Financial assistance for my education as a Student-Athlete

Hi everyone,

For as long as I can remember, sports has been an indispensable part of my life, the primary factor shaping my aspirations and dreams. The rush of adrenaline, the competitive nature of sports and the prospect of working with others to achieve a common goal are all elements which enraptured me. Every experience I have undergone, whether it be playing floorball or coaching boys with special needs or from less privileged backgrounds, only served to further amplify this passion. This eventually coalesced in my dream to become a Physical Education (PE) teacher under MOE in the future. Being a PE teacher would be the perfect intersection between my passion for sports and my love for teaching. I can imagine no greater joy than to be in this field, imparting the wonders of the adrenaline-filled sports to the younger generation.

To support my dreams, I have been working hard as a student-athlete and have even taken up multiple jobs in a bid to fund my journey. Unfortunately, I continue to face financial difficulties in spite of my efforts. I hope that after hearing my story, you can lend me a helping hand (if it is within your capacity) and enable me to realise my dreams.

My journey as a student athlete has been an arduous one, with trainings up to 5 times a week. However, it has also been an extremely rewarding, for it has imparted many invaluable lessons onto me and made me a better person. My journey to be a national athlete bears testament to this. Ever since I was 15 years old, I have been trying to break into the Singapore men’s national floorball team. After years of trying, failing, and getting back up again, I am happy to say that I was finally able to make it into the national team in 2021. My efforts were also recognized when I was chosen to be a part of a 20-men squad representing Singapore on the World Floorball Championships held in Finland in 2021.

My love for teaching took root many years ago as I was inspired by my PE teacher back in Primary School. He was my role model and I admired the way he exuded enthusiasm and genuine interest in all his lessons. His infectious love for teaching rubbed off on all of us, and PE lessons were one aspect of school that we always looked forward to. He made use of sports to instill values such as teamwork in us, which helped shape the person we would become. It is my dream to work in a field that I am passionate about as I believe that that is where I can do the most good. To that end, I am currently working as a part-time PE teacher in Dimensions International College (Cambridge Primary School), and also as a floorball coach at MOE schools. The experience that I have accrued have been invaluable in reaffirming my passion. While working as an under-17 coach in the Youth Floorball Academy during the weekends, I saw how I could guide other youths with a similar passion and leverage on my experience to pave a better way forward for them.

I am currently pursuing a part-time undergraduate programme for a Bachelor of Sports and Physical Education at SUSS. Prior to this, I studied Sports Coaching at Republic Polytechnic. With only 3 semesters left until I graduate, I believe that I am closer to my goal, now more than ever before. However, each semester costs approximately $2000 - $3000, so it has placed significant financial burden on me. Even as I continue to work multiple jobs, to pay off my school fees and living expenses, the financial strain continues to exact a toll on me. Upon completion of this programme, I hope to be able to attend NIE and bring myself one step closer to my dream of becoming a PE teacher in MOE.

I think that everyone can relate to the terrible feeling of having a dream that is within sight but out of reach. As someone who has never believed in being defined by one’s family circumstances, especially in meritocratic Singapore, I have always seen the value of hard work, believing that with enough hard work, it is possible to rewrite one’s narrative and forge an entirely different path altogether. Even as I am kept busy with work, training and school, my dreams and passions have kept me moving forward, reminding me of why I am working so hard — so that one day, my dreams can become reality.

I will soon be starting my third year in SUSS this coming July, which also entails paying the large sum of school fees. While I will definitely continue to work hard to gradually pay off the amount, any and all help would be greatly appreciated. With some financial assistance, I will be able to focus my time and efforts on improving myself as a national athlete and give back to society.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about my story. If you are interested in helping me along in my journey, please do donate and feel free to reach out! Thank you once again; it means the world to me, truly.

*Please feel free to watch the interview I had with the show Unnaal Mudhiyum by Vasantham in MeWatch. The link is attached below

https://www.mewatch.sg/watch/Unnaal-Mudiyum-E6-275...