ADDRESS BY MONIESHKAA KANNAN, VALEDICTORIAN, AT THE SINDA EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2023 ON 30 SEPTEMBER 2023

Guest of Honour, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance & National Development and President, SINDA, Ms Indranee Rajah, SINDA Executive Committee Members; CEO, SINDA, Mr Anbarasu Rajendran; Award Recipients & Family Members; Ladies and Gentlemen.

1. A very good afternoon to all. I am Monieshkaa Kannan. When SINDA selected me to deliver today’s speech, I thought hard about what message I wanted to deliver. I decided to use today as a platform to share what I used to tell my younger self and what I wish all of us would focus a little bit more on.
2. Okay so, I would like to share with you my journey and how I discovered myself along the way. I may have a different life course from some but I have carried with me the lessons I’ve learnt. They have guided my actions and the way I responded to situations. They have shaped the type of person I have become. I hope you will be able to relate to my story in some ways and maybe look back on your own journey thus far.
3. Let’s start with 6-year-old Monieshkaa. I loved watching medical documentaries on National Geographic and so, I remember inching closer to the tv while the rest of my family would be super squirmish and would say “Monieshkaa! Faster change the channel!” and so, this sparked an interest and fascination in me and I would say, that this was my introduction to the field of medicine. But, at that time, this was just another one of my many childhood dreams, like to be an astronaut or a scientist.
4. But, there is one thing I would like to mention about dreams and childhood dreams in particular. While it may give us direction from an early point in life, not having a dream or knowing what we want to do does not put you in any less of a position. We are constantly on a path of self-discovery. We learn more about what we want to do or definitely not want to do. It’s a big decision and a commitment you make to yourself. So, go at your own pace and don’t be shaken by the speeds that people around you are going at.
5. Fast forward to secondary school. I started learning more about myself and this ignited the drive in me to work towards pursuing my ambition. There is one important lesson I picked up – everything happens for a reason. As I went about life, through the ups and downs, this lesson constantly reinforced itself. Everyone goes through both good and bad times. While you may question “Oh, why is this happening to me?”, life never gives you more than you can handle. There is always a reason why you are going through something – to become stronger, not repeat a mistake or to learn something new about yourself.
6. We often hear this word in school – stress. Yes, new situations or challenges may bring anxiety with their unfamiliarity but labelling it brings negativity to you and your approach to the problem. It’s like you are giving up and letting the problem control you. Instead, I urge you to grab it by the collar and take control. Change your mindset and your outlook on life because remember, everything happens for a reason.
7. Going into JC, I made a promise to myself to not leave as an empty shell, with many accolades but with no story and no growth. While I did not have the flashiest track record, everything I did meant something to me and has shaped the type of person I have become. I chose to push myself out of my comfort zone and develop holistically. What helps, is doing things you are genuinely interested in. That’s when you see yourself fulfilling your true potential and enjoying every step of the way. For me, that was sports, the Council and volunteering.
8. And so, volunteering in healthcare institutions solidified my motivation to pursue medicine. I volunteered with patients in Assisi Hospice, migrant brothers at HealthServe and as well as patients in IMH. I realised that healthcare is the type of environment I want to be in, the people I want to be grounded by and the type of service I want to be doing.
9. Okay, so let me share with you a story about Ah Ma. I met Ah ma at Assisi Hospice. And so, when I first entered her room, I was quite shaken. Her skin clung tightly to her bones and she was very frail. The nurse and I quickly entered her room, changed her diaper and left her to rest. And so, as we were leaving the room, I realised that, unlike the other patients who had family with them, Ah Ma was all alone in that room so I decided to accompany her. We sat in that room for a long time in silence.
10. Suddenly, her hand shot up as if she was reaching for something and so, I got up and I leaned over to try and ask her what was wrong and in that moment, all I could see was life fleeting across her eyes. I clenched her hand and I stroked her arm, hoping she knew she was not alone. I was so scared that she will go in front of me.
11. With so, with all her remaining strength, she slowly wrapped her fingers around mine and we stayed there for a while. Though her breathing was still laboured, a sense of calm washed over us.
12. Throughout this time, I did not know what to do and I could not do anything about the pain. I was struck by how limited and incapable I was. I yearned to be in the better position to support Ah Ma and this feeling continues to drive me. Apart from this, Ah Ma also taught me the importance of being present. Yes, we are very busy and life moves so very fast. We, at times, may be falling behind but it’s important to pause and be present in the moment with yourself and your loved ones because life changes so quickly and we do not know when we would get that moment again.
13. Being a volunteer has opened my eyes and I would like to encourage everyone to volunteer and do something beyond yourself. By doing so, you will learn so much about the people around you and the role you play in your community, because we are all here for a purpose.
14. We are gathered here today because we have achieved excellence in a particular field we have committed ourselves to. While that is a cause for celebration, let us not forget to strike a good balance between striving for excellence and just enjoying life. Spend some time with your family and friends. Look up at the sky. Have a good laugh. Play sports, music, read a book or sing. Whatever floats your boat.
15. Work hard and play hard. Well, throughout my journey, that is what I prioritised. I am staying on campus at the moment. I play maybe around five sports. But well, I might be playing a bit too hard right now so I might start reeling that in, but the point is, don’t take yourself too seriously. Living life to the fullest will not hinder you from reaching your goal.
16. To be honest, school started a bit over a month ago but the days are just passing by and content is going in and out of my brain. Often, I question if I can really do it and be a good doctor one day. I look at my seniors, wishing I could be just like them – so grounded in their knowledge, confidence and trust in themselves. But I remind myself that this is just the beginning of my journey and that the road is long. We all start off with uncertainties and worries but we will all eventually get there if we work for it. It is not as scary or unattainable as it seems. While that doesn’t mean the journey will be easy, you will find your own ways to handle it and we will all get there. But, don’t be too quick to rush to your next step and remember to take the time to celebrate your own successes, no matter big or small.
17. Today, many of you would have achieved some dream of yours – doing well for an exam, getting into the school you want, getting into your dream course. But what happens next? What lies beyond your dream? What do you want to do? That is a question I am trying to answer every day and I hope you will think about it too. Dreams may seem overwhelming or scary but they are meant to become reality and you are the only one who can determine the fate of your dreams. I think my next dream is to be happy and have no regrets. What’s yours?
18. Thank you.