Mathias
I am Matthias Loong and I have dyslexia, ADHD, and dyspraxia.
I graduated as valedictorian, with a perfect score in Cyber Security from Temasek Polytechnic. The first 4-pointer in course history. Currently serving my National Service, I plan to read Computer Science at a university abroad.
My Strengths
I am a very logical person and I think in part it’s because of ADHD that enables me to draw lines and connect things together. In addition, due to my ADHD, I am able to be very focused and dive deep into things. This allows me to sustain interest and self-discovery for my many hobbies and become very good at them. Many ADHD people don’t realise it, but this is such a powerful and unique tool.
“I am also a good problem solver, a skill developed through growing up with dyslexia in a system where everything is against you. I picked up many coping mechanisms and came up with unique solutions to get around problems faced.”
Ultimately, when people talk about learning differences and doing well, it’s not about doing well despite learning differences. It is about how one manages to do well, in spite of the fact that they are in a system that is not suited for it.
My Hobbies
I love to read as it broadens my perspectives and is a window into another world. Another hobby would be brewing specialty coffee. I get very obsessed when I am into something. I would spend a lot of time researching recipes and even to the extent of making my own mineral water – the ideal composition of mineral and temperature of water to make the coffee that I like.
“My most interesting hobby would be playing competitive Pokémon. I became one of the best players in Asia and got fully paid trips to compete around the world.”
My most interesting hobby would be playing competitive Pokémon. In Secondary 3, I won my first tournament in Singapore and realised that I can be really good and eventually qualify for the World Championships. I became one of the best players in Asia and got fully paid trips to compete around the world.
That year, I skipped a lot of school for competitions. One such trip, to Brazil, was held during my mid-year exams and I was scared since it could affect my promotion. My mother was fully supportive. A quick chat with my vice principal also secured the approval to skip my exams. He told me that it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I would never know if it will come ever again.
The Brazil trip was my first international break out performance and I emerged 3rd. Being top 4 in the region paved the way for me to participate in another international championship—Indianapolis in North America. Along the way, I met many brilliant people whom I still talk to on a daily basis. Many of them are now in the Ivy League.
It is super cool to be part of this community, swapping ideas and cultures, bonded by our love for Pokémon. My journey culminated in my participation at the World Championships in LA that same year. Although I didn’t win, the experience is invaluable.
I realised that there are many different ways of thinking, cultures, and experiences not found in Singapore. When I entered Polytechnic, I continued my Pokémon journey and competed in the adult category. Right before COVID hit, I managed to emerge as the top 8 player in Asia, and at 17, was the youngest in that category.
My Academic Journey
Reading and writing were hard. I was unable to process as fast as my peers and because of my ADHD, unable to mug for long stretches. When writing, I could not cohesively and coherently line up my thoughts which made me insecure. Thanks to my mother, who runs her own dyslexia learning centre, I managed to cope.
“I changed my mental model for learning, to learn in a way that fit my needs, rather than how it was taught at school. I also enhanced my learning outside of class. For the subjects that I was interested in, I sought external help and as a result, excelled in them.”
Although I am dyslexic, I love literature. I spent a lot of time going over the material on my own and was one of the best literature students. Leading up to O-Levels, I remember feeling emotionally and mentally distraught, feeling that I was too slow to process and stressed with having to compete with so many people. Thankfully, I managed to get exam accommodation for extra time and typing. That was crucial for essay-based exams. I ended up getting a perfect score for my O-Levels.
“Going to a polytechnic allowed me to escape the standard education system. It presented many avenues for me to do things my way and that helped maximise my potential.”
The subject changes every semester and I enjoyed the broad and constantly changing learning. The project work also teaches very valuable skills. Not just teamwork as many were solo projects. They train you to think forward, and hone your project management skills to deliver a final product at the end of 3-4 months. To me, that felt a lot more manageable than cramming for one final exam like in the A-Levels. It is not easier than Junior College as there are a lot of projects and many more exams, but it caters to my learning style.
I entered Polytechnic with one goal—to get a perfect GPA of 4.0. That goal was set when I obtained 7A1s for my O-Levels despite not studying with the intent of doing well. That boosted my confidence and I felt that if I set my mind to it, I would be able to obtain a perfect score at Polytechnic which would open up a lot of doors for me. My Pokémon experience also helped me in school. It taught me how to maintain composure under stress and how to strategize and quickly establish the big picture.
My Social Experience at School
The good thing about my secondary school, ACS, is that regardless of demographics, you can always find your group. Mine consisted of a bunch who liked different things, but we came together because of our passion. They were critical for me going through school. Alongside my brother and mother, (and now my girlfriend), they are my support circle. I think it is very important for everyone, even guys, to build a group of people around them that they know they can trust to be vulnerable.
Students were not bothered by my differences. The bullying that I did receive, was from teachers. Back in primary school, I was ridiculed by one for not being able to draw a straight line despite using a ruler. She said that I was lying and ripped my paper in front of the class. That was humiliating and made me hate math for a long time. Fortunately, my Secondary school teachers were really good.
“In my opinion, one flaw in the Singapore education system is pigeon-holing of people. Neurodivergent people can never be put in a box like that.”
It is thought-provoking that while we have the best exam papers and an education system that is revered in the world, there aren’t any truly brilliant people making brilliant discoveries.
Misconceptions About Learning Differences
I get a mixed bag of reactions when people find out about my learning differences. The responses that stump me are: “But you are so smart… you are doing so well…”.
“It felt weird to me that some people associate learning differences with not being intelligent and not being able to do well professionally. There are in fact many brilliant people with ADHD, ASD as well as dyslexia.”
Another common misconception is that we cannot really read. I can read but I sometimes see things wrongly and I still flip letters. However, not every dyslexic person is going to see “dog” as “god”. Similarly, not every ADHD is hyperactive. ADHD is also the idea that you are unable to sustain attention due to a lack of dopamine, and that develops into other things like not having good emotional regulation. Learning differences are pretty layered and I wouldn’t label everything so simply. Doing so can minimise what people with learning differences go through daily.
To My Younger Self and Others
“I would tell my younger self not to sweat it. It’s not just what you can do about your learning differences, it’s what they can do for you.”
My message to others with learning differences is that what you have is not a curse. If you know how to tap into the good of it, it will serve you well. Also, don’t be afraid to be different from your peers. We will always be different and that is the fun part. Be at peace with who you are as a person.
“To the general public, don’t jump to conclusions, and don’t use our differences as adjectives. Stop calling people ADHD, calling things autistic, and saying that you are dyslexic.”
Taking away that negative connotation from daily speech and interactions is very important to normalising us. Hence, for normal people, it is important to be mindful of how you use your words.
To parents of children with learning differences, don’t sweat it, even if they are not doing well academically. Try to get them the right support they need but also let them explore what they love and are interested in. See what they can do apart from school.
To school teachers, it is important to understand what each kid needs and not pigeonhole them. I currently volunteer at a center helping kids from rental flats where many do not do well in school. Many have been left behind by their teachers and it turns out they have undiagnosed learning difficulties.
Honestly, few kids are lazy or have a bad attitude. If we really want to move forward and be more inclusive, teachers need to understand each kid’s situation and accommodate fairly. Kids are impressionable and it is important when they are young, to have guiding figures.
Hopes and Dreams for the Future
In the near future, my plan is to study computer science abroad. Being at the forefront of technology research—creating new discoveries in fields like AI and machine learning—is super exciting for me. However, I am aware that my opinions will change due to the new experiences that I get, and I will need to readjust my plans and mental model. Hence, I have no doubt that when I look at my future, things will change. Ultimately, my overarching plan is to be happy doing what I like.
