Wallflower who became student council VP among Fajar Sec’s top scorers

SINGAPORE — She had set her heart on joining the student council in Secondary One at Fajar Secondary School, but was unsuccessful because she was not outspoken enough.

After having “a big cry” and with her parents’ encouragement, Wong Zi Qi tried again the following year, and succeeded.

The 16-year-old eventually became vice-president of the student council and is, today, comfortable speaking in front of an audience.

Three years ago, “my teachers and friends told me that if I did not speak, they would not have known I was there”, said Zi Qi, who received her O Level results on Friday (Jan 12).

She scored six distinctions (A1 or A2) for Elementary and Additional Mathematics, Chinese Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Combined Humanities (Social Studies and History). Zi Qi, who declined to reveal her grade for English, hopes to enrol in Pioneer or Catholic junior college.

The initial failed attempt at joining the student council was not the first time she had emerged stronger after a disappointment.

She had scored 199 in her Primary School Leaving Examination, just short of her target of 200.

“I felt like I didn’t make my parents proud,” said Zi Qi, her voice softening slightly.

She promised her mother she would do her best in secondary school and held true to her word — her results placed her among Fajar Secondary’s top-scorers.

In the lead-up to the O Levels, she recalled constantly asking her Maths teacher, Mdm Sangeetha, for help with revision, “giving her a long list of Maths questions I had problems with”.

Her experiences so far have taught her this: “Although sometimes certain things seem impossible, I feel that if we put our heart into it, nothing is impossible.”