Infinitas 2020

HOPE

RESILIENCE

UNITY

CONTENTS WHY PARTICIPATION MATTERS An interview with Alumni Association Leaders Dhanesh Thiru (‘14) & Bryan Oh (‘12)

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GRADUATION 2019 Class Photograph, 2019 Awards

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UNIVERSITY & COLLEGE MATRICULATIONS

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SJI INTERNATIONAL CONNECT

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INTRODUCING THE COUNTRY & CLASS REPRESENTATIVES PROGRAMME

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS More Than Individual Goodwill Desiree Leong (‘09)

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Coming Full Circle John Ooi (‘09)

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From The Less-Trodden Path Brian Theng (‘12)

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A Passion For Food Muhammad Iylia (‘13)

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Keep on Keepin’ On Laura Sekarputri (‘13)

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Hope, Resilience and Unity Samuel Mok (‘14)

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The German Detour Vincentius Widiantoro (‘16)

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The Greatest Adventure Is What Lies Ahead Ryan Ong (‘17)

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The Year Of Taking Action Melissa Wang (‘19)

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REUNIONS & VISITS 2019

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Why Participation Matters: AN INTERVIEW with Alumni Association Leaders President Dhanesh Thiru, ‘14 and Vice President Bryan Oh, ‘12

Last year, SJII welcomed the newly appointed Dhaneshan & Bryan as the President and Vice President of the Alumni Association. Check out what they’ve been up to, why they got involved with and what their hopes are for the association.

What have you been up to since graduating?

and to continue to grow our SJII community.

Dhanesh: I am currently completing a degree in Biomedical Sciences & Public Health at the National University of Singapore. During my spare time, I’m researching and developing projects on increasing health literacy, improving healthcare financing and changing lifestyle behaviours of the youth in Singapore.

B: My 6 years in SJII moulded me into who I am today and I will always be eternally grateful.

I strongly believe in giving back and it all began when I started catholic camp 2013 after graduation.

Now with more experiences in life, I feel that I contribute in a greater capacity.

Bryan: After SJII, I went on to study Business Administration at National University of Singapore.

I graduated in 2019 and have found a keen interest in entrepreneurship. I have been starting a range of start ups over the last year, such as a laser cutting workspace, and an agritech company.

Why did you want to get involved with the alumni association?

D: I have always felt blessed to receive an education in SJII. During my time with the school, I was presented with endless opportunities to develop and grow as a person. I have made lifelong friends who have both inspired and supported me (while tolerating my antics) across the years. Our community has encouraged me to pursue my passions, challenging and shaping me into the person I am today. I am immensely grateful to SJII for all these experiences and I found myself wanting to give back to the community. I thought to myself that the association would be a wonderful way to do this by providing opportunities to our alumni, to assist current students

What do you hope to accomplish?

D: I hope to work with my team to reconnect the alumni across the globe with the SJII community by providing them with a wide array of events and opportunities to interact with one another both in Singapore and overseas. As our community grows bigger, my team and I recognise that alumni, being at different stages in life, may have different interests and motivations – we hope to cater to these concerns and support them to the best of our ability. Beyond the alumni, we look forward to helping the current students as well, be it through university advice, mentorship or sharing our experiences. At the end of the day, we hope that the alumni know that the alumni community will always have our arms open to welcome you and support you wherever you may be.

B: I hope to further the ACO goal of uniting all our alumni across the world. During my stint, I hope to grow the ACO team, the batch and country representatives, and onboard as many alumni as possible on our connect platform!

reassuring to know that someone you know is or has been in a certain part of the world you’re going to, or that someone’s already working in an industry you’re interested in.

B: When we enter into one of the longest chapter of our lives, the work life chapter, your networks can easily make a huge difference. Our connect platform allows you to have a private place to find mentors, look for jobs, connect with alumni from similar industries! In the future, these friends and fellow SJII alumni will enable you to broaden your network, furthering any potential business, industry advice, and even common hobbies!

What is your message to fellow alums about why you want them to get involved?

D: I believe that all of you had wonderful memories and takeaways from your time in the school as I did. Although we are no longer students at SJII, our journey with the school and its community still continues. My team and I aim to create a strong alumni community of friendship and shared experiences. In order to achieve this, we have created more opportunities for fellow alumni to contribute back to the school in various capacities, such as being a batch representative for their cohort - we believe you will find fulfilment from ‘serving’ in the association. But beyond serving, getting involved with the alumni association and participating in our events and activities will allow you to interact with fellow Josephians from different cohorts. Our community can act as a platform for you to develop your own support network and receive advice from fellow Josephians regardless of where you are in the world.

B: Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve. When we were still schooling in SJII, every day we would walk up and see these giant words. Come and get involved in our alumni association to help grow our school. At the same time, you’ll get the chance to network and catch up with all your amazing peers!

Any thoughts to share about the theme of this issue and what it means for alumni this year?

D: Many of us are starting university or work during this trying time and I believe these qualities are ones that will get us through this difficult period. Even beyond this pandemic, I believe these qualities are ones that we should embrace to bring us forward. We are living in a period that is full of uncertainties, and these qualities serve as a reminder that we do not need to confront our issues on our own, be it during difficult times or in the near future. Resilience is not only about standing our own, but it is understanding ourselves and seeking support when we need to.

Further, we have to stay united by offering support or checking in on those around us.

The hope we hold onto is to build a more loving and cohesive society around us through these acts of support and kindness; our association holds these values close to our hearts and we will always be here to support you.

B: During this pandemic period, it is paramount to stay united. There will be fellow friends or family who get sick, retrenched, students unable to travel back, and many more. I urge you all to stay united by being there for them, though not physically but mentally.

Pray for them and stay resilient. We will get through this together. Should you need any help, please feel free to reach out to the Alumni Association and we will try our best to help you.

What is your message to fellow alums about why connection and the network matters for them and the wider community?

D: As an alumni association, we are not only focusing on how we may benefit the school and its current students, but we also recognise that we have a continuing commitment to the personal growth of alumni. We wish to set up mentoring schemes for University Graduates/Early Professionals, work experience opportunities for IB Graduates and even job opportunities across the varying batches. We also hope for a robust community that achieves this through passive networking - as the alumni community grows together with the careers of its members, connections may become more vital and helpful in the future. More than anything, it is

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CLASS O

On Nov 17, 2019 SJI International recognized and celebrated the achievements of the class of 2019 in the Sports Hall. A gathering of more than 500 community members, including administrators, faculty, and graduates’ families and friends attended the event.

In addition to the presentation of the graduating students and the presentation of awards and prizes, the event included thoughtful and inspiring addresses from our High School Principal Roisin Paul, the Guest of Honor Ms. Jessica Tan Soon Neo, the Senior School Student Council, the Valedictorian, and the Alumni Association President. The celebration was followed by the traditional lunch for the graduates and their families that took place out by the swimming pool. Welcome to the Alumni Community class of 2019!

OF 2019

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GRADUATION 2019

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GRADUATION 2019 AWARDS Axel Roy Lee

Alessandra Lim

The Philip Yeo Trophy for the Josephian of the Year

The Leadership Council Shield for Academic Excellence

Academic Prizes for: European Languages (Spanish ab initio), Economics

Academic Prizes for: English Literature, Biology

Kyle Tan

The SJIOBA Trophy for Distinguished Service

Bryan Defjan

The Dick Lee Award for the Arts

Zachary Naidu Tara Kripalani

The Principal Award

Ding Tianyao

Academic Prizes for: Physics, Mathematics

Joey Choo

The Lawrence Da Silva Trophy for Sportsman of the Year

Natalie Shek

The Lawrence Da Silva Trophy for Sportswoman of the Year

Nadya Tan

The Brother Patrick Trophy for Outstanding Achievement

Sybil Qian Jiayi

Academic Prize for Asian Language (Chinese)

Saniya Savadi

Megan Hui Quek

Academic Prize for Business & Management

Carena Leo Furiya

Academic Prize for Computer Science

Academic Prize for Theory of Knowledge

Academic Prize for Asian Language (Japanese B)

Nicole Rae Nair

Tamsine Ali

Joleen Teo

Academic Prize for Environmental Systems & Societies

Anna Francine Du Toit

Academic Prize for Visual Arts

Cerys Llewelyn

Academic Prize for Music

Sports Exercise & Health Science

Matthew Koh

Academic Prize for Geography

Chua Yun Rui

Academic Prizes for: English Language & Literature, Psychology, Chemistry

UNIVERSITY & COLLEGE MATRICULATIONS Classes of 2016-2019

Asia (ex SG) 5.0% Australia 13.1% Canada 5.3% Europe (ex UK) 4.7% Singapore 29.6% UK 27.3% US 15.0% ASIA (ex SG) Ashoka University (India) Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (China) British University of Vietnam (Vietnam) Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) City University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR) Fudan University (China) Ghent University Global Campus (South Korea) Hong Kong Baptist University (Hong Kong SAR) Hong Kong University (Hong Kong SAR) Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (Hong Kong SAR) Institut Teknologi Harapan Bangsa (Indonesia) International Medical University (Malaysia) Keio University, Fujisawa Campus (Japan) Les Roches Jin Jiang International Hotel Management College (China) Monash University (Malaysia) National Taiwan University (Taiwan) New York University, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) Osaka University (Japan) Savannah College of Art and Design (Hong Kong SAR) Sungkyunkwan University (South Korea) Tsinghua University (China) Tsukuba University (Japan) Waseda University (Japan) Yonsei University (South Korea) AUSTRALIA Curtin University Edith Cowan University Flinders University Macquarie University Monash University University of Adelaide University of Melbourne University of New South Wales University of Queensland University of Sydney University of Tasmania University of Western Australia Victoria University William Angliss Institute CANADA Concordia University Emily Carr University of Art & Design McMaster University University of British Columbia

University of Toronto Western University York University EUROPE (ex UK) Bocconi University (Italy) Brandenburg University of Technology (Germany) Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne (Switzerland) Hamburg University of Applied Science (Germany) Istituto Marangoni - Paris School of Fashion (France) Les Roches International School of Hotel Management (Switzerland) National University of Ireland, Galway (Ireland) Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (Netherlands) Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Ireland) Technische Universiteit Delft (Netherlands) Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) UniLasalle (France) University College Cork (Ireland) University College Dublin (Ireland) University College Utrecht (Netherlands) University of Amsterdam (Netherlands) University of Utrecht (Netherlands) SINGAPORE Curtin Singapore James Cook University LASALLE College of the Arts Mages Institute of Excellence Nanyang Technological University National University of Singapore PSB Academy SIM Global Education Singapore Institute of Management Singapore Institute of Technology Singapore Management University Singapore University of Social Sciences Singapore University of Technology & Design Yale-NUS College UNITED KINGDOM Bangor University Bellerbys College Brighton Birbeck, University of London Cardiff University Courtauld Institute of Art Durham University Imperial College London King’s College London London School of Economics and Political Science Norwich University of the Arts Queen Mary, University of London Queen’s University Belfast Royal Veterinary College St. George’s University University College London University of Aberdeen University of Bath University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Cambridge University of Dundee University of East Anglia

University University University University University University University University University University University University University University University University University

of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of of

Edinburgh Exeter Glasgow Leeds Leicester Liverpool Manchester Northumbria Nottingham Oxford Sheffield St. Andrews Surrey Sussex the Arts London Warwick York

USA Barnard College Boston University Brandeis University Brown University Case Western Reserve University Chapman College Colgate University College of the Holy Cross Columbia University Cornell University Diablo Valley College Georgetown University Indiana University at Bloomington Johns Hopkins University Loyola Marymount University Michigan State University Middlebury College New York University Northeastern University Occidental College Pepperdine University Pomona College Princeton University Rhode Island School of Design Rice University Rochester Institute of Technology San Francisco Conservatory of Music Santa Clara University Sarah Lawrence College Savannah College of Art and Design Skidmore College Smith College Stanford University SUNY Geneseo Swarthmore College The New School University of California, Davis University of California, Irvine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of Illinois at Chicago University of Michigan, Ann Arbor University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Rochester University of San Francisco University of Southern California University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin, Madison Virginia Tech Wesleyan University Yale University

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SJI International Connect: Your Networking and Connections Platform SJI International Connect is a web portal that allows members to network professionally with other members of the SJI International community. It is a platform to reconnect with people you know, expand your professional network, give back to the community, and get ahead in your own career or business.

As a former SJI International student or staff member, you are automatically a member of the SJI International Alumni Association – a global network of alumni of all ages and professions. We are fortunate to have alumni around the world who support and contribute to our school community. SJI International Connect allows you to interact with this incredible network, and tap into it, or contribute to it, as required.

Our alumni are known for their enthusiasm to give back to and share their experiences with the SJI International community. As alumni, whether you want to help connect with your fellow classmates, organize a regional alumni gathering, provide career advice, find alumni of similar interests or speak to SJII students, SJI International Connect is the platform for you!

“Time is a precious commodity in today’s world, but I will always have time for someone from SJI International.”

Dhanesh Thiru (‘14), Alumni Association President

RECONNECT

Expand

Find and reconnect with fellow SJI International alumni, see what they have been up to and stay in touch. Plan or attend events in your area or reach out to us and we can advertise your reunions. Keep up-to-date with all things SJI International, as we give you news updates.

Leverage the professional network to get introduced to people you should know. If you are looking for help in your area of interest, whether you are at University, just starting your career or looking for a job/internship or considering a career change, search for alumni.

Give back

Get Ahead

Introduce, employ or act as a mentor to alumni. Use the site to post your CV for other alumni to see, or submit job vacancies and internships that you think would suit fellow SJII alums. It is an excellent way to find that outstanding opportunity or that special person to fill a role.

Alumni are spread out across the globe, working in a variety of fields. Advance your career through inside connections and access to exclusive opportunities.

Using the LinkedIn and Facebook integration, allows you to share and connect in a secure network.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Am I eligible to register for SJI International Connect?

All current seniors and former SJI International students, current or former staff are eligible to join.

Why SJI International Connect?

The platform takes the education and business information you have shared with us, making it a powerful networking tool. It gives you the ability to connect with other alumni in your industry and location.

How do I sign up and register?

Go to https://connect.sji-international.com.sg and create a username and password. You will receive an email to confirm your registration.

What if I do not receive a confirmation email when I try to log in?

If you do not receive a confirmation email, it may mean that we do not have an email address on file for you or that we have a different one. If this is the case, please contact alumni@sji-international.com.sg to verify your email address and update your contact details.

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I have registered, now what do I do?

We update the platform with mentoring opportunities, job opportunities, networking events and much more. If you have job opportunities to post, or are looking for professional opportunities, or simply want to search for fellow alumni, ensure you bookmark the site and log-in regularly.

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How do I search for people using the directory?

Type the name of the person you are seeking in the search box. If you are unsure of the spelling, you may type a few letters in the name, click Search and the platform will pull a list of possible matches. You also have the option to filter your search by graduation year, location or speciality.

You can find fellow alumni by using the Search function on the Directory Tab (with simple or advanced searches):

How do I search or post a job?

Go into the Mentors & Jobs tab on the platform, where you can search and post jobs or internships for fellow alumni to see. There are currently only a few listings, but as the number of alumni participating in the platform increases, so too will the number of postings.

If I am looking for one time advice, or short or a long term mentor, how do I do it?

Everybody who has signed up to SJI International Connect, can offer a certain level of mentoring assistance.

When you type in what you are looking for in the refine your search within the Mentors & Jobs tab, the platform will give you relevant alumni names. Do not be afraid to reach out to them, that’s why the platform exists!

To be a Mentor you can choose how involved you want to be by selecting your level of engagement. But what makes this platform truly successful is how uptodate you keep your education and work data. This enables alumni to search for and find help by functions and industries in their fields.

As someone established in my field, if an alumni reaches out to me, what am I expected to do?

Depending on what you entered as your level of willingness to help, you could introduce them to your connections, open doors at your place of work, answer industry related questions, review resumes or offer advice/internships. You can always change your level of commitment, if requests are taking up more time than you have available.

Complete profiles enable alumni to find mentors or to establish professional connections. The platform is most effective when users complete their education and work information.

DID YOU KNOW? • • •

Whether you are starting out your professional journey or you’re an established professional in your field or looking to reinvent yourself, there is always an alumni who can help.

You can post job/internship opportunities for your place of work.

You can search for and recruit fellow alumni who might be professionals within your field of work.

For more information contact alumni@sji-international.com.sg. Your Alumni Relations Office team is happy to help you.

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MEET YOUR REPS We are pleased to announce the launch of our alumni association class and country representatives programme and introduce you to our ‘Inaugural Batch’. Under the leadership of President Dhanesh Thiru ‘14 and Vice President Bryan Oh ‘12 these alumni have volunteered to help alumni living in specific countries or alumni in specific classes stay connected with each other and the school.

Andre Sng, ‘14 Head of Country Representatives “I’ve just started my relevant legal training at a law firm here in Singapore and will be with them for the next six months before sitting for the Singapore Bar. I’m also involved with SJI Scouts and am looking forward to continued involvement at both SJII and SJI.”

Tara Kripalani, ‘19 Country Representative for the UK Katherine Tan Si, ‘19 Country Representative for the UK “Since graduation, I’ve been working a bit, reading a lot and playing a bit too much animal crossing! I’ll be studying English Literature and History of Art in university, which I’m very excited about!”

“I’ve spent the past 3 months working in the triage team at the National Cancer Centre Singapore and am now trying to make the most of the couple of months I have (and read as much as I can) before university in Bristol, where I’ll be studying Biochemistry.”

Ali Jumabhoy, ‘12 Class Representative “I was working at a fast growing fintech start-up as the Head of Content Strategy. Now going to pursue an MBA at MIT where I hope to have a focus in entrepreneurship.”

Nadya Tan, ‘19 Country Representative for the USA “I’m currently interning at CellResearch Corporation, and will be attending Brown University starting in the Spring as a Biochemistry/ Economics doublemajor. I’ve also been working on a platform aimed at helping teens develop a healthy relationship with food (@feedingyourplate)”

Get in touch with your reps at connect.sji-international. com.sg. If you would like to serve as a batch or country representative, please contact the alumni office at alumni@sji-international. com.sg

Ruru Hoong, ‘14 Class Representative “PhD candidate in Economics at Harvard University and Harvard Business School, primarily interested in applied micro, antitrust, intersection of law and economics, and how economic policy + behavioural economics can make an impact on reducing inequality.”

Jeyda Simren Sekhon Ataç, ‘15 Class Representative “I am completing my Masters in Comparative & International Education at Oxford remotely in Singapore.

Driven by my passion for sustainable development, I am also working pro-bono with an educational NGO in Vietnam & a sustainable farming social enterprise in Uganda. I graduated from my undergrad at Cambridge last year and remain so grateful for all learning opportunities.”

Justin Tan, ‘19 Class Representative Mark Rodrigues, ‘17 Class Representative “I just finished my two years of NS in February and am now waiting to start university at NUS.”

“Currently in SCDF serving my national service for the next two years as a fireman! On my weekends, I spend the majority of my time with friends and family to take my mind of the woes of training. I am planning on studying finance in the future.”

Bryan Defjan, ‘19 Class Representative Samuel Tan, ‘14 Class Representative “I’m currently waiting for the start of the Japan & Exchange Teaching (JET) Programme, which will see me spend a year in Japan teaching English!

In the meantime, I’m spending time with my friends and family in Singapore.”

Jaxsen Chew, ‘17 Class Representative “I am studying Mechanical Engineering in National University of Singapore under their Engineering Scholars program.”

Jonas Chew, ‘18 Class Representative

“I currently volunteer tutoring IB students in Asia whose access to educational resources have been restricted

by COVID-19 as well as doing art commissions to fundraise for Habitat for Humanity. I’ll be starting university online this September and for the moment am spending my time cooking, reading, and exercising.”

Amy Zhang, ‘19 Class Representative “Improving my Chinese by reading books and watching movies, tutoring Chinese, studying ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine texts such as 黄帝内经, basically preparing for university in Beijing!

I am also working on a blog, cooking my grandparents’ recipes, and trying my luck with grasping coding languages!”

“I have been serving my National Service over the past year as a clerk doing administrative work. With roughly 9 months remaining, I am also working towards applying for University overseas in the field of Biology, hopefully on a campus.”

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MORE THAN INDIVIDUAL GOODWILL Desiree Leong, ‘09

After law school, I worked in research at NUS. In March 2016, I started volunteering at the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME), on casework for migrant workers.

Most have either salary-related or work injury claims, with many victimised by exploitative recruitment and employment conditions.

HOME helps workers gather evidence, liaise with government agencies, access legal or medical advice; and provides them emergency assistance for food and shelter. Most importantly, we try to empower them, because ultimately we can’t fight their battles for them. Being mostly unrepresented, they may need coaching in conducting a focused case effectively in a legal tribunal, examining witnesses and so on.

During the “circuit breaker”, HOME stepped up direct humanitarian essential aid. We focused on workers outside the dormitories: in the cramped, ramshackle old shophouses and other private accommodation.

These, not the dorms, actually house two-thirds of Singapore’s low-wage migrants. We did proactive outreach, snowballing from our existing cases, to reach workers in desperate need. Under the blanket Stay-Home Notice, construction workers were not even allowed to leave their accommodation; yet many had no provisions sent to them. Our amazing volunteers got a door-to-door food distribution project running. The workers we reached were in small groups: scattered over about 50 locations.

Besides aid distribution, at the same time, we continued operating our 24-hour helpline. The stories we heard over the phone were harrowing.

Every call is a reminder that the world we’ve built

is lavish and generous in its cruelty to the most vulnerable and marginalised. Newsreels of migrant workers’ living conditions don’t show the even worse structural vulnerabilities – poor access to healthcare and crushing recruitment debt – that expose them to being hardest hit by Covid-19.

The outpouring of generosity and compassion from kind souls during the crisis was heartwarming.

And it is crucial: because each of us is responsible for this world that we, all from the socioeconomic milieux of an international school, have benefited from. At the same time, re-engineering this massive economic machine of our world demands more than individual goodwill.

Amongst my happiest memories of SJII is History HL. Dr Underwood’s storytelling had a vivid concreteness and yet always a sense of the wider horizon: leading students to intuit the connections between the forces of societies’ continuity and change and individual experience. The most distinctive characteristic of Dr Underwood’s teaching is its sense of the humanity and pathos of History. History with him is not merely useful. It makes me more human by expanding my capacity for empathy.

Here are two things SJII taught me: Firstly, how to ask questions.

Secondly, that the value of one’s work is independent of its result or reward.

This has helped me to be more fully present to sharing the humbling, sacred humanity of the people I work with: a privilege that has given me more than I could ever hope to return.

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COMING FULL CIRCLE John Ooi, ‘09

Having graduated from SJII’s pioneer IBDP cohort back in 2009, I can certainly imagine that this short piece is going to be placed next to ones from amazing globetrotters who have moved and shook the world in their own ways. My path will surely come as a more modest one, but I am glad that I have taken it, nonetheless.

I personally think that holistic education is one that is supposed to mould you beyond the classroom, and I cannot help but feel that my experiences in SJII back in 2008-2009 had shaped me into the person that I am today. From learning from my teachers to becoming a teacher myself, from being a hostel student to becoming a hostel manager, from playing volleyball to coaching volleyball, from receiving a scholarship to helping with the scholarship process, and from participating in service activities to organising them for others, life seems to have gone full circle for me as I currently teach in a Lasallian school in Malaysia and organise service programs for youths.

My teachers have always been an inspiration to me, and I believe many of you (if not all) would agree that we have been abundantly blessed with good teachers at SJII. I was already certain that I wanted to be involved in education since I was in IB, but after pursuing my degree in Economics at The University of Queensland in Australia, I felt that I needed some life experience before becoming an educator so I decided to join Intel as a Finance Business Analyst. It was a good experience seeing how large multinationals function and how their processes have been streamlined for efficiency. Later, I also tried my hand at entrepreneurship by starting an escape room in my hometown as well as a hobby cafe! It was a vastly different experience working in such a small team and having to design processes myself! Haha. Nevertheless, they were all interesting

endeavours that I treasure and have brought with me into my teaching (Economics).

I am so blessed to have been given the opportunity to study at SJII and find my path in life. Having the opportunity to give back in this little way has certainly been the highlight of my journey so far in my career. There have surely been ups and downs, but I am enjoying my teaching despite the obvious weight that I have gained since my IBDP days!

Thank you to all the amazing teachers and staff at SJII for the holistic education that you worked so hard to offer. It seems that your efforts were not in vain after all (I hope)!

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From the less-trodden path Brian Theng, ‘12

Cicero is one of the better-remembered figures from Ancient Rome. He’s known for being a ‘new man’, that is, the first in his family to reach the consulship, the pinnacle of the political ladder; he’s a self-proclaimed saviour of Rome; and he’s studied for his stoic philosophy.

In some of his personal letters, we see a side of Cicero quite different from the one we’re most familiar with.

At times, when political competition seemed to come to a head and he was caught in the crossfire, he would return to a trope of despondency. Take for example this snippet from a letter to his pal Atticus, dated mid-July 59 BC: quid aliud? quid? hoc, opinor: certi sumus perisse omnia. quid enim ἀκκιζόμεθα tam diu?

What else? Let me see. This, I think: I’m sure everything’s ruined; why feign ignorance any longer?

Taken ‘as is’, Cicero here seems to strike a tone antonymous to our themes of hope and resilience. Of course, the whole story is far longer and much more complex. But there’s a hidden lesson embedded in his words: behind the strong man public persona is the more vulnerable – and more human – side of grand statesman. Rather than straightforwardly judge him as a defeatist in times of trial, we’re encouraged to dig deeper and understand his story, not so much to identify with him, but to see things from his perspective.

I’m back in Singapore now, continuing to figure out what it means to be human by going into the business of unity. I have just joined the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), which is the steward of the City of Good vision. I think that the non-profit or impact sector is another less-trodden path for us who are starting our careers, but I am sure that it is just as exciting and worthwhile as the previous one I was on. At the NVPC I will be working on an initiative which tries to bring together the public, private, and people sectors to tackle complex social issues.

Collaboration, a spirit of interdependence, and a belief in the power of unity, are all central to this enterprise.

In that vein, I’m hoping to connect with fellow alumni who are either in the impact sector or keen to know more about it. Please get in touch if you are! In the meantime, I hope you all remain well.

Digging deeper. In doing that over the last five years of studying the ancient Greek and Roman worlds (sometimes quite literally!), I’ve found many little gems – Cicero’s despondent tone included – which make us think a lot harder about what it means to be human. That, in the end, has been the most valuable thing about taking a less-trodden path in my studies.

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A PASSION FOR FOOD Muhammad Iylia bin Mohammad Shukor, ‘13

With my passion for food and cooking, I spent my school holidays joining cooking classes to hone and sharpen my skills. Though yet to earn the title of a chef from a renowned culinary school, it does pay to learn a trick or two from those who did.

Like many others, I take inspiration from renowned chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver. To this day, I still learn some new recipes from their online classes to help further improve my recipes.

After IB, I went to Australia to continue my studies.

Though there was an abundance of restaurants and cafes, it was pricey for a student. As such, I had to resort to cooking my own meals. Australia, being one of the front runners for healthy lifestyle has piqued my interest and thus, I started learning more about healthy food and dreamt of running a healthy food cafe of my own.

During my second year in university, my parents encouraged me to follow through with this idea and within a month, the paperwork and backend work were done to kick start our cafe. My journey began.

It was definitely a rocky start from searching for a clientele to hiring staff members. However, everything paid off when a staff member introduced his friend who was a gym trainer. From there, everything went full throttle.

A year later, I am a proud co-owner of “HEALTHYPLATZ”, situated at Upper Changi Road.

We provide meal prep and customized healthy meals that meet our clientele’s unique dining requirements and do collaborate with various gyms and studios such as Anytime Fitness gyms, Spartans Boxing Clubs, Sp+ (Pilates & Yoga studio), Free Dance movement and many more.

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KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON Laura Sekarputri, ‘13

Seven years have passed since I graduated from SJII. In high school, I was that music girl who would gladly perform at any concert and for any ensemble or band. So when I was accepted to my dream college at Berklee, I was so thrilled yet became too proud of myself; I ambitiously tried to graduate in 3 years with all the transferrable IB credits and successful testouts.

However, after suffering an unexpected depression in 2015 during my second semester in Boston, I hit rock bottom and had to take a gap year back home in Indonesia. Thankfully, with the unyielding support of my faithful family and friends, including Mrs. Susi Teo (SJII’s Vice Principal), I was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and tried to keep on keeping on. After 5 months of isolation, my days took a turn for the better as I also discovered the benefits of music to regulate and lift my moods.

Since then, I have a growing personal and professional interest in music therapy, which is the clinical use of music to achieve therapeutic goals and address medical needs of the patient(s). Upon recovering and returning back to Boston, I decided to major in music therapy (with a minor in Psychology), and since then have been serving different types of patients and connecting with them through music.

From premature babies, to children with special needs, to adults with mental health disorders, and the elderly in nursing homes, I have witnessed the power of music to improve their well-being as we make music together by singing and playing instruments accordingly.

Looking back, little did I know that back in high school, I had been utilizing music therapy skills, such as singing and playing guitar to oldies songs that were familiar for the residents at Lee Ah Moi nursing home, which was a weekly service trip (for IB’s CAS credits). In fact, I first came across the phrase of “music therapy” during my Challenge Week (IB’s required service trip) when my peers and I performed

songs for pediatric inpatients at a mental hospital in South Korea.

As a music therapist (who now works in geriatrics and psychiatric settings) and a music teacher for children in Boston schools, I often found myself centered and grounded by the ‘SMILES’ values that SJII taught me outside the four walls of the classroom. Experiencing the joy of serving “the last, the lost, and the least” through music has also been a rewarding and meaningful journey thus far.

Even during dark and trying times like the current pandemic, or when I failed to complete my internship and had to start over in another state, I have learned to keep on keeping on regardless of the circumstances. No self-blame nor self-guilt.

As for me, success is no longer achieving worldly goals quickly (remember my ambitious freshman goal?!), but touching others’ lives in a way that could have never been achieved otherwise.

As I’m writing this article, I am excited to share that my original song was recently chosen as the top 63 finalists (out of nearly 1000 submissions) in a nationwide songwriting competition for Indonesia’s unity (and independence day celebration). And even if I don’t make it to the final round, I will still work on producing that song with my friends and keep on keeping on.

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HOPE, RESILIENCE AND UNITY Samuel Mok, ‘14 When I previously wrote on Infinitas, I shared about the different ventures I took up as I pursued overseas education in the UK. Today, I can quite confidently say that I have been able to fulfil those roles to the best of my abilities.

Coming into 2020, there was that familiar sense of hope that many SJII alumni would have experienced: completing university education and celebrating many accomplishments with my course mates and lecturers. I was awarded my Geography degree upon graduation after what has been 3 challenging years of overseas education. Even so, I still came out of it with respectable grades, complemented by my active involvement as the department photographer, and I have also chosen to further my studies in Singapore for a Masters in Urban Planning at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) with the intention of pursuing a career in the transport sector.

However, celebrations and ceremonies have been indefinitely suspended due to the unforeseen pause button to most of our summer break and graduation plans; that is COVID-19. As the last stages of overseas education went virtual, I too found myself making the difficult and chaotic decision to return to Singapore to weather this biological storm. I was part of the first batches of people to serve Stay-Home-Notices (SHNs) in hotel, and while it was a rather premature return home, I was nonetheless thankful that I was in safe hands. I like to casually share that I am one of the rare few to have lived through 2 ‘lockdowns’ in the UK and Singapore, but these have taught me how to be resilient in the face of such adversities. The circuit breaker in Singapore has been an interesting one, because besides doing online exams and zoom meetings for the first time, I also experimented on some of the things millennials have done before like blog-posting.

Fast forward to July 2020 and an impromptu meeting with my fellow SJII batchmates for a photography walk allowed us to relate over this new normal we live in. As Singapore reopens and friends are allowed to meet up again, it is a welcome relief to know that we are no longer alone in the confines of our rooms, but in the spirit of unity, we must continue to remain vigilant and socially-responsible. Finally, I too look forward to the day the SJII alumni can return to campus and reminisce of the school that shaped our future careers and relationships.

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THE GERMAN DETOUR Vincentius Widiantoro, ‘16

“Unfortunately, you did not meet the language requirement to enroll to this program.”

These are the words that shattered my plan of studying General Engineering Science in Hamburg, Germany. I was devastated; reduced to a blabbering, sweating mess in front of the enrollment officer. I tried to ask, in my broken German, for alternative courses, extra language classes, anything that would allow me to be eventually accepted into the Technical University of Hamburg Harburg (TUHH), but to no avail.

This couldn’t be the end of my university dreams.

I’d taken numerous language classes during and after IB. I’d toiled for more than a whole year to learn German. I would not let my efforts go to waste. Thus I began to craft the “go-to-another-german-uni-toimprove-my-german” plan. I embraced the strange academic detour and from late 2017 to mid 2018, enrolled in Brandenburg Technical University (BTU) studying Environmental Resource Management while preparing myself to retake Testdaf, a German equivalent of TOEFL, so that I could enroll myself to TUHH again the following year. To that end, I dragged myself to the 8 am German class more times than I’d like to remember. Ultimately, this plan was a setback to achieving my plan. But I did not regret taking it.

Why? Not only because I eventually succeeded in bettering my German, learnt why spiders are good for the environment, or how to cook restaurant grade pasta but because I gained new experiences with friends from many social and economical backgrounds; things that helped me become a more open minded, independent and mature student.

Fast forward 2 years and I’m doing the program I set out to do in the beginning, albeit with a lot more social distancing and ear-straining to online classes

with sketchy audio quality; and I’m perfectly happy with that. I suppose if there’s any wisdom that can be drawn from my detour is that chasing your dream down the rabbit hole can lead to many unexpected experiences. The important thing, however, is how willing you are to be exposed to, adapt with and learn from these new experiences for the sake of clutching the said dream. But then again, hindsight is 20/20 no?

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THE GREATEST ADVENTURE IS WHAT LIES AHEAD Ryan Ong, ‘17 Following National Service, I joined what I thought would be my greatest adventure ever. I am referring to Semester at Sea (SAS), a study abroad program run

by Colorado State University. The program is held on a ship which serves as the floating campus for more than 500 students as we travel around the world, stopping in various unique and fascinating countries along the way.

these ended up being some of the most enjoyable things I did.

“The greatest adventure is what lies ahead”.

Prior to the voyage, I saw SAS as what would be perhaps one of the greatest experiences of my life.

But I was wrong. In one of the first classes, the professor shared this quote, taken from a song.

I realised that SAS was just a stepping stone for future, greater adventures, just like every other adventure in my life should be.

With that, I hope you will strive to seek your own adventures, as will I. As cliché as it sounds, it was an incredible and lifechanging experience, one which taught me many lessons, beyond an academic curriculum. In this short article, I hope to relay some of those lessons so that you too can find your own adventures.

Don’t just follow your passion. We hear it over and over: ‘follow your passion’, ‘do what you love’. But in reality, nobody has just one passion, and nobody knows all that they are passionate about. Therefore, we should try everything, even things we think we might not like. Having always been involved in sports but distant from the arts, I never thought I would take part in, let alone enjoy art-related activities. But on SAS, I ended up taking part in improv, learning the ukulele, and even writing a comedy skit. And

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THE YEAR OF TAKING ACTION May Wang, ‘19

After 60 days of lockdown – 60 days of baking pies, halfheartedly taking online courses, and pretending to exercise – I decided I had had enough. I wanted to do something that would help the people of my city, Cebu.

The coronavirus hit the Philippines hard. From 5.3% in January 2020, the national unemployment rate has skyrocketed to the ridiculously terrifying number of 17.7% in April (Rappler, 2020). Those might just look like numbers, but what that jump means is that since January, a whopping 4.9 million more people have lost their jobs. And Cebu, which has become the epicenter of the virus in the central section of the the country, is not doing okay. More people are losing their sources of income, which means that they do not have enough money to buy food and water. It has become clear that the threat of starvation is as deadly as the threat of contracting the virus, if not more so.

I felt like I wasn’t doing anything to help out. I can’t leave the house to volunteer, because my parents are both high-risk. And for the first month, I was really struggling to figure out how to use my time effectively. Everyone was baking, so I tried that, but my pies weren’t saving lives. I binge-watched ‘Tiger King’, and that was fun, but my theories about Carole Baskin weren’t going to solve the problems in Cebu’s crisis management. I felt useless, and honestly, I think this year, everyone to some extent can relate to that feeling. I felt like my time - time that, in a different 2020, I could have been spending on earning money, catching up with friends, reacquainting myself with the city I had left behind when I moved to Singapore - all my time was slipping away, and I needed to do something about it.

So, like any millennial, I took to Instagram (@mel_ wang_wang). A friend had referred me to a local

charity, the Happy Tummy Community, that raises funds to distribute food and hygiene packs to communities that have been impacted by the virus.

Before the virus, several of these communities had relied on tourism as a main source of livelihood; however, all the tourists have gone home, and these people are now jobless.

I asked for permission from the charity to promote them on my account, and the ‘Back Off, COVID! Art Project’ was born.

For the art project, I interview people about their most memorable quarantine stories, and then I make their stories into comics that I post daily on my account. If anyone wants to purchase a digital copy of a comic, they must do so by donating 350.00 PHP (10 SGD) to the charity. 350 PHP may not look like much, but it pays for one food pack! That is one less meal that an unemployed Cebuano/ Cebuana has to worry about, and that’s a huge blessing.

At first, I didn’t expect too much from my project.

I started it to encourage people to do their part in helping around their community, even if they couldn’t leave the house; at the same time, I wanted to show other artists, and perhaps people who don’t value art, that art is a powerful tool in making a change. But after a month of diligently making comics, I am happy to say that around 10,000 PHP (S$280) has been donated to the charity because of this project!

I wrote this article to show the SJII community that 2020 is not the year we give up hope. This is the year that we take action, even if we are under lockdown. My project may seem small in the grand scheme of things, but if I was able to help at least one person stave off their hunger, or make at least one person smile with my art, then in my eyes, this tiny project is a big success.

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ALUMNI REUNITE FOR A 90S THEMED PARTY Summer Reunion 2019

It was an evening filled with nostalgia that celebrated old (and new) friendships and golden memories went by. Last year’s Alumni Summer Reunion, which took place on 20th July at the Carlton Hotel, saw nearly 100 former students and staff reconnect as they chatted the evening away over dinner, drinks, and a 90s music playlist.

Last year’s Reunion was a special one, as we celebrated 10 cohorts that have graduated since our first batch in 2009. Mr Renato Rainone took a trip down memory lane as he gave a few words recounting his most unforgettable moments with all cohorts from 2009 to 2018. Brother Larry led the room with an opening prayer, followed by a welcome address by Mrs Maria Ciola, Director of Advancement, Communications and Admissions. She announced the release of the latest issue of Infinitas, the official magazine of the Alumni Association, as well as the launch of this community portal. She also encouraged everyone to come forward if they have any ideas for the Association or would like to be more involved with alumni activities in the future.

Ian Chai (‘09) then delivered his final address as President of the Alumni Association, stepping down from his post after four years. He moved to New York to further his studies.

Performances by alumni musicians Sarah Chong (‘10) and Ivan Abisha (‘18) who sang classic 90s hits such as “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” and “Don’t Look Back In Anger” respectively were well-received.

Other members of staff present at the Reunion were everyone’s favourite Aunty Glenis, Mrs Susi Teo, Mr Dan Brown, Mr Andrew Nurney (who returns to SJI International this year), Mr Tony Scheelbeek, Mr Greg Thorpe and Mr Lee Baker.

There was no shortage of banter and stories throughout the evening, as the alumni intermingled with one another taking turns recalling their days on campus and bringing one another up to speed on their careers and adventures since they last spoke.

Seeing the past, present and future come together at the Alumni Reunion was a powerful affirmation that friendships forged at SJI International truly never ends.

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ALUMNI VISITS 2019 Whether you come to speak to a class, attend the University Fair, or just come to visit, alumni are always welcome!

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CONNECT | ENGAGE | NETWORK

SJI International Alumni

@sjii_alumni

SJI International Alumni

alumni@ sji-international .com.sg

connect .sji-international .com.sg

sji-international .com.sg

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMES AT SJII For students at SJI International days are full of classes, service opportunities, sports, music and many other activities, but what happens after they graduate? Every student or faculty member who leaves SJI International becomes an automatic member of the alumni association. Here is your guide to some of the services and resources available to the wider alumni community.

DIRECTORY, PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING & MENTORING PORTAL SJI INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI WEBSITE The alumni website is the public facing gateway to all the offerings and links for the alumni programme. From the website, alumni can log in to the alumni directory and professional networking portal, find all print and online alumni publications and mailings, lists of upcoming events and reunion planning guidelines. www.sji-international.com. sg/community/alumniengagement

SJI INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOKS ONLINE If you’ve lost your yearbook, or want to check out another yearbook to look up former classmates or activities, you can find copies of almost all prior editions online.

Remaining issues coming soon.

In July 2019 we launched the password protected online portal community to enable alumni and graduating students to connect professionally and to look for or be a mentor.

SJI International Connect promised to be a significant resource for our global community to assist members as they look for guidance in academic and career choices. connect.sji-international .com.sg

INFINITAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE Infinitas is produced annually to include updates from SJI International, profiles of alumni around the world, and reunion and gathering highlights. This publication is available online, and in print to those who wish to receive it.

Through our email and online offerings we showcase accomplishments and activities that our alumni achieve and engage in after leaving SJII. Look for Alumni Spotlight features on the SJI International School website blog, through alumni social media channels, and also in the Infinitas Alumni Magazine.

With the recently launched class and country rep programme, look for ways your representatives will help keep you informed about events and activities and ways to engage with your class, with the school and with fellow schoolmates in your communities.

READ THE LATEST SJI INTERNATIONAL E-NEWS: ALUMNI CONNECTIONS The relaunched newsletter is emailed quarterly to alumni worldwide. It includes news from the school, upcoming alumni events, alumni spotlight features and links to alumni platforms and programmes to facilitate alumni connections and engagement.

VISITS, VOLUNTEERING AND OTHER REQUESTS

connect.sji-international .com.sg/resources

ALUMNI IN THE SPOTLIGHT

CLASS & COUNTRY REP PROGRAMME

REUNIONS, EVENT AND GATHERINGS Each year, alumni reunions, gatherings and events are hosted by SJI International alumni office, Counseling Office, class or regional groups around the world. Look for listings on the alumni website, the Alumni Connect portal, Facebook, view e-Newsletters and email invitations. Send us your details if you are planning something so we can advertise your events too!

We are happy to help in any way we can. Contact the Alumni Department to update your details, arrange a visit, request assistance with reunion planning, request a transcript, or for us to connect you with departments where you could volunteer, and engage with students through our alumni programmes.

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St. Joseph’s Institution International 490 Thomson Road, Singapore 298191 Tel: 6871 5202 (ES) ; 6353 9383 (HS) | Fax: 6871 5264 (ES) ; 6354 3103 (HS) www.sji-international.com.sg Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve St. Joseph’s Institution International Elementary School Ltd. CPE, Co. Reg & GST No. 201009321K (Period of Registration: 19 October 2018 to 18 October 2022) St. Joseph’s Institution International Ltd. Co. Reg & GST No. 200607833C

A School of the De La Salle Brothers