20 LUMEN | ALUMNI
Scholars
Desirous Serving of
By Gillian Chai
SJI has had Public Service Commision Scholars ( PSC ) in the past , but 2015 was special as three of the four PSC scholars belonged to the pioneer batch of graduates from the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme ( IBDP ). Lumen contacted these alumni to find out more .
It is in giving that we receive lasting joy .” These were the words that Nathaniel Wong Kin Yew used to end his interview with Lumen in September , when we spoke to him just before he flew off to Chicago to begin his studies in Northwestern University . He is one of the four SJI alumni who was offered the prestigious PSC scholarship earlier this year . Lai Chi Ming Ryan , Hud Syafiq B Herman , and Nathaniel graduated from SJI ( Senior School ) in 2014 , while Mohammed Noor Haqeem Bin Zulkiflee was from SJI ( Class of 2012 ).
The PSC scholarship is one of the most coveted in the country , and is awarded to outstanding young men and women who have a heart for serving the nation . This was definitely an aspect that the four scholars this year shared in common - each exudes a deep passion to serve the people around them .
Nathaniel was in SJI since Secondary One , and has , throughout his time in SJI , exemplified the school ’ s Lasallian values of Faith , Service and Community . He puts his success down to the zeal with which he embarks on any project – both big and small – from the smallest school assignment to a Frisbee match , he gives his best because of
the responsibility he places on himself to not let the people around him down . Being a part of the National Cadet Corps ( NCC ) Air taught him discipline , courage and leadership through service , as well as spark the dream of entering the Air Force . In three years , when he returns from the USA , he will fulfill that dream by serving the SAF Air Force as a Ground Based Air Defence Officer .
Another Josephian of six years , Ryan , a charismatic leader who describes himself as a passionate crime fighter , has just begun his studies at the National University of Singapore