INFINITAS JOURNEYS, DETOURS & PATHWAYS
SJI International Alumni Magazine Volume 8, 2021
THE ONE APP EVERY TIGER MUST HAVE SJI International Connect
The Official SJI International Alumni Association App You can now take “SJI International Connect” with you wherever you go! It’s your mobile engagement tool that makes connecting with fellow alumni easier than ever before. If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s very easy to register on your computer at connect.sji-international. com.sg and then download and use the app!
JOURNEYS, DETOURS & PATHWAYS
“We are each on our own journey. Each of us is on our very own adventure; encountering all kinds of challenges, and the choices we make on that adventure will shape us as we go; these choices will stretch us, test us and push us to our limit; and our adventure will make us stronger then we ever know we could be.”
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dhanesh ‘14 It’s been nearly a year since I last wrote to you in Infinitas and some might argue not much has changed. Most of us are working from home, donning masks, and trying to survive the occasional lockdown. 2021 seems like a carbon copy of 2020. I know you must be thinking, this is a rather pessimistic start to a welcome message. Where is that cliched motivational tune? Truth be told on a grand scale of things not much has changed. However, for many of us our paths have taken a different turn. It may or may not be drastic but there have been twists and surprises we may not have expected. This edition of Infinitas highlights this in our theme, Journeys, Detours & Pathways. As I found out this year’s theme, I immediately tried to scour google for quotes or song lyrics I could reference or use to liven up the message. Unfortunately, there was not much I could draw inspiration from. Only rage from someone 2
changing the name of “Adventure of a Lifetime” to “Journey of a Lifetime”, the abomination but I digress. As I returned to the drawing boards, I set down silently thinking of this theme, and unconsciously drifted into remembering the journey I have had till this present moment. In every aspect of my journey, even after leaving the school, SJII has still been ever-present. The values the school has left with us, which we have embodied and embraced consciously or subconsciously; the experiences and memories from expeditions, extracurricular activities and schoolwide events that have shaped us; the whacky lessons and critical discussions with our teachers; but most importantly the people we have found, who have always been showering us with love, laughter and joy in times of failure and in times of triumph. The people that this place has given us is probably one of greatest gifts of all. And in thinking of these people, I can’t help but remember the abundance of talented people present in our community. I have had the fortune of meeting many alumni from SJII as a student and even after graduation, and in every conversation, they have given me courage, inspiration and left me grounded. It makes me ponder the question: “how fortunate are you to be surrounded by such incredible and lovely people?”. And at this point, the cliched welcome message moment has been achieved. But the truth is that all of you who have graduated from this school are wonderfully talented people with potential beyond the sky. No matter what anyone tells you, know that every single one of you do have the ability in you to go onto to do wonderful things in your life. Regardless of the journeys or detours you may take, despite the challenges that may arise, always hold onto to that belief in yourself and hold onto to your convictions which will help you achieve success in whatever form it may be for you.
Most importantly in these challenging times be it now or in the future, remember to care for your own mental and physical wellbeing, to reach out to your loved ones
“Regardless of the journeys or detours you may take, despite the challenges that may arise, always hold onto that belief in yourself and hold onto to your convictions which will help you achieve success in whatever form it may be for you.” and to give support in your own capacity to those around you. Of course, celebrate those victories no matter how big or small they may be. And I hope you will remember our community will always be a place of comfort and support for you whenever you need it. We look forward to seeing all of you at future in-person events (hopefully very soon) and if ever the time is right, do come home and visit sometime. And with that I shall leave you in the company of the incredible stories and experiences of our alumni in this edition of Infinitas, Journeys, Detours & Pathways.
CONTENTS 4 CONNECTIONS MATTER 5 Discover what you can do at SJII Alumni Connect
20 FOUNDERS FUTURES 2021 22 Finding a gap in the market during the pandemic 24 Career planning: Engineer in the banking industry 26 Creating is the ultimate artistic process 28 The thin blue line
6 CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2020 8 Graduation 2020 11 University Matriculations
30 ALUMNI VOLUNTEERS 30 Meet your Class and Country Representatives 31 High School Open House 2021
Photos by Ricardo Seah ‘11 (@ricardography) Samuel Mok ‘14 (@smoktephoto)
12 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS 12 Changing the world for good 14 On becoming a doctor 16 Uncovering market insights and translating them into product solutions 18 My journey in Veterinary Medicine
32 A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE 32 The new Alumni Insta Live series
St. Joseph’s Institution International Ltd. Co. Reg & GST No. 200607833C 490 Thomson Road, Singapore 298191 Tel:6353 9383 www.sji-international.com.sg alumni@sji-international.com.sg connect.sji-international.com.sg
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CONNECTIONS MATTER SJII Alumni Connect has been created so that alumni who shared a unique student experience while at SJI International can stay in touch and connected with each other after graduation. As a membership portal, it offers updated news stories, upcoming events listings, publications, mentorship and business directories and more. All the things our alumni want access to, but within a safe password protected space, making it an excellent place for alumni to visit and connect.
LOOK FOR OR POST AN INTERNSHIP OR A JOB One of the most exciting things about the new site is that alumni can use it to find or post internships or job opportunities depending on the stage they are in their education or employment journey. It’s an excellent way to find that outstanding opportunity, or that special person to fill a role.
FIND OLD CLASSMATES Find old schoolmates using the search function enables you to locate any student registered on the site from the class of 2021 to the first ever intake in 2007. You can filter your search by house and the year of graduation, and by country, profession and company.
USE THE ‘NEW’ BUSINESS DIRECTORY Got a new or existing business you would like to promote to fellow alumni? Or perhaps looking to help support a fellow alums business. This is a free directory service for alums to promote their business and for alums to take advantage of those opportunities. 4
DISCOVER WHAT YOU CAN DO AT SJII ALUMNI CONNECT
JOIN A CLUB OR GROUP
SIGN UP TO ATTEND EVENTS Join your former schoolmates for a casual get together, a sports event, a professional networking event or a reunion. Look for regular updates to the event list (especially once restrictions are lifted).
This is a new initiative underway to have alumni join groups and clubs in the countries or cities where they live, or for alums to set up affinity groups around an area or field of interest.
VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME Many SJII alumni are so proud of their school’s unique efforts or ethos and values that they often ask how they can give back something by volunteering their time in support of the school. Opportunities arise throughout the year to support the counseling office with college or career fairs and talks, or to assist the admissions office with family and student tours. There are also opportunities to come in to speak with students on specific subject areas as and when possible.
READ THE LATEST NEWS The site’s news pages cover everything from current school news, alumni and school event highlights, and alumni in our spotlight features who share their stories about their academic, professional accomplishments as well as adventures they may have been up to and wish to share.
BE IN THE KNOW Want to know what the rest of your class is up to? or the class above? or your house? Through the ‘Share Updates’ feature everyone can share recent news, or post reunion gathering photographs and albums. So whether your school and batch mates have posted a business success, a birth, a marriage or a life update. The ‘Share Updates’ feature the place to do it.
connect.sji-international.com.sg 5
CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2020
On 21 November 2020, SJI International recognised and celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2020 at the school across four halls – the Glass Hall, Assembly Hall, ES Assembly Hall, and the Lawrence Da Silva Sports Hall. Due to Covid-19, no parents were able to be on campus, and limited guests beyond the hosts and select presenters were able to be in each venue with a portion of the class. The event began with the audience from all venues watching the opening remarks by Mr Kenny Hegarty; the Principal’s Remarks made by Mrs Roisin Paul; the presentation of the major awards by Mr Roy Quek, Chairman of the Board of Governors; the awarding of the Josephian of the Year by Brother Lawrence and the Senior Council Address made by Council President Jun Ray Hoong. Following these remarks and major awards, students in each venue were awarded the Subject Awards Prizes, and each student was awarded their individual certificates. Due to the restrictions, 6
it was not possible to host the traditional lunch following the ceremony. A recording and welcome speech typically made at the Graduation Ceremony was made by Alumni Vice President Bryan Oh and shared with the class via the end of year alumni newsletter and on the SJII Connect Alumni Portal. Welcome to the Alumni Community, Class of 2020!
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GRADUATION 2020 AWARDS Jun Ray Hoong
The Philip Yeo Trophy for the Josephian of the Year Academic Prizes for: Asian Language (Chinese), English Literature, History
Sarah Chee
The SJIOBA Trophy for Distinguished Service
Lily Updike
The Dick Lee Award for the Arts
Timothy Chee
The Leadership Council Shield for Academic Excellence Academic Prize for English Language & Literature
Ben Smith
The Lawrence Da Silva Trophy for Sportsman of the Year
Amelia Putri
The Lawrence Da Silva Trophy for Sportswoman of the Year
Joelle Goh
The Brother Patrick Trophy for Outstanding Achievement Academic Prize for Economics
Tuan Dung Nguyen
Academic Prizes for: Chemistry, Maths
Natalie Chow
Academic Prize for Psychology
Sophie Du Toit
Academic Prize for Theatre
Anna Terry
Academic Prizes for: Sports Exercise & Health Science, Theory of Knowledge
Clare Ong
Academic Prize for Visual Arts
Le Shang Teo
Academic Prize for Biology
Rachel Handoko
Academic Prize for Business/Management 10
Jolene Leong SJII Scout Award
Sam Chen Yu
Academic Prize for Computer Science
Leia Lenoir
Academic Prize for Music
Luc Parrot
Academic Prize for Geography
Amon Chua
Academic Prize for European Lang (Spanish B)
Matthew Koh
Academic Prize for Geography
Edo Edilynn
Academic Prizes for: Asian Language (Indonesian/Tamil), Environmental Sciences, Physics
UNIVERSITY MATRICULATIONS: CLASSES OF 2017-2020 One or more students from the Classes of 2017-2020 has chosen to matriculate at the following universities.
Asia (ex SG) 3.3% Australia 11.7% Canada 5.3% Europe (ex UK) 5.7% Singapore 35.3% UK 24.7% US 14.0% ASIA (ex SG) Ashoka University (India) Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (China) British University of Vietnam (Vietnam) City University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong) Fudan University (China) Ghent University Global Campus (Korea) Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong) Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong) Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (Hong Kong) International Medical University (Malaysia) Keio University - Fujisawa Campus (Japan) National Taiwan University (Taiwan) New York University Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) Savannah College of Art and Design (Hong Kong) Sungkyunkwan University (Korea) Tama Art University (Japan) Tsinghua University (China) Tsukuba University (Japan) University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong) Waseda University (Japan) AUSTRALIA Australian National University Curtin College Curtin University Edith Cowan University Macquarie University Monash College Monash University University of Adelaide University of Melbourne University of New South Wales University of Queensland University of Sydney University of Western Australia Victoria University William Angliss Institute CANADA Concordia University Emily Carr University of Art & Design McMaster University University of British Columbia University of Toronto Western University York University EUROPE (ex UK)
Bocconi University (Italy) Ecole Hotelier de Lausanne (Switzerland) Erasmus University College (Netherlands) Istituto Marangoni (France) National University of Ireland, Galway (Ireland) Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Ireland) Technische Universiteit Delft (Netherlands) Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) UniLasalle (France) University College Cork (Ireland) University College Twente (Netherlands) University College Utrecht (Netherlands) University of Amsterdam (Netherlands) University of Utrecht (Netherlands) SINGAPORE Curtin Singapore James Cook University Singapore LASALLE College of the Arts Nanyang Technological University National University of Singapore PSB Academy SIM Global Education Singapore Institute of Management Singapore Institute of Technology Singapore Management University Singapore University of Social Sciences Singapore University of Technology and Design Yale-NUS College UNITED KINGDOM Architecural Association School of Architecture Bellerbys College Brighton Birkbeck, University of London Cardiff University Courtauld Institute of Art Durham University Imperial College London King’s College London London School of Economics and Political Science Norwich University of the Arts Queen Mary, University of London Queen’s University Belfast Royal Veterinary College University College London University for The Creative Arts University of Aberdeen University of Bath University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Cambridge University of Dundee University of East Anglia University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Glasgow University of Leeds University of Leicester University of Liverpool
University of Manchester University of Northumbria University of Nottingham University of Oxford University of Sheffield University of Southampton University of St. Andrews University of the Arts London University of Warwick University of York USA Barnard College Bates College Boston University Brandeis University Brown University Case Western Reserve University Colgate University College of the Holy Cross Cornell University Georgetown University Indiana University at Bloomington Johns Hopkins University Loyola Marymount University Michigan State University Middlebury College New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University Occidental College Princeton University Rhode Island School of Design San Francisco Conservatory of Music Santa Clara University Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College of Art and Design Skidmore College Smith College Stanford University SUNY Geneseo Swarthmore College The New School University of California, Berkeley University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of Kentucky University of Michigan Ann Arbor University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of Virginia University of Washington Vassar College Wesleyan University Yale University
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CHANGING THE WORLD FOR GOOD Shery Rose Quieng ‘18 | Scholar Ask a child what they want to become when they grow up, and they most probably won’t tell you something like, “a career founded on environmental protection and social work”. But Shery has always had a thing for the unconventional. Engrossed in natural sciences and problem-solving, she wanted to become an engineer, although there was another dilemma. In her home country, the Philippines, options were limited – there were only chemical, mechanical or other traditional forms of engineering. Then came the SJI International Scholarship. “My somewhat finite horizon widened when I received the scholarship to study at SJII. I encountered a new education system, several new people, and experienced different cultures. In this school, every student is empowered and taught to dream big and sail far while bearing integrity and service in mind. Hence, here I am in France, studying food sustainability engineering,” Shery shares. With the adverse effects of climate change being more visible these days, sustainability has become more than just a buzzword. But what is it, really, and why was it so significant for Shery that she decided to choose this path? The United Nations defines sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
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“The world population is ever-increasing, and resources are diminishing. The only way to secure the future of our incoming generations is to replace our current linear economic model – one which exploits natural resources and generates too much waste – with a more sustainable, circular approach,” she thoughtfully says. After two years of studying and undertaking various research, Shery believes that our choices as consumers make a significant impact on our environment. “I hope that each of us would choose a more sustainable diet for the sake of our eight-billion population and the environment. On that note, I dare say that countries must educate their citizens about sustainability as a compelling strategy to mitigate climate change while pursuing social and economic advancement.” For someone so concerned with the most pressing problem in the world today, Shery does take breaks. “Dancing and learning about other cultures through travelling and meeting other people are what I revel in most during my free time. The latter was also one of the factors why I decided to study in France.” Despite the challenges of being away from home, amid a pandemic no less, she presses on. “The amount of growth I have undergone and the insights I have obtained make it all worthwhile,” she adds. When you’re working to change the world for good, it will all be worthwhile.
“The only way to secure the future of our incoming generations is to replace our current linear economic model – one which exploits natural resources and generates too much waste – with a more sustainable, circular approach.”
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ON BECOMING A DOCTOR
Nguyet Nguyen ‘10 | Scholar My name is Nguyet (‘Moon’ in Vietnamese), but my family calls me Na so that has been my ‘aka’ since I moved abroad. I graduated from SJI International in 2010. I fondly remember living only among friends, exploring Singapore, picking up Mandarin, learning the Gamelan, climbing Mount Rinjani, kayaking and camping for the first time in my life-long list! Also meeting a teacher that I reunited with almost 10 years later, half the world away: Ms Dana Farrell at my White Coat ceremony when I started medical school in 2017! SJII gave me the steer towards my career. I discovered my aptitude in the life sciences and learned the value of service to others. I ‘finished’ school with two new shiny letters behind my name. My biggest personal challenge is to truly keep my eye on the big picture. In school or work, I strive to remind myself of the reason why I do things, keep myself grounded and look beyond immediate obstacles.
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Having a strong social support system and tapping into my own strength have been helpful throughout. In Vietnam where I grew up, people sit for entrance exams specific to university programs. For medicine, the exams are in Biology, Chemistry and Maths. I chose Biochemistry at UBC Vancouver because I thought it combines two of those three subjects. It does not (lol) but I grew to appreciate the critical thinking process that it taught me. The intellectual satisfaction almost sometimes made up for how hard it is. Undergraduate students often stay away from Biochemistry if they plan to enter medical school; those courses can do a number on one’s GPA! My most recent research project in medical school looked at how new refugee youths in St John’s, Newfoundland participate in organized activities as a way of developing
belonging in their new home. Newcomer health lies within my interest in health equities. Friends who knew me from high school might be shocked by how far I have travelled towards social sciences since I last spoke to them. Hanging out with the International Scholars at UBCV probably facilitated that first crack to let some light in. Moreover, medical training exposes me to tricky social injustices. I figure that I will be a better physician if I can advocate more effectively for equitable healthcare. Ah fresh grad, remind me what it feels like? If you want to become a physician, have an honest conversation about what it means to you. The journey is challenging so having a good ‘why’ is half the battle. Care deeply about the world, reflect on your place within it. There are many routes into medical school. In North America, you will need to complete some post-secondary school first. Go outside your comfort zone often. Be patient with your growth and potential detours; things that are worthwhile take time. Work hard but stop to smell the flowers. Let people inspire and guide you, but always remember what you stand for.
“Care deeply about the world, reflect on your place within it.” 15
UNCOVERING MARKET INSIGHTS AND TRANSLATING THEM INTO PRODUCT SOLUTIONS Alvita Ardisara ‘14 After graduating from SJII, I entered the National University of Singapore, where I majored in Food Science and Technology. Currently, I’m working as a Regional Marketing Executive at Symrise, a global flavours company whose major clients include F&B giants like Unilever and Nestle. What inspired you to take this career path? After a culmination of different university experiences (CCAs, internships), I found that I liked the idea of uncovering market insights and translating them into product solutions. Meanwhile, I also wanted to put my food science knowledge to good use, so I thought doing marketing in a flavours or ingredients company would be a fitting career choice, since more technical knowledge is typically involved than in a consumer goods company. What are some of the other skill sets that are essential to the current industry that you’re in? Care to share some of the challenges you faced? I believe some of these would be transferable skills like critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills. Basically, how to synthesize different pieces of insights together, translate them into unique flavour proposals, and lastly, convey your proposal in an articulate and compelling manner. Another important skill set is market & industry knowledge: knowledge of macroeconomic, consumer, and F&B trends, understanding of customer needs, pain points, innovation strategies, and their way of working with flavor companies. One of the challenges today is engaging customers effectively in this current day and age, be it in terms of logistics (since virtual tasting sessions can be messy),
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or making sure that customers are paying attention to our presentation. Engagement tools like polls, quizzes, and shorter, concise virtual presentations are becoming increasingly important. How do you find motivation in this current day and age? And why do you feel that it is important for colleagues and alums to have a source of motivation during the pandemic? First, by having a SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-based) goal and a clear sense of what I need to do, because not having a direction and purpose personally makes me feel unmotivated. Second, by knowing that my work has an impact on
others, which means I’ve put my time and effort to good use. Third, by regularly connecting with other people, as often I can get new inspiration just by talking to other people, which is very refreshing. Why is having a sense of motivation important? I guess one can only act, improve, and give meaning to their lives if one has the motivation to do so. That being said, I think we cannot rely on motivation alone—there are other things we can look at, like selfdiscipline, or asking God for strength. Could you share a few tips, maybe the top three things for fellow aspiring alums to follow? 1. Start with the end in mind. 2. Always ask yourself, “why?” and “so what?” Personally, this helped me to clarify the purpose and assess the impact of my work. 3. Stay connected. Allocate time to catch up with family, friends, and colleagues. There’s a lot to learn from each other.
“I find motivation in this current day and age but knowing that my work has an impact on others, which means I’ve put my time and effort to good use.” 17
MY JOURNEY IN VETERINARY MEDICINE Justin Ng ‘10 Justin tells it like it is, and gives fellow alums practical but helpful feedback about a career he wanted to pursue from a young age. I have very fond memories of my time in SJII; playing monopoly deal during chinese class, procrastinating and then having a near mental breakdown while I struggled to finish my Math IA at the 11th hour. The bonds that I’ve forged are ones that have carried on till today. After NS, I went to the University of Glasgow and graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. I grew up surrounded by dogs and was always interested in pursuing a career as a veterinarian. I also 18
did several internships in a number of different roles and really loathed the idea of having a desk-bound job. I’m now practising as a small animal veterinarian and I’ve recently done a post-graduate certificate in veterinary acupuncture. Before vet school, being a small animal veterinarian was in my mind the only career path that I could pursue as I had not had much exposure to other species (cows, sheep, horses) that vets treat. I did however enjoy working with those species in University, but felt like the standard of care
that was offered to small animals was of a higher standard which was the primary reason why I’m a small animal vet. There really wasn’t one specific incident/person that inspired me, it probably was an amalgamation of various experiences growing up that pushed me on this path. Most people think that having to put animals to sleep is the hardest part of being a vet but I think that having the benefit of having that as a choice especially when a pet’s quality of life is poor is actually a luxury that veterinarians have. I once spoke to an oncologist who mentioned that most of her patients would probably have chosen euthanasia as a peaceful way to pass if it was an option. I think the most difficult part when dealing with an animal in need is when the pet could benefit from a simple therapeutic protocol but the owner refuses to pay. I mostly see dogs and cats but occasionally do see some wildlife/exotics that get brought in. {With the tougher cases}, I recently saw a hedgehog that a member of the public found lying on the side of the road. It was completely curled up, and did not respond to any of the usual methods to get it to unfurl. Eventually I had to anesthetise it and on examination found that it’s arm had been cut off! In another unusual incident I was examining a backyard chicken, and on palpating her cloaca I felt something pop. We never reached a definitive diagnosis but there was a high index of suspicion that it was a tumour that was growing where the egg should have been forming. In a positive example, I was treating a colleague’s dog for a spinal disc protrusion that had resulted in partial paralysis of his back legs. It was one of the first few times that I had used acupuncture and the results were fairly miraculous; the dog regained some of its hind limb motor ability and sensory perception. SOME USEFUL TIPS I can only really speak for the students that wish to use a degree in veterinary medicine/science to pursue a career as a veterinarian (over research/teaching). 1. [Be sure you really want to pursue this field - it’s
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hard!] If you are not sure, consider a different career. The profession has high attrition (and suicide rates too sadly), which is likely down to factors which will not be under your control. If you [remain sure] and still want to be a veterinarian, get as much work experience as possible. In Singapore that will mostly be working in clinics. Don’t shy away from trying to experience or at least discuss taboo topics [and the hard stuff] such as, euthanasia, stress, suicide, salary. Academics are important but not the only criteria for entrance into vet school. I was barely an above average student, scoring 37 for my IB exam. On top of that I didn’t study biology. I do think that having a very successful interview cinched my place in vet school. Keep up with your hobbies. You will spend a lot of time and effort trying to get into vet school, studying in vet school, and then trying to learn on the job as a new graduate veterinarian. You’ll make good friends during vet school but people move around and you’ll often need to fall back on your hobbies to make new friends once you start working. All pets come attached to an owner. So a lot of my job as a veterinarian is managing their expectations. That might lead to frustration and resentment from both parties. It’s important to keep in mind that you’re both looking out for the pet’s welfare.
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ALUMNI VOLUNTEER FOR THE FOUNDERS FUTURES EVENT 20
This year alumni were invited by our university counselling team to participate in the Founders Futures 2021 event in May planned in line with Founder’s Day.
The guidance team was looking for working alumni willing to host half-hour sessions talking about their professions and pathways to share with current students. In essence, their professional stories. These next four spotlights come from alumni who were willing to participate in the event, and also share their professional journeys thus far for Infinitas. We are grateful to them for taking the time to speak with current students. If you are interested in participating in similar future events or other alumni volunteer activities, watch for emails regarding, postings on social media, or in the quarterly alumni newsletters.
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FINDING A GAP IN THE MARKET DURING THE PANDEMIC
Magno Guidote ‘11 | Scholar Magno is a senior associate with Kearney, a global management consulting firm. In this article he shares his most recent venture – the Singaporean start-up Yuan Collagen. During the pandemic, I started a business, and co-founded Yuan Collagen, which I started with my friends (including 2 other SJII alumni), as I saw a gap for an natural collagen soup base for home-cooked hotpot. The business has grown to become one of the top online collagen soup brands in Singapore as featured in several news outlets such as Straits Times, CNA, Vulcan Post and many more.
Secondly, it provides real-life examples of what the journey is like, including all the ups and downs – while this is applicable to other careers, my hypothesis is that the volatility here is amplified. the more examples there are, the more familiar students become with the journey. Thirdly, it provides some themes on what works and what does not work in entrepreneurship.
There should be more case studies shared of what entrepreneurship is like (what was the product, what was the inspiration, what need in the market was being address/ created, what were the key success factors to bring the business to life, what was the journey like) – currently these are being shown more in business schools (both undergrad and postgrad), but it would be great to see a lot more of these in high school/ Junior College.
As cliche as it sounds, it is true that you miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take. That said, you also don’t want to dive into something without understanding the risks. In fact entrepreneurship is largely all about taking risks (hence the reward for entrepreneurship when you study high school economics is profit – which is the reward for risk taking!)
This helps with several things. Firstly, it underscores the message that each path in entrepreneurship is different. 22
A structured way of doing this is balancing the risk of failure with the opportunity to bring something to the market. This can be done by spending some time up front really understanding what it is (product or service) that
you are bringing to the market. How defensible is the value proposition? Once you understand your value proposition to the market, you move on to execution (bring it to market). Each step of the way, you try to identify what the risks are and where possible try to mitigate the risks. (eg. ask yourself what could go wrong) Careful not to overdo it though, sometimes the proverbial “leap of faith”, and there is no formula to this. My weekdays are spent almost 100% on work, while weekends will be slightly more on family. I think that this will be the case for me for the foreseeable future. Of course this is a matter of choice, where some people may choose to have a more balanced approach. I don’t want to disappoint my family and friends, so I always do the best I can, so no one can be disappointed.
“As cliche as it sounds, it is true that you miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take.That said, you also don’t want to dive into something without understanding the risks.” 23
CAREER PLANNING: ENGINEER IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY Yunpeng Li ‘12 I joined the FIB course in 2009 as the only Chinese Student of the batch at SJII, this has given me ample opportunities to embrace cultural diversities and ignite my passion in communication and relationship building. I studied HL in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry during IB, graduated from SJII in 2012, and received an offer from NUS (first major choice in mechanical engineering). Upon graduation, I switched my career path to the corporate finance industry. It is essential to plan the first job carefully and think over your life purpose alignment (e.g., interest and strength). I feel there are two most significant risks in a career switch, namely (1) lack of industry insight before switching (e.g., limited option and insight on career progression over next 5-10 years), (2) lack of relevant exp/skills owning to late planning, which will make you less competitive comparing to those with the preexisting skillset, and result in sharper learning curve at workplace. I often receive updates from my peers to understand where my skill level is in the current job market. It is valuable and insightful to seek advice from seniors across various finance industries to explore opportunities, accentuate my interest in finance, and align my next career goal accordingly. In 2014, I exchanged at Hong Kong University and Fudan University for finance modules and was the only engineering major student in class. This experience broadened my view on Asian Economics, built my first friend’s zone in finance, and brought relevance to my current role. In 2020, I pursued a Master’s program at NTU, which helped me network with veterans across multiple finance industries. Learning others’ career paths helps to set my next career goal. I would suggest keeping your experience relevant to that industry, such as relevant courses studied (foundation or electives studied with good GPA, CFA/ 24
FRM certificate), internship and project experience, relevant skills (e.g., programming, foreign language etc). Be clear of your motivation during an interview, typically for a career-switched candidate. Many local banks provide a Management Trainee program that offers new joiners opportunities to rotate within the bank, giving them a chance to try before applying to interested departments (e.g., corporate, retail, private banking, treasury, compliance), and roles (e.g., front, middle or back office). Though a career switch may be filled with uncertainties, one should not be afraid of changes and challenges. Changes are inevitable as the world is changing so fast with trending technologies (e.g., Big Data, AI machine learning), and we have to prepare the vital skills for future of work. Career planning should align with our life purpose, that is a long-term commitment, and this requires the necessary skill-set to be accumulated through one or multiple jobs. With early planning and life purpose, you will be able to justify a career switch and constantly check where you are at different stages in life. A justifiable career switch also indicates that you are a faster learner, adaptable to changes and driven by motivation. To justify a career switch, you could consider the
following 3 steps. 1. Evaluate if your current role will award you in the short term, or benefit you in the long term with learning opportunities that align with your life purpose. 2. Analyse the shared skills between your current and the next role. Will this switch create a meaningful accumulation of experience. 3. Know the right time to exist, ask if you have fixed all the issues that you have dealt with in your current role, and check if you have ignored any good options along the way.
“Though a career switch may be filled with uncertainties, one should not be afraid of changes and challenges.” 25
CREATING IS THE ULTIMATE ARTISTIC PROCESS Sarah Chong ‘11 | Scholar For as long as I can remember, the art of creating and storytelling has been magical to me. Getting to do so through music has been a privilege for many years. SJI International first provided precious freedom to explore as many artistic and musical activities as I yearned to – for the simple joys of collaborating, creating and having fun – and to integrate them with the rest of my education. This has been an accurate, transformative reflection of how music shows up in my every day. It has since been my aim to continue creating those experiences (curious exploration, pure motives and balanced art-life intertwinement). They have seen me through intense training at Berklee, and into my current working life. The post-SJII years have sent many surprising and humbling life lessons my way, and refined core purposes that I try to live by. At the heart of it all: connecting, empowering and serving others are the true creations I aspire to make. Many in our SJII community surely share these values; their origins can clearly be traced back to our Lasallian educational and social experiences. Big-sounding concepts indeed – but they are the root motivations that propel me out of bed each morning to try and conjure magic in little ways, especially on lazier or tougher days! Having followed my passion in choosing a music career, I’ve been very fortunate in it working out thus far. “Every path has tough moments – might as well choose one that you truly love, right?” True indeed, but not necessarily a ‘one size fits all’ saying. Following one’s passions as the only compass, can be excluding and limiting to those who have yet to figure out theirs, those going through a change of passions, those having multiple interests to choose from, or even those who do not yet have the luxury of 26
following their heart. If you have felt this way before, you are not alone. Furthermore, feeling pressure to have ‘one ultimate calling’, can risk us: ruling out options with solid potential far too early, “losing our sense of identity” should any surprising career shifts happen, or foster impossible expectations to feel fulfilled 24/7 in one’s career … which will most probably be a let-down or obstacle during inevitably tougher moments. I’ve often thought about alternative avenues to explore, should the gift of making music ever be lost to me one day. Life and people have thankfully taught me other important considerations since, such as the liberating thought that doing anything with consistent care, effort and grit, over time, is key to nurturing passion and fulfillment. It leads me to wonder: is passion a prerequisite to doing something well, or is it also a result / by-product of learning and doing something well? Is it both? If we can indeed create passion for most things by doing them well consistently over time, perhaps it would be enlightening to lower the bar: explore more paths that generally spark our interest, learn them well, and then actively reflect on our experiences to help make key decisions. If I could chat with younger Sarah about making career decisions, I would also encourage her to assess skill sets together with passions. Younger Sarah chased her dream
of scoring films in Berklee, but upon graduation, realized her combined skill sets and interests led to diversifying via multiple ‘work-hats’: (film) composing, teaching, performing, arranging – instead of only specializing in film scoring. Regularly evaluating what we are currently good at doing, and what we want to get good at doing (equally important), can provide more clarity on which path to take, or what further training to invest in. In hindsight, a big reason why being a professional musician works out for me thus far, is that I have the priceless fortune of a supportive family, excellent mentors and peers who help me build my music skillsets into what they are today. The guidance and training they give by example empowers my lifelong dedication to music. Acknowledging serendipity, good luck and other people’s contributions to our development keeps us grounded, helps us count our blessings and steadily do our part in little ways to make the most of such opportunities. To all musicians-in-progress (like myself), let’s keep honing our craft for as long as we can, and create – regardless of our field of work. Creating is the ultimate artistic process to me, the endgame of learning technique, theory, history and expression. Creating is to vulnerably share stories and messages about our experiences. Creating is also to do so without judgement in the moment, and to practice it more reliably than waiting for fleeting moments of inspiration would allow. Career-wise, there is no standard industry guide to developing one (especially a freelance, self-directed one), because it will be inherently unique to you, the musician. The best way to work more in music, no matter the place or situation, is simply to intentionally create more, listen and learn (apprentice) more, play more
and collaborate more. To all students considering pursuing a music degree: wholehearted thanks for wanting to invest your time and efforts into learning this art form that means so much to so many! You will have diverse music fields to consider studying, more so than the respectable ‘performing artist’ or ‘educator’ route that the general public sees. If I can offer any encouragement at all, it would be to investigate and collect as many reliable insights as you can, as early as you can – on what you are interested in studying, and the schools you are interested in auditioning for. Meanwhile, the music industry (local and global) has been evolving particularly fast in the last decade. This COVID pandemic has also highlighted the importance of investigating the realistic work environment for specific music fields of work. Take the time you need for your research, and keep checking back for updates. To all artists and creators: our vocations should be recognized as sustainable and essential, because it absolutely is! I hope society will enable and empower more artists from different walks of life, especially in terms of what people are happy to pay for, for effortful products made with much time, energy and care. It would be greatly rewarding to see more collaborations developed between various art forms, and integration between art and all other existing areas of work/life; to see more art that supports contrasting cultures and perspectives, and most especially: art for art’s sake (not solely business). All of us (not just hardworking artists themselves but also the generously-paying audience) have a vital, symbiotic role to play in improving artistic prospects here – to ensure that art keeps on enriching our lives, breaking down barriers and shaping our global communities for the better. To you, dear reader – thank you very much for your generous time! I wish you all health, safety and peace.
“At the heart of it all: connecting, empowering and serving others are the true creations I aspire to make.” 27
THE THIN BLUE LINE Daryl Tan ‘14 5.4 million. This figure is the delicate thread tying my Singaporean upbringing with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Approximately the population size of Singapore, it is also the cumulative death toll of the two Congolese Civil Wars, the deadliest conflict since World War 2. Yet, despite the harrowing death toll, the realities of our two nations could not be further apart. In 2012, as M23 rebels surged through the east of the DRC razing my friend’s ancestral home in the process - in Singapore, the most interesting piece of news that year had been the arrest of Pastor Kong Hee of City Harvest. So, imagine my indignation when I only came to learn about the wars and the anteceding Rwandan Genocide during my freshman year in college. Not just at the wanton waste of life but also at my own complacent ignorance. From that point on I vowed to weave this 28
delicate thread, into a robust tapestry composed of a greater understanding of conflict, francophone Africa, and our shared humanity. Thus, in search of a new challenge, I was lucky enough to land an internship at the Congo Research Group during my Sophomore year in college. Since then, I have not looked back. I have spent the better half of my college years working on a range of issues concerning the DR Congo, from interviewing former rebels, to conducting research on Chinese geopolitical interests in Congolese infrastructure, to creating maps of armed groups. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that no one can profess to be an ‘expert’ (and I still do not) in a country that they have never visited. Hence, my thirst to understand eventually led me to undertake a research consultancy in
eastern DRC during the summer of 2019. This was no clichéd safari tour, beach holiday, or photo-op trip to Africa, however. No longer sitting safely behind a desk in New York conducting research, I began to comprehend the realities of working and simply living in the DRC. Undergoing the worst outbreak of Ebola since the 2015 pandemic in West Africa and facing a proliferation of armed groups, the panoply of issues plaguing the eastern DRC should have shot it to the top of primetime headlines. Yet, it remained a sideshow in the global arena of issues. Nonetheless, one institution never consigned the DRC to obscurity. The plain white UN vehicles that patrolled the town were the only entity keeping armed groups at bay. More personally, the small UNICEF clinic where I received my Ebola vaccine was the only way to protect oneself from contracting the deadly virus. Sitting in the shade of the small blue UNICEF tent I began to realize, this was the thin blue line. Where no one else would dare, or care, to go, the United Nations will. While the organization is heavily critiqued, and rightly so, no one can deny the essential nature of the work they do. These observations led me to a realization: conflict research was valuable insofar that it can be applied to better the lives of those in conflict environments. No longer content merely observing and studying the DRC, I began to seek positions where I could actively stem the tide of violence. Today, I work with the UN Department of Peace Operations on the UN Stabilization Mission to the DRC. There is still a long way for me to go in playing my part in building peace and I still remain indignant at the loss of life. A better world will not drop onto my lap and I am no longer young enough to expect someone else to ‘fix’ the many problems we face today. So, risky as it may be I will continue, as unreasonable as it may seem. After all, as the saying goes “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
“No longer content merely observing and studying the DRC, I began to seek positions where I could actively stem the tide of violence.” 29
MEET YOUR CLASS AND COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES Under the leadership of President Dhanesh Thiru ‘14 and Vice President Bryan Oh ‘12 please find below your alumni class and regional representatives who have volunteered for this programme to help keep all alumni connected with each other and the school, through class-based and regional activities. You can reach your representatives through the CONNECT alumni membership portal (www.connect.sji-international.com.sg). If there is no rep listed for your class or region where you live, and you would be interested in getting involved, please email the alumni office at alumni@sji-international.com.sg.
Andre Sng ‘14
Bryan Defjan ‘19
Journalism Boston University
Design & Media Stanford University
Head of Class Reps
Tara Kripalani ‘19
Ali Jumabhoy ‘12
Bar Candidate Singapore Institute of Legal Education
Country Rep for UK Biochemistry University of Bristol
Samuel Tan ‘14 Class Rep
Postgrad, East Asian Languages Columbia University
Amy Zhang ‘19 Class Rep Chinese Medicine Beijing University
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Clare Ong ‘20
Head of Country Reps
Class Rep MBA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nadya Tan ‘19
Katherine Tan Si ‘19
Economics and Computer Science Brown University
English Literature and History of Art University of Edinburgh
Hsin Chong Lee ‘12
Alister Yim ‘12
Ruru Hoong ‘14
Business Owner axxaglobal
Management Consultant Accenture
PhD Candidate, Economics Harvard Business School
Country Rep for US
Country Rep for US
Class Rep
Class Rep
Country Rep for UK
Class Rep
Mark Rodrigues ‘17
Jaxsen Chew ‘17
Jonas Chew ‘18
Class Rep
Research Assistant LKY School of Public Policy
Political Science National University of Singapore
Mechanical Engineering National University of Singapore
Biomedical Science University of Adelaide
Justin Tan ‘19
Anika Muthukumar ‘20
Megan Chua ‘20
Isabel Tan ‘20
Firefighter SCDF Marina Bay Fire Station
Social Sciences Singapore Management University
Medicine NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Architecture Architectural Association
Jeyda Simren Sekhon Atac ‘15
Class Rep
Class Rep
Class Rep
Class Rep
Class Rep
Class Rep
Class Rep
ALUMNI VOLUNTEER TO HELP OUT AT ADMISSIONS HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE A huge shoutout to our superstar alums who volunteered to support our school at the very successful ‘socially distanced, and carefully planned’ High School Open House held on 1 March 2021. Alumni answered questions for prospective students and their family members, and shared some of their experiences as students at the school as they guided the families to the open house activities around campus. Following the event, our CEO Mr Darryl David shared with the school community that he was “especially impressed by the composure and maturity of the alumni who returned to help out. They are truly the best ambassadors for the school, and a testament to what SJII is all about.”
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THE NEW ALUMNI INSTA LIVE SERIES This summer the SJII Alumni Association and the alumni relations office launched a new online series – ‘A Stroll Down Memory Lane’, featuring live Instagram chats with SJII Alumni Association committee members (or other alums eager to participate) and folks from our Alumni community. The planned chats were seen as a less formal and more fun way to get to know some of our alumni community members and friends better and also get a glimpse of what the SJII Alumni Association is up to! The first live chat with an alum and a faculty member was held on Thursday 24 June with Dhanesh Thiru ’14 (our Alumni Association President) and longstanding HS faculty member, Mr Renato Rainone, currently serving as VP Curriculum, Teacher of Mathematics and Theory of Knowledge. Dhanesh Thiru and Mr Renato Rainone talked about and shared their journeys, memories, and experiences at SJII, and it was an amusing hour that went by quickly and was attended by many alums on the platform who sent in a series of fun questions during the hour as well!
Did you know that Mr Rainone has been at SJII since it first opened, and that he has interesting and entertaining stories to share about every batch that has graced these school halls? Dhanesh also asked Mr Rainone about what got him into teaching, what he would have done if he had not been a teacher (we think he said football player), and lots more fun things. It was a quick first hour of conversation, and we look forward to more Insta Live chats in the future. If you would like to watch the chat, go to @sjii_alumni on instagram and look for the post of the event on 24 June! You will enjoy it. We promise.
Would you like to participate in our Insta Live and other online series that are planned? If you are interested in participating in the Insta Live programme, or some of the other events organised by Alumni Association, Alumni Relations Office or the University Counsellors, please email alumni@sji-international.com.sg, and we will contact you for future events. We look forward to hearing from you. Your involvement matters.
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ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMES AT SJII For students at SJI International days are full of classes, service opportunities, sports, music and many other activities, but what happens after they graduate? Every student or faculty member who leaves SJI International becomes an automatic member of the alumni association. Here is your guide to some of the services and resources available to the wider alumni community.
DIRECTORY, PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING & MENTORING PORTAL SJI INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI WEBSITE The alumni website is the public facing gateway to all the offerings and links for the alumni programme. From the website, alumni can log in to the alumni directory and professional networking portal, find all print and online alumni publications and mailings, lists of upcoming events and reunion planning guidelines. www.sji-international.com. sg/community/alumniengagement
SJI INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOKS ONLINE If you’ve lost your yearbook, or want to check out another yearbook to look up former classmates or activities, you can find copies of almost all prior editions online. Remaining issues coming soon.
In July 2019 we launched the password protected online portal community to enable alumni and graduating students to connect professionally and to look for or be a mentor. SJI International Connect promised to be a significant resource for our global community to assist members as they look for guidance in academic and career choices.
Through our email and online offerings we showcase accomplishments and activities that our alumni achieve and engage in after leaving SJII. Look for Alumni Spotlight features on the SJI International School website blog, through alumni social media channels, and also in the Infinitas Alumni Magazine.
With the recently launched class and country rep programme, look for ways your representatives will help keep you informed about events and activities and ways to engage with your class, with the school and with fellow schoolmates in your communities.
connect.sji-international .com.sg
INFINITAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE
READ THE LATEST SJI INTERNATIONAL E-NEWS: ALUMNI CONNECTIONS
Infinitas is produced annually to include updates from SJI International, profiles of alumni around the world, and reunion and gathering highlights. This publication is available online, and in print to those who wish to receive it.
The newsletter is emailed quarterly to alumni worldwide. It includes news from the school, upcoming alumni events, alumni spotlight features and links to alumni platforms and programmes to facilitate alumni connections and engagement.
VISITS, VOLUNTEERING AND OTHER REQUESTS
connect.sji-international .com.sg/resources
ALUMNI IN THE SPOTLIGHT
CLASS & COUNTRY REP PROGRAMME
REUNIONS, EVENT AND GATHERINGS Each year, alumni reunions, gatherings and events are hosted by SJI International alumni office, Counseling Office, class or regional groups around the world. Look for listings on the alumni website, the Alumni Connect portal, Facebook, view e-Newsletters and email invitations. Send us your details if you are planning something so we can advertise your events too!
We are happy to help in any way we can. Contact the Alumni Department to update your details, arrange a visit, request assistance with reunion planning, request a transcript, or for us to connect you with departments where you could volunteer, and engage with students through our alumni programmes.
ISLAND GETAWAYS SPECIAL
St. Joseph’s Institution International Ltd. Co. Reg & GST No. 200607833C 490 Thomson Road, Singapore 298191 | Tel:6353 9383 | www.sji-international.com.sg alumni@sji-international.com.sg | connect.sji-international.com.sg
ISLAND GETAWAYS SPECIAL
