Write about a time when you were given a second chance. How did the experience affect you, and what did you learn from it?
Have you ever bitten off more than you can chew and experienced failure as a result? Well, I have. Thankfully, I was granted a second chance to redeem myself. In hindsight, I was grateful for my setback because it helped me learn many important lessons about discipline.
It all started when I was in Secondary One. My form teacher saw potential in me and invited me to be a Peer Support Leader (PSL). I had earlier joined the Swimming Club, which required a lot of time and commitment from me. However, I was flattered to be scouted, so I agreed to my teacher’s request. I truly believed that I could handle both sets of responsibilities.
How naive I was.
Things went well at first, but the accumulated fatigue from my swimming sessions made me lack the energy to follow through my duties as a Peer Support Leader. I was entrusted to design posters and conduct workshops that advocated self-ownership, but ironically, I was not managing very well myself. In fact, I felt as if a noose had been hung over my neck, strangling me. In order to cope, I turned to various “creative” ways to meet deadlines. ChatGPT became my best friend as I got it to churn out posters, never mind the fact that some of the wording was not appropriate to my peers’ needs. Out of desperation, I begged my fellow PSLs to conduct several workshops for my juniors on my behalf. I was a hamster on steroids, running tirelessly on the treadmill but getting nowhere.
The outsourcing of my workshop must have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. My teachers-in-charge called me to have a discussion. In no uncertain terms did they tell me to pull up my socks. Otherwise, I would have to resign from being a PSL.
I knew that I was overwhelmed but their ultimatum still hit me like a sledgehammer. I took a long and hard look at my schedule. Something had to give. I mustered my courage to tell my swimming coach to withdraw me from competitive swimming. It was a difficult choice, but I framed it as gaining more time to solidify my expertise as a PSL.
Now that I did not have to rush madly for swimming sessions after school, I could devote more time to levelling up as a PSL. I discussed extensively with my fellow leaders and poured my energy into creating witty infographics. It was not long before people noticed my efforts.
They complimented that I brought an infectious energy to the team. They complimented that I was empathetic to my peers’ needs. They complimented how I had sacrificed swimming to pursue this wholeheartedly. My teachers-in-charge were also full of praise for my transformation.
From this experience, I appreciated how my time and energy were finite resources, thus requiring me to prioritise my goals. It was a humbling experience to have received a second chance to contribute to the school. I resolved never to let my ambition get the better of me again.
Oh hey I have a question for an english teacher (former english teacher?) My son has great difficulty when it comes to certain aspects of writing -- especially in the areas of organizing his paragraphs logically and expressing his opinion.
He's fine at grammar and can write good sentences, and even good paragraphs. But putting paragraphs together in a logical order is tough for him. And expressing opinions is hard for him---he's more comfortable writing about facts.
Thoughts on how to address?
still an English teacher. I also teach Science.
how old is your son?
let me see if I can separate this problem into manageable chunks?
has he been taught the PEEL structure? are you yourself used to thinking in terms of the PEEL framework? some of my teacher friends who are trained in literature find it stifling to have to organise their thoughts in such a structured manner. but this template works for the best of us. It’s a default way to put across our arguments.
He is adept at writing sentences. How familiar is he with regard to penning cause-effect sentences? Maybe use some of these linking words to get him to express causative statements. Sentence starters like for this reason can be an excellent way to jog one’s thinking even if they feel like a crutch. Your son can always ditch them later once he gains more confidence in the way he frames his opinions.
He doesn’t seem comfortable with expressing opinions. Is it because he is more of go-with-the-flow and happy-go-lucky person, so he doesn’t feel particularly strongly about issues? Or is he kinda afraid of being a feeling his innermost thoughts, for fear that others might disapprove of them? Is he overly conscious of a need to express diplomatic answers?
Regardless of his reluctance, maybe get him to express his opinions on safe topics that he is passionate about. Stuff like should kids play Minecraft or Roblox? Should kids under the age of 13 be banned from using social media? (Some kids gravitate towards controversial topics like this.) Enxourage him to speak up and stress that there is no right or wrong answer. Once he gets accustomed to thinking in terms of the PEEL framework, his argumentative skills should improve.
It doesn’t seem like he dreads writing. But what medium is he most comfortable with? For some of my students, I don’t let them write until I hear them articulate their opinions. Some kids can only do one thing at a time.
Does what I have shared make sense?
The PEEL framework could help, yeah. Within paragraphs he can have a logical flow. It's just that the greater composition lacks structure. I think it's partly because he's lazy... he writes paragraphs as he thinks of them and then is too lazy to go back and think hard about what makes the most sense after he's hit the word count haha.
As for opinions, yeah it's because he's super unopinionated. I can hardly get him to even tell me if he prefers this game or that game, this restaurant or that restaurant.
he is probably lazy (as most children are these days haha). and it can be the case that he doesn’t know which argument is more substantial and how it feels/looks like.
why not take the weight off the writing and come up with some interactives? choose something light-hearted which he has a vested interest in. for instance, a topic like should I give you your allowance in fiat or sats?
then you give him 3 arguments for fiat and 3 arguments for sats and ask him to arrange in terms of persuasiveness. this should help him understand that some arguments are more cogent and convincing than others. after he has ranked all six statements, ask him what his stand is. I think some kids need time to make up their mind. that ranking activity helps to give them the time needed.
if ranking strips of paper sounds unappealing to your kid, get him to prepare a sandwich instead. he can associate the meat patty and vegetables with the most substantial argument and nice-to-have supporting arguments respectively. and use them to build his own sandwich. after that, he can eat it. the trick is to get him to think without him feeling like he’s exerting strenuous effort.
I like the argument idea. Do you have a question bank for that? I may not have bandwidth to come up with the arguments myself haha.
Actually, maybe I do. I'm sure I can think of something.
I could! but these arguments won’t feel personal to your son. for learning to sink in, he must be provoked (in a good way).
well what’s something that you wish your child can do better? household chores, less screen time, more initiative. turn it into an argumentative question. then you have plenty of opinions to express on that topic. boraoden the scope to should all kids be allowed? so that your kid doesn’t feel singled out haha.
I’m sure some ideas will come to you when you are showering or something. your subconscious will be working hard on your behalf haha
Keep me updated!