Zero To Hero – Jackie (Inspiring one)

How was Valentine’s day everyone? Hope you spread your love not only to your loved ones but also to those you think needs or is urging for love. I understand that it may be difficult at times to be loving to everyone at all times, partially because of the challenges we go through in life. But beyond that, love too can assist you to overcome your challenges to achieve success.

By the way, I am starting up blogs on inspiring people who when through challenges beyond the “normality” and taking steps for success by believing in themselves.

Firstly it is Jackie, the awesome guy who is a current talented and inspirational individual. Let’s look at his road of success by believing in himself.

Let us start from his past, or maybe his accident because he didn’t have much of a past. Yes, he met with an unfortunate accident at the age 6,

on 1996. This was what happened; he was in his father’s bike, traveling home at Hougang from the granny house. As they approach the cross junction at Hougang, a pick-up van who claimed of having a blurred vision plunged on to the bike of Jackie’s father causing Jackie and his Dad to fly off the bike.

Fortunately, Jackie’s Dad got away with a few minor injuries only.

But not Jackie, he was then rushed to Singapore General Hospital(SGH) where he was in ICU for about 5+ days. The doctor then claimed that Jackie not only sustained physical injuries, but also a brain injury which caused a few weaknesses cognitively and affected the whole of the nerve of his right side of the body, especially his limbs.

He was in the wheelchair for 1 year and quickly learned how to walk and other daily stuffs in Ang Mo Kio rehab centre.

From then on his left hand became his master hand for almost everything (especially learning of magic & card tricks) will illustrate more on that soon.

Life in Primary school:

Primary school was where his education life continued after kindergarten leading to his negative accident. A phase where he or any of his fellow school mates didn’t understand the impact of his physical challenges. Everything when on as per normal, but only that his family did not allow him to participate in any physical activities, like physical education(P.E) or co-curricular activities(CCA) till primary 6. Because of fear of his inability to perform the activities or further aggravating his already done damage.

This leads him to a boring life throughout.

Just to sidetrack why do others or bigger authorities enter their fear into us?Why can’t they encourage us to strive towards (everything positive is possible) in our life?

Coming back, at primary 6 Jackie really wanted to join a CCA, and he eventually did, in a COMPUTER CLUB. It was boring for him but he appreciated that because after 5 years of being in a primary school he finally got a CCA! “Yipee!”.

Life in Secondary school:

After primary school, it was secondary school. Secondary school was the phase where all his challenges kicked in. Jackie was teased and bullied for his disabilities.

Since he was wearing a splint (a strip of rigid material used for supporting and immobilizing a broken bone)in his right hand, he was called silly names like “spiderman” or “undertaker”.

He faced bully after bully. That only made his confidence to weaken. On a few occasions he even took longer route home or to other parts of the school, just to avoid bullies. A point we should take note, Jackie was a studious person in his secondary school life.

He even got top 10 in his academic level. He does frequently get awards on the podium of his school. But all these bullyings only dropped his confidence and dropping his performance academically, so that he do not have to get up the stage in front of everyone for the award.

He even thought of transferring to a special school. This was how bad a person who has a disability goes through.

Life in Polytechnic:

After graduation from secondary school, Jackie got a spot in Ngee Ann Polytechnic for diploma in engineering informatics. “Imagine how far he had progressed cognitively in order to have reached this level”. *Kudos to Jackie* It was a whole new phase for him, where most of them understood about disabilities and encouraged him instead of bullying him.

But there were other challenges waiting for him. It was around the time of our life where hormones start to rise and cause some confusions in our body system.

He was interested in girls too like all other guys, but he did not divulge into it as he had no confidence around them. He even avoided taking photos with his friends.

One reason was because of his disabled hand and another was because he was fat then.

Not only that, he was alone most of the times without friends because of the difference in ‘interest’ they had. When his friends talk about the latest Adidas shoe, he will be like “err….”. But in the end, the assignment load and his extra modules in “diploma plus” he took, kept him too occupied to be bothered about the other issues.

Fat then and muscular now!!

Life after diploma:

With the GPA score, he obtained from diploma Jackie couldn’t get to do a degree in a local university. He did not have any choice and also to support his current family, Jackie geared himself up for a job. But getting a job was another challenge for Jackie too. He tried sourcing for a job on his own but failed, he even tried to get a job through agencies, but to no avail(cause of his disability).

At that point of time, he often goes to sleep wetting his pillow with his sorrowful tears with negative thoughts clouding his mind. He often felt useless, questioning himself on why is he a human, and even thought of his existance in this world.

These when on for two years until he got a desk-bound job as an admin officer.

He was in the job for about 9 months. Now at this point, his family assumed he is gifted to get an admin job and this was only the extent he could achieve. A point to note over here, everything is possible if you put your mind, heart & soul to it. So do not let your’s or anyone’s limiting beliefs to stop you. After which he changed to a few jobs and currently a student care teacher at West grove primary school. Beyond that, he has and is achieving successes along the way.

Successes:

Despite his physical challenges, Jackie did achieve things beyond even some normal-bodied humans.

Example he uses his leg to cut his hand’s fingernail (cause of his right disabled arm), completing a vertical marathon at Temasek tower in 2005, receiving edu – save scholarship award from 2004 to 2008, became a ASIA master athletic championship – runner-up in 2016, he does magic tricks (by being inspired by Chris Angel), does Card Illusion (after a lot of failed attempts, pausing and seeing every single move in the video and dropping the cards almost half of the time), currently in athletics at SDSC (Singapore disability sports council) which was his young time dream to be a sportsman.

Not only that, he volunteered for 2015 ASEAN Para Games, Chingay 2016, team NILA(a national volunteer movement by Sport Singapore), Super rugby game and HSBC Rugby world series 2016, ASEAN PARA GAMES 2015

Super Rugby Game and HSBC World Rugby Singapore Seven 2016, National Day Parade 2016, ASEAN University Games 2016, give motivational speech in his previous primary school and many more.

When asked about how he could achieve so much despite his disability, he said:

“disability never stopped me, but it rather makes me challenge the impossibilities”.

Inspiring quote! So what excuses do you have? everything is possible unless you put your mind, body, and soul to it.

If Jackie could do it definitely you can do it too!

Look at his video which sums up all:

==> Click this link to watch the video of Jackie in Youtube <==

Do want to book Jackie (by clicking his name) now for his awesome magic and cardistry performance for your event; be it birthday party, festive party, get-togather,or any celebrations!

Next is the story of another inspiring individual named Thiru. Stay tuned to find out;)

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Do share with us your stories of challenges to success in any situation (with pics if possible) in livetobelieve4success@gmail.com, I will do a blog about it. Your story will encourage and motivate others to achieve success too!

Let’s connect in social media:

Do give us your comment about this blog. Also, do like and share the BelieverS social media and share this blog to your social media. Click on ‘facebook’ for more pics. Let’s connect in social media. CHEERS!