A deaf performer, who caught the eyes and touched the hearts of Singaporeans on National Day, had practised hand-signing of the songs for two months.
According to Lianhe Wanbao, Ms Neoh Yew Kim started practising intensively in June this year for a 55,000 audience during the National Day Parade.
She said: “If I forgot some of the movements, my friends would send me e-mails from the public to encourage me. I also gained new friends through this experience.”
The 22-year-old had lost her sense of hearing when she was one and underwent an operation. Since then, she has been wearing a hearing aid, Lianhe Wanbao reported.
Life for Ms Neoh wasn’t easy as she revealed that she was bullied online by students during her school days.
She also told the Chinese paper of her family situation. Her parents are divorced and she currently lives with her grandmother, sister and brother, who have become her pillars of support.
Ms Neoh said: “I plan to start my own YouTube channel and teach hand-signing through my tutorial videos and change certain prejudices about deaf people.”
stephluo@sph.com.sg
The Straits Times, YouTube screengrabs
