Just before I was enlisted for national service after I had finished the final year examination in the Singapore Polytechnic in 1980, I went back to the campus to see the results of the examination.
The results printed on computer paper were pinned on the main notice board of the Polytechnic administration office. Those who had passed the exams would have their names shown. And if you had any distinction for any particular subject, the subject code would be printed next to your name.
Many would anxiously look for their name. I saw my name very quickly with a single distinction in Mathematics. I was jubilant to have passed.
Then, we would see who were the top students among the 170 students of the electrical engineering course cohort. We only sat for 6 subjects in the final year. Two of my classmates had 4 distinctions each. Probably 7 to 8 of them had 3 or 2 distinctions each. And then another few had 1 distinction each like me.
A few weeks after I had enlisted for national service, I received a notice to collect my results slip personally and another letter telling me that I had won a prize from the company Olivetti. I had no idea of the reason for being awarded the prize.
When I went to collect the results slip from the Polytechnic campus, many course-mates were there too.
To my surprise, I came in second in the whole course ! How could that happen ! ? After all, I had only 1 distinction out of 6 subjects while several of my course-mates had 4, 3 and 2 distinctions.
God is good. Not only I had managed to do well in Mathematics when I was so close to failing the subject and the whole exam, I had done so well surprisingly at the end.
My results were 1 distinction, 4 As and 1 B. The classmate who came in first had 4 distinctions and 2 As. Another classmate had 4 distinctions, 1 A and 1 D. Some had 3 distinctions, 2 As and 1 D.
Then I realized several top students had a D for one particular subject, Circuit Analysis & Measurements, which pulled down their marks so much.
This subject was an easy subject as only formulae were involved in the analysis and measurements of electrical circuits. It is almost impossible for the top students to do so badly.
I believe God had granted my prayer petition beyond what I had asked, though I was audacious then to say that His honor was at stake in my anxiety and desperation during the Mathematics exam. Praise and utmost thanks be to His name !
Because of this good result, I was permitted to join the local National University of Singapore to study for the Bachelor of Engineering course in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the second year.
It was so incredible. I was denied a place in Pre-University to study in the top 2-Maths and 2-Sciences classes in Raffles Institution. Most of these students in these 2 classes went on to study electrical and electronics engineering in the local university. And I could join them again in the university in the same course year !
All glory to God !