26/08/2026
What a proud moment for the SOI family! ๐ฅนโจ
We were incredibly moved to see our very own Sheila Khoo, SOI valedictorian and Class of 2026 graduate, have her inspiring journey shared by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the National Day Rally 2026.
From overcoming challenges to graduating with a perfect GPA and now pursuing Computer Science at NTU on a full scholarship, Sheilaโs journey is a powerful reminder that where we start does not determine how far we can go. ๐งก
Sheila, youโve made all of us at SOI incredibly proud. Keep shining, keep inspiring, and keep showing us what it means to become our . ๐
You go girl! ๐ฅฐ
Last night, as Prime Minister Lawrence Wong brought his to a close, there was a familiar face and a story very close to our hearts- ๐Sheila Khoo.
Her journey was never a straightforward one. Bullied in school, Sheila dropped out of secondary school twice and polytechnic once. For years, even everyday social interactions felt daunting. But she kept finding her way forward.
An interest in Japanese led to translation work. Small successes rebuilt her confidence. And three years ago, Sheila decided to give education another chance- this time with us at RP.
What followed was quite remarkable. Sheila found friends. She found lecturers who believed in her. She pushed herself beyond what she thought she was capable of, and began helping others along the way.
In many ways, her journey reflects what Becoming is about- not becoming someone else, but discovering more of what we are capable of, with the support of people who believe in us.
This May, Sheila graduated with a perfect GPA as valedictorian of Republic Polytechnic School of Infocomm - RP SOI. Soon, she will begin another chapter at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, studying Computer Science (College of Computing and Data Science) on a full scholarship.
So when PM Wong chose Sheila's story as one of those to close his Rally, we could not have been prouder. He spoke of the Singapore spirit as โthe belief that where we start need not determine how far we can go.โ Sheila's journey embodies that beautifully.
But perhaps what moves us most is something Sheila once told us herself: she hopes to return to RP one day as a lecturer, so that she can pass on the same care and encouragement she received here.
That, to us, is ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฒ, ๐ง๐ผ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ- growing into more of who we can be, and then helping others do the same.
Sheila, thank you for reminding all of us what is possible when we keep going- and when there are people willing to walk alongside us.
We are incredibly proud to have been part of your journey. ๐
Watch the National Day Rally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wluee30Ly0w