Tay Jia Xin Alysia, 14

School: Serangoon Garden Secondary School

Topic: An email to your teacher about your observations on your classmate.

Award: High Distinction, Junior Category, 2023

Dear Mr Tan,

I hope this email finds you well. I am Aden Tan of 2A. I am writing to bring your attention to some observations I have made regarding Thomas from class 2A, as I am concerned for his well-being. For some context, he has been on the deceased donor kidney transplant waiting list for the last two years. Over the past few weeks, I noticed that Thomas has been feeling dejected, and I believe it has something to do with his situation.

Firstly, during class activities, I noticed that Thomas sits out and disengages from group work. He does not show enthusiasm for anything nowadays, even for things he used to enjoy, such as playing football. Thomas has always been a very enthusiastic boy, active and very outgoing. He likes to interact with his classmates and will play football with his teammates during his free time. However, his enthusiasm and engagement seems to have diminished in the past few weeks.

When I spoke to him, he quietly explained that there have been complications in the donor waiting list, and he feels overwhelmed. The uncertainty and frustration associated with waiting for a transplant stresses him out. I know how he feels as my grandfather was once in a similar situation, facing the emotional, physical and mental challenges of living with kidney disease.

Personally, I hope to propose a few class activities to cheer him up and show our solidarity. Firstly, our class can write positive notes to Thomas. Each classmate could write an uplifting message or words of encouragement for him. We can collect these notes and present them as a surprise. This simple gesture can make him feel supported and valued.

Secondly, we can also plan a class picnic and outing during one of the weekends in the term. Hopefully, the class picnic or outing would give Thomas an opportunity to interact with his peers in a relaxed and enjoyable setting and help to divert his current worries. This could help Thomas feel included and remind him that he is not alone in his journey.

Lastly, we could reach out to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) to link Thomas up with individuals who can support Thomas on this journey. I hope that we would be able to reach out to volunteers or individuals who have experience with organ transplants to provide inspiration and timely reassurance for Thomas when he needs it. Listening to someone who had successfully gone through a similar journey could inspire hope and motivation in him to live well.

Hopefully, by carrying out these activities, we can create an inclusive and supportive environment for Thomas. Not only can he be assured, it would be a good opportunity for students in the class to be more empathetic and caring. I think Thomas would be very appreciative of our efforts.

Thank you for taking time to read and consider my proposal. I look forward to your feedback on my suggestions.

Yours sincerely,
Aden Tan

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2023 are those of the participants and are not endorsed by the National Organ Transplant Unit (Ministry of Health). To learn more about organ donation and organ transplantation in Singapore, please visit www.liveon.gov.sg