“Giving is not simply about making a donation; it is about making a difference” – Kathy Calvin, former President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Nations Foundation
Making a difference was what Jeremy Cheng Ling Jie (Public Health ’21) had in mind when he was appointed as Class Champion for the Commencement Class Giving 2021 campaign. What he did not expect though, was to pick up the Outstanding Achiever Award in recognition of his efforts in encouraging his classmates to give.
Jeremy’s efforts also played a part in helping the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health pick up the Top Achievement Award (Faculty with fewer than 400 graduands), with a participation rate of 5.19%.
The Chinese saying “饮水思源”, loosely translated as remembering the source of your success, spurred Jeremy to do his best as he wanted the next generation of students to be educated, inspired and transformed, just as he was.
While pursuing his undergraduate degree in Nursing at the NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, the generosity of a healthcare scholarship made a difference in Jeremy’s life as he could concentrate on his studies and had a job waiting upon graduation.
It took some courage for the Class Champion to get the giving efforts going though. Initially, Jeremy was hesitant to approach his classmates as many of them held senior positions in their organisations, or were renowned clinicians or academics from local institutions. However, many of his classmates displayed their inherent altruistic nature and gave graciously.
Through the process, Jeremy also discovered how COVID-19 has shaped the class giving experience.
“When I was also Class Champion in 2017 during my nursing studies, many donated just for the token of appreciation. My latest experience as Class Champion saw me having to engage my classmates individually over digital platforms and I realised that the sincere personal touch connected with their altruistic nature. My award today would not be possible without the efforts of the School’s administrators and my classmates,” shared Jeremy.
Congratulations to Jeremy and the School on these latest achievements and we are proud and thankful to all who have lowered the financial bar for future students.
