On 20 January, we kicked off our annual Service Learning Week, packed with activities designed to empower our SJI International students to serve with heart and purpose.

The week was full of inspiring highlights, from service leaders diving deep into meaningful fundraising strategies to our vibrant Service Fair, where students from all grades discovered new ways to get involved and make a difference.

To start the Service Learning Week 2026 with a spark, we welcomed back three incredible alumni speakers, Tripti Narula '25, Jently Amirthingam '23, and Adeline Kelana '20! A massive thank you to them for returning to campus and setting the stage. They offered our students an authentic glimpse into life beyond SJI International, specifically sharing how the values and experiences gained through Service Learning have opened doors and shaped their paths in the real world. Bonding over shared Lasallian values, the alumni’s stories deeply inspired students to advocate for meaningful change.

We also sat down to catch up with some of our alumni:

What are you up to now? 

Adeline: I am pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in University of Toronto. I’m back here in Singapore looking for my next job or internship opportunity!

Tripti: I just applied to overseas universities and am waiting to hear back. In the meantime, I’m learning how to drive!
 

What made you want to come back and speak to our students today? 

Adeline: I wanted to help the students see that service is useful, and that it can be really engaging if you change your perspective! It felt so rewarding to come back, and I was just happy to make them laugh and hopefully de-stress a bit.

Tripti: I know a lot of the current students, so I really wanted to share my experiences and hopefully inspire them to do more service. Plus, listening to Adeline was incredibly impactful, I learned a lot from her today, too!

How has Service Learning impacted your life? 

Adeline: I feel like a lot of the internships and work experiences I've had so far were actually built on the foundations I started forming while doing service right here at SJI International.

Tripti: It opened my eyes to the lack of resources in other countries. [When I was a student at SJI International,] volunteering for the Philippines and fundraising to help them really showed me the impact we can make.

Every time our alumni step back onto campus, they spark a lasting change in the next generation. As you share your real-world experiences through mentorship, speaking, or volunteering, these journeys you walked before are the ultimate inspiration for our current students. Stay tuned for more alumni opportunities as the year progresses; we look forward to seeing how you continue to shape our community!