Mdm Halimah Yacob, Chancellor, SUSS
Mrs Mildred Tan, Chairman, Board of Trustees, SUSS
Professor Tan Tai Yong, President, SUSS
SUSS Colleagues,
Parents and Graduands,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. A very good morning to all of you.
2. Today, SUSS together with the Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Singapore Flying College (SFC), will launch a new integrated pathway for a commercial pilot license and a degree program. This means that, in the future, someone who is working towards their commercial pilot license can also concurrently work on their degree. I congratulate SUSS for once again growing from strength to strength.
3. In a larger scheme of things, in Singapore, such efforts, which include other integrated pathways, work study programmes, work study degrees and work study diplomas aim to encourage our people to embrace lifelong learning so that they can continue to work and upgrade themselves at the same time because the two need not be mutually exclusive. So, on this note, I would also like to thank SUSS, SIA and SFC for starting us on this journey. Thank you very much.
4. Now, I would like to share three reflections that I have garnered from my various conversations with the SUSS students over the past few years.
5. I visit SUSS regularly, and in each of my visits, I will spend time speaking with the students, hearing what they have to say, their dreams and their aspirations. So let me share three reflections from my conversations with SUSS students on life's choices and the perspectives you can adopt.
6. My first reflection — we can choose to focus on how we arrived at where we stand, or we can choose to focus on how we can proceed from here on. Some of you chose SUSS, some of you didn't choose SUSS as your first choice; some of you came straight from school, some came after many years of hard work in the market; some of you are the first in your family to obtain a degree, some of you are here for your second degree or qualifications.
7. So you are a diverse lot; the most diverse across all our Universities. But in life, sometimes you find yourself in a place you want. More often than not, you find yourself in a place that you didn't plan for, and it was the same for me. I will later share with you the story of how I wanted to be a librarian but ended up in the SAF.
8. But regardless of whether we find ourselves in a place that we want or if we find ourselves in a place that we didn't plan for, we can decide how to make the best of our situation. Each time, every time, all the time. I hope that you have made the best use of your time in SUSS to equip yourself with the perspectives and dispositions to keep improving, keep learning and keep contributing in life.
9. You will notice that I chose my words carefully; I say to equip yourself with the perspectives and dispositions. I left out content knowledge, because I believe that content knowledge will evolve. The most important skill that you can take away from SUSS will not be your content knowledge. The most important skill that you will take away from SUSS will be the ability to learn and relearn for life.
10. My second reflection, this is more for the undergraduates than for the postgraduates but I think it applies to all of us, is that we all can either choose to find meaning in life, or we can choose to give meaning in life.
11. We all aspire for the perfect job, with good pay, good working conditions, good work-life balance, good prospects, good networks — you name it, we want it.
12. But the truth is, there is no such job in the world. Every job can only be a good job not just because of what it provides us but because of what we choose to put in. What we take away depends on what we put in.
13. Let me share with you the story of how I wanted to be a librarian and ended up in the SAF.
14. I enjoyed reading books when I was young, and I still enjoy reading books now. During my time, the library was about the only place that has air-conditioning in Singapore. I figured that I can read books, get paid, and have a nice working environment in an air-conditioned room as a librarian. I wanted to be a librarian.
15. But I came from a single parent family, and I needed a scholarship to continue my studies. So, I applied for various scholarships, but then there were two blanks left in the application. I remembered my teacher saying to never leave a blank and to always fill in something in an exam. So, I asked around. What other choices are there?
16. One of my friends told me, "Why don't you just put the SAF?" So, I applied for the SAF scholarship as well. I went for the interview. They sent me to the SAF.
17. I asked them, "But I didn't choose the SAF, I wanted to be a librarian!" They told me, "Second choice is still a choice." So, I started my life working in the SAF.
18. But I didn't choose to focus on how I arrived in the SAF. I chose to focus on how I can progress and contribute in the SAF.
19. I learnt very young that life is not just about finding meaning, but also giving meaning. I have led many types of soldiers in the SAF, not only those that come from the Commandos where when you ask them to run, they only ask you how far and how fast, but also men that ask why when you give them the same instructions. It is not about what we achieve for ourselves, but what we achieve with them.
20. Which comes to my third message; we can all choose to define ourselves by our achievements or by our contributions.
21. If we choose achievements, let us remember that surpassing ourselves always in life's marathon is more relevant than surpassing others in a sprint. Let us also try to achieve as a team, with the team and for the team. Otherwise, it will be a lonely, tough and even miserable journey.
22. On the other hand, if we choose contributions, we are free from the relativistic competition cycle on other people's terms. If we choose contributions as the definition of our success, we can focus on our strengths and our choice of contribution is on our own terms in our own time. If enough of us believe that the definition of success should be on our collective contributions instead of our personal achievements, then we will certainly have a stronger, kinder and happier society.
23. In summary, I hope you will remember these three reflections sometime in your life, especially when you are down. First, we can choose to focus on how we arrive, or we can choose to focus on how we progress from there. Let us choose the latter. Second, we can choose to find meaning always, or we can choose to give meaning always. Let us choose the latter. Third, we can choose to define ourselves by our individual achievements or we can choose to define ourselves by our collective contributions. May we also choose the latter.
24. If you can do this collectively, SUSS alumni will always distinguish yourselves by your service to the nation, and you will define yourselves by the impact that you will have on society.
25. On that note, congratulations. I wish you the very best in your journey in life. Thank you.