Alumni Achievement - Lee Kuan Yew Award for Normal Course

For Muhammad Fakhri Bin Abdul Rashid, his four years in Jurong West Secondary School (JWSS) was a journey of growth, discovery and perseverance. His efforts culminated in receiving the 2026 Lee Kuan Yew Award for Outstanding Normal Course Students, an achievement that reflects the resilience, discipline and character he developed along the way.

Some of his fondest memories are of everyday school life — learning and playing alongside his classmates, helping one another and sharing celebrations together. He also remembers teachers who made learning engaging and, more importantly, cared for and believed in him.

His journey was not always easy. There were times when Fakhri found his studies overwhelming and questioned his own abilities. Yet he learnt to persevere.

 “JWSS taught me to be resilient. I learned to pick myself up, to keep going even when things were difficult, and to never let setbacks define me.”

With determination and a positive attitude towards learning, Fakhri was placed on the Principal’s List in 2023 and received the Edusave Merit Bursary from 2022 to 2024.

Beyond the classroom, Fakhri was a committed member of the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC), rising to the rank of Sergeant in 2025. His experiences in NPCC strengthened his discipline, teamwork and leadership. Through yearly Values-in-Action projects, he also contributed to the school and wider community, including engaging elderly residents and participating in environmental efforts.

An Applied Learning Module (ApLM) at ITE subsequently helped Fakhri gain greater clarity about his interests and future pathway. Through the Early Admissions Exercise, he secured a place in Rapid Transit Engineering, a course he is excited to pursue.

Fakhri’s journey reflects JWSS’s vision of developing Learners, Thinkers and Leaders of Tomorrow. As a Learner, he persevered and continually sought to improve. As a Thinker, he explored his interests and made informed choices about his future. As a Leader, he learnt to take responsibility, serve others and contribute to his CCA and community.

For Fakhri, the award is a milestone rather than the whole story. His message to current students perhaps best captures what his JWSS journey has taught him:

“Many of us who walked through JWSS’s gates in Secondary 1 have grown in ways we never expected. One day, each of you will find your own path and achieve the dreams you have set out to reach.”