Josephus Tan
11 mins ·
Dear PSLE Kiddos,
Today must have been a really anxious day for most of you. Before you collected your results this morning, you must have heard from your parents, your educators, or even your classmates that this Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) result is very important because it will impact on your future next time. Apart from this psychological and emotional burden which you had carried for the last 6 six years, some of you might even be afraid of being ridiculed, reprimanded, or even beaten up if your PSLE results weren't up to the mark. To most of you, this would probably be your 1st major "accomplishment" or "defeat" in this highly efficient, affluent, smart and clinical country we called home.
But kiddos, I'm telling you now - don't think too much about it. Yes, be it getting 68, 168, or 268 it's just a number. And yes, being admitted to the Normal Technical, Normal Academic, Express, or Special Stream does not give you a better understanding of life or even the slightest glimpse into your future. It's neither the start nor the end of your beautiful lives. You might not understand this now but I know in time to come you will. If you can, treat this as just another piece of homework. No more, and certainly no less. That's really all there is to this PSLE.
You must be wondering now why am I telling you all these right? In my 36 years, I have the fortune of meeting some truly exceptional individuals who went on to excel in sports, music, business, finance, law, medicine, engineering, and academia without getting a good PSLE score when they were at your tender age of 12. Conversely, I have represented criminals who had done much better in their PSLE and are now currently serving time in prison.
But don't get me wrong here. I'm not suggesting that you should do badly. Neither am I saying that you're doomed for criminality just because you did well. The point is really this: DO YOUR BEST and NEVER GIVE UP! It's that simple. For those who did well (be it defined by your school, your parents, or even yourself), continue to do your best. It doesn't stop here. For those who didn't do well, never ever give up. Not your aspiration, not your heart, and certainly not your life.
Kiddos, take all these from a man who passed his PSLE by 3 marks back in 1991 and was consequently sent to a neighbourhood school. It didn't define me then and certainly should not define you now.
Yours sincerely,
Uncle Joe