Redefining Success: Alumni Show Senior Classes It’s Okay to Forge Their Own Path

On Tuesday 2nd June 2026, the IB Lounge transformed into a space of open exploration as Grade 11 and Grade 12 students gathered during their lunch break for the Futures Forum. Spearheaded and organised entirely by a group of Grade 11 students as part of their IB Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) requirement, the event provided a platform for students to discover their passions across various fields and explore niche, lesser-known career paths. 

The showcase featured interactive stations designed to foster candid, small-group dialogue. Among the booths, four were hosted by our alumni, who showed through their own career journeys that there is no single blueprint for a meaningful life: Bradian Muliadi '10, Co-Founder, HawkLabs; Brian Theng '12, Consultant, Bridgespan Southeast Asia; Samuel Mok '14, Financial Planner, HSBC Life (Singapore); and Savita Kumar '18, Senior Work Associate, SHINE Children and Youth Services.

Fruitful and Candid Exchange 

The event was organised in an engaging "booth-style" format, with each station displaying profile overviews of its host. Students gathered around the mini-booths that caught their interest, freely rotating between stations throughout the session. The senior students filled the IB Lounge with thoughtful, probing questions that moved far beyond basic job descriptions.

At the booth hosted by Savita ‘18, students were curious about what initially drew her to mental health services and wanted an authentic glimpse into the daily realities of practicing psychology. They didn't shy away from tough topics either, candidly discussing the emotional weight of impact-driven work, asking about burnout levels, and seeking advice on managing emotional burdens in youth services. Meanwhile, at other booths, conversations focused on long-term growth.

Students were eager to understand what led alumni to choose their current careers and what kinds of opportunities emerge when carving out a non-traditional, self-directed career path.

Wisdom for the Winding Road 

By directly addressing these student inquiries, alumni provided grounded, practical guidance that reframed how senior students view their futures:

Savita encouraged students to accept the unknown, saying:

"I think the idea of just being at peace with uncertainty, being at peace with exploring things, knowing that your career path is like a winding road... what you think you're going to do at 18 years old almost always will not be what you're going to do in the future."

Samuel reminded students that societal expectations should not dictate one's choices and that an academic background does not lock anyone into a single career box.

"Don't necessarily do what society tells you, because it's not necessarily the most fulfilling route to take... your educational background doesn't necessarily define your career," he said.

On the topic of work-life balance, he emphasised:

"Work-life balance is how you choose it, and not how the company chooses it."
 

Normalising Unconventional Journeys 

By sharing how their trajectories evolved after high school, the returning alumni sent a clear, empowering message to current senior students: it is okay to explore diverse interests, pivot when necessary, and prioritise personal fulfillment over conventional career molds. Above all, through their open stories and genuine guidance, the alumni gave students the reassurance and confidence to embrace their future not as a fixed destination, but as a continuous, lifelong journey of self-discovery.