Dear Graduand,
Congratulations on graduating from Ngee Ann Polytechnic!
You have come a long way to achieve this significant milestone. I hope that your journey at NP has been an enriching and a rewarding one. Whether you have participated in a meaningful service-learning project, an insightful internship, or benefited from the guidance of your lecturers and mentors, these experiences have shaped you for the better and given you a head start in your chosen path.
At the same time, they have developed in you a passion for learning, a big heart for others and a global-smart mindset – all important traits that will help you to navigate these uncertain times.
Indeed, we have seen the NP community display tremendous resilience and support for one another, even as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted your final year in unprecedented ways. While your loved ones can only attend the ceremony virtually, your achievements are no less exceptional.
This may feel like a daunting time to begin your next chapter, but I am hopeful that you will continue to approach life with optimism and a can-do spirit. We may not know what the future holds, but we can make ourselves as ready for it as we can. Be flexible, think creatively and find ways to challenge yourself. Every time you take a leap of faith, you increase your capacity to make the most of unexpected opportunities that present themselves. Or to borrow famous words from scientist Louis Pasteur, “Chance favours the prepared mind.”
To stay on top of change, I would like to encourage you to build on the foundation you have received at NP and to continuously deepen your skill sets. We will always welcome you back to deepen your professional skills with us, and look forward to supporting you in your learning needs all through your work life. As a poly for all ages, we have also ramped up our course offerings at our CET Academy. There is something for everyone, be it a SkillsFuture Work-Study Programme, a post-diploma certificate or a short course on emerging skills. I hope you will seize every opportunity to learn and diversify your skills.
As you pursue your dreams, remember to be grateful to those who have supported you in your journey.
Let me leave you with this quote, which I hope will inspire you to chart your own path:
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Best wishes as you begin the adventures that lie ahead, and I look forward to hearing all your stories.
Clarence Ti
Principal, Ngee Ann Polytechnic