ST Forum > Online Story
March 19, 2007
Disturbing it should be considered acceptable to be distraught at
not achieving perfection
I FEEL compelled to respond to Mr Lim Boon Tong's letter, 'You need
brains or lots of dough to pursue higher education' (Online Forum,
March 10). He defends the weeping of the A-level students at
Raffles Junior College as a reflection of the famed Rafflesian
spirit that causes students to strive for excellence in all
fields.
I have not studied in RI. Nor has my personal path been
particularly entwined with that of a Rafflesian. Mr Lim's personal
account is the first I have heard describing the ethos of this
famous school. What I find disturbing is that it should be
considered acceptable - commendable, even - to be so distraught at
not achieving perfection.
These students are the cream of our academic crop. A large portion
will presumably go on to premier institutions of higher learning
and in time will occupy positions of authority and power. The old
stereotype that 'RI boys rule the country' is not entirely without
basis.
In the new economy where rules are re-written with each new
venture, I would be more comfortable with leaders who are
acquainted with failure and setbacks, rather than with someone
whose CV begins with an honour roll of his awards and
scholarships.
Mr Lim also says it is normal for students to chase paper
qualifications in their youth as there will be time for
non-academic pursuits later. We do a disservice to our young when
we tell them to 'concentrate on their studies' when they are young
and worry about other things later. To be able to hold a
conversation well, to have the skills to negotiate a sticky issue,
to be a good judge of character, to have the mental strength to go
beyond a setback, to be able to see another person's point of view,
to have the heart to see another person's need - these are skills
that require time-consuming investment outside of self and
studies.
In the two decades since my own junior college days I have learnt
many times over that the measure of a man is not where he started
(with perfect scores at every major exam, for example), nor is it
the place he has arrived at (CEO at 40 years of age?), but how he
has travelled along his journey.
I hope my eulogy will describe me as a good wife and a loving
mother, or as a good friend, or as someone who inspired others to
be something more, and not as someone who did well in her O and A
levels, who collected a clutch of degrees, and who landed a plum
job that enabled her to buy a condominium before she turned
30.
It is vital we teach our young to look at life and achievements and
failures and imperfections in perspective.
Ong Chooi Peng (Mrs)
Texas, USA
Not having read Lim Boon Tong's Letter, i have to agree that our
system is one that does not tolerate failure. In essence, many of
our people do not know how to react and bounce back upon meeting a
setback.
The weeping of students during the release of the 'A' level results
is an example of how seriously our young take their paper grades.
Many may be complacent, having expected straight 'As', but
receiving average grades at the end.
