Never give up! My journey of lifelong learning and achievement!

Graduation isn't the end of learning.

Graduation is a milestone, not a destination!

Education is a lifelong journey, and today marks a significant milestone in mine as I proudly stand on stage at my graduation ceremony with University of Stirling and SIMGE (SIM Global Education) .

It’s been a fantastic three years of growth, learning, and incredible experiences, and I couldn’t have reached this moment without the support of amazing leaders, mentors, and friends who believed in me.

This journey wasn’t an easy one, but it’s a testament to the power of perseverance and never giving up, no matter how hard the path seems.

At 30, after working in the industry for ten years, I made a bold decision to return to school. It wasn’t easy stepping back into the classroom after a decade away, but with the unwavering support of my parents, I enrolled at SHATEC - The International Hotel & Tourism School (Singapore) and earned my diploma.

Through a sponsorship apprenticeship, I advanced my education further with Beacon International College , where I achieved three merits.

And today, I stand here with a

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Events Management,

looking back at a journey that was as challenging as it was rewarding.

To everyone who supported me – friends, family, mentors, and especially my Brand Builder Talents community – THANK YOU. It’s your belief in me that has carried me forward, even in my toughest moments.

Thank you to my friends for making your trip down to celebrate this moment with me, i really appreciated it deep in my heart.

It is always great to see you Aaron Tan, Ed.D. , a great role model when I was a SIM-LACC Talent Development Programme #careerconnect intern for a fantastic 9 month journey.

Christopher Tan has always been my best career coach, he taught me how to craft good captions when I was just an intern, he gave me advice and guided me and today I am able to create professional edm, captions, and content.

Thanks to Christopher Tan amazing workshops in school, I might Christina TAN Min Shyan who guided me on how to create my own sales pitch, how to speak with confidence, and how to handle cold callings.

Without her teachings wouldn't have me today, from workshops to friends, I am so grateful. She is one of the best leaders I met. So thankful to get to know her through my amazing journey in Sim.

Thank you Christina TAN Min Shyan and Lily Fung for the great words in the cards, it touched my heart. Thank you Christina TAN Min Shyan for preparing a gift, deeply appreciated. Will go read and explore. I believe it can help me reach the fullest potential in my life one day.

Last but not least, #simcareerconnect keeps great memories for me, it's a great 9 months of internship in marketing, and business development. The BEST memories I had as a student. If you are still a sim student, you don't want to miss this out.

To my classmate Brendan Tan , from Shatec. I want to express my gratitude for making time for this. And prepare this surprise gift with Rachel Ong and Andy Indrawaty . Thank you for your wishes, I deeply received and I am so touched. Thank you.

Thank you Keane Low , good friends are hard to find. Thanks for making time for my graduation. Great to see you. Knowing you through SIM Innovation and Networking Society (IONS) was a great pleasure, although it was short it was a great journey. Keep inspiring Keane. I believe you will outshine me even better than me one day.

Thank you See Leng Ng , for the great 3 years, being a class rep for 3 years has changed my life as a leader and the opportunity to always disturb you and ask questions from the class. it was my great pleasure to be able to know you. You are always the BEST.

So lucky me to be able to see you today 陈伟宇 , keep inspiring, I believe you will find your dream career soon.

Thank you #simcareerconnect for the amazing 9 months,

I made lots of friends, leaders, and mentors.

This is the place that has transformed me to where I stand today.

To Charles Tee Ed.D. , Thank you for teaching me 2 great modules in my year 1 and final year. It's always good to see you. A great role model, it's your teaching that transformed part of me into where I am today. Deeply appreciated. Thank You, Mr Charles.

Great to see you Zoe Sim , Congratulations.

To my Junior Amos Lau , from University of Stirling . Thanks for attending my graduation. Keep inspiring, it's my pleasure to mentor you on how to build #personalbranding, I want to say you are doing amazing. I believe you will outshine me one day. Keep going.

Thank you Jasmine Lim , for making time for my graduation ceremony. Great to see you today today with Christina TAN Min Shyan . Let's keep inspiring and uplift one another.

I am proud to be a SIMGE (SIM Global Education) student, it's a place I call home.

I made many friends, leaders, and mentors that have changed my life.

Thank you, SIM.

Thank you, Lily Fung for making your time available for this, great to see you today. A meaningful connection on LinkedIn turns friends. Let's keep inspiring.

Thank you to my mum for the graduation flowers.

Thank you to my Aunt for the graduation flowers.

Always great to see you Joey Tan , Thanks for being a friend, and my best student administration from shatec till my uni.

A great evening was well spent at the Stirling alumni event with Denise M. and Lee Keng HAY . Great to meet you.

To anyone reading this, here’s my message: Never give up.

It doesn’t matter how hard your journey feels, every small step forward is a step toward something greater. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, and every failure is a lesson.

Friendships forged in college can last a lifetime, and success is not measured by a degree alone. Life teaches us more than any classroom ever could, and the experiences we gain shape our future far beyond any diploma.

Here’s what I’ve learned along the way:

? Continuous Growth Never stop learning, even after graduation.

? Building Relationships Nurture the connections you’ve made during your academic years.

? Embracing Challenges Every obstacle is an opportunity to learn and improve.

? Giving Back Use your knowledge to inspire and help others.

? Staying Curious Approach life with the same eagerness you had on your first school day.

Success isn’t a straight line. It’s not about perfect grades, landing a dream job right away, or having your entire future planned out. It’s about embracing uncertainty, staying open to new experiences, and adapting as life presents new opportunities.

So, if you’re on a similar journey, remember: your degree is just the beginning. The real measure of success isn’t what you achieve for yourself, but the impact you make on others.

Keep moving forward, and never give up. You’re always one step closer to your dreams.