Year 4 Diagnostic Radiography student, Eugene Tan, was recently awarded Outstanding Male Student Leader at SIT’s Student Leader Awards Night 2023. He shares how juggling many hats as a student leader has given him a sense of purpose, and motivated him to do more.

While the Outstanding Student Leader Award recognises Eugene’s contributions as Vice President of SITintegrates – a student-led group that integrates migrant workers into the community – it is not the only hat that he wears. Eugene is also the Treasurer of the SIT Diagnostic Radiography and Radiation Therapy Student Management Committee (DRRT SMC), and carves out time to be a mentor to his juniors.

Eugene received the Outstanding Male Student Leader award from SIT President Prof Chua Kee Chaing. (SIT Photo: Keng Photography/Tan Eng Keng)

So how does he balance his responsibilities as a student leader while juggling the academic rigours as a final-year student? Eugene says that even though his plate is rather full, these responsibilities have, in fact, spurred him on to manage his time more effectively.

“Being involved in these activities has helped me to be more productive and focused on my coursework, as it has given me a sense of purpose and motivation.”

A Sense of Purpose

Relating back to his experience with SITintegrates, Eugene shares that its ethos of community building and integration with Singapore’s migrant workers is something that resonates strongly with him.

“As the Vice President, I was responsible for organising events and initiatives that rally students from across the university to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for our migrant brothers in Singapore.”

One event that stood out for him was International Migrant Day 2022. It was the first in-person event in over two years, since the pandemic curtailed interactions with the migrant worker community. “We decided to go big and organised activities that ranged from excursions to Gardens by the Bay to roller skating. I still recall teaching one of our migrant brothers to skate, and how he was so happy once he was able to do it on his own. It was a truly rewarding experience to see how creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for our migrant brothers made a difference for them.”

Hearts full: The SITintegrates team at an outing with migrant workers at Gardens by the Bay. (Photo: Eugene Tan)

In addition to SITintegrates, Eugene was also recognised for his role as a facilitator at Day Zero 2022 – an initiative to prepare freshmen for university life. He reminisces how he came away feeling good when he managed to alleviate some anxieties his juniors had about balancing school with other competing responsibilities.

“It was a very rewarding experience, as I was given the opportunity to facilitate group discussions on topics such as concerns on workload. I shared how the clinical modules in my programme allowed me to fully experience the concepts taught in class. It felt good seeing the participants reassured and enthusiastic about their new university life.”

Preparing for His Future

Aside from the strong sense of purpose that he gets from volunteering in community and school activities, Eugene also recognises that being a part of these student activities have also honed his professional skills.

“Through these experiences, I learned the value of teamwork to achieve common goals, and effective communication to inspire and motivate others. These will be invaluable to my future career as a radiographer, since I will need to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with other healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care to patients,” he said.

Creating an inclusive environment through new experiences such as roller skating for the migrant workers. (Photo: Eugene Tan)

“Moreover, my experiences as a student leader have also taught me important skills such as time management, problem-solving and adaptability, which will be useful for any career and for life in general.”

For Eugene, his winning formula is made up of a combination of factors, such as the ability to work well in a team, effective communication skills, and service to the community.

And the most important of all, is hard work. “You have to be willing to take on challenges and responsibilities. Winning this award is an amazing feeling, and I am truly grateful for the recognition. It motivates me to continue to strive for excellence, and to make a positive impact on my community.”