Dino

I know Dino Koh somewhere in 2006 where he came to me and told me that we wanted to become a preschool teacher. I was very sceptical and worried for him as he is a guy and working in pre-school setting is an disadvantage career to him.

No discrimination here, but being a guy teacher, there are alot of restrictions. For example, they can't shower the kids, hug the kids and be close to the kids. I mean, ask yourself, do you feel safe sending your daughter to a childcare that have guy teacher?

But Dino was very strong on his decision and after sharing his life experiences to me, somehow or rather I feel that he is sincere and wanted to go into this line. And there i was, applying subsidy for him, putting alot of good words for him, hoping that he can get the subsidy.

Lady luck was on his side, that he managed to get the subsidy and i was very happy for him. From that day onwards, no looking back for him. He really work hard to achieve whatever things he gotten today.

Dino, I am very proud of you.

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Enclosed here is the story that published in newspaper:

Dino’s childhood was a sad one. He grew up with his grandmother in a one-room flat, supported by a financial assistance scheme, after his mother was diagnosed with mental illness and his father was deemed unfit to care for Dino because of the former’s low intellect.
His family was too poor to buy him storybooks, so Dino would read his textbooks over and over again, to the point that he could recite them.

Inspired by an ex-teacher, the N level holder tried his hand at several courses, from nursing to plumbing to accounting. He finally decided to take his O levels as a private candidate while serving his National Service. A good thing he did, as that allowed him to pursue a diploma in pre-school education, which he discovered to be his calling.

Still, he did not rest on his laurels. While working as a full-time pre-school teacher, he pursued an advanced diploma in pre-school education. He successfully completed the programme last year.

Today, Dino’s quest for knowledge continues — he is attending an online course in early childhood education. His advice to those like him? “Don’t be disheartened. There is nothing you cannot learn.”