The Young Sikh Association (YSA) of Singapore in alliance with Central Sikh Gurdwara Board (CSGB) and Singapore Khalsa Association virtually organised the Sikh Graduates Tea Reception this year on October 16 in a hybrid format.
The Sikh Graduates Tea Reception is a networking and interactive opportunity for all Singapore Sikhs who have graduated or will be graduating in 2021 from an ITE, Polytechnic or University (Bachelors, Masters, PhD from local or overseas universities).
This year, the event’s guest of honour was Pritam Singh, the Leader of the Opposition in the Singapore Parliament, while valedictorians Simha Kaur Jastol and Charanpal Singh also were the part of a discussion on the topic, ‘The Experience of Education in the New Normal’.
“Sikhs seek to make a positive impact on society and are acutely conscious of the well-being of those around us and the wider humanity we are a part of – Sarbhat da Bhalla is a central belief system of the faith. Please bear this mind throughout your life and carry this responsibility proudly as you transit into the next chapter of your life,” said Pritam Singh.
During the panel discussion, the panellists touched upon the abrupt changes brought about by the pandemic and highlighted the resilience of people in Singapore in adapting swiftly.
YSA president Sarabjeet Singh said, “Really glad we were able to have a physical event this year and the opportunity to celebrate this milestone together with you! We are so proud of you and wish you the very best.”
“While COVID- has taken away a lot of the experiences that we thought we would have, what has truly shone through is our effort, grit, and unwavering spirit to continue achieving. Personally, I think with that, COVID-19 has prepared us for life in general a bit more than we realise. Life will be full of surprises, you never know what is going to come your way. And the more the days pass, the more I realise this,” Charanpal Singh, one of the valedictorians, said.
Valedictorian Simha Kaur Jastol said that this milestone gave her the chance to reflect on how the pandemic had disrupted normal life.
“As we mark this milestone, I cannot help but reflect on how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our lives. Overnight, we have had to operate differently than we did 19 months ago. For several months, every day was filled with a sense of uncertainty, fear and isolation, and we had to live, labour and learn as we juggled school and the pandemic. It was a big challenge to stay positive through all of this, but I believe, despite the adversity, all of us seated here today developed sufficient levels of chardikala to pull through,” she added.