Stanley Pang Wei Jun, 14

School: St. Joseph’s Institution

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

Award: Distinction, Junior Category, 2023

Supporting Dave

Dear Ms Chan,

I am Stanley from class ML201. Sorry to bother you over this long weekend, but this is rather urgent. I am writing this email as I have noticed Dave’s despondent behaviour over the past week, which is very unlike his usual self. After raising the issue to the Class Committee members, I want to share with you my observations of him and why I think Dave acts this way. As the Class Chairman, I would also like to suggest suitable class activities that the Class Committee members and I have planned to cheer him up.

Dave radiates positivity wherever he goes. Despite being on dialysis for the past two years while being on the deceased donor kidney transplant waiting list, he has remained strong, joyful and persevering. Dave is always active in contributing to class discussions during lessons. However, with the ACE Camp around the corner, and it being the talk of the town in SJI, I noticed he has been feeling very dejected and appears withdrawn from the rest of the class. During recess, he usually sits with the rest of the class to eat and chat. Now, he hides himself in the library reading books. I wave at him when I see him in the library, but he stands up and tells me he will return to class first. In class, he remains silent during class discussions.

During our Physical Education lessons, we have been learning skills in preparation for the camp. Dave enjoys nature and the outdoors, but he is unable to join the class for the four day three night camp as he goes for dialysis three times a week. Since the ACE Camp is a significant part of a Josephian’s experience in SJI, it is not surprising that Dave would feel left out when he is not able to do what he enjoys, especially when seeing his friends buzz about the camp in excitement. Moreover, we must acknowledge that Dave has been on the deceased donor kidney transplant waiting list for a long time now. It is possible that he is starting to lose hope in finding a donor who is able to donate their kidney to him so that he can live a normal and free life again.

Knowing that Dave loves nature, the Class Committee members and I are planning to have a class excursion to Gardens By The Bay to view and get up-close with the exotic flowers and plants in the Flower Dome. Dave once mentioned to me that he always wanted to go there to see the displays and the various species of plants but never got the chance to. I hope this plan is feasible and through this activity, we can fulfil Dave’s wish.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email. I hope we can all work together as a class to help Dave be the cheerful, joyful and hopeful boy he was once again.

Yours sincerely,
Stanley Pang Wei Jun

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