T1’s school has a reputation for being crazily academically driven, with pressure applied on the kids till they get mental breakdowns (KIDDING!). There have been cases where kids have not been able to cope and subsequently pulled out of school, or kicked out. How traumatic! Seriously, we’ve been there for 3 years and we are very happy with it. Sure, they have their fair share of problems, which school doesn’t? It all comes down to expectations, doesn’t it and believe you me, I expect a lot. However, every single problem that I have raised has been fixed because if it isn’t, you can bet there will be trouble.
I think the academic reputation is rubbish because the school does a whole lot more than just get amazing grades. They are very strong in the Performing Arts. They are very strong in being the BEST that they can be in every area of life. The kids that come out of her school are very polite and very helpful. There is strong discipline. The kids also excel in many areas all around the world. The top student at the London School of Economics came from T1’s school. A writer for the New York Times and Times Magazine, just left T1’s school for New York. Even our own Malaysian journalists don’t write for the New York Times……The kids are all positive, dynamic kids.
Before we enrolled T1, I did set out a list of million questions before making this almost lifetime commitment and was told that the school was not for everyone. In fact, the school was only for a set type of kids and they professed that kids at school should NOT have to go for extra classes or tuition of any sort as everything should be done at school or by the school. You are paying good money after all.
Despite that, I am safe to say that 90% of the kids at school do go for tuition for every subject or some subjects at the very least. It is so crazy that everyone is so competitive with each wanting to be the best. Surely, this competitive streak can do more damage than good for the weaker but it can also be a good thing. It is good to want to be the best, to want to win. It is good to have a can do attitude because you WILL need it in life to go far. But I can see how it would put a damper on someone who does not have a strong spirit thus truly, the school is not for everyone. If one gets hurt and lacks self esteem for coming out last three times in a row, perhaps another school should be sought. Or perhaps the family needs to question why the child lacks self esteem. For here, they never give up. Everyone has something, a special something to contribute. And you have to have that fighting spirit. If you’re last at the 100meter sprint three years running, you just keep trying.
We are not competitive. I tell T1 to do her best and then nag her to study when exams approach but seriously, I am not crazy like many parents are. If T1 was, for example, 12th place in class, then she’s 12th place in class! What more can I do??? She only has 9 kids in class this year, by the way, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she was 9th place. She’s already a great kid. What more can I ask? If it is 9th place, 9th place it is. She is 1-2 years younger than her classmates after all.
But you know what? At the end of the day, she’s just my T1 – a regular kid around the block. One that is nuttier than some, but pretty normal and average otherwise.
**************************************************************************Who is Mamapumpkin?
Mamapumpkin is a former Design Architect turned Multi-Million Dollar Digital Entrepreneur. She sets out to prove to all that you can have anything and everything that you want; if you have that fire of desire burning within and the drive to work hard. Even better with much love.
Mamapumpkin has not only grown corporate businesses successfully in the past and doubled her salary 5 times over 5 organisations but has grown THREE BUSINESSES to 7 FIGURES within an 8 year period. She now shows others EXACTLY HOW after retiring her own husband from employment. He is now the official dog walker, family driver, chef and THE BEST FATHER to their two girls and THE BEST HUSBAND to the woman who CHOSE HIM!
Mamapumpkin is the girl who has nothing but fights for everything including YOU. She is idealistic in her desire to put unbelievable amounts of money and extrardinary happiness into the lives of good people so we can change the world together believing in happiness for ALL. She strives to impact lives authentically wanting to reduce poverty cycles and enable quality education for all and always supports the voiceless. She believes we can all have a life of our own desires to enable real contribution into the world. But first, one needs to understand what this all means.
A beautiful life without limits.
If you wish to learn how to propel your life forward guaranteed, be brave to take action. Mamapumpkin's purpose is to build people. Her gift is to help them UNCOVER their HIDDEN GIFTS. She operates fairly and always leaves an impression. You either love her or not and she is alright either way.
She is a living testimony that women really can have a lot. Being financially and time free has enabled her to travel the world anytime, anywhere, doing anything with anyone, as she spends most of her days with her children, having fun, supporting others wherever she can. Also having fun.
Impressed by the school too, but fees are very high, and I have my doubts about IB…It’s so difficult settling for a school, isn’t it? I’ve done my reasearch and all, and talked to all the schools, and still not too sure if I’ll be getting bang for my buck 😛 Rough comparison of school fees in KL vs Penang is that int schools here cost 3x more, for the same syllabus, and similar expat teacher ratios in Penang. Maybe I can start a quasi boarding school thingy early by sending my daughter back to my mom to be educated more cheaply in Penang 😛