NUS alumna Nur Aisyah Lyana Binte Mohamed Satria (’22) is no stranger to the hard knocks of life. Growing up under financially challenging circumstances meant food was scarce and blackouts were common. For four years, she relied on rice with eggs as her daily sustenance. Once, she even had to split two curry puffs six ways to break her fast.
However, her toughest trial came during her final year of university — her mother was hospitalised due to complications from a brain tumour. As the eldest of four siblings, she was thrust into adulthood overnight. The dual duties of making ends meet and caring for her mother fell on her young shoulders.
Recalling those trying times, Miss Aisyah said: “That year was a lot more challenging for me. I became the breadwinner for my three younger siblings and six fluffy cats. On top of my studies, I overworked myself with tuition jobs while going back and forth to the hospital every day.”
Amid the bleakness, a ray of hope emerged in the form of the GIC Sparks & Smiles Award. The timely financial aid empowered her to conquer life’s most daunting obstacles and enabled her to enrich herself and excel academically.
She said: “Thanks to this bursary, I did not have to take on as many part-time tutoring jobs and I was able to focus on my studies, and I was awarded the Dean’s Scholar List in 2020, for achieving straight A+ for my modules. It was extremely difficult for my family financially. This bursary served as emergency funds on days when we had no food at home.”
Aisyah with her Mother after her recovery from brain tumour surgery
The bursary gave her the breathing space to fully embrace university life. Pursuing a double major in Global Studies and Malay Studies, she relished the opportunity to participate in various conferences. For instance, she attended the 2020 Peace Summit for Emerging Leaders at the United Nations Conference Centre in Thailand. She also actively participated in a multitude of projects and internships, such as the Chile-ASEAN summer internship and UNITE203, a programme where youth delegates work towards the United Nations' sustainable development goals.
Against all odds, Miss Aisyah powered through her studies and graduated with first-class honours. Now, she is working as a Risk Triage Analyst at TikTok, the world’s leading social media platform.
Aisyah graduating with first-class honours
However, her drive for success extends far beyond personal and familial aspirations. She aspires to prove that individuals who face financial struggles can achieve excellence with “the right support and resources”. To this end, she volunteers with MENDAKI, mentoring youths who find themselves in circumstances similar to hers. By sharing her personal journey, she hopes to provide guidance to students grappling with family issues and uncertainty about their future.
Aisyah volunteering with MENDAKI at an overseas community involvement programme in Vietnam.Miss Aisyah said: “My biggest drive is to create an impact regardless of what I do. I want to acknowledge those who helped build my path forward and pay it forward.”
Watch Aisyah and other Financial Aid Recipients share their story as their loved ones secretly watched on here.
