For these two scholars, teaching is more than a job; it is their calling.

By Kevin Lim

For teachers Tan Li Zhen and Alex Tan, the phrase “moulding the future of the nation” is more than just a catchphrase of Ministry of Education (MOE), it sums up what attracted them to become MOE scholars in the first place.

Alex recalls, “I wanted to take up a career that has enduring meaning and purpose; teaching fits the bill as the profession.”

With a rich heritage of 49 years, PA continues to make building bonds within the community its priority – all towards the betterment of the nation.

By Kevin Lim

“To Build and to Bridge communities in achieving One People, One Singapore.”

The organisational mission of the People’s Association (PA) sounds straightforward enough, given the racial harmony we enjoy today. However, this wasn’t always the case.

PA was founded in 1960 during a time of racial unrest in Singapore. Through the determination, belief and hard work of a group of visionaries at the time, and with the establishment of Community Centres (CCs), Residents’ Committees (RCs) and Neighbourhood Committees (NCs), multi-racial participation was promoted, leading to the peaceful yet vibrant and colourful assortment of cultures we see on our cosmopolitan island today.

A Single Dream
Sarah Lee and Shahid Shafie are two modern-day champions of PA’s cause.

Despite the contrasts between these two interesting individuals (Sarah spends her free time perfecting the art of cooking while Shahid loves music and travelling), one common thread runs through each of them – the desire to give back to the community.

An MOE Scholar takes us on a journey in his shoes as an Education Officer.

By Kevin Lim and Tan Yan Shuo

First Introductions
“Now as I start upon my chosen way
In all I do, my thoughts, my work, my play
Grant as I promise, courage new for me
To be the best, the best that I can be.”

Lin Pei still remembers singing this song as a Boy Scout in Anglican High School, with his troop seated around a blazing campfire. Unbeknownst to him, the words would eventually inspire him in his journey as a Ministry of Education (MOE) scholar.

“My chosen way”
From a young age, Lin Pei already had an interest in public service. He was especially inspired by the Scout’s Promise – “to do my duty to God, and the Republic of Singapore, [and] to help other people”.
However, it was his experience as a Platoon Commander during National Service that finally shaped his ambition to be a teacher.

“I found that an individual’s mental strength has much to do with his upbringing during childhood, of which a majority of time is spent in schools,” he explains. “A teacher has the capacity to make a great impact on his students’ upbringing, and hence their attitude when facing adversities.”

This desire to mould the character of Singaporean youths led him to apply for and be awarded the Education Merit Scholarship in 2004. The scholarship sponsored his studies at University College London, where he obtained a combined degree in Economics and Geography.

Braving financially turbulent times, a close-knit feeling of family among peers bonds MAS employees.

By Kevin Lim

“I wanted to work in the civil service, as the nature of public service appealed to me as being more meaningful.”

Meet Melissa Li, a bubbly 25-year-old, currently an Associate from the Banking Supervision Department of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

The Science of Finance
Melissa’s infatuation with numbers and their covert power began during her tender junior college years. There was a special place in her heart for all subjects that touched on the monetary, and her favourite was Economics. Within two short years, her interest in the industry evolved.

“Previously, it was somewhat of an abstract, academic interest. But now I have gained a deeper appreciation for the way finance complements and underpins the real economy, for its systemic role and importance in developed economies,” she says.

With her strong desire to put her encyclopaedic knowledge to good use in the civil service, Melissa embarked on a scholarship with MAS. This journey did not just provide her with the education of her choice, but also a rewarding career in its wake.

Rogue machines, toxic chemicals, readily combustible materials and even dust can maim or kill when left to scheme in the workshop.

By Kevin Lim

We know you like having all your limbs attached when returning home after a hard day’s work. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. Last year, the manufacturing industry alone contributed to nearly 30% of all workplace-related accidents and 25% of all work-related deaths in Singapore.

Carving out a career in freelance writing is not as easy as it seems. What should you know before taking the big leap into this profession? Read on to learn the dos and don’ts to being a freelance writer.

By Kevin Lim

The pen is mightier than the sword.

While this idiom may have received a degree of scepticism during the warring days of Genghis Khan and Napoleon Bonaparte, it most certainly rings true in today’s society...