Mrs Mohan and Jing Xuan
Mrs Mohan:
I lost both my parents and grew up in a very difficult environment. Both my parents died when I was below 15 and still in school. I had 5 other siblings. All my learning process was through trial and error. Life was extremely daunting taking care of my younger siblings, attending school and the household chores. As soon as I left school, I took up my first job as a relief Teacher, did some odd jobs, and finally was appointed in the Civil Service as a clerk. Since then, I have served from 1970 to mid-2020.
While our parents were around, we failed to appreciate their presence and love. During our growing age we lacked money and to be very frugal. We could never afford more than 2 clothes to wear, our school shoes were sometimes worn and had holes. While in Secondary school I could not afford bus fare and walked to school. I was a super good athlete and school badminton player but was unable to pursue both my passions as the elder daughter had to look after my younger siblings and do the complete household chores.
In my late 20s, through a neighbour, I joined Teck Ghee CC as a member of the Residents Committee and the Women Executive Committee and was leading the secretariat post. Since then, there was no turning back. I went from a member in the various committees and was an office bearer in most of the committees and now still serve as the Vice Chairman of Pasir Ris Central RN Zone 2. I feel it’s a golden opportunity to still serve and be of service now which is very exciting and rewarding.
The volunteers play a key role in getting people together and organising programmes whether it’s cultural, social, or educational. My service as a volunteer gives me the opportunity to learn and work as a team and also enhanced my leadership qualities. In some cases, the activities also offered scope for social interactions and even finding life partners. Volunteering was a way of life for me as we were spending out time for a good cause. This left me energetic, active, and fit. Our work as a volunteer makes a difference in many people’s lives.
We come from diverse backgrounds and our main purpose is to bring people together in fostering a sense of unity and shared values to build a multicultural society for all to live in a harmonious society. In our multicultural society, we need to understand everyone’s culture so that we could assimilate others into a society. The volunteering journey leads to personal trust, friendship and positive energy that can help and motivate others to join in this role.
Jing Xuan:
Growing up, I’ve had a happy childhood, living with my parents. Because I am the only child, I have always loved animals and would spend my free time playing with the neighbour’s cats and my neighbour’s dog, Mantou. As I grew older, my parents finally entrusted me with pets of my own. Today, I am the proud owner of 3 rabbits, Le Le, Ginger, and Momo.
In my free time, I enjoy basking and trying out new recipes. Singapore’s plethora of cultures has allowed me to try out different food, from Nonya Kuehs to Indian Sweetbreads. Once, to find the Spekkoek spice needed for the Lapis cake I was baking, I found myself venturing into new places like Mustafa Centre. Regrettably, the Lapis cake did not turn out well.
Having spent most of my life living in the heartlands, I’ve come to appreciate the hustle and bustle of the vicinity. I enjoy waking up in the morning for a run in the park opposite my house before attending school, which is also in the neighbourhood, then grabbing lunch with my friends after school before parting ways to our respective homes.
Just like many other young people my age, my life revolves around school, friends, and home. However, during the holidays, I’ve been working at a coffee shop, selling drinks and serving customers. I enjoy working there very much. Maybe I’ll be a cafe owner of my own one day…
Although I enjoy my life here in Singapore very much, I know that the pandemic has been difficult and taxing for many. However, I believe that together, we can do it.
