“I was pleasantly surprised and in disbelief when MINDEF (Ministry of Defence) had invited me to share my NS (National Service) story as part of the SOC (Special Operations Command) squad. It felt like all my efforts were being seen and recognised.”

CIS Alumnus Ge Tianfang (Class of 2023), or better known by his peers and teachers as Timothy Ge, had shared that when it was his turn to fulfil his mandatory NS, he only had a sole thought running through his mind: focus on the goal of improving himself as an individual by making the best use of the extra two years.

However, his NS journey seemed to have a mind of its own when it took him to the elite ranks of having the privilege to join the SOC, an experience that Timothy describes as grueling but transformative. “There were times I wanted to quit because I lost sight of the meaning behind painful perseverance. But there is no wasted pain in growth and I hope others who have struggled can see and understand this too”.

That said, Timothy did not let any challenges that he continued facing such as the suffering of constant injuries from being out in the field stop him from being down in spirit. In fact, he even welcomed the idea of it so as to test his limits and force himself to be comfortable in situations that he can outgrow.

Timothy’s resilience to adaptation and perseverance was what made him stand out from the SOC crowd, personally catching the eyes of the MINDEF team. With the desire to feature his story, the team had contacted and invited him to share his SOC experience as part of his NS journey. Admitting humbly, Timothy candidly shared with us that while he was not the top of his SOC batch, but he is proud to say that he has gone through the notions of “been there and done that”, even more so fulfilling that he got hand picked to share his story from the lot of his batch.

It was this sentiment of Timothy that brought him a step further when a rare opportunity landed on his lap eight months after he started his NS journey; an offer to study at NTU (National Technological University)’s prestigious LKC (Lee Kong Chian) School of Medicine.

As a current first-year student at NTU’s LKC School of Medicine, Timothy’s resilience from his NS journey has now been channeled into his studies where he seeks simplicity in balancing his studies and social life. 

Now in university, his journey with the SOC has yet to end as he will return in the capacity as a Medical Officer upon his university graduation to finish up the remaining 16 months of his NS journey.

When asked about his fond memories at CIS, he attributes his love for the subject ‘Psychology’ that he partook in Grade 11 and 12 as what shaped him most to be who he is today. Timothy expresses that psychology has taught him so much about human behaviour and why people act the way they do, which he found interesting due to the fact that it's something beyond a science reductionist lens. Additionally, on the topic of Christianity, he revealed that it has shaped him into who he is and who he tries to become, someone that loves and accepts the way of things.

Timothy further shared that during his DP (Diploma Programme) years, he was deeply inspired by his chemistry and biology teachers, namely Ms Dilawari, Mrs Michelle Lee and Ms Doiron (known as Ms D to the students). Without their guidance and consistent support, Timothy would not have been inspired to take up pursuing Medicine, a STEAM intensive field of study.

As Timothy fondly reflects on some of his core memories at CIS, he pulls out a photo his mother took of him as a young student, just beginning his journey at the school. That image, simple yet powerful, has stayed with him - it’s a lasting reminder of how much he’s grown and how deeply those formative years at CIS shaped his life.

Looking forward, Timothy envisions himself walking down hospital corridors, doing his daily clinical stint after serving the remainder of his NS journey as a medical officer. He hopes to develop a stronger sense of purpose and be more determined in his decisions, through being able to live his life or the act of impacting others. When asked who he attributes his success to, his simple and heartfelt answer was his mother, for she has always believed in him and thereafter himself as this is ultimately a journey of his life.

From the disciplined regimens of being a member of the SOC squad to the rigors of being a first year medical school student, Timothy stands as a powerful example of how CIS has provided him with the range of aptitude needed to shape a life of meaning.