For many, teaching evokes the familiar image of a classroom and a whiteboard. Yet scholar Reuben Goh, now a secondary school teacher, shows how the influence of a teacher extends far beyond imparting knowledge.

Whether he’s teaching Geography, launching an eco-driven community-service CCA, or guiding Student Leaders, Reuben exemplifies how teaching is ultimately about mentorship — walking alongside students as they grow into confident leaders and responsible global citizens.

Reuben’s development as an all-rounded educator didn’t happen overnight; it began with the early support and opportunities he received through the MOE Teaching Scholarship, which aims to nurture the next generation of educational leaders.

Carrying Forward Lessons Learnt

The decision to pursue teaching came naturally to Reuben as he weighed his options after his A-Levels. He often reflected on the profound influence of his teachers — from drama instructors in secondary school and junior college to his Geography and Mathematics teachers.

“One thing remains true: everything I’ve achieved, significant or not, has largely been through the great effort and persistence of each of these teachers,” he shared. “When it came to the end of my A-Levels and I truly had to sit down and think about my options, it became clear that the opportunities I had were the result of the investment those teachers had made in me.” This inspired him to pass on that same positive influence on others through teaching.

It was then that Reuben came across the MOE Teaching Scholarship, which aligned perfectly with his love for Geography and his desire to give back through teaching. “Knowing that the teaching scholarship meant that I could pursue my studies in a subject I loved, and pass on the same grace I had received from the teachers, made it the right choice for me,” he said.

The scholarship opened many doors both locally and globally. Through various school attachments across Singapore, he was able to interact with different students and observe various teaching approaches. These experiences broadened his understanding of diverse school environments.

Bringing Global Insights to the Classroom

Reuben’s academic journey gave him a rich foundation that shapes his teaching today. At the University of Cambridge in the UK, his curriculum demanded technical precision and intellectual rigour, requiring him to distil complex ideas into coherent arguments. At Columbia University in the US, he experienced a different approach — one that encouraged active engagement, open questioning, and collaborative exploration with peers.

“Gaining a more international perspective, both academically and culturally, has broadened the way I view the world and connected me with a diverse group of people from many different backgrounds, challenging me to constantly evaluate how I see the world around me,” he highlighted. The analytical discipline from Cambridge informs how he prepares exam papers today, while Columbia’s inquiry-based approach fuels engaging classroom discussions.

Guiding, Mentoring, Inspiring

Having once benefited greatly from his own teachers, Reuben gives back to his students in the same abundance. Beyond teaching Geography, he also plans school events, guides student leaders, and explores new learning opportunities for his eco-focused CCA.

Led by Reuben, the CCA focuses on sustainability and community service, nurturing a desire in every student to make an impact, especially in a generation where sustainability initiatives may feel ubiquitous.

“My hope is that through this CCA, we can not only recontextualise, actualise, and ground for the students why sustainability and environmental stewardship continue to be important, but also show them how their individual actions can lead to collective change,” he noted.

Reuben is equally dedicated to guiding student leaders and school ambassadors, supporting them every step of the way. By incorporating activities like roleplaying, he helps them build confidence and resilience, while encouraging them to see their role as part of something greater than themselves.

“Teaching is multi-faceted, which means there isn’t really such a thing as a typical day!” he mused.

On advice for aspiring teachers, he emphasised the meaning that teaching brings: “With all jobs, there are ups and downs to every day, but few jobs provide meaning in the same way teaching does.”

He also reflected the importance of relationships built during training, which provide support, guidance, and inspiration. “The Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) programme was a blast, and being in a class of teachers-to-be was something I enjoyed very much,” he added. “Seek these relationships and hold on to them, and they will carry you through. I found my time in NIE to be a fantastic year.”