Teacher Profile: Dr. Wong Siew Chin

Year(s) and Subject(s) Taught 

Principal

How long have you been teaching? 

15 years

Why did you become a teacher? Why did you choose teaching as a profession?

I am an accidental educator. Being a Chemistry graduate, I first chose to be a teacher as I found it quite boring to be in the lab carrying out experiments all the time! Eventually, I found my passion in teaching, something that I have never ever regret doing.

Tell us about your own education journey.

I have never been trained as a teacher. I was trained as a Chemist. I pursued my Degree and Masters in Chemistry. I started teaching in pre-University and it was then I realised that my steep learning curve had just begun. I experienced a breakthrough, especially in terms of the mindset to learn as a student and to learn as a teacher. This has made me realise that when we stop teaching, we stop learning. As a teacher, we ought to guide the students to have the right mindset, hence, to learn first instead of just teaching the content of the subject.

What is the most memorable moment in your teaching career so far?

The most memorable moment was when one of my students who graduated as a medical doctor surprised me with his visit at my office. It was a profound moment when he shared with me all the little things that I have done, which I never realised back then, but have impacted his life as a student. I was deeply moved.

What do you like most about teaching?

To teach is about staying young at heart, having the conviction deep within, by touching the hearts of others.

What is the best thing about teaching at your school?

In my school, we introduced M.B.A (Mind. Blowing. Adventures) course to my lower secondary students. Our children/students' needs to be connected and to learn from diverse industries. They cannot merely learn from books/ internet. M.B.A is a platform to cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset among Bestarians by exposing them to various industries through case studies, analysis of business strategies, surveys and interviews on the ground. As a school, we need to provide a platform for them to learn from people in these industries to eventually help them find their own passion, which is indeed our ultimate objective.

Who or what inspires you?

Dr. Elizabeth Lee (Sunway Education Group's Senior Executive Director). I am BBGS alumni, who believes in BBGS school motto Nisi Dominus Frustra (Without God, All in Vain).

What is the one thing you wish all students would do?

Life is precious. Having the grit in life is more important than intelligence. One should never ever think of giving up before starting their lives.