Aman Singh Rahman: From a Near‑Keep‑Out to a Futures‑Focused Dreamer
Remember 2015? The year young Aman slipped up at a music festival, caught with enough weed to fire up a single joint—just weeks before he was due for his national service. At 18, he had a jolt of reality and decided he’d had enough of the reckless life.
Graduation & the Sinda Excellence Award
This year, and now 25, Aman walked across the stage at Republic Polytechnic and snagged a 2024 Sinda Excellence Award. 782 proud students received the honor, but his path to the podium was anything but smooth.
Early Struggles
Aman’s journey began with a dip into the Institute of Technical Education. He cheated a few classes, dropped exams, and spent afternoons gaming. The online friends he met there lured him deeper into a drug‑linked grind that eventually led to his arrest.
Turning Point
- Spurred by the looming threat of jail, he decided to prove his worth.
- He volunteered for every duty he could find after enlisting in the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
- His relentless work ethic earned him letters of recommendation from his superiors.
Thanks to those endorsements, his sentence morphed into two‑year probation plus compulsory community service, a win over a prison term that had loomed large.
Unexpected Joy in Helping Others
During his community service, Aman was paired with Sun‑dac, a non‑profit that assists people with intellectual disabilities. He discovered a newfound love for caregiving, so he kept volunteering even after his probation was over.
“I fell in love with the process of caring for them,” he says. “I saved the manager’s number and never looked back.”
Higher Education & A New Vision
After finishing his national service, he set his sights on business administration. He was the first in his family—mother‑raised, with a younger sister—to think of higher education.
With financial help from his aunt and Sinda, Aman did a private O‑level pass, which qualified him for a sports management course at Republic Polytechnic. However, his dream of studying at a local university hit a snag when he failed to secure admission despite a 3.61 GPA and active student council involvement.
“Dealing with my baggage is tough, but I’ve taken it as a responsibility to prove to the world and help those in similar spots,” he reflects.
The Next Goal
By the end of this year, Aman plans to become a financial consultant—after earning another qualification—turning his past mistakes into a platform for future success.
<img alt="" data-caption="Ms Nur Hasinah Al-Arifin freelanced as a producer and serviced a student loan while studying for a degree.
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Meet 26‑Year‑Old Art Enthusiast: Ms Nur Hasinah Al‑Arifin
Nur Hasinah, 26, is juggling a few hats—freelance producer, student loan handler, and a full‑time Arts Management student at LaSalle College of the Arts. While most teens might be worried about diets or social media, Nur’s biggest worry is keeping her creativity alive and her budget balanced.
Why the Arts?
“Arts management is my sweet spot,” Nur explains with a genuine smile. “I’d rather not work a boring job just for a paycheck. I want something that keeps me engaged and still pays the bills.” That earnest bit really hits a chord with anyone who’s ever felt stuck in a routine grind.
Graduation Highlights
- Earned her BA with First Class Honours earlier this year.
- Stays on top of student loans while freelancing for production gigs.
- Balance life & work like a pro (spoiler: it’s all about time management and a sprinkle of coffee).
A Message to Future Creatives
Nurz says it’s all about finding that harmony between passion and practicality. “Don’t chase a job just for the paycheck. Find something that sparks joy and keeps your bank account happy.” A simple wisdom she’s living by—artfully, in a nutshell.
The piece originally appeared in The Straits Times; reproduction requires permission.
