lovekids22\" post_id=\"2093133\" time=\"1671701384\" user_id=\"101621:This is a refreshing post. I do get why parents want to get their children into the top schools but I agree that one shouldn’t see it as ‘shortchanged’ if a good student doesn’t choose them.
I can't help but got to chip in on a certain remark about being short-changed for not choosing the 'best' school. A majority of people tend to choose schools based on rankings, well that's human nature. No right or wrong because every individual has their own perception on what is the best. But to say shortchange for not choosing Raffles and another 2 named school which I can't remember..I was thinking how can anyone be shortchange for not choosing Raffles? I have a friend whose girl went Raffles but she doesn't like it. Everyone around her are fiercely competitive on results (of course not all are like this) so that I guessed she felt 'shortchange' instead for not having her own definition of enjoyable environment that will make her thrive further. Also note that when it comes to A level results, only around 30% of RJC students score a perfect Rank point of 90 (I would have felt shortchange for not choosing Raffles if 100% attained of the students there score perfect 90. Ha..ok..just joking)..I just want to tell all the parents out there..if you have a child that score well for PSLE, don't just look at the 'top 2'. Look for at least the 'top 15!' look into the culture of the schools, what is interesting about the schools' offering and what support the school will offer to the students if they faced difficulty..these factors are so important because these kids will be in teenager phrase. Give yourselves more choices. There might be pleasant surprises beyond the Raffles or HCI..I hope this will help in parents making wise decisions. After all, we all love our children don't we?
To some, pace, distance, culture, etc matter more. And those factors do matter too. I know students who have scored the perfect score or near to the perfect score, and could enter any school of their choice, head elsewhere. I believe that these kids and their parents know what they are doing. In fact, I think it takes a rare kind of conviction (rare in the SG context) and wisdom for choosing a non-top school if the kids have been performing consistently well over the years. These kids could very well outperform some of those in the top schools (even if their entire school doesn’t).
I personally know a few of such kids. The ones I know are really happy, confident, unassuming, humble, don’t make a big deal out of their stellar results and encourage others along the way. They are good kids, positive influences to be around with.
At the end of the day, each parent wants the best for their kids. The ones who choose the less travelled paths do too. They know what they’re doing.