SIBU: A person’s future is determined by his attitude, perseverance, values, and willingness to keep going when life becomes difficult.
This was the key message shared by a former Sacred Heart Secondary School student, Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau Lee Ming, during a motivational session held in conjunction with the reunion visit of former students from the Classes of 1964, 1966 and 1968 to the school today.
Lau told students that success is not reserved for those who achieve outstanding academic results or come from affluent families, stressing that everyone has the opportunity to succeed through hard work, resilience and determination.
“I was not an outstanding student myself. In both the Form Three and Form Five examinations, I only obtained Grade Three results, but I never allowed those results to become an excuse for giving up on my dreams.
“Failure is not the end. What separates successful people from those who fail is not merely intelligence or talent, but the perseverance to keep moving forward despite facing numerous challenges,” he said.
Lau said growing up in a modest family that depended on rubber tapping and livestock farming taught him the importance of hard work, discipline and sacrifice.
After completing his studies at Sacred Heart Secondary School, he pursued higher education overseas and eventually earned a Bachelor of Economics degree despite encountering many challenges along the way.
Upon returning to Malaysia, he joined the company founded by his father and remained with the business for 51 years, fulfilling his responsibility to continue the family legacy.
He said genuine success should not be measured solely by wealth, the size of one’s home or the amount of money in a bank account, but also by building a meaningful career and a happy, harmonious family.
Lau encouraged students to set clear goals, respect their parents and teachers, uphold strong moral values, and remain steadfast in the face of adversity.
He also urged students to remain grateful for the sacrifices made by their parents, teachers and the wider community in helping them achieve success.
Lau hoped that more Sacred Heart graduates would pursue higher education, build successful careers, and continue supporting the school through the Sacred Heart Secondary School Alumni Association (SHOSA), ensuring the school’s tradition of excellence continues for future generations.
During the visit, the former students presented a RM20,000 contribution to SMK Sacred Heart to support the school’s development.
Also present were Sacred Heart Secondary School Alumni Association’s (SHOSA) President, Yong King Sung, and SMK Sacred Heart’s Principal, David Teo.
