From Passion to Purpose: Lessons from iSparkian Clavin Cher

Written by: Toma Ng Zun Seng (1i2, 2026)

On 30 April 2026, Clavin Cher, a former iSparkian and Humanities Programme student, returned to Hwa Chong to speak at the iSpark Consortium Assembly. During the alumni sharing, he spoke about how he developed his passion for songwriting and how he continues to give back to the school.

He started small. In Secondary 1, his music teacher encouraged him to enter a songwriting competition, and that simple nudge sparked everything. His story reminded me that even in a new environment, growth does not happen all at once, but begins with small steps. 

By Secondary 4, he said he had “gotten onto the highway”, working closely with his friends and learning from his mentor, Mr Lee Wei Song, a renowned Singaporean songwriter and producer who gave him valuable industry insights. In Junior College, he shifted from focusing only on his own music to building a community through the Weyoung Songwriting Club, organising concerts and performing both in school and beyond.

He also encouraged us to “explore” and “exploit” opportunities with a growth mindset. To “explore” means to try different experiences within and beyond school in order to discover what we truly love. For instance, he explored his interest in card magic and even organised a Sabbatical workshop on it with the support of his teacher, Mdm Bian Jiang. Now, during National Service, he is also exploring his interest in competitive shooting. To “exploit” means to commit more deeply once we find something meaningful, making the most of every opportunity to grow in that area. Through these examples, he showed us that discovering our passions takes curiosity, openness, and the willingness to try. 

For me, Clavin really showed the Hwa Chong value of 自强不息, which means to strive relentlessly and never give up. He faced criticism and doubt, even in a supportive environment like Hwa Chong, but he never gave up on music. He shared that when we face setbacks, we should rethink, redesign and retry. Instead of seeing setbacks as hindrances, we can view them as inevitable milestones in the process of growth. First, we can rethink the real cause of the setback. Then, we can redesign our approach if the direct path is blocked. Finally, we can retry with resilience, taking criticism constructively instead of personally. This quiet perseverance reminded me that giving up is never the only option. We can always redesign and retry. 

The other value he lived out clearly was 饮水思源, which means gratitude and remembering where we came from. Even though he is serving National Service in the Police Coast Guard and working on his new song, he still gives back to Hwa Chong regularly. He is currently contributing to the iSpark consortium song by mentoring his juniors in the songwriting process and helping with the rearrangement. He even took time out of his busy National Service schedule to speak to us. He made it clear that giving back was not compulsory. He chose to do it willingly because he wanted to, not because he had to. 

Looking back, Clavin’s sharing taught me something important. Developing passion is a process. We should explore honestly, exploit fully, and when setbacks come, keep retrying. Moving forward, I want to explore my own interests without putting too much pressure on myself. I also want to commit fully when I find what I truly love. More importantly, Clavin reminded me to keep the school values in mind. When I face challenges, I should remember 自强不息 and never give up. At the same time, I should remember 饮水思源, to always remember my roots and give back to the community that shaped me.