For Lu Cong, a career in early childhood education was not always a path she had envisioned for herself. It began as a practical choice, shaped by her parents’ view of it as a “suitable career for women”. When she first stepped into a classroom, she did what needed to be done, without a strong sense of direction. But as the days turned into years, something began to shift.
Today, as a Senior Preschool Educator, she brings with her nearly a decade of experience at Star Learners, shaped not just by the passage of time, but more so, by the people who have journeyed alongside her. When she reflects on why she stayed, there isn’t a single defining moment. Instead, it is a collection of quiet moments that added up over time:
Principals who saw her potential and gave her room to grow.
Colleagues who are supportive and look out for one another.
And most of all, the children, whose affection, honesty and small, everyday gestures have made the deepest impact.
If this were my child, would I be comfortable with this?
She speaks of her students with unmistakable warmth. Not as a group, but as individuals she has come to know and care for deeply – children who would linger at dismissal just to be around her, call out just to check if she’s still around, or notice when she’s unwell and respond in their own simple, yet sweetest ways.
“They are really, really loveable,” she says, “When I talk about them, I always call them ‘my children’. Somewhere along the way, without her quite realising it, the work started to matter.
Doing Right by Every Child
At the heart of Lu Cong’s teaching is a quiet but unwavering principle: If this were my child, would I be comfortable with this?
This question guides her decisions each day, shaping not just what she does, but also how she shows up. Because beyond routines and frameworks, she sees teaching as a responsibility grounded in care. Love and patience then follow naturally. Children, she shares, are deeply perceptive. They notice tone, expression and even the smallest shifts in energy.
“They can feel whether they are loved,” she says. “Imagine spending most of your day with someone who doesn’t like you. That would be terrible.” So she chooses, every day, to show up with warmth, not just as a professional, but as someone who genuinely loves and cares for the children.
Letting Children Be… Children
In her classroom, there is one guiding belief: there are no wrong answers.
Whether it is predicting what will sink or float, or choosing how to move to a piece of music, children are encouraged to express themselves freely. Over time, this creates something more than just participation. It creates a safe space where children feel confident enough to speak, to try and to be themselves.
Her philosophy is simple: Who says clouds must look like cotton candy?
To adults, that might seem like the obvious answer. But to a child, a cloud could be anything at all. And that openness, the ability to imagine, to interpret and to see differently, is something she is careful to protect.
Creating, with Intention
Outside the classroom, Lu Cong spends much of her time in the same way she approaches her work – she creates, quietly and with focus.
From crocheting to handmade crafts, she finds joy in the process of making something from start to finish. It’s not about the outcome, nor is it something she does for recognition. In fact, most of her creations are kept at home, or shared only with those who truly appreciate them.
“I just enjoy doing it,” she says simply. That same mindset carries into her teaching: starting with curiosity, working through challenges, and finding satisfaction in figuring things out along the way.
What begins as “I think I can do this” often becomes a test of perseverance, and ultimately, a quiet sense of accomplishment. The children benefit from this mindset too. Whether it is experimenting with new materials in class or contributing to a community project using her crafting skills, her creativity often finds its way back into the classroom in subtle, meaningful ways that make learning more engaging and tangible for the children.
Starting with curiosity, working through challenges, and finding satisfaction in figuring things out along the way. What begins as “I think I can do this” often becomes a test of perseverance, and ultimately, a quiet sense of accomplishment. The children benefit from this mindset too.
Thumbs Up, Lu Cong!
In 2025, Lu Cong took a step outside her comfort zone to participate in SPH’s Thumbs Up Little Junior Nursery Rhyme Competition. Out of more than 900 entries, her original piece earned a Consolation Prize for its creativity, cultural depth and joyful delivery. Lu Cong’s entry was selected as one of just 12 to be featured on stage during the competition. The result surprised her.
“I didn’t think I was that outstanding,” she admits. “I just focused on doing it well.”
And that mindset, simple, unassuming, but quietly courageous, is perhaps what defines her best. Not the accolades, but the willingness to step forward anyway. To learn, to see things through, and to give her best to the process. It’s the same encouragement she offers her colleagues, “Just try. If you don’t try, how will you know?”
Growing, in Her Own Way
After years in the field, Lu Cong measures growth differently. Not just in skills or milestones, but in mindset. She has become more open to challenges, more willing to step into the unfamiliar, and more confident in navigating both.
At Star Learners, she has found an environment that supports this, one that encourages educators to explore beyond their interests, share their strengths and grow beyond their roles. “It’s a positive place,” she says. “We face challenges together, and we move forward together.”
For those who feel unsure about pursuing their passions, her advice is thoughtful and practical: Make space for it. Let it be something that restores you, not something that adds pressure. Because sometimes, the things we do quietly, with our hands, our thoughts and our hearts, have a way of shaping not just who we are, but how we show up for others.
And in Lu Cong’s case, that quiet dedication has become something deeply felt by the children she teaches every day.
