Jariya

Dear Mr.Fam, and every of my teacher from San Yu,

I am not sure that you all still have a memory of me. I am Na from sec 1-2 from 2017-2018 school year. I watched a video introducing our school on Facebook, and I miss San Yu a lot! I hope you’re doing well and I just want to say “Thank you” to every teacher and staff in the school for such a great year that I spent in San Yu. It was my first year studying abroad, and San Yu felt like home to me until now whenever I look back. I still remember those Christian songs especially now I am in a Baptist school and we also sing 10,000 reasons,ect. Thank you for all of your help and support during that time. San Yu is where I started to learn a lot things, not only English and other subjects, but also some valuable life lessons. It helps contributing to where I am and what I am achieving right now. Also, I met a lot of good friends from San Yu that I still keep in touch until now. I am so grateful to be a part of the school. I thought it would be nice to send a “thank you” message to San Yu, especially the teachers. I don’t have any other teachers’ contact in order to send everyone this. I hope you have a wonderful morning and please help me to spread my gratitude to my teachers and Mr Raja, the librarian! 
I miss San Yu a lot wherever I go! I hope to visit soon to see how much it has changed!!

Your student,
Na (Nguyen Ngoc Thao Nguyen)

Dear fellow students,

Not everyone is aiming to be the top student – neither am I. However, you need to understand your strengths and weaknesses and set an achievable goal to move towards your ambitions, regardless of where you want to go after receiving your results or which fields you are interested in. We need to think thoroughly before making any decisions. Preparatory work does play a vital role and it has to be done early. It is fine to change your mind regarding your ambition since we are still teenagers, but do not make it too vague for yourself so that you can figure out a clearer future. Do remember to discuss your plans with your parents, other family members, teachers, friends, and whoever can lend you a helping hand when you find yourself in a dilemma.

If you want to make an improvement in your weak subjects, the simplest and quickest way is to find a good tuition teacher who can coach you personally at your own time. However, having such a tuition teacher does not mean that you can sleep during lessons in school, as you may find out that your school teacher and tuition teacher may have different ways of imparting knowledge which may both be useful for you. Asking questions in the classroom is another method to improve. It is not a shameful act; instead, it is an easy way to solve any problems, both academic and mental.

All in all, play hard, study hard, enjoy the new facilities, and do better!

Written by:

Wang Han Xiao
Secondary 4-1 (2016)
 

Taking the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) was a stressful period in Primary 6, but I did it. Credit definitely goes to my teachers who taught me the techniques and methods to excel. I would like to thank teachers such as Mrs Betty Foo, Mrs Ng, Mr Foo and several others for being with us through this hurdle. Under guidance from these teachers and my mother, coupled with my determination, I managed to attain the score I really wanted. To all Primary 6 students in years to come, I hope you will study diligently and do your best. Remember this tip: Understanding is key, not memorising.

Jeremiah,
Primary 6 (2016)

Ivan Chua, Secondary 4 graduate in 2008, posted a message on Facebook after giving a motivational talk to students at chapel on Apr 25, 2016. 

Currently, he is a scholarship holder with NUS, doing his PHD in Food.

My name is Shuyue, a Sec 2 student from San Yu Adventist School. This is my first year studying in Singapore. These few months have been really amazing.

My cousin is a Christian. Before I came to Singapore, he had always tried to tell me about Jesus and the Bible. But it was difficult to make me, a freethinker, to accept it at once. This made me annoyed to hear about Jesus all the time. I tried to stay away from my cousin to avoid listening to him. My cousin never gave up, instead he sent me to San Yu.

Before I came to San Yu, I heard that San Yu was a Christian school. It reminded me of the negative feeling I had before. I did not want to go to school, but I had no choice. I was really upset on my first day of school. But something happened that changed my mind. 

I felt lost after the flag-raising ceremony on the first day. I stood at the corner, and watched as more and more students walked past me. It really frightened me. I felt lost in an unfamiliar surrounding with strange people. I had no idea what to do. Out of nowhere, three students asked me if I was a new student, then they led me to my classroom. It was impressed that the students in San Yu are kind and helpful.

I decided to find out more about San Yu. My classmates were really friendly. They invited me to join a Bible Study class to learn more about God. After a few classes, I was impressed by the stories of Jesus. I began to understand what my cousin meant, when he said Jesus loves us even more than Himself. He saved us because of his love for us and that we should be thankful all the time. Today, I am thankful to have a chance to study in San Yu, and to know my teachers and friends. Most of all, I thank God for what He has done for us.

Zhu Shu Yue (S2-2)

I am Bingfeng from China and I am sixteen years old. Even though this is my first year in SYAS, I have learnt a lot and gained many precious memories.

I live in Choa Chu Kang which is very far from my school so I have become an early riser. Every day when I pass through the gates of our school, I always see Mr. Paul, our Security Officer. He always waves and smiles at me warmly even though he does not know my name! The smile on his face is warms me up and I am happy to meet him every day.

Every week, we go to chapel to pray and sing praises to God. Initially, as a freethinker, I did not know how to pray and why I should pray. However, my teachers and pastors let me know the reason through their attitude and relationships with others.

I remember one occasion, it was the last period of the day. I had many questions when the class was over, so I asked Ms. Lee, my Science teacher who explained to me very patiently until all my questions were answered. When I looked at the clock again, I found out that I had used two hours of her time. She told me that I could ask her any questions whenever she was available. God is patient and Ms. Lee has proven that to me.

On another occasion during Sports Day, I participated in a relay even though I knew I was not a good runner. When it was my turn, I felt nervous and was running very slowly. Even though my friends were faster than the runners from other classes, we still lost because of me. When I left the field, I felt embarrassed and dared not look at my friends. I thought they would be laughing or shouting at me. However, they did not; they all stood around me and encouraged me to do better the next time. They had shown me again the forgiving nature of God.

Gradually, I learn how to pray and the reason for prayer. After the Week of Prayer, two of my classmates and I started Bible study with my teacher, Mr. Fam. Through the Bible study, I have come to know God better.

I am very glad that I have come to San Yu Adventist School and have met my friends and teachers. It was through them that I was introduced to God who has made my life more meaningful and purposeful.

Cai Bing Feng (S2-2)

I am Jariya from Thailand. I was baptized on 8th March in Thomson Chinese Church. Before that I could never have imagined myself to become an Adventist. It has been amazing how God has led me this far. He performed a great miracle that changed my life forever… and that miracle was my journey to know Him. 

Like some of you my family is Buddhist. Our teachings are completely different from Christianity. Buddhism taught me that when I do good things I will gain merit. From young I was taught that the origins of human beings evolved from a monkey and I accepted it was a fact but I always wondered why humans, the way they behave and their characters, were so different and special from monkeys – but now I know I didn’t come from a monkey, but that I am God’s special and unique child. 

My personal journey began when I came to Singapore with my parents. I had attended San Yu Adventist School since Primary 4 (2009). When I first heard of the Bible and the miracles that Jesus performed, I thought it was part of children literature. When I was in Primary 6, Ms. Ling, my form teacher, invited me to church. And yes, I sneaked to church occasionally and told my parents I was meeting with some friends. I was interested in what the Christians were doing and this person called Jesus Christ.

I searched for God and a friend from Sunday Church approached me and gave me Bible Study, then later by God’s providence, I made friends with a new classmate, Yi Houy, in Secondary 2 and she invited me to join her with her bible study and that was how I started having bible study with Mr. Thomas. As I discovered more about God, I started to slowly change myself, such as my eating habits, my lifestyle, keeping the Sabbath, going to church, attending caregroup. 

I continued to have both bible studies at the same time, but I felt like I was stuck in the middle, standing on two boats going different directions. The teachings and beliefs of the Sunday Church and Saturday Church confused me. It was getting very complicated. I knew that if this continued, I would fall. So I decided to stop having bible study with my Sunday Church friend but had a hard time going about breaking the news to her because she was my friend. But I knew that there is only one truth and I was searching for the truth. So even though it was hard, I decided to stick to God and do what was right.

It wasn’t long before I realized that I needed God in my life and am ready to accept Him as my personal saviour. 

Before this, I never told my parents about church or caregroup. I always told them that I was meeting my friends. But now that I had found God to be real, I had to let my parents know what I was doing and to share with them my newfound faith. I could not keep this a secret because I love them. So I told them about care group and asked for permission to attend the church weekly. Out of love they allowed me to.

I used to think that my parents would never allow me to be baptized and join the church. I remembered the night when I approached my dad to ask him for permission to be baptized. I prayed for courage. At first I didn’t know how to begin. But as soon as I opened my mouth, I could feel the power of the Holy Spirit working through me. I was amazed. I was sure of my decision. I asked my dad for his consent. And I clearly heard him replied “No!”…… At that moment, I felt like my heart stopped beating.

Then he added, “But I consider you old enough to make your own decisions.”

Phew! I was so relieved. I knew that it was God who had given the courage. Although my parents are non-Christians, they accepted me for who I am and I know they love me very much.

My walk with God had been an amazing journey. I graduated from San Yu last year at the same time my parents moved back to Thailand. Then I attend Innova JC for 3 months. I then realise that A level isn’t what I want to achieve. I then decided that I will be moving to Thailand to study at Asia Pacific International University. I had peace upon making the decision to withdraw from JC and move back to Thailand. I am sad to leave my church and friends whom I love, but I’m sure God’s love will remain in us that we will continue to encourage and support one another in faith, love and hope of salvation. 

I am more than a monkey. I am a child of a loving Father in heaven. If I hadn’t come to know Him, I would have lived a life for myself. But now God is the centre of my life. I want to live my life for Him. Wherever the Lord leads, it is my delight to follow Him. I have committed myself to the Lord and here I am, I ask God to send me. I am uncertain of what my future while me like after I leave Singapore, but one thing I am confident of is that God will lead me in the next chapter of my life and I am safe thus far.

I pray that one day, my family would see Jesus in me, and come to Jesus personally, for themselves. I feel the burden to share Jesus with my family because I know our Lord is returning soon. 

This is another big transition period for me, through trusting and obeying God, I know that my Saviour will lead me all the way. 

May 2016