My teacher, the band member

My teacher, the band member

In Singapore, pursuing a full-time career in music is not very viable as there is a lack of support for local music. However, this does not mean that aspiring musicians should shelve their dreams.

The goal of getting good grades, which will lead to a "good" job, has been ingrained in me since I was young. I was led to believe there was no point in pursuing non-academic dreams, and no possibility I would ever realise them.

But this year, I was fortunate enough to have Mr Colin Lim as my form teacher. I had heard that he was the lead vocalist of a band outside school but I did not believe this.

"A teacher, part of a band?" I scoffed in disbelief.

But I realised that what I heard was true after I watched Mr Lim performing with popular local indie band, King Kong Jane, on YouTube. I was inspired. If I dared to try, there was so much more I could do after finishing my schooling.

King Kong Jane's perseverance was shown by how the band members came up with their self-released debut album, Waiting For Friday, despite having little idea how to do so. It took them four years but they never gave up.

They are also realistic, emphasising during interviews that they all have day jobs as the earnings from being full-time musicians are insufficient. It is a rather welcome change from the carefree mantra of "go ahead, pursue your dreams and don't worry about the money" that we often hear from others.

Mr Lim is a passionate English teacher as well as a caring and responsible form teacher. Being taught by him has been one of my best experiences in school, and I can honestly say that I look forward to school nowadays.

Eden Chua, 15, Secondary 3 student

CALLING YOUNG READERS: Youth Forum is a weekly column showcasing the views of our younger readers. If you are below 21 and want to air your opinion on any issue, e-mail your letter to stforum@sph.com.sg with the header "Youth Forum". Do include your age, educational level and contact details.


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