My name is Mark Ng Zhen Yi, and I am a Primary 6 student from St Stephen’s School. I am the youngest of three children in my family. My siblings are much older than me — my sister Rachel is graduating from university this year, while my brother Jack is currently serving in the army. If you think they dote on me, think twice… or perhaps thrice!

I have diverse interests from young to keep myself entertained. I have always been an active child and have probably visited almost every playground in the neighbourhood. One day, while passing by JH Kim Taekwondo school near my house, my parents decided to send me for a trial Taekwondo class because they felt it would suit my energetic personality. Boy, were they right! I enjoy the kicks and punches, and more importantly, Taekwondo has taught me discipline and respect. My goal is to achieve a Black Belt one day and perhaps even open a Taekwondo school like my Grandmaster Rivas.

I have also been learning to play the piano since I was six years old. My parents strongly believe that music should be enjoyed and not treated as just another exam subject, so I do not take music examinations. This gives me the freedom to explore and learn different genres of music, from classical to pop. I have even performed at the National Library events organised by my music school, Intune Music, to showcase young talent. In my spare time, I also enjoy playing the ukulele and guitar, which I picked up by watching YouTube videos. See — not all screen time is bad!

Recently, I have also developed an interest in photography with my father. We joined a photography walkabout session in Joo Chiat our neighbourhood, few weekends ago, which we both truly enjoyed. We hope to continue exploring street photography together and improve our skills over time. I’ve shared some of our pictures here, hope you like it.