St Joseph's Institution 1977-1980

Hi

In 1977, after struggling with my PSLE, I did not know how I passed my Chinese, but I managed to go to SJI at Bras Basah Road.

Managed to get into the 2nd last class, in Sec 1. Just show you how blur I am.

Well, I was in 1C10. Class of notorious boys who disliked studying, always caught talking loudly and made to stay back many times afer school for being so noisy that the best class (which happens to be next to us) always complained about us.

We had a real funny teacher that taught us History. His name was Mr Bernard Wong. He sometimes would carry a piece of chalk like one would hold if he was smoking. He would actually smoked the chalk!! Also, when we were doing our test, he would even tell us what page to look at to COPY!. Once my friend did not study the topic on Babylon - but decided to write about the FA cup Final that year. Guess what he scored - 75 marks.

Sec one and Two were always playing soccer and playing at Plaza Singapura. School results were always about borderline, hence, I only managed to get to an Arts class. Also because I always failed my Chinese. - Arts 10.

I gues that the turning point in my life that I realised that in order to get anything in life we have to work hard on it. My late Sec 4 form teacher, Mr Lee - died at a ripe age of 45 - never gave up on us guys who always think we would never do well in our weak subjects. For me I was very weak in Science, Only had a score of 20 marks in my Sec 3 finals. Mr Lee would sit down with us and made us believed that we could do it and believed that we can do well if we just believe in ourselves. To my surprise - I scored A2 in my Prelims, and a 3 for My O Levels.

I will always remember Mr Lee for the fun he brought in life during Sec 4. He always played with us Soccer and treated us like friends than students. Also the class is still the closest I had as friends compared to all the years of studying. I will always remember the camping trips, going to friends' house to do our ten years series, playing soccer at Fort Canning, and meeting girls at functions. Some of my classmates said that no matter what happens in life, we will always have time for us buddies in Sec 4.

I remember once when we were having my GCE O Level Chinese oral exam - I only took 5 minutes whereas, other students would take 30 minutes. You see when I was asked to read the passage I just reade the first word and the last word. Even before the invigilator asked me if I was ready I said I finished! He nearly fell off his chair. I must hold the record for the dumdest and fastest student. My friend Glen Goh who was after me just stared at me and said - "Wah so fast enh?"
everytime I said this everyone will laugh.

I will always remember the stalls at Waterloo street in the '70s that sold the Mee Soto, Mee SIam etc. Such variety. And ah the bookstores at Bras Basah, the pirated cassette tapes at the alleys. I miss the carefee life and the friends then, I am guilty of sometimes offending some of my former classmates but they will always be my friends in my heart.

Till then..........