Shannon Chan is grateful for the financial support and school programs that help her enjoy school without worry. But as her family's difficulties grew, she gave in to her personal difficulties. Now that she's a psychology undergraduate, find out how this courageous girl got through it with the help of her teachers and community mental health services. Her message? Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Lee Qing Ping
Singapore Management University undergraduate Shannon Chan was the beneficiary of financial aid schemes and various tuition fees from her time at Woodlands Ring Primary until she graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP).
The plan included her essentials and incorporated her learning needs and activities into her daily routine at school.
She took remedial classes in areas where she was weak, and CCA filled her time well.
She fell in love with hip hop at Modern Dance CCA in elementary school. At secondary school she learned lifesaving skills through the Red Cross Youth CCA, and at poly she developed her public speaking skills as president of the Civil Defense Lion Hatters Club.
“I have never felt like I was not good enough or better than anyone else. “If I wanted something, I worked hard to get it,” she says.
Shannon (back row, center, with friends from Admiralty Secondary School) worked hard to get through her teenage years, but couldn't always keep her stress in check.
Observing Teachers, Free Mental Health Services
Shannon comes from a happy family that went through difficult times. There were times during her teenage years when she struggled with her studies, CCA, and working part-time jobs to support her family's living expenses.
Soon, putting her feelings aside became a habit for Shannon.
Helping her parents with their personal and financial challenges “made me very independent. Even if there were things I couldn't solve on my own, I insisted on doing them alone. “I didn’t know how to ask for help.”
Shannon continued to lead until one morning in 2019. She was in her fourth year of secondary school and she was preparing for her O levels, and she was unable to join her friends at recess. Instead, she paced back and forth in circles around her classroom. Her then chemistry teacher, Mrs. Karen Yap, saw something was wrong.
“Are you okay?” Mrs. Yap asked worriedly.
Shannon shed tears. “I couldn't even give her an answer. She just cried and cried,” Shannon recalls. “It was the first time someone asked me if I was okay.”
Mrs Yap was later able to speak privately with Shannon's class teacher, Ms Diyanah Binte Mohamad Yunos, to help with follow-up.
“During a free period in class, Ms. Diyanah walked up to my desk and asked me to give a speech outside,” Shannon explained. “She asked me if I was having a hard time, but I had absolutely no strength to talk about.”
Nonetheless, Diyanah's concerns made Shannon think, “Maybe I need help.”
She searched online and concluded, “Damn, I really need help.”
Through her research, she discovered CHAT, the Center of Excellence in Adolescent Mental Health, a subsidiary of the Institute of Mental Health. CHAT supports young people experiencing mental health issues through support and assessment services that serve as a one-stop center for mental health resources.
“The CHAT website had a free text messaging service that we used to communicate with employees, which made it less intimidating,” says Shannon. Eventually she agreed to see her real-life counselor at the CHAT office at SCAPE.
The free counseling allowed her to better understand the pathology behind her eating disorder and depression and take steps to better manage them. “She also advised me to talk to her friends, so I did. And it really helped.”
The community support around her has been amazing. Shannon was able to focus more on her O Level exams… and did well.
Shannon and her NYP nursing classmates. She successfully completed the course!
She found success in the field of nursing and discovered her true interest.
Thanks to her scores and MOE's higher education scholarship, Shannon is one step closer to realizing her childhood dream of becoming a nurse.
She enrolled in NYP's nursing program and consistently ranked in the top 15% every semester. And at her final internship after completing her course, she received an 'A' – the perfect way to end this chapter of her education.
“Good time management is very important. It’s not easy, but it’s possible, even when juggling part-time work, studies, CCA, family and friends,” says Shannon.
While she was succeeding academically, domestic problems resurfaced. Her father lost his job. To cover her tuition, she took advantage of another scholarship called the Higher Education Scholarship.
And to earn extra cash, Shannon worked long hours as a retail clerk on weekends and school holidays. She will also work extra shifts as a waitress.
Fortunately, things started to look up after her father found a job and she was able to focus on finishing her diploma.
Shannon and her parents went through some tough times, but bounced back.
“Financial assistance is readily available, and access to mental health resources is now much easier. “Contact your teacher or school counselor and they will guide you in getting the help you need.”
'Don't be afraid to seek help'
After some soul-searching, Shannon realized that what she really loved about nursing was the interaction with patients and being able to provide them with social and psychological support.
“I didn’t like the medical part, the injections and all. But I enjoyed learning about cognitive function and talking to patients,” she explains.
So she decided to switch. Currently, she is pursuing a degree in Psychology through the Social Sciences Program at Singapore Management University.
Having gone through many ups and downs to reach her current position, what advice does she give to students facing similar challenges? “Manage your time well,” she advised students not to waste too much time on social media. “That’s one of the resources you have.”
Shannon says for other students facing similar struggles, “financial aid is readily available, and mental health resources are now much more accessible.” She says, “Talk to your teacher or school counselor. They can guide you to get the help you need.”
“Give courage to those you love. Because they care about you. “You are not alone in this world.”
Please confirm it:
She didn't like science until she met the turtle beetle.
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