Inspired by Those Who Cared for Her, She Embraced a New Career in Healthcare
Miyuki Leung, in her mid-20s, began her career working as a waitress at her family’s restaurant for two years. She eventually became a public servant, but soon realised that the role was not the right fit for her. This mismatch, coupled with the challenges brought on by the pandemic in 2020, took a toll on her well-being, eventually leading to hospitalisation and prompting her to leave the job. Yet, it was in that hospital that her life took an unexpected turn, as the compassionate care she received sparked a new calling within her. She recalls thinking, “I want to be like them”—to be the one providing comfort during someone’s most difficult moments.
Determined to bounce back after her recovery, Miyuki came across NTUC LearningHub’s Healthcare Assistant Programme during her job search. She saw it as a timely opportunity to explore a new career path and contribute to society at a time when healthcare workers were needed the most, at the height of the pandemic.
Delivered by veteran trainers with vast industry experience, the programme provided not only a safe and supportive environment but also technical knowledge and insights that enriched her learning. Miyuki particularly appreciated the diversity of her cohort, each bringing unique perspectives and experiences that were invaluable for building connections and learning.
Today, she thrives as an Emergency Department Healthcare Attendant, applying skills like therapeutic communication and basic care in her day-to-day work. These have become foundational to her role, shaping how she interacts with different patients. Beyond technical skills, the programme also strengthened her critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, which were once her weakest areas. She has since diversified her skill set and adapted to the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of the emerging care economy. Her commitment to continuous learning enables her to expand her knowledge and enhance the quality of care she provides.
For anyone feeling ‘too old’ or ‘too far behind’ to pursue a new career or embark on a learning journey, she offers this piece of advice: “We simply took the road less travelled, and we are exactly where we need to be to reach our fullest potential.” She encourages others to take the leap into lifelong learning, reminding them that one day they’ll look back and wonder why they ever hesitated.
Her own journey is far from over. She plans to enrol in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) next year to pursue her goal of becoming an Enrolled Nurse, eager to continue making a difference in the lives of others. Her story is a testament to the power of learning and how it can transform not just careers, but lives. “As much as it helps you become an even better version of yourself, lifelong learning at its core is what creates the desire to live life on your own terms—that is what it means for me.”
You Might Like This
Blog 3: First Blog Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since 1966, when designers at Letraset and James Mosley, the librarian at St Bride Printing Library in London, took a 1914 Cicero translation and scrambled it to make dummy text for Letraset's Body Type sheets.
Brewing a New Chapter Through Lifelong Learning
Sheena brings more than a decade of experience in the retail and education sector, where she managed multiple retail outlets specialising in educational toys and oversaw day-to-day operations. Over time, she began to notice a shift. Customers were increasingly seeking more unique and experience-driven products, while the retail landscape itself was becoming more competitive and fast-changing. At the same time, Sheena observed a growing interest in more mindful and natural lifestyle products, which sparked her curiosity about opportunities within the Food & Beverages (F&B) space. With her experience largely rooted in traditional brick-and-mortar retail, Sheena made a deliberate decision to pursue her lifelong interest in F&B entrepreneurship. Inspired by her passion for floral and herbal infusions and her desire to create a brand of her own, she enrolled in the Flavourful Ventures: A Journey Into F&B Entrepreneurship course at NTUC LearningHub to turn her vision into a reality. Returning to the classroom was initially a challenge for Sheena, as she had not studied for a long time and found some of the learning processes unfamiliar. However, with guidance from her trainers and support from her classmates, she gradually adapted and grew more confident throughout the course. Throughout the programme, Sheena gained practical exposure to key aspects of building and managing an F&B business, including identifying business opportunities, product development, branding and bringing products into the market. The hands-on learning experience also gave her greater insight into creativity, innovation and customer engagement within the F&B industry. Beyond equipping her with practical entrepreneurial skills, the programme also broadened her perspective on what it takes to build and sustain a business in today’s competitive landscape. Sheena eventually went on to start her own tea brand, Tea Therapy Singapore, offering a distinct range of caffeine-free, unsweetened and 100% natural floral tea blooms. Through the course, she was able to turn a long-standing personal interest into something more tangible, gaining the confidence and practical knowledge needed to pursue her passion in the F&B space. The course also gave her a supportive space to experiment, learn from mistakes and grow her confidence as a first-time digital business owner. Today, she manages the business end-to-end, from sourcing raw materials to product design, branding and online sales, applying the skills and knowledge gained from the programme to shape and grow her business. Through the journey of building her brand, Sheena also came to appreciate the importance of lifelong learning, adaptability and continuously upgrading herself to stay relevant in an evolving business landscape. Looking ahead, Sheena remains committed to lifelong learning as she continues to grow both professionally and as a business owner, and plans to further develop her skills through NTUC LearningHub courses, including public speaking. Reflecting on her journey, she shares, “Learning is a lifelong journey. When we continue upgrading ourselves and apply what we learn, we can turn our passion into new opportunities.”
Taking the Next Step: A Mid-Career Digital Journey
At 49, Farizan has built a steady career in the services industry where she has worked for the past four years as a Sales Admin Executive, overseeing sales coordination, purchasing, logistics and finance support. Working closely with multiple departments, she ensures smooth daily operations and keeps workflows running efficiently within her organisation. While working hard to establish herself as a dependable, meticulous and consistent teammate, she could never shake the persistent feeling that she could further streamline her work processes by expanding her skillsets. As businesses moved deeper into digital transformation, Farizan took a step back to reflect on how she could remain relevant in Singapore’s highly competitive and dynamic economy. Through her own research on social media, she began to see the potential of technology to enhance efficiency and productivity in her daily responsibilities. Determined not to let comfort and familiarity stagnate her professional development, she seized the opportunity and enrolled in the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) Digital Marketing Specialist course at NTUC LearningHub after chancing upon it online. The structured and industry-relevant curriculum gave Farizan clearer insight into how digital strategies translate into real business impact. It also helped her better understand how campaigns are planned, executed and measured in today’s digital landscape. Farizan gained practical knowledge in digital marketing strategies, search engine optimisation (SEO), online copywriting, campaign analytics and online campaign management, areas she had always been curious about but had not had the opportunity to explore in her previous scope of work. The guidance from experienced trainers and the unique insights shared by coursemates from diverse industries further enriched her learning experience. By embracing the intensity of the knowledge-filled course, she was able to bring together the different concepts she had learned through the programme’s capstone project and apply them in a practical digital marketing scenario. Building on what she learned from the course, Farizan now approaches her role with a broader perspective. While she continues her core operational responsibilities, she has also taken on expanded responsibilities at work, supporting digital marketing initiatives, assisting in online campaign coordination and contributing insights to enhance customer engagement. These opportunities to apply her new skills have not only allowed her to add greater value to her team but has also strengthened her confidence in navigating change. This step forward marks just one of many in her journey of self-improvement and lifelong learning. Shortly after completing the programme, she began exploring other courses to further develop her data analytics capabilities, such as the Retail (SF): Data Science Fundamentals course. Recognising that others may still be on the fence about taking the first step, she shares, a mindset she now carries beyond the workplace and even onto the stage as a performer, “Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Learning new skills may feel challenging at first, but it opens new opportunities and builds confidence.”