Secondary school dropout, 36, graduates top of his cohort at Republic Polytechnic, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — When Muhammad Haikal Nekla dropped out of secondary school at 16 due to family issues and began working full-time to help support them, he intended to go back to complete his education some day.
He made good on the promise only many years later.
"When I made the decision to drop out, I told my principal that I would continue my education one day, but I never got around to it," he said.
A discussion with some Republic Polytechnic (RP) interns he was supervising at the restaurant chain where he worked spurred him to return to school at the age of 33, in 2021.
"They shared that (polytechnics) took a more hands-on approach to learning, where theories are applied to real-life problems. That was what interested me the most," said Haikal, who was then an assistant manager at Fish & Co.
After more than 15 years of working as waiter, barista and manager in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, Haikal enrolled in RP's diploma of restaurant and culinary operations programme in 2022 via the Early Admissions Exercise, which is open to working adults.
In May, the 36-year-old became the valedictorian of RP's School of Hospitality with a grade point average of 3.79. He was among more than 4,500 graduates from 79 diploma programmes across the polytechnic.
Haikal was worried at first about fitting in with the other students, as he was more than twice the age of some of them.
But he soon earned their respect, and his schoolmates affectionately called him "Uncle Haikal".
He also had to make some sacrifices to go back to school. Haikal, who is not married, had to dip into his savings during his time to polytechnic to care for his mother and grandmother.
Fortunately, he received financial support to pay his school fees via a bursary in his first-year and the bond-free Sands Hospitality Scholarship for his second and third years.
Still, he continued to work, clocking in 16 hours weekly as a part-time supervisor at Fish & Co to support his family.
He said: "My mum was briefly hospitalised in 2022 and my grandmother had kidney failure in 2023, so I had a lot on my plate."
Having to care for his family while working and studying meant that he would sometimes sleep for only four hours a day. "Some days, I would come home from work or school to complete my assignments. Then at midnight, I would take a taxi to my grandmother's place to take care of her."
When asked what got him through that period of time, he gave props to his family and friends: "I'm not too sure how I got through it either, but it helped that I had support from the people around me."
Haikal said that one of the reasons he succeeded academically in RP was his industry experience. "The curriculum was designed so that my experience gave me a strong foundation," he said.
He also learnt from his younger schoolmates. "Even though they are much younger than I am, they can still do some things better than I can, and I've been able to absorb and learn from," he added.
His biggest takeaway from his time at RP is this: "It doesn't matter how old you are — it's important to be open-minded. Whether you're young or old, there's always something to learn and take away from others."
With his diploma has come a chance for him to make a career pivot — Haikal has been accepted into the National University of Singapore's College of Humanities and Sciences, where he plans to study for a bachelor's degree in social work.
"I don't think that F&B and social work are that different. You're able to interact with and learn the stories of people from all walks of life," he said.
"The main difference is that I'm able to walk with them through their journeys as a social worker."
[[nid:716610]]
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
2 days ago
- CNA
Dutch government commits 70 million euros for AI factory
AMSTERDAM :The Dutch government on Friday pledged 70 million euros ($82.03 million) for the construction of an AI factory in the northern city of Groningen. The government has also applied for European Union co-financing of another 70 million euros for the plant, it said in a statement, adding to the 60 million the Groningen regional administration plans to contribute. ($1 = 0.8533 euros)
CNA
3 days ago
- CNA
Mixed-age co-living spaces gain traction in Singapore
SINGAPORE: At a common area resembling a void deck, retiree Margaret Ho explains interest rates to two business students a third her age. Nearby, at an outdoor pickleball court, three youths are locked in a game of doubles with a wizened elderly, who chuckles as she keeps them on their toes with well-placed serves. They are all at a unique co-living project housed in the former Henderson Primary School, designed to bring together residents of different generations under one roof. Mdm Ho, who used to work in the banking sector, chose to stay in the shared living facility to give her children a peace of mind. The 69-year-old told CNA she looks forward to activities, such as calligraphy lessons taught by a senior resident and gym sessions organised by youth residents. 'The seniors just like to be able to talk to (their younger neighbours). My digital literacy is not as good, maybe they can teach me some skills. This kind of exchange … is interchangeable,' she said. Any young person between the ages 18 and 25 can rent there. But so far, those signing up are overseas students on study stints, who pay S$1,000 (US$800) a month to share a room with three others. 'For me, speaking English with the elders is a challenging but very important thing. It helps improve my English proficiency and makes me enjoy speaking English more,' said resident Bai Haochuan, a student from China. Fellow Chinese student Chen Linghang said: 'This feels really great, interacting with the seniors, teaching them how to use apps and software.' The location can accommodate about 100 youths and seniors. Senior rooms are between S$4,000 and S$6,500 a month, depending on care and meal options. An on-site clinic and caregivers are available. The former school building does not have elevators, so seniors stay on the ground floor while younger residents live upstairs. To encourage intergenerational interaction, all shared facilities are located downstairs. They include a basketball court, a table tennis area and a gym that has senior-friendly machines. TSTAP Henderson, the company behind the project, won a public tender from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to operate the space last year. It is targeting people from age 60 – whom they call "young seniors". 'They have a lot of experience to share. The younger generation also wants to learn from these young seniors,' said the firm's director Tome Oh. For instance, youths who aspire to become entrepreneurs can learn from seniors with business experience, he added. Currently, activities between the two groups are optional, but grocery vouchers could soon be offered to encourage people to join, said the facility's management. It is also looking for a community leader among the students who can spearhead the activities. PROJECT IN ADMIRALTY A similar multi-generational co-living space is also being set up at Admiralty Road East. Twenty heritage black and white bungalows will be turned into serviced apartments – a first for such conserved sites. Covering about 245,300 sq ft – more than four football fields – SLA manages the lease for the area. 'We recognise this demand for seniors looking out for more options on co-living concepts, as well as having interactions with the young generation, which helps with active ageing,' said Ms Carrie Wong, the statutory board's director of business planning and development. She added that SLA maintains a steady stream of state property released to the market to meet such demand. Since last year, two out of four tenders were granted with concepts that encourage independent senior living options. The authority said it is looking at market response and will consider letting out more state-owned properties for such uses. MORE SENIORS IN CO-LIVING Industry players said that contrary to popular belief that co-living appeals only to the young, they are seeing growing demand from older customers. Habyt, for example, a company that provides short- and long-term rentals, saw the percentage of tenants over 55 staying at its co-living facilities increase to 6.1 per cent last year, up from 3.5 per cent in 2023. The operator said the growing interest among the older folks is driven by flexibility, a sense of community and shared resources offered by such housing solutions. St Bernadette Lifestyle Village, a private assisted living provider, also stepped into the intergenerational co-living concept with its new site at Duku Road earlier this year. There, seniors occupy the ground floor while younger families stay on the second storey, each with their own amenities. The areas where the seniors roam are fitted with grab bars, smoke alarms and barrier-free access. For the older residents who need care services, monthly rental can go up to S$5,000. 'We've come up with a list of activities which we think are suitable. It gives people something to look forward to. We're seeing a lot of idealistic young people who actually want to get involved,' said Dr Belinda Wee, the company's director and co-founder. Her team is looking at boosting digital outreach and working with co-living operators to attract younger tenants. The operator hopes to get a longer lease so the project can be a stable, long-term investment. BETTER THAN CARE HOMES? Analysts said the concept is a shift away from nursing homes – these housing solutions are more casual and fluid, giving seniors more freedom, options and autonomy. 'The families are always invited to visit them. It's not a nursing home where there are hours of restriction. It's so important that family is still part of the whole community,' said Dr Kelvin Tan, programme head of the Singapore University of Social Sciences' minor in applied ageing studies. Such efforts foster a more inclusive society, combat loneliness, encourage intergenerational learning and understanding, while also providing affordable rent options for some groups, experts said. Dr Tan added that with Singapore's ageing society, an increasing number of people will be seeking companionship. "This is what we really want: the young helping the old and old helping the young. There's this exchange of relationship and wisdom," he said. "If we could encourage the two age groups to learn together, live together and to see that kind of respect under that whole principle of care, I think we will be a much more empathetic society."
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Straits Times
Tick Talk: Tudor's Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue, Tiffany's Bird on a Rock collection are show-stoppers
Tudor's Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue is a fresh twist on its beloved 37mm diver. PHOTO: TUDOR Tudor Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue Tudor's Black Bay 54 Lagoon Blue is a fresh twist on its beloved 37mm diver. While the case keeps its compact, vintage-inspired proportions and robust 200m water-resistance, this edition ditches the classic black bezel for a mirror-polished steel insert. The real showstopper, however, is the new Lagoon Blue dial with a sand-like texture. It is paired with polished Snowflake hands and markers filled with crisp white lume. The watch is powered by the chronometer-certified MT5400 movement, which has a 70-hour power reserve. Add a five-link Jubilee-style steel bracelet with Tudor's slick T-Fit micro-adjustment, and you have one seriously cool and handsome tool watch. Price: $5,990 Blancpain 50 Fathoms 38mm Collection Blancpain's 50 Fathoms 38mm runs on the brand's Calibre 1153, which offers a 100-hour power reserve and a silicon balance spring for added precision. PHOTO: BLANCPAIN Blancpain has unveiled two new 38mm models to complement its existing 42mm and 45mm line-up. Though they are marketed as women's watches, they are perfect for anyone preferring a sleeker fit on smaller wrists. One of the references is smoky black with 18K red gold and the other, petal pink with brushed titanium. Both feature luminous mother-of-pearl dials with soft black or pink gradients. They run on Blancpain's Calibre 1153, which offers an impressive 100-hour power reserve and a silicon balance spring for added precision. Built for serious underwater action, they are water-resistant to 300m, feature a unidirectional bezel for tracking dive times and glow in the deep, thanks to Super-LumiNova-coated hands and markers. The pink edition is paired with a white fabric strap featuring two-tone pink stripes, or a sleek titanium bracelet. The edgier black version comes in black Tropic rubber, sailcloth or Nato fabric straps. Price: From $40,800 (for the black version) and from $24,200 (for the pink version) Tiffany's Bird on a Rock Collection Tiffany & Co's Bird on a Rock watch is a reimagining of the famous 1965 brooch by the late French designer Jean Schlumberger. PHOTO: TIFFANY & CO Tiffany & Co has transformed one of its most whimsical jewellery icons into horological art with the new Bird on a Rock Legacy watch. A reimagining of the famous 1965 brooch by the late French designer Jean Schlumberger, it features a hand-sculpted 18K gold bird perched delicately on the dial. There are three models, each with 587 diamonds totalling 3.6 carats: oval morganite (1.45 carats), cushion-cut tanzanite (2.72 carats) or emerald-cut aquamarine (2.1 carats). Requiring 24 hours to craft, each bird is set with 119 diamonds and a pink sapphire eye. The 36mm case dazzles with snow-set diamonds, a technique demanding 55 hours of meticulous gem-setting work. The mother-of-pearl dial features floral engravings inspired by Schlumberger's Caribbean home in Guadeloupe. A clever caseback aperture with magnifying lens reveals the gemstone's hidden reverse side. Price: Upon request The La D de Dior Buisson Couture Collection Each of the five unique pieces in the La D de Dior Buisson Couture Collection requires 480 hours to craft. PHOTO: DIOR Fusing couture artistry with precision timekeeping, the La D de Dior Buisson Couture transforms the wrist into a blooming garden. Each of the five unique pieces requires an astounding 480 hours of meticulous craftsmanship to complete. The 38mm white-gold case of the model featured here is a showcase of gem-setting virtuosity, with more than 1,000 stones – including diamonds, pink sapphires, emeralds and garnets – meticulously arranged on the dial to create blossoming garlands of couture flowers. The total composition includes 1,420 individual stones weighing 13.27 carats, making it not just a timepiece but also a miniature work of art. Price: From €430,000 (S$636,000) Zenith Defy Extreme Diver and Defy Revival Diver The Defy Extreme Diver (left) and Defy Revival Diver, both now clad in stealthy micro-blasted titanium. PHOTO: ZENITH Diving deep into its heritage, Zenith has surfaced with two Shadow editions: the Defy Extreme Diver and Defy Revival Diver, both now clad in stealthy micro-blasted titanium. Built for the abyss, the Defy Extreme Diver Shadow flaunts a 42.5mm titanium case housing the high-frequency El Primero 3620 movement, visible through an exhibition caseback. Water-resistant to a jaw-dropping 600m , it has a black ceramic bezel, filled with Super-LumiNova, and vivid yellow accents to make sure you can tell the time even in the murkiest depths. It comes with three strap options and a quick-change system. The Defy Revival Diver Shadow pays tribute to the iconic 1969 A3648 'Plongeur'. It has a compact 37mm titanium case with a signature 14-sided bezel and yellow-tinted sapphire insert. The Elite 670 automatic movement ticks beneath a display back, while bold yellow highlights guarantee legibility and style. Price: Defy Extreme Diver ($17,800) and Defy Revival Diver Shadow ($11,800) Santos de Cartier SM The Santos de Cartier SM, which pays tribute to the original 1904 design created for Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, has a shimmering sunray-effect dial. PHOTO: CARTIER The iconic Santos de Cartier has just landed in a new and compact size. Measuring 27mm by 34.5mm, the latest model pays tribute to the original 1904 design created for Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, but with a shimmering sunray-effect dial and a high-autonomy quartz movement. Displaying the same beloved signature square case, exposed screws and clean lines, the new and smaller model is available in three elegant versions: full steel, steel and yellow gold, or all yellow gold. All come with interchangeable brushed metal bracelets or leather straps. Price: Steel ($8,750); steel and yellow gold ($14,400); and yellow gold ($44,400) Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
