Mdm Halimah Yacob, SUSS Chancellor
Dr Loo Choon Yong, SUSS Pro-Chancellor
Mrs Mildred Tan, SUSS Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Professor Tan Tai Yong, SUSS President
Faculty members, Distinguished Guests, Graduands and Families
1. Good afternoon.
2. I am honoured to celebrate this occasion with over 3,400 of you today.
3. Today is a proud moment. Some of you juggled your studies with full-time jobs, caregiving responsibilities, and family commitments. Others are here for your second degree. Your paths were not always easy, but you have pressed on, driven by the dedication to learn and desire to contribute.
4. This year's Convocation theme is 'Shaping Our Tomorrow'. As we celebrate, I would like to share three reflections on what this could mean for you.
Shaping Tomorrow by Learning and Adapting
5. First, we can shape our tomorrow by learning and adapting.
6. We live in a time of rapid change. We face significant challenges – an ageing population, questions of social mobility, sustainability, and the ongoing digital transformation of our economy and our society.
7. It is natural to feel anxious about what lies ahead. But I want to encourage you with this: even if your next steps lead you down unexpected paths, you have the ability to make the most of every opportunity. You can decide how to learn, relearn and adapt, no matter where you find yourself.
8. Many of you already know this first-hand. As a "young senior", Lily Chew knows there is no such thing as being too old to learn. She chose to take the plunge and pursue her Bachelor of General Studies to equip herself with diverse skills and adapt to different job scopes. Undeterred by differences in age, Lily worked closely with her Millennial and Gen Z classmates on group projects and assignments, embracing the experience as a chance to build connections across generations.
9. Today, Lily has gone on to pursue her postgraduate studies in Gerontology, driven by a desire to more deeply understand the realities of an ageing population and how she can contribute.
10. Lily's attitude and curiosity towards learning inspires us to embrace learning and adapting at every stage of our lives.
Shaping Tomorrow Through Service to Others
11. We can also shape our tomorrow through service to others. This is the spirit of the "We First" society we are building together.
12. When we think of the future, it is easy to ask, "what's in it for me?" I suggest we ask ourselves a different question, which is, "how can I contribute to something greater than myself?"
13. We must look out for one another. This is not just about being kind, but recognising that our individual efforts gain a deeper meaning when they serve a larger purpose.
14. Let me share Wong Si Hui's story. Her personal love for dragon boating took on new meaning when she joined the Outdoor Adventure Interest Group at SUSS. Si Hui explored many new kinds of sport that pushed her to test her own limits, but more importantly, showed her how sport could unite and bring people together.
15. This realisation transformed her approach. Instead of focusing solely on her own sporting journey, she decided to lead the Sports for Good initiative with Ray of Hope to welcome migrant workers into SUSS's dragon boating community. Sport became a powerful way to build connections between migrant workers and local Singaporeans.
16. Through this experience, Si Hui witnessed firsthand how sport can transform community. She has grown in confidence to lead and inspire others. She now aspires to pursue social work, carrying forward this spirit of service to support individuals and families in need.
Shaping Tomorrow Through Partnerships
17. Third, we can shape our tomorrow by partnering with others to make a greater impact.
18. We each have different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to share. As the issues society faces become increasingly complex and interconnected, we must come together and find new ways to help others thrive.
19.I’d like to share Logita Pradeep’s story. Logita is here with us today. She became a full-time caregiver while coping with the profound loss of two family members – all while pursuing her Master's degree at SUSS. What sustained her through this challenging period was the mentorship she received from Associate Lecturer Dr Sudha Mary George, who walked alongside her with unwavering support. When Logita struggled with her research, Dr George helped her grow in confidence and produce work she was proud of. Dr George’s support often went beyond the classroom, offering guidance and encouragement during her personal time. This enabled Logita to persevere and complete her degree.
20. Today, she is on her way to becoming a professional counsellor, where she will in turn be a pillar of support for her clients, working with them to tackle the challenges they face. This demonstrates the transformative power of partnership in turning adversity into purpose.
Your Contributions to Shaping Tomorrow
21. Today's graduates embody the many ways SUSS contributes to shaping tomorrow's Singapore.
- Graduates in early childhood education, gerontology, psychology, and social work will help to nurture our youngest citizens, care for our seniors with dignity, and build a more inclusive society.
- Others will design sustainable cities, drive innovation in business and management, and cultivate cross-cultural understanding through language and communication.
22. Being awarded your degree is not the end, but an exciting new beginning. I hope that you will carry with you not just skills and knowledge, but the determination to shape our tomorrow by learning and adapting, through service, and in partnership with others. That, more than any personal achievement, should be the measure of your success and our future Singapore.
23. Congratulations once again to the outstanding Class of 2025. You have earned this moment. May you continue to Dream, Dare, Do, and write the next chapter for Singapore – a Singapore where everyone has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
24. The future is in your capable hands. Shape it well.
Thank you.