You were determined to enter SMU since you were in secondary school. Why? Tell us more about your journey to SMU.
When I was 13 years old, I would frequently pass by SMU thinking how lucky I would be if I were one of the students sitting in the seminar rooms. When I was 16, my English teacher told me that I had the potential to be a university graduate as she saw how determined I was and how I would complete my assignments way before the deadlines. With her encouragement, I began to see myself going into SMU after Polytechnic.
Imagine yourself in three years. What do you hope will be different about you then compared to now?
When I graduate, I aspire to join one of the Big Four accounting firms as a tax associate. I had a stint as a Corporate Tax intern in Ernst & Young for 6 months where I was exposed to the intricacies of Singapore’s corporate taxation system and developed a strong interest in this specialisation.
Work aside, I hope to develop my cooking skills because I want to cook good meals for my future family. I hope to be able to cook various Peranakan dishes, and maybe even learn how to make Din Tai Fung’s xiao long bao!
You are actively involved in community service. Tell us how it all began and what motivates you to give back to the community.
I have clocked approximately 80 hours of community service so far and it has been one of the best experiences of my entire SMU journey. Community service allows me to take a break from all the hustle and bustle of the classroom.
As part of the GIC Sparks and Smiles Award I received, I mentored a Primary 5 boy for five months. I would meet him weekly to help him with his school assignments and we would occasionally go for a swim to relax. I also worked closely with Beyond Social Services to ensure that his (and his family’s) various needs are met. This experience made me realise that everyone has their battles to fight, even at a very young age.
In addition, I have participated in missionary trips to Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia which have helped to put my personal challenges and difficulties in perspective. Looking at how the locals in Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia were happy with what little they had, I have learnt to be grateful for what I have.
