JonesLiew.com

Wow…. In a week, I had completed two training program with two groups of Normal Technical Stream Students from different school, normally known as the the N.T. Students, or put it blatantly they are the 3rd tier of our Singapore Secondary Education.

They are also commonly labelled as the “cannot make it” or “the notorious one”. And as usual, before the training starts, some of the school staffs will definitely approach us and warn us about the students’ behavoiur and want us to be strict and firm with them, telling us don’t need to give them too many information or learning nor go too deep with them, as half the time they will never understand….

Man, do you know that almost every time I will be super turn-off by their comment. In my head. I was like… “Hey, aren’t you guys suppose to work with them and guide them to where they should be and not like now spending energy on complaining about them and putting them down?” Really, Sometime I just don’t get and it doesn’t surprised me why the students are not responding to some of them.

Just ask yourself, will you still be in good terms and will like to talk to people who also tell you that you are not good enough or you are just useless and nothing can save you…. This is crazy man…

Anyway, all I know is I will just do my part to connect with them and see how much I can be-friend with them and see how I can assist them to get whatever they want. Heard me LOUD and CLEAR, is Assist and not Help, they don’t need help at all. From what I see they just need someone to trust them understand them and believe in them. So all I wanted to do is to really connect with them and you bet, connected, we did.

We had an activity that will help us zoom into what are the things we want it can be short, middle or long term, and in the training we had the activities with the N.T. Students. And the Results, I get?? Is Inspiring man!!

I have a girl, that want to take over her parents biz so that they can retired, 2 boys that want to go into aerospace industry, 1 girl and 1 boy wants to be an accountant, 1 girl want to be head-nurse, 3 boys to do automobile engineering, another one want to be a chef, 1 girl want to work in the hospitality line, and many others wanting to do different things like 1 girl just want to be promoted to NA and then Express. OH, in case you forget, there are still our N.T. Students.

Now, I just want you, the readers, to be aware, what was your first thought that came to mind when I shared their dreams and ambition with you?

Was it “Okay, they are dreaming too big, Dun think they can make it” or was it ” Cool Stuff, I hope they will achieve what they want” Well, no right or wrong, is just a thought.

For me, upon hearing all that, “WOW’ was the word that came to my mind. It is like, this guys has big dreams man, and the next question that come to my mind was. “OK, Now I know that, how can i assist them to get what they one.” So as a facilitator, where I suppose to facilitate learning and at he same time, I don’t want to give a false hope, I decided to bring them back down on earth and give them their reality check. I told them that “Look people, great that you guys know what you want now, But do you know how to get to what you want?” 

Silence, was the next thing I heard from them, and that Silence let me realised that, “Hey, this bunch are actually quite lost, they knew what they want but they are unclear or unsure how to get there.” and thats whats was worrying me, hence I continued, “Study dude, Study, I know you don’t like to study but hey, this is Singapore, You need to get that piece of paper to start with man. Regardless of where you want to do in the future, be it Nursing, now you are in N.T. make sure you go ITE then go on to Nanyang Poly and get a Diploma in Nursing. Same thing for you, young man, Aerospace right? Make sure you go into ITE, then aim for either Singapore, Nanyang or Ngee Ann Poly and get a Diploma in Aerospace. Young lady, you too, Hospitality, Right? Heard of Shactec? No, go find out, if not, make sure you can go to poly too, Temasek poly and Ngee Ann Poly has Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism. Guys, If you are not aware of this possiblity, I can tell you, you can kiss your dreams and ambitions, GoodBye!” ”So people,  Studying is not only about making other people like your teacher, your parents happy, it is more of making yourself happy!! Studying is one of the fastest way to get what you want in life and to be who you want to be. Treasure the opportunities and work hard guys, and soon you will be living your dreams and ambitious. If you really want it, we are here to support you”  

Yup, that’s what I told them, well I don;t know whether it will give them some lights but based on what I saw on their face, I’m sure some thoughts are going through their minds and I’m happy to see the “deep-thinking process” mood on their faces.

Ha so Dreams and Ambitions huh?, what was yours back in Secondary School? Are you living it now? or do you have one in first place? I didn’t, but is okay, the more important is I have it now and the good news is i’m living it and building on it as well. Are you?