Offering HIMSELF A SECOND CHANCE ,
Participants from Architects of Life, who Chiong had previously spoken with, suggested starting walking tour led by ex-convicts in the midst of the pandemic. He was on table.
But getting his tour guide licence in 2023 would prove to be another hurdle, with just a Primary School Leaving Examination ( PSLE ) certificate.
” It was a nightmare, because I did n’t go through proper secondary school education. I really did n’t know any history about Singapore’s development, sustainability, future development, water plan, places of worship, places of interest. Everything was ( new to me )”, he recalled.  ,
” In this period of seven to eight months, I gathered as much information as I was, summarised them, compiled them, put into my head. I do n’t know how I made it” . ,
Yet he did. At the age of 52, he said,” I finally started to appreciate my state, the position I call home, and the contributions our little red dot has made to our land.”  ,
Chiong still struggles to believe he has come” this way” after 16 years in prison, and credits his success to those who are surrounded by him. He advises those who are still serving their sentences to “look for the right support team, draw strength from them when you are poor, and lead back when you have more weapons.”  ,
What he wo n’t dole out are platitudes like “if I can make it happen, you also can”, he said. What if they ca n’t make it, then? I’ll suggest that whenever I give myself a chance, why not give yourself one.”