ST More than Grades

ST More than Grades

Temasek Poly students build tools inspired by love and a mission to give confidence back to seniors

(From left) Ms Kontham Ishwarya, 20, Ms Joelle Chong, 20, and Ms Dayana Abdul Haddy, 20, are part of a team called PrintAid that designs 3D-printed assistive tools designed to support the senior’s daily activities.

ST More than Grades

Sacrifices, slumps and success: The rise of Singapore’s youngest chess grandmaster

(From left) National Chess players, Siddharth Jagadeesh 18, and Tin jingyao 25, at Bishan Community Centre on Nov 22, 2025.

ST More than Grades

Feeling free in water: 10-year-old boy with spinal muscular atrophy learns to defy physical limits

Primary 5 pupil Bryan Lee, who lives with spinal muscular atrophy, with his parents and his para swimming medals.

ST More than Grades

Paddling through loss: National canoeist’s passion endures despite dad’s death during O-level exams

ST20251127-202599800141-Lim Yaohui-Elisha Tushara-etjovi/

Mr Jovi Jayden Kalaichelvan, 24, national kayaker, in front of Water Sports Centre on Nov 27, 2025.

In 2017, national kayaker Jovi Jayden Kalaichelvan lost his father on the morning of his O-Level exam and, soon after, his cousin. These tragedies, compounded by financial struggles, derailed his academic performance and forced sport to the sidelines. Over time, however, canoeing, which was introduced to him in secondary school and once encouraged by his late father, became a source of stability as he rebuilt his life. The resilience he developed through sport now drives both his sporting goals - aiming for the 2028 and 2032 Olympics while juggling a punishing training schedule. He also has a long-term dream of becoming a pilot, a passion sparked during National Service. Despite uncertainties ahead, he hopes to stay connected to kayaking even after his competitive career ends.

For More Than Grades series.

(ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI)

After leaving uni amid depression, art helped her find her way

Artist Dorcas Tang, 24, pictured with her murals on Nov 25.

More than his mistakes: Teenager rebuilds life through squash, teacher and parental support

St. Andrew's School student Richard Durrani Vaz pictured on Dec 17.

‘Every child deserves happiness’: 7-year-old spends his birthdays giving back

This year, Jayden Tan donated his birthday presents to Food from the Heart’s Toy Buffet, giving children on financial aid a chance to choose toys for themselves.

Brothers, age 7 and 10, launch cricket league for migrant workers in Singapore

Brothers Jay (in blue shirt), seven, and Neel Ramnarayan, ten, launched a Migrant Worker Premier League which kicked off in May.

Singaporean NUS graduate soars to become aerialist in world’s largest water show

Philosophy, politics, and economics graduate Megan Sophie Lau has been performing 10 to 12 shows weekly as an aerialist in the House of Dancing Water.

Rethinking talent: Lessons beyond the grading curve

It is not students who must endure exams, but the exams themselves which must endure even as they face the test of AI, says the writer.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.