Having lived in the Philippines and been exposed to the slums and squatters, I still saw the resilience and joy of people living in simplicity. Since then, I have appreciated the small pleasures in life and the need for more community change. Despite their situation, people were still able to experience happiness. These communities deserved a good life for their positivity. It made me realise that my actions can go a long way toward helping others. Hence, I ambition to be a Social Worker, to serve vulnerable groups, and enable people to continue living with hope.Due to my passion for service, I enrolled on the Diploma in Community Development which equipped me to be innovative and utilise the existing assets and resources within a community strategically to bring about sustained social change. In addition, the course expanded my ability to see problems from different angles, developing my critical thinking in addressing societal issues. I was glad to put my learnings to good use when I was appointed the President of Leo Club in 2021. Despite the pandemic, our CCA outreached to 18 social service organisations, serving 4 different beneficiary groups. I overseed, and we completed 36 e-community service events with over 473 volunteers by the end of the academic year. I also desired to equally extend my service internationally to give back to other regions in need like my home in Tondo. Hence, I joined Beyond Singapore Cluster, which advocates for ASEAN Inclusivity and UN SDGs. In addition, I volunteered for Youth Expedition Project Online to Ladakh, India and ASEAN Youth Journal to expand my global knowledge about social issues. My diligence allowed me to participate in The Christieara Programme, which hones top all-rounded students in Ngee Ann Polytechnic since 2020. Furthermore, I was awarded multiple service awards, including the Harvard Book Prize, which recognises kind and caring individuals for their service to the community. All in all, my experiences nurtured me to be more empathetic, convicted and steadfast in my pursuits for a more inclusive and sustainable world. As a servant leader, I hope to continue being teachable and adaptable in diverse environments while influencing people well. Feel free to connect with me or contact me at itsjustjyl@gmail.com to find out how I might contribute or value to you or your organisation.
