my basic needs as well as occasional wants. I grew up comfortably and every day after kindergarten, I would play with my friends either at the void deck or at the playground next to my HDB flat.
As a kid, I took many enrichment classes. I took up ballet, art, swimming, and even Chinese tuition and abacus. Most of the time I enjoy going for these lessons but sometimes, I dislike them and would find ways to skip classes. However, my parents told me to never take these classes for granted as not everyone is fortunate as me. I never understood my parents until I started formal education.
In primary school, I learnt about the Bukit Ho Swee fire that took people’s lives and livelihoods. In secondary school, I learnt about the impact of racial riots. And in Junior College, I had the opportunity to volunteer at an elderly’s home. These experiences made me realise that I took many things for granted. It made me more appreciative of the lifestyle I have and I became more aware of the people and events around me.
From then, I became interested in giving back to the community and helping those people in need. As such, I worked hard and decided to major in Life Sciences, with the hopes of working in the healthcare sector and helping others. Currently, I am in my final year of studies in NUS. Although I am still a student, I try to give back and help others around me by volunteering weekly at People’s Association.
I enjoy what I am doing and knowing that I can help others even in the smallest way brings joy and meaning to my life. I hope that when I am older, I will have the capacity to do more things and help more people. If possible, I would love to work in the healthcare sector after I graduate, as I will definitely enjoy what I am doing and at the same time, help to make other people’s lives at least a little better.
