Nicole Seah regrets being an ‘average student, not studying as hard’ as she should have

Singapore — Popular Workers’ Party politician Ms Nicole Seah admitted in a Sept 15 Facebook post that she had not been particularly motivated and hardworking in her youth, which she regrets to this day.

Ms Seah had posted a photo of herself as a child side by side with a more recent one, joining the #ThisLittleGirlIsMe campaign to support Inspiring Girls Singapore, an initiative of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO).

She said in her post that she went to “good schools” and while other children knew what they wanted and “were excelling in sports, academia, or a tangible talent,” she “was never top of the class or part of the elite.” 

“In fact I would admit to being an average student and not studying as hard as I should have, a regret I still have to this day,” she wrote in an admission unusual for Singaporean culture. 

Interestingly, it was during her “rebellious” phase at the National University of Singapore, when Ms Seah came alive. 

“I suddenly developed this spark and inclination for unearthing the perspectives and voices that went unheard, in the form of student journalism and activism.

It was then that I internalised for the first time that there are different sides to a story, and there is a lot more that we can discover when we do not take everything we see at face value. That crystallised my big “Why” and eventual foray into opposition politics right after I graduated, and the rest as they say is history,” she added.

Commenters on her post found her story inspiring. 

“Perfection can also be a state of mind and some people grow wiser over time,” wrote one netizen.

Ms Seah answered saying she agreed.

Other supporters commented saying they looked forward to seeing her in Parliament. 

A number of other politicians also posted #ThisLittleGirlIsMe photos, including Tin Pei Ling, Cheng Li Hui, Indranee Rajah, Amy Khor, Denise Phua, Gan Siow Huang, Grace Fu and Josephine Teo. /TISG

Read also: Nicole Seah highlights economic woes of fishmongers due to Covid curbs

Nicole Seah highlights economic woes of fishmongers due to Covid curbs