I would like to extend my congratulations to all from National Junior College who did exceptionally well in the previous 2007 Singapore-Cambridge A Level Examinations! Kudos especially to Yoon Ji Wei, Navin Brian Ramakrishna, and Doan Duc Huy for being the top three students in National Junior College. They scored straight Distinctions in all subjects taken, including Project Work and H3 subjects. Also kudos to Tan Shao Min for clinching the Institute of Physics Gold Medal awarded to top Physics students in the nation. My congratulations also goes out to Mohd Faisal Johandi, former Council President, for becoming the top Malay student in National JC.

I would also like to congratulate all for putting up their best effort in the examinations. National Junior College did well too, although I do not have the exact numbers.

Sometimes people here like to think that with stellar A Level results one can conquer anything and become extremely successful out there. In Singapore, people slight others with less than stellar results. Sad but true.

But never let yourself be judged by a piece of paper called the “Results Slip.” Cliche as it might sound, life is more than academics. Failure has to be treated with more respect here. People don’t like to take risks here. If they do, they are all too calculated. If you failed to live up to your own expectations, do not worry. The beauty of life is that we are meant to fail again and again whilst being given the future chance to stand up again victorious, even if it might not be in the A Levels examination again. There is always something larger to conquer out there.

As Micheal Jordan once said,”I’ve missed more than 9000 shots. I’ve lost almost 300 games. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” You might have missed a bit now, but that miss is going to make you aim much better in the future, and win you more games in the future. If you scored a perfect shot now, well good for you! But don’t be complacent and always seek to improve your game, or today’s missers will overtake you and trump you.

Congratulations to all once again!