Tan Hiong Hiang (Steric) and Wee Shiaw Wei (Joyce)
Tan Hiong Hiang (Steric):
I was born in the year 1949, into a family of 2 l Chinese migrant parents. Times were very hard as my family found it hard to make ends meet. As the eldest son, I soon had to take on responsibility to look after my 6 younger siblings, at a very young age. This also taught me to be resourceful and independent.
Even though I was only in Primary school, I had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of bringing in food and income for my family. I remembered that I was made to borrow from my neighbours, gather food scraps from the wholesale markets and even dig for tapioca on the nearby Pearls Hill! We were poor, but we were hopeful of a brighter future as we saw Singapore's progress.
As I got older, I started to juggle between my studies and acquiring more skills through odd jobs so that I can earn more income. However, I was unable to hold on to a decent paying job after my GCE O Levels and decided to enlist myself for National Service. Even though life was difficult, there was always someone to give me a helping hand whenever I needed it. This inspired me to start volunteering and contribute back to the society that helped me.
After National Service, I joined an engineering company as an apprentice. Impressed by my skills and level of passion for the job at such a young age, one of my clients offered me the opportunity for a paid training programme in Germany for 1 year. I jumped at this opportunity of my lifetime to see the world and also upskill myself. This proved to be a turning point in my life as my career trajectory was boosted as I was offered better roles and prospects after I came back, despite my education background.
I have since retired but I have not forgotten the opportunities that society has given me. I am now leading a fulfilled retiree life, contributing back to the community as a Smart Nation Ambassador to fellow seniors, passing on the skills and craft that I had gained over the years.
Wee Shiaw Wei (Joyce):
I was born in 1979 into a family of 5. According to the Chinese lunar cycle, 1979 was the Year of Goat - an animal noted for sure-footedness, tenacity, and the ability to survive and prosper amidst a harsh environment. Times were hard when my family stayed in a rented room and could not even afford a colour television in the early 80s. As the eldest daughter, I was taught to be thrifty, resourceful, and independent. At a young age, I had to help with the household chores and looking after my siblings.
In many ways, Singapore displayed many of these goat-like characteristics. The 70s - 80s could be summarised as a "future of uncertainties" in survival since its independent day in 1965. Survival is thus the prime consideration. The theme that the world does not owe the Singaporean a living. We must work hard for a livelihood. I remembered my parents working hard as a tailor and seamstress who later turned into a fashion business. My parents were poor, but they worked hard and progressed in running their own fashion and hairdressing business at Havelock Road.
I was given the opportunity to further my studies in Singapore Polytechnic - Maritime Transportation and was selected as the only female candidate out of 5 successful vacancies in 1997 industrial training programme. It is an eye-opening experience to see the world and sail as a training cadet in an oil tanker. After graduation from the polytechnic, my parents gave me the opportunity to further my studies in Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. I started my first job as a mobile banker with the local bank after returning to Singapore in 2006. I moved on to work for the Government statutory board as a prosecutor for about 2 years before returning to the banking industry.
I started working in the education industry in 2014 after I got married and gave birth to the "JK boys". This is a new chapter of my life being able to work with students from all walks of life furthering their studies in university. This is a very meaningful career to be involved in students' lifelong education journey.
I have taken a year of No-Pay-Leave in 2021 to pursue a NITEC certificate in Services Hair Fashion & Design before returning to work again in 2022. I was thankful to my management who allowed me to take a break from work to be able to do this.
“Taken from the community, giving back to the community." It is a joy to be able to provide hair services at the Nursing Homes or any community volunteering services now. I plan to teach basic hair cutting classes at the community centres when I retire in the future.
