At just 21, Kalyisah Adlina Mohammad Nuruddin is already setting her sights on her next big goal—getting into either the Singapore Management University (SMU) or the National University of Singapore (NUS) to further her business studies.
“I hope to learn more about digital technologies,” she said with a smile, her voice brimming with hope and determination.
The bubbly Temasek Polytechnic second-year business student isn’t just looking at her next school. She’s looking far ahead—at a future where she’s not only skilled and employable, but also adaptable and open-minded.
“I believe that pursuing a degree will help mould and shape me into learning a lot of things more in depth, allowing me to sharpen my skillsets and widen my perspectives!” she said.
But Kalyisah didn’t always have this clarity of purpose.
A Journey of Growth
As a teenager, she breezed through life with a carefree spirit, more interested in the moment than in the future.
But with the support of her family, guidance from her teachers, and a timely boost from the NTUC, Kalyisah has blossomed into a driven young woman with big dreams.
Her turning point came when she was studying in Changkat Changi Secondary School.
Kalyisah was in the Normal Academic stream and she joined the Girl Guides as her co-curricular activity (CCA). Additionally, she also helped in the Malay department.
Her form teacher noticed something special in her and took the time to guide her—despite the trouble her playful nature occasionally caused.
“She told me that whatever I do in life, I need to do it well and stand out,” Kalyisah recalled.
That piece of advice stuck with her. From that day, she made a conscious decision to push herself further and strive for excellence.
Family First, Always
While academic support played a big role in her transformation, it was Kalyisah’s family who stood by her through it all.
Growing up, money was tight. Her mum worked in the healthcare sector, and her dad made a living as a delivery rider.
But despite their modest income, her parents always prioritised their children’s education and well-being.
“My parents told me, ‘Don’t give up on your studies because of us, we’ll move things around and make things work’… They definitely supported me a lot,” said Kalyisah.
As a union member, her mum often kept an eye out for bursaries and grants from the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union (HSEU) to help lighten the family’s financial load.
And when Kalyisah was about to finish her Higher NITEC certification at ITE College East, her mum also urged her to apply for the NTUC Care Fund (Education Awards).
NTUC Care Fund (Education Awards) are for school-going children of lower-income union members. The awards aim to motivate students to excel in their studies.
Several weeks after her application, Kalyisah was delighted when she was informed that she would be a recipient.
“I actually didn’t know if I would get it or not as there were a lot of other applicants. So for me to be chosen, I felt very honoured,” said Kalyisah.
Giving Back to Her Family and the Community
Beyond the bursaries and support from her parents, Kalyisah did her part too, taking on part-time jobs to contribute to household expenses and fund her schooling needs.
And wanting to give back to the youth community, she joined NTUC as a member and volunteered her time for a couple of NTUC’s youth initiatives.
She was featured in NTUC’s Youth Taskforce Report, and she also was also one of the volunteers at the LIT DISCOvery 2022 event held at the Suntec Convention.
In case you are wondering, LIT DISCOvery is Young NTUC’s annual signature symposium for graduating students and young working adults.
“It was really an eye opening experience! I got to communicate with the then Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and we even brought him around [the convention hall] to explain the booths and everything!” she shared.
A Spark for Entrepreneurship
While Kalyisah is passionate about learning and doing well in school, she also has her eyes set on something bigger—building her own business.
Her entrepreneurial spark was lit by her father, who left the delivery sector in 2016 to run his own home-based venture. Surrounded by family members who had taken the leap into entrepreneurship, Kalyisah grew up dreaming of doing the same.
“Being surrounded by family members who are entrepreneurs has always been the spark for me to kick start my own business since young,” she said.
And she didn’t just dream, she started. At just 11 years old, Kalyisah was already running mini ventures of her own.
“In fact, with little knowledge and experience, I was already managing small businesses—from selling tiramisu in school and having my own slime account!”
Whether she ends up in a corporate office or running a successful brand of her own, Kalyisah knows she wants to leave a mark. And as someone who’s walked a journey of growth, she has this advice for others navigating their own path:
“Be so good no one can ignore you, and strive to be the best in everything you do!”
Let NTUC help you reach your fullest potential. Find out more about the NTUC Care (Education Awards) today!