Papa John Lim and his tribute to NYJC
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John Lim\" post_id=\"1965082\" time=\"1582725539\" user_id=\"119435:[quote=\"John Lim\" post_id=1965082 time=1582725539 user_id=119435]
https://www.facebook.com/Nanyangjc/[/quote]
Adrian Heng Yu Liang (1831)
CCA: Judo, Captain
Secondary School: Hougang Secondary School
Rank Point: 83
When I got accepted into the college, I was honestly, apprehensive. I scored 14 raw for my O Level and coming to NY means I would be amidst students with single-digit scores. The rumours about how DSA students are bound to retain in JC had definitely ’haunted’ me. When logic got the better of me, it is obvious that everyone has an equal chance of doing well/ not doing well - and there is no secret pact on retaining all DSA students. However, I was clear that the revelation did not mean that I could neglect my studies.
There were certainly bad times especially during the ‘A’ division championship period, with a low of mere 13 rank points for block test. But with help and determination, I managed a climb to 76 for prelims.
It was definitely not easy but, I am grateful to my teachers for not giving up on me and clarifying my doubts whenever I encountered problems.
Having been “chased out of class” for not doing tutorials and sleeping in lectures, the advice I can give to my juniors is to be consistent. Do the work as you are given, listen in class and get as much sleep as you can.
The school is very supportive of the students. The library is nice and cosy, there are many tables and chairs available for students around the school and the teachers are nice and friendly.
Coming to NYJC was definitely the right choice as there is no other school like NYJC.
Jasmine Chew Kai Yu (1803)
Guzheng Ensemble President
Xinmin Secondary School
Rank Point: 88
When I first started my journey in NYJC, I was just like any other wide-eyed, apprehensive newcomers who felt unprepared for the rigour of JC. Being an introvert, I was fearful that I would struggle with making friends and not be able to find my place in JC.
During J1, I found that I was struggling with my studies a lot more than in secondary school, with concepts becoming harder to grasp. With J2 came more stress as I became a CCA Exco member who had to learn how to juggle various responsibilities. Fortunately, my classmates and CCA mates were always there to encourage me to move forward without hesitation. My teachers also touched me by their dedication to offer help whenever they could.
To those who are feeling lost right now, we all have moments when self-doubt will overwhelm us. Pace yourself and look for help if you find yourself crumbling under stress. Always remember that you are not alone on this road and there is always more to JC life than just studying! -
John Lim\" post_id=\"1965082\" time=\"1582725539\" user_id=\"119435:[quote=\"John Lim\" post_id=1965082 time=1582725539 user_id=119435]
Claire Lee En Lin (1834)
https://www.facebook.com/Nanyangjc/[/quote]
Guzheng, Quarter Mistress & Section Leader
Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary)
Wide-eyed, I entered Nanyang, unbeknownst of what was to come, just grateful that I was able to successfully DSA. While entering NY was a dream come true, what followed was far from it, with all the struggles and hardships flung upon me. For the first time, I was struggling in things that previously came easily to me and hard work/effort just did not seem to suffice. The breadth and depth of content coupled with the rigour of JC (the mugging culture and CCA ending when the sun has set) made the initial adjustment incredibly trying.
In spite of all horror stories, it was also an extremely rewarding and fulfilling time, attributed to the people whom I’ve met in NY. The content of what is tested at A levels is undoubtedly challenging and demanding but the dedication and commitment of the teachers in Nanyang greatly contributed towards lightening the burden of JC (academically) and even showed me a glimmer of hope, that it’s possible to improve and do better and be better!
More than book knowledge, the teachers in Nanyang (special mention to my Lit tutors who have left an indelible impact on me in the way I perceive the world) went beyond what was required of them and taught us (me) many meaningful lessons that will continue to stay with me even as I pursue courses which are ostensibly unrelated.
I am also very fortunate to have found wonderful friends in Nanyang in whom I was able to find a sense of belonging in this otherwise foreign environment. They made school a lot more bearable and even enjoyable with all the fond memories that we share of both good and bad. They were fellow comrades in this uphill battle which was A levels, whom I shared the sorrows and defeat of failures as well as the jubilant triumph of success (which was sometimes just making small progress & little improvement).
I will greatly cherish these little moments with my friends: where we sat at the GNC playing games, chatting, prolonging the time before class started, and occasionally studying. More than the knowledge that I’ve gained in these two years in JC, my greatest takeaway would have to be the relationships forged and the memories that I share with them which I know will be with me always.
If anyone feels despondent or hopeless about school, be it academically or socially, take heart in the fact that you are more than your grades but give your best in all that you do lest you regret & ultimately, I hope you find your support group to journey alongside you in this arduous and treacherous trek towards the big As. -
John Lim\" post_id=\"1965082\" time=\"1582725539\" user_id=\"119435:[quote=\"John Lim\" post_id=1965082 time=1582725539 user_id=119435]
Timothy Leow (1818)
https://www.facebook.com/Nanyangjc/[/quote]
Symphonic Band, Vice President (Music)
Secondary School: Ang Mo Kio Secondary School
Rank point: 90
My time in NYJC was immensely fulfilling. Initially, I had applied to the school via the DSA exercise with its good reputation in mind, and also because I wanted to further hone my skills with the saxophone in a JC band setting. It was only after my 2 years in NYJC that I’ve realised how much more the school had to offer – it wasn’t merely an avenue for me to improve my musical abilities or a place with good studying facilities.
I thought that being able to play a musical instrument and to do what I love after a day packed with lessons was what kept me going. Sure enough, music was an irreplaceable form of relaxation and an escape from the hectic JC curriculum. Having something I was passionate about drove me to strive harder in my studies and to excel in everything I partook in.
But I persevered to the end not because of passion alone. It was truly the people of NYJC who brought life to the school and stayed with me throughout the journey. Our band succeeded and excelled because of its cohesiveness. I’m proud of our team and what we achieved by sticking together through the tough times. I couldn’t be more grateful for the hard work our teachers and school personnel put in, bulldozing through tons of administrative work just so we could have a memorable JC band experience.
The school provided ample support in terms of academics too. I’d like to specially mention Mr Haniss, whose passion for teaching Economics touched me and many others. I’m really thankful for his generosity with time, talking with us beyond the timeslots booked for consultations to strengthen and stretch our understanding of relevant concepts. Our teachers put in immense amounts of effort just to ensure that we would be confident in ourselves, knowing we had tried our very best, and leaving the examination hall with no regrets.
I’m also thankful for my family, who trusted me with the independence to do what I loved, yet never failing to provide support when necessary. Thank you to my friends, whose congeniality never failed to bring a smile to my face even during the toughest times.
To my juniors, strive together with the people you love, and you will excel.
Thank you NYJC for these 2 irreplaceable years of my life. -
John Lim\" post_id=\"1965082\" time=\"1582725539\" user_id=\"119435:[quote=\"John Lim\" post_id=1965082 time=1582725539 user_id=119435]
Grace Gee (1806)
https://www.facebook.com/Nanyangjc/[/quote]
CCA: Netball
Secondary School: Tanjong Katong Girls’ School
Rank point: 87
Coping with OGL responsibilities, training for ‘A’ Division and studying for blocks & mid-year exams during the first half of year 2 definitely wasn’t easy and my grades weren’t exactly very good. But with the support of my teachers & friends, I began to improve slowly.
So an advice to those who are struggling with your studies: go for consultations with your tutors and take your failures positively - as opportunities to learn.
A tip I would like to give to my juniors is to study with friends who can encourage you.
For me, I felt that the A level period wasn’t as tough as I had expected because of the support & encouragement from my friends, especially those from church, who studied with me throughout the year.
Liang En Mao (1809)
Basketball
Secondary School: Woodlands Ring Secondary School
Rank Points: 81
As a DSA student in Nanyang JC, I was given equal opportunities as other JAE students, be it academic and non-academic, to step out of my comfort zones to learn and strive for excellence. For example, I was nominated a class leader and was given the opportunity to hone my leadership skills during the class leader camp.
One advice that I would give to my juniors is to have good time management: learn how to mange your time efficiently, especially during the A division competition period in JC 2 when you have to divide your time between sleep, studies, training and leisure.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ms Shandy Lin, Ms Seah, Ms Tan and Ms Tey for their constant support. With these caring teachers and my friends in nyjc, I was able to survive through the toughest period in my JC life. -
John Lim\" post_id=\"1965082\" time=\"1582725539\" user_id=\"119435:[quote=\"John Lim\" post_id=1965082 time=1582725539 user_id=119435]
Chloe Heng Yi Ning (1833)
https://www.facebook.com/Nanyangjc/[/quote]
Volleyball
Secondary School: Chung Cheng High School (Yishun)
Rank point: 84
I entered NYJC through Volleyball, with an L1R5 score of 16.
Frankly, in J1, my studies were never really good, I was always amongst the bottom few in class and in exams I had either failed or barely passed. It didn’t help that I had the mentality that it was to be expected that I have poor grades since I did not meet the college’s cut off point in the first place and I had to commit more time in my CCA compared to some of my peers who are in less demanding CCAs.
However, all of these changed at the start of J2, when I witnessed the release of the 2018 A level results. I saw my seniors who came in through DSA too, achieving amazing results. It inspired me to be like them and at the same time made me realized that it doesn’t really matter how you entered Nanyang or what your O level score was, it is the desire and determination to do well that is important.
Thus I pushed myself hard to study since then, making use of the long breaks in between classes or before training for my revision and getting rid of all the past excuses I made for myself for my poor grades.
My tutors also played a very important role. They made sure that I could catch up with my studies during my seasons. During consultations, they would point to me where my weak areas were and guided me in overcoming them. They always made sure that I fully grasped the concept before ending the session,even if it meant eating into their own break time. (Thank you Mr Zhou, Mrs Tan, Mrs Chan, Mr Wong and Mr Haniss!!)
Moreover, the school is also well equipped with resources, ensuring that I have more than enough study materials, giving me exposure to all the different types of questions that might appear.
As for advice, the most important suggestion I can give is to voice out your queries whenever in doubt. It is very important to be able to understand the concept thoroughly. I used to be very shy and was afraid of bring judged for asking ridiculous questions, however my teachers never hesitated to answer them and instead encouraged me to ask even more. This allowed me to understand the concept from different perspectives, and when applying the same concept in a different context, the satisfaction gained from being able to do so correctly was a great source of motivation for me.
Last but not least, to my juniors, as long as you are willing to put in hard work, you will get there!
Jesica Cahyadi (1827)
Basketball Exco
Secondary school: Mayflower Secondary School
Rank Points: 78
As a DSA student, I felt pressured realising how much more work I have to put in just to catch up with the rest of my classmates. I worked really hard and had a decent start in JC but it all fell apart when I had more commitment and the training sessions became tougher. With training ending as late as 9pm, my teammates and I would still go for dinner together thereafter, resulting in most of us reaching home at about 11pm on training days. This meant that I would have enough time to spend on my school work and eventually falling behind my peers.
I made a decision to prioritise my studies in J2. It was really tiring to balance academics and training. Fortunately, I have great teammates and friends who share a common goal: to do well academically and also train hard for the 'A' division games. Naps and long lunch before training became study sessions and catching up with tutorials.
For my juniors, JC life is really a journey that one cannot go through alone. You will definitely meet failures that will knock you down but your friends are the ones who will pull you back up and get you going again.
Know that it is okay if you are not doing well now, but just push yourself to keep trying. Things will turn out alright as long as you put in the effort, believe me even if you don’t see the results now. Don’t let all the Us knock you down and remember that all that matters is A levels. All the best to all of you! -
John Lim\" post_id=\"1965082\" time=\"1582725539\" user_id=\"119435:[quote=\"John Lim\" post_id=1965082 time=1582725539 user_id=119435]
Low Wan Ting Nicole (1807)
https://www.facebook.com/Nanyangjc/[/quote]
Squash Vice-Captain
Secondary School: Orchid Park Secondary School
Rank Points: 90
When I first entered JC, I was prepared to solely focus on studies. However, being in NY gave me the opportunity to explore other interests and learn to manage different priorities. I’m very thankful for the friends I made in NY as they have supported me throughout the 2 years and encouraged me to push further. I’m also very grateful for my tutors as they provided unwavering support and I can’t thank them enough for the amount of effort they put in for us.
NY felt like a second home and I have always enjoyed speaking to the non-teaching staff. They have such interesting stories to share and they care so much for the college and the students.
Although the journey was tough, it made me discover more about myself and made me realize that it’s okay to be weak sometimes. As long as I pick myself up and not give up, (and don’t be shy to ask for help!) everything will turn out the way it should and I will have no regrets. -
John Lim\" post_id=\"1965095\" time=\"1582730754\" user_id=\"119435:[quote=\"John Lim\" post_id=1965095 time=1582730754 user_id=119435]
H2 Literature in English AJohn Lim\" post_id=\"1964955\" time=\"1582691721\" user_id=\"119435:[quote=\"John Lim\" post_id=1964955 time=1582691721 user_id=119435]
DD
Thank you Nanyang JC! 谢谢你
0 tuition, money no enough 銭不够用
to be continued :rotflmao:[/quote]
H1 Chinese D
Thank you Nanyang JC! 谢谢你
EVERY SCHOOL A GOOD SCHOOL Thank you MOE
[/quote] Thank you Nanyang JC! 谢谢你
H2 Mathematics A :dancing: Thank you Nanyang JC! 谢谢你 -
John Lim\" post_id=\"1965082\" time=\"1582725539\" user_id=\"119435:[quote=\"John Lim\" post_id=1965082 time=1582725539 user_id=119435]
https://nanyangjc.moe.edu.sg/
https://www.facebook.com/Nanyangjc/[/quote]
Tay Hui Wen (1806)
Table Tennis, Vice Captain
Secondary School: Cedar Girls' Secondary School
Rank Points: 80
Being a sports DSA student who entered NYJC with a raw score of 17 in the O levels, I knew that I had to work doubly hard to be on par with the rest of my friends. During my first year, I suffered a setback when I had to retain for a year. Although I was devastated, I did not give up. Just like the 'never give up' spirit of what a sportsperson should have, I faced my own failure and attended 3 years in NYJC.
I must admit that A levels is no easy feat, but with determination and perseverance, I believe that anyone can do it. Studying was never 'my thing', but knowing the importance of A levels, I decided to study hard for it. I remember a few months before the A levels, I try to make it a habit to consult each of my different subject tutors once every week and asking them to go through the extra assignments that I have prepared just for the consultation. I really admire the teachers as they patiently repeated concepts and ideas to me even though they have already gone through them in class. I will never forget the day when Dr Heng, my math teacher, had to teach me 5 times repeatedly for a single math question and yet did not get angry or annoyed at me.
I am grateful for my friends and teachers in NYJC and happy to learn and study in this wonderful place.
Astrid Lee Xin Jie (1813)
Volleyball, Vice-Captain
Secondary School: Cedar Girls’ Secondary School
Rank Points: 82
As a DSA student in NY, I was initially afraid that I would have difficulty balancing both studies and Volleyball training. However, during the competition period when I had to miss a lot of lectures and tutorials, my teachers and classmates helped to ensure that I do not fall behind much by sharing their notes with me, meet me for consultations etc.
Leading up to the As, I had a lot of self doubt, wondering if I could do well for the As but many of my teachers kept encouraging me to push on. The unwavering support from my teammates, classmates and teachers had assured me and motivated me to continue working hard.
To those taking the As this year, press on, the end is near! Do try to consult your teachers regularly when you have doubts and have a weekly study schedule to stick to to keep yourself on track! Remember to take short breaks and hydrate yourself! -
John Lim\" post_id=\"1965095\" time=\"1582730754\" user_id=\"119435:[quote=\"John Lim\" post_id=1965095 time=1582730754 user_id=119435]
H2 Literature in English AJohn Lim\" post_id=\"1964955\" time=\"1582691721\" user_id=\"119435:[quote=\"John Lim\" post_id=1964955 time=1582691721 user_id=119435]
DD
Thank you Nanyang JC! 谢谢你
0 tuition, money no enough 銭不够用
to be continued :rotflmao:[/quote]
H1 Chinese D Thank you Nanyang JC! 谢谢你
EVERY SCHOOL A GOOD SCHOOL Thank you MOE
[/quote] Thank you Nanyang JC! 谢谢你
H2 Mathematics A :dancing: Thank you Nanyang JC! 谢谢你
H1 General Paper A :dancing: Thank you Nanyang JC! 谢谢你
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