Your Backpack for Life

On 2 June 2009, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, gave a speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Pre-University Seminar 2009.

In his speech, entitled Your Backpack for Life, Dr Ng addressed the group of pre-university students and explained his hope for them, that after 12 years in the education system, they would take with them the four essential C's to face life's challenges.

The first C is Confidence. It is what gives you the drive to achieve your goals and must not be confused with ability. The following is an extract of his speech.

"Recently, I had a chat with Charles, one of the brothers of the famous local Charles and Keith brand that sells shoes and accessories. His story illustrated the difference and the link between confidence and ability. Charles told me that he was not academically gifted. In fact, he openly proclaimed that he did not do well for his O levels and went no further. From young, he helped out in his parents’ shop selling shoes. Charles did not have academic ability, but he did have confidence to push for ideas and believed that if he worked hard and was not afraid to try, he would succeed. His parents’ shop was one of those small shops you usually see in your typical HDB neighbourhood. But Charles believed he could build a global brand. Today, Charles and Keith have 215 shops in 23 countries worldwide with a turnover of about $98 million in 2008. Did Charles have ability? Of course, he did and that’s why he succeeded. But, and this is the essential difference, he did not allow others nor the system to define his abilities or limit what he could achieve. Charles could have succumbed to conventional definition. He could have dreamt small or adopted a defeatist attitude, but he did not. How often have you been limited by what others or you yourself think you are capable of?"

The link to Dr Ng's speech can be found here http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2009/06/02/speech-by-dr-ng-eng-hen-at-the-25.php and in it, Dr Ng elaborates on the other C's, and the rest of his speech. Although it's a speech for a pre-university seminar, much of its content is relevant to every one regardless what stage of your life you are in. It is not a long speech and it provides for good reflection.