THE PLANNER WHO MARRIES WORK AND PLAY

“I am enjoying a high point in my career now,” declared Eugene Lee. “The Round Island Route project that I am coordinating presents the perfect opportunity to apply my passion for planning and interest in cycling. It is awesome!”

Eugene, Executive Planner with URA, is involved with a large, multi-agency project to connect parks so that runners and cyclists can make an uninterrupted journey around Singapore.

It did not bother him one bit even though the job required him to walk from 9 am to 3 pm under the blazing sun. “I enjoyed every moment of it, seeing how our plans are implemented on the ground,” he said.

Building a vision, quite literally

Eugene also appreciates being part of a team that looks at strategic, long-term plans though sometimes planners may be ahead of the curve, so to speak. “Don’t get discouraged, your plans may be acceptable to the public in time to come,” he suggested.

Eugene keeps a drawing of a town, complete with a town centre, bus network and other amenities. He drew this when he was young and uses this to remind himself to persist in what he believes in. “When the time is right, people will accept your ideas,” he added.

Having worked on town planning, Eugene realises that “The Public Service is actually quite an ‘ideas-generation’ place where people put their minds together to come up with innovative, workable solutions to problems.”

Of course, working on Singapore’s Master Plan has helped him realise that we can all plan our lives, to an extent. So he has taken the first steps to planning his own career. “I can be exposed to many different positions through job rotation within my organisation as well as go for secondment within the Public Service. It’s great exposure,” he mused.

The way to go

In his current portfolio, Eugene is happily marrying his work and play. An avid cyclist, Eugene is organising rides to interesting corners of Singapore that people know little about. He hopes that by doing this, many more people will find out how wrong they are when they say “Singapore is boring”.

And no one is going to stop this go-getter who plans to make it to every continent on earth at least once in his lifetime, or more than once if he can help it!

THE POLICYMAKER WHO KNOWS THE WAY TO YOUR HEART

Samuel Chan had options, but he chose to go with his heart. He embarked on a career in the Public Service out of interest and curiosity. “My work at MOF is intellectually satisfying. This is the place to get a good grasp of how taxpayers’ dollars are put to work,” he said.

“Even as a junior officer, I got to participate in the formulation of policies behind many important national-level initiatives. Being entrusted with such a responsibility is a privilege to any fresh graduate,” he added.

Finding his niche

“In the Public Service, officers are encouraged to speak up and discuss their ideas with the management. The system is more open than most would normally imagine.

“Not everything in MOF is about behind-the-scenes work. For instance, I was given the opportunity to present to the Young NTUC members on the main themes and initiatives of Budget 2008. In preparing for the presentation, I learned a lot about distilling the key messages and conveying them with empathy, clarity, and in a manner that would resonate with the man on the street,” he explained.

Officers in MOF are put through a rigorous learning curve. In his first few weeks, Samuel found himself trying to get up to speed. “Thankfully, my colleagues and superiors were patient with me. I felt comfortable asking questions amidst the coaching and guidance,” he reflected.

Samuel shared his view that very few people start out knowing what they want to do for the rest of their lives.

“What’s more important is to be hungry and to aim to leave a mark in any of your endeavours,” he advised. “Anybody interested in learning how the Government works, in improving the quality of public service or in formulating new policies should consider giving a public sector career a chance.”

Following his calling

Outside of work, Samuel has a knack of knowing how to be close to his family and friends. His secret recipe? Baking. “I find the process of baking suitably relaxing and therapeutic after a long week at work. It’s a bonus to have the sweet aroma of pies and cookies brightening someone’s day!”

THE TEACHER WHO GOES PLACES

Manjit Kaur did not choose to be a Public Officer. She chose to teach. And in so doing, she became part of the Public Service!

“Teaching goes beyond imparting knowledge found in books. As a teacher, I encourage my students to think critically and nurture their experiences, their passion for learning, experimentation and innovation,” the Head of the English Department at Tanglin Secondary School said.

“My life would have been well lived if I had made a difference to my students. I want them to accomplish all that they desire,” Manjit said.

Opportunities galore

In Manjit’s view, teaching is indeed a career that comes with infinite opportunities. With MOE’s Education Service offering three career tracks, namely Teaching, Leadership and Senior Specialist, teachers will be able to develop their careers according to their talents and aspirations. “It is heartening to know that as a teacher in the Public Service, I can work at being my best without having to look elsewhere,” she said.

Opportunities for continuous learning and improvement abound in the Public Service, and Manjit acknowledges the value of such additional qualifications. “To serve my students, I need to be at my personal best so as to bring out the best in them,” she said. That is why she is also pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, which will help her become a better leader, one who makes decisions based not only on instincts and experience, but also on theory and research.

Experiences beyond the usual

Manjit knows that she can also enhance value and contribution as an educator by deepening her own life experiences. Besides the lives of her students, Manjit has also touched the lives of many others in need. In fact, she took the big step of leaving the teaching profession for a few years to volunteer in refugee camps in India, Bosnia, Croatia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uganda. She put her skills to good use there, teaching the children in the camps and doing publicity work for the non-government organisations to raise awareness of their plight.

Upon returning to the Public Service, her volunteer experiences came in handy as she could share many inspiring stories with her students. She explained, “I have seen much suffering, but I have also witnessed strength for survival. I share my travel stories so my students can learn from the lessons and reflect on their own experiences.”

Anecdote by anecdote, Manjit hopes her sharing would widen her students’ world views. “For instance, when discussing world hunger, I share with them the plight of the poor in Uganda. There, they can only afford one meal every three days. We also discuss the proper dispensation of medical aid and donations to refugees. I also tell them about orphans in Croatia,” she said, driving home the point that our children in Singapore are really privileged.

Recognition for a job well done

Reflecting on her decision to remain in the Public Service, Manjit noted, “Our Public Service nurtures a culture of change, where officers are encouraged and empowered to seek continuous improvement and growth.”

The opportunity to shape lives and prepare the future generation keeps her excited about teaching.

Of course, the gratitude of her students makes her day. But she said, “At the core, though, it is about serving people. We do not choose our clients; we serve all who come to us. Our motivation must go beyond material gains.”