30 Jan 26 | Student Leadership, Leadership & Development
From Curiosity to Confidence: How Education Shaped Damien’s Journey
Through his studies, Damien came to realise that education is not about starting with the “right” answers, but about persistence, adaptability, and trusting the process. While the workload and project demands were challenging, effective time management and a habit of critically reviewing his own work allowed him to find balance and purpose in his academic journey. More importantly, he learnt to approach challenges with resilience rather than pressure.
Beyond the classroom, Damien’s university experience was deeply enriched by his involvement in student life. From being part of SIM Dreamwerkz, to serving on the SIM–UOL Computer Science Student Council and eventually taking on the role of Vice President, his leadership experiences extended his learning far beyond lectures and tutorials. His time as an intern, and later a team member under the Student Life Department, organising schoolwide events, further reinforced the importance of ownership, teamwork, and thoughtful decision-making.
These experiences highlighted a key lesson: university life is not defined solely by grades, but by learning to work with people each bringing different perspectives, ideas, and opinions to the table. Through collaboration and leadership, Damien developed essential soft skills such as communication, conflict management, and emotional awareness skills he found to be just as critical as technical expertise.
Today, Damien has graduated with First Class Honours and has stepped confidently into the working world in a full-time role with Cognizant. Reflecting on his journey, he remains grateful for the experiences that shaped his growth over the past three years of experiences that built his professionalism, confidence, and commitment to lifelong learning.
While acknowledging that there will always be others who may excel in specific areas, Damien believes that what truly matters is the willingness to keep improving, challenge oneself, and grow sustainably without losing sight of well-being.
His journey serves as an inspiring reminder that education is not just about where you begin, but how you grow along the way.
19 Oct 25 | All, World of Potential, Student Leadership, Leadership & Development
OCIP Sabah 2025: Beyond Borders, Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders
From 3 to 11 October 2025, eight SIM students travelled to Sabah under the guidance of the Student Life team as part of the Overseas Community Involvement Project (OCIP).
Through the BEST (Be English Speaker Today) programme, the volunteers conducted interactive English lessons at rural schools, using games, storytelling, and simple conversations to help students build confidence in speaking English. Over six days, the team reached more than 200 students across seven schools.
Beyond the classrooms, the experience challenged volunteers to adapt to unfamiliar environments, work closely as a team, and support one another through long days and limited resources. These moments helped shape their resilience, empathy, and leadership skills.
OCIP Sabah showed that learning does not only happen in classrooms. Through service, students discovered how much they could grow when they stepped beyond borders.
02 Sep 25 | All, Student Leadership
SLAAN 2025: Celebrating Student Excellence and Leadership
On 9 July 2025, the SIM Student Development team proudly hosted the annual Student Leaders’ Awards & Appreciation Night (SLAAN) at the SIM Multi-Purpose Hall — an evening dedicated to celebrating their remarkable contributions to student life.
This year’s SLAAN recognised students who have gone above and beyond in leading clubs, mentoring peers, volunteering, and building a vibrant and inclusive campus community. Whether through event planning or peer support, their efforts have left a lasting impact on campus life.
The celebration was elevated by performances from Esprimere Band, who performed “The Climb” and “Come Inside of My Heart,” and the SIM Guitar and Strings Ensemble, who presented “Beauty and the Beast” and “Fly Me to the Moon.”
Both groups captivated the audience with their heartfelt renditions.
The evening was graced by Mr David Chua, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Council (NYC), who delivered an inspiring keynote on the power of youth leadership.
🎓 Awards Presented at SLAAN 2025:
- 🏅 Impetus Award
- 🌟 Impact Award
- 🤝 Peer Mentoring Award
- 📝 Certificate of Appreciation
- 🏆 Excellence Award
- ✨ Helm Award
- 🎉 Outstanding Event Award
These awards celebrate excellence across leadership, initiative, mentorship, and service — and reflect the heart, energy, and dedication our students bring to the SIM community.
“My biggest takeaway is to accept that you might not know all the answers. Your members may come to you for guidance and you are expected to be a rock. This can distort you to thinking that you are always right and only your way works.
Do not let that perception creep in, always be humble and open to new opinions and experiences.”
– Jees Adams, President of RMITSC
“Being in SIMAA helped me to hone my interpersonal skills by giving me the chance to be a part of a team and learn how to communicate effectively……I started to learn how to create teams and how to manage them so that we work as one functioning body to execute our goals.”
– Trevor Tan, President of Accounting Association
🌟 Congratulations to all awardees!
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Your passion, resilience, and commitment continue to uplift and inspire those around you. As SIM continues to empower future-ready leaders, may your stories of service and leadership spark even more students to step forward and make a difference.
18 Aug 25 | Student Leadership, Leadership & Development
Beginning the Leadership Journey at EQuip Leadership and Training Camp
Stepping into a student leadership role marks the start of an exciting journey filled with opportunities, responsibilities, and personal growth. To support newly appointed student leaders as they begin this chapter, the Student Life team organised the EQuip Leadership and Training Camp 2025, held on 15 and 16 August 2025.
The two-day camp brought together student leaders from various CCA clusters, creating a collaborative environment where participants could learn from one another while developing key leadership skills. Through a series of interactive workshops, group discussions, and hands-on activities, participants explored important topics such as self-awareness, people management, and effective communication.
A central focus of the camp was encouraging leaders to reflect on their individual leadership styles, decision-making approaches, and ways of working with their committees. These reflective sessions helped participants gain a clearer understanding of their strengths and areas for growth, equipping them with the confidence needed to lead their respective clubs and organisations.
Beyond developing leadership competencies, the camp also emphasised the importance of teamwork, collaboration, and well-being. By working closely with fellow student leaders, participants built meaningful connections across different CCAs and developed a stronger sense of community within the student leadership network.
As part of Student Life’s ongoing leadership development initiatives, the EQuip Leadership and Training Camp continues to provide student leaders with valuable tools, practical experiences, and a supportive environment to grow and thrive. The camp serves as a strong starting point for leaders to build the skills and mindset needed to positively impact their clubs, peers, and the wider student community.
11 Jul 25 | All, Student Leadership, Leadership & Development
In June 2025, SIM students took part in the H3 Vietnam Project under the Overseas Community Involvement Programme (OCIP). The trip was held in Tra Vinh, a village near Ho Chi Minh, and organised by Transformer, a subcommittee under the University of London Student Representative Club. Over two weeks, the team worked with the local community through teaching, cultural exchange, and construction.
Sharing Cultures in the Classroom
During lessons, students shared about Singapore’s heritage and food, such as Sultan Mosque, Chicken Rice and Laksa.
They also introduced traditional childhood games like five stones, colour sticks and country eraser. These simple activities helped to break the ice, and both groups enjoyed learning and laughing together.
Building the outdoor library space
Outside of the classroom, the team focused on building an outdoor library space. Tasks included laying concrete flooring, putting up walls and planting grass. The hot weather made the work challenging, but everyone supported one another and kept going. Completing the library was a proud moment for the team, knowing that it will be a useful space for the community. This trip was more than just volunteering. Through teaching and construction, students gained a better understanding of cross-cultural teamwork and how education can support community growth. Living among the locals also taught important lessons about humility, adaptability and respect. Even small contributions, when done with sincerity, can leave a lasting impact.
27 May 25 | All, World of Potential, Student Leadership, Leadership & Development
A Day to Remember: The Junior Olympics!
This article was written by Bryden Chew, the In-Charge (IC) of The Junior Olympics Event and a member of the Community Involvement team representing the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Student Council.
The Junior Olympics, a sports day event, was specially curated for children from underprivileged backgrounds by the RMIT Student Council. A part of RMIT Student Council’s commitment is to give back to the community, hence the event was more than just a recreational activity. The initiative aimed to create joyful memories, foster confidence and ensure that every child felt valued and supported.
Purpose: Sports as a Catalyst for Joy and Confidence
The idea behind the Junior Olympics was to give the children the chance to play and make new friends. We worked closely with a third-party partner, The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, to bring this vision to life and design a full day of sport activities, prizes and meaningful interaction. We believe that sports is a powerful tool to promote inclusion and teamwork. Many of the children may not have regular access to such opportunities, so giving them a day to shine meant more than we could have imagined.
Lasting Impact
For many children, this was their first experience participating in a sports event. Some expressed how it made them feel like they belonged, while parents and social workers shared how meaningful the event was in fostering inclusion and joy. It served as a powerful reminder that a few hours of thoughtfully planned fun can leave behind lasting, positive memories.
Overcoming Challenges: Driving Participation and Engagement
As with any initiative, the Junior Olympics encountered its share of challenges, particularly in garnering student involvement amidst a busy school calendar filled with competing events. The organising team adopted a multifaceted approach to raise awareness and sustain engagement. The organising team utilised social media campaigns, hosted smaller promotional activities and shared real stories to showcase the significance of the event. These strategies helped build awareness and encourage support across the school.
Improving the Process
While the Junior Olympics was a success, there are areas for improvement. Engaging stakeholders earlier and securing resources in advance would help streamline planning. Gathering feedback from participants and volunteers can also guide future enhancements.
Moving forward, using digital tools for coordination and expanding student outreach through class visits and peer promotion can boost participation and efficiency. These steps will help make future campaigns even more impactful and well-organised.
Looking Ahead
The success of the Junior Olympics has set the foundation for future initiatives. There are plans to make this an annual event, involving more student volunteers, community partners and sponsors. The long term goal is to continue fostering inclusion and empowerment for children who may otherwise be overlooked.
