Beyond limits: Journey of support and determination to First Class Honours

Life at university is exciting. It marks the start of the adventure we call “adulthood”, filled with excitement and opportunities for discovery and learning. For some, however, the journey to get to and through university can be peppered with challenges that require that extra fortitude, resilience and determination to finish well.

These challenges can take many forms–like health or even finances–but they don’t hamper the ambitions of these NUS graduates.

Pursuing a lifelong dream of improving lives and advocating justice

An only child coming from a humble background, Yan Jun Yi credits his parents for always supporting his dreams and ambitions.

“My parents did their absolute best to provide for me and I never wanted for anything. They supported me and helped me do well in school,” he said.

Still, knowing that they would always do what they could to help him go further and realise his goals, Jun Yi couldn’t help but worry about the financial strain that university tuition fees would put on his parents.

“In secondary school as well as during my A-Levels, I excelled in the humanities. I developed an interest in law after realising how knowing the law can help people out of difficult situations.”

To keep his dreams of going to law school alive, Jun Yi applied for scholarships, and is thankful to have been awarded the OCBC Local Undergraduate Scholarship in 2020. The scholarship, together with the Higher Education Community Bursary, helped with his tuition fees and opened the door for him to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer, without adding to his family’s financial burden.

Pursuing a law degree at NUS Faculty of Law (NUS Law) was exciting and intellectually stimulating for Jun Yi, and he credits the Bachelor of Law or LLB programme’s academic rigour and opportunities for hands-on experiences as building blocks for a strong foundation for his career in his chosen field.

Citing Criminal Law and Trial Advocacy as two of his favourite courses, Jun Yi jumped at the opportunity to spend three months as a legal intern under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS). This allowed him to observe how CLAS lawyers helped to advocate for disenfranchised persons and ensure their rights to quality legal representation.

“This was definitely one of the most impactful and eye-opening experiences for me. Shadowing a practising lawyer who does criminal representation work showed me that being an effective lawyer was as much about knowing the law as it was about being kind and caring towards your client.”

Beyond internships, Jun Yi also dedicated a lot of time during his undergraduate years to help others, while putting his legal knowledge and skills to work both within and outside of NUS.

He participated in projects organised by the NUS Law Pro Bono Group (PBG) from 2021 to 2022, where he later also served as its Vice President for Internal Affairs.

As part of his duties as Vice President, Jun Yi was in charge of overseeing eight out of the numerous projects run by the Group, ensuring that Project Directors are given the support they need to run their pro bono projects smoothly. At the same time, he also personally participated in pro bono opportunities, such as serving as a student assistant in legal clinics, and simplifying legal information for laypersons.

“With how much time is spent in classes and studying the law, it is easy to lose sight of the wide, interesting world beyond the law. Volunteering outside school gave me a broader perspective on how I could contribute more meaningfully,” he reflected.

With ongoing financial support, including a NASA Exchange bursary from NUS, Jun Yi also was able to travel to the Netherlands in his third year at NUS Law.

“The six months I spend in Utrecht, Netherlands was amazing! I feel very lucky to have had the chance to experience the vibrant Utrecht University campus life and study law from the European perspective.” he enthused. “The cultural exchange with other Swedish, Polish, and Dutch students also enriched my outlook and perspective on life.”

Looking back, Jun Yi counts himself fortunate to have received support at almost every juncture of his life all the way through his undergraduate years. Beyond financial support, he credits his achievements to the love and support from his parents, to teachers who believed in him and encouraged him to pursue ambitious challenges, and to friends and mentors who helped build up his confidence.

After graduation, Jun Yi, who earned himself First Class Honours, is set to join a firm where he will be given the opportunity to experience different practice areas that will gird him to make an informed choice on his specialisation later on.

He says, “Being open-minded to different opportunities and methods to apply my skills has got me thus far. I am excited to see where I will go next.”

This story was first published on 12 July 2024 on NUS News. Click here for more NUS News stories.