His whimsical drawings that adorn his desk transports one to a different realm, one reminiscent of the innocence of childhood.

A published illustrator of five books for children, the 40-year-old is also a fortnightly columnist for local Chinese newspaper Lian He Zao Bao.

His picture book, Secret Garden of Little Happiness, is a collection of over a hundred illustrations accumulated through the years. Grouped into nine themes, his drawings seek to uncover the true meaning of happiness in Lee’s ‘secret garden’.

“To me, my secret garden is my own blog. A diary or a blog is a place where I can express myself, so it’s like I’m inviting all my readers into my secret garden,” says Mr Lee.

The illustrator used to write in dairies, but his private outlet of self-expression has since gone online on his blog, KF’s Drawing Room, where he posts his illustrations regularly.

Back when he set up his first blog in year 2000, he saw it mainly as a writing platform. This lasted until his lecturing colleagues told him that there was a way to share his drawings online. That marked the start of his sojourn in digital art.

Mr Lee started with using Paint, the default Microsoft graphics painting software. He struggled creating images with a mouse, but progressed to using a graphics tablet later on. Since then, he has experimented with different tools, techniques and effects to replicate hand-drawn artwork.

“A common thinking about digital artwork is that is lacks the human touch,” he says.

“I have to keep exploring different ways to use (computer) tools to make my work seem less digital as possible.”

Mr Lee graduated from National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Studies, and his mastery of the language landed him job as a commercial copywriter in Mediacorp Radio for ten years.

He has just recently returned from completing his Masters in children’s book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom.

The dedicated lecturer now holds workshops at the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language and various primary schools to promote the appreciation of picture books.

Perhaps this best way to reward his efforts can be seen in an A3-sized card sitting in a corner of his office. Made by some primary school students from his workshops, the card opens to an array of stars pasted neatly in rows.

Scrawled in messy child-like handwriting, one of the stars read, “Ah Guo, you draw so well!”

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It is a heart-wrenching story of one young man’s struggles with debts and loan sharks that inspired the three-minute film that has now been shortlisted for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation’s global film competition, Faith Shorts 2011.

It is also a heartwarming testimony of brotherly love and the grace of God.

“Debts” is Broderick Sim’s gift of love to his elder brother, Brockwell Sim, 22, and also an inspirational story to youths that hope is never lost, even in the face of adversity.

It was not long before the second-year Digital Visual Effects student heard about the competition, he felt it was the right time to make his own movie and share his brother’s truly inspiring story.

After deciding to enter the competition, Broderick had only a week to work on his film. Armed with a camera loaned from school, the budding filmmaker soon realised he did not have enough footage for a three minute film.

However, this was quickly resolved with the help of typography instead.

In the short film starring Mr Sim himself, the film explores the role faith plays in the most turbulent of times.

“My film depicts how God is good to people even when they do no good. It was made as a testimony of how God comes to the rescue when you need Him most,” says Broderick.

Broderick only found out about his brother’s debts last year although he had been knee-deep in debt for about four years.

It was a secret shared only with his mother who wished to keep the rest of the family free from worry.

“When the debts snowballed, my mother had several bad asthma attacks as she was always very worried about my brother,” says Broderick.

His elder brother Brockwell, a hawker, had been smoking, drinking and gambling from young.

Things took a turn for the worse when he owed multiple loan sharks hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Although ideas of suicide crossed Brockwell’s mind, the thought of his family stopped him.

The wake-up call for Brockwell came in the form of a sermon by a pastor of a mega church here, who struck Brockwell with the line, “when you see Jesus in His grace, He sees you in your faith”.

Today, most of the debts have been settled and Brockwell is financially stable and happily married with a child while expecting another.

During the process of making this film, the two brothers grew closer, adding a new depth to their relationship. In fact, the two brothers co-scripted the film with each other.

“In the making of this film, the best takeaway for me was the chance to get to know my brother better,” says Broderick, feeling blessed to have worked on this film with no one less, but his own brother.

Launched in May 2008, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation (TBFF) was founded by Britian’s former Prime Minister, Rt Hon Tony Blair. The organization aims to foster a mutual respect and understanding amongst the world’s major religions through education and dialogue. Faith Shorts 2011 is one of the organisation’s education projects created to promote faith. The winners of the competition will be announced during the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (BAFTA) in December.

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After hearing him give a class presentation, Toastmaster’s Club president Fauzi Bin Bajuri, 17, thought Caleb Ee had great public speaking potential.

The second-year Business Studies student then urged his friend to take part in Speechcraft 2011, a public speaking competition jointly organised by the School of Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) and the Toastmaster’s Club.

It was just two weeks before the qualifying rounds when Caleb dropped out.

Feeling bad about breaking his promise, the 17-year-old decided to attend the qualifying round, a choice he does not regret.

“I heard a speech about fear,” the 17-year-old recalls, “The message was that when you’re afraid of something, instead of backing off, just go for it.”

The speech inspired Caleb and he leapt to the registration booth to sign up once again. By that time, he only had fifteen minutes to conjure up a speech and the idea came in the form of ‘Linkativity’, a word that was made up by Barney Stintson from his favourite sitcom, How I Met Your Mother.

“To me [Linkativity] means that everything can relate to anything,” he says, “The message I wanted to send out was that no matter how mundane life got, when you look at things from a different perspective, you might realise something unexpected.”

“I was really proud and impressed by Caleb’s performance that day,” says Fauzi, “He really nailed it.”

Caleb’s bravado earned him a thumbs-up to the semi-finals but he will never let himself forget that sense of satisfaction.

“To whoever feels that they [cannot] conquer their inner demons… look to [your] friends, because friends will give you the support you need.”

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You may find the three aunties here familiar. They are the friendly faces you see at Makan Place, Munch and Co-op who go the extra mile to make you smile.

The Playful One

You see her making your kopi, and she greets you with a wide smile even with the heavy load of hot water to tend to. She is none other than the bubbly 48-year-old, Ms Karen Lee, and she has been serving drinks for two years at Makan Place.

When you greet her and ask about her day, she replies in the wittiest, funniest ways. Most days, she laughs, “I see handsome boy like you, I okay.”

When asked about her friendly demeanour she says, “Students make me happy and working here cannot garang (fierce) one, as my job is to serve even though they are just students.”

She confesses to having problems at home, but coming to work and meeting students bring her joy. That is the reason she comes back to work every day, serving with a smile and nothing less.

Ms Lee knows that her nature to make small talk and smile enables her to connect on a more personal level, which she feels is important to bringing in customers.

Of course the humorous lady had to say that she wanted to wear a cheongsam for a “photoshoot” for this article, and
she made it clear that during the “photoshoot”, nobody should be prettier than her. When asked where her cheongsam is from, she laughs, “My cheongsam hasn’t arrived from China. It takes a lot of gong fu (skilled craftsmanship) to make.”

The Motherly Figure

You never know what to expect when you ask a person the obligatory ‘How are you?’ but for Ms Rosalyn Low, 53, who has been here for almost a year, she will always reply, “still in one piece.”

The Block 82 Co-op lady meets students who attend lectures at halls 75 to 79 every day when they patronise her Co-op for their fix of snacks and drinks.

Ms Low comments that NP students’ good attitude makes her happy working here. She says, “The students here are well-behaved, frankly speaking, and very friendly.”

“A number of students greet me and ask about my mood and I am happy that they do that,”
says Ms Low.

She has two children, aged 20 and 21. “I treat each student who comes here as my kid, no matter how naughty they are.”

When told about students praising her for her nice and polite demeanour, she questions, “You mean I very nice?”

After her stint as a supervisor in a gift shop, she realised that NP students are friendlier as compared to customers outside.

“I have been in this line before and I have met with nastier customers… NP has a very good environment.”

The Cheerful One

With her cool, red hair and ever infectious voice and laughter, you cannot miss Ms Elyn Koh, 37 years old.

She started working at Canteen 3 three years ago, and is now in-charge of the drinks stall at Munch.

If you were to go through a bad day in school, talking to Ms Koh would instantly cheer you up. She may be older in years but her youthful outlook on life makes her a great start to your day.

On NP students, she says, “They are very courteous, love to joke around and are friendly.”

“I always smile to the customer because I know my customer will feel happy,” says Ms Koh. She feels that “with an angry face, people won’t feel nice.”

Ms Koh likes students who strike conversations with her. She says, “Some students can talk to me and I feel good.”

Simple greetings touch her heart. She is glad that students bother about her and treat her differently.

When told that her youthful spirit allows students to connect with her at a personal level, she replies shyly, “No, I am old already, no more young.”

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Mrs Charan Kaur, BA, More than 30 years in NP

Mrs Kaur had her first taste of teaching when she started out in a junior college after graduation. Since then, she fell in love with her job and decided to pursue it as a career.

She says, “[Every year] there are different kinds of students of newer generations that we have to adapt to. You need to adjust your teaching style too. Sometimes, your students are not so attentive so you have to get them to listen and get involved, but it’s still a joy teaching them!”

Mrs Yeoh-Tan Meoh Heah, SoE, 30 years in NP

When Mrs Yeoh was an NP student back in 1974, she never thought that she would remain in the polytechnic years later as a lecturer. “This is my first job, and my last job,” says Mrs Yeoh.

Constantly touted as a “motherly figure”, Mrs Yeoh often devotes her time as a mentor to her students. “Sometimes, my students even say “Ma’am, don’t be so naggy”,” she says.

Upon going into retirement next year, Mrs Yeoh is open to the aspect of coming back to NP to teach as an adjunct lecturer.
She said, “I would still be in NP, even though I’m retired.”

Mr Fabian Ng , ICT, Over 20 year s in NP

A challenge was the first thing Mr Ng was up for when he joined NP. “When I joined the Centre for Computer Studies [in NP], we had to come up with new curriculums. It was a new challenge, and a good opportunity,” says Mr Ng.

He believes that NP has provided a “leeway for lecturers to develop themselves.”

He adds, “Nothing beats the time when I would sit there during graduation and see this guy graduating, and I’d say, “Hey, you know, this is probably part of my work.” That’s probably one of the biggest joys I experience as a lecturer.”

Mr Lee Tuck Seng, IS , 34 years in NP

Mr Lee Tuck Seng’s interest in teaching started back in his secondary school days, where the math and science whiz did relief teaching.

“I got all these feelings of satisfaction, and decided to make it (teaching) a career,” says Mr Lee. The passionate IS lecturer kick-started his career in July 1977, when he applied for a job in NP, which was then known as Ngee Ann Tertiary College (NATA).

Mr Lee states how his journey in NP has been divided into three parts. He says, “The first 13 years were spent in the classroom. The next 17 years were spent in admin, while the next 4 years (till today) is spent back in the classroom.”

Dr Wayne Lee Forday, Deputy Director of LSCT. 21 years in NP

LSCT’s Deputy Director, Dr Wayne Lee Forday, is no stranger to all things science, as he has taught an impressive line up of modules like cell biology, microbiology, biochemical engineering, biochemistry, among a myriad of other subjects throughout his 21 years in NP.

His greatest takeaway as a lecturer over his years is the sense of achievement. “It’s very fulfilling. Every days a different day as you’re dealing with humans. It’s very mentally stimulating. It’s a very enjoyable job. It’s the kind of job you would want to take,”
says Dr Lee.

Mr Peter Yeo Eng Hwee, FMS , 21 year s in NP

More than 20 years ago, Mr Yeo decided to take the road less travelled and studied communications after realising that digital art could be a valuable skill for Singaporeans. After working for a short while, his passion took him to become a lecturer in the Diploma in Film, Sound & Video (FSV) course in NP.

For Mr Yeo, his interaction and engaging discussions with his students are the driving forces behind his long service in NP. He says, “Over these years I’ve been building that kind of bond with them and there’s a momentum that keeps me going.”

Dr Phang Chiew Hun, Director of HS, 21 years in NP

This “accidental lecturer” says it was not a deliberate effort to choose teaching as a career. The ex-housewife only signed up for the job because it was near her home and there was a job opening. Opportunely, her venture into this field proved to have worked to her advantage as she is now the director of the School of Health Sciences (HS).

“Student work has also been exciting because students have grown in terms of their profile. [For me, it’s] not so much of the teaching part but nurturing them and growing them into who they want to be, so there are a lot of exciting opportunities as a lecturer.”

Mr Patrick Cheng Chuen Sim, HMS, 13 years in NP

After the addition of the School of Humanities & Social Sciences (HMS) in 2005, Mr Cheng was transferred from the School of Film and Media Studies (FMS) and he is now the course manager for Chinese Studies (CHS).

He says, “I like teaching, especially students at the age of 16 to 18, because it’s the time when they need directions.”

“With every batch of students, I learn something new. When I first started teaching there was no Facebook or Twitter. Over the years, I’ve learnt that the students are savvier than me in terms of using technology. It is like a mutual trade, we teach each other!”

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#1 A Whole New Ball Game

Chuang Chin Tuan, 24, tinkered with computers in NP. These days, however, the Internetworking & Communications graduate tackles psychology papers instead.

Chin Tuan graduated with GPA of 3.17 and applied for a place in Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) but was rejected.

He enrolled in the Singapore Institute of Management Global Education’s (SIM-GE) Bachelor of Arts double major programme, calling it “a pursuit of passion”.

#2 Working to Get an Edge

With a cumulative GPA of 3.30, Lim Bei Ling, a Media & Communication graduate from Singapore Polytechnic applied for a place at NTU and at the National University of Singapore (NUS), but did not make it.

Her plan? To gain relevant work experience to enhance her application. “With my experience (at the Media Development Authority), I hope I’ll be successful the next time round,” she says.

#3 Money Woes Put Further Studies on Hold

For Shirley Tarigan, 21, graduating last August with a cumulative GPA of 2.2 left her with limited options and the engineering student has been working ever since.

She cannot take up a bank loan to finance her tertiary studies privately as she has to pay for her NP Study Loan.

Says Shirley, “Actually, I’ve got no plans for the future, just that I know no matter what, I need to further [my] studies when I have the money, because my pay will depend on my qualifications.”

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Some students have been compelled to live their dreams and aspirations with some of NP’s niche diplomas that cater to courses in unique fields. With choices that range from the performing arts to bioscience in the veterinary field, the plethora of options provides breathing space for those who wish to track the untrodden path.

Embarking on the Artistic Road

For Wong Li Fen Shayne, 18, an Arts Business Management (ABM) student , choosing the course proved to be an easy task as she has always had an interest in dance and music performance.

Unlike conventional courses, the second-year student learns Arts History, and elements of photography and design. “We get to watch concerts and musicals for our assignments. We’ve seen The Lion King this year,” says Shayne.

While Shayne had the option of joining other arts courses in specialised institutions like Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), the second-year ABM student decided to join this course for the greater career pathways it can lead to. “This course allows me to fall back on the basic business modules, so I won’t have to do purely arts in the future.”

Foraying into the Forest

On the other end of the spectrum, students are also opting for a career path in plants. For instance, Tan Qin Le, a Landscape Design & Horticulture student, chose the course to fuel her love for plants.

“I decided to take up this course as it was a one-of-a-kind course in NP. I was more interested in designing landscape,” says the first-year student.

The 17-yearold particularly enjoys the fact that she gets to grow her own plants in a laboratory, as well as the fact that she learns how to use the designing software, Adobe Photoshop to aid her in landscape design.

Upon graduating with her diploma, Qin Le has decided to pursue the same field of study in a university, with hopes of becoming an arborist, a professional in the field of cultivating trees.

Pursuing the Veterinary Dream

Veterinary Bioscience (VBS), one of NP’s youngest courses, seems to be a hit amongst aspiring veterinarians and animal lovers. Uma Shangari jumped when she heard of the introduction of the course in 2010.

“I’ve always wanted to work with animals and when I was younger I wanted to be a veterinarian. When I heard they offered this course in NP, I was overjoyed! I read the course specifications from the NP website and knew this was what I’d like to study,” says Uma.

During her course of study so far, the first-year VBS student has been able to work with mice, rats, and guinea pigs, allowing her to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for animals as a whole.

“I only have one Jack Russell Terrier as a pet, so all these (animals) are new to me. I’ve also gained depth on how to assess animal welfare and principles of animal behaviour,” she says.

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“Education is the only way out of poverty,” says Lee Fude Justine, 20, a Business & Social Enterprise (BZSE) graduate.

The recipient of the Outstanding Community Service Award at this year’s Awards Night in NP, however, has dedicated his time and effort to bringing shoes to children in China.

Justine shares that the children live on mountainous terrains, 15 km away from school. “It’s one thing to walk for four to five hours, and another thing to walk for four to five hours without shoes… a lot of them have cuts and infections on their feet and they associate pain with going to school.”

With his two friends, Business Studies graduate John Tay and Mass Communication graduate Lim Jing Ying, they set up their
social enterprise, Soule. The message for Soule is, “For every pair of shoes that you buy, Soule will give another pair to a child who needs it more.”

Although most business partners were receptive of the cause, Soule had to go through a rocky start as factories only accepted orders by the thousands.

Eventually, they did manage to find a supplier to furnish them with the footwear they needed albeit flip-flops instead of shoes.

The young social entrepreneur advises, “A lot of young people think they should wait till they’re [older] to start their business, but why not start when you’re young? You have nothing to lose!”

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There was a queue at the ladies’ in Makan Place and she was waiting in line to change into her NP Ambassadors T-shirt. “This is a girls’ toilet right,” remarked a middle-aged woman standing in the queue.

While this may sound like a harmless question, it probably was not the case for Clarissa Sih, a second-year Mass Communication (MCM) student. Being bald as a girl meant that instances like these were to become part of the course. “I got stares everywhere. That point in time, I started feeling self-conscious when I went to the toilet. There was a lot of staring going on.”

After learning about the Hair For Hope (HfH) event two years ago, Clarissa made a choice to shave her head bald to support the Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF).

What sparked the idea of participating in HfH was Clarissa’s family’s long history of cancer. “My grandfather died of cancer and a few relatives were also victims of the sickness. I want to put myself in their shoes to know what it’s like.”

Naturally, Clarissa’s passion inspired others to follow in her footsteps. “When I heard that Clarissa was organising Hair For Hope, I told her that I would help her. I’m very proud of her for doing this because not many people would have the courage and drive,” says Nur Izdihar Zainudin, a second-year MCM student.

Even though her efforts may not be seen by any cancer-sufferers, that does not make it any less worth fighting for. As Clarissa says, “Shaving is symbolic and although it won’t benefit them directly, it shows them support and tells them they aren’t alone. They’ll know that it’s okay to not have hair.”

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Ms Pathmavalli D/O S R mops the floors of the Convention Centre with such strength and vigour, no one would think she just had major surgery.

The 62-year-old cleaner of the Convention Centre has returned after a three-month recuperation from her knee surgery. She still bears her battle wound, a six-inch scar that runs down her left knee.

Initially, the thought of being cut up unnerved her, but she mustered up the courage for her children. “My son told me it’s better to go for the operation… So I go and not let my children worry,” she recounts while picking at a scab on her left knee.

In a month, she could climb the stairs and felt ready to be back at work.

Once again, Ms Pathmavalli’s family convinced her to rest at home. After all, her three children were capable of supporting her, and she was still being paid while on medical leave.

“This place was so dirty when I came back,” she says, clicking her tongue and shaking her head in disapproval. She explains that the toilet bowls and sinks turned a yellow hue in her absence, a detail that not many would notice.

Ms Pathmavalli looks forward to her next knee operation, when both her knees will no longer cause her any hindrance.

Retiring, however, is seen as the beginning of the end to her, “If I stop working, who will clean the toilet when it smells of smoke? Yes! Students are still smoking in the toilet!”

She scowls at the thought of her pet peeve, and continues picking on the scabs on her left knee while her sharp eyes scan her building.

About Ms Pathmavalli

Ms Pathmavalli D/O S R, the wildly misunderstood cleaner of the Convention Centre, was documented in the pages of Volume 40, Issue 2 of npTribune. Even two years after it was first published, ‘The ‘Hobbit’ with a Heart of Gold’ still remains as one of the most remembered articles in the campus newspaper. The absence of Ms Pathmavalli this semester sparked off curious questions on her whereabouts thus inspiring this timely update.

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