Jannathul Firdouse

Please share a key highlight of your student life in SMU.

I joined the SMU Special Interest and Community Service Sodality (SICS) during my freshmen year as the Honorary Finance Secretary (HFS). Joining SICS was a natural decision as I wanted to serve a cause which promoted diversity and impacted society, but it was intimidating to pitch myself to an audience of seniors, especially as a freshman. But I pushed past the nerves, delivered my pitch, and was eventually elected.

Balancing the role alongside my academics wasn't easy, but I learnt much about myself through the experience - my strengths, limits and leadership style. My biggest takeaway, though, was the friendships I built along the way. My team was there for me during the highs and lows and the bonds we formed turned out to be some of the most meaningful relationships I've made in university. Being a part of SICS didn't just teach me about leadership. It gave me a community I'm deeply grateful for, one I wouldn't have gotten had I not taken that leap of faith in my first year.

How has SMU’s city location enriched your university experience? 

It's close to home and future employers – I could be at home at 11am, in class at 3pm, attending an interview at 4pm, then back at school for a CCA meeting at 5pm! I truly believe that one of the most valuable things is time. The city location means that I spend more time doing things that matter most.

Please share about any community service projects/trips that you have taken part in in SMU, and why those are meaningful to you.

I regularly engage in community service work, and it was no different at SMU. I was part of Project Sparks under SMU Rotaract, Purple Outreach under SMU SICS, and The GRATS Circle, engaging with children with special needs, youths with special needs, and my juniors at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. I’ve always believed that the youth hold incredible potential to initiate meaningful change in the world, and through both word and action, I hope to help them realise the immense value they bring. These projects were meaningful to me because they reminded me how even the smallest interactions can empower someone to see themselves differently, and sometimes, that’s all it takes to spark something greater.