Soh Hwee Yan and Cerwin Liau Yu Min

Soh Hwee Yan:

Life’s Little Pleasures
Sundays were special for Mei and her younger brothers. Before dawn, Father would take them to Shenton Way to watch the sunrise. At other times, they would be fishing from a tongkang in Telok Ayer Basin. Many evenings were spent playing games or simply watching the clouds go by. Squeezing two to a seat to watch a Sunday morning movie in air-con comfort was a treat. From her early childhood days, Mei learnt that one does not need money to be happy.

Highs And Lows Of School Days
Life is not fair, Mei thought woefully. She had just been taken out of the group representing her class in a choral recitation all because her parents could not afford to pay for her costume. However, Mei was determined not to let poverty stand in her way. In later years, she found opportunities to represent her school in sports, as well as dramas and even debates. Adversity had taught Mei that what she needed was to believe in herself, start all over again and change the ending.

Hock Lee Bus Riots
“Boycott school! Support the Hock Lee bus workers,” Mei overheard Tua-chi telling Ji-chi one morning. The bus workers, supported by unionists and Chinese Middle School students, were on strike. Days later, there was rioting which resulted in casualties. Word was going around that the unrest was a confrontation between the colonialists and the communists. Mei’s life was disrupted and she felt insecure. The situation was perplexing to her but life had to go on.

Bukit Ho Swee Fire
Masses of angry smoke billowed up the sky, almost obscuring it. Bukit Ho Swee was on fire! Mei and her friend, Ai Lian, clung to each other amidst the devastating sight of the aftermath. Ai Lian was sobbing uncontrollably. Mei, feeling helpless, could only offer her the comfort of her presence. Temporary relief centres were set up at Great World City for the fire victims. Within months, Ai Lian and her family were resettled in a Housing Board flat and life became better. A few years later, Mei, too, moved into a flat and to a better life. In fact, it was the turning point in her life.

Fast Forward…
Fresh from school, Mei became a teacher to support her ageing parents and younger brothers. There was no looking back even when she got married. Despite the challenges of having to juggle work and family responsibilities, Mei found time to help others and give back to society. From her experiences, she discovered her strengths and limitations. 

Throughout her life thus far, Mei had unknowingly lived the legacy of her father. She hoped to pass on his beliefs, values, attitude and more to the next generation. Having reached the pinnacle of youth, Mei wondered what more she could do.

Cerwin Liau Yu Min:

The Turning Point
“What’s wrong, Ming? Ms Mei asked. Ming had been placed in isolation for persistent misbehaviour during the Secondary Three Overseas Camp. Ms Mei, Ming’s form teacher for three consecutive years, was concerned. She looked Ming in the eye and said, “If you need help, I am here for you.” There was a certain look in Ms Mei’s eye that made Ming open his heart out to her.

Flashback #1
Ming had come from a middle-class family. Home was a safe and happy place to be. Like all doting parents, Ming and his two younger brothers were showered with lots of love. Receiving presents and going swimming, followed by shopping at Parkway Parade was the norm on weekends. Growing up then was fun and carefree.

Flashback #2
What a difference life was to Ming when he started school! He dreaded being in a new environment. In addition, trouble was brewing at home. His parents divorced. Ming was devastated as his family split apart. It was a traumatic experience. As Ming’s grades took a further plunge, he was labelled as ‘lazy’ and a failure. His self-esteem nosed-dived too. He became rebellious and misbehaved to cover up his inadequacies. How he wished he could grow up quickly and to not study further.

A New Beginning
Ming sobbed unabashedly as she shared his problems. Ms Mei listened empathetically. She understood the turmoil he was going through. “You cannot change the past but you can change the future”. Ms Mei’s words rang in Ming’s ears to this day. They had motivated him to persevere and strive to do better. With the extra help that Ms Mei gave him after school, Ming eventually graduated with As and Bs for his N Levels. He was most grateful to Ms Mei for believing in him.

Future Aspirations
Currently, Ming is doing his Diploma in Law at a polytechnic. He has chosen to do law as he aspired to be a lawyer specialising in community law. He wants to help others get access to justice regardless of their socioeconomic background. He is aiming to go to law school after his National Service. With great enthusiasm and passion, Ming is determined to achieve his goal and make his mentor proud.