Upfront! with Tan Kai Soon, Person Moving On!

Image credit: Google

Sometimes, we don’t recognize that what we’ve is precious. Studying may be a daily chore. Walking briskly from one point to another is easy. Taking a bath doesn’t require much effort. We take for granted what we should treasure.

When I first heard of Kai Soon’s academic journey, I wanted to speak to him, to know what he had been through. I wished to find out how an EM3 student eventually achieved an NTU degree despite suffering from progressive muscular dystrophy.

What I found out was more – much more – than what I intended to or imagined would. Thanks, Kai Soon, for sharing your story:

I’m so sorry about this, Kai Soon, but I’m not really sure what the symptoms of muscular dystrophy are. Can you please explain it?

It means that my muscles are wasting away over the years.

When I was younger, I didn’t know that I’ve a muscular disorder. My primary school teacher thought that I had flat foot. I struggled for the NAFA test. I was always tipping and falling for no good reason. Some classmates laughed at me because I took a long time to stand up.

It was hurtful, especially since I had no idea why.

Nowadays, I can thankfully still bathe myself. Ten years down the road, as my body grows weaker, I may not be able to do so.

When did you first realise that you’ve progressive muscular dystrophy?

When I was studying in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), I was diagnosed with this disease. The doctor recommended surgery so that I could walk better.

However, due to my muscle condition after the surgery, I am unable to walk as before and have to rely on the wheelchair to move about now.

For a while, I stayed at home and excluded myself from all social activities.

Thankfully, I’ve very supportive friends and lecturers from ITE.

So, Kai Soon, how had your education journey unfolded?

It was a long journey. EM3, Normal (Technical), ITE (known as Nitec and Higher Nitec after recent curriculum changes), Polytechnic, NTU.

In primary school, I was from the EM3 stream. In secondary school, I was placed in a Normal (Technical) class. I then moved on to achieve an ITE Nitec in Computer Technology and Higher Nitec in Electronics Engineering. Halfway through my Higher Nitec course, I was diagnosed with progressive muscular dystrophy, went for that life-altering surgery and became wheelchair-bound. For a while, I was really upset.

Thankfully, my friends supported me. One lecturer kindly drove me to and fro school for the remaining six months of the Higher Nitec course.

During my ITE days, I discovered the best way to study –

Really? What’s the best way?

There’s no shortcut. Flip through the pages. Study consistently. Spend every moment wisely.

Sorry for interrupting. What about the ITE?

Well, I studied Boodlean algebra then. That topic gave me the courage to believe in myself. If I could solve such algebra questions, I should be able to solve questions on easier topics. From then on, I found studying more manageable.

With my ITE grades, I qualified for a Singapore Polytechnic diploma course. I then moved on to complete an honours degree in Nanyang Technological University (NTU), majoring in Electronics and Electrical Engineering.

Just for interest, why NTU though?

NTU was the first school to offer me a place and, considering that it is more accessible for wheelchair users, I accepted it immediately.

So, after graduating, where did you work?

I applied for work at DSTA and did not manage to get it due to the physical requirement of the job. Actually, I wanted to serve National Service but was turned down as well. In the U.S., they have support such that even physically handicapped people can contribute. How I wish that this is the case too in Singapore.

In any case, I worked for a call center for eight months before I was hired by Asian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA) as part of the support staff.

AWWA has been very helpful. They sponsored a significant portion of my university education loan under the bond-free Be With Me Scholarship. This relieved my financial burden. Currently, AWWA provides me with free physiotherapy once a week – as an employee benefit – to delay my muscular degeneration. Hopefully, it can stretch the period during which I have some form of control over my hands.

Kai Soon, there are so many students who don’t know why they’re studying. They sit in the classrooms – physically there but aren’t really there. They’re tired early in the morning, after assembly, tired before recess, tired after recess, tired before lunch, tired after lunch and tired before going home. In fact, they are listless the entire day! It’s such a shame that the students don’t recognize how precious an education is, the doors that education opens and the opportunities it provides. Do you have any advice for them?

Usually, people with my background would have been out of the education system quite early on. I’m thankful for the chance to get a university education.

And I understand why they feel this way. They’ve no reason motivating them to put in effort. In some ways, no future they can look forward to.

I’ve friends who now tell me that they regret not putting in more effort for their studies. It may sound overused but people do regret not studying harder when they could.

In our lives, opportunities present themselves. Quite often, I didn’t know whether I could make it or not but I wanted to try. When I applied for my polytechnic and university courses, I didn’t know if I could get in. I tried – put in effort and really tried. In the end, I managed to.

Students should believe in themselves, cherish what they’ve and strive for what they want.

Last question – were you ever angry about your condition?

Yes, I was once resentful – how could I not be? Over time, I’ve gotten used to the staring though. I am who I am. You are who you are.

We’re all responsible for our future. What we do now will affect what that will occur. To be honest, I always envisioned myself as an F1 driver. There are many junctions in life. The routes are long and winding. However, along these journeys, opportunities will present themselves. What we need to do is to treasure them.

Thanks, Kai Soon, for sharing. Really appreciate this candid chat.


I reached out to Kai Soon and realized that we couldn’t shake hands. I could only thank him profusely with words and hope that words would suffice.

I had set out to learn more from Kai Soon, to discover lessons that I could share with some students who need help. During the chat, I was humbled and understood more about what that should be important.

Often, we sacrifice what we’ve most willingly, as though it doesn’t matter. We give away what that is precious – our time, our energy, opportunities to study or work or serve national service. We take what we have for granted as though we couldn’t care less.

This really shouldn’t be the case. Once again, thank you, Kai Soon, for sharing your journey.

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On Happiness

"Happiness isn't coins that you can save and spend.

You cannot withold the feeling, imaging that one day, some day, you'll experience all of it at one go. It isn't like pieces of sweets. It isn't a holiday or home that you save up for. By not feeling joy today, do you imagine that you can save it up and experience ecstasy in a distant future?

It cannot be delayed. It cannot be saved then spent.

It requires practice. You learn to be happier by feeling incrementally joyful each day. It is a muscle that must be exercised, lest it atrophy.

Learn to be happy. For only in learning so, will you be happy."

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Using the Syllabuses

A respected teacher once asked, "how many of you actually read your syllabuses before?" The class was quiet. A few students raised their right hands hesitantly. About 20% of them have read their syllabuses. 

"Now, let's take a look at your syllabus. There is a point-by-point explanation of what you are supposed to know. Which facts to remember, what diagrams to draw, why certain reactions take place. Do you all see why it is important for you to read the syllabuses? People who read them know what may be tested. As a result, they are better prepared for their exams and, in general, do better."

We should learn because we are interested in learning. However, there are school exams calibrated to test our understanding and to do well for them requires strategizing, like playing football games. We need action plans to help us do well, in this as well as in other endeavors.

As such, every student is highly encouraged to download and print the syllabuses for their personal references.

Read through them, know what will be tested. Before major examinations, use them as checklists. Tick against points that you're confident of scoring in. Highlight areas that you need to work on and revise these topics. Study smartly!

All the best for every exam and beyond :]

Source credit: SEAB

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On Criticisms and Complaints

It was recently reported that for every criticism a baby received, it will take 7 compliments to maintain his self-esteem.

This was from an article on living life fully. The author has a nephew who criticised himself badly. This nephew had became so fearful of living that he cooped himself in his room, moribund and lethargic.

They tried a little experiment: the nephew has to count the number of times he self-criticises in a day.

The next day, after 3 hours of counting, he stopped. In that mere span of time, he had criticised himself 50 odd times. Not once, or even twice. Fifty.

We're our worst critics. We see flaws in ourselves that others don't. We beat ourselves up over what should have been and what could have been. Life was lived backwards.

We're criticised and we repeat these criticisms to ourselves, spraying salt on festering wounds.

Let's remember this: 1 criticism = 7 compliments.

While we're our harshest critics, we must remember to be our most ardent fans too.

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How To Differentiate between Alkane and Alkene?

Alkanes and alkenes are organic compounds that may be found in many materials, including fuel and food. 

An alkane is a saturated hydrocarbon. It does not have any C=C double bond.

An alkene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon. It has a C=C double bond.

When reddish-brown bromine is added to an alkane, the solution will turn and remain reddish-brown. However, when bromine is added to alkene, its reddish-brown colour will become colourless.

The explanation for this may be viewed here. The video (without any audio) of the experiments may be seen below. Take a look!

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Being a Happy Teenager

Do you ever:

• wish you were older?
• wish you had more money?
• get embarrassed by your parents?
• wish you looked different?
• wish you had different parents?

Do you ever feel "No one understands me."

Do you ever wonder "Will I fall in love?"

Do you sometimes want to drown your brothers and sisters?

Do you ever ask "Why do I have to learn all this stuff in school that I will probably never need?"

Do you ever wonder "Am I normal?"

- Being a Happy Teenager, Chapter 1 by Andrew Matthews

These are some doubts that we may face at different points of our lives. We may feel that we're the only ones in this world with these problems, suffocated and overwhelmed.

Do remember that everyone has faced, is facing or will be facing such self-doubts too. Your friends, teachers and parents might have went through these troubles as well. You're not alone. Seek advice from others who have journeyed through these paths. Learn from their experiences, ask for their guidance. Share your dilemmas.

Also, examine some of your more restrictive thoughts and learn to rise above them. To grow and become happier, more receptive and wiser.

Don't be trapped in a morass of self-pity. Don't blame the world for your problems. Rise up to subdue or slay your challenges.

All the best on this journey of self-discovery! Life has much to offer you, as much as you have to contribute to it.

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Ionic Equations

Ionic Equations

To write ionic equations, follow the following steps:

1) Write a balanced equation with state symbols.
2) Leave (s), (l) and (g) alone. Split (aq) into ions.
3) Cancel ions that appear on both sides of the equation - "spectator ions".

Check that your final answer is correct:
* No. and type of atoms on RHS = No. and type of atoms on LHS
* Sum of charges on RHS = Sum of charges on LHS

Some practice questions may be found here. You are highly encouraged to download the file and try it a few times!

Check their solutions here, yup.

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Group 1 and 7 Periodicity

In the chapter Periodicity, under Group Trends, we observe that there are trends in the reactions of some elements. As such, these elements are in Groups.

For Group 1 Alkali Metals, we see that reactivity increases down the group. The reactions of these elements with water become increasingly vigorous. 

For Group 7 Halogens, a more reactive halogen will displace a less reactive halogen from its halide salt. The colour change may be observed below.

Take a look at the above videos!

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On Life and Learning

(The above article first appeared here.)

Source credit: NYTimes eXaminer 

And then, we convince ourselves that what we want aren’t really what we want. We rewrite the stories, paint over the partially coloured canvases and pretend that we don’t have those dreams.

Those dreams that we believe in and hope for and hanker after, they’re no longer.

It’s one of those quirks about failing. Once, we consider it an experience. Twice, a trial. And, if it happens too many times, we accept that it isn’t meant to be, that we aren’t good enough.

We tell ourselves that what we’ve are sufficient, that we should be contented.

This way, we soothe our envy. This way, we stop imagining. We allow some part within to fester and die. In sacrificing the possibilities – the what-ifs and what-may-bes – we become at peace.

- Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012

A professor reminded me of this post recently. We were talking about the nature of dreams – how to find the courage to strive for what we want and believe in. He noted that some Singaporeans gave up too easily.

Our chat was informal and insightful. There were no power relations; this professor didn’t talk down to me. He was older, more experienced, a Cambridge PhD holder, more accomplished in the arts and my lecturer. I was (and still am) woefully younger, inexperienced, an NUS undergraduate and his student. On any of these grounds, he could have made a patronising speech. He didn’t; for this, I’m grateful.

This professor has received awards in international arts festivals. He shared with me his life experiences:

1) Don’t over-rationalise away your ideas/ aspirations

Far too often, we find reasons for ourselves not to do something. We convince ourselves that our parents would be upset, that there are no ways we can make a living out of it. We believe others when they trivialise our aspirations.

Don’t do that.

It’s often easy to explain away our hopes – but how do we live with this state of denial? Please just try. Sometimes, the barriers you’ve built in your mind are far more formidable than the ones you’ll actually encounter.

2) Learn to be comfortable with who you are

Sit down, XY, and stop fidgeting. It’s really okay. I know that showing people your art is always a nerve-wrecking event. Up till now, whenever I show my films, I’ll cover my eyes with cupped hands and peep from the cracks between my fingers.

I’ve learnt, over time, to be more comfortable with who I am.

And you’ll have to learn as well. Don’t be so critical of yourself such that even you find it difficult to live with yourself.

3) Care for your efforts (even when others don’t)

Sometimes, people just don’t care about what you do. Back when I was in university, I was so excited after my one-year exchange and wanted to share my experiences with my friends. Then, I realised that they didn’t really want to know that much:

Friend: “How was the exchange?”

Me: “It was great and I -”

Friend: “So glad to hear that you had an awesome time! Let’s go and club now?”

You’d want to share your overseas adventures or the sweetness of success with people. You’d want to share an artwork, a program, an essay with your closed ones. These products, crystallised from hours of effort and thought.

But not all of them will appreciate or want that. You’ve to recognise that what’s important to you may not carry the same importance to the people around you and you’ve got to respect that. It’s critical that you appreciate your art, even when people around you just don’t care.

4) Lose yourself in your efforts

You need momentum in your art. You need to pour more individuality within. I can’t sense the person you’re in your art.

Most people who succeed in a brilliant manner, they lose themselves in their endeavors. It’s what they live for. They get all excited and hyped up over it. Is what you’re doing now what you’re living for?

5) Have confidence in failing repeatedly

It’s one thing to taste success, but quite another to taste failure. It feels that there is a social stigma attached with failing in Singapore. Look, failing is not a disease.

Learn to expect and accept failures. You’ll probably fail so often that it no longer matters.

True, failing hurts and, to some people, it hurts badly. But please don’t let the fear of failing stop you from trying.

6) Speak up

Speak up more. Fight for what you believe in. Singapore has this aura which makes days blend into one murk. I’ll wake up and think about what happened yesterday and I won’t remember it.

The country has this very comfortable, numbing environment that conditions people to be less aware of their surroundings. We walk to the pedestrian crossing, look at the traffic lights, wait for the green man. Cross. It was never like that when I was overseas. When I was in the Middle East, I could remember the stucco walls that I passed by daily, the nooks and crannies of every street.

This comfortable environment in Singapore has allowed many citizens to take their privileges for granted. In many ways, there’re top-notch policies that citizens fail to appreciate. This comfortable environment has also allowed Singaporeans to become less questioning, less probing. More willing to accept the status quo and the associated problems.

Don’t passively accept the truths that are handed to you. Question it, examine it. Understand it. Learn more about the nuances of issues. It’s okay that you are for or against certain policies. Just don’t do it blindly. And learn to speak up for what you have faith in.

7) Be open-minded to possibilities

People are so focused on pursuing the ideal job, so bent on the end results. They are so focused that they no longer see other possibilities.

In yesterday’s class, I asked, “who knows why you’re majoring in what you’re majoring now. Come on, raise your hands, don’t be shy.” Only one person raised her hand. I’ve done this with many classes before and many young people just don’t know what they want. It’s such a waste. I wish that NUS has a policy of allowing modules taken in the first year to be ungraded so that students can explore their interests.

I once had another student. Fantastic designer. On an overseas field trip, she showed us sketchbooks worth of fashion designs. And, can you guess her major?

She’s in Engineering. What’s a pity about such cases is that you people tend to do well in the system – straight As and all. There’s no need to be risk the safe and proven, for the unexplored, uncharted grounds.

8) Pursue your dreams when you’re young

I’m glad that you found what you want to do. Have the courage to do it, especially since you’re still young.

When you get older, you accumulate duties. You accumulate responsibilities and become tied down by them. I wish I’ve discovered what I now want to do when I was younger. It’d have been a lot easier.

And, above all, why do you wish to work? What’re you striving for? You need a compelling reason to push forth. Can you find one? Do you have one? Is this going to be a part of your life?

I hope that you’ll find the answers. Please try harder. And, all the best.

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Chem Humour

A proton, neutron, and electron went out to dinner one night.  After a luxurious meal, the waiter brought the check to the proton and the electron.  The neutron was perplexed as to why the waiter didn't bring him his check.  So, he summoned the waiter to the table and asked him about it.

The waiter explained to the neutron, "For you, there's no charge!"

- On atomic structure

A small piece of ice which lived in a test tube fell in love with a Bunsen burner. "Bunsen! My flame! I melt whenever I see you," said the ice. 

The Bunsen burner replied,"It's just a phase you're going through".

- On phase changes

The pessimist sees the glass half empty.
The optimist sees the glass half full. 
The chemist see the glass completely full, half in the liquid state and half in the vapor state.

Q: What is "HIJKLMNO"? 
A: H2O.

Q: What did the scientist say when he found 2 isotopes of helium? 
A: HeHe

Two atoms are walking down the street.
Says one atom to the other, "Hey! I think I lost an electron!"
The other says, "Are you sure??"
"Yes, I'm positive!"

- On Ionisation

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