David Hoe came to my school to deliver a talk on how he has overcome adversity. The opportunity was too good to pass up, so I'm using my Sunday to write a comprehension passage based on his story for my students. Might as well earn some petty sats to tide me through this lean period. Haha. Thanks for reading.
1 My name is David Hoe. Did you know that I was the first Normal (Technical) student to become a teacher in Singapore? It was a challenging task, but I worked hard to make my dream come true. This is my story.
2 I was raised by my mother. Unfortunately, she became blind after a failed cataract operation. To make a living, I accompanied her to hawker centres to sell tissue paper. She then passed on when I was in Primary Six. This caused me to lose focus in my studies. I did not perform well for the Primary School Leaving Examination and was assigned to the Normal (Technical) stream.
3 My life changed in secondary school. When I concentrated in Mathematics classes and put the numbers accurately into the formula, I could solve the problem! I got so proficient at it that my friends asked me to teach them. This was my turning point. I started to work extremely hard. I did countless grammar exercises. I spent an additional two years to do my "O" levels.
4 I eventually became a teacher. I know that not everyone flourishes academically in school. So, I am motivated to encourage my students who feel lost and aimless about life. I want to be an excellent teacher and give them hope.