"I don’t see uncertainty as something to fear...the future is ours to create. Ours to heal. Ours to change." — Jackie Li ‘19

For Jianqi “Jackie” Li ’19, the path to becoming a physiotherapist was always clear. Inspired by his time as a varsity athlete and student athletic trainer at Singapore American School (SAS), Jackie moved to Australia to pursue his degree following his National Service and a few months as administrative staff in one of the emergency departments at a public hospital during COVID coordinating endless ambulances and setting up temporary quarantine centers.

But halfway through his university journey, life delivered a devastating blow. In 2023, during a summer family meal in Singapore, Jackie learned that his mother—a dedicated SAS educator since 2011—had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

The diagnosis brought an immediate wave of fear. Jackie faced the grueling third year of his degree, notorious for its challenging neurology and cardiorespiratory curriculum, while managing deep worry for his family’s health and the mounting financial burden of international tuition.

A Poignant Lifeline

Help emerged in 2024 from an incredibly meaningful source: the Dr. Shuna Sun Compassion Fund. Established in memory of a beloved SAS educator who passed away in 2023 after her own brave battle with lung cancer, the fund honors Shuna’s wish to support her community in times of need through her generous donation. The connection was deeply personal: Jackie’s mother and Shuna were long-time SAS teachers facing the same devastating illness. Through this tribute to Shuna’s legacy, Jackie received a grant covering a full year of tuition, lifting the financial weight at his most vulnerable moment.

The impact was immediate. "It felt like a genuine weight had been lifted off my shoulders," Jackie shared, noting how the fund restored the mental energy he needed for his studies. He remembers the moment his mother broke the news as the catalyst for everything that followed. No longer consumed by financial anxiety, Jackie poured himself into his passions, sparking a series of achievements that eventually led him to the top of his class.

Leadership and Legacy

"That year, I was nominated as president of the Queensland Physiotherapy Students Association," Jackie recalls. "I don't think I would have had the capacity to do that if I was worrying about family finances and mom's health. Having that generosity from the donors allowed me to dedicate myself to my goals." That same year, he received The Australian Physiotherapy Association Board of Director Student Prize, an honor that opened doors across the clinical field in Australia.

Ultimately, Jackie graduated at the top of his cohort and delivered a moving valedictorian speech, which his mother could hear in person, sharing with classmates, “I don’t see uncertainty as something to fear. I see it as incredible, exciting opportunities...the future is ours to create. Ours to heal. Ours to change.”

Once an Eagle, Always an Eagle

Today, Jackie is a fully accredited physiotherapist in a regional Australian coastal town. 

As he serves patients across the healthcare continuum, he often reflects on the SAS educators who prepared him for the rigors of physiotherapy:

• Coach Kim Criens: Jackie’s volleyball coach instilled a "110%" work ethic and leadership skills through a program for seniors and team captains that Jackie still references today.
• Tomo Tanabe: The athletic trainer mentored Jackie in the Student Athletic Trainers club. Jackie jokes that Tomo would be impressed by how far he’s come with his ankle-taping time, which has dropped from five minutes at SAS to a professional 50 seconds, thanks to a stint where he worked at a local football club during university in Australia.
• Dr. Vicki Rogers: Jackie’s eighth grade social studies teacher taught him with compassion how to embrace his growth mindset and develop the study skills needed to tackle complex American history topics after a disappointing mark on an assessment. 
• Dr. David Bond: The teacher of Jackie’s AT Kinesiology course, which further sparked Jackie’s interest in the mechanics of the human body.

Paying it Forward

Driven by the support he received, Jackie is committed to giving back. He hopes to one day mentor SAS students considering healthcare careers, particularly those exploring educational paths in Australia.

“Community is a big part of who I am," Jackie says. "If you look back at all my achievements, they were only possible because of the people around me.”