"Hello, my friends, a former CSHI student here. I have many fond memories of CSHI and brought along some very important lessons in life itself upon with it leaving the school.

With only my self confidence and the qualities nurtured in me by my form teachers, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery at the age of 10 in my new school, St. Anthony’s Primary. By the grace of God, and the support of my family as well with a good childhood foundation, I was given this opportunity to become integrated into the hearing world.

Thanks to CSHI’s emphasis on a well rounded education that was very different from the norm, the integration was a seamless one. My friends and I learnt so much about the hearing culture as opposed to one centered on our ‘deaf culture’, through excursions, anecdotes and current affairs. Hence, since that effectively demolished all barriers to communication, coping with our new ‘normal’ schools were not too difficult since we had acquired sufficient social finesse to make new friends as well as gain the respect of them including the teachers.

In fact, the hearing world was much more curious about us seeing that we hearing impaired people aren’t much different from them, apart from our hearing disabilities. We shared the same goals, the same interests, and the same idiosyncrasies such as dating, teenage angst and so on. CSHI effectively guided us along into making us examples that society should start to rethink their social misnomers and misconceptions of us.

It is only then, with the full support of society that my friends and I, finally managed to climb into the higher echelons with a solid rooting in the hearing world. We made friends, good and bad. We hung out with them. We shared virtually everything. Currently, I am in the midst of my studies in the University. Sometimes, I do reflect deeply into the longer, yet much more fulfilling route we took to reach where we are today.

Perhaps I would like to share with you all, especially with my friends from the Canossian School one of the most important lessons I and my peers learnt. It is only you yourself whom will determine your self-worth. Attitude is everything and regardless of whatever aptitude you started with, attitude is the very essence that will finally determine your altitude. Start to make a difference today! And tell yourself that you will succeed eventually! "

Written by
Edward Kok