Looking Beyond Sports

By Nicole Chan

SERVING THE BALL: Cassandra jumps high enough to palm the ball over the net.
PHOTO: Leow Tien Leng, Class of 2014

Name: Cassandra Tay Hwee Min

Age: 22

Course: Sport Science and Management, Year 3

Sport: Volleyball

How long have you been playing the sport for?

I started playing volleyball since the age of 13.

Was pursuing this sport your childhood dream?

Not really — it was a whole new sport introduced to me in secondary school when we had to choose our co-curricular activity. I was previously in the track & field and hockey teams, and my dream was actually to compete in hockey at a higher level.

What other interests do you have?

Apart from volleyball, I am still very interested in hockey and I participate in it for the hall games every year!

What kind of jobs are you looking towards right now?

Those related to sport events and management are ideal; I guess being an athlete, it would be more engaging to study modules that are closely related.

Describe to us your dream job.

My dream job is actually to work with disabled athletes who compete in games like the Paralympics and Asian Para Games, or even just local competitions. You get a sense of fulfilment seeing these athletes improve and eventually qualify for the games.

Despite being disabled, they still put in as much, if not, more time to train and compete. And having watched the local boccia (paralympic ball sport) athletes a number of times, I enjoy their company and they genuinely seem to look forward to seeing us again!

Do you have any concerns about getting employed (in your desired field) in the future?

Not at the moment because of the numerous openings at the Sports Hub recently. Furthermore, I believe that being in the field of sports management will allow me to dabble in events management, where I hope I will find opportunities too.

What are your top three considerations when choosing your job and which is the most important?

Job satisfaction, family approval, money. Job satisfaction is the most important — I believe you need a working environment where you can enjoy the job, and it provides you with a sense of fulfilment and reward at the end of the day. It makes you want to go to work each new day!

Do you have any life mottos or philosophies?

Failure does not come from falling down; it comes from not getting up. So try and try — eventually you will succeed.

GOAL KICK: Beatrice passes the ball to her teammates from the penalty box.
PHOTO: Mun Yong Jian

Name: Beatrice Tan Li Bin

Age: 23

Course: Sport Science and Management, Year 3

Sport: Football

How long have you been playing your sport for?

I have been playing football for six years. I was introduced to the sport in 2009 when my friends invited me to play street soccer with them. However, I only started getting formal training a year later when I entered St Andrew’s Junior College and joined the football team.

What other interests do you have?

I like sewing, painting, drawing and calligraphy — anything that falls under craft. When I get too overwhelmed with all my commitments like school, football or work (I coach and give tuition), I turn to it. It’s an outlet for me to release stress.

Also, my newest hobby is trekking and climbing mountains! I’m an adventurous person and I love the challenge of doing crazy things. It just excites me.

What made you pick the course you are in now?

My love for sports made me choose Sport Science and Management. It’s not something that everyone is able to do so in Singapore — that is, to be able to study what they love — and I think I’m very fortunate to be able to do so.

What kind jobs are you looking towards right now?

A job in the sports industry, of course! I want to work in an event management company because I get to be involved in various events, which is dynamic and not so mundane. I coach part-time now, but I haven’t decided if full-time coaching is for me.

What are your top three considerations when choosing your job and which is the most important?

Job satisfaction, salary and working hours. The most important is job satisfaction. I would definitely want a job that is in line with my goals in life instead of a boring one — just going through the motions.

Do you have any personal quote/philosophy about life?

If you want to do something so badly, just do it (if it’s not illegal). Life is too short for regrets. And if you feel lost and unsure of your future, it’s all right. Sometimes, it’s okay to live in uncertainty. If you would like to take a new course or pick up a new hobby, but you’re not sure if it will benefit you in the future, just take it. Somehow, it will all just fall into place.

Steve Jobs once said: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

PASSION: 12 years into track and field, yet her love for the sport has never waned
PHOTO: Singapore National Olympic Council

Name: T. Piriyah

Age: 23

Course: Sports Science and Management, Year 3

Sport: Track and Field (400m)

How long have you been playing your sport for?

I have been in track and field since I was 11 years old. So it’s been about 12 years.

Was this sport your childhood dream and pursuit?

It wasn’t; I just took part in my primary school’s sports day, and the track and field coach saw me running and roped me into the team. It all started from there. To be honest, I never had any interest in sports, but after joining the track team, I started to love running.

What other interests do you have?

I do scrapbooking, baking and I enjoy playing badminton.

What made you choose the course you are studying in now?

After finishing my Primary School Leaving Examinations, I was thinking about what I could do to continue my sports and studies at the same time, so I joined the Singapore Sports School. I completed my GCE ‘O’ Levels there. I then joined the school’s through-train programme with Republic Polytechnic that offered a Diploma in Sports and Exercise Sciences. After completing my diploma, I realised that I wanted to do something in this field, and so applied to NTU so that I can do my degree in the same area.

What kind jobs are you looking towards right now?

I am looking at either psychology or physiotherapy. Physiotherapy is related to what I am learning — I took the sports injuries core modules and I really loved learning about the different kinds of treatment. I’m not as sure about psychology but I do have an interest in that subject, and I am hoping to find out more.

Describe to us your dream job.

Don’t really have a dream job in mind but if its non-sports related then it would be teaching little children because I love kids.

What are your top three considerations when choosing your job and which is the most important?

First would be job satisfaction, then money, followed by working hours. Job satisfaction would definitely be the most important because we should do what we enjoy and love.

Do you have any personal quote/philosophy about life?

It’s going to get harder before it gets easier. But it will get better, you just gotta make it through the hard stuff first.