Quest Alumni Journeys Series

Memories of Friendship and Play

Thomas Tan, Class of 1983, is one of the few Queenstown alumni who has come full circle, returning to his old school not as a student but as a teacher. His journey back is rooted in memories of energy, friendships, and the simple joy of play. He recalls recess-time football matches where schoolmates challenged each other fiercely on the court, sometimes even leading to fights, yet always returning as friends once the game ended. The volleyball and basketball courts became their make-shift football stadiums, where competition and camaraderie blended.

It was also at Queenstown that Thomas discovered water polo. Although the school had no pool and water polo was not offered as a co-curricular activity, he was introduced to the sport by seniors from the Queenstown Water Polo Club. He found himself drawn into the game, eventually training as a goalkeeper and representing combined schools at national competitions. Although he never reached the SEA Games, serving as first reserve for the squad instilled in him a strong sense of discipline and pride.

A Calling to Teach

Thomas’s love for teaching began early. As a Primary Six pupil, he was once asked to help a classmate with her work. That spark never left him. Although his first career was in accounting, he later became a full-time tutor and eventually made a mid-career switch into teaching. “I realised that I wanted something more stable, something where I could give back. Teaching was the path that made sense,” he says.

After more than two decades at Millennia Institute, Thomas applied for and accepted an opening at Queenstown Secondary. Walking back into the school grounds felt like a homecoming. The familiar school badge, the values, and even the uniforms brought a rush of nostalgia. “It felt right,” he reflects. “This was where it all began.”

On the Other Side of the Classroom

Being back as a teacher gave Thomas a new perspective. As a student, he had enjoyed good friendships and supportive teachers. Now, he sees himself in the role of a guide, one who not only imparts knowledge but also shapes values. “Academics, students can catch up on,” he notes, “but values, once misplaced, are not so easy to change.”

He also believes it is vital for students today to learn skills that are relevant to the industries of tomorrow. When Thomas was a Queenstown student, lessons were largely textbook-based. Today, the curriculum has expanded to include applied learning, design thinking, and contextualising subjects such as accounting and business studies for real-world applications.

“I want students to see that what they study now connects to the real world beyond school,” he explains.

This future-focused approach is something he treasures passing on, knowing it gives students an advantage he never had in his school days.

Enjoying Both Journeys

When asked whether he enjoyed his time more as a student or as a teacher, Thomas smiles. Each stage has its own rewards. As a student, it was about friendships and shared struggles. As a teacher, it is about shaping lives and seeing his students grow. “The enjoyment is different, but both are meaningful,” he says.

He also remains in touch with old classmates through WhatsApp groups, keeping the bonds of his youth alive. In the staffroom, he has also found new friendships, sharing strategies and stories with colleagues who share the same commitment to young people.

Daring to Serve

Looking back, Thomas reflects on the school’s motto, “Dare to Serve.” As a teenager, the words felt distant, almost ceremonial. Today, as a teacher standing in the same parade square where he once stood as a student, those words hold deep meaning. “As a student, we remembered them. As a teacher, we live them,” he says.

For Thomas, returning to Queenstown has been more than a career move. It is a journey of giving back, of daring to serve, and of truly coming full circle on the path he began decades ago. In every lesson and every student he guides, he sees himself once again in the parade square of his youth, now standing not as a student but as a teacher, back to serve where it all began.