Joyce trudged into her classroom the next morning, her shoulders slumped under the weight of her schoolbag and the lingering disappointment from the previous day’s math exam. The chatter of her classmates filled the air, but to Joyce, it sounded distant and muffled, as if she were underwater.

As she slid into her seat, her eyes inadvertently met those of Nona, who was animatedly discussing the exam with a group of students. Nona flashed a bright smile, but Joyce quickly looked away, her cheeks burning with embarrassment as she remembered her struggle with the test.

“Good morning, class!” Mrs. Ng’s warm voice cut through the noise, bringing a hush over the room. Joyce lifted her gaze to see her form teacher’s kind eyes scanning the classroom, seeming to linger on her for a moment longer than the others.

As Mrs. Ng began the day’s lesson, Joyce found herself doodling in the margins of her notebook, her mind wandering to the confrontation with her mother the night before. The memory of Mdm Leong’s disappointed face and harsh words made Joyce’s stomach churn.

“Joyce?” Mrs. Ng’s gentle voice startled her out of her reverie. “Could you please read the next paragraph?”

Joyce’s heart raced as she realized she had no idea where they were in the text. Her eyes darted frantically across the page, searching for a clue. The silence in the classroom grew heavier with each passing second.

“It’s okay, Joyce,” Mrs. Ng said softly. “Nona, would you mind reading instead?”

As Nona’s confident voice filled the room, Joyce sank lower in her chair, wishing she could disappear. She could feel curious glances from her classmates, and her face burned with shame.

When the bell rang for recess, Joyce was the last to leave the classroom. As she gathered her things, she noticed Mrs. Ng approaching her desk.

“Joyce, may I have a word with you?” Mrs. Ng asked, her voice gentle but firm.

Joyce nodded, her stomach knotting with anxiety. Was she in trouble for not paying attention?

Mrs. Ng pulled up a chair and sat beside Joyce’s desk. “I couldn’t help but notice you seemed distracted today. Is everything alright?”

Joyce bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She didn’t want to burden her teacher with her problems, but something in Mrs. Ng’s warm gaze made her want to open up.

“I… I didn’t do well on the math exam yesterday,” Joyce admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “My mother was very disappointed.”

Mrs. Ng nodded sympathetically. “I see. Math can be challenging for many students. Have you been having difficulties with the subject for a while?”

Joyce nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. “I try so hard, but the numbers just don’t make sense sometimes. And then I get nervous during tests, and everything gets jumbled up in my head.”

Mrs. Ng listened attentively, her brow furrowed in thought. After a moment, she spoke. “Joyce, I have an idea. How would you feel about joining my after-school remedial classes? It’s a smaller group, and we can work on strategies to help you understand the material better.”

Joyce’s eyes widened with surprise. “Really? You’d do that for me?”

Mrs. Ng smiled warmly. “Of course. That’s what I’m here for. We’ll start this afternoon if you’re up for it. What do you say?”

For the first time that day, Joyce felt a glimmer of hope. She nodded eagerly. “Yes, please. Thank you, Mrs. Ng.”

As Joyce left the classroom for recess, she felt a little lighter. The thought of extra help from Mrs. Ng gave her a sense of possibility she hadn’t felt in a long time.

That afternoon, Joyce nervously entered the classroom designated for remedial lessons. A handful of other students were already there, including a boy from her class named Zack, who always seemed to be doodling in his textbooks.

Mrs. Ng greeted them with a warm smile. “Welcome, everyone. Let’s start by reviewing some of the concepts from yesterday’s exam.”

As Mrs. Ng began explaining, Joyce found herself relaxing. The smaller group setting felt less intimidating, and Mrs. Ng’s patient explanations helped her grasp concepts that had eluded her before.

During a short break, Joyce absentmindedly started doodling on her worksheet. She was so engrossed in her drawing that she didn’t notice Mrs. Ng approaching until she spoke.

“That’s quite a lovely drawing, Joyce,” Mrs. Ng remarked, peering over her shoulder.

Joyce jumped slightly, instinctively moving to cover her doodle. “Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“No, no,” Mrs. Ng interrupted gently. “There’s no need to apologize. May I see it?”

Hesitantly, Joyce removed her hand. On the paper, she had sketched a whimsical scene of numbers and mathematical symbols dancing across the page, each with its own personality.

Mrs. Ng’s eyes lit up. “This is wonderful, Joyce! You have a real talent for art.”

Joyce felt a warmth spread through her chest at the praise. “Thank you,” she mumbled, a small smile tugging at her lips.

“You know,” Mrs. Ng said thoughtfully, “sometimes it can be helpful to use our strengths to tackle our challenges. Have you ever thought about using your drawings to help you remember math concepts?”

Joyce looked up, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

Mrs. Ng pulled up a chair. “Well, for example, you could draw pictures to represent different math problems. It might help you visualize the concepts better.”

For the rest of the session, Mrs. Ng worked with Joyce to incorporate her drawings into their math practice. To Joyce’s surprise, she found herself enjoying the process, and the numbers seemed less daunting when paired with her doodles.

As the remedial class came to an end, Joyce felt a newfound sense of enthusiasm. For the first time, math didn’t feel like an insurmountable obstacle.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Ng,” Joyce said as she packed up her things. “I think I understand fractions better now.”

Mrs. Ng beamed at her. “I’m glad to hear that, Joyce. And I want you to know how impressed I am by your artistic skills. You have a unique way of seeing the world, and that’s something to be celebrated.”

Joyce ducked her head, unused to such praise. “Really?”

“Absolutely,” Mrs. Ng affirmed. “In fact, I have an idea. Have you ever heard of Toastmasters?”

Joyce shook her head, curious.

“It’s a club where people practice public speaking,” Mrs. Ng explained. “There’s a junior program that I think you might enjoy. It would give you a chance to share your stories and ideas with others.”

Joyce felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness at the suggestion. “I don’t know… I’m not very good at speaking in front of people.”

Mrs. Ng smiled encouragingly. “That’s what the club is for – to help you become more comfortable and confident. And with your creativity, I think you could create some amazing speeches. Why don’t you think about it?”

As Joyce left the school, her mind was buzzing with possibilities. The idea of joining a speaking club both thrilled and terrified her. What would her mother think? Would she even allow it, given Joyce’s academic struggles?

Despite her doubts, Joyce couldn’t help but feel a spark of excitement. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she had something to look forward to beyond the pressure of exams and grades.

As she walked home, Joyce’s steps were lighter, her imagination filled with visions of colorful doodles and the possibility of finding her voice. She knew the road ahead would still be challenging, but with Mrs. Ng’s support and the discovery of her hidden talents, Joyce felt ready to face whatever came next.

The familiar sight of her house loomed ahead, and Joyce took a deep breath, steeling herself for the inevitable questions about her day and her studies. But this time, she had something positive to share. Maybe, just maybe, her mother would see the glimmer of potential that Mrs. Ng had recognized.

With a mix of hope and determination, Joyce opened the front door, ready to begin this new chapter in her journey of self-discovery.