Ladies and Gentlemen! My name is Nicholas Ang. A very good afternoon to all!

First, let me thank Uncle George for giving me this opportunity to stand here in front of each of you to share my reflections on the book, “Break Through”. Indeed, it has given me great courage to speak aloud of the adversities that Uncle George had encountered during his growing years, and how he had turned them into resilence and strength, to be what he is today!

Looking back at Uncle George’s life, I cannot but agree that Singapore is truly a land of opportunity for people who are willing to work hard and be committed to their dreams. Singapore is what it is today because it has been a land of opportunity for people who want to succeed.

Uncle George is a good example of a battered child coming from a humble background in the 1960s. His sheer determination to succeed in life and his never die attitude had brought him a new lease of life and motivated him to greater heights. He was just a simple neighbourhood school student but his focus and perseverance to prove his intellectual ability paid off when he achieved good grades to allow him to enter Hwa Chong Junior College where he met my Dad.

Yes, it is inspiring to me. My friends and I, being children in the new generation, are often sheltered and we do not face the harsh reality of hardship. Real success comes from determination, hardship and commitment.

I have also begun to appreciate the meaning of “Ying shui shi yan” – Knowing your roots!. Without the hard work put in by our ancestors, how can we be what we are today?

My parents often shared with me about those difficult times that my grandparents had been through and how they themselves were brought up in a strict and disciplined environment.

As I read the book, I see that these were happening to Uncle George. The cane was often used as a disciplinarian’s tool during the olden days. The child would either retaliate and sink deeper into a state of resentment towards the family, or be subdued. No explanations needed to be given for the strands of ‘char kway teow’ on the body.

I could not believe the tough life in the past until I read the book written by a very good friend of my Dad. I really admire Uncle George for turning his weakest point of his life into success.

Another learning point from the book is the willpower of Uncle George in quitting his bad habits like impulsive gambling, vulgarism and fights. He managed to overcome all of these by going to the beach to throw stones into the sea. He found solace and discipline in his studies. That has greatly helped him to regain his self-esteem and to rise from the ills of the past. Indeed, we can see that Knowledge is Power and that can make one into a better person.

At the end of my reading, I realize how fortunate I am in this new era. More importantly, I began to understand the sufferings of others and to appreciate life and the people around us even more. All parents want their children to be good but their expressions of love could be different. This book is a Soulprint of Uncle George and trust me, it’s worth every cent of your money! It is easy to read and provides an inspiration to succeed in the face of adversity.

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