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Ep 20: Dr Chee Soon Juan on Family, Struggles, Resilience, Mental Health and Education
Many people know Dr Chee as an established politician with a fiery presence, but fewer know who he is as a son, a father, a friend and a person. In this podcast, we discuss Dr Chee’s upbringing, struggles and family, before discussing themes of resilience, mental health, youth and education.
(Watch the video version on Youtube @reboundwithresilience)
Note from host: On 4 Sep 2015, I listened to a speech on Youtube. I had no idea who the speaker was. Yet, I was brought to tears. I didn’t just hear the words, I felt it.
I felt the passion to build a more compassionate, humane society. I felt it when he said we must care for the less fortunate. And most of all, I felt it when he said we must have the courage to dream and to stand up for others.
One line in particular viscerally connected with me.
“I tell my kids…that it’s better to end up with a bloodied nose, than become cowardly and indifferent in the face of injustice”
Back then, I had just overcome some mental health issues. In that journey, there were times I felt alone, and utterly helpless. I was fortunate - I had help and the best parents in the world.
With the gratitude of recovering came a deep drive and a dream- to champion to a more inclusive, compassionate and resilient society, where we define success not just by our accomplishments, but by how we treat people who do not have any accomplishments. And where we help youth to understand how ridiculous it is to define their worth by the alphabet.
So I pursued that dream. Almost exactly 5 years later, it is surreal and an absolute privilege to share this podcast with everyone. It was incredibly heart-warming to converse with Dr Chee in person, and not just a public figure on my screen.
It is worth noting that when I first wrote to Dr Chee, he kindly commended my work and told me “he’ll work some things out” before setting a date. I found out later that those “things” was caring for this Mum in her final days. What really touched me, was that he emailed to confirm the date of our podcast during this time - he cared for and kept a random guy like me in his thoughts despite the situation. Just like when I watched his speech, I had no words. Only tears.
Lastly, I (and the organization) am politically neutral, and this podcast was done from a humanistic angle. Further, regardless of political beliefs, anyone can learn from Dr Chee’s resilience, compassion, and how he raised his family. I hope my (and the younger) generation grow up and discuss our future with empathy, even if we don't fully agree on everything. That's the way we must move forward. Enjoy the podcast 😊
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By Kevin WeeMany people know Dr Chee as an established politician with a fiery presence, but fewer know who he is as a son, a father, a friend and a person. In this podcast, we discuss Dr Chee’s upbringing, struggles and family, before discussing themes of resilience, mental health, youth and education.
(Watch the video version on Youtube @reboundwithresilience)
Note from host: On 4 Sep 2015, I listened to a speech on Youtube. I had no idea who the speaker was. Yet, I was brought to tears. I didn’t just hear the words, I felt it.
I felt the passion to build a more compassionate, humane society. I felt it when he said we must care for the less fortunate. And most of all, I felt it when he said we must have the courage to dream and to stand up for others.
One line in particular viscerally connected with me.
“I tell my kids…that it’s better to end up with a bloodied nose, than become cowardly and indifferent in the face of injustice”
Back then, I had just overcome some mental health issues. In that journey, there were times I felt alone, and utterly helpless. I was fortunate - I had help and the best parents in the world.
With the gratitude of recovering came a deep drive and a dream- to champion to a more inclusive, compassionate and resilient society, where we define success not just by our accomplishments, but by how we treat people who do not have any accomplishments. And where we help youth to understand how ridiculous it is to define their worth by the alphabet.
So I pursued that dream. Almost exactly 5 years later, it is surreal and an absolute privilege to share this podcast with everyone. It was incredibly heart-warming to converse with Dr Chee in person, and not just a public figure on my screen.
It is worth noting that when I first wrote to Dr Chee, he kindly commended my work and told me “he’ll work some things out” before setting a date. I found out later that those “things” was caring for this Mum in her final days. What really touched me, was that he emailed to confirm the date of our podcast during this time - he cared for and kept a random guy like me in his thoughts despite the situation. Just like when I watched his speech, I had no words. Only tears.
Lastly, I (and the organization) am politically neutral, and this podcast was done from a humanistic angle. Further, regardless of political beliefs, anyone can learn from Dr Chee’s resilience, compassion, and how he raised his family. I hope my (and the younger) generation grow up and discuss our future with empathy, even if we don't fully agree on everything. That's the way we must move forward. Enjoy the podcast 😊