Despite handicap, Chong scores eight As in SPM exam.
He was born without the ability to hear and speak but 19-year old Chong Vee Yee is no quitter.
And this extraordinary student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Damansara Jaya in Petaling Jaya has 8A in the recent Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams to prove that hard work can overcome any adversity.
Chong scored 3 1As in Mathematics, Additional Mathematics and Accounts and 5 2As in Bahasa Malaysia, English, History, Physics and Chemistry.
Despite his handicap, he was placed in an ordinary class competing with normal students.
His father is a school bus driver and his mother runs a hawker stall.
School counsellor Marie Ann Louise told the Malay Mail Chong is one of the top 54 students in the school. Only one student scored straight 11 1As while seven students scored 10As, 19 scored nine As and 28 students scored eight As.
With help from Marie Ann, who communicated with Chong using sign language. Chong said one does not have to study very hard to get exceptional results, just constant revision from the start.
He attributed his success to his parents as they always spoke to him in Bahasa, which helped him to brush up his language skills. (Chong lip-reads, besides using sign language.)
"I started my revision from Form One so that I could cope with my studies. I studied intensively two months before the exams, over sleepless nights. I also bought a lot of workbooks and went for BM tuition classes.
Chong also attributed his success to teachers and friends for helping him, and for learning the sign language to communicate with him.
The third child in a family of six, Chong said he wanted to score straight As to motivate weaker students, and to prove that a deaf and speech-impaired child, if given proper guidance, can do well in everything.
"Success to me does not only mean getting paper qualifications but also being able to use the knowledge acquired for the benefit of all, and to overcome the defeatist attitude to excel in studies," said Chong.
"I hope to do IT Engineering or Accountancy but I am not sure how I will be able to do it as my parents cannot afford it, " he said.
Chong hopes to get either a scholarship or sponsorship.
He enjoys reading, surfing the Net and using the ICQ chat-line when he is not studying. He also enjoys helping his parents doing household chores.
School headmistress Datin Hamidah Nordin said Chong was placed in a special class from Form One to Three, but was later transferred to the normal stream when his teachers realised he was too intelligent for the special class.
"He has done the school proud. I hope all his dreams will come true. He is an outstanding boy, full of determination," said Hamidah.
Those who want to help Chong achieve his dreams can talk to Hamidah at 03-7729 6018 or Marie Ann at 017-3388636.
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