Page 14 - KCN 2020

Stars Weren’t Born Easy: A Chat With Lim Jing And Patrick Ng

Kuen Cheng, known for its academic performance, has its share of exceptionally gifted students, especially
when it comes to studies. I can think of no better, and surprisingly, different, examples than Lim Jing of Sr2ScA and
Patrick Ng of Sr3ScA. I’ve been classmates with Lim Jing for 5 years now, and he’s placed at the top of the class all
that time, while Patrick gained notoriety for scoring straight A+’s in the SPM. Now, their names are synonymous with
academic excellence. Thus, I wonder — does this expectation of brilliance ever lead to stress? I certainly wouldn’t
know.

Patrick is an idealist — pressure motivated him, causing him to work way harder than he usu-
ally did to excel in the SPM examinations. He owes his success partially to his family and teachers who were
there for him when the going got tough. His tip for us? Start studying earlier. It’s the oldest trick in the book.

Lim Jing, on the other hand, is more down-to-earth—he views his success as both a burden and as proof
of his hard work. he also believes that everyone can attain success. It’s up to us to believe in ourselves and find
the field that best suits us.

I asked Lim Jing if school seemed monotonous. After all, most schools only focus on academ-
ics and have a marked, and dare I say it, unfair emphasis towards the sciences. “School life doesn’t seem
monotone to me. The ability to find passion and interest from nowhere is what makes life interesting. By
observing life more closely, we can unearth our true calling that is often masked by the seemingly boring
nature of life.” Well, I can’t say that I’ve heard that point of view before, but it’s certainly a refreshing one.

Patrick, like a lot of us, chooses to participate in co-curricular that he finds interesting. Looking back at
Dawn Sangeetha Lee what he’s been a part of for the past 6 years, he feels that forcing himself to step out of his comfort zone was worth it.
“Studying is important for a student but I personally think that going to school means making friends and having fun,”
he commented.

That may be the case, but Kuen Cheng students have a lot on their plate. I was curi-
ous about how my interviewees managed their time. “Well, I stay in the hostel, so I don’t have
to worry about being distracted by gadgets,” said Patrick. He feels he gets enough time for rest
and study. Patrick admits that he doesn’t have much of a timetable but does things according to his mood.

Lim Jing usually chooses to focus on one thing at a time. “I see studying as a means to an end during
exam periods, but it isn’t that enjoyable, so during other times I don’t really bother about studying. It’s fair
to say that my life is pretty imbalanced, but this imbalance doesn’t affect me as long as I set my goals clearly.”

Despite their differences, they have similar hopes for the school’s future—they hope that students will be
able to fully develop their skills. Lim Jing and Patrick both agree that Kuen Cheng would benefit from a more open
discussion of student opinion on matters that concern them, and not only about exams. Lim Jing suggests that this
platform of discussion could take the form of a students’ union, which would allow students to organize events to
help develop critical thinking, planning, and communication skills. Infusing elements of democracy into the school’s
administration would engage students more and build civic awareness, which, currently, is unfortunately lacking.

Both Lim Jing and Patrick’s comments have given me insight into how they deal with every-
day issues while maintaining everyone’s expectations of them. Part of me is surprised with their laid-back
attitude when it comes to work-life balance and their hopes for the future. They remind us that it’s okay to take
Lim Jing : Top picture, second from the left a step back to breathe when things get rough. You don’t need plans for your life stretching years into the future
Patrick Ng : Bottom picture, first from the right — going with your gut can work out, too. Keep things interesting, and most importantly, have fun!
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