Joyce sat at her desk in Mrs. Ng’s classroom, fidgeting with her pencil as she waited for the remedial class to begin. The room was quieter than usual, with only a handful of students present for the after-school session. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting long shadows across the floor and illuminating the colorful posters adorning the walls.

Mrs. Ng entered the room with her characteristic warm smile, her arms full of papers and books. “Good afternoon, everyone,” she said cheerfully. “I hope you’re all ready for an exciting session today!”

Joyce’s stomach tightened with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. She had been attending these remedial classes for a few weeks now, and while she appreciated Mrs. Ng’s kindness, she still felt the weight of her academic struggles pressing down on her.

As Mrs. Ng began the lesson, Joyce tried her best to focus. She scribbled notes and attempted to solve the math problems on the board, but the numbers seemed to dance before her eyes, rearranging themselves in confusing patterns. Frustration bubbled up inside her, threatening to spill over.

Noticing Joyce’s furrowed brow, Mrs. Ng approached her desk. “Joyce,” she said softly, “why don’t we take a little break from math? I have a different activity planned for the second half of our session today.”

Relief washed over Joyce as she set aside her math worksheet. Mrs. Ng addressed the class, “Everyone, we’re going to try something new. I’d like each of you to think about your favorite place in the world and prepare a short speech about it. You’ll have ten minutes to prepare, and then we’ll take turns sharing with the class.”

Joyce’s mind immediately conjured up images of her secret hideaway in the park near her home – a quiet spot beneath a sprawling banyan tree where she often retreated to draw and daydream. As she began jotting down notes, she felt a spark of excitement ignite within her.

When it came time to present, Joyce surprised herself by volunteering to go first. Standing at the front of the class, she took a deep breath and began to speak. “My favorite place in the world is a hidden nook in the park near my house,” she started, her voice soft but steady. “There’s this enormous banyan tree with roots that twist and turn like a maze…”

As Joyce continued her description, her voice grew stronger, her eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. She painted a vivid picture with her words, describing the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves and the sense of peace she felt in her special spot. When she finished, she was met with applause from her classmates and a beaming smile from Mrs. Ng.

“Joyce, that was wonderful!” Mrs. Ng exclaimed. “You have a real talent for storytelling. The way you described your favorite place made me feel like I was right there with you.”

Warmth spread through Joyce’s chest at the praise. For the first time in what felt like ages, she felt a sense of pride in something she had accomplished at school.

Over the next few weeks, Mrs. Ng incorporated more public speaking activities into their remedial sessions. She introduced impromptu speaking games, storytelling exercises, and even small debates. To Joyce’s surprise, she found herself looking forward to these activities, eagerly raising her hand to participate.

One afternoon, as Joyce was packing up her belongings after class, Mrs. Ng called her over. “Joyce, I’ve noticed how much you’ve been enjoying our speaking activities,” she said. “Have you ever considered joining a public speaking club?”

Joyce shook her head, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. “I didn’t know there were clubs for that,” she admitted.

Mrs. Ng smiled. “There’s a wonderful organization called Toastmasters that has clubs for children your age. They focus on developing public speaking and leadership skills. I think you would really enjoy it.”

Joyce felt a flutter of excitement at the idea, but it was quickly dampened by doubt. “I don’t know if I’d be any good at it,” she murmured, looking down at her feet.

Mrs. Ng placed a gentle hand on Joyce’s shoulder. “Joyce, you have a natural talent for speaking. The way you express yourself, the vivid descriptions you use – these are gifts. Toastmasters could help you develop those skills even further.”

As Joyce walked home that day, her mind buzzed with possibilities. The idea of joining a club where she might actually excel at something was thrilling, but a nagging voice in the back of her head reminded her of her mother’s expectations. Would Mdm Leong approve of her spending time on something that wasn’t directly related to improving her grades?

That evening, as Joyce sat at the dining table struggling through her math homework, Mdm Leong’s voice cut through the silence. “Joyce, how was your remedial class today?”

Joyce hesitated, her pencil hovering over her workbook. “It was… good,” she said cautiously. “Mrs. Ng had us do a speaking activity.”

Mdm Leong’s eyebrows rose. “Speaking activity? I thought these classes were supposed to help you with math.”

“They are,” Joyce said quickly. “But Mrs. Ng says it’s important to develop other skills too.”

Her mother’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Other skills won’t help you pass your exams, Joyce. You need to focus on your studies, especially math. That’s what’s important right now.”

Joyce felt her heart sink. She wanted to tell her mother about how alive she felt when she was speaking, how the words flowed from her in a way that numbers never did. But looking at Mdm Leong’s stern expression, she knew her mother wouldn’t understand.

Over the next few days, Joyce found herself torn between her growing passion for public speaking and her mother’s expectations. During remedial classes, she threw herself into Mrs. Ng’s speaking activities with enthusiasm, reveling in the praise and encouragement she received. But at home, she dutifully focused on her math exercises, trying to ignore the way the numbers swam before her eyes.

One afternoon, as Joyce was leaving the remedial class, Mrs. Ng handed her a colorful flyer. “There’s a Toastmasters meeting this weekend,” she said. “I thought you might like to attend and see what it’s all about. No pressure, of course, but I really think you’d enjoy it.”

Joyce took the flyer, her heart racing with excitement and anxiety. She tucked it carefully into her backpack, away from her mother’s prying eyes, and promised herself she’d think about it.

That night, as she lay in bed, Joyce pulled out the flyer and studied it by the dim light of her bedside lamp. The smiling faces of children her age beamed up at her from the glossy paper, their expressions full of confidence and joy. She imagined herself standing among them, sharing her stories and ideas without fear or hesitation.

With a surge of determination, Joyce made a decision. She would find a way to attend the Toastmasters meeting, even if she had to keep it a secret from her mother for now. She knew it might lead to conflict later, but the pull of this new passion was too strong to ignore.

As she drifted off to sleep, Joyce’s mind was filled with visions of herself standing tall and speaking with confidence. For the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope for her future – a future where she could shine in her own unique way, regardless of her struggles with math.

The next morning, Joyce woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. As she got ready for school, she carefully placed the Toastmasters flyer in her bag, her secret treasure and beacon of hope. She knew the path ahead might be challenging, especially with her mother’s expectations looming over her, but she was determined to explore this newfound talent.

In class that day, Joyce found herself paying closer attention to the way her teachers spoke, noting their intonation, body language, and how they engaged the students. She even volunteered to read a passage aloud in English class, surprising her classmates and teacher with her expressive delivery.

During lunch break, Joyce sat with her friend Nona, picking at her food as she debated whether to share her secret. Finally, she took a deep breath and spoke. “Nona, have you ever heard of Toastmasters?”

Nona looked up from her lunch box, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “Toastmasters? Isn’t that some kind of speaking club? My cousin joined one last year.”

Joyce nodded, feeling a mix of relief and excitement at being able to discuss it with someone. “Mrs. Ng thinks I should try it out. There’s a meeting this weekend.”

“That’s cool!” Nona exclaimed. “Are you going to go?”

Joyce bit her lip, her excitement dimming slightly. “I want to, but… I’m not sure my mom would approve. She wants me to focus on math.”

Nona’s expression softened with understanding. “That’s tough. But hey, maybe if you go and really like it, you can show your mom how good you are at it. She might change her mind.”

Joyce pondered Nona’s words, a small spark of hope reigniting in her chest. “Maybe you’re right,” she said, managing a small smile.

As the week progressed, Joyce found herself looking forward to the remedial classes more than ever. Mrs. Ng continued to incorporate speaking activities, and Joyce threw herself into each one with growing confidence. She even started using some of her doodles as visual aids during her short speeches, combining her love for art with her newfound passion for speaking.

On Friday afternoon, as the final bell rang, Joyce approached Mrs. Ng’s desk with nervous determination. “Mrs. Ng,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, “I’ve decided to go to the Toastmasters meeting tomorrow.”

Mrs. Ng’s face lit up with a warm smile. “That’s wonderful, Joyce! I’m so proud of you for taking this step. Remember, it’s just to observe and see if you like it. There’s no pressure to participate if you don’t feel comfortable.”

Joyce nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. “Thank you for encouraging me,” she said softly. “I… I haven’t told my mother yet. I’m worried she won’t understand.”

Mrs. Ng’s expression turned thoughtful. “I see. Well, Joyce, I believe it’s important to be honest with your parents. But I also understand that sometimes we need to explore our interests to show others what we’re capable of. Perhaps after you attend the meeting, you’ll feel more confident about discussing it with your mother.”

As Joyce left the classroom, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. She knew the path ahead might be challenging, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she was moving towards something positive, something that was truly her own.

That evening, as Joyce sat at her desk, ostensibly working on her math homework, her mind wandered to the Toastmasters meeting the next day. She imagined herself standing in front of a group, sharing her thoughts and ideas, her voice strong and clear. The image filled her with a warmth that no amount of solved math problems ever had.

She glanced at her mother, who was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen, and felt a twinge of guilt. She hated keeping secrets from Mdm Leong, but she also knew that this was something she needed to explore for herself first.

As she turned back to her math workbook, Joyce made a silent promise to herself. She would go to the Toastmasters meeting tomorrow, and she would give it her all. And maybe, just maybe, if she could find her voice there, she would find the courage to share this new part of herself with her mother.

With that thought, Joyce returned to her math problems with renewed determination. She knew that balancing her academic struggles with her newfound passion wouldn’t be easy, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she was on the right path – a path that might lead her to discover strengths she never knew she had.