18
LUMEN | JOSEPHIANS
A * STARs after
As
By Timothy Hue and Matthew Wong
Navin and Tedrick were Josephians from two different cohorts . However , they shared something in common
( apart from their Lasallian heritage ) – both were recognised for their academic ability and acuity , and given A * Star scholarships to pursue their passion in prestigious universities in England .
I thoroughly enjoyed my days at SJI ... It was the excellent nurturing provided by my teachers in those subjects ...
Navin Brian Ramakrishna
Two old boys . Two scholars . Two success stories . A * STAR scholarship holders Navin Brian Ramakrishna and Tedrick Thomas Salim Lew , two men with very bright futures and a plethora of achievements between them , have long since graduated from SJI . But though you may be able to take a Josephian out of SJI , you can ’ t remove the Josephian spirit out of a Josephian . Today they return to SJI , if only in spirit , as to give Lumen a glimpse of their lives .
The late 2000s . 2005 , to be precise , saw Navin and Tedrick wandering along the halls of SJI as a Secondary Four and Secondary Two student respectively . The Bishan campus is still a gleam in the distant future , and it is around the monolithic pretzel-like Joseph McNally sculpture that these two students spent their memorable secondary school days .
“ I thoroughly enjoyed my days at SJI ,” Navin said . His years in secondary school were eventful , filled with both good teachers and outstanding ones . Biology and History World Affairs were among his favourite subjects . “ It was the excellent nurturing provided by my teachers in those subjects ,” he explained . He also recalled having much fun in the Co-Curricular Activities ( CCA ) he was involved in , one of them being the library and is thankful for the leadership positions he was given .
Tedrick made no mention of his CCAs , but his account looked outside the curriculum more than within it . “ I made a lot of friends from very diverse backgrounds ,” he said , “ and they are still some of the brightest people I have met in my life so far .” His teachers , both passionate and committed , were also a significant presence in his life , and he was truly grateful for his experiences in SJI . “ It offered a truly holistic education that emphasized learning both inside and outside of the classroom .”
In 2006 , Navin bade a fond farewell to his alma mater and continued with the next phase of his life . In National Junior College , he clinched the second prize at the 2007 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair , and then headed to Oxford University for a course in Biochemistry in 2010 . He returned only last year , with the accolade of Top Student under his belt , but his periods of rest never lasted long - he will leave again for Cambridge University next year .
Tedrick , on the other hand , crossed a different bridge from SJI to Raffles Junior College . His pursuit of a chemical engineering course took him to London ’ s Imperial College where he achieved a Masters in Engineering Degree . Unlike Navin , he settled down in Singapore as a research officer in the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology , comfortable with where his studies have taken him .
Ultimately , however , Lumen was interested in their A * STAR experiences . Both Navin ’ s and Tedrick ’ s unique histories converged in their prestigious A * STAR scholarships , and they had many nuggets of wisdom to share with any potential A * STAR scholars in SJI .