(i) Why: My Values, Passion, and Purpose
I believe in the values of empathy, resilience, and responsibility. My passion lies in helping others and making a positive difference in my community. My purpose is to grow into a compassionate and capable individual who contributes meaningfully to society.

(ii) How: A Personal Story That Highlights My Values and Strengths
One defining experience was volunteering at a community event where I assisted elderly residents. This opportunity allowed me to connect with them through simple acts of care, such as listening to their stories and addressing their needs. It reinforced my belief in the importance of empathy and responsibility. Additionally, overcoming challenges during this event taught me resilience and adaptability.

(iii) What: Relevance of My Strengths and Values
These strengths—empathy, resilience, and responsibility—align with my goal of serving others. They also prepare me to contribute effectively in any role that requires teamwork, leadership, or problem-solving.

(iv) Summary: A Quote That Defines Me
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." This quote by Mahatma Gandhi inspires me to take initiative and make a positive impact wherever I go.

I first stepped onto the ice during my early years in primary school, purely out of fascination. Ice skating quickly became more than just a hobby—it was my escape, a space where I felt free and fast. However, it wasn’t an easy path. As a guy in a predominantly girl-dominated sport, I constantly felt out of place. Unlike many of my peers, I lacked the natural flexibility expected in skating. The pressure to quit was real—both from myself and those around me. But I didn’t give in.

What kept me going was passion. I found a community of like-minded skaters and trained relentlessly. After years of blood, sweat, and setbacks, I achieved something I once thought impossible—the camel spin, a move demanding both strength and grace. That moment became more than a milestone in skating—it became a metaphor for how I approach life.

I now carry that same tenacity and curiosity into everything I do—whether facing academic challenges, juggling CCA responsibilities, or supporting teammates through tough projects. I believe these qualities make me well-suited to thrive in your institute’s dynamic environment, where I can continue to grow, adapt, and help others shine too.

As I move forward, I hold onto one belief:

"Resilience is not about never falling, but about always rising higher."

How: During one of our school badminton tournaments, I was paired with a junior who was nervous and inexperienced. Instead of getting frustrated, I used humour to lighten the mood and build trust between us. We laughed over missed shots and silly mistakes, which helped him relax and play better. Through this experience, I realised how much I value friendship and how important it is to uplift others. I stayed respectful to both myself and my teammate by encouraging him without putting myself down. That match wasn't just about winning — it was about helping someone grow and finding purpose in supporting others, even in small ways. It reminded me that my strength lies not just in my skills, but in how I make others feel.

What: I believe I’m suitable for the party because I bring positive energy, a strong sense of teamwork, and a genuine passion for helping others. My values of humour, friendship, and self-respect help me connect well with different people, create a welcoming environment, and treat everyone with kindness. I’m also reliable, reflective, and always ready to step up when someone needs support. Whether it’s through encouraging words or taking action, I’m driven by a purpose to make a positive impact on those around me.

Summary: “With a kind heart, a clear mind, and a little laughter, I strive to make the world better—one person at a time.”

(ii)One time I showed compassion was when I noticed a friend struggling silently with stress and anxiety. Instead of waiting for them to speak up, I reached out, offered a listening ear, and gave them space to open up without judgment. I made sure they knew they weren’t alone and reminded them it was okay to feel overwhelmed. Just being there for them made a difference, and it deepened our bond

(iii)No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted

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I believe in the values of resilience, respect, commitment and responsibility. My passion lies in helping others and making sure that they grow as a leader. My purpose is to grow as a person and ensure that my knowledge is passed down to others

How:

One such experience where I was able to pass on my knowledge to others was at a community event, where I helped to strengthen the resilience of the community by sharing my knowledge on fire safety, by showing the methods of using a fire extinguisher. This opportunity allowed me to connect with the community, improving my soft skills of interacting with others.

What:

These strengths — Commitment, resilience, respect and responsibility aligns with my goal of growing as a person and ensuring that I am able to teach others of what I know. These values prepare me by ensuring that I have the right mindset for any roles that I might take up, such as being a leader, or a teammate.

Summary:

I believe in the quote “We rise by lifting others” -Robert G Ingersoll. This quote inspires me to take the time to teach others and help others improve.

(ii) An example of my determination is working hard to climb the ranks for a position in my CCA. During CCA, I worked hard and became participative by volunteering in helping my CCA duties. While doing so I also did my best to help those in my CCA that are in need, supporting them whenever I could which shows my empathetic side.

(iii) These values align with what I want to do and my purpose in life while allowing me to reflect on my mistakes and learn from them. As a result I am able to enhance my learning and ensure a greater efficiency and productivity towards my purpose.

(iv) “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” - Mahatma Gandhi

I describe myself as an individual who seeks to have a work-life balance and values the close relationship I have with my loved-ones and friends.

My passion lies in supporting the people around me when they are facing difficulties, making them feel included.

My life purpose is to engage in meaningful relationship by spending more time with my family and close friends.

(ii) How: A Personal Story that Highlights my Values and Strengths

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(iii)What: Relevance of My strengths and values

My strengths(cooperative, kind, polite considerate, commitment) allows me to work well with others. Being commited allows me to stay engaged and motivated when working on a tasks

My values(balance in life, love and family) allows me to feel more supported and less stressed. Having a work-life balance allows me to engage in more meaningful activities with my family and friends.

(iv)Summary: A Quote that Defines me

"It's all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends and family"

-Philip Green

one such example is during the Values-In-Action (VIA) initiative executed by the school. we partnered up with Lion Befrienders in an effort to interact with the elderly. we set up game booths and guided them through the game, trying our utmost to engage them. this opportunity allowed me to interact with them through speaking of their dialect, and thus getting to know them better. seeing the pleased faces of them reinforced my belief of being more empathy and compassionate to others. moreover, the challenges in trying to communicate with my limited ability in speaking the dialect taught me adaptability and patience.

these strengths allow me to be a better team player, enabling me to accommodate to the needs of others. my goal of wanting to serve others helps to contribute to the community in a meaningful and positive manner

“a little empathy goes a long way” -robert g. ingersoll

(ii) A few years back, I had to audition for the Singapore Youth Festival and it required me to have the value of courage. Although I was afraid to go through the audition, it was courage that prompted me to be brave and go through it. Furthermore, I believe that this was a very good learning experience.

(iii) This experience not only boosted my confidence, but also made me realise that in life there will always be challenges and we need to look for ways to overcome them instead of running away from it.

(iv) The quote that resonates with me is “You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore”

One defing experience is during my final year in secondary school, I struggled with Mathematics. No matter how hard I tried, my grades remained low, and it felt discouraging—especially since I needed a good result to qualify for the course I wanted in college.

Instead of giving up, I created a strict study schedule. I met my teacher twice a week for extra help and practiced past exam papers every day. There were moments I felt like quitting, especially after getting another low grade in a mock test, but I reminded myself why I started and kept pushing.

By the time the final exam came, I felt more confident. When the results were released, I had improved significantly—enough to meet the requirements for my course. That experience taught me that perseverance isn’t about never falling, but about getting back up every time you do.

Hence, these strengths -- resilience, perseverance and responsibility aligned with my goal of achieving good grades, prepares me to work effectively, overcoming the discomfort of facing obstacles and challenges.

Summary: A Quote that defines me

"life is short, shoot your shot"

ii) when i was younger, i used to struggle to do well in competitions for the sports i took up. however, over time i did extra practice in my free time to improve my skills. despite failing many times and not being able to get the skills right, i improved and managed to play better in my games.

iii) “i learned the value of hard work by working hard” -margaret mead

When i went to Indonesia with my dad's company, one of the activities we did was volunteer at a children's orphanage. Volunteering at this orphanage taught me about the lives of these unfortunate children. I learnt to be grateful for all i have and to always provide help for those in need. I also feel that my dad was very admirable as he brought his company to volunteer at the children's orphanage, encouraging his colleagues to help those in need. From this experience , i learnt that we shouldnt take things for granted and always be generous to those with less things than us.

My strength, generosity, sympathy, kindness, align with my goal of helping others. They also prepare me for future opportunities when i have to collaborate with others and work with others in project works, or merely as colleagues/classmates.

" Helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world of that person"

Summary: “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do or achieve.” quote by emma watson

An example of which is my musical journey. Ever since I was four, I have been attending piano classes and always excelled in my recitals and exams. I always believed that I had a talent in music and enjoyed what I did. However, during my grade 3 practical grading exam, I had blanked out and couldn’t properly finish my piece. I had scored merely a pass and felt extremely dejected. But I knew that I could not give up so easily. One failure doesn’t mean that everything would go downhill from there. I picked up myself up and continued to prepare for my next exam. I took practice more seriously and learnt to adapt to the pressure and nervousness. After a year, I sat for my grade 4 examination and completed it with a distinction. I advanced to grade 6 immediately after and I am now striving to my goal of completing this musical journey.

My values align to what I am doing as I am prepared to deal with setbacks whenever they come my way. Before I lead others, I must first learn to persevere and find the solutions of my own problems. What I do shows my passion of leading others and determination to get things done efficiently while coordinating with others to produce the most fruitful results.

This quote, that I will always stand by “Failure is not the opposite of success, it is a part of success.”

One defining experience is my sporting experience. I’m proud of where i’m at now, but it hasn’t always been this way. When i first started my Floorball journey in secondary one , i often felt inferior to other players because I came from a previous sport that was nothing close to Floorball. However, through lots of resilience and consistency i managed to grow into a better player and now i even managed to trial for the floorball national youth training centre.

This journey was not easy, when i first join i often had many encounters where i was sat on the bench for the entirety of the match , i didn't take this as a sign to give up, instead i took it as motivation to improve myself and prove that i am capable to be in the court. Now i find joy in helping my juniors improve too.

These strengths— empathy, resilience, and helping others -align with my goal of serving others.

They also prepare me to contribute effectively in any role that requires teamwork, leadership, or problem-solving.

"The wise man does not lay up his own treasures. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own." - Lao Tzu

, By not clinging to possessions or hoarding, i will be able to finds true richness in generosity and connection.

Just like in the Spiderverse movies, I too had my own cannon event recently. I had won Onstage U19 RoboCup 2025. Prior to the competition the last time I had won any competition or had any success in my projects was more than a year ago. Losing more than 5 competitions in a row was extremely detrimental and demoralising for me. Even after starting on my Onstage project for the competition, my own teammates didnt believe that we could win. To be frank, they weren't wrong. The chance of us winning was extremely slim. We had the most ambitious project and we had done the least amount of work compared to every other group in the school. Even with all the odds stacked against me, I didn't give up. The more people started to discourage me, the more I wanted to prove them wrong. As such, i used my entire March Holidays, grinding away at my project. I was working on the project 14 hours per day for 7 days straight before taking a 2 day break to finish my homework and participate NOI 2025. By the end of the March Holidays I had submitted all my deliverables and had a working robot. In fact, it was running on 75% of the power required. I had exceeded my goals. Eventually the competition day grew closer and the comments on my team losing were getting more and more prominent. I was doubting myself and had lost the same motivation I had during the holidays. Subconsciously, I still wasn't ready to give up. With some support from my closest friend, I was able to get back up and finish the project.

From the exprience, I have developed a concrete belief to never ever give up. Anything is possible when I put my heart to it.I belive thsi new found grit will be more than enough to drive me to achieve all my goals.

"You're crazy until you succeed"

~idk who it was

this year, with my o level examinations at the end of the year, it will mean that as i get closer and closer to the examinations, i will have a busier and busier schedule as well as a declining morale. however, as of right now in april, while i find my friends and classmates starting to stress about prelims and olevels, getting barely any sleep frantically studying and preparing for the exams. however, i will find my way to stay happy and balance my life, spending time with family and friends yet also doing sufficient for my academics while also doing things that i enjoy. i believe that i still deserve to enjoy myself through this hectic period of time as i respect myself and dont deserve that this period of time should ruin my emotions.

these strengths happiness, balance in life and self respect helped me through tough times, remaining positive through them and getting what i deserve.

a quote that resonates with me is "the purpose of our lives is to be happy"

ii) Last year on 8 August, I was tasked with conducting the band during the school’s NDP. Through the weeks and rehearsals that led to this event, I had to quickly absorb all the knowledge of the sequence of the parade - knowing everything that was happening at all times - so that I could instruct and command the band when to start and stop playing. As a leader and a role model for my peers and juniors, it was also important for me to be confident so that they are reassured that I know what I am doing. On the big day itself, some of my juniors were nervous before the performance, so I took some time to joke around with them to relief some of that stress.

iii) Hence, the values of responsibility, courage and humour align with my goal of leading my juniors well. As a leader, it is important for me to handle assigned tasks well, having and showing confidence when taking charge of the band and being emotionally supportive for them by having a warm and bright outlook.

iv) "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." —John C. Maxwell

One memorable experiences was being the 2nd Overall In-Charge for my school's Teachers' Day Celebration planning and execution. This opportunity allowed me to bond with my fellow councillors through the planning, listening to different ideas from each other and creating a stronger relaitonship with them through this. Although, there was some setbacks and challange I faced such as lacking confidence to lead a large group of people, but I was able to overcome these challanges along the way and adapted well which taught me resilience and adaptability.

These strengths: collaboration, resilience and respnsbility align with my goals of leading and serving others. This opportunity of leading a large group of people prepared me to contribute efficiently in any role that requires teamwork, leadership and problem solving. Now, I am able to take the lead without lacking confidence and upholding to the standards of a leader while also being a better team player as well.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill

one example is during VIA where i had to guide and interact with the elderly. This allowed me to bond with them and get to sympatise with them. This was also a challenge as there was a language barrier since my chinese is not well.

this strengths allow me to empathise with others, enabling myself to think in their own shoes which allowed me to understand them better. Ultimately my friends and family are the top priority in my life as they bring joy and happiness regardless of how im feeling.

“empathy is about finding echoes in another person in yourself” -Mohsin Hamid

I value discipline as since I was a kid, football was my passion. Looking at my idols dribble and shoot the ball has always made me feel motivated. However, growing up I learnt that all these professional players don’t just happen to be in the top leagues for no reason, it is because of their hard work and discipline which allowed them to reach and stay in their position. This made me realise that in order to reach this top level of the sport, I have to stay disciplined 24/7, in order to reach my goal.

I value tenacity as giving up was never an option in my mind, everytime I do something I had to give my 100%. Whether it being a small task, or during a competition, I always give my all and not give up easily.

one story would be when my friend in Chemistry was struggling with a certain chapter-- Acid and Bases, even though i wasnt the best teacher, i still put in the effort to teach him and even though it took a long time, i managed to help him understand the concepts. Even though it was a bit of a struggle to teach him, i find joy in simply helping people as i once was a person who suffered due to not wanting to study. Now that i have acquired the required knowledge to help people, i would want to put this skill to good use.

my skills enable me to assist people anywhere anytime, no matter the situaion. Espacially in team-based scenario where i espacially thrive. My skills also link to being able to tell the situation in a moment of seconds. such as whether people are struggling with somethng or the poeple around me are faced with difficulties

• "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." - Charles Dickens 

i stand by this quote as nobody is useless or a burden if they seek help from the right people to help alleviate their struggles

how : taekwondo is a big part of my life. i have gained many experiences through this sport which has allowed me to display such values. for example, i always strive to join upcoming competitions and ensure that i train well enough for them. whenever i have a competition coming up, i would take up more training sessions to ensure that i am ready for the competition. additionally, juggling school and taekwondo is a great display of my sense of responsibility. as a girl in a male-dominated sport, i often come across people who look down on me and doubt my abilities. i always put in my fullest effort into my trainings and cca to ensure that i am constantly improving. taekwondo is not easy but with sheer determination, it gets slightly less difficult every time i try a new skill.

what : this shows that i approach things that i do thoughtfully while striving for fulfilment and taking pride in my achievements.

summary : " one minute of being on stage takes 10 years of hard work " this quote by lee haney highlights the immense dedication and determination one must have in order to achieve success

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few years ago, I found myself volunteering at a local shelter during the holidays. The shelter was short on staff and donations, and there was a real need for help. I remember one particular evening, when we were preparing dinner for over 100 people. The kitchen was chaotic—people were scrambling to make enough food, and the stress was palpable.

I could have easily stepped back and watched, but I saw it as an opportunity to live out my core value of service. I believe in helping others, especially when they're going through tough times. So, I jumped right in, organizing the food prep and assisting where I could. It was exhausting, but there was something incredibly rewarding about being part of something bigger than myself, something that truly made a difference.

As the evening went on, I realized another strength of mine: adaptability. The unexpected happened—a key volunteer had to leave early, and we were short on hands for serving the meals. I immediately stepped into that role without hesitation, quickly adjusting to the situation. I worked alongside other volunteers, keeping things moving while also checking in with the people we were serving. My ability to stay calm and focus on solutions in a moment of uncertainty made a difference that night.

At the end of the evening, I saw the smiles on the faces of those we served. That feeling of fulfillment reinforced my belief in the value of community—that by coming together and helping one another, we can make a meaningful impact, no matter how small.

Reflecting on that night, I realized that empathy was at the heart of everything I did. I put myself in the shoes of others, thinking about what it would be like to be in need of support. This experience underscored how much my values of service, community, and empathy shape the way I approach life. They are the foundation for my strengths, and they drive me to seek out opportunities to help and connect with others.

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” by Steve jobs

Before I was chosen as a member of my CCA's executive committee (EXCO), I was involved in several events that required me to take up responsibilities. I worked with my CCA mates to get things done and were able to conduct the events. After I took up my position, I had to lead my CCA in activities and was responsible on my CCA's training sessions.

These strengths allow me to work together with my peers efficiently and take charge of events, making me a good team player.

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way" - John C Maxwell

One example of my values is when my family members, namely my mother, talks to me about her problems I always lend an ear to her and give possible solutions to her problems

My values -integrity, respect, and kindness- are what I believe will lead me to a life of happiness as if I'm kind to people they might return that kindness to me. Furthermore, I live in integrity as I believe that living a dishonest life is not a good way to live, it will cause a lot of unnecessary troubles and stresses in life. I respect people as I believe that is the right thing to do.

I like to believe in a quote that I thought of or one that I have heard somewhere "what I give is what I get". This quote is something I think of a lot as when I give out kindness into the world kindness will be returned to me.

I describe myself as a curious and resilient individual, hoping to seek to new heights every single day. When i was young, i enjoyed going to the airport to watch planes and takeoff and land from one of the 3 runways in Changi Airport-02L/20R. As time passes by, i felt that aviation was my thing and there was no looking back since to pursue my dream in becoming an SIA pilot.

How: A Personal Story That Highlights My Values and Strengths

One example is during our VIA, last year we collaborated with lion befrienders and set up game booths and guided them throughout the entire game process. There was also a language barrier so we tried to communicste them in their dialect.Henc

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal"

Last year , there was a via programme and it was compulsory to attend the programme. I found it boring and meaningless initially, however as i interacted with the beneficiaries . It aligns with my values of being generous and respectful as it requires patience to talk to the elderly . I overcome this by having resilience.

These strengths : resilience, generosity and respect aligns with my goal of giving back to the community and promote a sense of belonging.

The highest morality is not to resist evil but to overcome evil with good - Mahatma Gandhi

It was my birthday, and my friends and I decided to have a laid-back celebration at my place. We ended up playing a board game, but it quickly turned into pure chaos. One friend started making up ridiculous rules, and we all went along with it, laughing hysterically. Another friend started adding to the madness.

Soon, the game didn’t matter anymore. The night wasn’t about the game; it was about the joy of being together, laughing at the absurdity of it all, and enjoying the kind of friendship where humor makes every moment unforgettable.

"There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t yet met."

Last year, we were given groupings for a group project the atmosphere was tense as we were new to each other then a member cracked some jokes which decreased the tension thus we were able to get the job done

These values align with my goals of teamwork and working with ppl

One experience i had was that my so called “ friend” of 3 years was a fake person. I accidentally overheard her talking bad about me behind my back. She had apologised and i decided to just ignore the incident. However she did not bother talking to me after the incident and even blocked me? While saying a whole different story to her friends and MY friends. Like she was scared to talk to me? She literally blocked me, i did not. She said that i did not want to talk to her and i was mad. I literally was playing games with her a few days before she said that. The fact is that i put in a lot of effort in our friendship throughout the 3 years and this is what i get. Unbelievable.

These strengths, love, friendships and humour align with interacting with one another and maintaining relationships. This helps me to be able to build connections with new people and gain valuable relationships along the way.

The quote” i rather have an enemy than a two-faced friend. At least i know which face to slap.” This quote by J.S Marsden reminds me to not completely trust people who appear to be your friend and not to bother to put in so much effort to go the extra mile to do things for them and basic things a friend does.