I’m a proud mama. So very proud of #1 and #2.
All the prouder because they did it on their own.
We take them as they are and they know they never need to be top just to please us.
#2 mentioned being nominated for some award. I wasn’t exactly sure what it was until the letter came in the mail.
You have been awarded the Edusave Character Award (ECHA). The ECHA is given up to 2% of students who have demonstrated exemplary character and outstanding personal qualities through their behaviour and actions.
WOW. 2%! That was quite something.
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| Well done, kids! |
Glad we had kids way before any of our friends and were never bombarded with smiling faces and awards floating around social media making us feel inadequate.
It was a good 5 years after #1 started primary school that we first heard of such awards given out by MOE. That same year, 2 of them received awards and we were thrilled!
One was for good results being the top 25% of her cohort. But what surprised us even more was that the other child also received an award. She has always been weak academically even though she is very bright.
She’s a kinesthetic learner and a curious questioner, which our education system is unable to develop and recognise. When she received a good progress reward, we all laughed, but it was wonderful that MOE gives out such a category to recognise the effort these children put in to further motivate them.
The kids turned it into a joke and quipped: next year, I will purposely do very badly for SA1 so that by SA2, I will have the greatest improvement!
Since that first award almost 10 years ago, they have received different awards for results, progress, leadership, Eagles, and the level of excitement has muted.
Until now.
We opened the letter with the MOE logo and #2 was overjoyed that she had clinched the ECHA award in JC1.
Now that is something else altogether. Not only is it accorded to the top 2% of the cohort, but hearing about the stringent selection process made me immensely proud of her.
First, she had to be nominated by her classmates and also her CCA mates. Crossing the peer hurdle is already a big deal when you are a teenager! Next, the nomination has to be approved by her own teachers and CCA teachers which says a lot as they are in class with you on a daily basis and everything from work attitude to conduct to punctuality is taken into consideration. Thereafter, she had to write not one, but two 500-word reflections on her education experience. Only then was she selected for a face to face interview with the panel of school leaders.
AND SHE MADE IT!! (I’m sure you can tell I’m still elated.)
Before our excitement abated, #1 came home beaming and showed us her cert. She has been placed on the Director’s list! What better way to wrap up her 3 years in poly.
For her, the journey was tough. Over the course of the diploma, she realised that this was not her area of interest and some days she really couldn’t sit through one more boring lecture. Yet she trudged on as I told her that no matter what, there is something to learn in any field and she should still put in good effort.
She has made it through her first diploma and I’m excited to see how the next few years unfold for her as we guide her to explore and narrow down her career choices.
For now, it’s all smiles around here 🙂