Category Archives: Student Testimonies

Good afternoon, friends, supervisors, and parents. I’m Javine. It is an honour for me to speak to you today as the valedictorian of 2023. When I was in secondary school, I wasn’t the wisest when it came to choosing my friends, and as such I started smoking, drinking and skipping school. I had terrible grades, I was rude to my teachers, and I always found myself having a chat with the disciplinary master. Eventually, I got permanently suspended. I wasn’t allowed to attend school during curricular hours, and I was only given an hour or so to have lessons 1 to 1 with my teachers after school. I knew my life was going in the wrong direction, but I couldn’t muster up the strength to change it. So I gave up on myself. I gave up on having a proper education, a bright future, and worst of all I gave up on God and my walk with Him. However, the thought of an uncertain future haunted me. I tried running from my issues by indulging in alcohol and cigarettes, but the relief was only temporary. I became depressed, I felt that life had no meaning, and I struggled with finding my purpose here on earth.

When I joined VL in 2019, I carried the same defiant attitude with me. I was rude to my supervisors, and when I had the opportunity, I would always skip school. But there was a difference – no matter how hard I tried to convince my supervisors to give up on me and let me continue to go down my path of self-destruction, they just never seemed to lose hope. I remember the first chat Mrs Chan had with me. She was trying to get me to change my ways and give my education a second chance. It was all the things I knew were right but did not want to hear. It frustrated me and I remember swearing at her. Her response genuinely surprised me; she didn’t reprimand me nor was she upset. She told me that I may have given up on myself, but she hasn’t and neither has my mom, and if I wanted to turn my life around, she would be there and willing to help and guide me. It was this hope and belief my supervisor and mother had in me that eventually got me to rethink my life choices. So, thank you Mrs Chan for always seeing the best and believing in that lost child. Thank you, Mom, for tolerating my nonsense and bad attitudes. I apologize for all the times I was rude to you and the sleepless nights you had worrying about my future. I love you.

For all of you here who have an idea, a goal, or a dream that you have given up on because it seemed too big or because of the number of times you’ve heard, “No, it’s impossible, that’s just not realistic.” I want you to know that I believe in you, and I’ll be praying for your success. Don’t give up just yet. You never know, your next try could just be the time you succeed. I pray that in this ocean of “NO”s, my one “YES” is enough to reignite your passion and drive for your dreams. Enough for you to muster up the strength to give it one more try. I believe that all of you here will succeed – the important thing is to put God in the centre of that dream, and He will turn your dream into a reality. Thank you all for your time; have a good evening.

Good evening everyone! My name is Janelle, and I’m humbled to be standing here representing the graduands of 2019. Words are not enough to express the privilege to be part of this batch of graduates, who each has an inspiring story to share. From struggling with our fears, dramas, doubts and personal issues, to overcoming them, we certainly have come a long way.

I believe that we all have loads of fond memories from our journey in Victory Life. I certainly do. It brings a smile to my face whenever I recount moments like erasing the colorful words written on my PACEs by “you know who you are,” listening to a dear friend practice her Aussie accent almost every day, hearing one of my classmates shout “Fire! Fire!” in class, sitting beside Conrado (who insists that I mention his name in my speech), exchanging countless texts with a supervisor about waiting for the right one (wink wink), and experiencing the Regional and International Student Conventions. Finding out that I was chosen as the valedictorian was definitely a big moment for me. If you had told me five years ago that I would be graduating from high school – let alone as a valedictorian – my parents and I would have thought, “Impossible!”

Five years ago, I was drowning in anxiety, eating disorder, and plagued with suicidal thoughts. I came into Victory Life broken and rejected. Trapped in the past and negative thoughts, coming to school every day was a struggle because I was constantly fearful and anxious. I remember how I used to stand outside the door in the Balestier campus, trembling as I struggled to even ring the bell to enter the school, and I had to work on my PACEs in the conference room instead of being in the Learning Center. However, those days are so far behind me now. In the past, I used to dread break time, during which I would always hide away in quiet places, silently crying by myself. But break time has since become a huge anticipation of the day for me, a time when I can put aside PACE work and just enjoy the company of my friends. I remember that I used to break down at the mere thought of having to be around people and would even go to the extent of hiding in the reception room during chapel time. Now, I join in chapel and engage in many school activities, including the recent International Student Convention held in Missouri. It’s ironic how I used to be fearful of making friends and opening up to any supervisor when I first entered VL, because I have not only made lifetime friends but gained another family here, who each has played irreplaceable roles in my transition from despair to hope. It’s also amazing how out of them are also a few whom God has used to inspire me to want to bring hope and education to under-privileged kids. You guys know who you are. You have a long-standing place in my heart. Pa and Ma, you are included.

It has been a journey of growth, filled with buckets of tears, and buckets and buckets of joys. I came into Victory Life empty and broken, but I have since been filled by God with love and hope and I can only give Him the glory for my transformation. Throughout, I have learned that we mustn’t allow our past mistakes to define who we are, because transformation is possible and nothing is beyond hopeless. As Corrie ten Boom said, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Graduates, would you join me as I reflect about how far we have all come? Through this journey it is evident, for me, that there was never a second that God was not with us. We have become more than conquerors through God’s ever-present help and mercy in obstacles and through His unfailing love that drives out fears when we draw close to Him.

And to my fellow school mates: God has already begun a good work in you, and He will bring it to completion and fulfill His plans and purposes for you. Keep walking with Him. You are priceless to God.

So, friends, I was just wondering… Why don’t we begin availing ourselves to live out our destiny in Him? Why not let us live for dreams and visions far beyond ourselves, sculpted by God in love? He’s calling you. I’m in this, so why not let us all do it together?

Thank you, and all praise and glory to Jesus!

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When I was 15 years old, I left public school with a strong desire to be homeschooled. I had been struggling with some difficulties — mostly emotional — that hindered me from attending school like any other student. My parents, however, were unable to homeschool me. Through a series of events (that I believe did not happen by chance), I found Victory Life Christian School (VLCS).

I, for one, can testify that VLCS is a school like no other. In VLCS, character building is always the primary focus. Character traits and moral values are weaved into our curriculum and we learn about them as we study English, Math, Science, etc. These character traits are further emphasized through chapel services and morning devotions. VLCS is also a place where these character traits can be readily applied — we are always encouraged to reach out to the young ones and the students with special needs, whether through tutoring or through school events. It is certainly a breath of fresh air to have teachers (or supervisors and monitors) who care about the people we are becoming, rather than how well-developed our brains are.

VLCS teaches students how to learn independently. We set our daily goals and work at our own pace. We never have to conform to expectations of our academic abilities. We grow to understand ourselves and how we “function” best. No particular study technique is forced upon us. We are also always reminded to be mindful of the little things. Hence today, almost two years after I graduated, I still set daily goals for myself, practice neat cursive handwriting, keep a Bible journal, and push in my chair after I get up — something my friends from public school are always impressed by! These little habits have certainly prepared me for greater pursuits in life, such as going to study Speech Science at the University of Sheffield in the UK!

When I left public school, I thought everything was “over” for me. I never would have thought I could come this far. VLCS gave me a second chance at education, helped me come out of my shell, and sharpened my interest in working with children. Above all, VLCS brought me back to the arms of the ever-faithful God. I still have a long way ahead, but I will carry every big and small thing I learnt at VLCS with me to university and beyond.

Miss Lim Min graduated from VLCS in August, 2014, and is now preparing to study Speech Science at the University of Sheffield in the UK.