“If I could sit down with my younger self, I’d share a quote from ‘Letters to a Young Poet’ by Rainer Maria Rilke: ‘Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves… Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live your way into the answers.’
Back then, I thought being a scholar meant having all the right answers fast. But real growth comes from learning to sit with uncertainty, to embrace detours, and to find your way through the messy in-between. So, I’d tell my younger self: Don’t rush to figure it all out right away. Be curious, stay open, and trust that even when things feel unclear, you’re still moving forward. The answers will come—but only after you’ve truly lived the questions.”
- Laura Guo, STB Scholar
“Over time, my priorities have changed, but one quote has always stuck with me: ‘Discovering is half the battle, developing is the other half; all successful endeavours start as a work in progress, with steps backward also part of the dance.’ Progress isn’t linear and mistakes will be made, but I think it’s important to learn how to be okay with failing at things, especially when you’re young and the stakes aren’t as high yet.”
- See Tow Zi Hsien, SSG-WSG Joint Undergraduate Scholar
“What I’ll tell my younger self is to keep calm, enjoy the present and be excited but not worried about the future! I was constantly worried about being fully ready for what was to come, trying to plan for everything and overthinking in the process.
However, what I’ve learnt over the years is that life is unpredictable. While preparation is important, we can never be 100% ready or in control of what is to come—and that’s okay!”
– ASP Liew Yi Qian, Andy, Singapore Government Scholar
“When the way forward feels too daunting, stay grounded in your purpose and remember that you are not alone. Remain genuine in your interactions, seek guidance from mentors and actively engage your colleagues. Although the journey will have ups and downs, it will also be deeply rewarding and filled with many meaningful experiences.”
– Yeo Kai Lin, HPB Scholar
“It’s normal to question yourself, especially with all the forks in the road. How do you know if you’re on the right path? The truth is, there’s no ‘right’ path. The only way forward is to try. Be curious. Get a little uncomfortable. Explore things that challenge or unsettle you—those moments are often the most revealing. A few years of formal education won’t define you—not with the many decades of life still ahead!”
– Quah Yan Hsien, PSC (Engineering) Scholar
“I would tell my younger self that opportunities—even challenging or unexpected ones—are stepping stones to growth. Every project, challenge, and setback has shaped my personal and professional development in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. It’s fascinating how life’s dots only connect in hindsight.
So, I’d encourage my younger self to be bolder in seizing opportunities, give each one my best, and trust that every experience builds toward something meaningful.”
– Mark Teo, MND EDGE Scholar
