This article was written by twelfth grade student Michael Fuma. Click here to read more articles featured in the winter issue of Journeys. 

The negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, in equal parts intense and far reaching, have been well documented over the past year. From exacerbated financial strain to deepening mental health issues, not to mention struggling with the losses of loved ones, people’s lives all around the world have been impacted in various ways. The Singapore American School community is no exception, and needless to say, graduating into a coronavirus-stricken world presented some challenging times for our alumni. 

Nevertheless, many former SAS graduates are choosing to make the best of what others might easily write off as a bad situation. They are finding and celebrating joy in this time of uncertainty.

Olivia Gil de Bernabe (Class of 2020)
Olivia Gil de Bernabe was among our most recent graduating class. Unlike many of her friends, she considers herself fortunate because her plans to take a gap year were relatively unstrained by COVID-19. As an elementary school recess monitor, Gil de Bernabe has been able to recapture the “carefree happiness and wonder that came with my childhood” through her new role, where she found herself frequently grateful for the little things. Gil de Bernabe describes her job here at SAS as “tremendously fulfilling.” Not only does it enable her to gain valuable work experience in her gap year, it has also re-introduced her to the “happy-go-lucky attitude” of elementary school students. “Their personalities have brought me joy,” she smiles. 

Ushmil Sarkar (Class of 2020) 
Ushmil Sarkar is also working with the dance program at SAS. Towards the end of her senior year, Sarkar deferred her plans to pursue mechanical engineering in college to intern as a middle school dance teaching assistant. Balancing her time between her work and her personal life, Sarkar describes her job at SAS as a meaningful role that’s also “given me time to forge new relationships and strengthen current ones. It’s also brought me joy to reconnect with Mrs. Heather Rodocker,” Sarkar adds. 

Jiwon Jeong (Class of 2015) 
Jiwon Jeong, has also come back to campus in intern capacity. He’s working as an elementary school recess monitor, ensuring that students are abiding by COVID-19 preventive measures during their playtime. Though he was “apprehensive” about taking the job at first, Jeong is “very joyful and glad that I took it in the end...Being able to work up a sweat while making sure the kids are safe and happy makes me happy every day,” he reports. 

Sophie Anderson (Class of 2018) 
Before graduating, Sophie Anderson was deeply involved in the dance community at SAS, “from taking my first ever dance class in sixth grade to finally becoming co-president of the dance club in senior year.” When the pandemic cut short her university studies in Washington DC, she decided to take a semester off and return to SAS, renewing her involvement in the school’s dance program. Despite the disruption to her plans, it has brought Anderson great joy to help out in the dance program and to work with “wonderful, inspiring women” teachers Elena Cherry and Heather Rodocker. 

Mina Troise (Class of 2020)
Mina Troise works as an elementary school playground monitor. When COVID-19 hit, Troise decided to defer her studies and opt for an internship at SAS. She struggled in the beginning but has since found a sense of purpose and sincere joy in her new role. “The kids I get to hang out with every day are so smart and kind, and they're only in elementary school! They make it really easy to imagine a bright future,” she says. 

Alice Zhou (Class of 2018) 
Alice Zhou was also a dedicated member of the dance club throughout her middle school and high school years at SAS. “The dance program means a lot to me,” explains Zhou. “It’s really exciting to step back into the choreographer role at SAS after graduating.” Although her plans for junior year were interrupted, the challenge of working with the dance program and the energy and enthusiasm of the dancers has made Zhou’s time back at SAS well worth it.

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Journeys, our print publication, shares current, in-depth stories written by and for members of our school community. It is mailed to current families, faculty, staff, and alumni in December and June. If you are interested in contributing an article to Journeys, email communications@sas.edu.sg. Read more articles here.