I commend senior writer Wong Kim Hoh for his touching column on Ms Rohaishah Hamid's hard life ("At 17, she found herself with a broken home and nowhere to stay"; last Sunday).

It's absolutely amazing how Ms Rohaishah slept at void decks, beaches and friends' homes, and still managed to study and graduate, and is now an art teacher. She even managed to win the Most Engaging Teacher award this year.

What amazes me most is that in spite of going through so much hardship, she was not influenced by bad company and did not give up. She has overcome and achieved so much at such a young age.

Her teacher, Ms Ng U-Lynn, should also be lauded for not giving up on her. What a kind teacher with a beautiful heart.

Ms Rohaishah should be a voice for the young. She should be asked to give talks to schoolchildren to motivate them.

It would be my privilege to meet her and give whatever help I can to her mother.

Shamim Moledina (Ms)