The document contains 5 scenarios that describe different family situations and relationships. Scenario A describes a 15-year-old girl who lives with her grandmother and younger sister while her father works. She finds her sister annoying but knows her family wants her to look out for her sister. Scenario B is about a boy who lives with his foster parents and has come to feel comfortable with them over time. Scenario C is about a boy who is an only child but stays connected to extended family through video calls and activities with his parents. Scenario D describes a girl who helps care for her younger brothers while her mother works from home, and enjoys reading to them.
The document contains 5 scenarios that describe different family situations and relationships. Scenario A describes a 15-year-old girl who lives with her grandmother and younger sister while her father works. She finds her sister annoying but knows her family wants her to look out for her sister. Scenario B is about a boy who lives with his foster parents and has come to feel comfortable with them over time. Scenario C is about a boy who is an only child but stays connected to extended family through video calls and activities with his parents. Scenario D describes a girl who helps care for her younger brothers while her mother works from home, and enjoys reading to them.
The document contains 5 scenarios that describe different family situations and relationships. Scenario A describes a 15-year-old girl who lives with her grandmother and younger sister while her father works. She finds her sister annoying but knows her family wants her to look out for her sister. Scenario B is about a boy who lives with his foster parents and has come to feel comfortable with them over time. Scenario C is about a boy who is an only child but stays connected to extended family through video calls and activities with his parents. Scenario D describes a girl who helps care for her younger brothers while her mother works from home, and enjoys reading to them.
The document contains 5 scenarios that describe different family situations and relationships. Scenario A describes a 15-year-old girl who lives with her grandmother and younger sister while her father works. She finds her sister annoying but knows her family wants her to look out for her sister. Scenario B is about a boy who lives with his foster parents and has come to feel comfortable with them over time. Scenario C is about a boy who is an only child but stays connected to extended family through video calls and activities with his parents. Scenario D describes a girl who helps care for her younger brothers while her mother works from home, and enjoys reading to them.
5 SECONDARY 3 | BUILDING CONNECTIONS PEOPLE WHO MATTER LESSON ONE
ANNEX A: SCENARIOS (2/10)
Scenario A 6 SECONDARY 3 | BUILDING CONNECTIONS PEOPLE WHO MATTER LESSON ONE
ANNEX A: SCENARIOS (3/10)
Scenario B
I am 15 years old. I have one younger sister who is still in primary
school. We live with our grandmother because our father works long hours and he is not able to be around to take care of us. My grandmother may be getting on in years but she is still very energetic and independent. She wakes up early to prepare breakfast for us and helps out in the community centre after we leave for school.
I know my grandmother and father want me to look out for my
younger sister but I find her very annoying. Once, she took my Social Studies homework and stamped animal prints all over it. I was so angry and wanted to kick her, but I knew that it would make my grandmother very upset, so I just stopped talking to her. My grandmother often talks to me about how important family is. She tells me stories of herself as a young child, growing up in a kampong, what she and her siblings always got up to, and how her older brother took good care of her. I guess she wants me to be the loving older sister, and I try, but it’s not so easy sometimes.
I usually play basketball with my friends on Saturday mornings. My
father tries to meet us on Saturdays. Sometimes we will go watch a movie, have a meal together or go cycling. He usually asks us what we would like to do and tries to keep up with what’s happening for us in school. Even though I really do not want to, I still leave my friends earlier to pick my sister up so that we can spend time with him. I know my dad does not has as much time for us as he works hard to provide for us.
My grandmother is getting old and I do not know how long more
she will be able to care for the both of us. I try my best to do well in school and study hard so that she will be proud of me. I hope that one day I can take care of her the way she is taking care of me now. 7 SECONDARY 3 | BUILDING CONNECTIONS PEOPLE WHO MATTER LESSON ONE
ANNEX A: SCENARIOS (4/10)
Scenario B 8 SECONDARY 3 | BUILDING CONNECTIONS PEOPLE WHO MATTER LESSON ONE
ANNEX A: SCENARIOS (5/10)
Scenario C
I have been living with my foster family for the last two years. When I first went to live with them, I was withdrawn and did not like to talk much.
Even though they were busy most of the time, in the initial months when I arrived, my foster parents took leave often and tried to reach out to me. They spoke gently and asked me if I was okay, as I would cry at the smallest mistake I made. Over the next few months, I noticed that the care and concern they showered on me did not decrease. They continued to be patient with me. I wanted to be someone who deserved love in the family, so I tried my best to do my school homework on time and any chores I was allocated.
My foster mother invited me to help her prepare dinner one day
when she discovered that I liked to watch cooking shows. I enjoyed peeling the potatoes and marinating the meat. Even though she talked to me constantly about the fun science of cooking which was so interesting, I was quiet and unsure of what to say. I could see that my foster mother really wanted me to be comfortable. Dinner that evening felt a little different. From then on, I would help her out every evening when she prepared dinner.
When I found out that my foster father’s birthday was coming up, I decided to wake up early that morning to make some breakfast for both my foster father and mother. Watching the smiles on everybody’s faces made me feel a little warm inside. They knew I was struggling, and I am grateful to them for showing care and never giving up on me. 9 SECONDARY 3 | BUILDING CONNECTIONS PEOPLE WHO MATTER LESSON ONE
ANNEX A: SCENARIOS (6/10)
Scenario C 10 SECONDARY 3 | BUILDING CONNECTIONS PEOPLE WHO MATTER LESSON ONE
ANNEX A: SCENARIOS (7/10)
Scenario D
I am an only child. Sometimes people ask me if I am lonely because
I do not have any siblings but I have many cousins and a large extended family. Lately, because I cannot see my cousins as often as I used to, I have video calls with my uncles, aunties and cousins quite regularly. Just last week, we celebrated my little cousin’s third birthday with an online birthday party. It was actually quite fun and some of my relatives who live overseas joined us.
Both my parents work long hours, but they always try to find activities we can do together when they have the time. Previously we have tried art jamming, fishing and kite flying. We’ve just started rock climbing together and this is by far the most challenging thing we have done.
I often go over to my grandparents’ house to have dinner. When
my parents work late, I notice that either my mum or my dad will leave a note for me to read the next morning. Sometimes it will be reminders on what to do that day or to let me know they bought my favourite egg tarts for breakfast. Sometimes I will text them to say “thank you” or “I miss you”.
Even though my parents are very busy, they always try to take me out during the school holidays. Once, we went up to Malacca in Malaysia and I enjoyed myself spending time with them. To me, these trips are very precious because we don’t usually have very much time together. 11 SECONDARY 3 | BUILDING CONNECTIONS PEOPLE WHO MATTER LESSON ONE
ANNEX A: SCENARIOS (8/10)
Scenario D 12 SECONDARY 3 | BUILDING CONNECTIONS PEOPLE WHO MATTER LESSON ONE
ANNEX A: SCENARIOS (9/10)
Scenario E
I am the eldest of three siblings. My two younger brothers are much
younger than me and my mother works from home so that she can keep an eye on them. My father works late on most days but he makes it a point to send me to school before heading off to work. He will usually try to catch up with me about school then. At times, when I listen to him talk about his work, I understand that it’s also not easy to earn a living.
I have recently started volunteering at a literacy group in my
neighbourhood on weekends with my father. We conduct classes for children in the neighbourhood who might need more help with reading. My father was the one who asked me to join him. Reading has always been a big part of our family life so it makes me happy to do this with my father.
As I am a lot older than my brothers, I sometimes find it quite
difficult to connect with them. When they were babies, I tried to help my mother as much as I could. Now that they are a bit older and more independent, they want me to play with them all the time. I do not mind, and I secretly enjoy the time we spend together. However, sometimes I have a lot of homework to do so I will lock my room door.
When they are well-behaved, I will try to read to them. My father
often tells me, “You can read to the younger kids at the literacy group. Why not your own brothers?” I know my mother appreciates my help because she will occasionally buy me a treat like my favourite drink and leave it on my desk. Perhaps I can do the same next time to show my appreciation to my parents! 13 SECONDARY 3 | BUILDING CONNECTIONS PEOPLE WHO MATTER LESSON ONE
