Wrote this for my sixth graders in hopes that they would pass their Primary School Leaving Exam

It was a scorching afternoon. My peers and I were trekking with our teachers and trainers on the open plains of Shangri-La, China. I cursed under my breath, shivering uncontrollably. Little did I know that I would experience something that would be etched in my mind.

After what seemed like forever, we reached our destination. My friends and I eagerly set up our tents. Meanwhile, our teachers and trainers were hard at work preparing the campfire for us. The cold weather pierced through our bodies, but the atmosphere was brimming with excitement. We had the campfire to look forward to.

“Campfire burning,” we sang in unison, crowding around the fire. Our lively voices reverberated across the starry night. One of my friends then stood up to lead a song. Then another. Followed by a third person. Before I knew it, everyone was taking turns to sing in front of the group!

My friends looked enthusiastic, but a horrified expression crossed my face. My eyes were popping out of their sockets! I did not want to sing in public! I could not carry a tune well. Despite the cold, I could feel sweat trickling down my spine.

My eyebrows furrowed as I thought feverishly for a way to get out of this problem. My best friend, Winston, noticed the look of immense stress on my face.

“It’s okay,” he advised warmly, “Everyone just wants to have a whale of a time! No one cares about how good a singer you are.”

Uplifted by his kind words, I mustered my courage to sing everyone a song. To my surprise, everyone’s faces lit up with delight. Their elated faces washed away my worries. I was touched by their support. My heart soared like a salmon finally reaching its birthplace.

My trekking trip ended, but my memories of that night remained vivid. Pride surged through me because I stepped out of my comfort zone.

In the end, I learnt an important lesson: always be brave to try something new. Singing in front of people for the first time was a special memory. I would use it to help me undertake new challenges in the future.