Beyond Limits: Journeys of support and determination

Beyond Limits: Journeys of support and determination

Life at university is exciting. It marks the start of the adventure we call 'adulthood', filled with excitement and opportunities for discovery and learning. For some, however, the journey to get to and through university can sometimes be peppered with challenges that require that extra fortitude, resilience and determination to finish well.

These challenges can take many forms - like health or even finances - but they don't hamper the ambition of these NUS graduates.

Pursuing a lifelong dream of improving lives and advocating justice

An only child coming from a humble background, Yan Jun Yi credits his parents for always supporting his dreams and ambitions.

"My parents did their absolute best to provide for me and I never wanted for anything. They supported me and helped me do well in school," he said.

Still, knowing that they would always do what they could to help him go further and realise his goals, Jun Yi couldn't help but worry about the financial strain university tuition fees would put on his parents.

"In secondary school as well as during my A-Levels, I excelled in the humanities. I developed an interest in law after realising how knowing the law can help people out of difficult situations."

To keep his dreams of going to law school alive, Jun Yi applied for scholarships, and is thankful to have been awarded the OCBC Local Undergraduate Scholarship in 2020. The scholarship, together with the Higher Education Community Bursary, helped with his tuition fees and opened the door for him to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer without adding to his family's financial burden.

Pursuing a law degree at NUS Faculty of Law(NUS Law) was exciting and intellectually stimulating for Jun Yi, and he attributes the Bachelor of Law or LLB programme's academic rigour and opportunities for hands-on experiences as building blocks for a strong foundation for his career in his chosen field.

Citing Criminal Law and Trial Advocacy as two of his favourite courses, Jun Yi jumped at the opportunity to spend three months as a legal intern under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS). This allowed him to observe how CLAS lawyers helped to advocate for disenfranchised persons and ensure their rights to quality legal representation.

"This was definitely one of the most impactful and eye-opening experiences for me. Shadowing a practicing lawyer who does criminal representation work showed me that being an effective lawyer was as much about knowing the law as it was about being kind and caring towards your client."

Beyond internships, Jun Yi also dedicated a lot of time during his undergraduate years to help others while putting his legal knowledge and skills to work both within and outside of NUS.

He participated in projects organised by the NUS Law Pro Bono Group (PBG) from 2021 to 2022, where he later also served as its Vice President for Internal Affairs.

As part of his duties as Vice President, Jun Yi was in charge of overseeing eight out of the numerous projects run by the Group, ensuring that Project Directors are given the support they need to run their pro bono projects smoothly. At the same time, he also personally participated in pro bono opportunities, such as serving as a student assistant in legal clinics, and simplifying legal information for laypersons.

"With how much time is spent in classes and studying the law, it is easy to lose sight of the wide, interesting world beyond the law. Volunteering outside school gave me a broader perspective on how I could contribute more meaningfully," he reflected.

With ongoing financial support, including a NASA Exchange bursary from NUS, Jun Yi also was able to travel to the Netherlands in his third year at NUS Law.

"The six months I spend in Utrecht, Netherlandswas amazing! I feel very lucky to have had the chance to experience the vibrant Utrecht University campus life and study law from the European perspective." he enthused, "The cultural exchange with other Swedish, Polish, and Dutch students also enriched my outlook and perspective on life."

Looking back, Jun Yi counts himself fortunate to have received support at almost every juncture of his life all the way through his undergraduate years so far. Beyond financial support, he credits his achievements to the love and support from his parents, to teachers who believed in him and encouraged him to pursue ambitious challenges, and to friends and mentors who helped build up his confidence.

After graduation, Jun Yi, who earned himself First Class Honours, is set to join a firm where he will be given the opportunity to experience different practice areas that will gird him to make an informed choice on his specialisation later on.

He says, "Being open-minded to different opportunities and methods to apply my skills has gotten me thus far. I am excited to see where I will go next."

A thirst for knowledge that became an anchor in troubled waters

This fortitude and resilience are echoed in Edlyn Koh, who overcame health issues to pursue an active and fulfilling student life.

When she first started to experience double vision and itchiness in her eyes in 2021, she thought it was due to an eye infection that would eventually recover. Over the next year or so, however, her vision deteriorated and interventions like corrective lenses and medication did not help.

"My eyes would sting and I would get headaches. The pain and discomfort eventually started to affect my studies and also caused me to step away from indulging in cue sports," Edlyn said.

It was only in early 2023, after worsening symptoms, that the devastating news was handed to her - she had MALT (mucosa-assisted lymphoid tissue) lymphoma under her eyelid. The diagnosis came as a shock to her-cancer was not something she thought she would have to deal with in the prime of her life.

The then-third year undergraduate at NUS Business Schoolunderwent six months of tests and treatment, including radiotherapy. During this time, she continued attending lessons as usual and made up for classes she missed through self-study and help from her teachers and classmates.

In addition to fatigue, the radiotherapy treatment also resulted in low calcium levels, which led to two broken feet after an innocuous fall, leaving her in a wheelchair for six weeks.

"During this time, I had difficulty attending classes which were not wheelchair accessible. Thankfully one of my lecturers, Mr Lee Yen Teik, was kind enough to shift his class to a wheelchair accessible location, and knowing what I was going through, even constantly encouraged me."

Fortunately, with the appropriate treatment, Edlyn's eyesight improved and she made a full recovery. Edlyn has since resumed playing pool, a favourite pastime of hers, and will be graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours (Distinction).

Looking back on her struggles with her health and eyesight, Edlyn is glad she didn't let it get in the way of having the best possible experience through university.

"The four months I spent in Australia in 2022 as part of the Student Exchange Programme turned out to be one of my most memorable experiences during my time at NUS. I was initially worried about my eye condition as it was still bothering me then, but at that point it was assumed that it was a prolonged infection or allergic reaction. I'm glad I was able to go!"

Sharing a house with three other students and doing activities such as cooking and hiking together was really enjoyable, as Edlyn loves meeting and interacting with people.

In fact, it is the friendships and connections forged with classmates, peers and teachers at NUS that kept her going through some difficult times and helped her to stay focused on her school work.

"I really enjoy networking with people - it keeps my mind stimulated and feeds my thirst for knowledge. Chatting with my lecturers and professors one-on-one has deepened my knowledge and expanded my views about the world, including issues such as the impact of the pandemic on economies or how the rise of technology will shape jobs in the future."

Having benefitted from the generosity of time that others have gifted her, Edlyn readily offers her own time to others to enrich her communities.

"When I was the team manager of my Cuesports Varsity team, I had many heart-to-heart talks with my team members about their struggles. They often joked that I was like the mother and counsellor of the team. It is rewarding to know that I've helped friends in need!" she laughs.

Edlyn says her encounter with cancer has also made her realise the importance of health and planning ahead. "I feel that one shouldn't overlook your health just because you're young. Even though you could be at the peak of your health, cancer can find anyone at any time."

Having overcome her ailment and developed a passion for analytics and working with data, Edlyn is looking to move forward in building a career a business analyst in the financial sector, inspired by her accountant mother.

This story is part of NUS News' coverage of Commencement 2024, which celebrates the achievements of our graduates from the Class of 2024. For more on Commencement, read our stories and graduate profiles, check out the official Commencement website, or look up and tag #NUS2024 on our social media channels!