It was reported that two babies named Ginny and Faziq had been suffering from an enigmatic disease and thus required treatment that cost $2.4 million each. Many altruistic Singaporeans sprang to action and donated money to the babies’ families. They were empathetic to the babies’ plight. To have Singaporeans from all walks of life pull together to raise $4.8 million within days was nothing short of an acrobatic feat. Needless to say, the babies’ families were ecstatic.

When the Singapore government made the announcement that 20% of our fibre needs — including leafy and fruiting vegetables — would be produced locally by 2035, many schools had already incorporated urban farming into their curriculum. Exercising astute judgment, Yishun Primary School not only boasts an integrated farming system, but also possesses a hydroponics farm. It thoughtfully uses solar panels to conserve the environment. There is no argument that Yishunites will become great environmental ambassadors!

During the Parent-Teacher meeting, Qusyairi appeared imperturbable, but his stomach was churning with fear. He was certain that his form teacher would give feedback about his illegible handwriting and inaccurate understanding. However, she spoke at length about how altruistic he was. It almost seemed as if results were irrelevant! She explained that while having good grades was important, it was immaterial to living a compassionate life.

To promote awareness of urban farming methods, Yishun Primary purchased vertical towers. The Science teachers displayed great thoughtfulness by procuring ones that were tailored to the height of primary school students. It was hoped that students would hone their assertiveness when working with one another on farming projects. With their skillfulness enhanced, we can expect their environmental consciousness to evolve positively as well!

When I first did KooBits, I felt confused. It was like a maze to me. I was not motivated to figure out how to use it initially. That was why I only attempted the questions intermittently. However, I gradually learnt the ropes. As I grew more familiar with the system, my confidence swelled. Eventually, I logged in every day and was even ranked among the top 300 users. It was definitely an invaluable learning experience for me!

I am an advocate for the use of technology in the classroom. Firstly, when technology is used by a skillful teacher, it opens up plentiful opportunities for learning. I can complement my learning with videos and flashcards, which makes learning impactful. More importantly, I get immediate feedback. My English teacher sometimes conducts spelling on an app called Socrative. If he were to do it the traditional way, I would only receive feedback one week later. However, since he employs this resourceful way, I am empowered to work on my weaknesses directly after the spelling exercise. I have learnt to be more purposeful and tactful through my enhanced knowledge of words!

“Why is your reading so flawless?” I asked my friend, speechless. That was when he introduced me to a platform called Ezhishi. He was tireless in leveraging it to improve his reading. He found it a frictionless experience as he could get immediate feedback. It was effortless for him to understand his strengths and weaknesses because they were clearly illustrated in the form of a radar chart. Since the feedback loop was seamless, he felt motivated.

Today, I met up with my ex-colleagues for lunch. It felt almost illogical that we could spend quality time with one another, given that we had gone our separate ways many years ago. Nonetheless, the conversation felt fresh and intelligent, and we burst into uproarious laughter frequently. I was grateful to have this collective of like-minded buddies who not only warmed my heart but also elevated my intellect.