Principal's Message

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

February 2026

Dear CHRians,

Do any of these questions sound familiar to you?

• “Why didn’t you think before doing it?”

• “Why can’t your words go through your brain first before coming out of your mouth?”

• “Why didn’t you press pause on your potential limiter?”

Young people are often criticised for being impulsive, lacking in self-control, and for taking unnecessary risks. I can easily think of situations some of you have gotten into that were deserving of such rebukes. I would like to reframe this criticism and show how it can be turned into an advantage that can help you be a Purposeful Leader.

There is actually a neurological basis for this criticism. Scientists who study the brain tell us that there are differences between teenagers’ brains and adults’ brains. One of these differences is that in the adolescent brain, the prefrontal cortex, which is near the front of your brain, is not fully developed yet. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for functions such as impulse control, planning for the future, and thinking about consequences.

Before I carry on, I need to say that the next time you do something foolish, do NOT blame it on your brain, and try to tell your parents or teachers, “It’s not my fault. My prefrontal cortex is not fully developed. My principal said so!” Neuroscience does not absolve you in any way from taking personal responsibility for your words and actions. In fact, knowing this, you should make a special effort to develop your prefrontal cortex through forming good habits, surrounding yourself with good company, taking advice from trusted adults, and thinking twice.

How can your undeveloped prefrontal cortex be turned into an advantage? I believe that God created us, and He did a good job of it. If this is how He designed our brains and the way they develop, there must be some advantage to it. If young people often find adults too cautious, conservative, and risk averse, then maybe as a young person, you are uniquely wired to take some risks – but healthy risks. What do I mean by healthy risk? Any time you step out of your comfort zone, and try something new, because you want to learn and grow, it’s a healthy risk. It’s a risk because you’re taking a step into the unknown, even if it is unfamiliar and scary. And if your intention is to grow, then it is likely to be healthy.

In her August 2025 TED Talk, titled “The Surprising Science of Adolescent Brains”, neuroscientist Jennifer Pfeifer said, “Adolescence isn’t a problem to be solved. It’s a transformative period of growth and opportunity… it’s time we reframe our view of adolescent brains. Don’t think of them as immature. They’re perfectly suited to meet the needs of young people. Their brains prime them to explore, learn quickly from rewards, and be sensitive to social status. It’s easy to think of those things as liabilities, but that would be a mistake. They’re actually powerful assets at a time in life when building identity, independence, and new relationships outside the family really matters.”

To become a Purposeful Leader, you need to explore your strengths, potential limiters, and interests; explore your community and the ways you can make a positive difference to those around you; as well as explore unfamiliar territory and new challenges to break new ground. CHRians do such exploration every day. In 2025, just to cite a few examples, we saw CHRians initiate projects to raise funds for the school, rally support to bless migrant workers, and plan a student-led component during their trip to Taiwan.

What amazing initiatives will we see from CHRians this year?

As you continue exploring as Purposeful Leaders, use your adolescent prefrontal cortex to your advantage!

Mr Tay

For Further Reading:
https://theconversation.com/teens-arent-just-risk-machines-theres-a-method-to-their-madness-89439