Principal's Message

Guangyang Secondary School is the third school I have had the privilege to lead as a School Principal. Each school, each student, and each colleague has shaped my perspective on the power of education. This journey also brings me back to the profound influence of my own family, especially my paternal and maternal grandmothers, who taught me the value of resilience and sacrifice.

My paternal grandmother was 102 years old when passed away in 2018. Illiterate throughout her life, she stayed home to raise 11 children, reared pigs and chickens, and processed coconut sticks to earn extra income. When my late father applied for Nanyang University in the mid-1960s, he was able to do so financially only after receiving a bursary from Public Service Commission and from the money his mother saved from processing the sticks of coconut leaves. He went on to become the first graduate of the family. Through his education, he helped his younger siblings through university, some of whom—along with the next generation—became teachers. This legacy, from an illiterate mother to a family of educators, is a powerful reminder of how education can change the course of lives.

My maternal grandmother married shortly after World War II, and my mother was born soon after. At that time, education was a luxury for girls, especially for the eldest in the family. However, my mother got her way to be schooled because her mother (my maternal grandmother) supported her education, allowing her to receive more schooling than many girls of her generation. My mother became one of my first teachers, and to this day, she continues her lifelong learning, reading the newspaper every day. Both grandmothers laid the groundwork for the opportunities my family and I enjoy today. They remind me that the power of education is a gift not to be taken for granted.

As I lead Guangyang, I am reminded that our students are tomorrow’s leaders, parents, and mentors. Every student here has the potential to impact future generations, just as my grandmothers’ sacrifices echo in my life and work today. Even the naughtiest students today will go on to become someone's grandparents one day. Our mission as educators is to help them see that potential within themselves.

I also recognise that the world is changing rapidly. Unlike past generations, most of us will not stay in a single career or even field for our entire lives. This makes lifelong learning, adaptability, and resilience more essential than ever. One important aspect of this is learning to cope with challenges, including those we may not enjoy. As someone who took Chinese Language as first language at lower primary, I struggled with English Language as a secondary student. My late father, himself a Chinese language teacher, encouraged me to take English Literature at upper secondary level, believing that exposure to the subject would help me improve, regardless of my grades. I accepted the challenge, and eventually, I went on to pursue English language modules in my undergraduate days. This experience taught me the value of perseverance in unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations. As Professor Randy Pausch (author of The Last Lecture) once said, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”

At Guangyang, we are committed to helping our students build their own “bank” of experiences—ones they can draw upon in tough times.  We encourage them to learn from both setbacks and successes, to be kind to others, and to build strong social connections.  These foundations will support them in the many journeys ahead.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of our students’ lives, and I look forward to watching them grow, learn, and contribute to our community and beyond. 

Ms Tan Ke-Xin