Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Kuala Belait - Imagine losing your vision at six years old and later in life having a major ability to play instruments such as the drums, piano and guitar and scoring an incredible four A's and one B for her PSR exams.

Sounds impossible to you?

Not for the gritty 11-year-old Jasmin Thien Scow Ting, an all rounder whose very long list of achievements include obtaining a highly recommended certificate for an essay in the Essay Writing Competition of the Commonwealth Organisation as well as the Best All Round Student Award from Primary one to three.

Her infectious optimism and cheery demeanor rang through the classroom of St Margarets School in Seria as she spoke to The Brunei Times about the secret to her success and how she never lost hope, her love of books and aspirations of becoming a writer as well as being an avid fan of

American rock band Simple Plan.

"There is one track in Simple Plan that best describes my whole life, but I'm not going to say," she smiled cheekily.

Jasmine Thien in person can only be described as a person who has a refreshing outlook on life who takes her disability in stride and makes sure that it doesn't stop her from achieving what she wants to do in life.

She stated that the PSR was her first government exam and felt quite nervous. She said when her results came out she felt mixed emotions.

"When i got my results, I felt a combination of relief, expectation and enthusiasm. I was hoping to get a better result, but am satisfied nonetheless," she said.

She said that she started her exam preparations in the beginning of the year because she did not like cramming.

She also spoke of her future plans of becoming a writer just like her icon British author Enid Blyton who has had over 700 published titles.

"I have read over 200 of her fiction books and want to write children's literature on day," she said.

She said joining essay competitions like the Essay Writing Competition of the Commonwealth Organisation this year gives her an opportunity to test herself in her ability to write.

She spoke briefly about her essay and said that it was about if having three special powers. She said that first thing she thought about before she started writing it.

"My first power would be the ability to heal. To heal people of their disabilities, the second would be to help people make ends meet and the third would be able to preserve endangered species," she said.

Her love of writing is stemmed from her undying love of books. Besides Enid, she has also read literature by Charles Dickens as well as William Shakespeare.

She said that she loves to read stories about families who have risen above obstacles and come out unscathed as well as their ups and downs.

She also said that reading is a way out for her when her emotions are unsettled. "When I'm agitated, all i do is sit down with a book and all the agitation goes away," she said.

"I was born to read. Even though I could not read at the time, I used to make my mother read me my fairy tales over and over again," she said.

With such a long list of achievements, The Brunei Times asked her, the secret to her success.

"There is no secret. You just have to believe. One should never ever let their disability get them down. Of course it is never easy to accept that you're blind and different, but life has its struggles, you can rise to the top if you want, you just have to be determined," she said.

She said she wakes up everyday and always tells herself that although we are all human beings, we are all different in a special way.

"Just because you are blind, it doesn't mean you can't be what you want to be, nothing should ever stop you", she said.

She also said that her family was part of her determination to achieve her success. She said her parents have never ever pressured her at all.

"My parents have always told me not to stress out and tell me that even if i never got top of the class, they would always be proud of me," she said.

Her mother, Liew Tai Khiun, said that her and her husband would always support her in whatever she does. She stated there was never any pressure and her achievement was pleasantly way beyond their expectations.

"We are so very happy and proud of her. We never thought it could be like this, it was beyond our wildest dreams, “she said.

Her class teacher, Cindy Wee, who has taught Jasmine since she was in Primary One, said that Jasmine has always been an excellent student.

"Even with her disabilities, her determination and enthusiasm for learning has given her a reason to cope well even if there was a lack of facilities," she said.

She also said that she has no doubt that Jasmine will do very well in life and she hopes that despite all the difficulties she has faith that she will rise up to the challenges at every turn and hopes that she is happy and be an extremely productive citizen to this country and people.

"It has been a joy talking to her, teaching her and knowing her and being a part of her life," she said. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times