Although the GCE A-level results release
day is often considered the climax of a Junior College (JC) students’ journey,
the path of his/her development begins on the first day of school and continues
on into further education and their career pathways thereafter. Coming in as
one of the top students in his junior college (JC), Thung You Xuan from Hwa
Chong Institution (HCI) shares with BrightSparks how the special programmes at HCI gave him the leap forward and how
scholarships would be the launch he needs into a promising career.
Holistic Development
The various special programmes at HCI offer
students a unique opportunity to explore their respective fields to a greater
degree. You Xuan, now a fresh alumnus of the school exploring his post JC
options, sings the praises of the curriculum and structure of these programmes.
“They contribute to your holistic learning. You cannot always be studying; you
have to spend time on CCAs. So going at your own pace and studying
independently helps you to manage your studies better and increases your
confidence level.” he quips.
In terms of personal development, students were afforded opportunities
for overseas trips at HCI, a practice less common in JCs in Singapore as
compared to high schools in the USA. Such trips provide students with an
opportunity to broaden their perspectives and consider education overseas as a
fruitful and rewarding choice.
Passion Works Both
Ways in a Scholarship
For You Xuan, the consideration of taking up a scholarship is strongly
associated with his interest in public service and the passion to serve and
give back to the nation. This interest stems from his schooling days and his
knowledge of Singapore’s economic development which he seeks to be a part of.
When asked about how a scholarship helps him in his aspirations, You
Xuan further recognises a unique attribute of scholarships in keeping a scholar
focused during the course of his/her studies. “It will keep you grounded –
because you are tied to an organisation. Over the course of your university,
you will not drift so much and focus because you have to contribute back to the
organisation after graduation. A scholarship also gives you a sense of
direction when you study, as you study with an eye on the future on what you
want to do. You do not just study for the sake of it. You work hard towards
improving yourself to fulfil that career role,” he elaborates.
View full list of scholarships here.
