Proud Dad Tan Chuan-Jin Admires Son For Training Hard Though He Didn’t Win A National Medal

Tan Chuan-Jin Shares Life Lessons He Learnt From His Son

Most Singaporeans may know Mr Tan Chuan-Jin as our Speaker of Parliament.

But when he’s at home with his family, Mr Tan is a husband and a father, and like most parents, there are moments when he feels proud of his children’s achievements.

One such moment happened recently when his son completed a steeplechase race.

Source

He took to Facebook on Saturday (30 Mar) morning to share the joyous occasion and pointed out life lessons that he learnt from his son’s experience.

Here’s his post in full, we also break it down for you after the jump.

Source

Trains hard, despite not winning medals

Mr Tan’s son, a cross-country athlete, recently finished his obstacle race clinching a point for his school — Anglo-Chinese School (Independent).

Source

But the younger Tan, “barring any incredible breakthroughs”, isn’t someone who’s expected to win a medal, mostly due to his strong cohort in school.

 

Despite that, Mr Tan’s son perseveres and trains hard.

When he missed training in school, he would make up for it by running on his own.

Source

Seeing him work so hard yet not have any medals to show for it, pains the elder Tan at times.

He worries that without any “tangible recognition of his commitment”, his son may feel disheartened.

Yet he recognises that that’s the nature of competitive sports — the majority of athletes do not win medals.

Interestingly, Mr Tan’s son seems unfazed by this.

Despite not winning any medals, the younger Tan would train tirelessly, just so he can improve and do his school proud.

In Mr Tan’s words,

He keeps trying and trying. And he improves second by second.

Strive to improve

Mr Tan’s also commented on similarities between his son’s race on the track and the “race of life”.

According to him, every one of us has different ‘levels’ in life.

Instead of being unsatisfied with the ‘levels’ that we are at, we should embrace, and constantly seek to improve.

Focus on bettering ourselves

He also commented on the popular debate of whether Singapore is overly-competitive.

To Mr Tan, competition is neither good nor bad.

That’s because, at the end of the day, all of us decide for ourselves how we want to “run our race”.

He urged everyone to focus on the race we have with ourselves, and the importance of perseverance, hard work, and excellence.

Mr Tan ended his post with a fitting tribute to Anglo-Chinese School’s motto, ‘The Best Is Yet To Be’, encouraging everyone to be a better version of themselves with each passing day.

Amazing spirit, at such a young age

Hearty congratulations to Mr Tan’s son for his sporting achievements, and of course his amazing display of human spirit, at such a young age.

We are eager to discover what’s in store for him. After all, the best is yet to be.

Featured image from Facebook and Facebook

Jay Lo

Jay has an unhealthy obsession with Pokemon. He thinks he's qualified enough to be a member of the Elite 4.

Recent Posts

Mixue S’pore’s S$1 cone will cost S$1.50 from 25 Nov due to rising cost of raw materials

Mixue will be giving out 1,000 vouchers at each store.

22 Nov 2024, 1:28 am

Man spills Chagee drink inside car while trying to peel perforated section for lucky draw

The bubble tea store covered the car wash fee and gave him a new drink.

21 Nov 2024, 6:23 pm

Man in Korea kills woman who requested breakup after dating for 19 days, gets life imprisonment

The man reportedly stabbed her in the face, neck, and abdomen 58 times.

21 Nov 2024, 6:19 pm

‘0000’ number combination wins 2nd prize in 20 Nov 4D draw

Some netizens felt "nobody" would buy such an unusual combination.

21 Nov 2024, 5:32 pm

‘Tyre slasher’ allegedly deflates tyres in Woodlands carparks, arrested for being public nuisance

The act was seemingly carried out in the name of a climate activist group.

21 Nov 2024, 5:18 pm

Woman in Taiwan gives birth inside toilet, did not know she was pregnant

The baby girl was unresponsive and died in the hospital.

21 Nov 2024, 4:59 pm