SHE worked part-time to support herself through her O levels.

He spent long hours studying to retain his scholarship and prevent any additional burden to his family.

Despite having to struggle, Teo Shui Yu, 17, and Hairul Hakkim, 16, didn't give up.

Now she is the top student in the Normal stream and he in the Express stream at Gan Eng Seng Secondary.

Shui Yu scored five A1s and one A2, and Hairul seven A1s and one A2.

After her dad, a delivery man, died during her PSLE year, Shui Yu's family - including her older brother, who is in the army, and her mum, a cleaner - faced financial difficulties.

So, in Secondary Two, the enterprising girl took up part-time work. And it gave her valuable lessons in time-management, Shui Yu said.

She tutored lower primary students in maths and Chinese, earning $80 a month, and worked at fast-food outlets on weekends.

'I used the earnings from the tuition for my expenses and saved up the money from my weekend jobs,' she said.

She had time to study only in school and late at night.

She remembers paying extra attention in class and staying up late to do her homework and revision.

She would then get up at 5.30am and reach school by 6.30am to study before classes began.

As for Hairul, he skipped Hari Raya celebrations at a relative's place and studied at home instead.

'It was during the O levels and I wanted to finish my revision,' he said.

His mother, Mrs Rasitha Mastan, 50, an unemployed widow who also has an older daughter, said he studied very hard to retain his scholarship.

'I did not need to encourage him,' she said. 'He continued to study even when I told him to rest.'

Hairul was on a Ministry of Education financial assistance scheme, which, she said, was a great help.

Teachers were all praise for the two young achievers.

Maths teacher Teo Soon Hee, 50, said: 'Shui Yu is a very hardworking girl, who took a lot of initiative in her studies and asked for help whenever she was in doubt.'

PICKED HIMSELF UP

Form teacher Jeffrey Phua, 40, said of Hairul: 'He was emotionally down when his dad passed away (three years ago), but he managed to pick himself up and topped the level.'

Mr Teo often re-scheduled his after-school classes to accommodate Shui Yu's working schedule.

'It was only one afternoon every week, and I didn't want her to miss out on her studies,' he said.

Mr Phua remembered seeing Hairul wearing worn-out sports shoes.

He then told the class that the top three students would get a pair of shoes from him. 'I knew Hairul would be among the top three and, sure enough, he was,' he said.

Both Shui Yu and Hairul were grateful to their teachers for their support and concern.

Shui Yu said her teachers always gave her opportunities to succeed. 'They informed me about various bursaries that I could apply for.'

The school helped her to apply for Ministry of Education financial assistance and a Buddhist Lodge bursary.

And what now for the two students?

Hairul aspires to become a neuro-surgeon.

And Shui Yu said: 'I want to become a psychologist and help people face their struggles.'

This article was first published in The New Paper on Jan 26, 2008