All-Rounder Award
THE AWARD
The All-Rounder Award gives commendation and recognition to a student who excels both in his studies and co-curricular activities. The Award, which is sponsored by Microsoft Singapore, is presented to the student who has outstanding academic results, as well as outstanding participation and contribution in ECA
THE RECIPIENT - LIM JIA WEI
"To make a difference".
This is the one big desire that drives this energetic young man in everything he does. This year's All-Rounder Award recipient's passion for a sport has driven him through many challenges, but he is truly living testimony that people should make the most of second chances. After completing his O levels in St Joseph's Institution, Jia Wei got a place in St. Andrew's Junior College. Here he was introduced to rugby, which proved to be both a blessing and an adversity for him. His over-indulgence in the sport cost Jia Wei his second year of JC.
He then joined the Diploma in Info-Communications course at TP and was faced with a whole new world of friends, lecturers and studies. "It was a big change, but I set my mind to accept the situation and go with the flow," he said. The one thing that remained unchanged, however, was his love for rugby. Jia Wei continued playing for an external club and joined the rugby team in TP. The computer-savvy son of an IT company manager, he enjoyed his studies and was motivated to do better with every new challenge. Having tasted the bitterness of disappointment, Jia Wei paced himself at TP. Given this second chance, he managed his time better, anticipated projects and scheduled his time accordingly. Eventually, he managed an impressive haul of 21 distinctions at the end of his three years in TP. Yet as he looks back, his biggest satisfaction was in the success he achieved outside the classroom. Not satisfied to be just a player on the field, Jia Wei pursued his passion for rugby seriously. During his years at TP, he took courses and training to become a qualified rugby coach, a qualified referee and eventually took a course to become a qualified sports trainer.
On top of these commitments, he was also the president of his diploma club, a Student Ambassador of the Temasek Engineering School and president of the Sports Club. His leadership talents were recognised when he was tasked with overseeing the orientation activities for the Engineering School in his final year. The most satisfying achievement for Jia Wei though, is that of having led the TP rugby team to clinch second place in the Institute Varsity Polytechnic Games during his final year. "This is a feat that has never been achieved by any other polytechnic team. It has been my honour leading this team, which struggled from last position to clinch second spot in only three years."
The student and rugby player who has learnt to rise from failure, now plans to work towards a master's degree in Computer Science at a UK university after National Service. We wish him the very best!
