Reported by:
Sr1A Alice Wong You Li
It’s really a unique experience in meeting up and having an interview with Harris (Harris Chong Xian), a student of mixed parentage at Kuen Cheng High School. As we sat face-to-face in the meeting room, he shared his unique perspective as a minority within a predominantly Chinese school environment.
Harris finds it both amusing and gratifying that his friends often seek his insights on racial issues and Malay culture. “It’s quite amusing,” he remarks, “how they line up to ask me about my experiences and views.” Despite the cultural differences, he enjoys mostly smooth communication with his pure Chinese peers. When language barriers occasionally arise, he effortlessly switches to English to express his thoughts clearly.
Harris engaging in an insightful interview with reporters
Harris also observes that the predominantly Chinese environment has affected Malay language proficiency among students. He explains that while many excel in written tests, their limited daily use of the Malay language has resulted in diminished confidence in spoken Malay. One of Harris’s most memorable experiences at Kuen Cheng was his involvement in the horticulture club. During a tree-cutting activity, he discovered a caterpillar preparing to transform into a chrysalis. Instead of discarding it, he took the caterpillar home, nurturing it until it emerged as a butterfly. He then released it back on school grounds, drawing a poignant parallel between the caterpillar’s transformation and personal growth. “The journey from caterpillar to butterfly is not dissimilar to life,” he reflects. “We must embrace the challenges and opportunities of each phase to evolve.”
Harris posing for a group photo with reporters