Dear Diary,

                 Hi, I am Ah Hock. I am the head in my family and the sole breadwinner. I faced a lot of stress as my parents did not have much savings and so I needed to find a job quickly to provide for the family. Luckily for me, I found a job easily and worked at a provisions shop owned by Mr Chong. Although the job was hard and tiring, I did not complain and grumble. I persevered on for my family. Because of working outside, I needed to quit school. Although I would like to continue studying, but I know for the sake of my siblings to allow them to continue their studies, I quit to do it. I worked from 10am till 10 pm every day. My mother would always take good care of me as she knew that I was very tired at work. I did not regret doing all these as I know it is my duties as the head of the family. Ah Kee complain that I had a good time at work and felt that studying was much more harder so he wanted to work too. He heard me saying that I had a good time cycling around while working. What he heard was just the positive side of my job but he did not know the negative sides. I explained to him of how hard it was to push the cart up under the hot sun. Ah Kee understood and went away. Now, Ah Lin is going to be a teacher, Ah Seng is doing his National Service, Ah Kee is now a junior manager in his company. For me, I left Mr Chong's shop and now work in a big electronic company, and I also passed the examination to be n qualified electronics technician so I was put in charge of the whole workshop.

( Done by Jason Ewe(27) in 1K4)

Dear Diary,

                 I just came back from work. It has been a seven years since my father has passed away. I have decided to stop my education and help my family by going to work. My mother also has took a job too.
                 Thanks to Mr Chong,I had a job. He took me in his shop for me to work. I remembered that Ah Kee said that he wanted to work. He was so stubborn that he wanted to work. He says that he wants to help the family too. But I explained to him that having job is really difficult. I have to cycle up slopes everyday in the hot sun. I would sometimes have to get scolded. If he did not go to work he could study well and get a greater job in the future so that he support the family more than me.
                 He listened to my advice and went to study. Now everyday in he family has a great job. Ah Kee has passed with flying colours in his university. I have planned to take mother to dinner. I want to thank her for working very hard and treating me with respect all these years. I really appreciate it, so I decided to bring her to dinner to show gratitude.
                 Ah Nya also has passed her exams well. I am taking her dinner too. I hope she gets a really good job. Even if I stopped my studies long ago it is still very important for me to study. I want to learn too. Everybody has studied except me, so I would have the wanting to study.
                 If I study harder, I would get a better job then being a electrician. I am the eldest brother, so I must set an example for them. I hope that Ah Seng is fine at his National Service. I am disappointed that I could not see him today. But he has to do his part for his country. I feel happy today everyone is my family has succeeded in life and I am promoted by my bos to be in charge of the whole workshop.

Signing off,
Ah Hock

(Done by Paavesh(37) in 1K4)

Dear Diary,

                  I am Ah Kee. I can still vividly remember the day that i argued with my brother, Ah Hock, 7 years ago. That day, I said that I did not want to go to school and wanted to get a job like my brother. I was jealous and was complaining about why I should do homework and get scolded by the teacher while my brother are riding about on his bicycle.
                  I really don't understand!Why am I not the eldest brother? Why! Brother says getting scolded is much more serious at work than at school. I did not really believe him at that time. But now, I finally understood what he meant. In school, if we make our teacher angry, at most we will get taken to the principal. But at work, if we do not please our boss, we will get fired! You too feel it is serious right! Oh, how I wish I could become a child and go to school again.It is so carefree, unlike now!
                 In the past, my brother always talked big about all the things he did and I felt he was too proud. So annoying! He also said," Do you expect me to keep complaining about how unlucky my life is?" Anyway, I don't really care at that point of time. But now I know about Brother's good intention. I knew I was wrong last time for being rude and arguing with Brother. I said "sorry" and it is peace again!
                It is time to say goodbye, I have to go for my dinner now. Let's talk again next time.

    xx Ah Kee xx

(Done by Jovie Chau(3) from 1K4)

Dear Diary,

                   I am Ah Nya, the eldest girl in my family. I have four siblings, Ah Hock, Ah Kee, Ah Seng and Ah Lin. Today, our family is mourning for the loss of our dear father. Mother cried a lot for our father, and she was worried for the future of our family. Ah Hock decided to take charge of the family so we can survive. Ah Hock is a very responsible brother, and when he announced his plans to lead the family, he sounded as if he already had plans for when our father died.
                  I suggested a few ways to save up money to go in accordance with my brother's plans, before our father is gone because he feels a sense of responsibility as the eldest son of the family. He has initiative. I wish to grow up like him and be able to take care of the family soon too.

Love,
Ah Nya

(Done by Jasmine Goh (9) of 1K4)

Dear Diary,
         
                   I am Ah Hock, the eldest boy in the family. I have two younger sisters and two younger brothers in my family. Today, my father passed away. My whole family was overwhelmed with grief and sadness, as we mourned for my father, the man who loved and cared for my family whole-heartedly.We wore black, as a symbol of death and respect. My mother could not control herself and cried non-stop as Ah Nya, the oldest girl in the family tried to console her. I was hurt seeing my mother's eyes constantly filled with tears. However, I could not do anything.I had mixed feelings. I was sad, for the fact that my father, the sole breadwinner of the family, passed away. Nevertheless, I couldn't lose control of my feelings, as I knew that I would soon take on the role as the head of the family and the sole breadwinner of the family. I would have to give up my studies and go out to work to provide for the family. My siblings cannot afford to give up their studies for work as they are still young and by completing their studies, they would be able to take on a better job, have a higher pay and also, Mother would not have to worry about us.
                  As I remembered about what Mr Chong said to me about offering me a job in his provision shop, I decided to tell Mother about my decision to work at the provision shop. However, I did not know what I would be doing at the provision shop as I did not have any working experience.I hoped that this sacrifice of mine would enable Ah Nya, Ah Kee, Ah Seng and Ah Lin to work hard in their studies and get a good job in the future so that Mother would not have to work so hard as she is growing old.

-Ah Hock

(Done by Vanessa Yeo (21) from 1K4)