“It was my then-Principals, Mr Wan Fook Weng and Mr Lenn Wei Ling, my 2AD1 subject tutors, and my ACJC Choir teachers-team who imparted the values of courage and daring to pursue excellence that shaped the wide-eyed Jurong Secondary School graduate that I was then to the man I am now. If there is one lasting impression that I remember about my teachers who taught me in ACJC, it would have to be how fully dedicated they all were in helping their students nurture and realise their potential. More importantly, all of them went about this with so much infectious joy and optimism that, before long, what seemed impossible to us clueless and doubtful teenagers, turned likely and then became reality!

Looking back, it was with this inspired sense of courage and humility that I submitted my application for the PSC Scholarship for Teaching in the hope of serving as a teacher. To my surprise, I was awarded the scholarship with what would be considered today as "average" grades. When I, in a rare opportunity, met and conversed with a retired school leader who sat on my PSC Scholarship Interview Panel, this sagely gentleman shared (and I recall it verbatim) that "the panel looked beyond your grades and saw the transformation ACJC made to a boy from humbler background. Your journey will encourage those whom you teach."

2 years in the service (and proudly so in ACJC!) and now as the Year Head of the Class of 2013 and a General Paper tutor, I seek each day to live out this same endorsement in the college. ACJC IS my family. I am continually blessed and inspired by the same committed sense of purpose, energy and hope my colleagues exude as they juggle their academic teaching with a slew of departmental and co-curricular duties. The most touching aspect of working alongside the ACJC Staff-Team is how frequent laughter is heard in the staffrooms, walkways and canteen, and how palpable the sense of camaraderie and support is. The shared pride and single-mindedness to continue the ACJC heritage of educating the young people to grow in Integrity, Tenacity and Passion bind the hearts of the 180-strong faculty. In recent years, I too, have been subjected to the same surrealism my own Form Tutor and now HOD, Ms Ng Swee Pheng, experienced - my own student, Ms Sabrina Lim, has returned to the college to begin her teaching career! Apart from the daily denial of age and increasing seniority, I am emboldened and encouraged to do my bit to support and guide younger colleagues to let their life-stories be the very source of inspiration for the young ones they bless.”

Indeed, ACJC boasts a tri-generational teaching team, all coincidentally members of the GP department. HOD of English Ms Ng Swee Pheng was Form Tutor to Mr Sum, who was GP tutor to Ms Sabrina Lim, a GP tutor herself! Sabrina says of Mr Sum, “he was always an inspirational teacher whose infectious enthusiasm galvanised a sleepy class to pay attention to his lesson, and who always delivered effective GP lessons. It is a blessing to be taught by him as a student, and to continue to be taught by him as a teacher.”

Indeed, Mr Sum remains an inspiration for students and teachers alike!