Reported by:
Ho Chia Chien Sr3ComB
Photography by:
Kuen Cheng Newsletter Club
On 8th March 2025, Kuen Cheng High School hosted a motivational talk for Senior 3 students who will be sitting for the SUEC exam in October — an important milestone that impacts their future studies. Before the talk began, teachers from the counseling department and assistants from Highschool.my handed out activity sheets and bookmarks to students gathered in the auditorium, setting the stage for an inspiring session ahead.
At exactly 9:00 a.m., the event kicked off with Mr. Chua Zhan Heing, a school counseling teacher, introducing the speaker: Mr. Goh Kee Tong, better known as Dino (Dino 学长). Dino is widely recognized for creating Highschool.my, a platform dedicated to providing students with study resources and academic support. Beyond that, he is also a radio host on 8FM. Following the introduction, Vice Principal Mr. Tan Yong Chin presented a commemorative gift to Dino as a gesture of gratitude for his presence and contribution.
(Photo 1: Mr. Tan presenting a souvenir to Dino)
Dino began by reminding students that if they ever feel overwhelmed by academic stress or personal struggles, they should never hesitate to seek support from their school’s counseling teachers. Addressing the root of the problem, he emphasized, is the first step toward overcoming challenges.
He then took a dive into his own secondary school experience — describing himself as an ordinary student with dark skin, average looks, and poor grades. But looking back now, he has successfully changed himself, not only improved his appearance and grades, but also was admitted to the University of Malaya and Shih Hsin University in Taiwan, which was something he had never imagined. His journey of self-improvement, which he assured the students, was not magic — it was hard work and perseverance. And if he could do it, anyone can. His message was clear: Believe in yourself, keep pushing forward, and you might just achieve heights you never thought possible.
(Photo 2: Dino sharing his story of struggle and hope)
Dino didn’t just stop at motivation — he also equipped students with practical study techniques to improve their learning efficiency. He introduced well-known strategies such as The Feynman Technique and The Pomodoro Technique. By using these methods, he encouraged students to study smarter, not just harder, and find a routine that works best for them.
To help students apply what they had learned, Dino guided them through the activity sheet they had received earlier. He asked them to fill in a detailed learning plan, listing their strong subjects and areas of weakness, along with possible strategies to improve. To create a more relaxed and focused atmosphere, he played a song while the students completed their activity sheets. Once the song ended, he randomly selected a student from the front row for a quick chat, inviting them to share their thoughts and personal learning challenges.
(Photo 3: Students filling up the Activity Sheet)
(Photo 4: Dino interviewing a participant at the Talk)
As the talk came to an end, Dino wrapped up with a brief but powerful summary of his key messages. He then encouraged students to scan the QR code printed on the back of their activity sheets — unlocking access to a special ‘gift package’ containing study resources such as the participation certificate, free revision videos and study notes.
Finally, the session ended on a high note, with Dino and the students gathering for a group photo — a perfect way to capture the moment of inspiration and motivation. And with that, the motivational talk came to a meaningful and successful conclusion.
