Never say DIE: A Professor's Story

Hi guys (and a girl ;)

I was thinking of what to write today, and I got an idea when my dad and my sis were talking about PSLE results in the car.

My dad's a professor, and I guess all of you know it, cos I couldn't resist revealing it at that time (I had limited intelligence before then, even if it was only 6 months ago :) I may have told you this story before, I do not remember, but here it goes.

My dad was the youngest and one of 2 boys of a family. He was born left-handed, (and they say left-handed people have a higher IQ, but die earlier) and was the most intelligent of the family. He caught bats and studied them (when he was young), hatched mynahs and taught them a few words and so on.

He was one of the top in his primary school, and did well when he sat for his prelims. Then came the PSLE. Last time, the PSLE cert only showed if you passed or failed. He was aiming to get into RI. He took the test, thought he did quite well. Then came the shocking news, he wasn't given the school of his choice. He was sent to Upper Thomson, one of the lousy neighbourhood schools. He was one of the 2 in his top class to not get his school of choice.

His whole family was shocked, and his father [my grandad who died before I was born, I heard he was a great man, more on him next time] desperately tried to get him to a good school, but only managed to get a place in a-dunno-what monks hill sec sch. My dad said he didn't want to be a monk [he's joking i guess, great exaggerator, that guy] so he went to Upper Thomson. I think my grandad must be thinking, "poor son, his future is ruined".

Anyway, he REFUSED to believe that he did badly. He thought it was a mistake [and I think its because of his terrible handwriting, he's left handed remember?] and REFUSED to give up. I guess that he wasn't the first at Sec 1 [so maybe it was a mistake, don't let him hear that :], but he did so well in Science he managed to go to university [where he met my mom, who always lent him her notes that she copied, but that's another story] and he clinched a PhD in Biology, and became a Professor, inventing the glowing orchid, resveratrol cream [miracle skin cream, I would say] etc. If he had given up, thinking, "maybe I am not destined to become a professor..." I wouldn't be here.

Maybe if he had not gone to Upper Thomson, he would have not become a Professor. His father wanted him to be a medical doctor, but he did not want to. [one of the next emails, following your dreams]. So perhaps it wasn't a mistake after all. But the thing was that, he never gave up and finally realised his dream. Perhaps you may have failed once, but the failure could be a hidden stepping stone!

And about me? I am pursuing a different path in life. From the Gifted Stream, I opted out and went to a neighbourhood school [and I don't think my parents are very happy about that, they think I'm lazy, but they don't see that I spend my free time on the mental sciences, metaphysics, manifestation, philosophy, meditation because that is my DREAM to become an expert on those ;) But again, more on that later! Got our Common Tests tomorrow. Thats for today, and please learn the moral of the Story. Never say Die.

Cheers and well wishes,
Aaron

P.S Oh yes, I am collecting all these emails on a blog. Its not one of course, just think of it as a library of Aaron's emails!

http://emailsfrmaaron.blogspot.com/