Contribution Name: Siew Shi / Tzu Chi Singapore
Pseudonym: Mdm Chew Siam Gek
Year of Author: 1956
Mdm Chew Siam Gek, now 68, stands as a remarkable example of resilience and determination, shaped by a life filled with hardships. Born into a large family near the former Nanyang Technology University, she was one of 11 siblings, with 2 brothers and 8 sisters. Poverty was a constant presence in her household. Her father, an irresponsible figure, brought home only $50 a month and visited just once every month, leaving the family struggling to make ends meet. His disloyalty to the marriage further compounded the difficulties faced by Mdm Chew and her siblings. This lack of paternal support meant that from a young age, she had to shoulder the burden of both household chores and farming duties before she could attend school.
Despite the weight of these responsibilities, Mdm Chew was a bright and ambitious student. She had a deep desire to continue her education, and her natural intelligence shone through as she became the top scorer in her class. However, her family’s financial situation made it impossible for her to pursue her studies beyond Primary 6. It was a heartbreaking reality that many of her older sisters had also faced, being unable to complete even primary school. Mdm Chew, though disheartened, felt relieved that she had at least been able to finish primary school.
Mdm Chew Siam Gek often recalls, with a mixture of pride and sadness, how she was the top student in her class during her school days. “I was number one,” she says, her eyes lighting up momentarily before clouding over with the memory of what came next. Despite her academic success, circumstances beyond her control forced her to abandon her studies. This is something that has always stayed with her—a sense of what could have been.
At just 11 years old, she entered the workforce, taking on the challenging and low-paying job of feeding fish on a farm, earning $2.50 a day. Because she was underage, she could not secure better-paying jobs, but her contributions were crucial to her family’s survival. Each day was a struggle to balance work, family duties, and the desire for a different life.
Mdm Chew Siam Gek’s journey into adulthood began early, as she had to start working at the young age of 12 in a factory where she earned $15 a month. It was there that she met her future husband, and despite not fully understanding dating or relationships at that age, they would spend time together and support each other in their work. Their bond grew, despite her mother’s objections, and their relationship blossomed. At 21, Mdm Chew married him, beginning a new chapter of her life.
In 2019, while out on a walk with her grandson, Mdm Chew noticed an active ageing centre in her neighborhood and decided to join. Since then, she has become an integral part of the centre’s community. A highly active individual, she walks approximately 20,000 steps a day—an impressive feat that reflects her boundless energy. At the centre, she volunteers to take other seniors’ blood pressure before their daily exercises, helping them with a task that is both important and appreciated.
Mdm Chew’s story is one of resilience. Her journey, from her early years of poverty and hard labor to her role as a vibrant and helpful member of the active ageing community, is a testament to her strength. She has embraced life’s difficulties with grace, and her continued enthusiasm for helping others is an inspiration to those around her.
Today, Mdm Chew continues to live life with the same vigor and resilience that have defined her since childhood. She has faced numerous obstacles, but her unwavering spirit has guided her through. Her commitment to staying active and helping her peers in the community reflects her deep-seated values—ones rooted in family, hard work, and a desire to give back.
Mdm Chew finds it astonishing that children nowadays have access to advanced technology, education, and a comfortable lifestyle. “Kids today have everything at their fingertips,” she says, shaking her head in disbelief. “They don’t know what it’s like to work before you go to school or to spend the whole day outside, not for play, but for work.”
She thinks about how many children now own mobile phones, computers, and gadgets she doesn’t even recognize, tools that offer endless information, entertainment, and connection with the world. Reflecting on her own childhood, where even a simple radio would have been a luxury, Mdm Chew often feels that the younger generation might not fully appreciate how fortunate they are. “They don’t have to worry about where the next meal is coming from or how to earn money to help their parents,” she says. “They have the chance to go to school without worrying about working on the side.”
周女士的故事
现年68岁的周女士是坚韧与决心的卓越榜样，她的生活充满了艰辛。她出生在靠近前南洋理工大学的一个大家庭中，有11个兄弟姐妹，包括2个兄弟和8个姐妹。家中一直面临贫困。她的父亲对家庭缺乏责任感，每月只带回50元，而且每月只回来一次，导致家庭难以维持生计。他对婚姻的不忠也使周女士和她的兄弟姐妹们面临更多的困难。父爱的缺失意味着她从小就需要承担家庭杂务和农活，才能够去上学。
尽管肩负着这些重担，周女士是一位聪明且有抱负的学生。她对继续学习充满渴望，她的天赋让她在班上成为第一名。然而，家境的困窘使她无法在小学六年级之后继续学业。这个残酷的现实同样让她的许多姐姐也无法完成小学教育。虽然她感到失望，但周女士心存宽慰，至少她完成了小学学业。
周女士常常带着自豪与悲伤回忆起自己在学校时是班里的第一名。“我曾是第一名，”她说，眼中一度闪烁着光芒，接着却因回忆起接下来发生的事情而黯然神伤。尽管学业出色，但迫于无法控制的生活条件，她不得不放弃学业。这个遗憾始终伴随着她一个“如果当初”的感叹。
年仅11岁，她便进入职场，在鱼场从事喂鱼的艰苦低薪工作，每天赚取2.50元。由于年龄未满，她无法获得更高薪的工作，但她的收入对家庭的生计至关重要。每天都在努力平衡工作、家庭责任和对美好生活的向往之间挣扎。
周女士的成年生活早早开始，她在12岁便开始在工厂工作，每月赚取15元。在那里，她遇到了未来的丈夫，尽管当时对恋爱或关系还不完全理解，他们常常一起工作，相互支持。他们的感情逐渐升温，尽管她母亲反对，但两人关系仍然稳定。21岁时，周女士与他结婚，开始了人生的新篇章。
2019年，周女士与孙子外出散步时，发现了邻近的一个活跃乐龄中心，决定加入。自此，她成为中心社区的重要一员。作为一个非常活跃的人，她每天大约步行2万步——这是一项反映她无限精力的壮举。在中心，她自愿为其他老人测量血压，为他们提供一项重要且备受感激的服务。
周女士的故事是坚韧的见证。她的旅程从早年的贫困和劳累，到如今作为活跃乐龄社区的充满活力和热心帮助他人的成员，无不彰显她的力量。她以优雅的态度拥抱生活中的困难，她对帮助他人的热情始终激励着身边的人。
如今，周女士继续以与童年时一样的活力和坚韧过着生活。她经历了无数的障碍，但她不屈的精神始终引领她前行。她对保持活跃和帮助社区同伴的承诺，反映了她根植于家庭、勤奋和回馈社会的深刻价值观。
周女士感到如今的孩子拥有先进的科技、教育和舒适的生活，这令她感到震惊。“现在的孩子一切都唾手可得，”她摇摇头，不可思议地说。“他们不知道在上学之前就必须工作，或是整天待在外面，不是为了玩耍，而是为了工作。”
她看到现在许多孩子都拥有手机、电脑和一些她不认识的电子设备，这些工具带来了无尽的信息、娱乐以及与世界的联系。回想自己童年时，连一台简单的收音机都视为奢侈品，周女士经常感叹，年轻一代可能无法完全理解他们的幸运。“他们不用担心下一顿饭从哪里来，也不需要担心如何挣钱帮补家计，”她说。“他们可以安心上学，不用担心一边上学一边工作。”
This work includes translation generated by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI.
此作品包含由OpenAI开发的AI语言模型ChatGPT生成的翻译内容。