This book tells the story of a young man who failed his PSLE examinations, but through sheer determination, perseverance and hard work is now a graduate teacher at a primary school in Singapore.

Attending a full-time vocational course (Maintenance Fitting) in the day and part-time night classes, he scored his first success — a GCE N Level certificate in 1989. While in National Service, he studied and sat for the O Level exams, not once but twice so as to get better results to enter a polytechnic. While holding full-time day jobs, he attended night classes at Ngee Ann Polytechnic and in 1997 obtained a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. In 2000, he joined the Ministry of Education and attended teacher training courses in the day while continuing at the polytechnic at night; by 2002, he had two more diplomas to his name — a Diploma in Education and an Advanced Diploma in Industrial Engineering and Management. Capping it all is a Bachelor of Arts in English with Psychology awarded by UniSIM in 2005.

The author did not let failure set him back nor problems or challenges defeat him. He forged on with an iron will. He took a shot at every available educational opportunity Singapore offered to better himself – and he succeeded. A firm believer in lifelong learning, his 16-year journey of part-time studies covers true events of the many people who have helped him in one way or other.

About the Author

Ravindran Kanna, 44, is a teacher in a primary school in the west of Singapore. He oversees discipline, student leadership, national education, social studies and community involvement matters, and the wellbeing of the students in his school. He was awarded the Lifelong Learner Award by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency in 2005. His story has been captured in the media and in Chicken Soup for the Singapore Soul. He has also given motivational talks at various schools. He is married and has two sons