Singapore's brightest star she may be today but Zoe was certainly not the model student of yesteryears. The Queen of Caldecott Hill divulges her childhood secrets.

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Playful as a kitten, young Zoe would frolic in traditional games like "zero-point" and "police and thief" all day and night in her Lim Chu Kang neighbourhood - even if it meant skipping her meals (yes, she's that obsessed). Obviously, this mischievous kiddy hated schoolwork.

"My friends and I would always group together to copy answers from the diligent ones before classes start," confesses the former tomboy as she fondly recalls her school days at Kay Hua Primary School (which has since been closed down) and Yuan Ching Secondary School.

"And you bet I looked forward to school vacations 'cos that meant no homework!" she continues gleefully, in her famously low and throaty voice.

Naturally, her academic grades suffered as a result of her playfulness. "I was simply lousy in my studies, unlike my 3 brothers, particularly my eldest one (my role model). In fact, all 4 girls in the family did not fare as well as the boys when it came to academic results."

Suppressing her girlish charm, Zoe mimics impishly how her worried mother used to nag, "Can le (Mandarin for 'oh dear'). Don't know how'll you survive in society in future."

But her stern pig-farmer father was less tolerant of her frivolous conducts. To teach her a lesson, Zoe recalls vividly that he once locked her up in her bedroom and refused to grant her dinner. Luckily, her doting granny, whom she is closest to, came to her rescue - secretly sending food via the window and not forgetting to give her hugs of encouragement. "I felt like a prisoner," she chirps.

Well, who would have expected the "rebellious lassie" who did not even enjoy music classes - let alone the fact of not being an ace in school - to have an enviable high-flying career now?

Still, she lives with the regret of not cherishing her school education and urges her young fans to "study hard". Hmm, wise words from the Queen of Caldecott Hill indeed.

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